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Not sure that I would ever include Bresnan or Monty in a test side if I had to choose but its nice to have a few bowling options that have been amongst the wickets.
England need to keep the pressure up by winning the first test.
whatwhat wrote:A duck and ten, ouch. Yeh Bresnan played well according to the ABC commentary team. Which I'm pleased about considering I sung his praises early on in this thread and I was only doing that on the basis of ODI and his good form in 2020 this year.
Yeah, Bresnan bowled by all reports. Note I didn't say he wasn't good, I just don't think he's in the top tier of world bowlers. I don't think you'd rank him as highly as Anderson or Broad, yeah?
Btw the Sheffield Shield games aren't very well reported here in the UK, how is Ponting performing? I mean I'm not doubting he's a great player but hasn't he had a season but a bit like Kevin Pietersons?
Ponting played for Tasmania on a green pitch that saw a lot of wickets and not many runs. He missed out in the first dig and got a start in the second but didn't capitalise. It's kind of hard to gauge his form, to be honest - he hasn't been at all dominant, but he did make a series of good scores in India (where he's not made a lot runs). Honestly, the worry out of that game was Bollinger, who made is name being utterly destructive on green pitches, who didn't look as threatening as most of the other bowlers. He's coming back from injury, so the hope now is that he'll be at full fitness for the first test.
The best news is Mitchell Johnson winning the game between WA and Victoria. Scored all the runs and took all the wickets - he is the kind of guy who can win series on his own, or be a complete passenger. Hopefully we'll see more of the former in this series...
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Mr. Burning wrote:England need to keep the pressure up by winning the first test.
It's interesting, the Gabba is probably the ground Australia will be most confident at - it's the ground best suited to pace bowling and it should have loads bounce. If we can't bowl England out there we'll be unlikely to do it in Sydney or Adelaide.
Basically, if we're to be an even chance of winning the series we'd have to be strong favourites at the Gabba, but if the first test favours England then heaven help us.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/11/21 16:36:20
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
sebster wrote:It's interesting, the Gabba is probably the ground Australia will be most confident at - it's the ground best suited to pace bowling and it should have loads bounce. If we can't bowl England out there we'll be unlikely to do it in Sydney or Adelaide.
...oh dear. That was kind of like snatching a draw from the jaws of victory then doing your very best to put everyone in the worst state of mind and fitness for the next test.
Gloating aside. It's a draw, but I'm glad I'm not an Australian fan right now. I think if Johnson showed good form in the build up like you say Sebster and Bollinger did not, now might be a good time to bury any ideas that gave.
Was a good test. Looks like it will be a very good series.
Shaman wrote:What a surprise to see an Ashes thread now that Australia finally sucks.
I made an ashes thread last year, when Australia didn't "suck". If that makes you feel any better.
Australia are a complete mess. It's a shame because the series in South Africa is looking to be a much better contest right now. Hopefully they will pick it up a bit but they need to win at least two tests to regain the ashes, don't think so.
I've been thinking about getting into Cricket for a while, actually. Not just because England are good these days (although I won't lie, it certainly fething helps! ), more just generally being disillusioned with footy (not just because Boro are (even more) crap these days, though it certainly helps...).
Cricket just seems less awash with prima-donnas and egos - Pietersen aside, of course. Plus, it looks like a cracking day out.
Who do you follow at county level, whatwhat?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/12/08 18:08:36
I used to follow the counties cricket, mainly Lancashire around but the magistrate told me that lingering around their homes was illegal and I am to wear clothes at all times when outside of my own home.
I follow Rugby now. I am so much happier. Wigan, Leigh and St Helens. Always a fantstic match with lovely pitched battles shortly afterwards on the way to the pie shop.
Albatross wrote:I've been thinking about getting into Cricket for a while, actually. Not just because England are good these days (although I won't lie, it certainly fething helps! ), more just generally being disillusioned with footy (not just because Boro are (even more) crap these days, though it certainly helps...).
Cricket just seems less awash with prima-donnas and egos - Pietersen aside, of course. Plus, it looks like a cracking day out.
Who do you follow at county level, whatwhat?
I don't really bother travelling to see first class county cricket any more. You want to make your first game 2020 or 50 overs at least. Watching live first class cricket or test matches is really hit and miss and sometimes your enjoyment largely depends on who your watching the game with and how much you have had to drink rather than the actual cricket. Most people at my cricket club follow durham, those who are not neutral this is. Who are quite common, you will find, amongst cricket fans (at county level I mean).
