The Ashes

[patswana]

Nielsen and Hilditch are both funny, hilarious how anyone can support Ponting or Clarke for that matter. If any other batsmen had a series (or a year) like these two they would have been axed two tests ago. It's not just the statistics - neither of them look at all comfortable as #3 and 4 in a test side. Clarke should have been disowned of the T20 captaincy 12 months ago, and thus providing the precedent for someone other than Ricky or Pup to captain an Australian side. Unfortunately they have been fixed on this ridiculous succession plan for 4 years now even though we have been reminded half a dozen times how unsuitable Clarke would be as a future captain.

The idea that either of them should be immune due to their "leadership role" is invalid - given that Ricky is the last person you want educating the future of Australian cricket and Clarke does not have the confidence of himself/the team as a leader.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nielsen and Hilditch are both funny, hilarious how anyone can support Ponting or Clarke for that matter. If any other batsmen had a series (or a year) like these two they would have been axed two tests ago. It's not just the statistics - neither of them look at all comfortable as #3 and 4 in a test side. Clarke should have been disowned of the T20 captaincy 12 months ago, and thus providing the precedent for someone other than Ricky or Pup to captain an Australian side. Unfortunately they have been fixed on this ridiculous succession plan for 4 years now even though we have been reminded half a dozen times how unsuitable Clarke would be as a future captain.

The idea that either of them should be immune due to their "leadership role" is invalid - given that Ricky is the last person you want educating the future of Australian cricket and Clarke does not have the confidence of himself/the team as a leader.

Ricky is a stubborn old fool. I wish he would go away. He's really losing it. You summed up my thoughts quite well.

 

[leftover pie]

Only way things will start changing across the whole spectrum of australian cricket is if we lose the ashes.

didn't we lose them already? and now we've lost them again?

 

[thrawn]

Typical mindless squad. Bollinger back just three weeks after he was dropped. If they had any idea Copeland would be playing.

Yep, Copeland should be playing. I don't understand why we keep picking late 20's - early 30's pace bowlers when we have some very good young pace bowlers (Copeland, Hazlewood, Starc & Pattinson) coming through. In all fairness Hazlewood, Starc & Pattinson are all coming back from injury, but Copeland should have been picked from at least the 3rd test onwards.

Tim Nielsen is so delusional. Then listening to Merv Hughes about the selections you realise how stupid current and past selectors are. Still don't understand how they justify so many of their selections. They said the only reason Hughes was in because the only other good batters at domestic level were not openers. Surely that is a worrying sign if you select a guy that is averaging 20 at domestic level? Supposedly Khawaja has flopped the past 5 innings of sheffield shield cricket? They can't say they are basing selections on bringing in youth because on recent selections they have brought in 'older' guys such as harris and bollinger.

Then we have a captain who is a stubborn little whinger, we appoint a replacement captain to a batsman who is struggling as it is with his batting. It is an absolute mess. I personally don't see what others see in Clarke as a captain. Because he is a 'golden' boy they will never drop him. Because Ponting is captain they will never drop him. They also have brought in guys which after one failure they are dumped and they have barely been given a chance.

But we must admit that England are a very good cricketing team.

England are a good cricket side and play as a unified unit, however our performance has been woeful. We shouldn't have lost 2 matches by an innings.

Although I am an advocate for Hughes, it is worrying that we had to pick someone who was out of form. Now that he's in the team, he has to be given at least another 10 test matches to state his case as a long term opening option for us.

I am excited that Khawaja has been picked (hopefully this is the end of Ponting). He has averaged over 70 in the Shield this year, and scored a quick 78no in his last innings.

Nielsen and Hilditch are both funny, hilarious how anyone can support Ponting or Clarke for that matter. If any other batsmen had a series (or a year) like these two they would have been axed two tests ago. It's not just the statistics - neither of them look at all comfortable as #3 and 4 in a test side. Clarke should have been disowned of the T20 captaincy 12 months ago, and thus providing the precedent for someone other than Ricky or Pup to captain an Australian side. Unfortunately they have been fixed on this ridiculous succession plan for 4 years now even though we have been reminded half a dozen times how unsuitable Clarke would be as a future captain.

The idea that either of them should be immune due to their "leadership role" is invalid - given that Ricky is the last person you want educating the future of Australian cricket and Clarke does not have the confidence of himself/the team as a leader.

I don't mind Clarke as a captain from a tactical point of view (he's an improvement on Ponting at least), but he really doesn't seem to have any leadership qualities. The only reason a Captain and/or a Vice-Captain should be immune from being dropped after showing such horrendous form is if their role in that position adds more value to the team than the lack of runs/wickets is costing them (think Stephen Fleming from NZ).

 

[auscyclefan94]

didn't we lose them already? and now we've lost them again?

Sorry, I meant lose the series.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Amusing listening to Australian's worrying about which magic player change will fix the problems - reminds me of 15 years ago in north London.

Your current lineup is a long, long way from being any good, and blooding young players in to that situation with any level of expectation is likely to end up in tears and Mark Ramprakash.

 

[Izzy eviel]

The moment the Aussies lost this series was when they became fixated on finding a left arm spinner to get Pieterson out. Guys like Doherty & Beer should be no where near the test team esp when you've gotten a guy like Hauritz available.

I do feel immensely sorry for Doherty, I'll be very surprised if he has a career after this debacle.

 

[Roland Rat]

Well, again the Aussie tail wagged a little too much for my liking, but we should have it covered.

I saw someone noted that the only Aussie batsman who did any well was the only guy that hasn't spent much time with Justin Langer. Is Langer under pressure in Aus? The Aussie batsmen have been fairly poor so far this series.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well, again the Aussie tail wagged a little too much for my liking, but we should have it covered.

