Well if we're to get anything from this test we need at LEAST 3 centurions! KP, Freddie, and Bell Much better with the ball last night though...hoggy and Freddie bowled very well! Flintoff must open the bowling in the second innings! Sadly I can only see one result in this test and it's a defeat...
And a heavy one at that. Can't believe Harmisson fist ball, wide again. Will only playing one 1st class game come back and haunt us or be a benefit later on in the series????
without harmison firing, no jones we're left with plunkett . oh dear. may as well have monty opening. harmy's got to get it right, you don't become a bad bowler this quickly, and he wasn't quite as sh*te today but its all relative.
To be honest I don't think he's ever been THAT great anyway! Ivam's hit the nail right on the head...he played well in the windies because the tracks were lethal and windies were awful! He was 'best bowler' in the world after that series! He hasn't produced it when it matters and to be honest I can see him being dropped after the world cup in place of a returning simon jones or Mahmood!
hm..the only hope is for a typical super fast innings for KP or Fredide with Ian Bell showing his great yearly form tonight.
after just one ball of the series, i knew we were in trouble! i was thinking about how much we miss jones as well, he would come on as first or second change and would always look to be in with a chance of getting a wicket. i would have liked to see chris broad in the squad as he is also tall and able to get bounce, with the added ability of keeping it on the wicket most of the time, unlike harmison
Hahaha good point! Broad looks a good prospect but would an ashes series in Australia be a good place to start your test career? Break him in gently in the summer for a test or two and watch him progress from there? I'd have Tremlett in ahead of Harmison anyway...
Oh yes forgot to say great news aswell for those based in Hampshire! The Rose Bowl has been given the green light to stage test cricket! Not too sure when this starts but it will be good to sun it up with a few beers for a few days seeing as I only live 10 mins away from it! Jon or anyone else, if you fancy a day out at the rose bowl when this happens let me know and we'll sort it out
Not too sure on capacity...perhaps about 15k, but I think they can add seating MK Dons style (scafholding) You're right, getting in and out is a nightmare, very congested...best bet is to get the train to Hedge End and walk...
Top man, will do! 20/20 is the way forward...very entertaining! Plenty of beer to be consumed and singing with the barmy army to be done! Went to the 20/20 eighteen months ago between England and the Convicts at the RB...great day was had by all!
I still have confidence in freddie and Pietersen hitting a century each , enough to save the follow on . Unless we force the aussies to bat again , I wouldnt risk Harmison in the second test . Id put him in the nets and leave him there till he manages to hit the stumps or at least force an LBW call . He is poor and I know his confidence is shattered , but would you let someone who has missed 3 pens on the trot step up in the last minute of the last game of the season to help keep us in the Prem ? Before the first test i was backing him to be the highest wicket taker !!! what do i know
Lol good post! I'd also drop him and bring Mahmood in! Get Harmy back in the nets until he learns to bowl line and length...rather than spraying it about everywhere!! Team for next test? Strauss Cook Bell KP Colly Freddie Jones Giles hoggy mahmood anderson ?
The only change I would make to your Team is replacing Gilo and give Monty a chance , no point giving him a chance when the series is all over (won or lost) . It Would be like Sven taking Wallcott to the world cup . No point taking him unless your prepard to give him a go. He could be the difference , and if he dont take a bucket full of wickets could help to reduce their run rate .
Horrific. 5 gone. Not expecting us to reach the follow on target, and it wouldn't suprise me if they didn't have to bat again.
Ah....not good! 7 wickets for less than 100 runs...more like the bad old days of England. The Aussies are clearly so confident of winning they didn't enforce the follow-on but it won't really matter. Bit of batting practise for them and then Warne,Lee and McGrath.
What a disaster. Will Ponting bat on? Rumours suggest until lunch on day 4. Could be Edgbaston 05 all over again with a bit of luck. if that happens he will get murdered in the press for getting it so wrong. They have totally out played us with bat and ball but if they do bat on in the morning till lunch its one less session to survive.
How do you manages to stay up and awake all night watching cricket and then spend time posting on here, Jobr. I would be falling asleep at the computer or pressing all the wrong letters. I take it the cricket didn't go well. Will there still be some for you to wait up for tonight or is it virtually done and dusted.
lol Will be interesting today (tonight Mean). Australia can't loose (IMHO) so they would be best declaring now and thus give themselves two full days to bowl England out. The rumours around the ground were they may bat on until lunchtime and wear England down a bit more. if they did this instead of having six sessions to bowl England out they would only have five. Of course England are very unpredictable and have played very poorly in this test although a bit of luck went against us earlier today and they could all be out in a session or my some cruel twist of fate (unlikely) hold out for a draw. if that was to happen the Australian press would hang the Aussie captain out to dry.
Ponting would be nuts to bat on to lunch tommorow! They have a 600+ lead, and I don't think any side at any time on any wicket has scored over 400 in a 4th innings!! They're better off declaring and winning the game by tea time tommorow! Warne will spin England out for about 150
