English Cricket/ *The Ashes*!
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fantastic stuff boys.
An innings and 71 runs. Waltz that, Matilda. 8)
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=41229.msg1229958#msg1229958 date=1291715876]
Great performance by a very good England team.
[/quote]
Agreed.
Credit where it's due.
Fantastic opening day bowling, and Swann polished off in the last day.
I woul like to see a response from Australia.
Great performance by a very good England team.
[/quote]
Agreed.
Credit where it's due.
Fantastic opening day bowling, and Swann polished off in the last day.
I woul like to see a response from Australia.
[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1230097#msg1230097 date=1291732133]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=41229.msg1229958#msg1229958 date=1291715876]
Great performance by a very good England team.
[/quote]
Agreed.
Credit where it's due.
Fantastic opening day bowling, and Swann polished off in the last day.
I woul like to see a response from Australia.
[/quote]
William Hill are offering 6/1 that Shane Warne comes out of retirement and plays at least some part in The Ashes. It's a sad indictment of Australian cricket that this could represent their best chance of rescuing the series.
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=41229.msg1229958#msg1229958 date=1291715876]
Great performance by a very good England team.
[/quote]
Agreed.
Credit where it's due.
Fantastic opening day bowling, and Swann polished off in the last day.
I woul like to see a response from Australia.
[/quote]
William Hill are offering 6/1 that Shane Warne comes out of retirement and plays at least some part in The Ashes. It's a sad indictment of Australian cricket that this could represent their best chance of rescuing the series.
Well that was coming.
As a few of us have noted for a while now, Australia are fucking ordinary. They'll do well to take 20 wickets all fucking summer. A top order that have contributed fuck all, a few others living off their reputation alone, and a tail that has about as much wag as a fucking run over dog.
England could and should whallop them for the rest of the summer.
As a few of us have noted for a while now, Australia are fucking ordinary. They'll do well to take 20 wickets all fucking summer. A top order that have contributed fuck all, a few others living off their reputation alone, and a tail that has about as much wag as a fucking run over dog.
England could and should whallop them for the rest of the summer.
I still believe Australia will fight back. At least i hope they offer a fight to keep this an interesting affair.
They were low on confidence, and this was bound to happen. This probably is the nadir. It can't get any worse. Hopefully the selctors will pull their finger out and stop making dumb decisions like sticking with North, in spite of there being better batsmen available. Selection of Doherty...what the fuck was that all about? The guy averages over 40 in first class cricket. What chance would he have had in this match?
Australian selectors have always overlooked the class shown in FC cricket over time over short-term form at the time of selection. This is haunting them, when they need to get the marginal decisions right to make that difference.
Anyway...
Katich is out - is that probably the end for him? I don't see him fighting back in to the side at his age. Hughes is gonna come in. Word is that Strauss is well chuffed about Hughes playing because they have him figured out. I hope the complacency doesn't come back to haunt him, for his sake. Katich is a consistent 40 to 80 run kind of player, while Hughes, if he gets going, is a completely different player. He can really score at a high rate and make big scores at the top of the order.
I hope they either play 7 specialist batsman and rely on Watson and Clarke to provide the extra hand in bowling or go with 5 good bowlers. Picking North as an allrounder is the biggest joke of the year.
Ponting --- what the fuck man? I was hoping (Even certain) he would turn his form around....for fucks sake.
They were low on confidence, and this was bound to happen. This probably is the nadir. It can't get any worse. Hopefully the selctors will pull their finger out and stop making dumb decisions like sticking with North, in spite of there being better batsmen available. Selection of Doherty...what the fuck was that all about? The guy averages over 40 in first class cricket. What chance would he have had in this match?
Australian selectors have always overlooked the class shown in FC cricket over time over short-term form at the time of selection. This is haunting them, when they need to get the marginal decisions right to make that difference.
Anyway...
