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

Themer

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His captaincy is also pathetic though as he really does lack any tactical nous. He seems to regimentally go from one plan to another, to another, to another in quick succession. While his constant changing of the field just so he looks "proactive" borders on ridiculous at times.
 

ZoraxDoom

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THEY DID THE SPRINKLER AT THE END AFTER THEY WON!!!

I MISSED IT!!!

Anyone know where I can find a vid of that epicness?
 

Sureshot

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From his interview with Sky last night Ponting sounded a broken man to me, slightly intimated that he was going to have a long hard look at himself over his future after this match. I can smell a retirement coming.

I'm thinking that Colly's going to announce his retirement as well. Why would you try and hang on when you've got the chance to end your career at the highest possible high for an Englishman?

Ponting really didn't sound great, but easy to jump to conclusions, he had just been on the end of a thrashing. Colly? He's had an awful year, but did average nearly 50 in 2009 (though he did have two 100s and a 96 vs WI) and he is considered a massive part of the team, so I don't think it'll happen, but wouldn't rule it out.

I'd like to see us blood Morgan in to the middle order. He deserves a lot of time being spent on his inclusion in the Test side. India and Sri Lanka next summer, big year ahead.
 

used2bcool

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Spoke too soon. There have been three extremely questionable decisions in the last 24 hours. It may be a coincidence (the alternative is too horrible to contemplate) but they all favoured India.

The whole idea of umpires 'stepping up' to render UDRS unnecessary is missing the point. Even with umpires as good as is humanly possible, why would they want to increase the possibility of making a wrong decision? It's the umpires who are being handicapped when UDRS is not used.

Then of course there is the issue of corruption. More correct umpiring decisions necessarily means less suspicion attached to the game.

I think you misunderstood what I said about umpires stepping up. It was just a general observation, as up to that point there hadn't been any blunders. I'm in full support of the UDRS, you just can't trust humans to come up with the correct decision every time.
 

Ollie_H

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What a moment. Spine tingling.
 
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MUFC1987

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Covvy, Hilfenhaus is 29, that's my point. He'll be 33 by the time the Ashes come to Australia again. And he's just not that great an attacking option. Would rather a Copeland or George, who perform well in all conditions and are taking wickets at ease in First Class cricket.
He's 27!
From his interview with Sky last night Ponting sounded a broken man to me, slightly intimated that he was going to have a long hard look at himself over his future after this match. I can smell a retirement coming.

I'm thinking that Colly's going to announce his retirement as well. Why would you try and hang on when you've got the chance to end your career at the highest possible high for an Englishman?

I think Ponting just looks beat at the moment. I can see him giving up the Captaincy and going back to FC cricket to get some runs and then come back into the side. I don't think he's the sort to just give up completely when he's had a hard time, he'll want to go out on top as much as anyone.

Re: Collingwood, I was thinking during his interview that a ton in Sydney and a series win would be a brilliant thing to retire on, but I think he subscribes to the theory of moving on from here, so I doubt if he'll do what Nasser and Thorpe did and step aside for someone else. I think next summer is the time to blood a new batsman though, with the top 4 looking as good as ever.

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That Sprinkler video shows how much Swann means to this side. He's so much more important than just his wickets, runs and catches.
 

War

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Out of, Copeland, Pattinson, George, Starc, Hazlewood who would be the best for the next gen of bowling?

Starc>Copeland>Pattinson are the best three ATS. Geroge is ok, without being too spectacular. He has similar attributes to England's Tremlett/Finn though.

I dont really rate the little i've see of Hazlewood. But of course he could improve.
 

Themer

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Colly? He's had an awful year, but did average nearly 50 in 2009 (though he did have two 100s and a 96 vs WI)

Take out his perfomances against Bangladesh and the West Indies his average drops starkly. Leaves him averaging 37 2009 while managing 24.

Additionally even at his best he averages 38 (New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh omitted) which leaves me questioning as to whether he's worth retaining till he gets back into form. I'd much rather us be blooding Morgan as you've mentioned, Hildreth and perhaps Taylor if he starts next season well.
 

War

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It depends. On the short term, anyone could have matched Ponting's runs in this series. Peter Siddle is just 4 runs short.

And in the last two years, a lot of actual batsmen could probably have picked up Ponting's runs at an average of 38. We ditched Marcus North for not being good enough, but in his tenure, he made more hundreds than Ponting.

Sure, there's no replacement for Ponting circa 2002-2006, but if he himself is merely half that player, he's not much of a stand-in either.

But of course, it is possible to carry a player until he rediscovers form. What matters is the team. Players should never be bigger than the team.

Ideally a team has the structure to carry a batsman or even a couple, but with recent selections, this one has lost that. The selectors overlooked in-form replacements for Katich and North. With Ponting and Clarke at the moment, that means more of them are out of form than in form.

It is interesting how supporter pressure has fallen hardest on the senior players, while the neutrals seem to be their strongest advocates. I think it shows that while it is hardest to see the big picture up close, nobody else has to deal with seeing the gory details.

Headlingely 2001 - SCG 2007 was the Ponting super peak to be fair.

Also the difference with Ponting & North's despite both averaging similar. Is that obviously Ponting was the great batsman & most would obviously always back him to regain something close to his 2001-2007 form. But North selection was always questionable based on his inconsistent 10 year FC batting style, so when he started repeating that trend it test, he had to go.

Lets not forget. Just last month Ponting had argubaly his best series in India. The country he has had his most troubles in his test career. You dont suddenly go from that to being out of form. As Ian Chappell regularly said on commentary during the series, Punter isn't out of form really. He is out of luck & he has kept getting out to brilliant balls that would have dismissed any other batsman.

His footwork has been very solid in all innings. He certainly doesn't look like a great batsmen who has lost his technique a la Viv Richards circa 1990-1991.
 

Punk_Sk8r

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i dont know about all this inside story business and all these north and ponting and pornstar stuff you guys talk about but

HAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAH @ AUSTRALIA HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHA

your team is crap HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAH!
 

Lee1981

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i dont know about all this inside story business and all these north and ponting and pornstar stuff you guys talk about but

HAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAH @ AUSTRALIA HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHA

your team is crap HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAH!

If carlsberg did forum posts... ^^this^^
 

shravi

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Swann's impersonation of Richie Benaud is brilliant; Tony Greig not so good but still hilarious.
 

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