Starts Friday, the Poms are in virtual tatters and we are looking at a 5-0 series win if we don't let this all go to our heads.
Team selection will be interesting, there are a couple of guys who shouldn't be in the team but a big score recently has bought them some extra time. Watson is the one who has to go IMO, should never have been selected to play Test cricket in the first place (I'll give him some credit for that one delivery in the recent Test).
Starts Friday, the Poms are in virtual tatters and we are looking at a 5-0 series win if we don't let this all go to our heads.
Team selection will be interesting, there are a couple of guys who shouldn't be in the team but a big score recently has bought them some extra time. Watson is the one who has to go IMO, should never have been selected to play Test cricket in the first place (I'll give him some credit for that one delivery in the recent Test).
I think you might get your wish re Watson, they won't drop him but he'll probably be rested with that groin strain. Harris might be another to miss as well.
I reckon Warner and Smith playing that Big Bash game messed with their test form. Wasn't a fan of them playing so close to the Melbourne test.
Starts Friday, the Poms are in virtual tatters and we are looking at a 5-0 series win if we don't let this all go to our heads.
Team selection will be interesting, there are a couple of guys who shouldn't be in the team but a big score recently has bought them some extra time. Watson is the one who has to go IMO, should never have been selected to play Test cricket in the first place (I'll give him some credit for that one delivery in the recent Test).
Won't drop him now for a while. Made 68, 176, 51, 103 and 83no (sweet FA admittedly in the other innings though of those Tests) in 5 of his last 6 Tests. Plus he bowls.
Changes depend on injuries although I'd play Doolan ahead of Bailey. Allows Clarke to play at 5 and Smith at 6.
If Watson is injured Doolan comes in for him and hence Faulkner in for Bailey to allow for that 5th bowler. If Harris is rested the Coulter-Nile will make his debut.
Starts Friday, the Poms are in virtual tatters and we are looking at a 5-0 series win if we don't let this all go to our heads.
Team selection will be interesting, there are a couple of guys who shouldn't be in the team but a big score recently has bought them some extra time. Watson is the one who has to go IMO, should never have been selected to play Test cricket in the first place (I'll give him some credit for that one delivery in the recent Test).
I think you might get your wish re Watson, they won't drop him but he'll probably be rested with that groin strain. Harris might be another to miss as well.
I reckon Warner and Smith playing that Big Bash game messed with their test form. Wasn't a fan of them playing so close to the Melbourne test.
I reckon you'll have to drag Harris away kicking and screaming if he's rested, it would be a travesty if the blokes who won the series weren't there for the actual Ashes presentation at the end of this one. Plenty of time before the SA tour......as long as he's not expected to play any mickey mouse cricket in the meantime.
And I agree with Warner & Smith.....how the hell they could be allowed to play 20/20 in the middle of a Test Series is beyond me. It's just clown cricket......as shown by the use of flight up flashing stumps & bails (that don't even fall off when the stumps are given a decent whack !)
cheers
Mal.
Starts Friday, the Poms are in virtual tatters and we are looking at a 5-0 series win if we don't let this all go to our heads.
Team selection will be interesting, there are a couple of guys who shouldn't be in the team but a big score recently has bought them some extra time. Watson is the one who has to go IMO, should never have been selected to play Test cricket in the first place (I'll give him some credit for that one delivery in the recent Test).
I think you might get your wish re Watson, they won't drop him but he'll probably be rested with that groin strain. Harris might be another to miss as well.
I reckon Warner and Smith playing that Big Bash game messed with their test form. Wasn't a fan of them playing so close to the Melbourne test.
I reckon you'll have to drag Harris away kicking and screaming if he's rested, it would be a travesty if the blokes who won the series weren't there for the actual Ashes presentation at the end of this one. Plenty of time before the SA tour......as long as he's not expected to play any mickey mouse cricket in the meantime.
And I agree with Warner & Smith.....how the hell they could be allowed to play 20/20 in the middle of a Test Series is beyond me. It's just clown cricket......as shown by the use of flight up flashing stumps & bails (that don't even fall off when the stumps are given a decent whack !)
cheers
Mal.
Agree on 20/20....its who cares cricket........one player who must be thinking when its going to be my turn is Klinger from South Australia...seems to make runs in all forms of cricket but cant get close to test selection...maybe the selectors deduct points for batting on the friendly Adelaide oval...
Warner fails, played a nothing shot that wasn't even anywhere near the line of the ball, lost his off peg.
Time for Watson to stand up in a first innings.
Three slips and a gully.
Clarke gone, caught at second slip off Stokes, 3/78 with lunch not far away.
Watson trapped in front one ball before tea !!
4/94
This top order will seriously embarrass us in South Africa. Same old rubbish.
Warner bowled playing down wrong line - happens a lot and aside from the odd rush of blood appears to be a technical flaw he needs to address.