Katich is out - is that probably the end for him? I don't see him fighting back in to the side at his age. Hughes is gonna come in. Word is that Strauss is well chuffed about Hughes playing because they have him figured out. I hope the complacency doesn't come back to haunt him, for his sake. Katich is a consistent 40 to 80 run kind of player, while Hughes, if he gets going, is a completely different player. He can really score at a high rate and make big scores at the top of the order.
I hope they either play 7 specialist batsman and rely on Watson and Clarke to provide the extra hand in bowling or go with 5 good bowlers. Picking North as an allrounder is the biggest joke of the year.
Ponting --- what the fuck man? I was hoping (Even certain) he would turn his form around....for fucks sake.
I would laugh at Ponting's volte face if he recalls Hauritz.
Hauri has been in terrific form in shield cricket lately. It was just not right to drop him after that India tour. That could have just as easily happened to Warne or Murali.
Hauri has been in terrific form in shield cricket lately. It was just not right to drop him after that India tour. That could have just as easily happened to Warne or Murali.
Michael Beer? For fucks sake....what the hell man?
CA selectors have lost the plot.
Squad Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus.
CA selectors have lost the plot.
Squad Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus.
I agree with this word for word. This is a ridiculously stupid decision.
DUMPED Test spinner Nathan Hauritz - his disenchantment with Australian cricket complete - has given away his cricket gear.
In a bizarre scene, the New South Wales spin bowler was sitting in front of a cardboard box at his Sydney flat as he gave away his kit on Saturday.
Just weeks ago he was lining up with his Test teammates at the Ashes squad announcement at Sydney Opera House.
As those players prepared for the third Test in Perth, Hauritz had a garage sale, selling unwanted items along with the Test jumpers he gave away.
Heavy wool, long and short-sleeved, and training gear, some with the tags still attached, were mixed with New South Wales and generic gear.
Hauritz didn't need a sign. He simply said: "I don't play for them any more."
In a bizarre scene, the New South Wales spin bowler was sitting in front of a cardboard box at his Sydney flat as he gave away his kit on Saturday.
Just weeks ago he was lining up with his Test teammates at the Ashes squad announcement at Sydney Opera House.
As those players prepared for the third Test in Perth, Hauritz had a garage sale, selling unwanted items along with the Test jumpers he gave away.
Heavy wool, long and short-sleeved, and training gear, some with the tags still attached, were mixed with New South Wales and generic gear.
Hauritz didn't need a sign. He simply said: "I don't play for them any more."
It is a fucking shame, the way they have treated Hauritz.
He has nearly 80 wickets averaging at least 3 wickets every test. He bats reasonably well, and is a damn good spin bowler. But they would rather play slow left arm spinners who average over 40 in first class cricket. If Ponting had an issue with Hauritz, CA should have asked him to man up and accept that he is the best spinner Australia have.
I would love to see Australia lose the rest of the series. It's mind blowing how these guys have acted like bellends. I would rather see Ponting's career or at least his role as a captain to finish before Hauritz's.
He has nearly 80 wickets averaging at least 3 wickets every test. He bats reasonably well, and is a damn good spin bowler. But they would rather play slow left arm spinners who average over 40 in first class cricket. If Ponting had an issue with Hauritz, CA should have asked him to man up and accept that he is the best spinner Australia have.
I would love to see Australia lose the rest of the series. It's mind blowing how these guys have acted like bellends. I would rather see Ponting's career or at least his role as a captain to finish before Hauritz's.
I don't know whether the ACB selectors are taking any notice of the "bring back Warne" facebook group. A portly, middle-aged Shane Warne would probably still be quite good, but not as good as he was in his playing days. He has said himself that he cannot often bowl the fatal "flipper" nowadays.
There would be a big risk that the on-form England batsmen would tonk Warne to all corners of the pitch. If this happened, Warne would be reduced to a figure of pathos and the series to a farce. I want the series to be competitive, so I suppose I wouldn't want that to happen.
There would be a big risk that the on-form England batsmen would tonk Warne to all corners of the pitch. If this happened, Warne would be reduced to a figure of pathos and the series to a farce. I want the series to be competitive, so I suppose I wouldn't want that to happen.
