Cricket

[lukeanddad]

I hope Clarke and the selectors do the right thing and play khawaja at #5.

I hope Smith is hidden further down the order.

 

[evo]

However there is also a strong case that curators are being told to prepare flat boring pitches that last 5 days so boards can rake in gate & TV money. (this obviously wasnt the case in the past 2 tests).

The Melbourne pitch seemed perfect to me. It didn't particularly do a lot. Australia just batted badly. It's not the curators fault. It's show-ponies like Watson, Clarke et al unwilling to play a 'boring' innings a la Boycott or Bob Simpson.

Trott didn't have any trouble grinding a quality and measured big knock. That's what number 3 and 4s in Tests are supposed to do.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The Melbourne pitch seemed perfect to me. It didn't particularly do a lot. Australia just batted badly. It's not the curators fault. It's show-ponies like Watson, Clarke et al unwilling to play a 'boring' innings a la Boycott or Bob Simpson.

Trott didn't have any trouble grinding a quality and measured big knock. That's what number 3 and 4s in Tests are supposed to do.

Reckon there's truth in both perspectives. No doubt it was a bowler's deck early, with the first 12 dismissals involving edges behind the wicket. Not enough patience or skill from our batsmen either.

 

[ARCHYBOY]

Well said. I too continue to enjoy test cricket - and aspire to us mixing it with the top teams again - ie India and S Africa.

I have a different view regarding Ponting. I actually think that Ponting - and his predecessor - have too much influence in certain areas. I don't like to see his hand in team selection. Kreyza and Hauritz are two of his victims and Hilfy and Doherty are two of his beneficiaries. (To talk up Hilfy, who took 1 for a lot in Perth was ridiculous.) In fact, Ponting is a lousy captain of spinners. Apart from Warne, who did what he wanted, no spinner has done any good under him.

I also reckon the obvious love that Langer has for Ponting (and to a lesser extent, Hussey) makes it almost impossible for him to be our batting coach. In addition, Hilditch has no bottle and I am looking forward to seeing Chappell's hand in some selections.

Finally, Smith may or not make it. But how is he different to a young Cam White? I'd certainly have White ahead of him today - I had no confidence that Smith was going to hang around in Melbourne.

The problem is that the commentary teams and print media are very Sydney-centric. I'm very happy with Khawaja, because his technique looks strong - totally different kettle of fish to Phil Hughes. Fair dinkum, he was averaging less than 30 in first class cricket when he was selected this year. Poor old Klinger and Marsh obviously don't tick the right boxes...

Bolded name says it all, 12 wickets on debut and hasn't been seen since, What a disgrace

 

[Lidsand]

cant wait to see doug ' the human bowling machine' in sydney

 

[Leysy Days]

The Melbourne pitch seemed perfect to me. It didn't particularly do a lot. Australia just batted badly. It's not the curators fault. It's show-ponies like Watson, Clarke et al unwilling to play a 'boring' innings a la Boycott or Bob Simpson.

Trott didn't have any trouble grinding a quality and measured big knock. That's what number 3 and 4s in Tests are supposed to do.

The first session it did. If Ponting is prepared to send the opposition in for the first time in many years there's no doubt there was a lot in it for the bowler. As LTRTR said nearly all wickets if not all early on were to catches behind the wicket. A sure sign of a lot of lift & movement.

It did flatten out after that & it certainly wasnt a 98 all out wicket. & your exactly right in that Australias batsman have lost the art of playing a boring innings & continually leaving balls. Englands middle order also continually struggle when faced with a pitch that gives assistance to the bowler. Moreso by technique than mindset. Trott included. As shown by there callapses whenever faced with those conditions i.e first innings in Brisbane & both in Perth.

 

[evo]

The first session it did. If Ponting is prepared to send the opposition in for the first time in many years there's no doubt there was a lot in it for the bowler. As LTRTR said nearly all wickets if not all early on were to catches behind the wicket. A sure sign of a lot of lift & movement.

