The Cricket Thread

[cockjol]

Agree with most of that, not so Prior, you've only got to go back to March and he was filling his boots against New Zealand, I'm convinced his is nothing more than a bad run of scores, still back him to make a score in this series. Agree about the bowling front though, Broad took his 200th wicket in this match, only the second slowest bowling from England to do it. For me, having him opening the bowling is a worry, and Bresnan is a partnership breaker, but he doesn't bowl overly tightly for me and isn't going to run through a side.

Cook's captaincy is a worry, we're back to the unimaginative Atherton type days where the hands go in the pockets after 15 overs without a wicket. Hoping it's a learning curve though.

Prior is suffering from a the similar jinx of being named manager of the month...he's gone downhill since being named cricketer of the year...sure he will bounce back soon...he's too good

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

A&C.

Fair play. That nearly made me shit myself.

Best regards

S_B

eeeew.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I'd like to put an alternative view ...

Batsmen go through patches of form like every other sportsmen, and the top 6 we've got at the moment is the best in the country, with the one question mark still hanging over Bairstow who is being given the chance to prove himself. And the chance has to be extended; too often in the past we have chopped and changed after a couple of bad performances which does nothing but put pressure on those coming in.

Root is there to stay for a long time unless he really doesn't score anything for a whole series. He's been identified as the best opening prospect we've got, and all the experts rave about his technique as an opener. And he score 180 10 days ago.

Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Bell and immovable right now.

Prior is easily the best keeper / batsman we've got and there is no question of his place being under jeopardy.

Anderson and Swann are no-brainers. Broad has started to bat well again; not least when he got us past the follow-on yesterday. And his first 200 wickets took 60 matches against 55 for Jimmy Anderson. Not much difference. Courtney Walsh took 58 matches and went on to take over 500.

As for the third seamer, you take a decision on the day. Flower & co thought Bresnan was a better bet than Tremlett in this match, and I wouldn't argue with them. (Plus I feel a lot happier with Bresnan in the batting line-up.)

It would be nice if everybody hit top form at the same time, but it rarely happens. We should stick with what we've got with minor adjustments when the time is right, not major shake-ups when we fail to win 1 match.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Match abandoned. England retain the Ashes.

Woo hoo!

A shame that the rain buggered our chances of a 5-0, but there you go.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Get.In.There.

Fucking have it. Have ittttttttt.

Best tenner I ever lost.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

I'd rather we'd won it but I'll settle for retaining the ashes with a draw!

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Now that we've retained the Ashes and it's mission accomplished it's sweet on the one hand knowing that we've done so without being anywhere near our best and funny in that we really could have been 2-1 down. Big improvement needed in the winter.

 

[bern]

The aussie press will love that!

 

[Kendall]

Now that we've retained the Ashes and it's mission accomplished it's sweet on the one hand knowing that we've done so without being anywhere near our best and funny in that we really could have been 2-1 down. Big improvement needed in the winter.

We could've been 3-0 up too to be fair. If rain hadn't come/wasnt expected, I'm not sure we'd have batted like such ****s.

Then again...

 

[Bromavinci]

Congratulations to England. Shame about the rain but it is what it is.. I am sure Australia will play all out to level the series and it should make it good viewing for the purists..

See you in summer down on our tracks...

 

[BaleTheBeast]

We could've been 3-0 up too to be fair. If rain hadn't come/wasnt expected, I'm not sure we'd have batted like such ****s.

Then again...

You're dreaming mate!! If it wasn't for the shit weather you would've been chasing 400+ in three and a half sessions and I think the series would be 2-1 at the moment.
But we are in the position we are because of our shocking second test so well done and congrats England/South Africa for retaining the ashes

 

[bern]

Havent Australia got a Pakistani born batsman called Khawaja (sp)?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Havent Australia got a Pakistani born batsman called Khawaja (sp)?

And an Indian(?) spinner they are looking to fast track?

I thought Australia/Pakistan were unlucky

 

[Bromavinci]

You're dreaming mate!! If it wasn't for the shit weather you would've been chasing 400+ in three and a half sessions and I think the series would be 2-1 at the moment.
But we are in the position we are because of our shocking second test so well done and congrats England/South Africa for retaining the ashes

I get you're pissed off mate, I really do. But that's the type of reaction that makes the rest of the world so desperate to beat us..

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I get you're pissed off mate, I really do. But that's the type of reaction that makes the rest of the world so desperate to beat us..

To be fair the reason the rest of the world wants to beat you is because you're usually so bloody good, but I much prefer your reasoning.

But sour-grape reactions like BTB's do make it all the sweeter.

 

[nidge]

Still worried about England's pace attack when the ball doesn't swing. Anderson and Swann between them have taken 34 of the 52 wickets taken is very much of a concern.

With Broad only taking 6 wickets with a strike rate of 101.8 (in this series) should he be dropped in favour of Onions who this season has played pretty well at his home ground?

 

[mpickard2087]

Still worried about England's pace attack when the ball doesn't swing. Anderson and Swann between them have taken 34 of the 52 wickets taken is very much of a concern.

With Broad only taking 6 wickets with a strike rate of 101.8 (in this series) should he be dropped in favour of Onions who this season has played pretty well at his home ground?

I think Onions should definitely play. In great form, home ground, and will bowl very straight and if it nips around (pray for cloudy skies and a bit more rain this week) even a little bit then he could be very important.

It would probably be in place of Bresnan though, Broad will stay in as the 'taller' bowler who offers something slightly different to Anderson and Onions. You could put Tremlett in as well, but then that would weaken the lower order batting quite a bit.

 

[cockjol]

another gracious post match interview by Clarke...much more likeable than Ponting it has to be said...some say it was an anti-climax...well, all we did was retian the ashes, we haven't actually won them yet and I hope we will do just that in Durham...think it's key psychologically to try and win these last two tests so Australia are on a downer come the winter

 

[UncleBuck]

Onions has got to come in for his home test, he's been immaculate this season and knows the pitch like the back of his hand, but then I didn't expect bresnan to replace Finn at lords.
My only concern is bresnan can bat and we've needed him to in the last two tests....

 

[Twizzle]

Havent Australia got a Pakistani born batsman called Khawaja (sp)?

He immigrated to Australia when he was 1 year old, raised and played all his cricket here