I doubt CA selectors are that desperate, but what do i know! I doubt Warne is the answer anyway. It's quite an unproductive decision too.
This is the team i would love to see.
Watto, Hughes, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Haddin, O'Keefe, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Bollinger.
I would have Hussey bat at number 4 again, yes. Hughes's form is a worry, but he can score at a quick rate if things are going for him, so that's a plus. He is also more likely to get a big ton compared to Watto or Katich. Katich is out injured anyway, so this is an easy decision, as none of the other possible openers are in red hot form.
O'keefe is a SLA, who averages around 25 with the ball in the first class scene. Even though he is younger, he has actually played more first class games than Beer and he has played well in t20 and odi formats when called upon at the international stage. He is a good fielder and a steady bat. He averages around 50 in the first class scene with the bat. Since Australia are desperate to have a SLA to expose Kevin Pietersen's weakness (which IMO is laughable), i'd like to see them give O'Keefe a shot for the allrounder slot. He is more of a bowling allrounder, and go with 4 quick bowlers at perth. I have Johnson in here, but at any other ground Hilfenhaus should get the nod ahead of Jhonson. Also, i think Doug Bollinger, may have bowled poorly in the last test, but should be given another chance as he is a very good bowler.
This gives them Watto + Clarke to be the relief bowlers. O'keefe to take the bulk of the slow bowling responsibilities and 4 quick bowlers. At Sydney, they should consider playing Hauritz and 3 quicks instead of 4 quick bowlers. O'Keefe and Hauritz are good enough to keep the English Batsmen honest. I have no clue how they thought Doherty - who averages about 50 with the ball in the first class scene, over the years, is good enough to be a Test bowler. Beer's record is just as poor, at least he is young, and they could argue that they see "potential". O'Keefe is younger, played more and has a better record though. So this decision is still baffling.
This is the team i would love to see.
Watto, Hughes, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Haddin, O'Keefe, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Bollinger.
I would have Hussey bat at number 4 again, yes. Hughes's form is a worry, but he can score at a quick rate if things are going for him, so that's a plus. He is also more likely to get a big ton compared to Watto or Katich. Katich is out injured anyway, so this is an easy decision, as none of the other possible openers are in red hot form.
O'keefe is a SLA, who averages around 25 with the ball in the first class scene. Even though he is younger, he has actually played more first class games than Beer and he has played well in t20 and odi formats when called upon at the international stage. He is a good fielder and a steady bat. He averages around 50 in the first class scene with the bat. Since Australia are desperate to have a SLA to expose Kevin Pietersen's weakness (which IMO is laughable), i'd like to see them give O'Keefe a shot for the allrounder slot. He is more of a bowling allrounder, and go with 4 quick bowlers at perth. I have Johnson in here, but at any other ground Hilfenhaus should get the nod ahead of Jhonson. Also, i think Doug Bollinger, may have bowled poorly in the last test, but should be given another chance as he is a very good bowler.
This gives them Watto + Clarke to be the relief bowlers. O'keefe to take the bulk of the slow bowling responsibilities and 4 quick bowlers. At Sydney, they should consider playing Hauritz and 3 quicks instead of 4 quick bowlers. O'Keefe and Hauritz are good enough to keep the English Batsmen honest. I have no clue how they thought Doherty - who averages about 50 with the ball in the first class scene, over the years, is good enough to be a Test bowler. Beer's record is just as poor, at least he is young, and they could argue that they see "potential". O'Keefe is younger, played more and has a better record though. So this decision is still baffling.
On the funny side of things....Australia finally have a player named "Beer". It had to happen....
[quote author=Portly link=topic=41229.msg1232857#msg1232857 date=1292239324]
I don't know whether the ACB selectors are taking any notice of the "bring back Warne" facebook group. A portly, middle-aged Shane Warne would probably still be quite good, but not as good as he was in his playing days. He has said himself that he cannot often bowl the fatal "flipper" nowadays.
