RoboRocks
Chairman of Selectors
Hussey and Pietersen can go on to be one of the greats.
Pietersen will since he is being controlled by vaughany.
Pietersen will since he is being controlled by vaughany.
Story England's International Season [C07] - The 5th 3Mobile Ashes Test
- Thread starter m_vaughan
- Start date
Pakistani Army
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Great game m_vaughan and i must say great photoshop skills!
Keep up the good works
Keep up the good works
plympilgrim
International Coach
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great win for us in the end, nice pres keep it up
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
Fourth Test Begins...
The famous Melbourne Cricket Ground is the venue for the fourth Ashes Test match on Boxing Day.
England's stunning comeback in the third test has kept the series alive and we are in for a cracking five days of cricket here in Melbourne.
The MCG has been an excellent venue for most of the Australian players.
Australia's dominance over the last decade means they have excellent records at all home venues, and Melbourne is no different - they have won the last seven Tests here, but the last team to beat them was England, who sneaked home by 12 runs in 1998-99. Since then, though, it's all been one-day traffic at the MCG. England have a 19-26 win-loss record here, but almost half that deficit has come in the last nine matches, when they have won three and lost six.
Unless the weather interferes, this Test should produce a decisive result as well - in the last 12 matches played here, only one has ended in a draw.
The numbers also suggest that the pitch here is good for batting early in the game, but then progressively favours bowlers more. In the first innings of the last ten Tests, batsmen average 36 runs per wicket, but that number drops to 31.8, 28.3 and 23.2 in the next three innings.
Fast bowlers have clearly relished bowling here more than the spinners. Pace has accounted for 236 wickets in the last ten Tests, at an average of 29.60, while spinners have only managed 73 wickets at 38.80 apiece.
The one spinner who has bucked that trend in recent times is Shane Warne. Playing in his penultimate Test, Warne stands on the threshold of 700 wickets, but there's also a smaller milestone to celebrate - he is just one away from 50 Test wickets at the MCG. Warne's average of 24.46 at this ground is marginally better than his career average, while his strike rate - 60 balls per wicket - also suggests this is a venue where he loves to bowl.
England's bowlers would do well to be wary of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden too: Ponting averages 75.25 at this venue, with three hundreds - including his highest of 257 - and three fifties. Hayden's average of 68 - he has scored four centuries in seven Tests - is only marginally lower. And most teams have found it hard to conjure up a breakthrough when these two batsmen get together: in seven innings they have put together 687 runs with three century stands at a phenomenal average of 171.50 (helped by three not-outs), including a highest of 234 against India in 2003-04.
[Stats taken from - Cricinfo/S Rajesh]
The Pitch
The wicket here is very sticky indeed. This will cause the ball to behave erratically, particularly for the slower or spin bowlers. However as the match progresses the moisture will dry up and it will become more suitable for batting. So batting first on this wicket would be a bit tricky.
The Weather
Its a bright and sunny day here in Melbourne with absolutely no chance of rain. It is pretty hot already and might get more hotter during the course of the day.
The Toss and Lineups
Well England captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and surprisingly decided to bat.
The famous Melbourne Cricket Ground is the venue for the fourth Ashes Test match on Boxing Day.
England's stunning comeback in the third test has kept the series alive and we are in for a cracking five days of cricket here in Melbourne.
The MCG has been an excellent venue for most of the Australian players.
Australia's dominance over the last decade means they have excellent records at all home venues, and Melbourne is no different - they have won the last seven Tests here, but the last team to beat them was England, who sneaked home by 12 runs in 1998-99. Since then, though, it's all been one-day traffic at the MCG. England have a 19-26 win-loss record here, but almost half that deficit has come in the last nine matches, when they have won three and lost six.
Unless the weather interferes, this Test should produce a decisive result as well - in the last 12 matches played here, only one has ended in a draw.
The numbers also suggest that the pitch here is good for batting early in the game, but then progressively favours bowlers more. In the first innings of the last ten Tests, batsmen average 36 runs per wicket, but that number drops to 31.8, 28.3 and 23.2 in the next three innings.
Fast bowlers have clearly relished bowling here more than the spinners. Pace has accounted for 236 wickets in the last ten Tests, at an average of 29.60, while spinners have only managed 73 wickets at 38.80 apiece.
The one spinner who has bucked that trend in recent times is Shane Warne. Playing in his penultimate Test, Warne stands on the threshold of 700 wickets, but there's also a smaller milestone to celebrate - he is just one away from 50 Test wickets at the MCG. Warne's average of 24.46 at this ground is marginally better than his career average, while his strike rate - 60 balls per wicket - also suggests this is a venue where he loves to bowl.
