Anderson out already. I don't think this will take long.
The Ashes 2009
- Thread starter Botany Bay
- Start date
Well, that's Prior out now and he was the biggest threat I think. The supposed Langer assessment of the England team was leaked in the Telegraph today. It's quite an interesting read.
And very accurate. Johnson obviously read the dossier, the way he was bowling to Prior this morning. Thanks for posting that
I just saw an article suggesting England should recall 39 year old Mark Ramprakash - jeez the panic button is being smashed to pieces!
One suggestion from Michael Holding makes sense though - play Prior just as a bastman at the Oval. I know he got out cheaply here but he has looked the goods to me, and, if he doesn't enjoy keeping (as Langer suggests above) take the gloves off him. It's not like there are other batting options knocking the door down.
I can't remember the name of the guy he suggested, it wasn't Ambrose, Read or Jones. I don't thing poor old Geraint should be waiting by the phone though, I remember thinking he was going to cost you that famous 2005 Edgbaston game when he got a severe case of butterfingers on the last day. 
Out on the park, this is great stuff to watch from Broad and Swann - I'm not sure Ricky is enjoying it any more though.
Out on the park, this is great stuff to watch from Broad and Swann - I'm not sure Ricky is enjoying it any more though.
I think this test is as good as done. 8-244 - 98 runs behind. Series squared up.
To be honest, I'm really disappointed in this series...it's funny...I live in England, but I was raised in Hobart, Tasmania, and I do support Australia, yet, I think this has been poor for both teams - not in terms of play, because I think the two sides have been evenly matched - even more so than in 2005, but the weather has been rubbish, and hasn't allowed a full blown match to unfold. Headingly, thus far, is the odd one out, and not a problem, so far.
I'm looking forward to the fifth. With the series at one a piece, you just know, that fifth test is going to be firey!
To be honest, I'm really disappointed in this series...it's funny...I live in England, but I was raised in Hobart, Tasmania, and I do support Australia, yet, I think this has been poor for both teams - not in terms of play, because I think the two sides have been evenly matched - even more so than in 2005, but the weather has been rubbish, and hasn't allowed a full blown match to unfold. Headingly, thus far, is the odd one out, and not a problem, so far.
I'm looking forward to the fifth. With the series at one a piece, you just know, that fifth test is going to be firey!
163 off 24 overs - now that's entertainment! I'm glad the crowd got their money's worth - nothing worse than having prepaid Day 3 tickets for a match like this.
Top marks on your prediction about our bowlers, OZ.
RevdK - speaking of Headingley '81 - Allan Border is calling the game from a studio back home here - he was there in that team for that infamous game, and he reckons he starting to get that feeling of deja vu
Welcome to the discussion Guru.
I agree with you - two evenly matched teams like 2005, but this series has not been a patch on many previous Ashes series - something has been a bit unsatisfying about the standard of cricket, yet - here we are 1-1 and all to play for in the last test.
Top marks on your prediction about our bowlers, OZ.
RevdK - speaking of Headingley '81 - Allan Border is calling the game from a studio back home here - he was there in that team for that infamous game, and he reckons he starting to get that feeling of deja vu
I think this test is as good as done. 8-244 - 98 runs behind. Series squared up.
To be honest, I'm really disappointed in this series...it's funny...I live in England, but I was raised in Hobart, Tasmania, and I do support Australia, yet, I think this has been poor for both teams - not in terms of play, because I think the two sides have been evenly matched - even more so than in 2005, but the weather has been rubbish, and hasn't allowed a full blown match to unfold. Headingly, thus far, is the odd one out, and not a problem, so far.
I'm looking forward to the fifth. With the series at one a piece, you just know, that fifth test is going to be firey!
Welcome to the discussion Guru.
I agree with you - two evenly matched teams like 2005, but this series has not been a patch on many previous Ashes series - something has been a bit unsatisfying about the standard of cricket, yet - here we are 1-1 and all to play for in the last test.
Eh, it was a bit like predicting the sun will rise in the east.
There's a certain inevitability about it all, and has been for years now - even back in the McGrath / Gillespie / Warne days there were plenty of occasions where opposition tails did as they liked. It's nothing new for us, unfortunately.Kudos to the England tail on this occasion for having a go.
It will be interesting to see who takes the field for both sides at the Oval (what's this "Brit" Oval talk? Sad to see famous grounds being referred to by sponsor names). I'd like to think our lineup will be unchanged, although who knows what the bozo selectors will decide to do. One wonders if the Poms will hit the panic button or merely tinker a bit. Certainly the little I've seen of Bopara is...less than convincing, for example, but do they have anyone better? And if so, why hasn't he been in the side all along? (Not that our selectors are any better, of course.)
Whatever they do, Flintoff will surely play unless his leg falls off in the next week or so, and even then he'd probably have a go at getting on the field. I reckon they'll fill him with painkillers and send him out. He deserves to go out on a good note and while it'd be sad to see him hobble through a final game it'd be more appropriate than him being sidelined for such a match. Still, England have to start learning to cope without him sooner or later.
Welcome to TBBS and to the thread, Guru.
Well this was quick, efficient and quite depressing stuff there. A far cry from '81 for sure.
But at least the Oval isn't going to be a dead rubber after all.
You know, Panesar as one of the opening batsmen doesn't seem like a bad idea now.
But at least the Oval isn't going to be a dead rubber after all.
You know, Panesar as one of the opening batsmen doesn't seem like a bad idea now.