There would be a big risk that the on-form England batsmen would tonk Warne to all corners of the pitch. If this happened, Warne would be reduced to a figure of pathos and the series to a farce. I want the series to be competitive, so I suppose I wouldn't want that to happen.
[/quote]
However, if he IS rattling Liz Hurley, even his energy levels in the field are going to be way, way down
I don't know whether the ACB selectors are taking any notice of the "bring back Warne" facebook group. A portly, middle-aged Shane Warne would probably still be quite good, but not as good as he was in his playing days. He has said himself that he cannot often bowl the fatal "flipper" nowadays.
There would be a big risk that the on-form England batsmen would tonk Warne to all corners of the pitch. If this happened, Warne would be reduced to a figure of pathos and the series to a farce. I want the series to be competitive, so I suppose I wouldn't want that to happen.
[/quote]
However, if he IS rattling Liz Hurley, even his energy levels in the field are going to be way, way down
Isn't Liz Hurley as old as Democracy?
News reports have Beer being omitted. So either he's shown absolutely fuck all in practice over the last few days, or Australia's tactic is to have 4 quicks bouncing balls up round English heads for 5 days.
The latter is risky. The WACA usually offers something to spin after a few days, as evidenced by Hauritz's recent 5-for at state level, so relying on Clarke and Smith to offer something by way of turn come day 5 is fucking mental.
The latter is risky. The WACA usually offers something to spin after a few days, as evidenced by Hauritz's recent 5-for at state level, so relying on Clarke and Smith to offer something by way of turn come day 5 is fucking mental.
Not when the alternative is bowling Beer. It was a shitty selection from the first minute.
The guy was overlooked at first class level. Suddenly the selectors have seen enough in him to play Tests. All their recent spinner selection have had poor first class record. Hauritz, Doherty, White, North, Smith...the whole bunch is a collection of below average spinners. Hauritz averages around 30 runs per wicket in Test Cricket. So you could say he is the least sucky of the lot. The rest of them average around 40 to 50 runs per wicket at first class level. Beer however, hasn't even played first class cricket all that much. It is not because he is a young prodigy, but because he was overlooked at first class level because he was not good enough.
I think considering everything Smith and 4 other quicks is the way to go. I would have preferred if they had selected O'keefe in place of Smith....but you have what you have.
WACA has been very flat for a while. There is a lot of hype around the surface, but, based on form, i would expect some help in the first few hours and a flat pitch for the rest of the Test. New ball will be a bit tricky to handle, but otherwse it's going to be a batting wicket. I'm thinking they would have liked to prepare a hard wicket to get bounce, so it's not likely to crack all that much either.
The guy was overlooked at first class level. Suddenly the selectors have seen enough in him to play Tests. All their recent spinner selection have had poor first class record. Hauritz, Doherty, White, North, Smith...the whole bunch is a collection of below average spinners. Hauritz averages around 30 runs per wicket in Test Cricket. So you could say he is the least sucky of the lot. The rest of them average around 40 to 50 runs per wicket at first class level. Beer however, hasn't even played first class cricket all that much. It is not because he is a young prodigy, but because he was overlooked at first class level because he was not good enough.
I think considering everything Smith and 4 other quicks is the way to go. I would have preferred if they had selected O'keefe in place of Smith....but you have what you have.
WACA has been very flat for a while. There is a lot of hype around the surface, but, based on form, i would expect some help in the first few hours and a flat pitch for the rest of the Test. New ball will be a bit tricky to handle, but otherwse it's going to be a batting wicket. I'm thinking they would have liked to prepare a hard wicket to get bounce, so it's not likely to crack all that much either.
News says Siddle to be left out. So Beer plays.
If England don't win every remaining game, they want locking up. The Aussie selectors make Sepp Blatter look like he knows what he's doing.
Warney running in to bowl with Liz Hurley hanging off his bell end would still be better than Beer, Hauritz and Doughty combined.
