5th and final ASHES TEST: England v Australia at the Oval, Aug 20-24

[Cletus]

We look stuffed. The pitch is a nightmare so it won't be any easier for the Poms. Unfortuantely we'll be lucky to make 100 batting last.

 

[pnub]

:lol: Some Aussies are complaining that they have doctored a pitch to guarantee a result

Actually it was the editor of Wisden who said that the english doctored the pitch.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25962486-5009880,00.html


But that aside its just a woeful display of batting by the Australians yet again. That’s the third time this series that the batsmen have failed in the first innings. Our bowling isn't what it used to be but the glaring fact over the past 18 months is our batting is even worse. There have been numerous occasions where the entire batting order has failed completely costing us games.
The funniest thing is you have a young prodigy in Hughes and after 3 so so innings he gets dropped for a bloke that can't play a straight ball, yet Hussey has had 3 poor series and he's still in the team. Hmmm who do you show faith in a 34 year old or a 20 year old when thinking about the longevity of the team. Not to mention all the chances Hayden got as well.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Have to look at the positives of losing the Ashes (to a pretty bad side):

1. The selectors will be shown the door
2. Tim Nielson will be shown the door
3. Michael Hussey will not play another test for Australia.
4. We will actually pick an opener to open
5. We WILL NOT drop a young opener three tests removed from two centuries in a test and we WILL drop batsmen who have been out of form for more than a year.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

]But that aside its just a woeful display of batting by the Australians yet again. That’s the third time this series that the batsmen have failed in the first innings. Our bowling isn't what it used to be but the glaring fact over the past 18 months is our batting is even worse. There have been numerous occasions where the entire batting order has failed completely costing us games. [/COLOR]
The funniest thing is you have a young prodigy in Hughes and after 3 so so innings he gets dropped for a bloke that can't play a straight ball, yet Hussey has had 3 poor series and he's still in the team. Hmmm who do you show faith in a 34 year old or a 20 year old when thinking about the longevity of the team. Not to mention all the chances Hayden got as well.

Hear! Hear!

 

[typicalfan]

Now that we are likely to lose, we go back to the first test in Cardiff when we couldn't bowl the tail out and should have been 2-1 up.

If you lose a series despite all the leading runscorers and wickettakers being Australians then it is choking, no doubt about it.

 

[hineyrulz]

Honestly have you ever seen a worse session from a team with so much at stake???? North was dudded but FFS we made Broad look like Malcom Marshall in his prime. This pitch is looking a minefield and we pick 4 quicks :crazy:

If we lose the Ashes which is looking likely hopefully the selectors,Nielson(Hages) and Ponting are all held accountable. Plus dropping Hughes and keeping Hussey was just a disgraceful decision from a panel that makes sure the captain has his pets in the side........

 

[aussies1st]

Looks like the pitch is settling down just in time for the English batters...

 

[ElectricEelMan]

If you the thought the umpire decisions couldn't get any worse. Well, then we see the mother of all bad decsions. Stuart Clark out caught when his bat missed the ball by A MASSIVE DISTANCE. And when I say massive I mean MASSIVE!

*EDIT - and Crinfo agrees 'Oh dear. We've had some shockers this summer, but that takes the biscuit and the tin. Clark pats forward, bat nowhere near the ball which takes the top of his pad, ballooning to silly point...and up goes the finger. In the umpire's defence, the bat flicked the pad, so he obviously heard something...'*

*EDIT 2 - pommie commentator 'you could have driven a bus through bat and ball'*

 

[hineyrulz]

How the f**k was that out????? They should be ashamed for appealing for that :x

 

[aussies1st]

Rauf wanted to get one up over the plumb LBW Billy missed last Ashes.

 

[hineyrulz]

Come on boys early wickets or we are screwed!!

 

[hineyrulz]

Come back Warnie!!!!!!! We'd even take Dutchy Holland :crazy:

 

[hineyrulz]

Johnson and Kat are keeping us in this :crazy:

 

[Tommy Smith]

BARMY ARMY!!!

That lunch --> tea period was the greatest session of cricket EVER!!

 

[ozbash]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTZEcAY_95A

 

[Broncodr01d]

For those giving Broad some stick, have a good look at yourselves. If you cannot give credit where credit is due there, well ... wow. Broad was absolutely sensational. One of the best spells of bowling I've ever seen. That ball to Haddin was a beauty. A coming of age moment for the youngster. Well played sir.

Egg on plenty of faces for those mocking Swann. Bowled well yet again. I said in an earlier thread I really like this guy for England, he was sensational out there too. Likeable type bloke who can bat and bowl. Improvement on Monty IMO.

What about Matt Prior? This guy IMO has been the pick of the England players this season just about. His keeping has been first class and his batting superb. You have a keeper there (pardon the pun )

Now, Australia ...

1. It's been good Mike 'Mr Cricket' Hussey, but your time has come. Yeah it was difficult out there as evidenced by the collapse, though you were on borrowed time as far I see it. Bring back back Hughes, move Watson down the order.

2. Well done yet again Peter Siddle. I love this guy. He is a fighter with bat and ball. A better version of say a Andre Nel from SA. A fighting innings. Gutsy. Stay fit tiger.

3. Well bowled Mitch Johnson. We needed to make some headway in the second innings, you have provided that with two wickets. Marcus North in favourable conditions is doing a nice job too. Katich could give the middle order problems if he lands them ok.

4. Who will stand up for us with the bat in the second innnings and save the Ashes going down in Australian cricketing folklore?

 

[TheParraboy]

good day for england

not sure if we can chase down these runs, let alone another 100

I remember Hughes scoring a ton in a sheild game, might have been a ton in each innings on a minefield, where every other batsman rarely got to double figures. Dropping him after a couple of small scores was / is insane.

Maybe Mr Cricket will belt a 150no in the 2nd dig to secure the ashes for us?

 

[Broncodr01d]

good day for england

not sure if we can chase down these runs, let alone another 100

I remember Hughes scoring a ton in a sheild game, might have been a ton in each innings on a minefield, where every other batsman rarely got to double figures. Dropping him after a couple of small scores was / is insane.

Maybe Mr Cricket will belt a 150no in the 2nd dig to secure the ashes for us?[/QUOTE]

I hate to back against champions, I've learnt the hard way there BUT - I will take whatever your want to offer that Hussey won't Huss is a confidence player and right now he is at his lowest point since coming in to the Australian side.

I say it again - carry a 20 y.o. batting sensation before carrying a 34-35 year old down on form.

 

[beads6]

The Ashes look to be gone. Very poor batting from the Aussies they seemed to have no confidence at all. I can't understand how the Aussies can bat so poorly. If we do lose at least we know for certain Hussey wil be gone.

 

[hineyrulz]

The Poms have scored 1 hundred while we have scored 7. We have manged more wickets than them from memory and yet we are looking down the barrel of losing the Ashes. I just knew Cardiff would come back and bite us on the arse bigtime :x