Watson out in the last over before an interval, anybody else see a pattern here?
Bailey simply not up to this level. See ya.
Bailey's Test career just ended permanently, caught at slip for not very many.
Aussies in trouble now at 5-down.
Bailey simply not up to this level. See ya.
Yep....Doolan will bat five or six in South Africa....
Watson, Warner, Smith, Haddin & Bailey are always very susceptible to an early departure. It's mind-boggling to understand how we have got to be 4-0 at times.
Bailey simply not up to this level. See ya.
Yep....Doolan will bat five or six in South Africa....
I'd prefer to see Watson move down to six and play like a real all rounder but then you have the problem of who bats at three I guess.
Haddin is going to get trapped in front if he doesn't stop jumping !!
Watson, Warner, Smith, Haddin & Bailey are always very susceptible to an early departure. It's mind-boggling to understand how we have got to be 4-0 at times.
i would add Clarke to that 'early departure' call quite frankly.
Watson, Warner, Smith, Haddin & Bailey are always very susceptible to an early departure. It's mind-boggling to understand how we have got to be 4-0 at times.
Bar Bailey, the batsmen have done well and got runs when they matttered, plus the tail making heaps. Then the bowlers have simply destroyed them.
Watson, Warner, Smith, Haddin & Bailey are always very susceptible to an early departure. It's mind-boggling to understand how we have got to be 4-0 at times.
i would add Clarke to that 'early departure' call quite frankly.
He's had a couple of centuries but other than that Clarke hasn't done well again at no.4. Want Doolan in to replace Bailey, bat at 4 so Clarke can drop back to 5 and Smith at 6. With Haddin and the tail to copme that'd look so muc h better balanced.
Poms don't know how to win any more, at 5/97, they should have applied the blow-torch to our middle order & tail to ensure they were chasing no more than 150.
They now have to make over 300 to keep themselves in the match and are already one down, how the hell were they so good on home soil ??
Watson, Warner, Smith, Haddin & Bailey are always very susceptible to an early departure. It's mind-boggling to understand how we have got to be 4-0 at times.
i would add Clarke to that 'early departure' call quite frankly.
He's had a couple of centuries but other than that Clarke hasn't done well again at no.4. Want Doolan in to replace Bailey, bat at 4 so Clarke can drop back to 5 and Smith at 6. With Haddin and the tail to copme that'd look so muc h better balanced.
The problem isn't necessarily Clarke batting at #4, it's that he has to come in so early after the openers have failed.
Clarke hasn't made first digs runs for a while and his more recent dismissals have looked soft and reminiscent of his earlier career when he wasn't a great starter and made a lot of scores between 10-30. Agree that he is better at 5 we need to find blokes to bat at 2, 3 and 4 first.
Clarke hasn't made first digs runs for a while and his more recent dismissals have looked soft and reminiscent of his earlier career when he wasn't a great starter and made a lot of scores between 10-30. Agree that he is better at 5 we need to find blokes to bat at 2, 3 and 4 first.
For now we can run with Warner, Rogers, Watson, and either Doolan or White in the top 4. Top 3 have been making some runs, White is having a stellar season in shield cricket, so maybe strike while the form's hot there, and Doolan's deserves a run. That will allow Clarke to go back to 5 and bat Smith at 6.
Poms don't know how to win any more, at 5/97, they should have applied the blow-torch to our middle order & tail to ensure they were chasing no more than 150.
They now have to make over 300 to keep themselves in the match and are already one down, how the hell were they so good on home soil ??
This is a very good question. They couldn't have dropped in form that bad, and so quickly. Then again we could have made a few more runs as some of the stroke play choices again had me wondering and Smith in particular for the last wicket. They could have easily played out the day and added another 30 runs by playing safe. We need to rattle the Poms with 2 or 3 early wickets before lunch to have them completely on the back foot. I look at Bailey and wonder what his worth in the squad is to be honest. I'm not a selector though.
Its funny with Smith.....he has made runs but I still dont rate him and reckon he will be found out in South Africa where they will find the edge of that angled bat he dangles outside off stump. He has managed to find the middle of that angled blade for three centuries vs England but I dont see him getting away with it vs the Saffies attack and they dont drop too many catches like the Poms.
Hats off to Haddin... I thought he was gone for all money but he would have been player of the series if not for Johnson's dominance..... reckon the Poms will be all out for 220 odd and will get rolled for about 170 in the second dig and it will be 5-0.....
Never known a team to pull so many go slow/hold up the game tactics as the Poms and the ICC need to enforce penalties for this type of carry on which ruins the game....
Its funny with Smith.....he has made runs but I still dont rate him and reckon he will be found out in South Africa where they will find the edge of that angled bat he dangles outside off stump. He has managed to find the middle of that angled blade for three centuries vs England but I dont see him getting away with it vs the Saffies attack and they dont drop too many catches like the Poms.
