English Cricket/ *The Ashes*!

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Bell has opened before with some success no?

I think Trott, Strauss and Morgan are in reasonable nick. If Pietersen comes back rejuvenated and hungry, England could be on to something....

 

[Oncy]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1181296#msg1181296 date=1285272337]
Bell has opened before with some success no?

I think Trott, Strauss and Morgan are in reasonable nick. If Pietersen comes back rejuvenated and hungry, England could be on to something....
[/quote]I think Morgan and Swann are the key.
Strauss will do his thing with minimum fuss, Cook will go out in the 20's more often than not, Pieterson will be his usual dumb selfish ass, Bell will knock those 40's and never take it on, Collingwood will dig out big scores over entire decades and Morgan will be the one (hopefully) to win us matches.

The thing i have liked about England over the past few years is how far down we bat now, i think it was a key part of that amazing Aussie side of the last 15 years With the likes of Warne, Gilchrist and Lee sure to wag like a bastard.
Well Swann, Broad, Anderson, Bresnan and Prior can all bat, properly actual bat so id be tempted to play an extra spinner because taking 20 wickets has often prooved beyond us over there.

I dunno. We have a chance i suppose but its going to need special performances from a few.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Portly link=topic=41229.msg1181264#msg1181264 date=1285266554]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=41229.msg1181234#msg1181234 date=1285263050] Tremlett seems the only slight shock.
[/quote]

Last time Tremlett played for England was three years ago, but Aggers was saying on the radio that since he moved to Surrey his form has got better and he is less "Mr. Nice Guy."

I guess the logic of including him is that shorter bowlers who make the ball swing and seam - like Jimmy Anderson - often get tonked all round the ground in Australia where the wickets are unhelpful. Tall bowlers like Tremlett who bang the ball into the wicket tend to do better.
[/quote]

Yeah he's certainly done well since he's been at Surrey + he's had his first injury free season for many a year. Like you suggest, bowlers who do well in oz need to be able to offer something different from the usual type of pacemen that we tend to produce over here. Tremlett, Broad and Finn can hopefully all fall back on getting a little more pace and bounce when the wickets are flat. I'm a little worried about how Jimmy and Bresnan (if he's called upon) will get on personally.

Apart from having the obvious concerns about Cook and Colly, the squad looks very decent indeed. I wouldn't have given us a hope this time last year, but looking at how the team has done and the fact that the aussies look far from unbeatable, i think we've got a good chance of at least coming away with a drawn series.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Here is the Australia Squad for the two-test series (how lame is that?) against India.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith and Shane Watson.

* They have packed in a couple of 20 year old bowlers and a young (leg spin) alrounder, who i know nothing about. This is unusual for them. They normally don't give players a chance till they are well established in the first class scene.
* Other than Clarke their batting looks surprisingly weak.

Katich is a steady eddie. Ponting hasn't been the man he was for nearly two years now. Hussey has been woefully short of form. Hughes has just not justified the hype around him. Paine is an average classical test bat - who scores at snail pace. Watson may do well against India (with both bat and ball...because he can reverse swing it, and that will come in handy in India) and also against England (probably only with bat) at home.

I'm feeling positive about England's chances.

Harbhajan, Ashwin, and Ojha would represent the best possible preparation material the Aussies can get to face Swann. But Swann is the better bowler at this moment. So it will be interesting.

 

[Oncy]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1181471#msg1181471 date=1285321692]
Here is the Australia Squad for the two-test series (how lame is that?) against India.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith and Shane Watson.

* They have packed in a couple of 20 year old bowlers and a young (leg spin) alrounder, who i know nothing about. This is unusual for them. They normally don't give players a chance till they are well established in the first class scene.
* Other than Clarke their batting looks surprisingly weak.

Katich is a steady eddie. Ponting hasn't been the man he was for nearly two years now. Hussey has been woefully short of form. Hughes has just not justified the hype around him. Paine is an average classical test bat - who scores at snail pace. Watson may do well against India (with both bat and ball...because he can reverse swing it, and that will come in handy in India) and also against England (probably only with bat) at home.

I'm feeling positive about England's chances.