England's bowlers would do well to be wary of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden too: Ponting averages 75.25 at this venue, with three hundreds - including his highest of 257 - and three fifties. Hayden's average of 68 - he has scored four centuries in seven Tests - is only marginally lower. And most teams have found it hard to conjure up a breakthrough when these two batsmen get together: in seven innings they have put together 687 runs with three century stands at a phenomenal average of 171.50 (helped by three not-outs), including a highest of 234 against India in 2003-04.
[Stats taken from - Cricinfo/S Rajesh]
The Pitch
The wicket here is very sticky indeed. This will cause the ball to behave erratically, particularly for the slower or spin bowlers. However as the match progresses the moisture will dry up and it will become more suitable for batting. So batting first on this wicket would be a bit tricky.
The Weather
Its a bright and sunny day here in Melbourne with absolutely no chance of rain. It is pretty hot already and might get more hotter during the course of the day.
The Toss and Lineups
Well England captain Michael Vaughan won the toss and surprisingly decided to bat.
Michael Vaughan said:
Ricky Ponting said:
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
I've just read through the 3rd Tets and it was a sensational match. 
Lovely layout is this; Very good story indeed.
Lovely layout is this; Very good story indeed.
gamerkid22
National Board President
Sticky pitch is always a tricky pitch .Won,t be surprised to see England losing couple of early wickets .
surendar
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How about trying Vaughny back as a opener and Cook as no3? I guess Vaughan is supposed to be a gud opener!
I guess morning session wud be slow for batsmen in getting runs! Gud Luck for both the teams and special luck to KP
I guess morning session wud be slow for batsmen in getting runs! Gud Luck for both the teams and special luck to KP
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
Vaughan used to open first but then dropped down the order.
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Great works m8
RoboRocks
Chairman of Selectors
Both these teams have very long tails.
Matthew Hoggard at 8?
I feel the worst.
Matthew Hoggard at 8?
I feel the worst.
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
Hoggard was at number 8 in the actual series also.RoboRocks said:Both these teams have very long tails.
Matthew Hoggard at 8?
I feel the worst.
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
England lose three wickets
Day One Lunch Update...
England lose openers cheaply
Australia have taken the early initiative in this test match by getting rid off the England openers fairly quickly.
The first wicket to fall was of Alastair Cook, out for a duck to a rising Brett Lee delivery that he couldnt quite handle and ended up hitting it straight to Glen McGrath.
Eight runs later Glen McGrath had Andrew Strauss caught by Nathan Bracken. England at this stage were 17-2.
Pietersen and Vaughan strike an impressive partnership
After losing both the openers there was a lot of pressure on the England captain Michael Vaughan and last game's hero Kevin Pietersen to rescue England from this early mess. And that is just what they did. Pietersen took a more aggressive role and as usual took the attack to the home side, while Vaughan did an excellent job supporting him by rotating the strike.
Pietersen's 50 came off just 83 deliveries, that too after a slow start to his innings.
And then Vaughan went...
Just when England were beginning to put up a big partnership the Aussie struck with the wicket of Michael Vaughan. And it was the old warhorse Glen McGrath who got the breakthrough by foxing Vaughan with a brilliantly bowled slower delivery that the latter failed to pick and was caught by Ricky Ponting at short mid off.
So with that wicket Australia go into the lunch break as the happier team while England have some work to do if they are to put up a good first innings total. Kevin Pietersen once again holds the key for the visitors.
So at Lunch on Day 1
England 110-3 after 30 Overs
Day One Lunch Update...
England lose openers cheaply
Australia have taken the early initiative in this test match by getting rid off the England openers fairly quickly.
The first wicket to fall was of Alastair Cook, out for a duck to a rising Brett Lee delivery that he couldnt quite handle and ended up hitting it straight to Glen McGrath.
Eight runs later Glen McGrath had Andrew Strauss caught by Nathan Bracken. England at this stage were 17-2.
Pietersen and Vaughan strike an impressive partnership
After losing both the openers there was a lot of pressure on the England captain Michael Vaughan and last game's hero Kevin Pietersen to rescue England from this early mess. And that is just what they did. Pietersen took a more aggressive role and as usual took the attack to the home side, while Vaughan did an excellent job supporting him by rotating the strike.
Pietersen's 50 came off just 83 deliveries, that too after a slow start to his innings.
And then Vaughan went...
Just when England were beginning to put up a big partnership the Aussie struck with the wicket of Michael Vaughan. And it was the old warhorse Glen McGrath who got the breakthrough by foxing Vaughan with a brilliantly bowled slower delivery that the latter failed to pick and was caught by Ricky Ponting at short mid off.
So with that wicket Australia go into the lunch break as the happier team while England have some work to do if they are to put up a good first innings total. Kevin Pietersen once again holds the key for the visitors.
So at Lunch on Day 1
England 110-3 after 30 Overs
gamerkid22
National Board President
Hurray:happy Pietersen is the best batsman in the world for sure and England going nicelt with 110/3
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