Hats off to Haddin... I thought he was gone for all money but he would have been player of the series if not for Johnson's dominance..... reckon the Poms will be all out for 220 odd and will get rolled for about 170 in the second dig and it will be 5-0.....
Never known a team to pull so many go slow/hold up the game tactics as the Poms and the ICC need to enforce penalties for this type of carry on which ruins the game....
Smith I like to keep with as he's still young with alot to offer. May be up and down for a while but he has something to work with. Like to see him develop his bowling a little more as that'd be very handy for a number of relief overs.
On the up side... this side has something that won't surrender. At 5 for under 100 we achieved over 300... that is character. There's some steel in this side, but not enough blokes who have it.
Its funny with Smith.....he has made runs but I still dont rate him and reckon he will be found out in South Africa where they will find the edge of that angled bat he dangles outside off stump. He has managed to find the middle of that angled blade for three centuries vs England but I dont see him getting away with it vs the Saffies attack and they dont drop too many catches like the Poms.
Hats off to Haddin... I thought he was gone for all money but he would have been player of the series if not for Johnson's dominance..... reckon the Poms will be all out for 220 odd and will get rolled for about 170 in the second dig and it will be 5-0.....
Never known a team to pull so many go slow/hold up the game tactics as the Poms and the ICC need to enforce penalties for this type of carry on which ruins the game....
Smith I like to keep with as he's still young with alot to offer. May be up and down for a while but he has something to work with. Like to see him develop his bowling a little more as that'd be very handy for a number of relief overs.
I actually like Smith as an individual and like how he doesnt get too carried away with himself and has a humble attitude..I just wish he would play with a straighter bat and cut out the one day shots that get him out cheaply......I too would like to see him bowl more as I think he has something to offer with his leggies.
Could be a future captain given he has a easy going attitude and of course comes from NSW....
On the up side... this side has something that won't surrender. At 5 for under 100 we achieved over 300... that is character. There's some steel in this side, but not enough blokes who have it.
And you could argue Haddin's charmed form cannot continue e.g. in SA, then we're stuffed.....
I'd be blooding Faulkner or maybe even Mitch Marsh at 6.
Haddin must be close to man of the series... just behind Mitchamus J.
All this beer advertising going on while the cricket is on telly certainly can't be good for the do-gooders of this society. Just saw an ad for Carlton Cold. Love that stuff. ;D
This top order will seriously embarrass us in South Africa. Same old rubbish.
Warner bowled playing down wrong line - happens a lot and aside from the odd rush of blood appears to be a technical flaw he needs to address.
Watson out in the last over before an interval, anybody else see a pattern here?
I wish I could say that you were wrong, but I can't. Our bowling may have been really good this series, but our batting still has serious issues. Especially in the depth department.
Bailey's Test career just ended permanently, caught at slip for not very many.
Aussies in trouble now at 5-down.
I am sorry to say that his technique is really good for one day cricket, where the ball doesn't move around much. For test matches, his technique simply isn't good enough. He just gives the slips catching practice.
Bailey's Test career just ended permanently, caught at slip for not very many.
Aussies in trouble now at 5-down.
I am sorry to say that his technique is really good for one day cricket, where the ball doesn't move around much. For test matches, his technique simply isn't good enough. He just gives the slips catching practice.
yet you could easily apply the same logic to one S. Smith?
Bailey's Test career just ended permanently, caught at slip for not very many.
Aussies in trouble now at 5-down.
I am sorry to say that his technique is really good for one day cricket, where the ball doesn't move around much. For test matches, his technique simply isn't good enough. He just gives the slips catching practice.
yet you could easily apply the same logic to one S. Smith?
Smith has quite an unorthodox style, but he usually copes reasonably when the ball is moving. I'm not so sure about him in spin friendly conditions, but that is another issue.
Bailey's Test career just ended permanently, caught at slip for not very many.
Aussies in trouble now at 5-down.
I am sorry to say that his technique is really good for one day cricket, where the ball doesn't move around much. For test matches, his technique simply isn't good enough. He just gives the slips catching practice.
yet you could easily apply the same logic to one S. Smith?
Smith has quite an unorthodox style, but he usually copes reasonably when the ball is moving. I'm not so sure about him in spin friendly conditions, but that is another issue.
Actually, with Clarke, Smith is the best player of spin in the side. One that copes with it very well
This top order will seriously embarrass us in South Africa. Same old rubbish.
Warner bowled playing down wrong line - happens a lot and aside from the odd rush of blood appears to be a technical flaw he needs to address.
Watson out in the last over before an interval, anybody else see a pattern here?
I wish I could say that you were wrong, but I can't. Our bowling may have been really good this series, but our batting still has serious issues. Especially in the depth department.