Harbhajan, Ashwin, and Ojha would represent the best possible preparation material the Aussies can get to face Swann. But Swann is the better bowler at this moment. So it will be interesting.
[/quote]
Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Katich are the big run getters, you have to say if thats it they havnt got a lot.

 

[RMA]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41229.msg1181579#msg1181579 date=1285331155]
[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1181471#msg1181471 date=1285321692]
Here is the Australia Squad for the two-test series (how lame is that?) against India.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith and Shane Watson.

* They have packed in a couple of 20 year old bowlers and a young (leg spin) alrounder, who i know nothing about. This is unusual for them. They normally don't give players a chance till they are well established in the first class scene.
* Other than Clarke their batting looks surprisingly weak.

Katich is a steady eddie. Ponting hasn't been the man he was for nearly two years now. Hussey has been woefully short of form. Hughes has just not justified the hype around him. Paine is an average classical test bat - who scores at snail pace. Watson may do well against India (with both bat and ball...because he can reverse swing it, and that will come in handy in India) and also against England (probably only with bat) at home.

I'm feeling positive about England's chances.

Harbhajan, Ashwin, and Ojha would represent the best possible preparation material the Aussies can get to face Swann. But Swann is the better bowler at this moment. So it will be interesting.
[/quote]
Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Katich are the big run getters, you have to say if thats it they havnt got a lot.
[/quote]

Harbhajan has been quite average recently, Raina is performing better right now (although as a part time seamer) India's bowling is going to be a worry, Zaheer cant seem to keep his fitness up, Ishant Sharma though blessed with talent is mentally too weak.

This new lad Pujara looks set to have a bright future been playing really well domestically and in the England tour.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara is a serious talent. But i doubt he will get to play against the Aussies. I really don't see an Indian batsman failing at home. In the last 5 years they have struggled to get 20 wickets at times, but they have almost always come up with runs in India. He has to wait for a retirement or hope that Raina doesn't score big. It will be unfair to drop Raina after the debut he has had.

Harbhajan's form lately has been a worry, but he will bounce back. Zaheer and Sreesanth are working back up to fitness. Ishant, Zaheer and Sreesanth is not so bad. If there is some assistance they will get wickets. But there is nothing to write home about that bowling attack, and the bench strength is woeful.

Especially when you compare that to what England have got now.

 

[Mersey86]

Re: English Cricket

Looking at man-for-man, I have Australia ahead. Adding home advantage and I think we're in for a tough series.

Strauss Katich
Cook Watson
Trott Ponting
Pietersen Clarke
Collingwood M.Hussey
Bell North
Prior Paine
Broad Johnson
Swann Hauritz
Anderson Bollinger
Finn Hilfenhaus

 

[RMA]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Mersey86 link=topic=41229.msg1181626#msg1181626 date=1285340306]
Looking at man-for-man, I have Australia ahead. Adding home advantage and I think we're in for a tough series.

Strauss Katich
Cook Watson
Trott Ponting
Pietersen Clarke
Collingwood M.Hussey
Bell North
Prior Paine
Broad Johnson
Swann Hauritz
Anderson Bollinger
Finn Hilfenhaus
[/quote]

Its never easy against the Aussies, but i think this will be one of th ebest chances England have of getting an Ashes win down under.

We've just had an amazing summer, a month or two of rest and the team will be raring to go. I dont think the teams are too unevenly matched, a lot rest on the bowlers and their ability to get those 20 wickets. Swann broad and finn will be crucial, i think anderson will strugle on the pitches that wont assist the swing.

 

[RMA]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1181613#msg1181613 date=1285337836]
Cheteshwar Pujara is a serious talent. But i doubt he will get to play against the Aussies. I really don't see an Indian batsman failing at home. In the last 5 years they have struggled to get 20 wickets at times, but they have almost always come up with runs in India. He has to wait for a retirement or hope that Raina doesn't score big. It will be unfair to drop Raina after the debut he has had.

Harbhajan's form lately has been a worry, but he will bounce back. Zaheer and Sreesanth are working back up to fitness. Ishant, Zaheer and Sreesanth is not so bad. If there is some assistance they will get wickets. But there is nothing to write home about that bowling attack, and the bench strength is woeful.

