***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[Sanz]

if Australia bat sensibly on a pitch which isnt comparable to most 5th day pitches i think they could win it.

I dont think Australia can win this one. Anything above 300 will surprise me.

 

[matty1818]

I hope so, everyone seems to be forgetting how good this Australian line-up has potential to be, normally i would reckon Australia wouldnt be able to make it. But with their fighting capability, they have been set a challenge and i woudnt be suprised if i saw a far more watchful and skillful batting performance, especially from Ponting and Martyn. I still feel that Ponting is the danger man, if he gets in anything could happen.

 

[Tom Halsey]

To me the most likely score is a draw (unless the Australians surpass all stupidity with the bat they've shown so far and still try and attack).

 

[Neil Pickup]

On that note, Chris Read made 73* for Notts today

Against a one-person bowling attack (Ntini, Brown, Carter, Anyon, Loudon (whatever Harbhajan says), Trott).

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Against a one-person bowling attack (Ntini, Brown, Carter, Anyon, Loudon (whatever Harbhajan says), Trott).

I'm assuming Dougie is the one man?

 

[PY]

Gordon?

 

[Gloucefan]

...They don't know how to bat for a draw, really...

Really? They were doing a good job of it this evening.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Really? They were doing a good job of it this evening.

Err not really, they were lucky not to lose a wicket, Langer got some decisions go his way and Hayden looked like he was a bat-pad catch waiting to happen.

 

[Gloucefan]

Err not really, they were lucky not to lose a wicket, Langer got some decisions go his way and Hayden looked like he was a bat-pad catch waiting to happen.

Lucky not to lose a wicket yes but through using pads they weren't attacking the ball, that's hardly an example of how they weren't playing for a draw. They were time wasting (and fair enough end of the day and the light wasn't great) but that is how to play for a draw and if they don't take the same kind of approach tomorrow I'll be very suprised.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Lucky not to lose a wicket yes but through using pads they weren't attacking the ball, that's hardly an example of how they weren't playing for a draw. They were time wasting (and fair enough end of the day and the light wasn't great) but that is how to play for a draw and if they don't take the same kind of approach tomorrow I'll be very suprised.

They were always going to be fairly defensive in that mini-session - so it's hard to say what approach they'll have tomorrow from that, but the point remains that they weren't particularly good at the defensive approach and they weren't even facing Flintoff and Jones.

 

[tooextracool]

That's the point - playing a second spinner meant one of the batsmen had to miss out, making the line-up look weaker (especially had it been Katich left out, then Clarke gets injured!)

no macgill would have played for gillespie, who as i said at the start of the test series itself, shouldnt be in the side. gillespie didnt offer anything at all to the side this test match, and believe it or not, even taking the risk of having 2 injury prone seamers, would have been a better option than playing gillespie.
obviously the best option would have been playing kaspa, but considering that its the aussie selectors, its always lets pick the worst player first.

 

[Gloucefan]

They were always going to be fairly defensive in that mini-session - so it's hard to say what approach they'll have tomorrow from that, but the point remains that they weren't particularly good at the defensive approach and they weren't even facing Flintoff and Jones.

Ok they looked shoddy against two spinners but that's not suprising considering the rough patches. I honestly can't see them doing anything but playing defensively tomorrow. If they do go out and try to win fair play but I can't see that happening.

 

[luckyeddie]

This total worries me, i think england should have set them 450 and made it more secure or at least batted until jones got out or harmy had a thrash...could have made that total reasonably quickly whilst if Australia keep the runs ticking over tommorow and have wickets in hand at tea they could easily step up to 5 an over or so and take this from under our noses..

If they do, then well played - it will be the greatest-ever chase in test cricket history and they will thoroughly deserve the accolade of 'The Best'.

Saying that, I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell.

 

[matty1818]

True, i think it unlikely but Australia do have the consolation that this is not a typical 5th day pitch. But yeh im still confident, but if they are chasing 300 without loss at lunch then the telly is going off!

 

[Gloucefan]

A draw will feel worse then a loss for England fans tomorrow (well for me anyway).

 

[luckyeddie]

A draw will feel worse then a loss for England fans tomorrow (well for me anyway).

The consolation of a draw tomorrow is that it would keep the series open right until the bitter end.

 

[greg]

A draw will feel worse then a loss for England fans tomorrow (well for me anyway).

A strange statement IMO.

 

[Gloucefan]

The consolation of a draw tomorrow is that it would keep the series open right until the bitter end.

I agree, it would keep it finely balanced until the end, however I wouldn't put it past Australia to win the series even if they do go 2-1 down.

I would rather draw than lose but to build such a total going into the second innings and then to draw would be a big anti-climax for me.

Edit

 

[greg]

The Aussies are on the verge of falling apart IMO. If they lose this test they could cop a real hammering in the next one.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Just seen Lee trying to make love with Strauss again.

Australia need to focus more on their cricket disciplines than overdoing the sportsmanship.

I think it's been one of the more pleasing aspects of the Australian cricket team this time around, certainly more pleasing to the eye than their batting performance.