December 7th, 2010, 09:58 PM | #111 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: At the bottom of an empty glass
Posts: 15,768
Thanks: 531,405
Thanked 179,753 Times in 15,755 Posts
|
I feel man for man, England has by far the better squad. The Australian bowling line up, looks to be on a par with your average county side and Siddle's birthday apart have looked poor. The batting is slightly better although it relies heavily on Hussey to keep it together. Australia's normally high standard of fielding seems to have dropped down to schoolboy level and they will need to put in a lot of hard work before the next test, if they are going to compete.
Having said all that, people have been writing off the Aussies since I started watching cricket in 1959 and England will need to guard against being stung, by a wounded beast. |
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to victor meldrew For This Useful Post: |
December 7th, 2010, 10:36 PM | #112 | |
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: England
Posts: 26,168
Thanks: 162,219
Thanked 277,849 Times in 26,114 Posts
|
Quote:
As for the Aussie fielding, it looks disheartened; why would it not after more than 5 sessions out in the baking sun with only 5 wickets to show. A wicket is as refreshing as a cold beer in that situation and the bowlers have the ability to ratchet up the fielding performance and raise expectations by raising their own game and presenting a serious threat for the fielders to back up. Pour blood into the water and the sharks will appear. There is some fine batting in this Aussie side which has not so far delivered. Ponting looks unfocused and for sure that's why he went so easily in the first innings in Adelaide. Too much on his mind? Once you walk out to bat, you must be thinking of nothing but the moment and you must ride that adrenaline rush and make it serve you; I may be sad for saying this but I have skied, raced go-karts and ridden motorcycles, all more dangerous than batting, but batting is the most exciting respectable thing I've done. It helps that I am crap; every ball is a desperate adventure and every run scored is a victory. Ponting seems jaded to me right now, as though the edge of excitement is missing. While I'm on the fascinating subject of me, the second most exciting respectable thing I did used to be bowling when I was on a roll. I was a really bad leg spinner; I lost runs like a faucet and yet I used to knock over surprisingly good batsmen, an astonishing number stumped or clean bowled because I floated it up that extra 18 inches and they charged me. Quite a few catches to mid-on occured as well. I was the wicket-keeper's mascot, the bumble-bee of bowling; the laws said my bowling shouldn't work, yet so often it did. Geoff Boycott on TMS threw away a comment once which explained the mystery of my bowling career to me at long last. "Never attack a bad leg-spinner; you'll soon turn a rotten delivery into a very good ball."
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
|
The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to scoundrel For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 12:21 AM | #113 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 220
Thanks: 89,837
Thanked 2,841 Times in 213 Posts
|
A well deserved victory for England in the second test. I'm glad rain didn't intervene -- we didn't deserve to draw the match.
Now to drown my sorrows by perusing the rest of this site. |
The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to rpsaturnal For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 02:02 AM | #114 |
Veteran Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: County of Champions
Posts: 3,707
Thanks: 55,074
Thanked 64,137 Times in 3,729 Posts
|
I look forward to Boxing day {MELBOURNE}..MCG..I Love this place..
For any Poms going over. Check out the Cricketers Arms in Richmond {opposite the MCG} Strippers, Beer, and the chance to gloat.. sorry Everyone I'm getting emotional..I LOVE MELBOURNE.. |
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Welderman For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 08:10 AM | #115 |
Vintage Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,736
Thanks: 144
Thanked 14,337 Times in 1,702 Posts
|
I felt that when we won the Ashes in 05 and 09 we were a little lucky , but although there were one or two bits of luck in the last Test it was clear that England was the better side.The margin of victory was actually an innings and a half plus 71 runs.England took as many wickets (on a flat track) in 87 minutes yesterday as Australia has taken in the last three England innings.
The other thing is that all the England players have delivered big time except perhaps Collingwood. |
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to knobby109 For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 10:52 AM | #116 |
Vintage Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,070
Thanks: 77,128
Thanked 14,162 Times in 1,071 Posts
|
Well, the 05 Ashes series was probably lost by Australia due to Pigeon standing on a cricket ball and hurting his ankle. I suggest all Australian fans throw cricket balls at every England practice in the hope that Cook, Trott, Pietersen tread on them
An an Australian fan, I think we need to stand strong with the team. We had a great ride for a long time and currently we are just not good enough. I don't believe we are really as poorly skilled as the last result indicates. Confidence plays a great part as well, and we don't have any. Unfairly, our fast bowlers get compared to McGrath and spinners to Warne, and get lambasted when they don't measure up. How many English allrounders got burnt by the "new Botham" tag? Even Freddy who was good, and had some great moments wasn't Botham class. Before McGrath, our last great fast bowler was Lillee. They don't come around every day. In defence of our bowlers, they did create chances for early wickets and they weren't taken by the fielders. The English have taken their chances and that builds confidence. If all else fails, lets just remember the days of McGrath, Warne and Gilly. |
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to bp666 For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 05:00 PM | #117 |
Live Legend of VEF
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world
Posts: 20,353
Thanks: 30,936
Thanked 383,159 Times in 19,356 Posts
|
I am so pleased that we stuffed the Aussies after the terrible turnaround of the last Ashes in Adeleide when Collingwood made 200 and Pietersen made a small contribution but then it went pear-shaped. This time it was reversed, Pietersen made a double century and Collingwood went rather cheaply but we played like real champions and I sincerely hope that come Perth and the WACA, we do even better. Apparently Australians had one piece of good news-Stuart Broad going home, but then Tremlett will be let loose on them so enjoy it while you can. I was lucky enough to go to the MCG in Melbourne-we couldn't go near the pitch as they were setting up for a Paul McCartney concert but we were allowed into the main members room and got a good view of it nevertheless.
Ian Botham v Greg Chappell-now that is a fight I would like to see-get em in a ring the Sir against the commoner and see what happens-my money would be on Botham in a 3 rouind knockout!
__________________
There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. 20,000: Milestone reached!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Greenman For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 05:25 PM | #118 |
Vintage Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 660
Thanks: 2,389
Thanked 6,300 Times in 648 Posts
|
Since Beefy is 12 years younger than Chappelli I'd naturally put my money on Botham as well.
|
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to eelcat For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 05:35 PM | #119 | |
Comfortably Numb
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St James Park
Posts: 7,019
Thanks: 112,280
Thanked 145,888 Times in 8,002 Posts
|
Quote:
I would back beefy in a fight between most cricketers. (even the big bad Merve Hughes.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNggUD_MrNY
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Velcome to zee Forum. You must obey zee rules!
|
|
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to tabler For This Useful Post: |
December 8th, 2010, 05:41 PM | #120 |
Live Legend of VEF
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world
Posts: 20,353
Thanks: 30,936
Thanked 383,159 Times in 19,356 Posts
|
Surely thats Sir Beefy? Warne calls him Beef on Sky Sports coverage.
I saw Mervyn Hughes in Melbourne Airport in 1993 when I was there with my friend-he was bigger than you saw on the telly-really intimidating character and no wonder he used to put the fear of St Kylie up our cricketers! BTW why is David Lloyd called Bumble? And does anyone remember David Gower being called Goldenhair for the Bunburys cartoon? Not a lot of hair these days.
__________________
There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. 20,000: Milestone reached!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to Greenman For This Useful Post: |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|