OT- The Ashes, 2015

[Suitman]

Bit of a green top has been prepared apparently.
Let's just hope we win the toss, and tough out the first session if we bat.

Suity

 

[Twizzle]

you watch them mow it before the game, I doubt it will be that way when play is ready to start

 

[hineyrulz]

About time selectors started to make some tough decisions, firstly with Watson and now Haddin.

Haddins form in test cricket with the bat has been woeful the last 18 months. And his keeping has also declined. It might seem harsh but for mine it was the right call. It's a must win test and we won't win over there with sentiment.

 

[Suitman]

you watch them mow it before the game, I doubt it will be that way when play is ready to start

Maybe, but that didn't work for them so well the second test.
They know we have a team that will bowl ok on either surface.
TBH, I don't think they know what type of pitch to prepare. They know they are a lesser team than us.

Suity

 

[Gronk]

The Poms suggested that they lost the match when we won the toss.

Do you think we would have still beaten then soundly if they won the toss ?

 

[Incorrect]

About time selectors started to make some tough decisions, firstly with Watson and now Haddin.

Haddins form in test cricket with the bat has been woeful the last 18 months. And his keeping has also declined. It might seem harsh but for mine it was the right call. It's a must win test and we won't win over there with sentiment.

Agreed.

Great bloke though he is, frankly I think he was lucky to have been picked to go on this tour. As you point out, his keeping seems to have declined, the dropping of what was really a pretty straight-forward chance of Root in the 1st test, it could be argued, lost the match for us right there. We all want the keeper to be able to bat these days but keeping is their first priority and if they aren't doing it well, then they need to be moved on. And not being given the gloves in the tour match last week was basically the death knell.

In addition, his batting is pants these days. Gone are the days when if the top order failed and we were in a bit of trouble, I'd think to myself, "We've still got Haddin to come, we can get out of this". These days I have no confidence in his ability with the bat.

 

[Suitman]

The Poms suggested that they lost the match when we won the toss.

Do you think we would have still beaten then soundly if they won the toss ?

Probably not. It's important to win the toss, but in saying that, the mental advantage we gained from that win will have done damage.
And, they WOULD suggest that. It was a bashing.

Suity

 

[hybrideel]

If the toss decides the match then why do they bother with the 5 days after it. Its just deflection on their part

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Unless it is really out of the ordinary, you bat first at Edgbaston.

You also make sure that your strike bowler doesn't roll an ankle on a tennis ball during fielding practice 2 hours before the first ball is bowled (Pigeon).

 

[Kornstar]

Unless it is really out of the ordinary, you bat first at Edgbaston.

You also make sure that your strike bowler doesn't roll an ankle on a tennis ball during fielding practice 2 hours before the first ball is bowled (Pigeon).

That would really help......

 

[BoneyBlake17]

Unless it is really out of the ordinary, you bat first at Edgbaston.

You also make sure that your strike bowler doesn't roll an ankle on a tennis ball during fielding practice 2 hours before the first ball is bowled (Pigeon).

408 runs in 80 overs the poms got that day after we sent them in it was unbelievable.

That moment along with ponting bowling 1st changed that whole series back in 05

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

408 runs in 80 overs the poms got that day after we sent them in it was unbelievable.

That moment along with ponting bowling 1st changed that whole series back in 05

Yep, I think they had to pick Shaun Tait.

Gillespie was slowing down, but not helped by the refusal to place either a 4th slip or a third man.

 

[BoneyBlake17]

Yep, I think they had to pick Shaun Tait.

Gillespie was slowing down, but not helped by the refusal to place either a 4th slip or a third man.

Kasprowicz as well cause he was the last man out in that game when billy bowden gave him caught behind when it hit his elbow guard and we lost 2 runs.

Suprised billy bowden didnt end up getting an OBE as well after that shocking decison considering the whole england team that won that series got 1 including paul collingwood who only scored 7 runs

 

[Twizzle]

When you lose by over 400 runs I don think the toss is the problem

 

[Eelogical]

Seaming on day one with some carry is what I expect. After that it will progressively settle down. Spin towards the end.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

There's some chance of light rain on the 1st arvo too, which may disrupt the team batting first. But....bat first is usually pretty much the go.

 

[Eelogical]

There's some chance of light rain on the 1st arvo too, which may disrupt the team batting first. But....bat first is usually pretty much the go.

If that's the case then it will be tea and scones.

 

[The Phelan Folly]

Seaming on day one with some carry is what I expect. After that it will progressively settle down. Spin towards the end.

You been on the phone to Warnie & Junior, eh?

 

[TheParraboy]

we are batting same side as test 2

 

[Kornstar]

Good start