The Ashes 2009

Well after 5 days play we were cheering for a DRAW . It's a difficult concept for americans to comprehend, but we do like our eccentricities here

The Test overall was somewhat imbalanced with the Aussie innings having 4 batsman scoring 100+ and 5 English bowlers conceding 100+ runs. Obviously our bowlers need to improve and on a flat track our limitations were once again exposed. There is no leader in the bowling pack and they are not being managed either by the abject Strauss. It is not easy being Captain and it clearly doen't sit well with Andrew. We will probably never know if Pietersen would have been any good, but his brief sojourn showed he was "positive". I cannot think of any other current Captain who could inspire the players in the Illingworth/Brearley mode

If we can come out of the Lords Test, not losing it bodes well for the remaining series. I still think the winning margin will only be by ONE.

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There is no leader in the bowling pack and they are not being managed either by the abject Strauss.

Although I'm not convinced by Straussy and remain a very big KP fan (he should be captain IMHO), the bowling attack can do much better - Jimmy Anderson always impresses me as a guy who puts tremendous effort in and applies himself intelligently and Swann and Monty can both bowl better: they know that; the team did well to come through this match. We'll improve for the Lords test.

Very impressed with the Aussies batting, but felt their bowling was a little desperate at times. If England can bat with purpose then they can stand up to it.

Watched the C5 highlights and was annoyed to hear Simon Hughes (the worst cricket commentator by a country mile) say that KP had failed again .... what's with again? He top scored in first innings. He tried to play the way Hughes et al kept on that he should and that's what failed. Lets see KP as KP at Lords - irk the purists.

All in all, it makes for a great series.

Anyone else of the opinion that Johnson appears to throw some of his deliveries.

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Originally posted by Blueknowz:
Anyone else of the opinion that Johnson appears to throw some of his deliveries.

Looks that way to me too, but you'll not win that one if 'Malinga the Slinga' gets away with it!

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Originally posted by avole:
Can't help thinking Ponting threw it away towards the end with some strange bowling changes and odd field placements, but nevertheless a well-deserved escape.

I agree about the Aussie bowling - unless Johnson hits form or Lee comes back, they look average.

That makes the English batting less than average then I take it.

Here is an Australian viewpoint - Strauss needs to learn about the spirit of cricket. The reporter does question Pontings use of Marcus North in the final overs, so some balanced opinions are evident here. I'll check on other Australian reporting in the morning.

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Originally posted by avole:
Can't help thinking Ponting threw it away towards the end with some strange bowling changes and odd field placements, but nevertheless a well-deserved escape.

I agree about the Aussie bowling - unless Johnson hits form or Lee comes back, they look average.

Australian bowling .. average..? England took 6 wickets for the match Australia 19.

Johnson has a problem with his action.. there is something going on. In South Africa there was none of that.

Great Test Match.. a real thriller. Can't help but think it would have been wrapped up before lunch if it had not rained on Day 4 and Lee was playing. They're " if's " though.

Well done to the English team for husling up a gritty draw.

And

Well done to Australia for a strong Win-draw.

Great entertainment for everyone.

England have not won at Lords since 1934.

Another thriller I hope.

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Originally posted by avole:
Australia only batted once, so those figures don't mean anything. Given that our top order managed to get themselves out, but the lower order played the Aussies comfortably, their attack would seem to have some problems.

The fact that Australia only batted once suggests it's the English attack having problems. The English top order were out played by themselves and the Australian bowlers. The English lower order, like most lower orders from most teams are ordinary.

I have a wager with a mate that Flintoff will play two tests or less before breaking down this series and now see the selectors have added Harmison to the Lords squad as cover for Flintoff whilst he has his knee scanned.

Broad is carrying an injury too by all accounts.

We will know when things are REALLY bad for England when Bell gets a recall.

Bruce

Instead of the normal strut, this looks a very confused and perplexed chap, like someone has stolen his puppy or something - love it !

When it came to batting yesterday, why did our tail-enders look so determined compared to the recognised batsmen? Collingwood excepted of course.
Collingwood looks like a man who makes a fair stab with a little talent. Pietersen with his talent...

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Flintoff whilst he has his knee scanned. Broad is carrying an injury too by all accounts.

So we forced a draw despite only having 9 fit players

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Collingwood looks like a man who makes a fair stab with a little talent.

Colling Wood, Colling Wood riding through the glen. Colling Wood, Colling Wood bats with Pietersen.

Andrew Flintoff announces he will retire from Test cricket after the Ashes series against Australia.

I suppose Freddie wants to go out while the side is winning and who can blame him - to retire having just been in an Ashes winning side is really going out at the top.

He's a great inspirational player - real entertainer; hope is able to play throughout the series.

ATB Rotf

Will Flintoff continue a County career? If he does then he will bowl a lot more overs than as a centrally contracted England Test player. If he only ever plays one-day cricket international is that good enough to have a central contract?

Time was when a player retired from one-day cricket to concentrate on tests. Harmison did this until we saw the money flow into one-day tournaments when he promptyl reversed his decision!

Bruce

Although conditions favoured the bowlers, England survived the day on a really arduous batting track. Brilliant performances from the Captain (please ignore my comments in previous posts) and Cookie gave us an unbelievable start. If only somebody else could have contributed a few runs more. Still 364-6 is a good effort.

Double and Triple Nelson both struck, which cost us Boppy and Freddie - otherwise who knows what records would have been broken.

ATB Rotf

Typical English middle order collapse. Looks like we're on for the same sort of score as in the first innings after looking well in control for much of the day.

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Typical English middle order collapse.

Yeah I blame KP - stupid shot he played - well thought I'd get in first before the press did. I expect Jim Anderson to bat for a while and Swannie to hit a few and then there's Onions. Hoping Straussie can go on for a bit too.

If the pitch continues to play like today the Aussies will be following on.

very clever ROTF. I suspect we were thinking similarly.

Aussies' rain dance may be working; forecast is very poor for next few days.

Really getting excited about Headingley. May still be all square then and usually a good place for us.

Bruce

I think the Aussies will look forward to batting on this track. The Sky analysis on the deficiencies of the middle order was spot on for me - call them 'technical' issues if you want but aside from KP who got a good ball (for me), the other wickets showed how poor our middle order batters are in relative terms.

The Aussies in the first test and the S/Africans have proved they have more resilient middle orders.

Hats off to Strauss - he played a typical test innings of playing straight to the stump ball, left other stuff alone and garnered runs from the rest.

....my bet is (subject to weather) 2-0 to Aussies.

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he Aussies in the first test have proved they have more resilient middle orders.

Doesn't seem that way - they seem to have lots of luck with the weather though; I'm sure they could have stayed out and played to the spirit of the game; I'm not in favour of time wasting

I always wanted to read this headline...

ANDERSON swings the game in Englands favour at Lords

I have dined in the Long Room though and enjoyed many memorable days at the Taverners bar

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Originally posted by ROTF:
If the pitch continues to play like today the Aussies will be following on.

These could prove to be prophetic words, ROTF!

Loved the way we got Ponting out - twice - even if one was pretend!

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Originally posted by Chillkram:

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Originally posted by ROTF:
If the pitch continues to play like today the Aussies will be following on.

These could prove to be prophetic words, ROTF!

Loved the way we got Ponting out - twice - even if one was pretend!

Agreed. You can just picture him coming back in steaming "I never touched the f*ckr. I'm gonna let rip...". "Errr, hang on skip..."