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

[yappy]

and many of you here have said that you'd be ranked higher if the selectors picked your young stars... but, first they are unproven in tests, that attitude is based on the depth you had 10 years ago... the golden era is over, your team is serviceable, and Hughes, Smith and Khwaja (exc spelling) won't change that (and don't seem likely to be picked in the forseeable future...) And, those 3 are bats - anyone who thinks Smith is going to suddenly transform into Shane Warne is also deluding themseleves... in the long term he might turn out good as a leggie - but at the moment he'll likley do a similar job to Doherty and Hauritz (albeit - more wickets [well, the odd wicket] and more expensive)

The point isn't that the young guns would instantly turn us into a great side again. I don't think anyone is that deluded. What it would do though is make the current pain worthwhile. What is the point of being towelled up by a good but not great English side just to prolong the careers of guys who are not going to be around in 3 years time? I'd much rather see a new golden age getting a baptism of fire. Yep we'd lose and possibly even more heavily if that's possible, but we'd be getting guys who will be 10 year test players hardened up for the future. All hanging on to old men who aren't performing is doing is drawing the pain out longer.

 

[yappy]

Anyway on to today's play. Big test for Australia here. Chances are going to be few and far between so if we drop more catches England will be looking to declare some time tomorrow morning at 5/750. We just have to hang in there and try and keep it tight. The strip is a highway so no help there. We're just going to have to take our lumps (and our catches) and try to keep the Poms to 550-600. It's day three at Adelaide, anything better than that will be pure fluke.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Anyway on to today's play. Big test for Australia here. Chances are going to be few and far between so if we drop more catches England will be looking to declare some time tomorrow morning at 5/750. We just have to hang in there and try and keep it tight. The strip is a highway so no help there. We're just going to have to take our lumps (and our catches) and try to keep the Poms to 550-600. It's day three at Adelaide, anything better than that will be pure fluke.

Bad weather is due and the pitch is a good 'un. England will declare in the third session if not bowled out. Trust me.

 

[beads6]

I honestly don't believe there's that much between England and Australia.

The truth is, England took their chances when they were on offer, Australia didn't and allowed England to settle on a batters paradise.

I reckon if Watson and Katich had of communicated better the entire complexion of this test match would be utterly different.

I think you are 100% right Pete.. It seems to me that England want it more and are playing as a team much better also.

 

[The 18th Man]

I don't think there is MUCH difference barring three points that I will list and there is nothing to suggest we are the better side which irks me. I grew accustomed to dominating England sides, I now have visions of that twat Mike Gatting leading his team to victory in 86'' :lol: Tough times that most on this forum missed. Luck you.

1. England are the better batting team.

2. England are the better bowling team.

3. England are the better fielding team.

The two captains cancel each other out at the moment in my opinion.

Enjoy England fans.

Xavier Doherty is being savaged in the media, I expect the selectors to throw home to the wolves and perhaps make way for our number one spinner in Nathan Hauritz. The selectors and some on this forum got it wrong here (albeit I don't think any spinner outside Warne or MacGill would have made much difference).

Our bowling attack is on a hiding to nothing on this wicket. I said before yesterday that the English were set for a record breaking day, I was wrong - it's going to be a record breaking innings. If KP survives the first hour this morning, this score could be anything. He will toy with the attaack.

We can hope at best for a draw and our grip further loosens on the urn.

 

[chefman21]

There's going to be some changes if we don't turn it around. And some big ones too. Can't see North, Siddle, Doherty getting a full series. My guess is Clarke will be rested. Ponting might just lose the captaincy.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I don't think there is MUCH difference barring three points that I will list and there is nothing to suggest we are the better side which irks me. I grew accustomed to dominating England sides, I now have visions of that twat Mike Gatting leading his team to victory in 89'

He means 86' Gower as England captain in 89 did not have too much to celebrate in fact he stood down at series end.

 

[The 18th Man]

He means 86' Gower as England captain in 89 did not have too much to celebrate in fact he stood down at series end.

Sorry pal, I was savouring the 89 victory reliving AB memories from the thread re: captaincy ;-) Thanks for edit. We beat Gatting didn't we, Gower was the pompus twat.

 

[The 18th Man]

Saw some stats on our missed chances in the field over 1.5 Tests...when did we become so bad in the field? It was one upon-a-time our bread and butter. A rise in performance there will only get the balling rolling for the team. Surely we aren't slacking of in that department given the amount of coaches we have. We need to lift. The half chances we are letting slip need to be taken more so in 2010 when we lack an attack that instill fear in the opposition.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Sorry pal, I was savouring the 89 victory reliving AB memories from the thread re: captaincy ;-) Thanks for edit. We beat Gatting didn't we, Gower was the pompus twat.

Communication breakdown by you and me.

For clarity Gatting ( c ) '86 in Australia - England retain Ashes.
Gower ( c ) '89 - England loses Ashes.

 

[Timbo]

Terrible appeal.

Wasted referral. Was never ever ever ever ever out.

 

[Moffo]

Cucking funts

 

[The 18th Man]

Communication breakdown by you and me.

For clarity Gatting ( c ) '86 in Australia - England retain Ashes.
Gower ( c ) '89 - England loses Ashes.

I got my English captains and years mixed up is all.

Thanks mate.

 

[The 18th Man]

Pietersen will get 200+ ...

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

I don't think there is MUCH difference barring three points that I will list and there is nothing to suggest we are the better side which irks me. I grew accustomed to dominating England sides, I now have visions of that twat David Gower leading his team to victory in 86'' :lol: Tough times that most on this forum missed. Luck you.

1. England are the better batting team.

2. England are the better bowling team.

3. England are the better fielding team.

Pretty much thats it. People need to be direct with our team. People rate guys like Katich and Clarke like they are world beaters when really back 10 years ago both would struggle to make the Australia A Side. Go through the players.

1-2: Strauss/Cook are far better than Katich/Watson.
3. Ponting theoretically better than Trott, but on form Trott is lightyears ahead.
4: Pieterson >>>> Clarke
5: Hussey over Collingwood
6: Bell >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> North
7: Haddin over Prior but not much in it
Spinner: Swann >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Doherty
9-10-11: Anderson , Trott and Finn are all better than any 3 quicks we put in. Bollinger is probably better than Finn.

Combined England and Australian side would only have Ponting, Hussey, Haddin and probably Bollinger.

 

[Moffo]

Cook will get 300

 

[aussies1st]

Very poor start by both bowlers.

 

[chefman21]

Christ.... Harris nearly killed him. Best bouncer I have seen in years.

 

[beads6]

Pretty much thats it. People need to be direct with our team. People rate guys like Katich and Clarke like they are world beaters when really back 10 years ago both would struggle to make the Australia A Side. Go through the players.

1-2: Strauss/Cook are far better than Katich/Watson.
3. Ponting theoretically better than Trott, but on form Trott is lightyears ahead.
4: Pieterson >>>> Clarke
5: Hussey over Collingwood
6: Bell >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> North
7: Haddin over Prior but not much in it
Spinner: Swann >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Doherty
9-10-11: Anderson , Trott and Finn are all better than any 3 quicks we put in. Bollinger is probably better than Finn.

Combined England and Australian side would only have Ponting, Hussey, Haddin and probably Bollinger.

you are kidding right?? Bollinger wouldn't get close to the combined team, he is currently being shown to be as pathetic as all our other Aussie bowlers. Bollinger love is a joke, he looks like a downie and bowls like a downie FFS.

 

[El Diablo]

Cook will get 300

kiss of death

you never fail to deliver