Actually, bar one innings of all out 47 we've generally batted well against South Africa both here and abroad. A couple of 500s last summer against them. Our batting can be a bit brittle but the innings usually ends up with a decent score. It's been pretty decent this summer.
All this beer advertising going on while the cricket is on telly certainly can't be good for the do-gooders of this society. Just saw an ad for Carlton Cold. Love that stuff. ;D
Cats' piss!
I don't drink any of the mass-produced pig swill unless I'm desperate :P
But here is Trevor O'Hoy, former boss of Australia's biggest brewer, Foster's, and a 33-year servant of the company doing just that, pronouncing the unthinkable: that mainstream beers are simply bland and inoffensive.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/former-fosters-brewer-damns-bland-beers-of-the-mainstream-20131222-2zt0l.html#ixzz2pQSWXkk9
Watson is about 8th in line when it comes to number 3 or 4 in this country.
Simply should not be in the Test team.
Watson is about 8th in line when it comes to number 3 or 4 in this country.
Simply should not be in the Test team.
His bowling relief of the big time bowlers has kept him in the side. His ability to take catches worries me. His batting has not been elite to say the least. He just doesn't get it together often enough. Don't get me wrong. I like the guy, but he will struggle to hold his spot the way he is going.
It's official, 5-0 series win to the Aussies.
Ben Stokes cannot beat 11 players on his own, the Poms need to go and find ten new guys who have some backbone plus genuinely want to play for their country.
Why did they drop Joe Root ?? He's got a solid technique and stands up under pressure, never seems to get flustered at all regardless of the situation.
Stokes & Root, there's two players they can start rebuilding with !!
Why did they drop Joe Root ?? He's got a solid technique and stands up under pressure, never seems to get flustered at all regardless of the situation.
Stokes & Root, there's two players they can start rebuilding with !!
I think it was more about testing the metal of some of the others more than dropping Root.
Thank christ for that. Lock thread now mods please. England go home. Footy season come now. ;D
It's official, 5-0 series win to the Aussies.
Ben Stokes cannot beat 11 players on his own, the Poms need to go and find ten new guys who have some backbone plus genuinely want to play for their country.
Why did they drop Joe Root ?? He's got a solid technique and stands up under pressure, never seems to get flustered at all regardless of the situation.
Stokes & Root, there's two players they can start rebuilding with !!
I'll add Broad to Stokes as the two poms who can go home and think they had a go this series...if the English had some half decent slippers Broad would have 25 plus wickets this series and as Warne suggested he is talented with the bat and should have done better.......
KP is the biggest dissapointment for England...he just couldnt be bothered when it got tough and played like a milllionaire everytime he batted...overated and over hyped.....
Biggest dud is Bairstow who cant keep or bat.....dont understand why Jos Buttler wasnt picked on the tour, good keeper and a real good player of pace bowling.
Goodbye Andy Flower IMO....
Root has a good technique but doesnt play enough strokes......England were pathetic over all and I dont think you could even consider them good warm up material for our tour to South Africa...like to see five test played vs the Saffies.
re: Watson....will stay in the team....we dont have many other options and his bowling is handy......reckon Bailey will tour South Africa but Doolan will play in the tests as Bailey wont last an over vs Steyn and crew...
I agree Broad and Stokes can hold their heads high for the quality effort they have had in this English side. Catches win matches as we have seen for years. The English have not held their catches well in this Ashes series at all. I am glad we have swept it 5-0. A real turn around from the recent 3-0 we showed over there. Lets just see what they can bring on in the one day format of the game.
Watson is about 8th in line when it comes to number 3 or 4 in this country.
Simply should not be in the Test team.
Like to see you find them. If he's 8th then why isn't our batting alot stronger. 68, 176, 51, 103, 83no and 43 in 6 of his last 7 Tests. Led the runscorers in England. Must have some pretty fair no.3's waiting in the wings if he's 8th in line. Especially one's that can bowl as well. While he's certainly no Boon or Ponting and a quite unreliable but to say he should be out of the side right is is ridiculous as he is scoring runs. There just isn't the bats around at the moment. Would be better if he took control of number 6.
It's official, 5-0 series win to the Aussies.
Ben Stokes cannot beat 11 players on his own, the Poms need to go and find ten new guys who have some backbone plus genuinely want to play for their country.
Why did they drop Joe Root ?? He's got a solid technique and stands up under pressure, never seems to get flustered at all regardless of the situation.
Stokes & Root, there's two players they can start rebuilding with !!
I pretty sure that the pommy players where instructed to start scoring more quickly rather than occupy the crease. Root didn't do that and got the axe. Fair enough as well.
Plus he's another serial bullcrap artist. Never thinks he's out, always shaking his head when he's told to go. screw him.