ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You fucking beauty!!!!!
THE ASHES
- Thread starter Ryan
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Can't wait for Thursday now.
*hooked*
*hooked*
That was out! It looks more out with every replay. Brilliant test! Well played the Aussies though. I think England got a bit lucky there really.
I thought England would trash Australia ... so ... Did Australia play better than their current form, or is this England's level?
Well @LeTallecWiz - I think it was a weird test mainly dominated by DRS and the ability of both teams to use it. The Trott decision was crucial to making this as close as it was imo. That was defo not out and the umpire made a mistake with the technology. You could argue the Aussies could point out the obvious Broad dismissal mistake but really that is not the same. Trott out or Broad in? - In a batting context is a no brainer.
They did well though and all points to a boss series. 🙂
They did well though and all points to a boss series. 🙂
All of that is true, but in my book the gap between the two sides in terms of raw ability should have overridden it. Instead, England got cocky and very nearly paid for that with a defeat, whereas Australia were their usual gutsy selves and IMO can count themselves unlucky in the end.
I wonder what effect this will have on the two teams. If it fires them both up, that should amount to a net gain for England because they're certainly the more talented side. Are they capable of responding in the right way though?
I wonder what effect this will have on the two teams. If it fires them both up, that should amount to a net gain for England because they're certainly the more talented side. Are they capable of responding in the right way though?
Well if they underperformed by being cocky you'd assume that won't happen again with it coming so close!
I wouldn't though, not with England. I would with Australia if the boot were on the other foot, but I'm less certain that England have enough about them to respond in that way.
I think that all the cliches about derby matches in football can be applied to an Ashes test. Form goes out the window etc etc.
That said, the edge will now be with England as they only need to draw the series to retain the Ashes. I can't see the Aussies winning two matches.
That said, the edge will now be with England as they only need to draw the series to retain the Ashes. I can't see the Aussies winning two matches.
Looking towards Lords. You'd think that Bresnan in over Finn is a cert. Lords is a way better pitch for seam than Trent Bridge though so it's still a tricky one.
@FoxForceFive - I don't know if you know but Lords is famous for having a wicket that is actually on a slope. Perfect for Anderson. I predict great things but we'll see.
@FoxForceFive - I don't know if you know but Lords is famous for having a wicket that is actually on a slope. Perfect for Anderson. I predict great things but we'll see.
Ironically they should have picked Bresnan over Finn for this test just gone, whereas (as you suggest) Lord's may well suit Finn better, in theory at any rate.
I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the O'Hare household when the OUT sign flashed up.
Not a good idea methinks. You'd probably have got squashed.
Agreed, mate. I'd want to be sure his head's right, but (all other things being equal) I'd probably stick with Finn.
It didn't need to flash up, I could tell from the first look that he'd got an edge on it.
Nonetheless, it was just as devastating. You'd have to have a cold heart, Englishman or not, to have not felt some pang of sorrow for several members of that Australian side. Agar's effort, Siddle taking 5 in the first innings, Broadgate, and then Brad Haddin's knock - maybe fewer runs than in other Ashes tons, but certainly not less spirit - turned all of this into one of the best Ashes tests I've ever had the privilege to watch.
No one in Australia is furious funnily enough. No one expected them to even come close, so you can't be upset when they have an almighty crack like that.
I've just sat through 5 of the most exhilarating days cricket you'll ever see. And now there's a series worth watching and getting excited over - it's not all bad really.
I agree. I can't see them changing that side.
The only change at all from the first test might be Khawaja coming in for Cowan.
The Ashes always have some sort of magic that makes so many matches into classics. Australia were supposed to be in a bad state, but come the Trent Bridge Test and they put on a fantastic performance. If they had managed to get those 14 runs to win, it would have broken pretty well every record in Wisden for a fourth innings!
I don't really feel that sympathetic to the Aussies, because in spite of losing that match, they must have come out of it feeling better about themselves as a team than they did before.
. . . . . . and I don't recall the Aussies feeling sympathetic towards England when we had a shit team! 😀
I don't really feel that sympathetic to the Aussies, because in spite of losing that match, they must have come out of it feeling better about themselves as a team than they did before.
. . . . . . and I don't recall the Aussies feeling sympathetic towards England when we had a shit team! 😀
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised to see that change. It'll be interesting to see if Warner departs England on Tuesday as is planned, if he doesn't expect to see him starting on Thursday.
For a neutral, I didn't quite see things the same way.
It took a teenager's efforts to give a serious kick up the backside of some of Australia's senior bats.
Before that Australia put in a professional performance with the ball and yet another gutless performance with the bat.
I wouldn't take credit away from Anderson for bowling exceptionally well, but Australia surrendered a bit too easily in the first effort. That was ultimately the difference between winning and losing.
Some of the news article even on supposedly neutral websites like cricinfo has a decidedly English bias. They lambasted English bats for throwing wickets away, while going over the top in praising Anderson for mesmerising the Aussie bats with skill. In terms of skill there is not a world of difference. England are better, but if Kiwis could test England, Australia can sure do better.
The old ‘cancer in the team’ argument springs to life for the Aussies again. This time leveled at Watson.
Let’s face facts; it’s Clarke. Great batsman but having Michael Clarke as Captain is like having Michael Owen as Chairman of the FA, England Manager, Captain, striker and goalie. You just shouldn’t go there, megalomaniac isn’t in it.
Clarke has been involved in incidents with about 10 players now that have always ended up being ‘their fault’. Doesn’t wash.
Let’s face facts; it’s Clarke. Great batsman but having Michael Clarke as Captain is like having Michael Owen as Chairman of the FA, England Manager, Captain, striker and goalie. You just shouldn’t go there, megalomaniac isn’t in it.
Clarke has been involved in incidents with about 10 players now that have always ended up being ‘their fault’. Doesn’t wash.
Starc bowled poorly in the first test, but could have done some real damage at Lord's as he gets it to swing late. The 'slope' can be quite conducive to that.
The extra bounce should suit Harris, and I expect Siddle to cause some problems the way he hits the deck.
Khawaja for Cowan? I think even Ed's Mum would have advocated that.
As for England, well we usually get beaten by the Aussies at Lord's, I think it's important that Root shows what he can really do in this match.
The extra bounce should suit Harris, and I expect Siddle to cause some problems the way he hits the deck.
Khawaja for Cowan? I think even Ed's Mum would have advocated that.
As for England, well we usually get beaten by the Aussies at Lord's, I think it's important that Root shows what he can really do in this match.
