Well i'll be damned.
I saw both games. England played some great cricket. The two stars were Collingwood and Plunkett. The rest were alright, but I wouldn't be too confident about them yet. There are weak points. They do know that though. Some great innings by Collingwood, he really did make a big difference. He looked dreadful at the start of the series. He isn't a big boundary hitter, but he's batting the innings a few times collecting easy singles and twos, Very smart batting by him.
But as much as England outplayed Australia, Australia didn't help themselves. They are really in a rut right now. Definatly missing Symonds in the middle order and, I dunno. First off England looked terrible, then we caught the disease, now the Australians have it. None of the three teams can really be satisfied as a whole but of course England will be thrilled to win it and win the games which actually mattered.
Aussies are doing the same stuff we were, dropping crucial catches, in the first match they skrewed up run-outs, batting collapses at the end when the hard work up frount gave them a decent start.
I really felt in that second game though, the Aussies were hard done by. The amount of swing in that second innings and then all the interuptions didn't help them out. It's never good for a game to end with the weather having a say, I still rekon the Aussies could have given it a go. You never know. I know the players are saying it;s the worst they've seen themselves play and i'll agree. Those two matches are probably the worst 2 in a row they've had for a while. In the end it'll be a good thing for them. They will get their hunger for victory back.
Now hopefully we can kick them while they're down when they come over here. No Ponting, Gillchrist or Symonds so really, theres no excuses for losing the series. If we can't beat the Aussies at home without those three we may as well not bother turning up for the World Cup. Then again, we've just seen one of the most amazing turn-arounds ever. When you are on those rolls you get all the luck. Bring back that winning feeling black caps.
XI of the series for me:
Hayden
Vincent
Ponting (c)
Collingwood
Flintoff
Oram
Vettori
Plunkett
Nixon
Bond
McGrath
It was unfortonate that a wicket keeper has to be picked. But Nixon was probably the best behind the stumps (his poor batting leaves him to come in at the tail), because of his noise and he did a good job. Any of those guys would be unlucky to miss out. I think Lee is also unlucky and was really only pipped by Bond because of slightly worse strikerate and averages. Bond was more expensive though. Wasn't much in it. One of the all-rounders could be dropped, but which? Oram's bowling wasn't great, but he is worth taking as a batsman alone anyway. Best average of the series. Collingwood couldn't be left out because of his finals and Flintoff was steady with bat and ball. Maybe he would be the unlucky one.
Symonds, Joyce and Anderson were unlucky exclusions. Had Anderson played more matches, he may have been a certainty.
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