The Ashes (2 Viewers)

[copious]

i truly hate Macgill, I really do, he just does not have the attitude of an Australian playerl...he is an arogant sulky little wanka...I hope he never plays for Australia again.

I cant wait for him to be picked for the upcoming test maches, i really do. He's never let Australia down in test matches, and his strike rate proves it.

 

[AsyLum]

Should be interesting, England barely won against a side that was well below its average, missing a key player and almost stole the game. This momentum theyre talking about, i doubt it'd be there to be honest, thats a major blow with our last three making it such a close game.

Well done boys though, lots of courage, especially Lee and Kaspa. Im sure Lee will be fired up to repay the english double for all the body blows

 

[AsyLum]

the batting let Australia down. Yes McGrath was injured however that is just a part of the game. Making excuses and relying on players is not the right step towards a winning attitude.

Australia's batting in the 2nd innings was poor. Poor shot selection, no one with the tikka to hunker down and bat like its a test match and build a partnership. they all went out there and played rash shots knowing that they needed to bat the day out. they needed 280 runs in 2/3 days. All they had to do with preserve their wickets. Not play rashly and arrogantly.

Some of the Australian batsmen need to show the heart that the tail did against some quality bowling. It seemed pretty clear that a number of the Aussie batsmen did not place enough value on their wickets. No one put their hand up for the team.

Coming from Sydney Grade cricket I know if it was a sydney grade team the club coach would have given the batsmen a rocket. no one put their hand up for the team. Piss Weak and arrogant.

If you have a player of McGrath's ability in the team, and with the planning which goes behind the Aussie Cricket team, an injury like that so close to the start of the match is nothing short of a disaster. Say England didn't have Harmisson or Flintoff through injury the game would've tilted dramatically in Australia's favour.

Being 1-0 up also meant that this could be on they could be somewhat lax in, try new things, and try life without McGrath. I think that there will be changes, but these changes will be cosmetic at best, and it's just one win, the series is drawn. And like i stated before, they had a shocker for most of the match while underperforming, if i was English i should see that for what its worth, considering the age of the squad. But with players like Hussey, Haddin, Tait and Macgill, and even the domestics, namely Cameron White, Matthew Elliot and Dominic Thornely knocking at the door, theres still a lot of depth to play with.

Having said that, it would've been nice to see Australia take it out, but another 4 straight before the lax 5th test would've been boring, at least this showed England's desperation and talent as a squad, and Australia's never say die attitude.

Should make for a great contest IMHO.

 

[kunny funt]

what a ball, what a wicket, what a match, what a fuckin series

im lovin' these ashes

GO YOU POMMIES !

tell ya wat tho - aussies can pull of almost anything - hats off to lee n kaspa

 

[this_girl]

Feel a bit sorry for kasper - so gallant yet missed the win by a glove. Now he'll have to reminisce about it sitting on the sideline while Macgill takes his place for old trafford.

Possibly not! Lee could be out cause of his knee infection which means they'll most likely drop Simon Katich for Shane Watson and have MacGill there also.

 

[HeCtic]

Stuart Clarke on standby for the Third Test?

Oh dear.....

 

[LaCe]

Well With Lee and McGrath not in the side, i would doubt that Australia would put its faith in a debuton such as Tait even though he may prove useful, he is too inconsistent.

MacGill will return to the team but that means that Gillespie and Kaspa are Australia's Pace attack and that isnt much, they are just meds really.

S. Clarke has performed really well in county this season bagging heaps of wickets for not many runs. But I doubt he will get called up. Australia is in a really bad position here with McGrath but its put all ur luck in one bag and pick Tait or play the odds and put MacGill in with Gillespie and Kaspa the frontline med attack.

MacGill is def the safe option and that is what Australia is more likely to do but i dont think Australia can win this one without Lee and McGrath. Australia will either lose because of its lack of good bowlers or the match will be drawn because Australia will bat and bat and bat on whilst England bat and bat nad bat.

However there is the off-chance that England will get itself out because of its arrogance in light of the recent vicotry in the 2nd test. Now this is the more likely as to what happens.

 

[HeCtic]

I can see them preparing a green-top for this one. With our pace attack depleted and theirs looking as good as ever it looks a bit dire.

