I don't want people to think this is a post complaining about the decisions, as I often make clear it is swings and roundabouts in cricket and I thought the umpiring was spot on in the first test, perfect in fact.
However the little things haven't gone Englands way, we had a fair few shouts that were a lot closer than the Harmison dismissal, in fact as close as the Anderson one (clipping a stump) that weren't given. That however does not excuse the individual errors, and it is those that will cost England this match. The unforgiveable drop by Giles with Ponting still in his 30's and a chance to see Australia reduced to 70-4 with their star batsman back in the hut. Then this time around Kp, Flintoff and Jones all playing quite inexusable shots.
And finally the selection issues before the game even began, end of the day England have thrown away any chances they had to win this game before it started, and the chances they had to draw it in this days play.
Fair enough the Aussies have bowled well, but England have batted appalingly. I said yesterday that bringing KP on against Warne merely stood to get Warne back in the game and 43 runs later it had done, here he is looking the very same player that has terrorised England for years.
Anyway, as I was saying it is a shame that England haven't quite had the run of the green with Strauss and Harmy, but when your batsman throw away their wicket, and your bowling attack isn't strong enough because you left out your number 1 spinner, you are already asking for fate to conspire against you.
Oh and one other thing before I head downstairs - Would someone explain the LBW law to Warney please! You would think he had forgotten that you can't be out if the ball pitches outside leg with how much he's been appealing today
(yes I know it's to build pressure, but still
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