The Ashes 2009

[lucknowrocks]

So I think there are a few cricket fans here, not many, but some Brits. Who do you guys have winning? To tie it to tennis, Lleyton Hewitt was asked this and he said the media in England were just talking about '05 and there was another series in the middle which noone there was talking about. And now Brett Lee is out, kind of like McGrath in '05, who y'all got? For me, I just want good cricket like '05 and for Aus to win because of my housemate.

So, Aus 3-1

 

[Feña14]

I think both batting line ups are a bit weak. I do think Englands bowling attack is much stronger though; Flintoff, Broad and Anderson on English pitches with Swann's spin is what will win it for England imo.

I'll say 2-1 to England.

 

[SempreSami]

While they managed to batter South Africa earlier this year without Lee, his absence in the first two Tests will certainly be felt, since I'm not sure if Johnson's managed to get the Dukes ball to swing like he does with the Kookaburra one.

I reckon it's going to be a tight one like '05.

 

[SempreSami]

Also, is anyone else in as much disbelief as I am about Harmison being left out of the squad? Granted I'm not his biggest fan but he really had Hughes looking worried with his bouncers in the Lions match at Worcester.

 

[Feña14]

Also, is anyone else in as much disbelief as I am about Harmison being left out of the squad? Granted I'm not his biggest fan but he really had Hughes looking worried with his bouncers in the Lions match at Worcester.

I am a bit yeah, i'm more surprised by Bell being included though.

 

[SempreSami]

Don't get me started on Bell, he has all the pretty shots but recently in Tests he gets to 20 or 30 and then gets out.

 

[Feña14]

Don't get me started on Bell, he has all the pretty shots but recently in Tests he gets to 20 or 30 and then gets out.

He does yeah. I remember when he used to bat at 6 when Flintoff was injured a few summers ago, he scored something like 3 centuries in a row! He's got it, he just does't make the most of it consistently enough.

 

[lucknowrocks]

Yeah, Phil Hughes hasn't been lighting it up like he did against the saffers, maybe he will once the tests start. Bell is phenomenal batting at 6, though I think Harmison did more to merit an inclusion. Specially the way he bowled in that warm up. Cardiff isn't going to swing that much anyways and what with Australia not having any spinner worth anything, that first test is going to be crucial. I wonder if monty'll be there, seeing as how much trouble lsa give the aussies. I'm personally hoping for a willis reed in the nba finals type entrance from brett lee in the 4th test, that'd be tight.

 

[Feña14]

Yeah, Phil Hughes hasn't been lighting it up like he did against the saffers, maybe he will once the tests start. Bell is phenomenal batting at 6, though I think Harmison did more to merit an inclusion. Specially the way he bowled in that warm up. Cardiff isn't going to swing that much anyways and what with Australia not having any spinner worth anything, that first test is going to be crucial. I wonder if monty'll be there, seeing as how much trouble lsa give the aussies. I'm personally hoping for a willis reed in the nba finals type entrance from brett lee in the 4th test, that'd be tight.

I think Monty has a good chance in Cardiff, he'll probably play instead of Onions. They'll swap for Lords though.

 

[Chelsea_Kiwi]

Lee's over-rated. Johnson and Clark will be enough and their batting is better then Englands so they have nothing to fear. 3-1 Australia.

 

[Feña14]

Lee's over-rated. Johnson and Clark will be enough and their batting is better then Englands so they have nothing to fear. 3-1 Australia.

Their batting is better? England's opening partnership is better, Ponting and Pietersen cancel each other out, if Bopara plays like he has been then he's a match for Clarke, Prior and Haddin are the same type of player, Hussey is probably better than Collingwood though. They're pretty similar as far as I can see.

 

[SempreSami]

Quite, I'm not sold on Hughes just yet, yes he pwned in the County Championship for Middlesex but he looked toss against Wayne Parnell when they played Kent.

 

[SempreSami]

In other news, Pakistan were 70 odd for 2 chasing around 180 to beat Sri Lanka in Galle, only to lose 5 wickets, putting on a meagre 15 runs in that time. Normal service of implosion resumed

 

[lucknowrocks]

I saw the Pak scoreline, kind of ridiculous. They do have that new left arm seamer, the next Wasim apparently. And Shane Bond is back!!! One of my top 10 bowlers of all time.

 

[SempreSami]

I saw the Pak scoreline, kind of ridiculous. They do have that new left arm seamer, the next Wasim apparently. And Shane Bond is back!!! One of my top 10 bowlers of all time.