 

[copious]

I would rather have Stuart Clark in then Shaun Tait for this particular test match, thats if Lee is fit. Clarke is the closest thing to McGrath available. His economy rate is very very good.

 

[AsyLum]

I hope they stick haddin in

 

[copious]

On a side note for a minute did anyone see the result between the kiwis and zimbabwe? FWOA! they were worst than bangladesh in their infancy. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/NZ_IN_ZIM/SCORECARDS/NZ_ZIM_T1_07-11AUG2005.html

Vettori 127 from 98 balls then took 6 wickets

 

[Smokey_22]

The bowlers have to be:

Warne
Gillespie
Kasper
MacGill

Any other combo would make it harder to win the match.
The next test is one where i think the batsmen need to stand up. If we bat first and make enough, we should win considering Magga and Warne would be bowling in the 4th.
Its time for one of our batsmen to make a ton, and IMO its gotta be Ponting who stands up and makes a captains knock. I reckon Hayden's due for a big one.

 

[copious]

Hayden has been due for a VERY long time. His average has dipped from nearly 60 to 52. I think this ashes series will determine whether his time is up or not.

 

[Crestwood's_G]

On a side note for a minute did anyone see the result between the kiwis and zimbabwe? FWOA! they were worst than bangladesh in their infancy. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/NZ_IN_ZIM/SCORECARDS/NZ_ZIM_T1_07-11AUG2005.html

Vettori 127 from 98 balls then took 6 wickets

it was agenst zimbabwe what more can i say they got out for 59 theres a lot of problems there tho

 

[johnny_87]

The batsmen cost us the 2nd test. Only Langer (82 I think) and Ponting (61) scored 50+ in the 1st innings and our two highest scores in the 2nd dig were 43* (Lee) and 42 (Warne).

Ponting's odd field placements in their first innings didn't help either. He learnt well for the 2nd innings and look what we did.

We need them to step up. Ponting and Clarke looked in good nick before their dismissals in the first innings and Clarke got another start (30) in the 2nd innings. Like Smokey said, Haydos is also due a good score.

If Lee is definitely out and the cheating Poms prepare a green top, I think they will have to play 3 pacemen and Watson. If they don't doctor the wicket, Warne and MacGill bowling in tandem against England in their 2nd innings (even if we bat last) will give us a good chance at winning.

Gotta win this one. Surely

 

[LaCe]

And that pitch as they said was perfect for big hundreds, what more can u ask for.

England will surely get themselves out here, like on the final day of the second test they thought they had won it easy and they let it nearly slip out of their fingers.

Safest optioin is MacGill and that is what they will do.

Sri Lanka v India in the Final with Sri Lanka pulling off a good win. That game would have been nice to see instead of ball by ball commentary on Wisden Crickinfo.

When is SA going to play AUS? or isnt that for ahwile? THat looks like a good match up.

And what about Bell? Are they going to drop him for Solanki or Collingwood? I dont think Collingwood would play cause he is just an allrounder with not as much depth to his batting as Bell but Solanki proved to be useful in the one dayer. I dunno what they are going to do. I think they'll give him one last chance to prove himself and then see.

Anyway it all starts tonight and hopefully it truns out as we all expected.

 

[copious]

I think SA are gonna be in the VB series in January, not sure but I think its their turn.

 

[johnny_87]

Any green tops and Collingwood has to come in. He batted well in the ODIs and was in scorching form in county cricket before the Ashes began.

 

[LaCe]

Any green tops and Collingwood has to come in. He batted well in the ODIs and was in scorching form in county cricket before the Ashes began.

Yeah but that would mean that England would be carrying 5 bowlers and whilst their bowling side seems to be strong their batting line up does need further strength and that is why i would suggest giving Bell one last sot or putting Solanki in there.

India had 5 specialist bowlers for the one dayer last night and they still bowled Shewag for 2 overs (probably cause of the over-rate) but given that they should not have dropped Laxman

 

[Bookie]

Cant wait to see the Proteas!

Anyway, how the hell did Stuart make it? How old is he?

DT should have been in the squad from day one, but nooooooo, apprently a thousand centuries and a hell of a lot of wickets doesn't warrant anything more than a Aus A selection.