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Ashes Second Test - Lord's, 16-20 July


stevegrant
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Am I looking forward to work tomorrow or what.

 

Well played by Swannie and Fred - top quality bowling. Loved the dismissal of Mr Arrogant (M Clarke (best player of spin on the world according to the aussie press)).

 

\\:D/

 

Not sure I agree Clarke is arrogant TBH. Played a tremendous innings and credit where it is due.

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Great, can come back on here during the day now

 

 

Big dent in the sofa to be sorted out now and better go shopping for some food fridge is a bit bare!

 

Big dent in the sofa ?? Hope you bought plenty of rabbit food otherwise you might not get on the plane for Saturday ;) Another great day to look forward to !

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The Aussies only need 209 more runs to win with 5 wickets left.

 

They've got all bloody day tomorrow to get them can take their time and won't be taking any chances. I don't care about the fact that historically a team chasing big totals to win in a 4th innings don't make it, the maths say to score 522 runs in 190-odd overs is possible, especially for a team like Australia.

 

That ridiculous decision by Strauss not to enforce the follow-on (ensuring a nailed-on draw at minimum) could well come back to haunt us.

 

Pillock

 

And the declaration was too early - an hour before lunch today was the time to do it - or even at lunch.

 

Having said all that I think we'll still win - but it should have been so much easier.

 

Hope you are prepared to apologise to Strauss? By batting on Saturday, we had the better of the weekend weather and, more importantly, gave Freddie a days rest. If we had batted on yesterday, I can imagine your reaction if we hadn't bowled them out. Remember South Africa and Sri Lanka in recent Lord's tests.

 

Dont underestimate the strain put on bowlers by this crazy decision to play back-to-back test matches. If we want the best players to play regularly then the schedule has to change. I see the 3rd and 4th tests are as well.

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Hope you are prepared to apologise to Strauss? By batting on Saturday, we had the better of the weekend weather and, more importantly, gave Freddie a days rest. If we had batted on yesterday, I can imagine your reaction if we hadn't bowled them out. Remember South Africa and Sri Lanka in recent Lord's tests.

 

Dont underestimate the strain put on bowlers by this crazy decision to play back-to-back test matches. If we want the best players to play regularly then the schedule has to change. I see the 3rd and 4th tests are as well.

 

I think Strauss made the correct decision but should have batted a further 15 overs as discussed earlier

 

It was possible but highly unlikely for Australia to get the runs in six sessions

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I think Strauss made the correct decision but should have batted a further 15 overs as discussed earlier

 

It was possible but highly unlikely for Australia to get the runs in six sessions

 

As I said in an earlier post :

 

Since we'll never know what would have happened if Strauss had enforced the follow on it's academic really. One thing it definitely would not have done was to guarantee at least a draw as who is to say the Aussies would not have scored 500+ and then left us chasing a difficult 4th innings target. You just have to say that if the Aussies can win from 128-5 it will be the finest win in Test Match history and if it happens I'd rather give them the due credit rather than rely on hindsight to say whether or not enforcing the follow on was right or wrong. For sure though it looked a very good decision at 128-5. In the end it is down to each persons opinion and as I stated clearly above I thought not enforcing the follow on was the correct decision.

However, I do think declaring 1st thing yesterday was also correct.

Edited by chrisobee
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I know but he was not that successful really.

 

I am still looking for an England No 3

 

Discarded Bopara Bell Joyce Ramps

 

Not exactly spoilt for choice are we ! I doubt England will change a winning team anyway except through injury and Bell is surely their reserve batsman.

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Not exactly spoilt for choice are we ! I doubt England will change a winning team anyway except through injury and Bell is surely their reserve batsman.

 

I was listening to Ian Chappell on TMS and he suggested that we should change the No 3 he was not being biased in anyway

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Am I looking forward to work tomorrow or what.

 

Well played by Swannie and Fred - top quality bowling. Loved the dismissal of Mr Arrogant ([n]M Clarke (best player of spin on the world according to the aussie press))[/b].

