The Ashes 2009

[Dujon]

That was a damn good display from Collingwood, who in my opinion would be better at first drop, and the bottom half of the order. Whilst the draw undoubtedly feels like a win to the England players (and why wouldn't it - any team would feel the same in the circumstances) I have no doubt whatsoever that the Australians will take great heart from the performances, particularly when you take into account the time lost to inclement weather.

As to why Ponting kept with Johnson for so many overs when it was critical to make the batsmen play the ball I have no idea - in fact I am completely baffled. Johnson's figures look good in the records but they don't reflect his profligacy when it comes to wasted balls. Normally I would forgive him such errant behaviour but this was not a normal situation and for Ponting to allow him to spray the ball around as he did and for so long left me scratching my head in puzzlement.

So, overall: Johnson - disappointing; Hauritz - better than I expected; The remainder - pretty ordinary. The batsmen it's a bit hard to quantify. Four centuries and an eighty-three from seven batsman is difficult to criticise.



Anyway it's done now. I've said before that when it comes to The Ashes I am effectively a neutral, so I'll now question the other side:

Batsmen who get a start and can't continue (nothing new about that I suppose).
Reliance on the tail end to add a few more runs than might be expected (these should be a bonus, not a necessity).
Ineffective spin bowlers (which quite surprised me).


I'll shurrup now.

[Verbal]

In fairness Dujon I was very impressed with Hilfenhaus who seemed a real threat whenever he bowled. Siddle also looked dangerous, though my main memory of him is trying to kill Swann by peppering him with the short stuff. In fairness, that is what a lot of pace bowlers would do to the lower order batsmen.

Should be interesting at lords, as will the Australian newspapers this morning...

[Horza]

that's the booze talking

[Montreal Wanderer]

okay, good for Collie, but Anderson and Monty ( great name) faced closed to a hundred balls in the last wicket - hats off to them too.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Collingwood was a fooking hero. Only one of our "batsmen" who seemed to know what was needed to grind out a result.

[Bruno]

All that bloody singing doesn't half get on my nerves though.

[jimbo]

Suprised they managed to pull that one out of the bag yesterday. Great effort by Collingwood which will keep him in the team for another 2 years, and great work by Jimmy and Monty at the end. There's lots of questions to answer though and only 3 days to work something new out. Monty has to go, for either Onions or Harmy. Harmy would be seen as more of a gamble but has the potential to rough up the Aussies. I feel had England lost yesterday and hence needed to win at Lords they'd have gone for Harmy but after the draw I'm not sure. There's also the case of the untouchable golden boy of English cricket, the large one that is Stuart Broad. His test bowling average of 40 isn't going to win us the series.

[BWFC_Insane]

Suprised they managed to pull that one out of the bag yesterday. Great effort by Collingwood which will keep him in the team for another 2 years, and great work by Jimmy and Monty at the end. There's lots of questions to answer though and only 3 days to work something new out. Monty has to go, for either Onions or Harmy. Harmy would be seen as more of a gamble but has the potential to rough up the Aussies. I feel had England lost yesterday and hence needed to win at Lords they'd have gone for Harmy but after the draw I'm not sure. There's also the case of the untouchable golden boy of English cricket, the large one that is Stuart Broad. His test bowling average of 40 isn't going to win us the series.

Broad needs to be considered 4th choice seamer/all-rounder.

Bat above Flintoff.

Harmison, Anderson, Flintoff, Swann, Broad.

At least will give us a bit more balance.

There is also an argument to bring in a Hoggard/Sidebottom who can bowl accurately when its not swinging to give us more balance still.

[jimbo]

Suprised they managed to pull that one out of the bag yesterday. Great effort by Collingwood which will keep him in the team for another 2 years, and great work by Jimmy and Monty at the end. There's lots of questions to answer though and only 3 days to work something new out. Monty has to go, for either Onions or Harmy. Harmy would be seen as more of a gamble but has the potential to rough up the Aussies. I feel had England lost yesterday and hence needed to win at Lords they'd have gone for Harmy but after the draw I'm not sure. There's also the case of the untouchable golden boy of English cricket, the large one that is Stuart Broad. His test bowling average of 40 isn't going to win us the series.

Broad needs to be considered 4th choice seamer/all-rounder.

Bat above Flintoff.

Harmison, Anderson, Flintoff, Swann, Broad.

At least will give us a bit more balance.

There is also an argument to bring in a Hoggard/Sidebottom who can bowl accurately when its not swinging to give us more balance still.

But Sidebottom becomes a 78mph trundler when it doesn't swing. As Geoffrey would describe, 'comfort bowling'.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Suprised they managed to pull that one out of the bag yesterday. Great effort by Collingwood which will keep him in the team for another 2 years, and great work by Jimmy and Monty at the end. There's lots of questions to answer though and only 3 days to work something new out. Monty has to go, for either Onions or Harmy. Harmy would be seen as more of a gamble but has the potential to rough up the Aussies. I feel had England lost yesterday and hence needed to win at Lords they'd have gone for Harmy but after the draw I'm not sure. There's also the case of the untouchable golden boy of English cricket, the large one that is Stuart Broad. His test bowling average of 40 isn't going to win us the series.

