SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Pfft, it's not like Australia have Robert Key (270 not out the other day).
The Ashes 2009
- Thread starter lucknowrocks
- Start date
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
It all depends on the weather really, even the slightest sign of cloud turns the tables considerably with the ball swinging and nipping around.
Ponting will be the massive wicket, if he doesn't stick around then it will be very tough for them.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
They'll be back and probably even stronger than they were at Cardiff. It's what they do, unfortunately!
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
A Michelle for Freddie in his final Test innings at Lord's, bravo!
shadows
Legend
Freddie bowled superbly, what will we do without him D:
Good performance on the whole, Bopara needs a performance next test (assuming he plays) and I'm still a bit doubtful about Broads bowling.
Australia will definitely be back in force in the 3rd, I do wonder what they'll do about their bowling attack though.
Good performance on the whole, Bopara needs a performance next test (assuming he plays) and I'm still a bit doubtful about Broads bowling.
Australia will definitely be back in force in the 3rd, I do wonder what they'll do about their bowling attack though.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I thought Broad bowled well, and he has done for the past 18 months. His Johnson-esque batting is also a huge advantage with the risky 5 frontline batsmen option we are going with. He gets good bounce and bowls up to 90mph, i'm a big fan.
I think Bopara is getting a bit of unfair stick, he rode out a very tough time on Saturday when Australia were coming at us hard. Him staying in and toughing it out set it up for Prior and Collingwood to move things on when conditions were more suited. Alot was made of England leaving the batting up to the tailenders in the first test and Bopara's batting in the 2nd innings meant that wasn't the case here at Lords.
I agree he does he need a score though, but I have every confidence in him getting it at Edgbaston.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
There's talk of Johnson being dropped for Clark or Lee for Edgbaston.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I'd be glad to see the back of his batting! But I wouldn't mind seeing him dish up those deliveries he has in the last 2 tests
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
Broad is overrated his bowling average is apalling and considering a large number of his games have come against the West Indies and New Zealand aswell.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
At least he's more consistent than Harmison and a bit more comitted.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
No talk about Pietersen missing the series, madness.
Ian Bell to the rescue!!!!1
Ian Bell to the rescue!!!!1
Johnson is struggling with the pressure of having to be the main man, if Lee comes back it'll be a double whammy for England because some of the pressure will be off his shoulders.
KP missing the rest of the series is an interesting one. It must give the others confidence seeing him in the team, with his ability and self-belief, but he can be pretty divisive as seen from his short-lived tenure as captain. Ian Bell remains a nearly man nearly 50 tests in. He's only 27 (!) though and the likes of Strauss only got in the team at that age, and look where he is now!
KP missing the rest of the series is an interesting one. It must give the others confidence seeing him in the team, with his ability and self-belief, but he can be pretty divisive as seen from his short-lived tenure as captain. Ian Bell remains a nearly man nearly 50 tests in. He's only 27 (!) though and the likes of Strauss only got in the team at that age, and look where he is now!
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Kent into Twenty20 Cup finals day ^_^
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I saw your pic of you being a steward at the Twenty20 World Cup! When they had you all on at the end, who was making sure the fans weren't beating each other up with 10 foot beer snakes?
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
There were stewards for that, we were mainly there to do various errands for people in the ICC or media. The most strenuous thing I probably did all tournament was going to the shops near the Oval to get a Sky employee some Red Bull and a copy of the Sun because he couldn't leave the broadcasting compound and then convince security that I wasn't taking them into the ground itself.
Best job was looking after the dancers, mainly because it involved sitting out on the boundary doing nothing because they didn't need anything, so I got to watch Umar Gul pwn New Zealand and the West Indies crush our hopes.
Best job was looking after the dancers, mainly because it involved sitting out on the boundary doing nothing because they didn't need anything, so I got to watch Umar Gul pwn New Zealand and the West Indies crush our hopes.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
There were stewards for that, we were mainly there to do various errands for people in the ICC or media. The most strenuous thing I probably did all tournament was going to the shops near the Oval to get a Sky employee some Red Bull and a copy of the Sun because he couldn't leave the broadcasting compound and then convince security that I wasn't taking them into the ground itself.
Best job was looking after the dancers, mainly because it involved sitting out on the boundary doing nothing because they didn't need anything, so I got to watch Umar Gul pwn New Zealand and the West Indies crush our hopes.
Sounds great
Did you get to do it because you're at Uni? A friend of mine did some matches at Trent Bridge in the World Cup and he's doing something at the 3rd Test this week, that's all been through his Uni. He's had to buy himself a suit from Asda for it though so I don't know what he's doing lol, Bumble's bodyguard by the looks of it!
