Yeah I agree. If you guys can whack on another 200 we'll need to get mid 300s to survive the follow-on and from what we've seen in the first three tests that is a decent ask of us.

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Meh

I just got home and turned on the cricket...

We are getting fucking owned!

quote:

Originally posted by A.J. I just got home and turned on the cricket... We are getting fucking owned!

'Owzat ?

I think this shows the big difference between the 2 teams in the last 2 and a bit games at least, the bowling. We have 4 seamers plus Giles. Having flintoff who can also bat helps us no end, your closest is Symonds, but he's not a wicket taker with the ball. I Don't remember the last Aussie who could bowl at 90mph and bat well, maybe you can refresh my mind here, im thinking back thro the waughs etc who were useful but not express pace. You have Tait who's a rookie, Lee who's done well imo, then Kasper & Dizzy have been off, Warne can't be expected to take 10 wickets every game & McGrath has been injured for 2 of the 4 games.

quote:

Originally posted by Ian^ 'Owzat ? I think this shows the big difference between the 2 teams in the last 2 and a bit games at least, the bowling. We have 4 seamers plus Giles. Having flintoff who can also bat helps us no end, your closest is Symonds, but he's not a wicket taker with the ball. I Don't remember the last Aussie who could bowl at 90mph and bat well, maybe you can refresh my mind here, im thinking back thro the waughs etc who were useful but not express pace. You have Tait who's a rookie, Lee who's done well imo, then Kasper & Dizzy have been off, Warne can't be expected to take 10 wickets every game & McGrath has been injured for 2 of the 4 games.

its a pleasent change that the luck has gone our way this series.......usually in the past we are the side that has the bad luck with injurys etc, and there fore couldnt compete with the aussies in all departments......
ive been following cricket since 93' and i dont think that they have had a bowler that bowls at express pace, and was a dab hand with the bat.......only michael bevan who bowled chinamen, but he was an excellent one day player and didnt feature enough in the test squad

but 99/5........long way to go to avoid the follow on.......we need to get gilchrist early as he's a threat when he gets in

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ID 1ID 2ID 3

quote:

Originally posted by shades_of_gray its a pleasent change that the luck has gone our way this series.......usually in the past we are the side that has the bad luck with injurys etc, and there fore couldnt compete with the aussies in all departments...... ive been following cricket since 93' and i dont think that they have had a bowler that bowls at express pace, and was a dab hand with the bat.......only michael bevan who bowled chinamen, but he was an excellent one day player and didnt feature enough in the test squad but 99/5........long way to go to avoid the follow on.......we need to get gilchrist early as he's a threat when he gets in

aye, about same time into it as me then

I can only think of Flintoff & Jacques Kallis in the 'all rounder' category for test matches, there's Mahmood I guess of Pakistan, Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, but he's like Gilchrist as the keeper-batsman. I guess the other closest would be Ian Harvey, but he's more of a pinch-hitter. Perhaps at last we do have one up onthe old enemy

oh god
just got home and saw the score on the net, doesn't look pretty hehehe..

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new set online, Summer Journeys

Sheesh poor Marto...twice he's been screwed over.

I think Ponting may have been unlucky too, looked like an edge to me. Well I think we'll be going into the last match 2-1 down, can't see us recovering (or even salvaging a draw) from here, Clarke with the last ball was a cruel blow. I guess our reign had to end one day, after all if England fielded 11 monkeys enough times, they would eventually win

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Originally posted by Tweak Sheesh poor Marto...twice he's been screwed over. I think Ponting may have been unlucky too, looked like an edge to me. Well I think we'll be going into the last match 2-1 down, can't see us recovering (or even salvaging a draw) from here, Clarke with the last ball was a cruel blow. I guess our reign had to end one day, after all if England fielded 11 monkeys enough times, they would eventually win

tbh, our tv could only prove the inside edge after 20 odd minutes of working in the studio with different tools to enhance sound and picture, the umpire only gets one chance. My dad is an umpire at a pretty high level (2 grades below test match, 1 below first class) and has done some england women games before & does a lot of games for ages 10-19 and he said that on both, he could see that he may have given at least one of the two out in real time. We just have to trust these guys to make decisions what even themselves out over a period of time.

lol, we're so fucked. What has happened to our batting this series? Even if Gillespie had been in form and McGrath had been fully fit, it's doesn't make much difference when our top order can't set or chase even a moderate target.

England have played well this series though, so at least they if win back the Ashes, they will have deserved it.

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Meh

quote:

Originally posted by Ian^ We just have to trust these guys to make decisions what even themselves out over a period of time.

Exactly. I think we are just looking something to blame our repeat poor performances on.

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Meh

quote:

Originally posted by Ghostface lol, we're so fucked. What has happened to our batting this series? Even if Gillespie had been in form and McGrath had been fully fit, it's doesn't make much difference when our top order can't set or chase even a moderate target. England have played well this series though, so at least they if win back the Ashes, they will have deserved it.

I gotta admit, we've outplayed even my wildest dreams. I want us to compete with your lot, to be considered a good match, and to sometimes win those matches. equality, going into matches not knowing who's going to win, and right now, we have it. I'm sure it's surprised some of your lot, but this is the best english test side in my lifetime (bar the good ones in the early 80s that i dont recall)


In other cricket news, nice to see Shane Bond back bowling for NZ, flattened India today

quote:

Originally posted by Ghostface Exactly. I think we are just looking something to blame our repeat poor performances on.

I am unsure about Bucknor on the whole though, said it before, but I don't think he's at the peak of his level anymore, and I'd hate to see him go downhill a lot before deciding to retire, but to do so while he's regarded as one of the best out there.