Cricket Thread

[Spagoli]

"Giles is excellent " mmm is that the same King of Spain described by Blofeld as "Wheelie Bin" not sure I want to put all my eggs in his basket.

Agree on the Monty point though, think they went for what was seen as the safe option to avoid a humiliating defeat, well done there then guys!

[Jebus]

It's simple really...

Monty : FORM BOWLER
Giles : Not bowled in a year

Rocket science it isn't.

Harmy, low on confidence after bowling a wide on the first ball of the ashes, taken out after 2 overs...way to build confidence, again, not smart.

[Cranky]

Giles is an ordinary bowler who relies on the batsman going for a rash shot to dismiss him. He is tight, but that's all he offers. Monty on the other hand will attack a batsman to get him out.

Sadly predictable defensive selections if you ask me.

[Jebus]

Indeed, and what on Earth is Jones doing back behind the wicket?????

[Cranky]

Indeed, and what on Earth is Jones doing back behind the wicket?????

Good point. The emergence of Adam Gilchrist has had a very negative affect on the selection of wicket keepers. Before he emreged 15-30 runs was considered a pretty good contribution. Now it is expected that you make runs otherwise you have failed really. But, if you drop a bloke early , say on 17 and then he goes onto make 130(not looking at anyone in particular Jones), does it really matter if you make a "handy" fifty.

Gilchrist just so happens to be a good* keeper as well as a remarkable bat as a bonus. *note good and not great. There have been surperior keepers in Australia during Gilly's reign, but offered nothing with the bat.

[VR46]

After a glimmer of hope on the fourth day, we tumbled like domino's last night, and the predicted rain didn't happen, so one down already, gap between the two teams is so big it's hard to see a way forward really

Can someone explain the logic in Australia batting a second time rather than making us follow on ... only thing I can think of is that they thought the pitch would tail off on the fourth/fifth days.

[Mystery-C]

Can someone explain the logic in Australia batting a second time rather than making us follow on ... only thing I can think of is that they thought the pitch would tail off on the fourth/fifth days.

I think Australia decided to put the game beyond doubt ensuring there were enough runs on the board to make the game safe.

I think they thought the wicket might improve 3rd day onwards, but didn't appear to change and to be quite honest England could've had a 3rd innings and still struggled, good to see a couple of batsmen get in amongst the runs tho.

I think the england selectors made a mistake of going for experience, but Giles and Harmison lack match fitness/confidence and it showed and probably hasn't helped their confidence either.

Hopefully England will make the neccessary changes for the next match and we can make a fight of it, or we could be looking at it all being over already this time next week, can't see the team coming back from 2 down.

[Spagoli]

IMHO they were toying with going for the biggest ever margin for a test win, from a morale point that would have been game over for the next etst as well I reckon. As it is I reckon theres plenty of shocks left yet hopefully some in Englands favour!

[Cuber001]

meh, its all a one sided affair. You bloks have no hope. Steve Harmison LOL!!! I mean, secret training sessions?!? And did anyone see that first bowl as well as his stats?!?

Not to harp on though, i really feel you guys will struggle out here. The "predicted" rain was a load of tosh. I have no idea what weather braodcasters predicted that but Monday was ****ing hot, with no clouds to see. And its that reason i think your boys will struggle. Just on Saturday it reached a high 38 degrees. Although it was funny watching your boys practically melting away out there

Anyway on to Adelaide. Hopefully your boys put on a much better showing, because i dont like games like this. It was all one sided from the first bowl and that is really not interesting.

Oh and we all know Ponting was just messing with your heads, giving you slight hope but knowing they would crush them :P

[Spagoli]

I seem to remember similar sorts of positive stuff from you boys last time. And then it was a big fat helping of humble pie all round from what I remember followed by a few tears and sulks. Lets hope theres more of the same this time.

[Cuber001]

True, and its for that reason i didnt go too far. However i honestly believe that the weather will the the true enemy for you blokes. It really is hot over here. Like REALLY hot. Saturday was scorching and your blokes looked ready to faint. However if the weather lightens up and gets a bit cooler i feel its game on. Heres hoping they play better to at least make it more interesting.

[Shoju]

True, and its for that reason i didnt go too far. However i honestly believe that the weather will the the true enemy for you blokes. It really is hot over here. Like REALLY hot. Saturday was scorching and your blokes looked ready to faint. However if the weather lightens up and gets a bit cooler i feel its game on. Heres hoping they play better to at least make it more interesting.

Thats one reason why England really have to win the toss and bat 1st apart from that the pitch could deteriorate and turn later on. This being a back to back test they need to get Australia back in the field again and tire old McGrath and Warne out while the pitch is at it's best.

If they lose the toss I fear the worst.

[VR46]

Second Test starts late tonight (UK time), it's not 100% sure that McGrath will play, hope for our sake he doesn't.

Come on lads, time to grab back some pride.

[Cuber001]

ok guys can i just point something out? The Ashes is now underway and can i say its ****in hot. I mean hot. I hate it. However i think you blokes won the toss and are batting first! Now C'mon Warnie!!!!

Oh first bowl by Lee was a shocker, almost a Harmison, however "Ooh Ahh" Glen Mcgrath is playing. Awesome. Hopefully its close. Good luck boys!

[VR46]

Well, end of day one, 266-3 for us, good start ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6157281.stm