1st test Aust vs England @ the gabba

[aussies1st]

Ooh ah Glenn McGrath

 

[willvillain]

Vintage performance by the old man. He's on fire.

Had Ponting taken that catch it would've been an absolute gem.

50 to Bell - good knock, I'll admit that I didn't expect him to be the man to stand up.

 

[Sanchez]

now that he has his 50 its time Bell to start playing some shots and amass as much runs as possible before the tail is cleaned up

 

[aussies1st]

Good knock by Bell, still not at the tail yet. This is the reason Giles is picked.

 

[Sanchez]

hes batting like a possum in head lights

 

[aussies1st]

Oh yea Mr Boring gets another

 

[El Diablo]

and another

 

[willvillain]

McGrath gets 5. Hero.

 

[aussies1st]

Baggy Blues 9 wickets

 

[DownUnder]

A sixth for the old man.

 

[El Diablo]

looks like we'll bat again :?

 

[aussies1st]

WTF
Ok if you want to bat again to rest the bowlers why make 600 runs? If we draw Ponting should be sacked as captain.

 

[willvillain]

Strange call. But considering how well McGrath etc were bowling, I expect they'd still be effective when England are batting for a draw late on the fourth day.

Plus they'll be rested and Warne can carve up on the final day.

 

[Tommy Smith]

What a strange decision. Australia are murdering us and would have bowled us out again for 200 odd which would have really destroyed us mentally.

But this decision is extraordinary. They're not 250 ahead, they're 450 ahead! Very strange.

 

[Tommy Smith]

On reflection i reckon the tv execs at 9 have told Aus to bat again to prolong the match.

One for the conspiracy theorists because why else would you bat again?

 

[aussies1st]

Two reasons I can think of:
1) McGrath had bowled 7 or more on the trot so he was tired.
2) India 5 years ago plus wanted England to bat last on the pitch.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Two reasons I can think of:
1) McGrath had bowled 7 or more on the trot so he was tired.
2) India 5 years ago plus wanted England to bat last on the pitch.

1) McGrath didnt have to open the bowling. Clark and Lee could have done the job and then Warne could have bowled 15-20 odd overs traight.
2) This isnt India 5 years ago. England weren't going to score 600 in the 2nd dig.

However, i like the theory that the commentators just brought up. Cricket Australia will be VERY happy as days 4 and 5 have sold very well also im sure. Thats ALOT of money they would have lost.

 

[CycloneSteve]

Yeah a very bizarre call but I'm going with the conspiracy theory of someone (either Channel 9 or Cricket Australia) telling them to bat again to prolong the match. Both Ch. 9 and CA have something to gain from the match going to 5 days.

 

[madunit]

I like the idea, and see it as more of a psycholgoical decision more than anything else.

Ponting is effectively saying, "We know we're going to win, but I don't want just a win, I want to dish out a f**king thrashing for what you did to us in the last ashes series!"

Australia will probably bat til lunch tomorrow and then bowl the last day and 3/4

 

[madunit]

btw, "Only once has a side started a second innings with a greater lead - in 1929--30 England led West Indies with a lead of 543 over West Indies in a timeless Test that was drawn"

taken from Cricinfo website