3rd ASHES TEST: Australia v England at Perth, Dec 16-20 2010

[lockyno1]

Yeah Hughes, Pontings and Clarkes dismissals were terrible. But Hughes are Clarke are NSW golden children on here it seems. Smith didn't look that impressive with the bat either.

Pretty much, bag Hughes son here- watch out, even Clarke. I have heard more excuses in here about Clarke than about anyone. Hughes has an awful technique, sure tell me he whacked two centuries against the Saffas, but lets not forget he is averaging about 15 when the bowlers have not given him width!

Disagree on Smith, at least he valued his wicket, and he did get a good ball. Unfortunately you get those as a top order batsman. Too good you have to say.

 

[JJ]

With that technique, Hughes is always going to be terribly streaky... I really don't care whether he averages 50 in 1st class cricket, or scored runs against the Jappies.... (Matthew Sinclair comparisons come to mind)... Sorry, but don't understand all the love here... if he was from any other country (state even) you'd all be laughing hysterically at the way he plays

Clarke has looked abysmal all series, and that shot was about as bad as I have ever seen - worse than his first innings effort in Adelaide even, which was pretty special

 

[yappy]

I'm about as big a fan of Hughes as you can get, but that was poor cricket.

I still contend Hilditch has f**ked the kid's head dropping him far too quickly and with all this no good against short stuff crap.

He was always going to have that down period where he would need to go back to Shield and sort himself out, every batsman (other than Hussey and Jones) since Border has had that. Boon, both Waughs, Taylor and Slater, Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Ponting, and Clarke have all been sent back to sort themselves out. But none as harshly as Hughes. He should have been given more of a chance to sort it out against the Poms.

Now he's back in we have to just let him work it out in the tests. Not ideal, but we're not going to win much no matter who we pick. Hughes will make 10,000 test runs for us, so we just need to be patient like we were with Tugga all those years ago. The runs will flow eventually if we allow Hughes to feel confident that his place in the side isn't going to be questioned every time he has a run of 3 innings under 50.

 

[Evenflow]

I swear that shot from Hughes today showed me EXACTLY why he is not a regular in the test side. If I hear anyone say it was a good ball I'll shoot them,

The only blokes saying that are the ones who bitched and moaned about him not being in the side and when he does get in, try and use that pathetic excuse to justify the equally pathetic shot he played. For all his talking before the game about not being worried about what the Poms would throw at him he did sweet FA to back it up. Maybe he might do a Michael Clarke in the 2nd dig and make a decent score when there's no pressure on and the game is well and truly over :sarcasm:

Most here are blaming everyone else for his failings like the selectors, coaches etc and let him off scott free. Why is nobody blaming the NSW coaches who no doubt he's been working with since his test test axing last year? He's averaged 18 odd this year so surely by the rationale around here they have to take the blame as well for his miserable season so far? If it's the selectors you want to blame by dropping him in the first place which apparrently led to his poor form then all that proves he's not mentally tough enough yet which is exactly what you want and more so need your opening bats to be.

if he was from any other country (state even) you'd all be laughing hysterically at the way he plays

Never a truer word spoken. Ever :lol:


.

 

[Twizzle]

Hughes did get a good ball but still could have kept it out if he didn't play across the line.

Ponting and Clarke, just lack of concentration, pathetic shot selection, why defend balls that wont bowl you ?

I've been a fan and defender of Clarke but that was pathetic.

 

[madunit]

A Ponting methodology has slipped into Clarkes game.

That being, when you're batting form is down, the bets way to get it back is to be aggressive and get bat on ball as often as possible.

Sounds good in theory but doesn't work in Practice.

When you see Ponting doing that f**king irritating huge lunge forward and poking the bat out at everything, you know his form is sh*t.

And he's been doing this for the best part of 12 months.

 

[Parra Guru]

The problem with Hughes' technique is that he's beyond an age where you can iron out those obvious flaws. And I do want him to succeed, I just don't know if he can.

 

[Mr Angry]

Our batting is an issue, but until we can get 20 wickets, it really is a mute point.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Predict the Pom's first innings score:

3/706dec

I wish I was joking
Okay I am, but sub-consciously I am doubting whether I am.

I am going to go 434

 

[ozbash]

I think a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that the aussies are up against a very, very good team.

btw, Brett Lee's going good for Wellington...

 

[madunit]

Poms will crack 550 and declare.

Australia scores 400 in the second dig leaving the Poms about 180 to get on day 5.

As this match wears on, batting will get easier and bowling tougher.

 

[Mr Angry]

I think a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that the aussies are up against a very, very good team.

This is true and is being overlooked.

In 2005 they came here and they got smacked, largely the same core of players.

Andrew Strauss has built a very good team in the 5 years since. Stuck with Cook, paid off big time etc etc.

Ricky Ponting has chopped, changed and panicked then stuck with duds.

Been a different 5 years and England have done much better.

 

[Hutty1986]

This is true and is being overlooked.

In 2005 they came here and they got smacked, largely the same core of players.

Andrew Strauss has built a very good team in the 5 years since. Stuck with Cook, paid off big time etc etc.

Ricky Ponting has chopped, changed and panicked then stuck with duds.

Been a different 5 years and England have done much better.

06 you mean?

This is a quality England side, but f*ck we've been gutless

 

[lockyno1]

Hughes did get a good ball but still could have kept it out if he didn't play across the line.

Ponting and Clarke, just lack of concentration, pathetic shot selection, why defend balls that wont bowl you ?

I've been a fan and defender of Clarke but that was pathetic.

Good ball...haha. Typical of the NSW brigade on here. It went f..king straight!:lol:

Clarke should be dropped..captains shot, lol:lol:

 

[Parra Guru]

And what about your mate?? Referring a plum sandshoe crusher.

 

[Bigfella]

Clarke is a massive issue in this team.

There is no doubt he is a world class batsman on ability.

His ticker and mental toughness are so far below what is required it isn't funny.

The number of times he gets out in crucial moments in big contests isn't funny.

Compare him to the Waughs, or AB, Dean Jones, any of the truly great middle order players of our golden era and he doesn;t come close to measuring up.

Realistically he is the player with the talent to be in that league and to make us a contender but is not delivering. Given that it also coincides with a streak of bad form and luck for Ponting, it means our batting is pretty fragile. That only puts greater pressure on a bowling attack that also lacks top class.

The batting has definitely been more disappointing than the bowling over the last two years IMO.

Also Clarke and Pontinbg should have established themselves as fieldsmen challenging the Greg Chappels and Mark Waughs as all time best. They have both failed to live up to those standards in the field.

 

[TheParraboy]

early wickets are the key, preferably more than 1 in the first session

 

[lockyno1]

And what about your mate?? Referring a plum sandshoe crusher.

It was not that plumb, almost struck him outside the line. Had two referrals left, why not try and get one to go your way. He was only 10% of the ball from being overturned!

 

[yappy]

You'll be pleased to know Marcus won't be back soon. Made an excellent 2 in WA's all out for 108 after being sent in at Bellerive.

 

[Matt23]

Marcus won't be back soon

Hopefully not ever.