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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 9, 2013 12:01:58 GMT
So beginneth the first day of the fourth test! Cook and Trott grafting til lunch after losing only Root this morning, the pitch not doing what everyone predicted.
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 10, 2013 11:52:02 GMT
England all out for 238 but pulling their finger out with the ball!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2013 13:44:27 GMT
Good cameo innings from Trott yesterday, including one sublime cover drive. A good 10th wicket partnership which added 24 to a rather modest total ended today, first ball. Our turn now to have the Aussie batsmen on the rack.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 19:25:16 GMT
Well, some good batting towards the end of the day with some good stroke-play from Pietersen and Bairstow and another brilliant ton from Bell. England need to set the Aussies a target of 300 at least as anything less and the Aussies will fancy it.
With 2 days left I just hope the weather doesn't take a hand again.
Listening to the radio commentary, and much mirth at these comments:
Geoff Boycott to Jon Agnew: "another hundred runs and England will be home and dry." Agnew: "that's more than can be said for your pullover, Geoffrey, sorry we spilt tea all over it earlier !"
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 12, 2013 9:10:05 GMT
Good old Boycott! But yeah i see no way back for Australia if we get 100 more, a day and a half to bowl thfm out is plenty if time!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2013 10:01:35 GMT
You can tell that he's a nightmare for his fellow commentators (on Test Match Special) to work with. Aggers in particular. But his words ringing in my ears certainly helped me in my brief career playing for the department team at work: "Use your feet, keep your bat straight and keep your eye on the ball".
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 12, 2013 10:37:10 GMT
It would seem Harris is too good!
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 12, 2013 11:32:50 GMT
I will never forget Boycott in the 2005 ashes, rather moserable and monotone was his demeaner!
299 to win, priceless knock from swanny!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2013 12:47:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2013 18:50:08 GMT
Aussies were breezing it at 100-0 but what a spectacular collapse to 199-8 with Stuart Broad absolutely on fire ! Will probably get Man of the Match, but important to remember that but for Bell's innings Australia would probably be back in the pavilion celebrating by now....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2013 18:55:36 GMT
....and England win by 74 runs (Broad 6 for 50) and the series 3-0. Great match.
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 12, 2013 19:56:24 GMT
Alot happened in a short space of time! I checked one minute and we were struggling and the next theyd won!!
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 21, 2013 10:20:28 GMT
Doesnt look like your average oval surface! Balls doing lots and playing slow and low with a swinging ball! Anderson looking good getting Warner!
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 21, 2013 11:43:00 GMT
Kerrigan getting a spanking from Watson, 10 & 18 from his first two overs!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2013 10:24:58 GMT
Yes indeed the 5th Test at the Oval seems to be going Australia's way - maybe they can play after all ! Watson has sorted his constantly-being-out-lbw problem and their higher order now looks solid. Fortunately for us Clarke has gone off the boil, he had a torrid time against Broad before being bagged by Anderson.
Boyks reckons "the England selectors have cocked up big time" by handing rookies Woakes and Kerrigan their England caps: Kerrigan was caught like a rabbit in the headlights, serving up a "horrible mixture of full tosses and long hops". Well I know the feeling, having once had an attack of the yips myself once, when I just couldn't bring my arm over properly. Can only be overcome with an extended session in the nets. Maybe Graham Onions would have been a better selection rather than blooding two youngsters together.
Some England batting heroes will be needed shortly.......
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Post by BB Warrior on Aug 25, 2013 9:09:07 GMT
A fascinating series draws towards the end, fortunately the weather seems to have come to England's rescue in the two tests that they have been in trouble or the series could have been closer. Although England have won the series 3-0, they have not played at their best and will need to improve when they go down under where the Aussies will certainly provide a tougher series than they have here, the England selectors do have some decisions to make and there are question marks over some of the England players.... Let's look at the batsmen first... Alastair Cook is struggling for form and has not made a big score all series, last time in Australia he scored 700 runs in the series and was the biggest influence on the series.... but is the weight of captaincy taking its toll on him or have the Aussies just worked out how to bowl to him now? Joe Root has made a couple of good scores, but has not looked at all convincing on other occasions against the new ball, the extra pace and bounce of the Aussie wickets could catch him out and I would be happier to see him coming in lower down the order. Ian Bell, Kevin Pieterson and Jonathon Trott are pretty much automatic selections.... But Jonny Bairstow doesn't look ready to play at Test Level yet so I would drop him down to the England Lions Team and take both Nick Compton and Michael Carberry in the squad instead, both as cover for injury and also to increase the number of options available to the selectors when England arrive there, while James Taylor probably deserves another chance and Gary Ballance has had a great season for Yorkshire so could also make the squad...? Matt Prior has not had the best of summers but I would still expect him to be first choice behind the stumps for the winter series, so the question would probably be do they keep Bairstow in the squad as the reserve or do they include somebody like Jos Buttler or Craig Kieswetter to give them the chance to step up to the main Team? For the bowlers, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart "Edge" Broad, Tim Bresnan (if fit?) and Graham Swann will definitely all be playing, with Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn and Graham Onions probably all fighting for the remaining pace bowling slot in the team and likely to be in the squad.... which leaves the question of who to take as the other spinner? Simon Kerrigan has blown his chance at the moment with his performance (if that is what you call it) in this Test and Monty Panesar has had his own personal problems this summer, which probably leaves the door open for James Tredwell who has performed well in the one day team recently and is a useful bat as well. Some interesting choices facing the selectors.... although I don't expect too many surprises when the squad is announced.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2013 13:36:49 GMT
I have been having similar thoughts about the England batting lineup.....like how long can Trott hold on to No.3 and is Root coming in too early as opener against the new ball ?