I'm kinder glad that the match finished into the second session, as I missed all of the first session (There was a suicide at Asquith train station last night)
Now to wait for the final test.
Now to wait for the final test.
Beefy is suggesting reversing the order - open with Swann and Broad, bat Cookie at 11.
I suspect the England selectors will tinker rather than make wholesale changes. Fred is desperate to play for His Last Hurrah, but they won't take him as a lame duck. Which I fear he would be. Two spinners would be useful down there, I'd drop Harmie for Panesar but they may feel differently. I think they'll drop Bopara: his mental state is too frail for this last test. Who would they put in? Suggestions range from dragging Treso out of retirement (boy, the Aussies would make a meal of that!) to making Ramps put on his dancing shoes, via Trott and Rob Key. The first two are past their sell-buy dates in international cricket, while the latter are undercooked.
For the Aussies, I fear they will put their spinner back in, dropping Clark. Johnson has at last discovered the form that made him such a slayer in South Africa. Unfortunately.
I think most importantly, England need not to panic. We thrashed them at Lord's just a matter of days ago. It's not over yet.
I suspect the England selectors will tinker rather than make wholesale changes. Fred is desperate to play for His Last Hurrah, but they won't take him as a lame duck. Which I fear he would be. Two spinners would be useful down there, I'd drop Harmie for Panesar but they may feel differently. I think they'll drop Bopara: his mental state is too frail for this last test. Who would they put in? Suggestions range from dragging Treso out of retirement (boy, the Aussies would make a meal of that!) to making Ramps put on his dancing shoes, via Trott and Rob Key. The first two are past their sell-buy dates in international cricket, while the latter are undercooked.
For the Aussies, I fear they will put their spinner back in, dropping Clark. Johnson has at last discovered the form that made him such a slayer in South Africa. Unfortunately.
I think most importantly, England need not to panic. We thrashed them at Lord's just a matter of days ago. It's not over yet.
Ah the voice of reason in the English camp. Exactly - it's not over yet.
I wonder if a raging turner is being baked into rubble at the Oval as we speak?
It's probably England's best bet with only Horrorshowitz available for us. M. Clarke is allegedly too injured to bowl his handy left arm orthodox, and Ponting refuses to bowl our best spinner, Katich.
In any case, it's all exciting, and given how even the series has been on the whole, anything can still happen in the final Test.
It makes the decision to remove live cricket from terrestrial TV after England's last home Ashes series even more baffling. I mean, we'd even be happy if it was live on Five...
It makes the decision to remove live cricket from terrestrial TV after England's last home Ashes series even more baffling. I mean, we'd even be happy if it was live on Five...
That's the stupidity of a government who can't learn from history. They promised us that the 'crown jewels' of sport would stay on terrestrial, then renegged over the Ashes because Murdoch offered silly money.
1981 saw a recession with inflation at 27% and raised taxes. There were riots on the streets. The government deflected public opinion and interest with a Royal wedding, and the Ashes series to end all Ashes series - England actually did snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The stock market was empty with everyone watching cricket on TV. People on the motorways waved and smiled at each other... with inflation at 27%. If ever a government needed the country to get behind someting like a national team, this one does. Except it's off air, right?
Thanks for the welcomes, guys.
I agree with the above. I mean, Australia had television on terrestrial TV for years - does Channel 9 still air it? - I moved to England in 1997, so I don't know. And let us be honest, in the UK, Cricket is still the #2 (or #3, depending on how you view Rugby) sport. Wouldn't it be in the best interest for the government, and the networks to provide the best viewing support on Television? Also, I don't mean to rip into the British public - just an observation that I've noticed over the last 12 years I've lived back in England, but there is a very "You only sing when you're winning!" mentality.
When it comes to Cricket, the public interest only peaks when England are in a winning position. I mean, I remember back in 2005, I was getting a ribbing off people that wouldn't even discuss Cricket beforehand - which used to piss me off, as they didn't know what they're talking about, anyway!
Anyway...wouldn't the best way to get a nation behind something...and considering how badly this country is screwed right now, putting the Cricket on terrestrial TV for all to see, without having to fork out money...which we don't have...would be in the nations best interest?
I agree with the above. I mean, Australia had television on terrestrial TV for years - does Channel 9 still air it? - I moved to England in 1997, so I don't know. And let us be honest, in the UK, Cricket is still the #2 (or #3, depending on how you view Rugby) sport. Wouldn't it be in the best interest for the government, and the networks to provide the best viewing support on Television? Also, I don't mean to rip into the British public - just an observation that I've noticed over the last 12 years I've lived back in England, but there is a very "You only sing when you're winning!" mentality.
When it comes to Cricket, the public interest only peaks when England are in a winning position. I mean, I remember back in 2005, I was getting a ribbing off people that wouldn't even discuss Cricket beforehand - which used to piss me off, as they didn't know what they're talking about, anyway!
Anyway...wouldn't the best way to get a nation behind something...and considering how badly this country is screwed right now, putting the Cricket on terrestrial TV for all to see, without having to fork out money...which we don't have...would be in the nations best interest?
Welcome to the thread, Guru.
Yep ... channel 9 does still screen it during the summer. But with this ashes series, SBS is screening it. Other overseas series have been on pay-tv, like the last tour to South Africa.
Yep ... channel 9 does still screen it during the summer. But with this ashes series, SBS is screening it. Other overseas series have been on pay-tv, like the last tour to South Africa.
Are we still knocking Hauritz? The guy was joint third highest wicket taker leading into the fourth test so he deserves a bit of credit.