Aamer looks a great prospect, classic Pakistani discovery that, a 17 year old that bowls 90mph!

Day one at Cardiff looked like going England's way but I think it evened out when Siddle bowled Flintoff and Prior. Can't say he didn't deserve those wickets, he looks like he'd bowl all day.

 

[Feña14]

Aamer looks a great prospect, classic Pakistani discovery that, a 17 year old that bowls 90mph!

Day one at Cardiff looked like going England's way but I think it evened out when Siddle bowled Flintoff and Prior. Can't say he didn't deserve those wickets, he looks like he'd bowl all day.

It's even yeah, I was pleased to see how Flintoff and Prior played which is a good omen.

Broad and Swann can get us up near 400 hopefully and that will be a great score, especially as we'll be bowling last on a pitch that could be near unplayable on day 5.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Their batting is better? England's opening partnership is better, Ponting and Pietersen cancel each other out, if Bopara plays like he has been then he's a match for Clarke, Prior and Haddin are the same type of player, Hussey is probably better than Collingwood though. They're pretty similar as far as I can see.

Australia have the better batting line up all there bowlers are capable batsman Johnson especially and I would say Clarke is far superior to Bopara, Bopara is overrated people think hes the next best thing because he scored aload of runs against a awful West Indies side but has never done anything against a decent side whilst Clarke is a proven world class batsman.

 

[SempreSami]

Yeah but we've got Jimmeh Anderson.

 

[Feña14]

Australia have the better batting line up all there bowlers are capable batsman Johnson especially and I would say Clarke is far superior to Bopara, Bopara is overrated people think hes the next best thing because he scored aload of runs against a awful West Indies side but has never done anything against a decent side whilst Clarke is a proven world class batsman.

So? England's bowlers bat too. Broad averages around the 30 mark (same as Johnson) and Swann bats at 3 for Nottinghamshire in one dayers.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

So? England's bowlers bat too. Broad averages around the 30 mark (same as Johnson) and Swann bats at 3 for Nottinghamshire in one dayers.

True but England are carrying Anderson and Panesar who are both sitting ducks (especially Panesar).

 

[SempreSami]

Anderson is the new Hoggard when it comes to batting.

 

[Feña14]

Anderson is the new Hoggard when it comes to batting.

He's not bad at all. I remember it took around 7 tests before anyone managed to get him out! He averages up around 15 aswell which is more than Hilfenhaus and Siddle.

 

[SempreSami]

He's not bad at all. I remember it took around 7 tests before anyone managed to get him out! He averages up around 15 aswell which is more than Hilfenhaus and Siddle.

That's what I meant, Hoggard was always used as nightwatchman because of his stubborn defence.

 

[Feña14]

That's what I meant, Hoggard was always used as nightwatchman because of his stubborn defence.

Yeah you're right, remember his little innings against South Africa at Headingley last year? I think he'll get something out of the pitch with his bowling aswell, the new ball swung more than I was expecting. Probably has something to do with the water that surrounds the stadium, Trent Bridge where I go get's alot of movement thanks to the river Trent being so close.

It will be interesting to see how Broad and Flintoff get on with them banging it in a bit more, Bopara got hit but the pitch might settle down a bit by the time they get to have a go.

 

[tom_asdelonge182]

no point asking on tw...the poms will always think they will win while we will always think they are rubbish.

 

[Feña14]

no point asking on tw...the poms will always think they will win while we will always think they are rubbish.

That's true! lol.

You've dropped back down to our level now though

 

[shadows]

Fun first day yesterday, I mean nothing too explosive, but the balance swung back and forth a bit and kept it entertaining. Solid batting for "us" though no one made anything huge invidividually. That was the kind of solid middle order performance we'd have loved in so many batting collapses in the past haha

Wouldn't expect too many more runs to be added today, though you never really know. Maybe like 360-370 or so total

 

[Feña14]

Fun first day yesterday, I mean nothing too explosive, but the balance swung back and forth a bit and kept it entertaining. Solid batting for "us" though no one made anything huge invidividually. That was the kind of solid middle order performance we'd have loved in so many batting collapses in the past haha

Wouldn't expect too many more runs to be added today, though you never really know. Maybe like 360-370 or so total

Why does everyone have so little faith in Anderson, Broad and Swann!

 

[shadows]

haha i just got back from a little bit of tennis to find what a great performance they'd put on, Swanny in particular!

 

[westside]

Man, Australia's bowling attack is up **** creek.

Hauritz, Siddle? 216 runs between them.