Especially when you compare that to what England have got now.

[/quote]

I think Pujara will be in the team for the tour match, the 6th position (which Raina debuted in) is already competitive what with yuvraj, sharma and seemilngly Pujara fighting for a place.

I think the first match line up will be

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Laxman
Tendulkar
Dhoni
Raina
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Ishant Sharma
Sreesanth/Ojha

No real surprises. I dont see a 6 batsmen+5 bowlers scenario here.

I hope pujara does earn a place but at the expense of laxman or dravid. I know they have been the mainstays of Indian cricket for 10ish years now and as much as i like them as players/people youth has to be given a chance. I read somewhere that Pujara has been averaging 60,65 and 80+ in his last three domestic seasons - you cant dismiss talent like that or keep him waiting too long.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Mersey86 link=topic=41229.msg1181626#msg1181626 date=1285340306]
Looking at man-for-man, I have Australia ahead. Adding home advantage and I think we're in for a tough series.

Strauss Katich
Cook Watson
Trott Ponting
Pietersen Clarke
Collingwood M.Hussey
Bell North
Prior Paine
Broad Johnson
Swann Hauritz
Anderson Bollinger
Finn Hilfenhaus
[/quote]

I think there is a very real chance that Hussey will get dropped for Hughes.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Re: English Cricket

From what i've heard/read, Hughes is in line to open with North getting the boot (Watson at 6).

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=41229.msg1181635#msg1181635 date=1285341876]
From what i've heard/read, Hughes is in line to open with North getting the boot (Watson at 6).
[/quote]

That may actually turn out to be a good move. North is not someone that strikes fear as a bowler or batsman. Getting rid of him and playing Hughes actually strengthens their batting.

If thats the case i don't understand their squad composition. They have two more spin bowling alrounders. Why have them in the squad if you don't plan to use them at all?

Watto was an average bat before he was moved up as an opener. I'm not sure what effect moving him down again will have. But i always found that his technique against spin bowling was suspect.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

We are better off discussing Cricket. Lets face it, the football scene has turned quite hopeless for us...

 

[Mersey86]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1181665#msg1181665 date=1285346635]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=41229.msg1181635#msg1181635 date=1285341876]
From what i've heard/read, Hughes is in line to open with North getting the boot (Watson at 6).
[/quote]

That may actually turn out to be a good move. North is not someone that strikes fear as a bowler or batsman. Getting rid of him and playing Hughes actually strengthens their batting.


Watto was an average bat before he was moved up as an opener. I'm not sure what effect moving him down again will have. But i always found that his technique against spin bowling was suspect.
[/quote]
Agree with all that. Katich has also played down the order before, but Hughes/Watson may not be as balanced an opening pair as they would want. For me Hughes is more likely to hurt us than North, but whether the realignment would hurt them elsewhere is definitely a valid question.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

The board president's XI vs Aussies game so far......

This is the team for Aussies.

SR Watson, SM Katich, RT Ponting*, MJ Clarke , MJ North , TD Paine†, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, NM Hauritz, BW Hilfenhaus, PR George.

Watson and Katich opened.

http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/engine/current/match/464525.html

Aussies scored 505/8 dec in the first essay - with two of their batsmen "retiring hurt" (Just to give other batsmen a run out in the middle). North blasted a few runs, but the score is still interesting to say the least.

Here are the figures for Sreesanth and Ojha (The only two decent bowlers in the side - everybody knows about India's weak bench strength where bowlers are concerned)
(Econ)
S Sreesanth 22 6 51 2 2.31
PP Ojha 33.3 9 67 3 2.00

A very respectable 5 for 118 at an economy rate of less than 2.1. Four of the five wickets were top order bats. So when Zaheer, Ishant and Harbhajan come back in to the side, we can expect a bit more fight from them.

Aussie quicks have rattled the Indian batting. Ghambir, Pujara and Dhawan are good bats in the board team, but the rest are very average. There are better first class players who are on the fringes of Indian team (Like Vijay, Kholi, Rohit Sharma etc....) That said, the performance of 3 above leaves a lot to be desired. Ghambir has not found his feet since his recent injuries. I frankly expected more from Pujara and Dhawan. But they did face the first choice Aussie bowlers, for the first time - so may be its just a blip.