Am happy that Mitch Johnson has been recalled on the condition that he still has that ridiculous moustache that makes him look like an extra from an Errol Flynn movie.
Hughes will shit his pants like last time.
As long as England practice their ducking, they'll be ok for another crushing win here.
If England don't win every remaining game, they want locking up. The Aussie selectors make Sepp Blatter look like he knows what he's doing.
Warney running in to bowl with Liz Hurley hanging off his bell end would still be better than Beer, Hauritz and Doughty combined.
Am happy that Mitch Johnson has been recalled on the condition that he still has that ridiculous moustache that makes him look like an extra from an Errol Flynn movie.
Hughes will shit his pants like last time.
As long as England practice their ducking, they'll be ok for another crushing win here.
I'm looking forward to seein Hughes play actually.
Last i saw, he had a technique that was nothing like i have ever seen before. He likes the ball on bat, like Sehwag, and does not like to leave too many balls. He likes the cut shot like Sehwag too, but the key difference is that Sehwag has a balance in stance and during stroke play that is probably only bettered by Tendulkar among current players, where as Hughes' game is as jerky as anything i have ever seen. That, imo, was the reason he got done in on the fuller balls that followed the short ones. I hope he has made some changes to his batting to avoid that. Because, if he does that, he will be a really solid batsman.
I can understand Indian batsmen having a weakness against the short stuff. Playing most of the formative years on Low, slow wickets facing pie chuckers the majority of the time can mean that there is a weakness in technique against the short stuff at international level. How does a batsman who developed his skill in Australia end up having a weakness against Short pitch bowling?Bevan was another like Hughes...was he not?
Is this the impact of too much limited overs cricket?
Last i saw, he had a technique that was nothing like i have ever seen before. He likes the ball on bat, like Sehwag, and does not like to leave too many balls. He likes the cut shot like Sehwag too, but the key difference is that Sehwag has a balance in stance and during stroke play that is probably only bettered by Tendulkar among current players, where as Hughes' game is as jerky as anything i have ever seen. That, imo, was the reason he got done in on the fuller balls that followed the short ones. I hope he has made some changes to his batting to avoid that. Because, if he does that, he will be a really solid batsman.
I can understand Indian batsmen having a weakness against the short stuff. Playing most of the formative years on Low, slow wickets facing pie chuckers the majority of the time can mean that there is a weakness in technique against the short stuff at international level. How does a batsman who developed his skill in Australia end up having a weakness against Short pitch bowling?Bevan was another like Hughes...was he not?
Is this the impact of too much limited overs cricket?
I don't think any of the England batsmen has a particular weakness against short-pitched bowling. And if the bowler doesn't get a short ball exactly right, it becomes what Geoff Boycott calls a "buffet ball" ......... help yourself! ;D
If Siddle has been dropped, I am surprised. I think he has been the most dangerous of the Aussie pacemen in the first two tests. He's not that fast but he does manage to extract the most out of an easy wicket with seam and swing.
If Siddle has been dropped, I am surprised. I think he has been the most dangerous of the Aussie pacemen in the first two tests. He's not that fast but he does manage to extract the most out of an easy wicket with seam and swing.
Jesus im starting to feel a bit bad for the conv's this is a fucking shambles.
I hope they show some fight and get some team spirit going, the two tests so far have been really shit with the exception of one day its been almost utter domination. The drama of 2005 this is not looking like at all.
I hope they show some fight and get some team spirit going, the two tests so far have been really shit with the exception of one day its been almost utter domination. The drama of 2005 this is not looking like at all.
This is what happened the last time Australia played 4 quick bowlers at Perth.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvind/engine/match/291353.html
I doubt Ponting will have the balls to go with 4 quicks this time around. He should do it though. It still gives hm a better chance than with 3 quicks and an unknown spinner.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausvind/engine/match/291353.html
I doubt Ponting will have the balls to go with 4 quicks this time around. He should do it though. It still gives hm a better chance than with 3 quicks and an unknown spinner.
