2006/7 Ashes thread......
Discussion
satch said:
I think I said most of that before the series paul so I agree entirely.
i feel a bit for harmy - I wish boyks would keep his mouth shut. harmy is a confidence bowler and the last thing he needs is to be slated all the time.
i feel an innings dfeat coming on.....
i feel a bit for harmy - I wish boyks would keep his mouth shut. harmy is a confidence bowler and the last thing he needs is to be slated all the time.
i feel an innings dfeat coming on.....
Me too Mike, on sep 12th on this thread.
unrepentant said:
Squad announced;
England squad for Ashes tour: A Flintoff (Lancashire, 62 Tests), A Strauss (Middlesex, 31 Tests), M Trescothick (Somerset, 76 Tests), A Cook (Essex, 9 Tests), K Pietersen (Hampshire, 18 Tests), I Bell (Warwickshire, 18 Tests), P Collingwood (Durham, 15 Tests), C Read (Nottinghamshire, 13 Tests), S Mahmood (Lancashire, 5 Tests), S Harmison (Durham, 45 Tests), M Hoggard (Yorkshire, 58 Tests), M Panesar (Northants, 10 Tests), G Jones (Kent, 31 Tests), A Giles (Warwickshire, 52 Tests), J Anderson (Lancashire, 13 Tests), L Plunkett (Durham, 6 Tests).
So thats Giles and Anderson who haven't bowled all season and Plunkett who hasn't bowled for months. Pus Trescothick who is having a mental breakdown and who had to come home from the last tour. And Freddie hasn't played all season either. Hmm.. Who picked this squad, Sven?
England squad for Ashes tour: A Flintoff (Lancashire, 62 Tests), A Strauss (Middlesex, 31 Tests), M Trescothick (Somerset, 76 Tests), A Cook (Essex, 9 Tests), K Pietersen (Hampshire, 18 Tests), I Bell (Warwickshire, 18 Tests), P Collingwood (Durham, 15 Tests), C Read (Nottinghamshire, 13 Tests), S Mahmood (Lancashire, 5 Tests), S Harmison (Durham, 45 Tests), M Hoggard (Yorkshire, 58 Tests), M Panesar (Northants, 10 Tests), G Jones (Kent, 31 Tests), A Giles (Warwickshire, 52 Tests), J Anderson (Lancashire, 13 Tests), L Plunkett (Durham, 6 Tests).
So thats Giles and Anderson who haven't bowled all season and Plunkett who hasn't bowled for months. Pus Trescothick who is having a mental breakdown and who had to come home from the last tour. And Freddie hasn't played all season either. Hmm.. Who picked this squad, Sven?
The problem with an innings defeat is that it will crush the moral of England & boost the Australians no end. If England fail to get a draw in this Test then I think the series will be a walk over for the Australians. 5-0 is a ever increasing possibility.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
hobo said:
The problem with an innings defeat is that it will crush the moral of England & boost the Australians no end. If England fail to get a draw in this Test then I think the series will be a walk over for the Australians. 5-0 is a ever increasing possibility.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
missed alot of the selection and build up...but was just wandering what was the reason for picking Giles over Panesar??
Surely Panesar has proved himself this summer?
peterpeter said:
hobo said:
The problem with an innings defeat is that it will crush the moral of England & boost the Australians no end. If England fail to get a draw in this Test then I think the series will be a walk over for the Australians. 5-0 is a ever increasing possibility.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
I hope this isn't the case but we all knew England didn't have the team (or the 'in form' team) to take on the Australians. Getting such a pasting at the start is a nightmare.
And yes, the current selection of bowlers is a joke. Monty should be in, harmison should be, obviously flintoff should be. Apart from them though we need match fit bowlers. Whomever is in the best form at the current time.
missed alot of the selection and build up...but was just wandering what was the reason for picking Giles over Panesar??
Surely Panesar has proved himself this summer?