 

\\:D/

 

Nasser Hussain said Clarke was an exceptional player of spin, he was bowled two balls later by Swann!!

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/cricket/merciless-flintoff-shows-australia-what-they-are-lacking/2009/07/20/1247941873482.html

 

Here's a really good article in the Sydney morning herald, its author points out that the aussies have now gone 5 competitive games without a win (including the 20/20 thing) and he fears they are becoming a mid-table side. there is a very real fear that if Freddie carries on in this form and lasts till the end of the series, the aussies could get pasted. Obviously, we fear that they'll come back at us all guns blazing, they fear that they've got nothing left to offer.

 

But bret lee might be on the road to recovery, he's got some of the old fire and never-say-die attitude and must be itching to make his mark on the series the way freddie did today. as many people have pointed out, flintoff's test figures really aren't up to much when comparing him with the greats, but he can really confirm his place in the select few by delivering the killer blow to the australia's dominance of test cricket since i can remember.:axe::smt071:smt070::minigun::smt066

 

what a phucking amazing result, one which makes the cardiff draw feel like a victory :D

 

so here's too freddie, strauss & cook, collie, the wagging tail and an aggressive yet disciplined bowling attack

 

ONE-NIL!

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I know but he was not that successful really.

 

I am still looking for an England No 3

 

Discarded Bopara Bell Joyce Ramps

 

IMO you've got to give Bopara at least one more go. He's a quality batsman and his confidence has been knocked a bit; he may well come good. With Pietersen looking like he might not play the next game, it's not the moment for wholesale changes at the top of the order but for showing a bit of faith in the players already chosen (who have just won handsomely as a team).

 

I certainly wouldn't advise calling up Bell again. A few moments reflection will call to mind just how many opportunities to impress he has spaffed up the pavillion steps. He always was a cracking County player and hopefully his re-emergence as just that won't dupe the selectors into promoting him above his capability again.

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IMO you've got to give Bopara at least one more go. He's a quality batsman and his confidence has been knocked a bit; he may well come good. With Pietersen looking like he might not play the next game, it's not the moment for wholesale changes at the top of the order but for showing a bit of faith in the players already chosen (who have just won handsomely as a team).

 

I certainly wouldn't advise calling up Bell again. A few moments reflection will call to mind just how many opportunities to impress he has spaffed up the pavillion steps. He always was a cracking County player and hopefully his re-emergence as just that won't dupe the selectors into promoting him above his capability again.

 

Whilst I feel Bopara cannot be dropped yet, I would be looking at county openers to be the next no 3. As there is every chance the batter could be in during the 1st over, why not someone like Denly or Moore (worcester) who both batted well against the Aussies for the Lions recently.

 

Not forgetting Carbs if he keeps this current run up and would be Ponting's next run-out nightmare.

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Whilst I feel Bopara cannot be dropped yet, I would be looking at county openers to be the next no 3. As there is every chance the batter could be in during the 1st over, why not someone like Denly or Moore (worcester) who both batted well against the Aussies for the Lions recently.

 

Not forgetting Carbs if he keeps this current run up and would be Ponting's next run-out nightmare.

 

Totally agree, there are several options out there for what is really the only England place open to question when everyone's fit. But the place is only open to question at the moment because Bopara hasn't played enough tests yet to establish which was the blip, his excellent play against the Windies or his shakey start against the Aussies.

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IMO you've got to give Bopara at least one more go. He's a quality batsman and his confidence has been knocked a bit; he may well come good. With Pietersen looking like he might not play the next game, it's not the moment for wholesale changes at the top of the order but for showing a bit of faith in the players already chosen (who have just won handsomely as a team).

 

I certainly wouldn't advise calling up Bell again. A few moments reflection will call to mind just how many opportunities to impress he has spaffed up the pavillion steps. He always was a cracking County player and hopefully his re-emergence as just that won't dupe the selectors into promoting him above his capability again.

 

 

I would have no problem with Bopara at 5 or 6 but not 3

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