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Nah, anyone could apply to volunteer. Several of us were students at London unis who liked cricket but there were plenty of mentalists (my brother included) who were commuting in just to do it. The ECB volunteer co-ordinators were fantastic, our break room at the Oval was the vacant press box (wasn't big enough for the bigger number of journos) which meant we could watch for free with the best view in the ground. Free tickets to the opening match was a nice gesture, but even better was being paraded around Lord's at the end and having free tickets for the finals. They even arranged for volunteers at Taunton and Trent Bridge to be brought down on coaches to be part of it, magnificent.
Felt strange paying to watch the Twenty20 Cup quarter final after all the free cricket I've enjoyed this summer
Felt strange paying to watch the Twenty20 Cup quarter final after all the free cricket I've enjoyed this summer
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Oh lawd how things have changed in the space of a fortnight.
lucknowrocks
New User
Or just two days.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Just a bit, the team we selected was totally wrong but I don't think it would of changed anything too much.
I'd of played Trott instead of Flintoff, and Sidebottom instead of Onions. The batting would of been much more solid and Sidebottom actually has control and likes to pitch it up.. which is exactly how to bowl at Headingley. Picking Harmsion was an awful decision before the game started, and it looks an even worse one now.
I'd of played Trott instead of Flintoff, and Sidebottom instead of Onions. The batting would of been much more solid and Sidebottom actually has control and likes to pitch it up.. which is exactly how to bowl at Headingley. Picking Harmsion was an awful decision before the game started, and it looks an even worse one now.
lucknowrocks
New User
I don't know about not picking Onions, he seemed to be giving the Aussies most trouble, relatively speaking of course. Harmison is awful, Broad didn't really bowl well enough overall to deserve his 6, Bopara is batting about 3 spots too high, and Strauss got his field placements all wrong. Maybe Adil Rashid should be given a run at the Oval. Fred should be back. Maybe give rob Key a go? Ramps?? Also, who do Aus leave out, no way do they bring an all pace attack.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Key is the greatest and if trash like Owais Shah was given a go in Tests not long ago (not to mention the turd that is Ravi Bopara), I don't see how the selectors keep overlooking his Royal Robness.
lucknowrocks
New User
![url]](http://[url]http://i29.tinypic.com/34ss8ow.jpg[/url])
lucknowrocks
New User
I guess I don't know how to imbed. But needless to say lulz were had.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Broad did bowl well, Siddle got 5 in the first innings and didn't really deserve them. I think Sidebottom certainly should of played, it's his old ground and he has alot of success there. It was a toss up between Onions and Broad who he should of played for at Leeds and Broad's batting/the way he bowled in the second innings at Edgbaston meant i'd of gone in with Anderson, Sidebottom, Broad and Swann.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
I'm going to their tour match at Canterbury and will have to keep Siddle away from the tree since it's not very old.
lucknowrocks
New User
I thought Broad bowled too short and too wide. This worked in his last spell because the batsmen were in hit out or get out mode but it felt like a pretty average performance to me. Anderson was terrible, though I guess he had a niggle. Sidebottom instead of Harmison would have made more sense since Leeds isn't much of a hit the deck kind of a pitch, and Sidebottom does swing it more. I can't wait to see what the selectors do for the next test.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Yeah I think Harmison has had too many chances, he just sprays balls all over the place. I'd stick with Bopara and Broad, they are both so talented and very young. If we stick with them now we will see the rewards down the line.
As for the next match, Flintoff will play no matter what, instead of Harmison.
it was always obvious what harmison was going to do, he's not the same bowler he was 5 years ago, he doesn't have the venom, he looks a little bit heavy to me, and his control is terrible. australia's horse for the course set the tone for the whole match- though stuart clark is more than a horse for the course, he should have played all the way through, he's perfect for english conditions. if sidebottom is fit, he would have been the man for us.
but i take issue with "stick with them now" attitude towards broad and bopara. Broad's bowling average is around 40, Bopara has contributed nothing this series. this is the ASHES. what bigger challenge is there that we're going to see benefits in from these guys in the future?! pick people to win THIS series, this is the series that matters over all else. the aussies have young bowlers, but they proved themselves against south africa, a better team, so deserve their chance. broad hasn't proved anything, then he wrote a stupid newspaper column (why do players do this?) saying he wanted to bat at 7 and was promptly enveloped in the horror show that was england's 1st innings. we should be picking players who can do it NOW, then thinking of the future after- this is our world cup final.
we started picking flintoff at 21 or so, and his test figures are grotesquely distorted because for the first 4-5 years he wasn't actually (whisper it) that good. yes, he became a formidable player, in 2004-5, but did we really reap the benefits? he's spent the next 4 years injured, his body broken down by all that extra work we put him through, and his injuries have disrupted the team and made whoever replaces him feel like a stand-in, not confident because he knows his place isn't his own.
while the aussies have turned to youth this series, they haven't been afraid to replace philip hughes, and usually you see aussies come into the side at a much later stage than englishmen, toughened up by their careers.