We need Ponting, Katich, Clarke and Hussey to step up to the plate

 

[SempreSami]

Why does everyone have so little faith in Anderson, Broad and Swann!

Broady didn't fare very well today but Swann certainly made up for it

Shame Katich and Ponting are proving fairly difficult to dismiss at the moment.

 

[Peters]

It's looking more & more like a benign pitch, and tbh England could have done with not throwing so many of their wickets away yesterday.

Would have been better to get 500+ on this kind of wicket. If England aren't careful, Aus will get a lead of over a 100 and the pressure will be on....

 

[westside]

Australia currently sitting at 1-181.

If we keep batting like this, we'll reach England's total with plenty of wickets to spare

 

[Guru]

Worst sport in the world. Even worse than baseball

Saying that England will spank Ausralia because they're superior

 

[Peters]

I agree, baseball is a more appropriate sport for the simple-minded masses.

But for those of us who appreciate intelligent sport, Test Cricket cannot be beaten.

 

[westside]

Worst sport in the world. Even worse than baseball

Saying that England will spank Ausralia because they're superior

just guessing?

 

[SempreSami]

Worst sport in the world. Even worse than baseball

Worst statement evar.

 

[shadows]

We need Ponting, Katich, Clarke and Hussey to step up to the plate

looks like you got your wish there!

 

[SempreSami]

The Duckworth Lewis Method's self titled album is out, fantastic stuff by Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy.

 

[TsongaEatingAPineappleLol]

Lol, cricket. My father is a cricket.

 

[SempreSami]

Lol, cricket. My father is a cricket.

That might explain the quality of some of your posts on here. :roll:

 

[lucknowrocks]

wow ponting really got stuck in. this doesn't bode well for england, clarke, hussey and north walk in with absolutely no pressure and johnson is no mug with the bat, might push him up for some fireworks. not a great start to the ashes for you poms.

 

[Feña14]

wow ponting really got stuck in. this doesn't bode well for england, clarke, hussey and north walk in with absolutely no pressure and johnson is no mug with the bat, might push him up for some fireworks. not a great start to the ashes for you poms.

You never really know untill both first innings are over. Australia could come up short, get level, go past, or have a lead of 200! The pitch has become really flat at the moment so you'd think they will have a huge lead but very often it doesn't work out like that.

I remember in the last series at the Oval when England had scored 370 odd and Australia were 264-1 in reply, only to end up being all out for 363!

 

[westside]

You never really know untill both first innings are over. Australia could come up short, get level, go past, or have a lead of 200! The pitch has become really flat at the moment so you'd think they will have a huge lead but very often it doesn't work out like that.

I remember in the last series at the Oval when England had scored 370 odd and Australia were 264-1 in reply, only to end up being all out for 363!

Let's not talk about the 2005 ashes

 

[Feña14]

Let's not talk about the 2005 ashes

Why not? It was the last Ashes series played afterall!

 

[SempreSami]

Yesterday was pretty damn frustrating, something which was trebled by the annoyance I'm experiencing waiting for my replacement Gunn & Moore Hero DXM bat to be sent to me.

 

[Feña14]

Yesterday was pretty damn frustrating, something which was trebled by the annoyance I'm experiencing waiting for my replacement Gunn & Moore Hero DXM bat to be sent to me.

It was frustrating yeah, we bowled ok but they batted brilliantly and on a dull surface they never looked like getting out.

Nice bat! I used to use a Newbery Samurai but I was a bowler who could bat a little bit, so it didn't get used as much as it could of

 

[SempreSami]

Funny you should say that, the Samurai was one of the other bats I was looking at, along with the Kookaburra Ice. All bats with lower middles - I'm a front foot player.

 

[diggler]

11 wickets in 2 days. What a joke. The pressure is on groundsmen to produce a wicket to guarantee play on the 5th afternoon.

The pitch should have bounce and turn and on average the match should last for 4 days. 4 good days beats 5 boring days.

 

[Feña14]

11 wickets in 2 days. What a joke. The pressure is on groundsmen to produce a wicket to guarantee play on the 5th afternoon.

The pitch should have bounce and turn and on average the match should last for 4 days. 4 good days beats 5 boring days.

Totally agree, the grounds that have been chosen for this series have been slated by pretty much everyone.

Two of the best Test pitches you are likely to see throughout the world are at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge, you can score runs easily enough and the bowlers always feel they are in with a shout at both grounds.

If you remember the Test's at both stadiums last series, they were both fantastic encounters and it's a real shame for everyone that we won't get a game at either of them this year.