***Official*** NatWest Series/Challenge

[luckyeddie]

Rather than debating the legality of a catch that a fieldsman claimed, an umpire confirmed, and the batsman accepted, perhaps we should talk about the fact that one of the world's premier players of pace bowling somehow contrived to hit a slow long-hop down the throat of deep mid-wicket.

Not as good as you think he is?

 

[social]

Not as good as you think he is?

Ponting? Great player.

Im simply getting sick of seeing Aussies' so-called finest repeatedly throwing their wickets away.

 

[Scallywag]

Indeed. I must admit I wasn't especially happy to see Pietersen claiming the catch he took at third man of Martyn, and believe he knew it wasn't out. This one however, he had his fingers under.

I have no doubt that he got his fingers under the ball, its just weather it was before or after the ball hit the ground.

Ponting agreed before the game that batsmen would accept the fielders word on catches and he stuck to his word. I bet ****atoo turned a bit in his sleep last night.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ponting? Great player.

Im simply getting sick of seeing Aussies' so-called finest repeatedly throwing their wickets away.

That's the thing that I'm finding frustrating. As percentage of dismissals goes, there are much fewer than normal being your normal nick to the keeper or slips, or beaten by a good ball. The Aussies seem to be frustrated by the fact that they're not scoring at 5-6 an over and throw their wickets away.

Look at the way that Hayden has gone out in front of the wicket so often, Clarke has played a number of indiscriminate shots, and others have also committed flawed shots like it on more isolated occassions. It smacks of a side that doesn't enjoy being threatened - which I find quite humourous after all of Ponting's talk about how they want a challenge.

 

[social]

Indeed. I must admit I wasn't especially happy to see Pietersen claiming the catch he took at third man of Martyn, and believe he knew it wasn't out. This one however, he had his fingers under.

A case could be made for the rejection of both claims.

However, at the end of the day, KP claimed both catches and had his appeal upheld by umpires on both occasions.

That's pretty much the end of the story where fielding is concerned.

 

[marc71178]

However, the wickets served up this summer have been ordinary.

THey've been the same for both sides to play on...

 

[marc71178]

why not, even though their top class performers and are bound to hit top form on tour, but as long has thier dull run with the bat & ball respectively continues you would have to be a bit worried.

As an Englishman, I am not in the least worried if they keep on like that.

 

[marc71178]

Its not about losing, its about getting batsmen in form.

So how come England's batsmen have managed to get some form then?

 

[marc71178]

The fact that he will have assistance on offer during the tests says that he could be effective during the ashes.

Did you deliberately cut all the stuff about the Old Ball out?

 

[marc71178]

Pietersons catch looked very iffy in replay and live.

Blimey, this must be a CW first - Scallywag posting after Australian were beaten.

 

[Pratters]

THey've been the same for both sides to play on...

In the last game the conditions werent the same for both sides and usually one side does get the better of the conditions as opposed to the other.

 

[marc71178]

He has troubled the entire English top order (let us not forget that but for a no-ball and a dropped catch, England was staring down the barrel again last night) and has, IMO, Strauss' measure.

No ball excuse is not an excuse, that is his own fault.

Also, it should be remembered that it was not him that relieved the pressure last night but Gillespie, Watson, Hogg, etc.

So he didn't bowl 7 no balls then?

As an opening bowler, wickets were critical yesterday - remind us how many he took?

 

[marc71178]

Indeed. I must admit I wasn't especially happy to see Pietersen claiming the catch he took at third man of Martyn, and believe he knew it wasn't out. This one however, he had his fingers under.

How do you think he knew it wasn't out when there's no conclusive evidence to suggest it wasn't?

 

[luckyeddie]

I have no doubt that he got his fingers under the ball, its just weather it was before or after the ball hit the ground.

Ponting agreed before the game that batsmen would accept the fielders word on catches and he stuck to his word. I bet ****atoo turned a bit in his sleep last night.

So you're calling him a cheat?

There's a picture in The Times today an instant before the catch was taken of him sliding - the ball is nearly a foot above the ground. Did it bounce out or something?

 

[Scallywag]

How do you think he knew it wasn't out when there's no conclusive evidence to suggest it wasn't?

If there is no conclusive evidence then there is doubt.

 

[greg]

So because you (as a result of technology that is proven to be not just inadequate, but actively misleading) have doubt, that means that Pietersen <i>knew</i> it wasn't out?

Like LuckyEddie says - get hold of a copy of today's London Times. It may cause you to lose faith in your beloved TV technology.

 

[Dasa]

If there is no conclusive evidence then there is doubt.

Have to agree with that. However, only at first glance did the catch look dodgy - the replays were pretty conclusive I though.

 

[Scallywag]

So you're calling him a cheat?

There's a picture in The Times today an instant before the catch was taken of him sliding - the ball is nearly a foot above the ground. Did it bounce out or something?

Well if the The times today say ****atoo was sliding and took the catch a foot above the ground then thats proof.

 

[social]

THey've been the same for both sides to play on...

Aaaah no.

Aus has batted first on 2 consecutive green-tops.

England has had by far the better of onditions in those games.

 

[social]

So how come England's batsmen have managed to get some form then?

Tresco - ordinary until yesterday. Caught off no-ball in single figures, played and missed repeatedly, given not out when hit it, hit bad balls for runs. Obvious weakness outside off-stump.

Strauss - ordinary. Dropped in single figures, couple of good shots, poor footwork stil a problem.

Vaughan - best innings in long time yesterday, otherwise ordinary Had benefit of flat deck yesterday.

Collingwood - irrelevant

Flintoff - ordinary

KP - one great innings otherwise ordinary

Solanki - see Collingwood.

HMMm- overall average.