It's grasping at straws in my view. The England openers didn't have any trouble with the pitch. They passed us on the same day!

Many catches going behind is a sign that show-ponies don't know how to leave outside off stump.

. Englands middle order also continually struggle when faced with a pitch that gives assistance to the bowler.

Only Collingwood, really. The rest have batted pretty well on and off. They only time they've really struggled was in Perth when Johnson was moving it everywhere. Even Tendulkar would've found that particular spell tough.

England are miles ahead of Australia. It's got *smile* all to do with the pitches; or anything else.


Not so much here on PRE but it seems to me many Australians are in total denial how sh!t we are since McGrath and Warnie retired. Most of my mates seem to think this series is an anomally. It isn't. We are the new Windies!!!

 

[Leysy Days]

It's grasping at straws in my view. The England openers didn't have any trouble with the pitch. They passed us on the same day!

The techniques of Englands openers are far different from there middle order. The pitch was also far worse in the first session than later in the day. It was plain to see.

Only Collingwood, really. The rest have batted pretty well on and off. They only time they've really struggled was in Perth when Johnson was moving it everywhere. Even Tendulkar would've found that particular spell tough.

England were outplayed for the first half of the Brisbane test & all of Perth. No coincidence that was when there was life in the pitch. They have players that are very susceptible to the moving ball. We were thrashed when they flattened out. Everytime.

Not so much here on PRE but it seems to me many Australians are in total denial how sh!t we are since McGrath and Warnie retired. Most of my mates seem to think this series is an anomally. It isn't. We are the new Windies!!!

Dont think there are many if any on here that dont think there is a mountain to climb to get the test side back to being a force

 

[jb03]

It's grasping at straws in my view. The England openers didn't have any trouble with the pitch. They passed us on the same day!

Many catches going behind is a sign that show-ponies don't know how to leave outside off stump.

Only Collingwood, really. The rest have batted pretty well on and off. They only time they've really struggled was in Perth when Johnson was moving it everywhere. Even Tendulkar would've found that particular spell tough.

England are miles ahead of Australia. It's got *smile* all to do with the pitches; or anything else.


Not so much here on PRE but it seems to me many Australians are in total denial how sh!t we are since McGrath and Warnie retired. Most of my mates seem to think this series is an anomally. It isn't. We are the new Windies!!!

As IanG said, we were very unlucky to hand over the batting to England when the pitch turned. Even more unlucky that it happened to us again on day 3 when England were finally all out.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

The Melbourne pitch seemed perfect to me. It didn't particularly do a lot. Australia just batted badly. It's not the curators fault. It's show-ponies like Watson, Clarke et al unwilling to play a 'boring' innings a la Boycott or Bob Simpson.

Trott didn't have any trouble grinding a quality and measured big knock. That's what number 3 and 4s in Tests are supposed to do.

I agree. Batsmen should expect a bit of life on the first morning of a test. England bowled in the right areas and moved the new ball around, which should be the norm on the first morning. We just batted poorly, and then bowled poorly when it was our turn, while they showed how good top order batsmen build an innings. We have holes everywhere

 

[RemoteTiger]

To win in test cricket you need to bowl the opposition out twice - our current bowlers cannot do this. Hillfy is not test class at the moment - Johnson too hot and cold, Smith is a novice..........

Siddle is the only decent fit bowler we have.

God help our batsmen when Swann gets on the turning Sydney wicket.

Bowlers win test matches always have always will.

 

[Leysy Days]

I agree. Batsmen should expect a bit of life on the first morning of a test. England bowled in the right areas and moved the new ball around, which should be the norm on the first morning. We just batted poorly, and then bowled poorly when it was our turn, while they showed how good top order batsmen build an innings. We have holes everywhere

Absolutely Phil, everything you say is true.

But navy's point is that every sceric of evidence from this series suggests England would have struggled badly batting on that first morning. They have proven a better team overall no question at all, but that is the major weakness in their lineup that has been proven multiple times both here & against other countries.