I saw someone noted that the only Aussie batsman who did any well was the only guy that hasn't spent much time with Justin Langer. Is Langer under pressure in Aus? The Aussie batsmen have been fairly poor so far this series.

Yeah, shame pieterson went out. I like watching him bat. So dominant and powerful.

Nobody is under pressure in Australia because the selectors are morons and the people who employ the selectors and coaches don't have anything between their ears.

 

[Monte Zoncolon]

Fortunately, the sport of Cricket happen's to be more boring than watching wet paint Dry

 

[Roland Rat]

Yeah, shame pieterson went out. I like watching him bat. So dominant and powerful.

Nobody is under pressure in Australia because the selectors are morons and the people who employ the selectors and coaches don't have anything between their ears.

He deserved it though, it was a stupid attempt. He still can't be patient. He can trundle along nicely but as soon as boredom sets in he'll have a good old swipe and get himself out.

 

[Ferminal]

Well, again the Aussie tail wagged a little too much for my liking, but we should have it covered.

I saw someone noted that the only Aussie batsman who did any well was the only guy that hasn't spent much time with Justin Langer. Is Langer under pressure in Aus? The Aussie batsmen have been fairly poor so far this series.

There shouldn't even be a batting coach to start with (at least one which is with the team every day of the series). The whole concept of one at test level is flawed.

 

[Mambo95]

The moment the Aussies lost this series was when they became fixated on finding a left arm spinner to get Pieterson out. Guys like Doherty & Beer should be no where near the test team esp when you've gotten a guy like Hauritz available.

I do feel immensely sorry for Doherty, I'll be very surprised if he has a career after this debacle.

To be fair to Doherty, he did get Pietersen out. (Ok, it was for 227)

 

[Frosty]

To be fair to Doherty, he did get Pietersen out. (Ok, it was for 227)

Lol, that reminds me of this

Kambli soon made up for lost time, carving England's confused bowling attack for a double hundred in his third Test. In the team meeting beforehand, one of England's pace bowlers had piped up that he could get him out with an orange. When Kambli reached 200 in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Mumbai, Robin Smith turned to the bowler in question and said - "don't you think it's time you pulled out that bloody orange."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/co...mbli-the-rising-star-who-ran-himself-out.html

To be fair, Beer did get Pietersen's wicket, not sure that catching him at long leg off Johnson's bowling is what the selectors had in mind....

 

[Frosty]

Game intriguigingly set up at the moment. Looking at the scorecard it looks like england are ahead but a couple of wickets go down and suddenly the game changes. The Johnson/Hilfenhaus partnership is looking very important at the mo. Maybe it's time for Bell to play a really big innings that makes a big difference to the result of a match.

Felt a bit sorry for Beer yesterday. Bowling a no-ball is normally unforgiveable for a spinner but i suppose that on your test debut you arent really thinking about where you front foot is landing.

 

[Izzy eviel]

Beer is doing ok. He's bowled a bit wider then Swanny, but he seems to be holding his own. Kid is showing some potential.

Dunno if you guys are aware of the Cricinfo site. For every game it has a hawkeye of every delivery. It's very insightful. You can clearly see how inconsistent Johnson has been when you compare his deliveries at Brisbane & Perth. Generally The England bowlers have bowled at the right places and kept it tight, the Aussies have been all over the place.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/engine/match/428749.html?view=hawkeye

 

[craig1985]

Beer is doing ok. He's bowled a bit wider then Swanny, but he seems to be holding his own. Kid is showing some potential.

Dunno if you guys are aware of the Cricinfo site. For every game it has a hawkeye of every delivery. It's very insightful. You can clearly see how inconsistent Johnson has been when you compare his deliveries at Brisbane & Perth. Generally The England bowlers have bowled at the right places and kept it tight, the Aussies have been all over the place.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/engine/match/428749.html?view=hawkeye

Yeah it's a great resource. ATM though, Australia's bowling is looking rather flat.

I'll show myself out.

 

[Frosty]

Lead up over 200 now although Bell should probably have been given out earlier then he was. Difficult to lose it from this position so looks like the series win will be going to england. Can england force the win though?

 

[LugHugger]

Lead up over 200 now although Bell should probably have been given out earlier then he was. Difficult to lose it from this position so looks like the series win will be going to england. Can england force the win though?

Depends on what he weather conditions are like ahead of play starting tomorrow. If it's overcast and humid, I wouldn't be surprised if Strauss declares immediately and puts Australia in. Early wickets and the pressure that brings could see the game wrapped up in 4 days with a marathon session from Swann in the afternoon and tea sessions. Whatever happens, I can't see the Aussies scoring more than 300 leaving England less than a hundred to win on the last day.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeah it's a great resource. ATM though, Australia's bowling is looking rather flat.

I'll show myself out.

The Beer puns are ridiculous, how reporters etc can say them with a straight face is unknown.

 

[Frosty]

England's 644 is a record for england in australia. 161-5 at the mo, a wicket or two and england could claim the extra half hour to finish it tonight.

 

[Frosty]

171-7, looks like the end will be coming soon

Looking at the australian batting card the thing that stands out in this game is how many of the australian batsmen got a start but then got out for, say, 30.

Also, what is the thinking about Stephen Smith, is he one for the future? I thought that he was an all-rounder but he seems to be sixth choice. Watson is there to act as fifth bowler so i dont see why there is a need for another all-rounder?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am turning to the darkside! BARMY ARMY! BARMY ARMY! BARMY ARMY! BARMY ARMY!

The Barmy army are going nuts!

 

[craig1985]

So Steve Smith shows some backbone now, when the Test and the series is over?

 

[LugHugger]

Do you think that Archibald has taken the rest of the week off work?