Broad needs to be considered 4th choice seamer/all-rounder.

Bat above Flintoff.

Harmison, Anderson, Flintoff, Swann, Broad.

At least will give us a bit more balance.

There is also an argument to bring in a Hoggard/Sidebottom who can bowl accurately when its not swinging to give us more balance still.

But Sidebottom becomes a 78mph trundler when it doesn't swing. As Geoffrey would describe, 'comfort bowling'.

Its becoming more apparent that were just not up to much really.

[BWFC_Insane]

Suprised they managed to pull that one out of the bag yesterday. Great effort by Collingwood which will keep him in the team for another 2 years, and great work by Jimmy and Monty at the end. There's lots of questions to answer though and only 3 days to work something new out. Monty has to go, for either Onions or Harmy. Harmy would be seen as more of a gamble but has the potential to rough up the Aussies. I feel had England lost yesterday and hence needed to win at Lords they'd have gone for Harmy but after the draw I'm not sure. There's also the case of the untouchable golden boy of English cricket, the large one that is Stuart Broad. His test bowling average of 40 isn't going to win us the series.

Broad needs to be considered 4th choice seamer/all-rounder.

Bat above Flintoff.

Harmison, Anderson, Flintoff, Swann, Broad.

At least will give us a bit more balance.

There is also an argument to bring in a Hoggard/Sidebottom who can bowl accurately when its not swinging to give us more balance still.

But Sidebottom becomes a 78mph trundler when it doesn't swing. As Geoffrey would describe, 'comfort bowling'.

Indeed but he can bowl line and length far better than Anderson can. In the Caribbean he's probably not much cop.

Over here a tight line and length is likely to find at least a little movement. I'm not saying I'd do it, but the Aussies bowled in a far more disciplined way than we did and whilst we threw some wickets away, consistent nagging lines can take wickets even on bright sunny days with flat pitches.

[Bruno]

Ricky P

"I don't think that was required," said Ponting. "I am not sure what the physio was doing out there - I didn't see him call for any physio.

"We play in the spirit of the game", he continued.

The man speaks the truth. The timewasting was shameful.

[BWFC_Insane]

Ricky P

"I don't think that was required," said Ponting. "I am not sure what the physio was doing out there - I didn't see him call for any physio.

"We play in the spirit of the game", he continued.

The man speaks the truth. The timewasting was shameful.

Utter bollocks.

The Aussies are the biggest "cheats" in cricket.

I suppose appealing for LBW being turned down then chasing the umpire with the ball in your hand appealing for the catch is "in the spirit of the game".

Wankers!

[Bruno]

Ricky P

"I don't think that was required," said Ponting. "I am not sure what the physio was doing out there - I didn't see him call for any physio.

"We play in the spirit of the game", he continued.

The man speaks the truth. The timewasting was shameful.

Utter bollocks.

The Aussies are the biggest "cheats" in cricket.

I suppose appealing for LBW being turned down then chasing the umpire with the ball in your hand appealing for the catch is "in the spirit of the game".

Wankers!

Oh I agree, but the English were just as bad. The whole 12th man and physio thing was embarrassing.

[BWFC_Insane]

Ricky P

"I don't think that was required," said Ponting. "I am not sure what the physio was doing out there - I didn't see him call for any physio.

"We play in the spirit of the game", he continued.

The man speaks the truth. The timewasting was shameful.

Utter bollocks.

The Aussies are the biggest "cheats" in cricket.

I suppose appealing for LBW being turned down then chasing the umpire with the ball in your hand appealing for the catch is "in the spirit of the game".

Wankers!

Oh I agree, but the English were just as bad. The whole 12th man and physio thing was embarrassing.

I think it was great! Its all about the result and the Aussies don't like it when you play them at their own games!

[Worthy4England]

Yeah - I'm ok with any gamesmanship. They'd certainly do it should the need arise.

I singularly fail to be embarassed by it.

[TANGODANCER]

Yeah - I'm ok with any gamesmanship. They'd certainly do it should the need arise.
I singularly fail to be embarassed by it.

I'd rather not see any gamesmanship, but the Aussies are better sledgers than the English bob-sleigh team. Good as they are, intimidation is all part of their act. Fight fire with fire then for me, or cut the lot out.

[Bruno]

Ponting made a bad call in declaring so late but he is right about how we descended into unsporting delaying tactics.

Just another year where the Aussies show us the gulf between us and them.

[Worthy4England]

Ponting made a bad call in declaring so late but he is right about how we descended into unsporting delaying tactics.

Just another year where the Aussies show us the gulf between us and them.

I think you're probably right on the second bit.

On the first bit, he's just pi$$ed off that McGrath didn't win his "5-0" bet at the Bookies...

[TANGODANCER]

Ponting made a bad call in declaring so late but he is right about how we descended into unsporting delaying tactics.
Just another year where the Aussies show us the gulf between us and them.

Which er, gulf, are you talking about? Do you mean they have better players or in the clean-cut ,totally sporting way? If it's the latter, you haven't watched many test matches between the two. Intelectual and sporting gulf? No way.Ponting pointing at Swann's ribs with a view to injury is sporting? Test cricket is war, and has been for a long time.