My view of the 2nd test
FOR ENGLAND:
TREMENDOUS!!!...This team just keeps amazing me. I dont think its that great when you look @ a few players individually (Trott, Broad, Cook, Prior, Finn). But boy since last winter in South Africa this team has really steel & plays for each other.
Alot of people where talking on this site & around the world that Swann could/would struggle in Australia because of fact that off-spinner dont bowl well in Australia. But they always forgot outside of Murali struggles here, that a top class off-spinner in form hasn't toured Australia since Saqlain Mushtaq since 99/00 & historically foreign offies like Gibbs, Illingworth, Titmus, even AUS own Ashley Mallet, Erapalli Prasanna have all managed to take wickets in AUS. So that should keep his critics quiet.
Cook has been a stunning suprise. Apparantley as everyone has noted, all it seems to have took is just a eradication of his bending of his knees when driving/dealing with deliveries outside off-stump & that technical flaw that bothered him since the 2006/07 Ashes first is now gone. Long may it continue, since now he looks to have the game to become England's version of Gary Kirsten.
Sad that Broad is out. But Tremelett as most would say is very able replacement. I personally rate him ahead of Finn, so things are fine.
FOR AUSTRALIA:
JESUS CHRISTT!!...
. Another one of these wonderful batting collapses that has pretty much defined this post McGrath/Warne era since 2007/08 costed AUS this test, after the day 1 collapse.
This is first innings defeat i have seen England give Australia since i saw my first Ashes in 97 & if my memory is correct, its 1st innings defeat ENG have given Australia since that famous MCG test of 1986 when ENG last won in AUS:
4th Test: Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 26-28, 1986 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
So not great signs that for AUS since we talking about the dark 1980s again. But i certainly dont think for one minute that the quality of cricketers AUS have no are anywhere near as crappy as what was around druing those dark days. The problem for AUS is the incompetent selectors who have made poor selectorial errors over & over since 2008 & as i said before the Ashes, their decisions will cost AUS the Ashes rather that the players.
Doherty should have never played & North should have never being playing in the Ashes for starters. If one looks @ how Anderson was so devasting on day 1 with the new ball exploting whatever little movement in those early overs on that flat deck. One can only wonder now what Hilfy who is as just as good with the new-ball could have done in the early 1st innings period after Bollinger got Strauss early. Then again Cook & Trott could have also survived given how well they where playing, but at least they would have been tested more.
AUS though to me can sort of take heart that they haven't played to potentially yet while i reckon ENG are playing @ the peak of their potential & if this team is played for the remaining 3 tests, they can win or draw the Ashes. Anything else & ENG will be celebrating its first Ashes win in AUS since 86/87.
Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Ferguson/D Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hilfy
Bollinger
(Note: Sad for Katman, but hopefully regardless of his age he still has a role to play for AUS as middle order batsman in the next year or so)
D Hussey - This is my left field selection in place of North. If the selectors finally come to their senses & pick 4 quicks & drop North. D Hussey is best like-for-like replacement for North since he is batsman in the to 6 who can give you some overs of spin (which could be of use now that Katich is out & Clarke back isn't allowing him to bowl). Plus he is capable enough batsman in my view for tests & he is right handed & AUS need to try to negate Swann effect sort of by having more right handers in the top 7.
If they as i expect wont go for D Hussey. Of the two youngsters Khawaja/Ferguson who are the front runners to replace North - i'd pick the right handed Ferguson.
Would recall Johnson too. The tail is too long & if the groundsmen @ Perth can get that pitch to play anywhere close to a typical old fashin bouncy Perth deck. That would be just the kind of surface Johnson style of bowling would strive under.
