Nov 25-29: 1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane

[angryangy]

Clarke has looked a bit tense in recent times, might need to relax and just let the runs come.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Clarke has looked a bit tense in recent times, might need to relax and just let the runs come.

A laxative might do the trick.

[/bad joke]

 

[ferg512]

Geez, aussies in huge trouble now.

ferg512 added 0 Minutes and 20 Seconds later...

Exactly what North didn't need.

 

[Biggy]

Expected. North's still got another 4 innings before he puts on a decent score to save his spot.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

SWANNEEHHHH!!!!

143/5

North's last game in the baggy green?

 

[shravi]

SWANNEEHHHH!!!!

143/5

North's last game in the baggy green?

Nah. What Biggy said.

Starting to get on my nerves tbh. He's obviously not good enough.

 

[angryangy]

We don't hold 14 single figures scores in 33 innings against him, what's one more?

 

[ZoraxDoom]

The commentators are praising Prior's keeping.

10 bucks says he drops a catch in the next 15 minutes.

 

[angryangy]

Wickets fell England's way in that session, but it's no hat trick. They need to keep pressing because Australia are only 100 runs from a lead and could probably get that if they are not bowled out today. Worse is the thought that they could actually double their score for the last five wickets. Two or three wickets will not cut it; England really need to go for all of them.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

And to think Hussey could have been out first ball if Swann was standing an inch or so closer...

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Australia running away with this partnership. 72 runs. Although, with this run rate it's more like slowly limping away.

England in desperate need of a few wickets, otherwise Australia could end up with a substantial lead.

Hussey and Siddle have justified their selections. Johnson and North haven't yet.

ZoraxDoom added 14 Minutes and 19 Seconds later...

Bad Light stops play. Just as England get the new ball. Sigh.

 

[Owzat]

Geez, aussies in huge trouble now.

ferg512 added 0 Minutes and 20 Seconds later...

Exactly what North didn't need.

40 behind with five wickets in hand, two batsmen well set at the crease, although after Johnson is there much batting? I'm sure England will find ways to gift runs to bowlers who can't really bat as they have in the past, quite often from great field settings and tactics from those great captains Atherton, Hussain and Vaughan.

re North, this is his eighth series and his series batting figures are :

08/09 vs SAF : 160 runs @ 40.00
2009 vs ENG : 367 runs @ 52.43
09/10 vs WIN : 166 runs @ 33.20
09/10 vs PAK : 41 runs @ 10.25
09/10 vs NZE : 211 runs @ 105.50
10/11 vs PAK : 36 runs @ 9.00
10/11 vs IND : 141 runs @ 35.25
10/11 vs ENG : 0 runs @ 0.00

That doesn't look great, but then he looks to have had a mare against Pakistan - 77 runs @ 9.63 - and hasn't started well against England. Otherwise his record looks ok, only in three series including two against Pakistan has he failed to score at least one hundred.

13 wkts @ 37.08 is handy for a part-time spinner too.

 

[Left_Hander]

I'm smilling so much with Hussey's contribution. I'll be hysterical if Hussey makes a ton. He's pretty much saved us today after the Katich/Watson partnership.

And Peter Siddle! I wanted Bollinger in the side but what a moment for him yesterday! It three great deliveries and all different dismissal types. And also on his birthday!

 

[angryangy]

40 behind with five wickets in hand, two batsmen well set at the crease, although after Johnson is there much batting?

Doherty faces an average 30 balls per innings in first class, but is replacing Hauritz, who was a fair bit better with the bat. However Siddle and Hilfenhaus have each been involved in their share of frustrating lower order partnerships; three 50 partnerships for Hilfy and one 100 for Siddle this year. Siddle is quite technically sound against pace, while Hilfenhaus spent time developing his batting in the first half of this year and has pushed his average up quite a bit in the four matches since returning from injury. I'd probably put Doherty or Siddle last, give the other a chance to throw the bat around and then send in the stonewalling number 11.

 

[Hooper]

This.

We need Callum Ferguson to get good real quick. Hussey to fall apart this Ashes this series IMO.. Either one of North or Hussey won't last this whole series.

Who will do a Damien Martyn?

I'm a crab...

Ah well, at least one of the 3 stooges (Clarke, Hussey and North) have given us something. Good work Hussey, North as Biggy said is pissing us off for these first 2 tests then going to get a hundred when we need it again...