In two months time the world cup is on then the IPL straight after. So you've picked a good time to get in to cricket I would say. If you don't have sky the world cup willl be on tms and the IPL was on ITV 4 last year, hopefully will be this year.
rodgers37 wrote:
Shaman wrote:What a surprise to see an Ashes thread now that Australia finally sucks.
Weren't you fairly average last time we were down in Oz?
North is out, and Smith is in. This is fair enough, North's form with the bat had not been great and he really needed to make a big score in the first innings in Adelaide. Smith has been okay with the bat this year, but has been taking a fair few wickets, and could be a very handy player if the selectors finally get sensible and pick a four man bowling attack.
Bollinger is out, and has every right to feel disappointed, bringing brought in after fighting your way back from injury and being given one test then getting dropped, you're right to feel disappointed. Given Mitchell Johnson has been put back in ahead of him, he could probably feel more than disappointed.
Phillip Hughes is back, which is just odd. His technique is considered as being somewhere between tragedy and a farce, but the argument was always that he's making runs so it doesn't matter. Except he isn't making runs, he's failing, a lot, and while his record overall is still strong his form in the last year has been dire. That doesn't matter though, you're annointed by the captain so in you go.
The last selection is the most ridiculous, though. Critics around the country thought Doherty's rapid rise from some time Tasmanian spinner to the Australian test squad was mysterious, but the selectors have gone them one better in picking Michael Beer, a guy who until about an hour a go was trying to develop his game and fight his way into a permanent spot in the Western Australian side. Now he's been picked as the best spinner in the country, despite having a grand total of 16 first class wickets to his name. Surely he's just 12th man, though, and they're just having a look at him while they play all four quicks. Surely?
TLDR? We're boned.
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
Australia (Recently ravaged by the Hive Fleet Ginger Overlord)
whatwhat wrote:
I was amazed how quickly some of my mates are jumping on Ponting's captaining as the problem. I know that's not the problem, the lack of decent aussie spinners is definitely a bigger issue, and I feel kind of sorry for the guy. The newspapers seems quick to say he's past his prime (although he admits it). Oh well.
Smacks wrote:
After the game, pack up all your miniatures, then slap the guy next to you on the ass and say.
sebster wrote:
The last selection is the most ridiculous, though. Critics around the country thought Doherty's rapid rise from some time Tasmanian spinner to the Australian test squad was mysterious, but the selectors have gone them one better in picking Michael Beer, a guy who until about an hour a go was trying to develop his game and fight his way into a permanent spot in the Western Australian side. Now he's been picked as the best spinner in the country, despite having a grand total of 16 first class wickets to his name. Surely he's just 12th man, though, and they're just having a look at him while they play all four quicks. Surely?
TLDR? We're boned.
Spinners are winners, it's scientific and historical fact!
Maybe they are looking for the Ashley Giles factor, a mediocre spinner who may, occasionally ,defy all sporting odds and take some wickets and hit winning runs?
Truly though, he isn't a Warne is he or even a McGill? Do the batsmen need any more pressure on them with picks of even more mediocre bowlers?
Supposedly from what I have read Doherty was Ponting's insistence for selection in Adelaide.
All this switching and swapping in the middle of a series is just an embarrassment. Compare that to last year after the dismal performance at Leeds England only made one change and won the next test. The AUstralia need to decide on something and stick with it, the odd small change to suit conditions. Not run around like the transfer department at chelsea football club in mid January.
Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the selectors have already give up on this series, and are thinking strategically about the future.
In other words, they may have selected these weak looking players because it will give them top level experience without damaging the team's chances.
You don't give up on a home Ashes series when you're one nil down. They really believe Beer is the best option for Australia. Which is interesting, because Hilditch has never seen him bowl. When explaining the decision he kept talking about what he's been told about the guy.
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Mr. Burning wrote:Spinners are winners, it's scientific and historical fact!
Maybe they are looking for the Ashley Giles factor, a mediocre spinner who may, occasionally ,defy all sporting odds and take some wickets and hit winning runs?
Truly though, he isn't a Warne is he or even a McGill? Do the batsmen need any more pressure on them with picks of even more mediocre bowlers?
