Dec 26-30: 4th Test - Australia v England at Melbourne

[midgetwars]

Harris and Hilfenhaus worked well together to keep things tight, along with johnson wrekcing havoc at the other end.

 

[TumTum]

War certainly you are still not talking about this 4 man pace attack?

This strategy was always destined to work on the fastest and bounciest pitch in the world.

 

[Owzat]

On the one hand England shouldn't kneejerk react and change the side, on the other hand you shouldn't ignore poor displays (with the bat in particular) and should analyse if anyone isn't carrying their weight.

The problem is we play weak sides so often it bumps peoples figures. Going back to 2009 onwards :

vs AUS/SAF

Batsmen

Cook : 1004 runs @ 50.20
Trott : 614 runs @ 47.23
Bell : 667 runs @ 44.47
Pietersen : 603 runs @ 40.20
Strauss : 822 runs @ 39.14
Collingwood : 656 runs @ 34.53

Around 40% of Pietersen's runs came in his 227 against the aussies this series, otherwise he's averaged a mere 26.90 in his last 14 inns against good sides. Collingwood's figures are only that high because of three fifties in the Ashes of 2009 and again in the South Africa series, he hasn't hit a hundred against anyone good since the 08/09 India tour. England need batsmen firing, this same basic set of England batsmen have been involved in too many collapses for England yet are rarely dropped - West Indies 51, Sri Lanka 81, the 123 last Test, out for less than 200 five times in the Ashes 06/07 (yes, all but Trott) It happens from time to time, seems to happen more than that with these players.

Bowlers

Tremlett : 8 wkts @ 18.75
Finn : 14 wkts @ 33.14
Broad : 33 wkts @ 34.55
Swann : 46 wkts @ 35.89
Anderson : 40 wkts @ 36.83
Onions : 18 wkts @ 37.17
Panesar : 1 wkt @ 115.00



Just out of interest I've looked at all the times Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Bell and Collingwood have all batted in the same side since the 2005 Ashes and added up their run contributions :

All batted : 64 times
Scored less than 100 between them : 8 times (12.5%)
Scored less than 200 between them : 34 times (53.13%)
Scored more than 400 between them : 5 times (7.81%)

Less than 100 :

vs India 05/06 : 90
vs Pakistan 2006 : 92
vs Australia 06/07 : 94
vs Australia 06/07 : 93
vs Australia 06/07 : 70
vs New Zealand 07/08 : 77
vs West Indies 08/09 : 15
vs Australa 10/11 : 58

The West Indies collapse was by far the worst, Strauss missed the Sri Lanka series and therefore collapse from which England escaped with a draw - the other four scored 44 between them of which Collingwood scored 29. Fair enough the above is only five batsmen not six plus the keeper, but you expect players playing that regularly without being dropped to be out for less than 100 between them a lot less regularly than every 8th innings.

Anyhoo, Mary Xmas to everyone, I'm hoping those figures are improved on come tomorrow not made worse or topical as it were

 

[War]

War certainly you are still not talking about this 4 man pace attack?

This strategy was always destined to work on the fastest and bounciest pitch in the world.

And Windies 4-man pace attack of the 70s, 80s, 90s & S Africa's all pace attack of the 90s. Showed that all pace attack can win you test on all sorts of pitches if they are of a certain standard.

A standard which the AUS quicks are certainly extremely close to, if they are not at it already.

 

[Ollie_H]

You think that the current Aus pace attack is as good as old Windies and Saffa ones? Take a hike! They aren't even close.

In other news, good start by the Aussies. Both Tremlett and Anderson looking good, pitch should be better for batting after lunch though.

 

[aussie1st]

Big wicket for the English now puts the pressure on the out of form players to score. Hughes almost run out too, really should have given how far out he was.

 

[Adarsh]

Anderson and Tremlett are the new Steyn and Morkel !

 

[War]

You think that the current Aus pace attack is as good as old Windies and Saffa ones? Take a hike! They aren't even close.

In other news, good start by the Aussies. Both Tremlett and Anderson looking good, pitch should be better for batting after lunch though.

Nothing in that statement ever said that current AUS pace attack is as good as old Windies of SA one's.

I clearly said its off the required standard IMO, that a 4-man attack needs to be successful in all/most conditions/pitches (just replace Siddle with Bollinger).

 

[Sureshot]

Waste of a review from England, never looked out.

Bresnan decision is hardly surprising, typical old England negativity in selection. We've bowled okay, but two chances should've been taken, but Watson went early, so no big deal.

 

[shravi]

What a joke... Bresnan playing an Ashes test match. He will get creamed.

 

[RoboRocks]

This pitch is very slow, so by tomorrow it will be very good for batting. The way England use these conditions are crucial.

 

[Sureshot]

What a joke... Bresnan playing an Ashes test match. He will get creamed.

Not by Hughes though.

 

[Addy]

What the heck is hughes doing in the playing XI? They must get usman khawaja in for the final encounter.

 

[shravi]

Not by Hughes though.

What sort of sick joke is this !?

It's not as if Hughes "creams" anyone though. He's full of fail.

 

[aussie1st]

What a joke... Bresnan playing an Ashes test match. He will get creamed.

Hey wtf you doing!