***Official*** NatWest Series/Challenge

[wpdavid]

Collingwood gone, Gillespie finally gets his wicket. Bloody hell this is poor stuff. Come on Geraint.

Maybe we'll do better in the beer match. Can't see this lasting long now.

 

[aussie]

but collingwood's in, believe it or not he has been the most troubling batsman this tour so far.

well he's gone now, so are you convinced.....

 

[Slow Love™]

I feel a bit sorry for Kasper, but unless Gillespie's absolutely hammered from here, I think he's done enough for the selectors that he'll keep his test place - which will likely mean Kasprowicz is out.

Interestingly, although it couldn't be argued that Dizzy hasn't bowled a LOT better than he has been, the English bats didn't go after him in the slightest today. Well, good for him, that drop off Vaughan probably WAS hitting rock bottom - Kasper would have been pretty dirty on him at the time though.

 

[Jono]

He dropped it off McGrath's bowling actually. It was Gilchrist that dropped Strauss off Kaspa's bowling.

 

[Adamc]

Great stuff Gillespie, he's been bowling a good line for most of his spell, good to see him finally get a wicket.

Hussey must surely be one of the best outfielders in the world atm, no? I've barely seen him do anything wrong out there at all throughout the Natwest Series/Challenge.

England really have to take a gamble to win this game now, even if that means: a) subbing Solanki for Giles if they lose another wicket before the 40th over; and b) opening the bowling with Harmison, or possibly Flintoff. Can't see Gough being effective at all with the new ball on this pitch, but I'm sure he'll prove me wrong.

 

[Scaly piscine]

When you look at the performances of our batsmen and opening bowlers, is quite extraordianary that we've not been stuffed out of sight in every game.

Shows you how good some of the other players have been.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Man, how well is Gillespie bowling today? What an amazing comeback.

 

[wpdavid]

Great stuff Gillespie, he's been bowling a good line for most of his spell, good to see him finally get a wicket.

Hussey must surely be one of the best outfielders in the world atm, no? I've barely seen him do anything wrong out there at all throughout the Natwest Series/Challenge.

England really have to take a gamble to win this game now, even if that means: a) subbing Solanki for Giles if they lose another wicket before the 40th over; and b) opening the bowling with Harmison, or possibly Flintoff. Can't see Gough being effective at all with the new ball on this pitch, but I'm sure he'll prove me wrong.

I'd be amazed if he does. You could argue a case for replacing Gough with Solanki with Harmison opening the attack. It's pretty desperate stuff, either way. Yet again.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Come in supersub - England send in Solanki. Now would be a good time for him to prove his ability. KP needs to stay there all the way now.

 

[Linda]

Gillespie's talent clearly had a holiday in Bali before arriving in the nick of time..

 

[Jono]

Supersub time.

 

[Scaly piscine]

That's two wickets off a virtual long-hop to third man. Don't tell me that's good bowling, it's just absolutely p*ss poor batting.

 

[shaka]

Gillespie had to do well after that silly drop early in the innings, and he has returned with 2 wickets. Brilliant stuff Jason

 

[Adamc]

I'd be amazed if he does. You could argue a case for replacing Gough with Solanki with Harmison opening the attack. It's pretty desperate stuff, either way. Yet again.

Aye, that makes more sense than replacing Giles, didn't think of that. Especially considering Giles' batting will probably be needed anyway. Wouldn't like to be the one delivering the news to Gough that he's going to be subbed though...

 

[Barney Rubble]

They now don't know who Solanki has replaced - Simon Jones is the name announced over the PA. He'll be disappointed not to do anything today!

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Interestingly, although it couldn't be argued that Dizzy hasn't bowled a LOT better than he has been, the English bats didn't go after him in the slightest today.

Actually, I would argue exactly that. From ball one today Gillespie has looked much, much better. I think part of it is the bouncier track, Gillespie loved to hit the pitch had and get the ball up well above stump height without going short, and he hasn't been able to do that on the slowish wickets he's bowled on so far. With the ball doing that for him, suddenly his line and length improved massively, and he really hasn't bowled more than a couple of bad balls today, where before he was bowling them a couple of times an over.

 

[aussie]

oh yes Dizzy #2 getting form at the right time. So Solanki has subed Jones interesting

 

[shaka]

Well Jones is the likely candidate seeing as he is the teams number 11.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I wish England would do away with the Gough Preservation Society. At least there's over 18 months to get rid the large amount of dead weight in the England ODI side.

 

[Adamc]

Well Jones is the likely candidate seeing as he is the teams number 11.

And the fact that he's not wearing his England jersey anymore. Must be a rather annoying position to be in.