*Official* England in Australia (2 T20 & 7 ODIs)

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yeah, hence my last post. Still, with a bowling/fielding performance like that we'd win a lot of games

Disagreed. Unless the batting clicks, Australia won't make enough to defend often enough to win "a lot" of games. Some games, yeah, but against better batting lineups, or better performing ones at least, worries to be had.

If Bollinger had performed to his usual standard with the bat, Australia would like have lost today. Poor English batting and excellent Australian bowling/fielding considered.

 

[pup11]

I sincerely hope the Aussie selectors have taken note of the risks inherent with picking injury-prone play....oh **** it, MOREEEE PACE!

Pools on the next injury? Lee on day 1 of the WC, tbh.

Do we really have any other options mate..!? Its not as if we have pool of fit and in-form quick bowlers to pick from....

 

[Spark]

Well I'd expect us to do slightly better than 8/140 most days, but yeah.

 

[Cevno]

Why do they have 7 ODI's just before the World Cup scheduled here?

By the end of it ,both teams will not only be tired but having injury concerns too.

 

[Burgey]

Individual performances by Australia save the day again, wouldn't look to much into these wins especially because England are a dire ODI side.

Individual performances can often bail a side out in ODIs mate. Andy Bichel in the 03 WC springs to mind.

We are far from at our best, though I don't think England are as bad an ODI side as they used to be, not by any stretch.

Still, a few pieces are falling into place, but now we have injury set backs. I know there are a lot of skeptics about using such a pace-oriented attack, but the same was said before the last WC on the flat WI pitches. It may well not work this time, but we would be silly to try and manufacture a cod-ordinary spin attack. We're better off with an ordinary pace attack. That way, if we lose at least we can hurt some blokes as we go out!

 

[wpdavid]

And plus there was still the fact that you would expect that lineup to fire when it counted.

Yeah, that's the point I was trying to make. Not quite so sure about England's lineup.

The frustrating thing today was that even after letting Aus off the hook in the 1st innings, all they had to do was stick around against the new ball and make bloody sure they didn't lose early wickets. Nope, too much to expect apparently.

 

[Jacknife]

Prior shouldn't be opening, I assumed when he got brought in, they would open with Bell, with Prior down the order. Don't understand the need of batting the keeper as opener.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, that's the point I was trying to make. Not quite so sure about England's lineup.

The frustrating thing today was that even after letting Aus off the hook in the 1st innings, all they had to do was stick around against the new ball and make bloody sure they didn't lose early wickets. Nope, too much to expect apparently.

TBH it wasn't the early wickets thing, it was being completely incapable off getting any hold on Hauritz/Watson during the middle - like 10 straight overs which went for four or less, forcing rash shots from Trott/Bell when Clarke brought the wicket-takers on and making Strauss prematurely take the PP.

 

[Jacknife]

TBH it wasn't the early wickets thing, it was being completely incapable off getting any hold on Hauritz/Watson during the middle - like 10 straight overs which went for four or less, forcing rash shots from Trott/Bell when Clarke brought the wicket-takers on and making Strauss prematurely take the PP.

Apart from Marsh, no one timed the ball too well or looked completely at ease out there.

 

[TumTum]

Individual performances can often bail a side out in ODIs mate. Andy Bichel in the 03 WC springs to mind.

We are far from at our best, though I don't think England are as bad an ODI side as they used to be, not by any stretch.
!

Yeah that is a positive that we have guys that have started converting. We can see the big impact the absence of Ponting is having on the teams performance.

IIRC our recent head to head record against England in ODIs (post 2009 Ashes) is 11 to 4.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Tbf it's both teams' second match in the format in months. England down on bowlers, we are down two batsmen. Just happy to see our blokes get a couple of results at all in this cursed summer.

Thank God the Ashes weren't played this year. We've been terrible

Yeah, if it's one thing Australia has shown it's the determination and persistence that has never really faded. A lot of damage to be repaired though. Not the least that a captain low on form and confidence will return. This is definitely not the Australian powerhouse of past Cups.

For England, Pietersen, primarily, needs to contribute more often than not, and show that his dropping last summer has done him well.

 

[Jacknife]

Why do they have 7 ODI's just before the World Cup scheduled here?

By the end of it ,both teams will not only be tired but having injury concerns too.

Agree, it's madness, after today there is still 5 more to go.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Prior shouldn't be opening, I assumed when he got brought in, they would open with Bell, with Prior down the order. Don't understand the need of batting the keeper as opener.

For some reason England is convinced that Prior is a pinch-hitter. He's aggressive and can play shots, but he's never been much of a one-day batsman, let alone an opening batsman.

 

[Spark]

Yeah that is a positive that we have guys that have started converting. We can see the big impact the absence of Ponting is having on the teams performance.

Isn't that interesting? One of the main things that Ponting is said to have going for him is the lift and energy he gives to the team...

 

[Noble One]

Apart from Marsh, no one timed the ball too well or looked completely at ease out there.

And it made for gripping cricket.

Not looking forward to the WC with batsman launching onto the front foot for everything bar the shortest of bumpers, and every top edge finding a six.

 

[pup11]

Well I'd expect us to do slightly better than 8/140 most days, but yeah.

Tbh... apart from Dougeh don't think we really bowled that well, Binga and Haurrie were good in patches, but there is no denying English batsmen helped us out right throughout that chase.

 

[Spark]

Watson was good all night, as was Hauritz (aside from his last over)

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, if it's one thing Australia has shown it's the determination and persistence that has never really faded. A lot of damage to be repaired though. Not the least that a captain low on form and confidence will return. This is definitely not the Australian powerhouse of past Cups.

For England, Pietersen, primarily, needs to contribute more often than not, and show that his dropping last summer has done him well.

Yeah awta. I mean you can look at form all you like and say Pietersen has been out of it, but he's always the big wicket for England in Odis for opposition players (I still think sonin tests too), and I don't care how many people sit here and say he's been crap at Odis for a while. Same with Ponting - he's been out of form in tests for ages, but you can't tell me England aren't happier to see the back of him cheaply, and more than anyone else in our side.

 

[TumTum]

Isn't that interesting? One of the main things that Ponting is said to have going for him is the lift and energy he gives to the team...

That was actually a compliment towards Ponting, our middle order looks piss weak when the ball moves just a little bit.

 

[Uppercut]

Disagreed. Unless the batting clicks, Australia won't make enough to defend often enough to win "a lot" of games. Some games, yeah, but against better batting lineups, or better performing ones at least, worries to be had.

If Bollinger had performed to his usual standard with the bat, Australia would like have lost today. Poor English batting and excellent Australian bowling/fielding considered.

Haha what? Can say that about any game. If Tremlett had performed to his usual standard with the ball they'd never have been in that hole in the first place.