*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[pskov]

Atherton interviewing Ponting for Sky at the moment and it's interesting that Punter brought up being under pressure without prompt from Athers. I think he realises deep down that his time is coming to an end.

 

[howardj]

But you have to stand up when the game is on the line, not just when it's there to be saved. Both I guess, but the 1st innings batting lost it.

 

[Spark]

You've got to stand up at any point of a test match, end-of.

 

[Bun]

What is alarming is the spineless way the Aussie lower order crumbled today morning. You always expect traditional Aussie teams to show some guts, take a losing match to the brink, but this was meek surrender. It is almost as if they had given up the ghost yesterday with Clarke's dismissal.

 

[howardj]

Get the wives off the tour too.

Serious.

 

[Burgey]

I think we do need abit of chop and changing before we decide on the core group that we persist with. More in relation to our older players. Personally i have no problem with Clarke in the side i'm just not convinced he should be captain but as you've said we need to make do with what we have. I expect us to hit even lower in the comming year in test cricket.

Well maybe, but let's look at it this way. You've got an aging captain but the one most capable (IMO anyway) of leading the younger blokes for a little while longer. Of the young to youngish blokes (ie. those who are going to be around for say 4 or so years at least) you have:

Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Haddin/ Paine/ Hartley
Siddle
Johnson
Dougeh
Ferguson
Usman
Harris
Johnson
Copeland
Starc

Then you've got the spinners (such as they are). Of the ones likely to be around in a few years, O'Keefe looks likely, Jack McNamara from Victoria should get a run imho, and I really don't know why Krezja seems to have become persona non grata. I mean, if you're going to go for runs, at least Krezja bowls wicket taking balls. He spins it massive tbh.

 

[hazsa19]

I honestly can't believe what i've witnessed over the last 4 days. Amazing, never thought I would see such dominance from an English cricket team.

Even today I thought a win would be frought, a nervy run chase with a storm on the horizon or something like that. But no, great bowling and 6 wickets in less than 2 hours.

Amazing

 

[Spark]

Get the wives off the tour too.

Serious.

Won't matter to one person

 

[Athlai]

Cam White to get the captaincy.

If only he could bat.

 

[howardj]

Well maybe, but let's look at it this way. You've got an aging captain but the one most capable (IMO anyway) of leading the younger blokes for a little while longer. Of the young to youngish blokes (ie. those who are going to be around for say 4 or so years at least) you have:

Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Haddin/ Paine/ Hartley
Siddle
Johnson
Dougeh
Ferguson
Usman
Harris
Johnson
Copeland
Starc
tbh.

And that's a damn good base of players.

Let's get moving like they did in 1993...and look at what blossomed from that period...a beautiful red rose.

 

[Jacknife]

I can see KP behind Strauss with a trophy, looks like he's the man of the match.

 

[outbreak]

Burgey i want to see some new faces in our bowling department. I'm not moaning that we're screwed, just that we should expect another year or more of losing games before we become a good side again.

 

[kingpin]

Congratzzz England....

 

[Burgey]

And that's a damn good base of players.

Let's get moving like they did in 1993...and look at what blossomed from that period...a beautiful red rose.

They actually started it in the late 80s mate. It started to bear fruit in 89. By 91 they were challenging for top spot.

 

[NasserFan207]

Wow. Congratulations England, simply AMAZING victory.

There's clearly trouble in the Australian dressing room.

Any number of them could be dropped for the next game.

 

[Adamc]

Bring back Mark Taylor IMO. Played a good portion of his career as a specialist captain anyway, doesn't need to score runs. Added benefit of getting him out of the commentary box.

 

[Burgey]

Burgey i want to see some new faces in our bowling department. I'm not moaning that we're screwed, just that we should expect another year or more of losing games before we become a good side again.

Yeah I think you're right. The thing was though, in that late 80s period they got to at least build an attack around blokes like Lawson and Alderman who, whilst not greats, at least had some experience to pass on to the younger blokes in the side. IIRC Johnson is the most experieced Test quick we have, and he's played, what, 30 odd tests? (CBF looking it up)

 

[howardj]

All the guys who recently beat the best team in the world in their own backyard (SA in SA) are still available.

We are not in transition at present, and therefore should not accept losing.

And nor are we a young side at present.

When we actually move towards blooding young players, then yes we should expect to lose a few more games, and yes then we will be in transition.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Yeah I think you're right. The thing was though, in that late 80s period they got to at least build an attack around blokes like Lawson and Alderman who, whilst not greats, at least had some experience to pass on to the younger blokes in the side. IIRC Johnson is the most experieced Test quick we have, and he's played, what, 30 odd tests? (CBF looking it up)

Siddle was the most experienced bowler in this match, with only 12 Tests to his name (IIRC).

 

[Spark]

Another problem is that we haven't had enough young players blooded during the golden years. There aren't enough players with that broad, 50, 60, 70 test-match experience to really guide the younger blokes.