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***Official*** NatWest Series/Challenge
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
Off the top of my head, about 200 km north and a bit west. If the wind is blowing NE, probably nothing to worry aboutPratyush said:
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
There's no way England would only hit at 3.5 an over with Tresco and Strauss at the crease anyway.Adamc said:
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
A few observations from the Australian innings:
I'm a big fan of Vaughan's captaincy usually, but it was sub-par today imo. He let the pressure off on several occasions with bizarre bowling changes, none so shocking as bringing himself on with Australia on the ropes to let in a 13 run over. He was also, as SP pointed out, a bit too negative at times.
England showed the value of 5 specialist bowlers today, I think. Even when Gough was getting pounded, there was still 40 overs from other specialists to come, which saved them from a huge total.
Harmison and especially Flintoff were fantastic today. Flintoff's 6 over spell in the middle overs was up there with Lee/McGrath in the last match as the best bowling I've seen so far in the series. Harmison was dangerous throughout and is clearly going to be a menace in the tests if he gets a wicket with uneven bounce like this one.
Symonds and Hussey were just great, and I was really impressed with Ponting's touch as well before his dumb shot to get out. Lee's batting at the death saved Australia from falling to a poor total, as well.
Martyn was clearly not out, imo. Pietersen had that ball in his fingers, but the ground pushed it into his hand and gave him control over it. I wasn't particularly impressed to see him claim it.
Australia got 20 less than they should have, but 260 odd is still a tricky total on this wicket, which is only going to get slower and more uneven, and with the clouds coming in and the lights coming on, Lee and McGrath will get it to do a bit.
Aside from that, the thing which really struck me was the high standard of play. England for the most part bowled very well, Australia batted very well, the fielding was good, and it was good to watch.
Like last game, if either Flintoff or Pietersen play well, England will win, otherwise Australia should take it on a wicket like this. It's not an easy chase at all. At a pinch, Australia by 19 runs.
I'm a big fan of Vaughan's captaincy usually, but it was sub-par today imo. He let the pressure off on several occasions with bizarre bowling changes, none so shocking as bringing himself on with Australia on the ropes to let in a 13 run over. He was also, as SP pointed out, a bit too negative at times.
England showed the value of 5 specialist bowlers today, I think. Even when Gough was getting pounded, there was still 40 overs from other specialists to come, which saved them from a huge total.
Harmison and especially Flintoff were fantastic today. Flintoff's 6 over spell in the middle overs was up there with Lee/McGrath in the last match as the best bowling I've seen so far in the series. Harmison was dangerous throughout and is clearly going to be a menace in the tests if he gets a wicket with uneven bounce like this one.
Symonds and Hussey were just great, and I was really impressed with Ponting's touch as well before his dumb shot to get out. Lee's batting at the death saved Australia from falling to a poor total, as well.
Martyn was clearly not out, imo. Pietersen had that ball in his fingers, but the ground pushed it into his hand and gave him control over it. I wasn't particularly impressed to see him claim it.
Australia got 20 less than they should have, but 260 odd is still a tricky total on this wicket, which is only going to get slower and more uneven, and with the clouds coming in and the lights coming on, Lee and McGrath will get it to do a bit.
Aside from that, the thing which really struck me was the high standard of play. England for the most part bowled very well, Australia batted very well, the fielding was good, and it was good to watch.
Like last game, if either Flintoff or Pietersen play well, England will win, otherwise Australia should take it on a wicket like this. It's not an easy chase at all. At a pinch, Australia by 19 runs.
The Baconator
International Vice-Captain
Great comeback in the last few overs from England, should be a real interesting chase.
Barney Rubble
International Coach
England by 4 wickets.
Although given my recent track record with predictions, it'll be more like Australia by 260 runs.
Although given my recent track record with predictions, it'll be more like Australia by 260 runs.
Slow Love™
International Captain
I think Stuart MacGill was spot on just now about the Hayden/Jones altercation (and Collingwood's intervention afterwards). Although it's obvious that Jones didn't mean to hit Hayden (at least, not in the way that he did), it was an intentionally, physically aggressive act, and Hayden had every right to react the way that he did (even if it was amusingly Hulk Hoganesque 
). The parochial reactions from the English commentators that he should just "get on with it" and that Collingwood's getting his two cents in was a good, competitive thing was a load of bulldust, IMO, And if the positions had been reversed, we'd have heard about the Aussies' poor behaviour for the rest of the innings. I realise that Jones apologised - my beef is more with the commentators (and Collingwood). Ponting did well to encourage Hayden to settle though.
BTW, I thought Pieterson did take that catch, and Botham made the right call (as did the umpires). Martyn's bad habits got the better of him again.
I'd put Australia in front in this one, if a full match takes place. Worried about a D/L situation though.
). The parochial reactions from the English commentators that he should just "get on with it" and that Collingwood's getting his two cents in was a good, competitive thing was a load of bulldust, IMO, And if the positions had been reversed, we'd have heard about the Aussies' poor behaviour for the rest of the innings. I realise that Jones apologised - my beef is more with the commentators (and Collingwood). Ponting did well to encourage Hayden to settle though.BTW, I thought Pieterson did take that catch, and Botham made the right call (as did the umpires). Martyn's bad habits got the better of him again.
I'd put Australia in front in this one, if a full match takes place. Worried about a D/L situation though.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Agreed there SL. Perfect example of why I don't like the Sky team at all.
Bring on the tests and the feed from C4.
Bring on the tests and the feed from C4.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
One would have to say with the weather closing in an early wicket or two becomes even more important.
SpaceMonkey
International Debutant
Lost sky signal due to a thunderstorm overhead..not happy!
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
No swing to note in the first over. Two good balls though, one was right up there and Strauss nearly played on AGAIN, and the last was just a ripper.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
I think the umpires got the Martyn shout right; when I saw it at full speed it looked like a catch, it was only when they slowmoed it that it looked iffy. As I understand it there's a known flaw in the camera angle (foreshortening, I think they call it) which makes the ball appear lower than it actually is. Catches like that are calls umps have to make unless both are unsighted.
I think the result now depends on how England's top 3 do against Messers McGrath & Lee. It looks a good batting strip, but then it did on thursday too....
261 is competitive, but at least 20 short of what the Aussies would've been aiming at with 10 overs left.
I think the result now depends on how England's top 3 do against Messers McGrath & Lee. It looks a good batting strip, but then it did on thursday too....
261 is competitive, but at least 20 short of what the Aussies would've been aiming at with 10 overs left.
Adamc
Cricketer Of The Year
Trescothick looks all at sea against McGrath, though as FDO mentioned, there is virtually no movement, so if Trescothick survives the openers he might do well later on. It looks to me as though there is some drizzle already, will be a shame if this is decided either way by D/L.
Neil Pickup
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Rain on the way - Lights coming down, the T-storms that got us are on their way to you.
Doesn't look nice:
http://www.nowcast.co.uk/lightning/
Doesn't look nice:
http://www.nowcast.co.uk/lightning/