Because Fletcher is ultra cautious and preferred Giles because of his alleged superior batting ability. Ridiculous. Panesar can actually win the team a test match, Giles can't. Even KP spun it more than Giles.
Its quite simple really. You pick batters who can bat & bowlers who can bowl.
Monty is a match winner with the ball, giles is not. To say that Giles makes up with his lack of bowling talent with the bat is a complete joke. Surely the top 6 are the batters (possibly 7 as keeper should always be a handy batter), if we're relying on 8,9,10,jack to get us out of the sh!t with the bat then were f@cked to start with.
I suspect the other issue with Monty is the fact that for 2 days in the field, when he isn't bowling, you've got to 'hide' him as he's a shocker at fielding/catching (albiet getting better, slowly).
Monty is a match winner with the ball, giles is not. To say that Giles makes up with his lack of bowling talent with the bat is a complete joke. Surely the top 6 are the batters (possibly 7 as keeper should always be a handy batter), if we're relying on 8,9,10,jack to get us out of the sh!t with the bat then were f@cked to start with.
I suspect the other issue with Monty is the fact that for 2 days in the field, when he isn't bowling, you've got to 'hide' him as he's a shocker at fielding/catching (albiet getting better, slowly).
hobo said:
Its quite simple really. You pick batters who can bat & bowlers who can bowl.
Monty is a match winner with the ball, giles is not. To say that Giles makes up with his lack of bowling talent with the bat is a complete joke. Surely the top 6 are the batters (possibly 7 as keeper should always be a handy batter), if we're relying on 8,9,10,jack to get us out of the sh!t with the bat then were f@cked to start with.
I suspect the other issue with Monty is the fact that for 2 days in the field, when he isn't bowling, you've got to 'hide' him as he's a shocker at fielding/catching (albiet getting better, slowly).
Monty is a match winner with the ball, giles is not. To say that Giles makes up with his lack of bowling talent with the bat is a complete joke. Surely the top 6 are the batters (possibly 7 as keeper should always be a handy batter), if we're relying on 8,9,10,jack to get us out of the sh!t with the bat then were f@cked to start with.
I suspect the other issue with Monty is the fact that for 2 days in the field, when he isn't bowling, you've got to 'hide' him as he's a shocker at fielding/catching (albiet getting better, slowly).
thats what I thought..
Well assuming we get shafted in this test, presumably they can pick him for the next test?
wildsea said:
Also maybe they are abit warey of putting Monty in cos of the sledging that he is bound to get from the Aussie crowd. I reckon a test match full of that could break someone. I know he should be used to it, but the ashes is totally differant atmosphere.
The wicket is so far from the boundary he'd never hear 'em ...
I've a funny feeling that this tour is going to be one of those that people bring up in years to come as how NOT to prepare to defend the biggest prize in international cricket. Much like that much-maligned Lions tour, the one with Alistair Campbell, this is turning into a disaster as we have somehow arrived at this Test Match with hardly any cricket behind us, an opening bowler so out of sorts he couldn't hit a barn door at 10 yards and an injury-depleted squad. This lack of serious preparation is making us look daft ...
WHile central contracts have undoubtably helped in many respects, these guys just don't seem to play much cricket at all bar Test Matches in our summer so no wonder they are so undercooked as the pundits have been calling it.
Pieterson - not out - bad decision from the ump.
Flintoff got a good 'un but shouldn't have played at it - this is gonna be over on less than four days at this rate - less than three even if we carry on like this ...
Once you give the Aussies the upper hand you're finished, and we have in this match for sure. The bowlers, bar Freddie and Anderson to a lesser extent, should be hanging their heads in shame.
Yours, disappointed of England
Edited by mikeyT on Saturday 25th November 01:04
Well having watched our collapse and then a bit of them making 180-odd or just the one wicket - it's clear we are not going to retain the Ashes with these bowlers. It's common sense that to put batsmen under pressure you have to put the ball in the right area and we just haven't done that at all in either innings ... while they have - witness McGrath not bowling a single leg side delivery in over 20 overs - incredible.