Well, he isn't a Warne or McGill. He may end up the greatest left arm orthodox spinner of all time, or he may end up a one test wonder... it's hard to know after he's played just five first class matches. This is the thing, the selectors are at the point where they're picking a guy on the fringes of a state side, entirely on the fact that they've decided left arm orthodox is the way to go, and when Doherty didn't work out, they've just picked whoever else in the country is left arm orthodox, without actually bothering to find out if he's actually talented.
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whatwhat wrote:Supposedly from what I have read Doherty was Ponting's insistence for selection in Adelaide.
And now Phil Hughes is Ponting's next choice.
All this switching and swapping in the middle of a series is just an embarrassment. Compare that to last year after the dismal performance at Leeds England only made one change and won the next test. The AUstralia need to decide on something and stick with it, the odd small change to suit conditions. Not run around like the transfer department at chelsea football club in mid January.
I think it's alright to swap players, for the sake of form and to suit ground conditions. The problem is the changes made aren't for form, they're made because they keeping changing their minds on team structure. New players aren't included because they're in form, they're included to fit whatever team structure Hilditch has decided on for this week.
It's a bit like a football manager dropping a midfielder, and picking some kid from the u/17 development squad, because the coach has decided he wants a second striker, and he should be naturally left footed. When people ask about the selection, given the new kid has played five games at u/17s and only kicked one goal, the manager replies 'well we need a left footer and I've been told he's a good kid'.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2010/12/11 04:38:58
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
Well our Australian chums can take some heart. Our reserve seamers are not taking wickets in the tour match but Colingwood has picked up a handful and Strauss has turned his arm over and winkled a wicket out.
Just read the cricket score on the BBC this morning, gotta be happy with that if your a Brit... Australia 98 all out, England 157/0 so far. Now being a 42 year old Brit I won't gloat too much at this stage as I know from past experience that England can grab a defeat from the jaws of victory... but it is a good sign
Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life. Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.
Lt. Rorke - Act of Valor
I can now be found on Facebook under the name of Wulfstan Design
As an Australian, I'm very glad I don't follow cricket at all this year, especially as my wifes parents are both british....yet I still get ribbed about it.
I've been informed that there's been a stupidly high amount of Australian batsman gone for ducks, or may as well be ducks, this series, including Ponting.
AFL is a far superior sport in my eyes.
'Follow me, Sons of Russ! This night our enemies shall feel the fangs of the Wolf!' - Logan Grimnar
Wolfstan wrote:Just read the cricket score on the BBC this morning, gotta be happy with that if your a Brit... Australia 98 all out, England 157/0 so far. Now being a 42 year old Brit I won't gloat too much at this stage as I know from past experience that England can grab a defeat from the jaws of victory... but it is a good sign
Aye, a pair of ducks... it started off with 1/18 and went downhill from there.
Albatross wrote:I've been thinking about getting into Cricket for a while, actually. Not just because England are good these days (although I won't lie, it certainly fething helps! ), more just generally being disillusioned with footy (not just because Boro are (even more) crap these days, though it certainly helps...).
Cricket just seems less awash with prima-donnas and egos - Pietersen aside, of course. Plus, it looks like a cracking day out.
Who do you follow at county level, whatwhat?
I don't really bother travelling to see first class county cricket any more. You want to make your first game 2020 or 50 overs at least.
Yeah, I've received advice along these lines from the cricket fans I know already. Seems like a good shout.
Watching live first class cricket or test matches is really hit and miss and sometimes your enjoyment largely depends on who your watching the game with and how much you have had to drink rather than the actual cricket.
I've heard this too! Is smoking permitted in the stands, by the way?
In two months time the world cup is on then the IPL straight after. So you've picked a good time to get in to cricket I would say. If you don't have sky the world cup willl be on tms and the IPL was on ITV 4 last year, hopefully will be this year.
I can honestly say that I followed English cricket when we were crap, so now I am doubly happy that I get to toot a horn about it.
I have to ask - What happened to Aussie bowling? With the likes of McGrath, Warne, Gillespie, Lee et al in the recent past, what the hell happened? Your best bowler wouldn't get anywhere near the England team. Christ, on the form the Aussie bowlers have shown this series, I'm not sure they'd get a bowl for Bangladesh...
Though guards may sleep and ships may lay at anchor, our foes know full well that big guns never tire.
That was kind of like snatching a draw from the jaws of victory then doing your very best to put everyone in the worst state of mind and fitness for the next test.
