1st ASHES TEST: England v Australia at Cardiff, July 8-12, 2009

[TheParraboy]

katich is the rock of gibraltor

 

[Spike]

One may say an astute choice for captain in ones Urn Cup side

 

[HevyDevy]

Whoever said Test cricket is dead is an idiot.

This is shaping as a very good Test match.

You don't get this sort of contest in that Twenty20 crap.

 

[Cletus]

Well Australia are looking in control so long as it doesn't rain. England are more than a little lucky to have as many runs on the board as they do and if Australia can make more runs than they did I can't see them losing. Barring weather.

How good was Johnsons bowling? He'd easily be the best player Aus have got, forget your Hauritzs, he's the man!

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Well done Punter Showing a few people up with this performance, real captain's knock here.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

1/249
Katich 104*
Ponting 100*

Let's face it, that is pretty much what the poms should have been on day 1 but the difference between the two teams in the batting showed. All they really need to do is see out the new ball with the only threat really coming from Flintoff and if they do that without losing a wicket then these two should both get double centuries.

 

[Pete Cash]

Superb batting by both of them. Have to say I am not impressed by the deck Cardiff served up.

 

[aussies1st]

Brilliant batting, we have a good chance to push off here and Hauritz was spinning the ball quite a bit and we should basically be using this pitch last anyway by batting to day 4.

 

[Twizzle]

looks like the only way they can stop Hughes from scoring is to bowl 6 bouncers an over

as soon as he either learn to play the pull shot or leave them alone, they'll have to find another way of getting him out

 

[herbert henry1908]

Well done Punter Showing a few people up with this performance, real captain's knock here.

Great knock , but most people have been questioning his captaincy not his batting.

 

[Parra Guru]

Funny how Freddie celebrates like he's just found the cure for cancer or something. Talk about going off early, makes it even better that they didn't get another wicket all day.

 

[Pete Cash]

He did it in the last Ashes as well before Ponting scored 196 :lol:

 

[Bigfella]

The short ball doesn't seem to worry him as much from around the wicket.

If they can get the ball coming in on him from outside leg to a leg stump line with sharp bounce he struggles more. That's what Harmy did to him and Freddy only bowled 3 balls over the wicket to get him.

Not many who can bow the short stuff as well as Harmy on song. Freddy on song is tricky but there's not the depth of bowling to sustain pressure bowling short at him I don't think.

 

[Bigfella]

he had problems in Australia with match fitness, and its still showing

he really has problems backing up I reckon

It's an interesting point.

He hasn't got that much cricket under his belt.

He seems to be a guy that needs to bowl a few overs, but he also seems to struggle if he's overworked.

Johnson also needs a lot of bowling.

Both of them are bowling well below their top pace. Might be partly due to the pitch but Johnson was consistently in the 150's over the summer and not at that level. Siddle was consistently high 140's and a bit below that.

Both will get better as the series goes on.

Great work by the top 3. If we can score 3- 330 or so today we can give them a scare on a game that was always going to be one of their best shots at us.

 

[TheParraboy]

Funny how Freddie celebrates like he's just found the cure for cancer or something. Talk about going off early, makes it even better that they didn't get another wicket all day.

:lol:

yeah, Was thinking what an arrogent dick.

Hope he gets Punter out when the score is 1/600, Wanna see him party like its 1999 :lol:

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Great work by Ponting and Katich. If Australia bat well they can put theselves in the box seat here.

Still alot of work to be done as getting say another 300 would only us 100 in front.

Anyway hopefully one of them goes on and gets a double and a few guys help.

 

[Timmah]

Fantastic stuff from Katich and Punter

I went to bed worried we'd lose a bunch of wickets but the two have really stood up.

I think today will decide whether or not we have a draw or a win on our hands, I don't think we'll lose it from here tbh, although stranger things have happened...

 

[Jobdog]

After taking what appeared an eternity to clean up the Poms' tail, I must admit to being a little concerned, but Kat and Punter have allayed those concerns. We find ourselves around 150 behind, so if we bat for the next day and a half, score at about 3.5 rpo, we'll be about 250 in front with a day and a half to play. We can then push for the victory

 

[caylo]

After taking what appeared an eternity to clean up the Poms' tail, I must admit to being a little concerned, but Kat and Punter have allayed those concerns. We find ourselves around 150 behind, so if we bat for the next day and a half, score at about 3.5 rpo, we'll be about 250 in front with a day and a half to play. We can then push for the victory

I think punter will look for quick runs after we pass england. I would expect possible 350run tomorrow in about 70-80 overs and bowling about 15 overs at the english tomorrow night with a 200 run lead. That allows Australia to give england a chance to actually consider some sort of lead going into the last day and promoting some attacking cricket from guys like Petierson.

If Petierson just gets into a defencive mode he will be difficult to dismiss on such a flat pitch. I doubt he would be looking to sweep from well outside off if the are 100 runs behind with a day to go.

 

[Spike]

I think the match is headed for a draw. The pitch is going to hold together pretty well over the next three days and although there should be something in it for the spinners on day 4 and 5, Haurie is not good enough to take advantage of it. I'm expecting England to bunker down in the second innings