Cook has cemented the claim for No.1, Bell as No.5 and Pietersen as No.4
If an opportunity arises I'd give Nick Compton another chance as opener, and let Root come in at number 3.
But maybe I was spoiled by the England 1-5 of the 1960s - Boycott, Edrich, Dexter, Barrington, Cowdrey. *
One thing the current side has in common with the one of that era is a good wagging tail: Jim Parks was a brilliant Wkpr/bat and bowlers Knight and Titmus could bat a bit as well. The current lower order are pretty competent too.
Watching Pietersen bat with his square-on stance is like seeing Barrington and Parks all over again !
* and of course the fast bowling pair 'Fiery Fred' Trueman and Brian Statham - one from Yorks, one from Lancs !
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 25, 2013 19:41:34 GMT
Here is my take as we are all having our two penneth ;)
The return series will be a belter i think, Australia are not the whipping boys we thought they would be and England's batsmen have severely underperformed and if they play more to the capacity which we know they have then they will storm it on pitches that are flat (Brisbane in particular) and are traditionally batsmen's paradises, probably besides Perth.
England's top order, Cook has had a howler and what we have seen from him is nothing compared to what he can do, Root for me had a good series opening, his first time opening in test cricket in an ashes series, particularly against a bowling attack that can be lethal is nothing to be sniffed at what with that 180 at Lords. They need to keep him at the top, hes brilliant on the back footband i think the pace and bounce will be welcomed by him, to put him down the order would be criminal just for the sake of horses for courses, the best opening pairs of all time played together on every surface. Trott we all know is world class and again wasnt up to it but if he gets going he will not get out. KP is a performer, always has been and has been good this series after returning from a long term injury. Bell, words cant justify his contribution, the best performance in a home Ashes series since the days of Gower and Gooch, phenominal performance that on bowling pitches in England, is uniqiue in its own right. Prior, traditionally Mr Reliable has had a diar series, but he can do wonders with the bat, but hey we are all allowed a dip in form. The bowling i cant moan at, the main three are glued in, but on those pitches Tremlett ought to play, particularly after his wonder series in 2010/11.
From Australia's point of view they shouldnt be dis heartened, their batting has done better than anticipated (barring Lords and Trent Bridge) but they have found their top 7. Rogers had a cracking series at the top, at 35 years old has shown that the old boys still have it. Warner must open on those Aussie tracks. Watson at three is the first Aussie batsman since Shaun Marsh to get a century at three. We all know how good Clarke is, world class performer and on paper the best batsman in the series, but didnt have a brilliant time besides at Old Trafford. Smith has really come of age, even from an Englishman ive really enjoyed watching him. Haddin is a proper dig deep grinder and Faulkener looks destined for big things if he plays like he did in this test. Their bowling looks pretty settled, the biggest thing for them is keeping Harris fit and getting Pattinson back.
Darren Lehmann i think was the difference, if Mickey Arthur was still in charge it would of been a drubbing, but Boof has galvanised this team and got them enjoying the game again.
My verdict, a belter in prospect in November, but England will have to play out their skins! Fully deserved victory this time round.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2013 19:55:49 GMT
Fantastic last day's play, with both sides being positive and striving to make a result possible. A real crowd pleaser, some wonderful strokeplay, especially from Pietersen. Ok - bad light denied us the possibility of a last ball finish but Clarke quite within his rights to insist on consistency from the umpires. Both sides come out of this series with credit.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2013 13:55:23 GMT
Both sides come out of this series with credit. Cancel that, in view of the recent late-night episode. Disgusting, loutish behaviour. Just not cricket!
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Post by BigPhilMac on Aug 27, 2013 17:14:07 GMT
Both sides come out of this series with credit. Cancel that, in view of the recent late-night episode. Disgusting, loutish behaviour. Just not cricket! Im sure Colemanator would be delighted with that assessment :p I agree, what a terrible way to end after such a positive finale in the final test, contraversial or not! They ought to be ashamed of themselves, desacrating such a historic ground! Althouhj reminds me of my rugby days!
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