The Aussies know that effectively, we only bat down to no. 6/7 so the wickets after that will be a formality, there is no tail really ...
Bell toughed it out which pleased me - and we need 11 of him in the second innings ... I don't want to see Pieterson play ONE cover drive if it means there is no chance of him getting out ... remember Atherton in South Africa years ago - yes, it takes a certain mindset but some players in our team seem not to have even decent defensive technique.
Hopefully Panasar and Read will feature in the second Test but knowing Fletcher, I doubt it - the Press will maul him of course, but he's a stubborn mule who doesn't admit mistakes ...
I think they should declare overnight - there's no way we're gonna score 300 let alone 600 ... they're just taking the pi55 by scoring at will and rubbing it in, as they can - bat two days lads and the Aussie press will be calling for 'Punter' to go!
The Aussies know that effectively, we only bat down to no. 6/7 so the wickets after that will be a formality, there is no tail really ...
Bell toughed it out which pleased me - and we need 11 of him in the second innings ... I don't want to see Pieterson play ONE cover drive if it means there is no chance of him getting out ... remember Atherton in South Africa years ago - yes, it takes a certain mindset but some players in our team seem not to have even decent defensive technique.
Hopefully Panasar and Read will feature in the second Test but knowing Fletcher, I doubt it - the Press will maul him of course, but he's a stubborn mule who doesn't admit mistakes ...
I think they should declare overnight - there's no way we're gonna score 300 let alone 600 ... they're just taking the pi55 by scoring at will and rubbing it in, as they can - bat two days lads and the Aussie press will be calling for 'Punter' to go!
Edited by mikeyT on Saturday 25th November 10:32
Soo, what's the problem with batting on then ??
Score a few easy runs with no pressure, cause even more mental disintegration of the English bowlers, exhaust Freddy, the only match winner in the team at the moment.
Don't forget we have a back to back test situation here, no captain wants his bowlers in the field for six days on the trot, could happen if they enforced the follow on and the batting found a bit of form and then Ponting lost the toss in the second test, I suspect that had there been a state game in between then the follow on would have been a formality.
It is so good to see the planets coming back into alignment and natural order being restored.
One eyed Aussie, bloody oath, but I still want to see a competetive series like the last one and at the moment I can't see that happening.
Score a few easy runs with no pressure, cause even more mental disintegration of the English bowlers, exhaust Freddy, the only match winner in the team at the moment.
Don't forget we have a back to back test situation here, no captain wants his bowlers in the field for six days on the trot, could happen if they enforced the follow on and the batting found a bit of form and then Ponting lost the toss in the second test, I suspect that had there been a state game in between then the follow on would have been a formality.
It is so good to see the planets coming back into alignment and natural order being restored.
One eyed Aussie, bloody oath, but I still want to see a competetive series like the last one and at the moment I can't see that happening.
percy flage said:
We've got them flustered, obviously, with them not enforcing the follow on. Could be Pontin's biggest gaffe ever... 
Was quite amazed to see them batting yesterday morning and immediately thought it was a mistake. Now that Ponting has some back injury and McGrath has an ankle injury this test can easily end in a draw. Roll on this evening for a famous defiant England stand!
England still have no chance in this test, however, things do now look considerably rosier than this time friday.
Think ponting will be fine. McGrath though, well, if you're not 100% then you can't pick him for the next test as if he's unfit then the the effect it may have on the other bowlers should he not be in a state to bowl could be a disaster for them.
Still don't think we'll win the ashes, but at least it might not be the onslaught as thought earlier.
Think ponting will be fine. McGrath though, well, if you're not 100% then you can't pick him for the next test as if he's unfit then the the effect it may have on the other bowlers should he not be in a state to bowl could be a disaster for them.
Still don't think we'll win the ashes, but at least it might not be the onslaught as thought earlier.
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