*Official* Tour Matches

[Burgey]

Seems all the grounds, besides the MCG I think have been prepared as greentops, don't see the point. Just plummets moral more.

It's lack of preparation owing to weather more than any pre-planning, I'd think.

 

[Top_Cat]

Every bowler is dangerous on such a track, and that's why a pitch like this is ridiculous for a game which is virtually an audition for all the Ashes contenders.

Can't control the weather! Was pissing down last week.

 

[DragonPunk]

It's lack of preparation owing to weather more than any pre-planning, I'd think.

Yeah, plus they are predicting a wet summer, so it might be one of low scores.

 

[vic_orthdox]

It's lack of preparation owing to weather more than any pre-planning, I'd think.

Exactly. Lots of external factors that affect the pitch. Reckon this will play pretty well come the end of tomorrow.

 

[social]

Every bowler is dangerous on such a track, and that's why a pitch like this is ridiculous for a game which is virtually an audition for all the Ashes contenders.

Good players can score under almost any conditions and how they respond in situations like today is a good indicator as to whether they have the right temperament

 

[vic_orthdox]

Good players can score under almost any conditions and how they respond in situations like today is a good indicator as to whether they have the right temperament

Bingo. As Chapelli said earlier, any player today should have looked forward to the challenge, as their runs would be doubly earned today in these conditions.

 

[Sylvester]

Good players can score under almost any conditions and how they respond in situations like today is a good indicator as to whether they have the right temperament

Guess we can throw O'Keefe into the good players Still looks a bit streaky against Monty but almost up to matching his FC average.

 

[DragonPunk]

Steve O'Keefe WAG!

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeh, indeed. I mean, imagine this was the Test match and Marc North was strolling out. Who'd back him for 50?

tbh, the more I see of O'Keefe, the more I like him. He's not spectacular but he does a job. Valuable player.

 

[social]

Guess we can throw O'Keefe into the good players Still looks a bit streaky against Monty but almost up to matching his FC average.

Considering the small kick in the guts he got earlier in the week and the situation when he walked to the wicket, reckon the Oz selectors would be highly impressed with this effort

 

[Noble One]

I never realised Steve O'Keefe was born in Malaysia. He appears to be batting quite well, I always thought his first class record with the bat was more a reflection of his limited number of games played, but he has played really well today.

 

[outbreak]

Interested to see how he bowls. If he can pick up afew good wickets it could leave the selectors looking quite stupid that doherty leap frogged him.

 

[Sylvester]

Yep bowling is the key got too many spinning all rounders being more batting ones atm. Him at 8 and taking wickets would be great to have.

 

[GotSpin]

Yup, don't see the point of preparing a wicket like this, as its nothing like what you are likely to get for a test match.

Yeah. Hate to give our emerging talent a bit of a challenge

 

[robelinda]

I'm happy with the wicket, dont want a situation say like Graeme Kick who plundered spastic amounts of county runs on the flattest wickets seen for decades in the early 90's, like in 1990, then came test cricket and the WI on slightly helpful pitches and bye bye Hicky. Nothing wrong with seeing just how their technique copes with a bit of a challenge that they might not come across every day in FC cricket. You want guys who really crave a situation like this, like Steve Waugh in 97 at Old Trafford, you just knew he'd dig in and dig in he did. Guys like Bevan etc were never going to make runs on that pitch. Steve just wanted to be the man when the pressure was on, just like Jamaica 1995. Some of these guys could use some hardening up, nothing wrong with that.

 

[GotSpin]

Yeah no point having guys pillaging runs on flat wickets then collapsing like a house of cards once there's a bit of grass on the wicket

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm happy with the wicket, dont want a situation say like Graeme Kick who plundered spastic amounts of county runs on the flattest wickets seen for decades in the early 90's, like in 1990, then came test cricket and the WI on slightly helpful pitches and bye bye Hicky. Nothing wrong with seeing just how their technique copes with a bit of a challenge that they might not come across every day in FC cricket. You want guys who really crave a situation like this, like Steve Waugh in 97 at Old Trafford, you just knew he'd dig in and dig in he did. Guys like Bevan etc were never going to make runs on that pitch. Steve just wanted to be the man when the pressure was on, just like Jamaica 1995. Some of these guys could use some hardening up, nothing wrong with that.

I think the wicket makes for good and exciting cricket and I'd love to see more of them, but I do think it's disappointing it's popped up in this game of all times, because it's the sort of thing you'll only come across once in every 100 Tests these days. The ability to play good cricket on a wicket like this is almost irrelevant in Tests these days.

 

[Burgey]

We should declare here and let our blokes have them 5 or 6 down in the 10 or so overs left tonight.

 

[vic_orthdox]

O'Keefe's done a good job. Likes to slash away from his body, couldn't see him batting in the top 6 for a state side, but very handy contribution today.

Collingwood gets Cameron with an outswinger, Georgey might last a few balls against Paul.

Am assuming that England are well behind the over rate today, only had 28 overs bowled just after lunch. Am assuming that's why they busted out Monty against the breeze for 20 overs straight, a bit longer than I'd imagine that they would have liked.

 

[Howe_zat]

Colly nabs him. Had to go down eventually.

Here's something - O'Keefe on 66* today

Smith got 59.

The rest of the entire Australia 1st Test squad put together: 61.