Jan 3-7: 5th Test: Australia v England at Sydney

[sami ullah khan]

^lols. Talk about patting one's self on the back

 

[Sureshot]

Utterly thrashed 'em. Clinical England, that's a nice phrase, in fact let's say it again.

Clinical England. Everyone performed, very high standard of cricket, but, we need to use this as a base to go and win both series at home this summer.

 

[6ry4nj]

Selectors did very good job: Hilditch - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

If it was true, he wouldn't be saying it at the end of a losing series! The very fact that he's saying it, proves he knows it's not true.

He also said they would be standing by all their new selections. This despite the fact that Doherty has already been sold for scrap.

If they don't ALL eat some humble pie quick, they're going to get a real nasty public humiliation. Just for the record, the names (for your Wall of Shame at home/work/wherever) are: Andrew Hilditch, Greg Chappell, David Boon and Jamie Cox.

 

[Sureshot]

The longer the denial the greater the damage to the future of Australian cricket. Someone needs to get Watson scoring hundreds. Find a suitable opener to partner him, a new captain, a spinner (even if he doesn't play every test), a couple of pace bowlers to support Siddle, who imo, should be leading the attack for years to come. Some new batsman to come through, Hussey is nearing the end of his career, as is Ponting, if he continues his career, which I think he will. They didn't prepare for losing the players that they have done, though I think Haddin has done a good job with the gloves and bat, but that's 1 of 11...

Also, try not to make daft decisions like playing a number 8 bits and pieces player at 6! It's like Australia are turning in to England of 10 years ago.

 

[takingthewicket]

Well done England, but we've got to admit that the side we beat weren't that good. This was no great triumph. (And if things had gone slightly diffrently, we could have been 2-1 down with two to play...

I've no doubt Australia will rebuild though.

 

[barmyarmy]

3 innings defeats for Australia, feels so good.

Can't be bothered digging up that "5-0" Glenn Mcgrath quote,

They asked him about that when he was commentating on Sky. He said that if he didn't make the prediction regardless it would be seen as a vote of no confidence in the team.
Also Simon Barnes in the Times today:

Australia have collapsed without dignity, with all the whingeing we expect. The Australian crowd booed English century-makers while the Australian players refused to clap; Australian players said that they ought to be allowed to take wickets with no-balls and with catches that bounced. But that’s their way. Bad winners, worse losers.

 

[MUFC1987]

Great series for us. Shame about the blip with that loss really. Barring that and the first few days of the first test, we've been utterly dominant. This is our best chance to become the best in the world, hopefully starting with the right choice to replace Collingwood. On the subject of Collingwood, it sums him up that he has retired now. Going out on the high that he deserves and for the good of the team, much like his career. May not have been excellent all the time, but always contributed to the team and seemed to care more about that than his personal goals, which is what you want.

Good to see Saker signed up for a few more years now too. The hard work starts now though. We need to gain the knowledge of other venues and teams just like we have done with the Aussies in order to become the best. Oh, and finally, Andy Flower, brilliant player, brilliant Coach, we're lucky to have him.

 

[War]

I was watching both the skysports & channel nine coverage at the end


HAAAA @ Ian Botham saying the Ashes should be 3 tests from now on.

SMFH @ Benauad suggesting Peter Siddle should become & all-rounder for AUS going forward. I love reachie & he has been basically the voice of cricket for the last 40 years worldwide since the later great John Arlott & Bill Johnston retired, but i fear he is getting a bit senile now & should retire.

----------

Selectors did very good job: Hilditch - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I said it before the Ashes & it has come to past. Although inconsistent of the players themselves played a part, at the end of the day it was the horrible squad selections that played the major part in AUS losing the Ashes.

AUS for me never played its best possible XI in none of the 5 tests.

AUS need good tactical selectors going forward. Just like how AUS post 86/87 Ashes defeated with a crop of poor players, benefited from having a smart tactical skipper with real smart cricket brain like Allan Border. AUS need a selection panel like that who will get decision right @ least 90% of the time (since they wont always please fans).

When i think around AUS blokes like Border, Taylor & Warne (although at times their commentary in the Ashes has been cringeworthy), Bobby Simpson, hell even veteran respected writers like Jim Maxwell & Mike Coward would be worth a shout.

Cant be picking people like Hilditch, Hohns who have average test careers who have questionable cricket brains.

 

[Ollie_H]

HAAAA @ Ian Botham saying the Ashes should be 3 tests from now on.

Please, please don't tell me you took that seriously?

 

[War]

Haha of course not.

 

[War]

Waugh takes swing at Australia | Fox Sports

Timely artice from Junior Waugh. Was saying it all series its crazy how AUS bowlers suddenly haven't been able to swing the ball conventionally or reverse (except for Perth & short phases throughout the series) - when they have shown they can do it numerous times in their careers. A problem optimized most significantly in the struggles of Hilfenhaus.

 

[aussie1st]

We have never been consistent swingers, this problem has been there for years and it was the reason we got Cooley back. But the problem still exist, we swing the ball here and there but they are as rare as a good Johnson spell. Hilfy swings it but hes very easy to keep out since it swings so early. Siddle is the definition of the problem, he swings it once in a while then goes gun barrel straight, doesn't help that he pitches it too short.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

with australia's pacers the phrase "too many cooks spoil the broth" jumps to mind.

which also has a nice little double entendre given the last series.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

with australia's pacers the phrase "too many cooks spoil the broth" jumps to mind.

which also has a nice little double entendre given the last series.

I think one Cook was enough for the Aussies.

 

[War]

We have never been consistent swingers, this problem has been there for years and it was the reason we got Cooley back. But the problem still exist, we swing the ball here and there but they are as rare as a good Johnson spell. Hilfy swings it but hes very easy to keep out since it swings so early. Siddle is the definition of the problem, he swings it once in a while then goes gun barrel straight, doesn't help that he pitches it too short.

Cooley was brought back to try & get them to master reverse-swing IIRC, not necessarily conventional swing TBF.

Hilfy since his debut up until the recent series was AUS Anderson, pitching the ball up & swinging the ball consistently (mainly conventionally).

Johnson & Siddle aren't swing bowlers, people need to realise that & stop expecting to become such bowlers consistently. If Johnson get the ball to swing like in S Africa 2009 & Perth 2010, he has to get lucky with condition on the day.

Otherwise his strength is to get bouncy decks, since he is hit-the-deck type bowler who best when he testing a batsman back-foot game bowling @ 150 ks as we saw @ Perth 2008 & Hamilton 2010.

Siddle is the same too. The most we cant expect from him as we saw in the Ashes (Brisbane & MCG 6 fors) & South Africa 2009 is a bit seam movement when he pitched it up. Very similar to what Tremlett did for ENG.

Bollinger also for the last year always moved the new ball, extracting enough seam movement. Same goes for Harris in the few test he has played.

But as i said before. Its the reverse-swing that ENG got especially from Bresnan in the last two games, that AUS bowlers who can do the same failed miserably to do.

As Mark Waugh rightfully mentioned in that article:

- Watson is proven reverse swing bowler & arguably AUS best exponent of the art & he was doing it all the time last home season vs WI & PAK & in IND 2008. What happpened this series??.

- Siddle when he took his debut 5 for vs SA @ SCG 2009, did it then. Plus in phases during the 2009 Ashes?. What happened this series?.

- Bollinger showed it in phases last home season as well. But he didn't play enough ridiculously.

- Hilfy who just before this Ashes on even flatter pitches in IND proved he could be effective or bring some sort of control to proceedings. Then suddenly in the Ashes lost all of that.

So obviously the skills are present. The execution just went awol this Ashes.