Australia in England

[themuel1]

I'm hoping Lee does play. It will make the match more competitive. If Lee doesn't, I can only see an England win.

 

[m_vaughan]

I hope Lee plats too.

 

[adthomp]

Ian Chappell has said in todays paper aust are over rated instead there a good team with 2 great bowlers and says Hayden and Martyn should be sacked

well there you go thas enough to fire them up now

adn Ian Bothan wants the wicket docked so it doesnt suit warne

 

[m_vaughan]

Well its very unlikely that Manchester wont assist the spinners, but one at the Oval surely wont.

 

[sachin]

Botham,is just a wuss,and knows that if the pitch spins,then we'll win.If the batting improves then it will be a very entertaining test match for all Aussies,and an aweful one for the poms!

 

[Sando]

Ian Chappell has said in todays paper aust are over rated instead there a good team with 2 great bowlers and says Hayden and Martyn should be sacked

You can always count on Chappell to attempt to draw attention to himself. It's common knowledge that we will be unable to replace Warne and McGrath with bowlers of their calibre, as they are all time greats. But why does that make them an overrated side? You take the top two players out of any side (particularly bowlers) and they will be an infinitely lesser side. Imagine England without Flintoff and Harmison, Sri Lanka without Murali and Vaas, South Africa without Kallis and Ntini.....

As for Hayden and Martyn, as I've said I would like to see Katich opening the batting at this particular point of time but Marto deserves his spot. There was much media pressure prior to Australia's tour of Sri Lanka and India. In those matches it was the bats that carried the team, and Marto led that charge against some of the finest bowlers in the world (Murali/Vass, Kumble).

Enough with the former player bitterness already, just sit back and enjoy some world class cricket! Who knows how long we will have to wait for the next dose.

It seems Australia are victims of their incredibly high standards. The fact is we are playing away from home against a team that boast two of the worlds finest fast bowlers, have won a one day series away from home despite its batters not showing up. They won the first Test convincingly and then managed to come within 2 runs of a team that completely outplayed them without the services of their best player.....

Enough with former player bitterness already. Let's just enjoy some world class cricket, who knows how long we may have to wait for the next dose.

 

[angryangy]

It seems more likely Mick Lewis will return. But i feel if Lee is out Tait has to come in. Tait has that same spark Lee does.

Bracken is next on the list, not Lewis.

Well its very unlikely that Manchester wont assist the spinners, but one at the Oval surely wont.

If the Oval is flat and bouncy, well that's Warne and MacGill's bread and butter. So long as there is strong bounce they will feel confident.

statsguru for SK Warne's wickets at the Oval in Tests

 

[m_vaughan]

But if the pitch at the oval is slow, then the batsmen will have enough time to get into position and smack McGill and Warne all over the park.

 

[angryangy]

Well, if you checked the statsguru link, you would see the Oval's shape in the past hasn't really fussed Warne terribly.

In today's article on Stuart MacGill he says he is far more worried about a stonewaller than an attacking batsman. He is confident that if they keep taking a swing, they'll swing at the wrong one.
I believe Richie Benaud has an adage; "A tossed up ball is not an inviation to be hit out of the ground; it is an invitation to be hit into the outfield."

 

[barmyarmy]

Rumours this morning that Old Trafford is hard and bouncy (insert smutty joke here).

 

[woodzy]

Hey guys what about a recall for Andy Bichel to the Australian team instead of Watson. A specialist bowler who can also bat and average 20-30.

 

[m_vaughan]

Even if it isnt, I still dont think McGill will play.

 

[angryangy]

Bracken is next on the list, not Lewis.

I apologise for this, Australia has just added Stuart Clark to the Test squad.

 

[aussie1st]

Can't see Bichel as that wouldn't show much faith in Tait who was picked in the squad. If its hard and bouncy, England meet Shaun Tait.

 

[angryangy]

They dropped Andy Bichel because they don't want to use him. Same as Bevan. They aren't coming back.