England in Australia

[cricketmad09]

The flippers didn't look right, but the first one would have nailed Pietersen if it was just a bit sharper. He definitely didn't pick it, although, maybe he would have picked it if it was more pronounced.

lol Mahmood. Surely there's someone else. To be honest I didn't think Anderson was all bad news, he shaped the ball well at times, got some good shouts. Just not consistent.

Loved those 2 6's from Clark off him.

 

[evertonfan]

The one thing that really worried me about today's performance was not that we were 3 down becuse I expected that anyway. It was not that we conceded a huge total as well, because I also expected that. It was the fact that yet again, England had trouble bowling at tailenders. If we are to stand any chance drawing this series then we need to learn how to bloosy get 9,10 and 11 out. :

And where on earth would England be without Flintoff? What a player he is and saved us from more even more embarrassment than we already got.

 

[genghis_khan]

The one thing that really worried me about today's performance was not that we were 3 down becuse I expected that anyway. It was not that we conceded a huge total as well, because I also expected that. It was the fact that yet again, England had trouble bowling at tailenders. If we are to stand any chance drawing this series then we need to learn how to bloosy get 9,10 and 11 out. :

And where on earth would England be without Flintoff? What a player he is and saved us from more even more embarrassment than we already got.

wow i admire your faith Matt. England arent the first team to struggle with their bowling against the Australian tail, dont worry im sure there will be plenty of occasions during the series that England roll through the last 3.

 

[Englishandproud]

The trouble with us is that as soon as we get on top for a couple of overs we don?t capitalise on it. Ponting and Gilchrist out in the same over, it should have been the ideal time to try and restrict them to less then 500. But we don?t we go and let the tail enders score another 130.
Best can hope for now is a draw.
Where is all the Aussie singing by the way? At least you can hear the Barmy Army when they have been deliberately split up around the ground so not to show the home crowd up.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

wow i admire your faith Matt. England arent the first team to struggle with their bowling against the Australian tail, dont worry im sure there will be plenty of occasions during the series that England roll through the last 3.

The problem isn't just against Australia, but against every single team around. We struggled to remove both Pakistan and India's tail during the winter, I mean Shoaib Akhtar managed to score a few runs for goodness sake!! Just to compound things Murali did OK at Trent Bridge...

 

[evertonfan]

Where is all the Aussie singing by the way? At least you can hear the Barmy Army when they have been deliberately split up around the ground so not to show the home crowd up.

It seems the 'Who can sing loudest' competition is the only thing we can win at the moment. :

Still. I'd much rather have silent fans and win than loud fans and lose.

 

[nightprowler10]

I mean Shoaib Akhtar managed to score a few runs for goodness sake!!

To be fair, Akhtar had done quite well in the past year or so defending and scoring some quick runs at the end of an inning. IIRC, he did dig out a Harmison yorker for four. He is easily our best tail ender. Now Kaneria scoring 29 at Leeds is definitely bad.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

To be fair, Akhtar had done quite well in the past year or so defending and scoring some quick runs at the end of an inning. IIRC, he did dig out a Harmison yorker for four. He is easily our best tail ender. Now Kaneria scoring 29 at Leeds is definitely bad.

You understand my point though. Although Kaneria would've been a better example! But yeh, it's something needs to be worked on. We can't consistantly give away runs to the tail and expect to get a result out of any game.

 

[evertonfan]

And don't forget that Chaminda Vaas averaged 90 (more than any other Sri Lankan!) during the Tests against us as well. A number 8 averaging 90 is just not good enough. It's been a problem with England for a while now.

 

[The_gas]

Guys this game is lost, just like lords. However we have shown we can come back, and boy will we need to.

 

[Short Leg]

The difference is you didn?t concede 602 runs at Lords. If Flintoff doesn?t get some assistance in taking 20 wickets then it may be a long series for the English. Having said that however I think the inclusion of Panesar will make a difference as will Harmison if he actually starts bowling balls on the pitch.

 

[puddleduck]

I'm still trying to work out how 99% of the people watching the game, and watching cricket in general can see it how it is, yet Fletcher and I think Freddie to some extent, both failed to make the correct decision regarding the spinner.

A lot was made out that Fletcher was the brains behind Vaughans excellent captaincy, is it perhaps the case that Vaughan really was the main man behind our resurgence, with a little help from the likes of Cooley.

 

[evertonfan]

A lot was made out that Fletcher was the brains behind Vaughans excellent captaincy, is it perhaps the case that Vaughan really was the main man behind our resurgence, with a little help from the likes of Cooley.

It certainly does make sense. We have definitley gone in decline since Cooley and Vaughan have been gone, with exception to one great performance at Old Trafford against Pakistan.

 

[Sureshot]

Have we gone back to 2001 or something? One unlucky and slightly average day from England and everyone from England is on their backs, way to support a team.

Can I just make a point about Giles. It's not his fault that Fletcher has preferred him to Panesar. To want him to fail, or even worse to get injured is just shocking and very insulting to a guy who has always given 110% to the England cause.

Positives for the day include the fielding. There was one slip up from Hoggard on the boundary, but apart from that I though we were quite good. No catches were dropped and those taken were tricky but were made to look easy.

This test is far from over yet and I think people will do well to remember that. Big day for Australia and a couple of early wickets could turn this test into a real spectacle.

Only reason why I said I wanted Giles to get injured was because it would mean Monty would play, probably the only way he will play this series. Of course I don't actually want Giles to get injured, but it may be the only way he'll be dropped.

PS: Apologies if it offended you or anyone else. And I retract that as I was still peeved (still am) that Monty got dropped. Sorry guys.

England yet again having trouble dismissing the tail. They're really missing Monty right now.

Another thing he is good at.....

 

[treva]

It certainly does make sense. We have definitley gone in decline since Cooley and Vaughan have been gone, with exception to one great performance at Old Trafford against Pakistan.

Yes I agree.
And that one performance was because of just two bowlers really.

England really need to take their time and making sure they don't get out.
Basically get as many runs as possible in the biggest amount of time possible