• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

The Ashes 2009

Well, hurry along to bed then, if you're what's keeping us from taking wickets.

I think a draw was always the likeliest result from the weather forecast on Wednesday. I don't think England feel they've escaped: I think they probably feel cheated of a chance to go 2-0 up in the series and prevent another Aussie win. The Australians are looking a more threatening team now than they did at Lord's, and if they hit their rhythm properly at Headingley (and get Lee back, for that matter) then it's still anyone's little urn.

Edit to add - yes, I think Fred has knackered himself. If we go to Headingley without him, the series will be poised 1-1 for the finale at the Brit Oval.
 
Last edited:
No chance of Australia declaring and trying to go for the win, is there? Is Ponting that mad?
 
Broad is anything but ugly. ;)

And anyway, that wicket was at least as much down to a truly magnificent catch from Anderson as Broad's bowling. Spring-heeled Jack or what?

In the grander scheme of things, its accademic now anyway.
 
Peter Siddle in his sunscreen reminds me terribly of those clowns at the fair that you had to throw the ball into their months. Just needs the David Gower perm to complete the whole picture. Mind, he can bowl, I'll give him that. ;)

Clarke on 96 caught at slip... off a no-ball. This is degenerating into a farce. They could declare and all go home at tis point. I suspect Punter is trying to give Clarke his psychlogical hundred. Strauss may just say 'now or never' on the declaration, and make 'em play till seven just for the hell of it.

Clarke has his hundred, and it's all over now. Anderson gets RevdKathy's man of the match, for his five-fer, that amazing catch and for having lovely brown eyes.

So... next stop Headingley. Lee will be fit. Haddin may or may not. And I fear that Flintoff won't be after those falls. Harmie has blisters, and Stewie, pretty as he is, did better with bat than ball. Our bowling places would be wide open if Fred is out. Meanwhile, Johnson is finding some form, and the Aussies are in better spirits for today.
 
Last edited:
Clarke got man of the match.

I don't know I'd go with Lee given his lack of game time. If they have to make a change in the bowling I'd prefer it Stuart Clark came in, either for Siddle or Hauritz, depending on the pitch of course.
 
Great knock by Clarke, and good rescue for Australia.

Headingley will be very interesting...
 
Well, that was a bit of a surprise. Maybe we're finally getting a grip on the whole saving a Test thing. Except for the occasions where we don't, of course. It's unfortunate that North missed a hundred but Clarke's gradually developing the ability to stick around in a crisis. That can only be a good thing. The draw puts us further behind the 8-ball, though; only two chances left to level the series and the way we've performed so far inspires no confidence whatsoever that we'll be able to achieve that goal. The inability of our bowlers to actually take wickets is even more of a factor than I'd expected.

Picking Lee would be incredibly stupid, which is why I fully expect him to get the nod for Headingley. This crop of selectors haven't got a clue - their scattergun approach to selection, in combination with their insistence on playing favourites (contradictory as that sounds), is at the core of our present problems, IMO. Stuart Clark must have gotten in their bad books somehow; his non-appearance in the series so far is a joke. Yet they'll probably rush Lee back at the first available opportunity. Pathetic.
 
I would give a small warning to the Australians celebrating: the funeral for the pitch at Edgbaston is to be held on Thursday. I doubt your bowlers could have got much out of it either.

Still, the series is 'well poised' as they say.
 
RevdKathy said:
I would give a small warning to the Australians celebrating: the funeral for the pitch at Edgbaston is to be held on Thursday. I doubt your bowlers could have got much out of it either.
Click to expand...
It shall be a burial at sea. :(
 
RevdKathy said:
Edit to add - yes, I think Fred has knackered himself. If we go to Headingley without him, the series will be poised 1-1 for the finale at the Brit Oval.
Click to expand...

Seems to be the talk doesn't it?

Interesting to note he didn't take a wicket at Edgbaston, and look what happened. It's going to be a very tough call from the England selectors. I'm not sure England can afford to carry him if he can't bowl - England seem to be able to take wickets only when it's swinging. If it were me, I'd bring Sidebottom in for Broad, no questions asked, Harmison in for Swann (poor effort on the last day), and replace Fred with a batsman (Vaughan?) to rest him up for the finale at the Oval.

I reckon Australia might have been half a chance if the rain hadn't cost us two days of play.

However, Australia's biggest problem remains bowling penetration - hard to know how many runs would have been a safe target the way we are going with the ball.

It's a big ask to bring Lee in at this stage and expect him to win us the Ashes. Our best hope is Stuey Clark - only god and Ricky knows why he didn't play at Edgbaston.

I still think England are favourites, but if Flintoff can't get on the park at Headingley, and we pick Clark, maybe there's still potential for a twist or two?
 
Clarke seems to have pulled a stomach muscle, hopefully he'll be right by Friday. Wonder how he did that? I think we can rule out from extensive laughter brought on by Lara Bingle's wit.
 
Probably wretching up a Brum Balti. Delicate digestion, these Aussies. Either that or something to do with Mrs Clarke. Maybe best not to ask. ;)
 
Jono said:
Clarke seems to have pulled a stomach muscle, hopefully he'll be right by Friday. Wonder how he did that? I think we can rule out from extensive laughter brought on by Lara Bingle's wit.
Click to expand...
:guffaw:

Are the England selectors reading our thread looking for selection tips? Sidebottom in, along with a Warwickshire batsman called Trott whom I know nothing about.

Now if only I could get Australia to take my selection advice :p
 
Err...wtf???

England fans told to stop booing Ponting.

Maybe Clarke read the Headingley match programme. :lol:

While he has his limitations as a captain, no serious fan of the game could deny that Ponting is an exceptional batsman. But I think he'd be bemused - and amused - at this notion. Heck, as the Australian captain in England he'd expect to be booed, surely. :lol:
 
Looks like Fred will not be playing at Headingley: no way was he fit in practice. Meanwhile, Lee claims he's fit, and the selectors are said to be seriously considering Stuart Clark.

There's a debate started about the quality of English pitches - are they too flat. People are suggesting everything from banning the heavy roller to [gasp]leaving grass on them![/gasp]. Something is needed as we've got a set-up here now that knackers bowlers on near impossible wickets.

Been reflecting on the whole 'booing' thing: I think the Powers That Be take it all too seriously. The crowds respect someone like Ponting - booing him is, oddly, a mark of affection. It's like how you treat the panto villain - he's the man-you-love-to-hate.You boo him, yell 'behind you!' enter into the fun of it. But at the end of the show, just before the final curtain, he comes good, marries the dame and gives up his life of evil - and gets a standing ovation in the walk-down. There's no real malice in it. They'll be banning panto next in case children learn the bad habit of booing the baddie.

Worried about security, Headingley plan to restrict alcohol sales (:eek:). And they've banned musical instruments. I'm suggesting every ticket holder takes a kazoo. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top