2nd Ashes Test: Australia v England at Adelaide Dec 3-7 2010

[hineyrulz]

Gee Hussey using up everyone elses luck

 

[yappy]

Also Jimmy Anderson is clearly the best bowler in this series.

He's really matured and become, behind Steyn, the best fast bowler in world cricket.

If there is anything in the pitch or in the air Anderson is about as dangerous as you can get. Keeps it full and doesn't waste too many ball. On a flat deck bowling full and straight can get you carted, but once it starts moving just a bit he really does ask lots of questions.

 

[beads6]

Please list these Tests - just for curiosity's sake.

I will list the score when Clarke went to the crease and how many runs he mad


4/149 Clarke made 151
4/128 Clarke made 141
3/137 Clarke made 103 not out
3/23 Clarke made 98
3/155 Clarke made 110
3/15 Clarke made 62
3/143 Clarke made 88 not out
3/109 Clarke made 138
3/38 Clarke made 68
3/71 Clarke made 166
3/115 Clarke made 168

He certainly needs to bat at 5 thought it seems his bad run has started since he moved up the order.

 

[Big Pete]

Should list the opponent too beads.

 

[Collingwood Storm]

Bring Dave Hussey in at #4, Clarke back to #5 and Mike Hussey back to #6... bye bye North.

 

[The 18th Man]

We need every batsmen to step up from this point on.

We can't afford to lose more than one wicket today otherwise this game is all England's...if it isn't already.

Ye of little fait Pete ;-) Hang in there champ. It's not all lost - yet.

This is Test cricket, my favourite form of the game and we've all seen apparently lost situations turn over the course of five days. We are under the pump, but I won't make such statements just yet.

Whilst I am one of the few who fail to rate Swann as the game's best spinner it seems, I do hold some fear if he is bowling to an exposed tail (that's assuming he gets a bowl here on day one).

Our young bowlers I hope are inspired by this first hour...we need them BIG TIME.

 

[Didgi]

The ball is moving around, hopefully our bowlers can get the swing working as well.

 

[beads6]

That I agree with. He should never have been moved up from 5. He just isn't a top 4 batsman at test level. That's ok, neither was Waugh. Didn't stop him scoring 10,000 runs at 5 or 6. Clarke is a fine lower middle order batsman and we probably just need to accept that that is where he needs to bat rather than trying to make him something he isn't. Clarke averages 57 at 5, Waugh averaged 56. It's where they are at their best so pick them there.

100% agree, Clarke only moved up because Hussey was hopeless at 4. Maybe Watson to 4, Clarke to 5 Hussey to 6??

 

[beads6]

Should list the opponent too beads.

There is pretty much every Test playing nation in that list, NZ, England, West Indies, Pakistan and SOuth Africa are all there.

 

[JJ]

Clarke has always been overrated.

A bit, I agree.... but he's just a smirky little sh*t that's hard to like... aside from that, from what I've seen in these two tests, he's horribly out of form... good bowling today, but his effort was a trifle embarrassing

Anderson doing a passable impersonation of Richard Hadlee

 

[aussies1st]

Don't let Locky hear you guys spouting that stuff about Clarke at 5.

 

[chefman21]

That I agree with. He should never have been moved up from 5. He just isn't a top 4 batsman at test level. That's ok, neither was Waugh. Didn't stop him scoring 10,000 runs at 5 or 6. Clarke is a fine lower middle order batsman and we probably just need to accept that that is where he needs to bat rather than trying to make him something he isn't. Clarke averages 57 at 5, Waugh averaged 56. It's where they are at their best so pick them there.

I think there is a perception that you must pick a stroke maker at number four, given the likes of Chappell and Junior making their names there. But I think that is a dated concept. Pick your players in their best position. I got caught up in that perception I must admit.

 

[Fast Eddie]

This is classic.

 

[The 18th Man]

I will list the score when Clarke went to the crease and how many runs he mad


4/149 Clarke made 151
4/128 Clarke made 141
3/137 Clarke made 103 not out
3/23 Clarke made 98
3/155 Clarke made 110
3/15 Clarke made 62
3/143 Clarke made 88 not out
3/109 Clarke made 138
3/38 Clarke made 68
3/71 Clarke made 166
3/115 Clarke made 168

He certainly needs to bat at 5 thought it seems his bad run has started since he moved up the order.

Thanks for this, much appreciated.

So that's 11 innings out of what, 106 or 107?

Who did he play?

Where was he batting at, four or five?

What innings was it? Were we in command of the Test?

As I said, I am a Michael Clarke fan though he still doesn't instill confidence when he comes to the crease, like today, when we really needed him to put together a big, big score. Allan Border did. Steve Waugh did. It's a criticism I have of him, a short list it has to be said but a criticism nonetheless.

Fact remains Clarke is out of form and it's not like selectors aren't looking for an excuse to promote Usman Khawaja to the Test side. Clarke has and will be given extended opportunities as VC, though in a side that isn't anywhere near as dominant, that leash gets shorter by the Test.

 

[beads6]

Thanks for this, much appreciated.

So that's 11 innings out of what, 106 or 107?

Who did he play?

Where was he batting at, four or five?

As I said, I am a Michael Clarke fan though he still doesn't instill confidence when he comes to the crease, like today, when we really needed him to put together a big, big score. Allan Border did. Steve Waugh did. It's a criticism I have of him, a short list it has to be said but a criticism nonetheless.

Fact remains Clarke is out of form and it's not like selectors aren't looking for an excuse to promote Usman Khawaja to the Test side. Clarke has and will be given extended opportunities as VC, though in a side that isn't anywhere near as dominant, that leash gets shorter by the Test.

So Steve Waugh and Allan Border never failed when there Country needed them, I find that hard to believe... :crazy:

 

[hineyrulz]

Never thought i would say this, thank f**k for Sunshine :crazy:

 

[The 18th Man]

So Steve Waugh and Allan Border never failed when there Country needed them, I find that hard to believe... :crazy:

I think you're reading and interpreting certain posts only to satisfy your defence of Clarke (albeit you thankfully stopped defending the shot he played to get out on today). Where did I say Steve Waugh and Allan Border never failed?

If you put it to the masses as to who you're wanting to see come to the crease in a dire situation out of the three, I'd be surprised to see Clarke get a vote hence my point, he doesn't instill confidence coming in at crucial times as per both Border and Waugh did.

 

[JJ]

So Steve Waugh and Allan Border never failed when there Country needed them, I find that hard to believe... :crazy:

Don't think he said that... regardless Clarke's only fit to do their laundry

 

[aussies1st]

Hold up don't tell me you are dropping Clarke before North.

 

[Parra Guru]

Pup's biggest problem is they pumped up his tyres from an early age. Not very often he has come under fire!