Also the Aussie spinner still got the Indian treatment. I think they may be better off playing 4 quicks. In this form, Hauritz and Smith Vs Sehwag, Ghambir, Dravid, Tedulkar, Laxman, Raina and Dhoni can get very very comical.

(Econ)
NM Hauritz 9 0 46 0 5.11 (2nb)
SPD Smith 2 0 20 0 10.00

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

The Indians are notorious for kick starting a career.

Katich, Clarke, Watson, Amla, Smith...i think the list is long. I'm a bit worried they may do the same for North....

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Second innings of the tour match for Australia in India.

* The game ended in a draw - which is not surprising as it was 3 day match.

* Australia were 187 for 6 in the second innings. Off which 100 was scored by Watson.

* They had a mini collapse facing the Indian spinners. Interestingly Ojha - the board XI's best spinner only bowled 3 overs for one wicket towards the very end of Aussie second Innings. They had a mini collapse facing Piyush Chawla's gentle leg spin variety. This Aussie batting is not anywhere close to the lineup they had 4 or 5 years ago.

* Indian bats responded in the second innings with 174 for no loss, after collapsing for 187 in the first innings. Pujara and Rahane scored an unbeaten 52 and 113. Thats a surprising innings from the 22 year old Rahane against a strong bowling attack. I didn't think he was up to the task, as he has only had one first class season under his belt.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Ian Botham tips Kevin Pietersen will lead way for a crushing England Ashes win over Australia

Ben Dorries

The Courier-Mail September 28, 2010

ASHES legend Ian Botham believes England will flog Australia in the battle for the old urn this summer, and says out-of-favour batsman Kevin Pietersen will be a matchwinning star when he returns "with a sting in his tail".

Botham insists the Ashes will be one-way traffic, and has no fear in tipping England's rejuvenated band of cricketers to win the series by at least two Tests.

The great former allrounder, who has watched England's progress closely in his job as a television commentator, has been impressed with the team's skill, but more particularly their team unity through the challenging times of their controversial home series against Pakistan.

"I think England will win the Ashes and I think they might win it in a bit of style," Botham predicted.

"I do think they could win it by two Tests, which would be magnificent. There's a real chance of it.


"England's preparation is good - they have got at least a few (warm-up) games in Australia - and their team spirit is magnificent.

"They have had a very hard last couple of months here with everything that has been going on against Pakistan.

"But they've come through that well, and Andrew Strauss as captain has conducted himself with dignity in a very tough time and that has rubbed off on the team. I think England will win it and I think they will win it well."

Botham expects the brash Pietersen to be one of England's key trump cards during the Ashes, and has tipped him to rebound strongly from being dumped from the limited-overs squads.

He says Australia should be wary that Pietersen has opted to go back to his roots and play for South African provincial side Natal to get some vital first-class practice in the lead-up to the Ashes.

"Being left out will have hurt his pride, and quite rightly," Botham said.

"I think you will find Kevin Pietersen will come back with a sting in the tail and Australia will be thinking that as well."

The last time England won in Australia was when Mike Gatting captained them to a famous win in 1986-87, but Botham believes Ricky Ponting's current side is nothing like its champion predecessors.

He claimed the Poms had to fight fire with fire to enjoy a rare success Down Under.

"England is going to have to be at their best mentally for Australia ... it's a hostile environment and there will be a lot of aggression both on and off the field," Botham said.

"That's the Aussie way, and as long as you enjoy it and rise to it, which I'm sure these guys will now, then I don't see them having too many problems."

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Ok another shameful over-hyping effort regarding yet another English sportsman. This time Graeme Swann...

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/478975.html

He is a fantastic bowler, but crediting him with reviving the art of spin bowling after Jim Laker is a bit much. Warne, Muthiah Muralitharan, Kumble, Bedi, Saqlain (he came up with the wrong-un for offies), Harbhajhan Singh etc may have something to say about that.

Lets see how his stats looks after he plays the subcontinent teams home and away. Some great bowlers like Warne and Murali have gone to India and come away with nothing.

He has taken 100 wickets in 24 test matches (Ok - it is the fastest by an English spinner). But I still don't see what is the big hoohaa about that.