 

[mb64]

To win in test cricket you need to bowl the opposition out twice - our current bowlers cannot do this. Hillfy is not test class at the moment - Johnson too hot and cold, Smith is a novice..........

Siddle is the only decent fit bowler we have.

God help our batsmen when Swann gets on the turning Sydney wicket.

Bowlers win test matches always have always will.

Good post RT,not sure what has happened to Hilfy,l rated him highly.He needs some dramatic improvement orthwise his international career is over.

 

[pahoffm]

I think there is alot going wrong with Australian cricket at present.

Fundamentally, the ACB does not have a clear and logical strategy to deal with the demands of Test, 1-Day & T20 cricket.

A great example ius this current tour by England.

Note, the focus of this tour is an Ashes Test series, that's 5 day matches.

England have already arrived here, have some warm-up time, then they play 3 x 4-Day games against WA, SA & Aust A, before having another 5 days warm up for the First Test.
England will then play their 5 Tests combined with other 4 day games before even looking at 1-Day or T20 matches.

This is a thorough preparation with a focus on a Test series.

In comparison, the Australian team are playing a combination of 1-Day & T20 games with Sri Lanka as their preparation for the 1st Test.

How ludicrous is that?

Anyone knows that Test matches & 1-Dayers/T20 are completely different forms of cricket.

And you can't blame the nature of modern day cricket because the English have prepared a balanced itiniery tour of Australia.

The foot should clearly land up James Sutherland's arse.

I warned all on PRE about him a couple of years ago.

There's a whole pack of reasons why we aren't on top:
1. The rigidity of the Aust player contract system.
2. Poor preparation of tour itinieries.

And also, the other key countries have caught up.

We led the key cricketing nations in the late 1980s with our cricket development and cricket institutes.
The other countries have gone past us now.

No better example was 2 English tours ago when the English were practising to a bowling machine that emulated Shane Warne's spin.

Australia didn't have the same quality bowling equipment.
Our machines couldn't emulate England's reverse swing.

Sport is like war. Victory goes to the best resourced & prepared.

With the ACB the way that it is, we will fall further behind.

Fortunately this tour is in Australia. If it was in England we'd be annihilated.

It is interesting to reflect on this post made back in early November before the current Ashes series began.

Many of my fears have been confirmed by the series itself & by other cricketing officials.

Clearly a Cricket Australia review needs to take place and it should begin focused on James Sutherland & his cricketing strategy for Australia for the next 5 years.

Currently it looks like he doesn't have one and many in cricket recognise this. I'm disappointed that Rodney Hogg, for all his bowling ability & commentary position does not have the 'administrative nous' to see the woods from the trees.

This review of Australian cricket needs to begin quickly and its findings should be transparent to all.

 

[snaps truly]

Good article by Peter English

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/494845.html

 

[mb64]

Welcome back Phantom.

 

[MB78]

Good article by Peter English

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/494845.html

That was a good read. Between that and Phamtom very well summed up.

 

[Tigers of Old]

It did flatten out after that & it certainly wasnt a 98 all out wicket.

It 'flattened out' because our bowlers aren't good enough Naisy.
What were England at stumps again on day 1? 150 odd for none wasn't it?

The pitch may have had some movement early but the Aussies were totally outclassed on that first day in Melbourne and highlighted the massive gulf between the two sides.

 

[Streak]

Our bowlers did not help themselves on the first day in Melbourne with a poor bowling display, but which of our bowlers could have used the conditions like the English did if we bowled first? The answer is none.

Those conditions were ideal for swing bowlers. We do not have a genuine swing bowler, and we do not appear to have any coming through to the required level of ability.

IMO, Terry Alderman was the last truely good swing bowler we have had.

 

[IanG]

It 'flattened out' because our bowlers aren't good enough Naisy.

Yep as was proven in our second innings when their bowlers continued to get movement where we couldn't.