In comparison Ajantha Mendis has take 50 wickets in 12 test matches, and no body is calling him a legend yet.

Most spinners have a good honey-moon period during their first 100 wickets...(Eg Harbhajan was phenomenal). It is what they do after that counts. Some fade away, and the truly great ones like Murali, Warne and Kumble carry on...

 

[Oncy]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1184436#msg1184436 date=1285787995]
Ok another shameful over-hyping effort regarding yet another English sportsman. This time Graeme Swann...

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/478975.html

He is a fantastic bowler, but crediting him with reviving the art of spin bowling after Jim Laker is a bit much. Warne, Muthiah Muralitharan, Kumble, Bedi, Saqlain (he came up with the wrong-un for offies), Harbhajhan Singh etc may have something to say about that.

Lets see how his stats looks after he plays the subcontinent teams home and away. Some great bowlers like Warne and Murali have gone to India and come away with nothing.

He has taken 100 wickets in 24 test matches (Ok - it is the fastest by an English spinner). But I still don't see what is the big hoohaa about that.

In comparison Ajantha Mendis has take 50 wickets in 12 test matches, and no body is calling him a legend yet.

Most spinners have a good honey-moon period during their first 100 wickets...(Eg Harbhajan was phenomenal). It is what they do after that counts. Some fade away, and the truly great ones like Murali, Warne and Kumble carry on...


[/quote]I think he's terrific mate. Not just because he's an able spinner who can toss it up, drift it and get bags of tweak. But he has a brilliant (Aussie) attitude. He's a born winner, a fighter and a top aggressive in your face sportsman.
Although he may not be the most talented player in the world ever (or whatever it is they are claiming) if you had a team of Greame Swanns you'd win an awful lot of games.
Oh and i'd back him with the bat to knock over anything up to say 30 or 40 needed.
Fine player and genuinely i think he's key to our chances.

 

[doctor_mac]

Re: English Cricket

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=41229.msg1184450#msg1184450 date=1285789718]
[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=41229.msg1184436#msg1184436 date=1285787995]
Ok another shameful over-hyping effort regarding yet another English sportsman. This time Graeme Swann...

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/478975.html

He is a fantastic bowler, but crediting him with reviving the art of spin bowling after Jim Laker is a bit much. Warne, Muthiah Muralitharan, Kumble, Bedi, Saqlain (he came up with the wrong-un for offies), Harbhajhan Singh etc may have something to say about that.

Lets see how his stats looks after he plays the subcontinent teams home and away. Some great bowlers like Warne and Murali have gone to India and come away with nothing.

He has taken 100 wickets in 24 test matches (Ok - it is the fastest by an English spinner). But I still don't see what is the big hoohaa about that.

In comparison Ajantha Mendis has take 50 wickets in 12 test matches, and no body is calling him a legend yet.

Most spinners have a good honey-moon period during their first 100 wickets...(Eg Harbhajan was phenomenal). It is what they do after that counts. Some fade away, and the truly great ones like Murali, Warne and Kumble carry on...


[/quote]I think he's terrific mate. Not just because he's an able spinner who can toss it up, drift it and get bags of tweak. But he has a brilliant (Aussie) attitude. He's a born winner, a fighter and a top aggressive in your face sportsman.
Although he may not be the most talented player in the world ever (or whatever it is they are claiming) if you had a team of Greame Swanns you'd win an awful lot of games.
Oh and i'd back him with the bat to knock over anything up to say 30 or 40 needed.
Fine player and genuinely i think he's key to our chances.
[/quote]

I agree Oncy. He's a cracking player.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

He is a great bowling all-rounder and a real asset for England. I'm looking forward to see the Aussies handle him...they traditionally struggle against a good off-break bowler.

I think he is terrific bowler, yes. He is one of the best spinners playing Test match cricket currently. He is also the spinner in the pinkest of form at this moment. But a legend, he is not.....this happens with many English sportsmen unfortunately.

Rooney, Henman, Grame Hicks....etc..

The media hyped Hicks as if he was the second coming of Bradman and Hobbs rolled in to one player....sheesh.

 

[RMA]

Re: English Cricket

Swann is a very good bowler - how often have you seen an england team where the spinner actually attacks? He maintains the length genreally but varies his line and the speed a fair bit - he doesnt settle into a monotonous rythm but varies his attack a lot. Hes a breath of fresh air after some of the spinners recently

I remember a test match england played not too long ago - with a 8-1 field and i think it was ashley giles just bowling wide of off stump continuously.

But as Kingjulian said its too early to credit him with reviving the art of spin - the Sri Lankans imo have the best collective spinners at the moment - Mendis, Herath and Randiv.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

I rate Herath.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Good test cricket this...

Australia 224/5 at the end of first day at Mohali.

Australia scored at 2.48 runs/over. On the outset, you would say -'How the mighty have fallen' - but India has bowled really well.

It was good attacking bowling on a very tight line by the spinners. Zaheer cleaned up a couple of wickets towards the end of the day with some beautiful reverse swing. It was a very very good spell of fast bowling. It was a pity that he did not have Ishanth Sharma to support him today as he injured his knee early in the day.

With only three bowlers and the part time sping of Sehwag....that was a stellar effort from India.

In India regardless of the pitch you need to have a first inning score of 450+ to have a chance of winning the test. The Aussies will be on the backfoot, and will need a very very big effort from their bowling.

Watson has carried his bat through the day for a crab century (280 balls, must have taken some lessons from Collingwood.). As long as he is out there, the Aussies would at least hope to get past 350 - anything is possible.

PS...How shite is North? He left a ball that swung in from just outside off pitching on a good length. In the subcontinent, if there is a hint of swing that line is always likely to trouble the offstump. Not every fucking pitch has the bounce of the WACA wicket. It was a beautiful ball from Zaheer though, to his credit.

Harbhajan Singh has really lost something from his bowling - even his runup and action was nothing like what we are used to seeing.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Oh dear...Indian team has let Aussies get right back into the game. Their tail wagged big time. 428 all out in the first innings...


but fuck me, i have never seen an Aussie team bat so slowly.


They played nearly two days to get 428 runs, which is a par (ok may be 80 or 40 runs above par) first innings score in India.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

Lol...I'm posting to myself...I thought some may be interested in knowing how Australia are doing as this is more like a warm up to the Ashes (Although it shouldn't be. This is one of the premier test match competitions in this decade.)

But it's not good news for the English, it seems Indians are bent on getting them up to form...

Day two summary...

EOD Score: Aus: 428 Ind: 110/2

To be very very honest, that score line flatters Australia quite a bit.

Dhoni's refusal to take the second new ball for 60 odd overs cost India heavily, as they let the tail run away with the game. As soon as the new ball was taken Zaheer rapped up the proceedings with some support from Ojha. It doesn't help that India made some costly drops. Watson was dropped on 0 and as was Paine. Watson scored a century and Paine 90 odd runs. Paine and Watson were both actually dropped a few times. Dhoni was the main culprit, as he tried to make his best Kamran Akmal impersonation. 300 to 320 for Australia would have been a fairer reflection based on performance, but Indians failed to make it count.

In Indian innings 110/2 makes it look like advantage Australia, but India scored 110 runs in 21 overs. Ghambir and Sehwag got out to nothing balls. Sehwag was looking very good as he had raced 50 off 38 balls, but he got out scoring just 59, which was very disappointing.

It is advantage Australia. But if India can bat out tomorrow and a bit on Monday they can ensure that they don't need to play again in this game giving them a chance to go for the win......but can they do it?

Comment on Aus bowling attack - Very Ordinary. They bowled too short in England, and they are repeating the same in India. They need to realize that they are not bowling on hard Aussie surfaces with the kookaburra ball. On a pitch were Australia were struggling to score at 2.8 runs an over, India have raced to 3 digits at 6 an over .....but then shit happens when Sehwag is around, lets see how they do tomorrow morning.

 

[kingjulian]

Re: English Cricket

ok...i give up. seems no one else is interested in this game.....

 

[SummerOnions]

Re: English Cricket

I am reading, it's just that theres little to post to argue with what you say here. That and until there's tests that are in the English spotlight, it's unlikely most will have a viewpoint on this.