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Feña14
G.O.A.T.
That's true I suppose. I'd still stick with them both though.
Bopara has had some shocking decisions go against him but I think he's learning more playing for England than he will in the Counties. Broad is the same, England actually resisted picking him for along time. People were calling for him to be picked a good 18 months before he was given a go which suggests they waited untill they thought he was ready.
As for him batting at 7, here's the article:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/2009/08/07/broad-is-happy-to-move-up-115875-21578116/
When it became clear Flintoff wouldn't be playing earlier in the week, there was always a good chance he was going to bat at 7. Was he supposed to say "You know what? I don't fancy it at all!", he's pleased with the opportunity and he backs himself to be able to handle it which is all you can ask.
Bopara has had some shocking decisions go against him but I think he's learning more playing for England than he will in the Counties. Broad is the same, England actually resisted picking him for along time. People were calling for him to be picked a good 18 months before he was given a go which suggests they waited untill they thought he was ready.
As for him batting at 7, here's the article:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/2009/08/07/broad-is-happy-to-move-up-115875-21578116/
When it became clear Flintoff wouldn't be playing earlier in the week, there was always a good chance he was going to bat at 7. Was he supposed to say "You know what? I don't fancy it at all!", he's pleased with the opportunity and he backs himself to be able to handle it which is all you can ask.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Bopara is utter ****e, bring in Key or Denly. At least neither of them needed to have special pads with two straps made for them by their new sponsor because they think they provide some magical powers because Tendulkar uses them.
ah, i didn't know the circumstances, so thanks for correcting me. i assumed he was another player with a weekly column. i am getting so sick of them, our rugby players do it all the time as well. it's clearly PR bull, and every sports fan sees through it.
"oh, you're playing for PRIDE now the test is lost are you? where was the PRIDE when you went out on day one with a chance of cementing an ashes win?"
joe worsley in rugby is one of the worst offenders, talking about missed chances and learning lessons when the england team's been hammered. it means nothing, sport is a results game, and everyone can see when the performances aren't there. it's not politics, it doesn't go on behind closed doors ferchrissakes!!
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Start the car! The Ashes are back where they belong
What can I say? My post from the 7th July seems to of been spot on!
Both batting line ups haven't been great but England's bowling line up teared through Australia in the first innings at Lords and the Oval and that's been the difference.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
So much for their better bowling attack
Graeme Swann take a bow.
Graeme Swann take a bow.
Tempest344
Professional
We'll get them back when England Tour Australia
to be honest though I thought both sides were pretty average throughout the series:-|
hopefully there is better cricket next time!
to be honest though I thought both sides were pretty average throughout the series:-|
hopefully there is better cricket next time!
lucknowrocks
New User
It'll be interesting how people will look back upon these Ashes. All the statistics point overwhelmingly towards Aus. Also, ten years from now I wonder what will me made of all the calls for Ramprakash and Key.
Peters
Professional
A fairly average series - it says a lot about this current Aus side that a team as mediocre as England can beat them.
Both sides have poor bowling attacks and Australia have developed an England-like ability to throw a match away in a single session.
I expect the next 3 or 4 Ashes series between these two average teams to go with the home side each time.
Ignore the averages - England have the ability to strike while the iron's hot and take advantage in matches. It makes no difference how many of the batsmen on each side managed to massage their averages.
England out-performed Australia in decisive match-winning sessions over the series and therefore deserve the series victory. Sure, our batsmen don't necessarily have the atrittional Aussie-like ability to amass big scores, but that's not how you win test series on English wickets.
It's all about the key moments when playing in English conditions. It's a lesson Australia didn't learn from 2005.
Both sides have poor bowling attacks and Australia have developed an England-like ability to throw a match away in a single session.
I expect the next 3 or 4 Ashes series between these two average teams to go with the home side each time.
Ignore the averages - England have the ability to strike while the iron's hot and take advantage in matches. It makes no difference how many of the batsmen on each side managed to massage their averages.
England out-performed Australia in decisive match-winning sessions over the series and therefore deserve the series victory. Sure, our batsmen don't necessarily have the atrittional Aussie-like ability to amass big scores, but that's not how you win test series on English wickets.
It's all about the key moments when playing in English conditions. It's a lesson Australia didn't learn from 2005.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
If Key had been picked we would have won the Ashes in three days as opposed to four.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I think he might have to come in for Cook in South Africa. Cook has a great record and he's still just a youngster but I think some time off and a few tweaks this winter will be just what he needs. A batting line up of: Strauss, Key, Pietersen, Trott, Bopara/Collingwood, Prior, Broad, Swann as your first 8 in South Africa looks alot stronger than the one that won the Ashes.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
For all we know it could be Joe Denly if he has a good ODI series, although his form has dipped recently whereas Sir Rob's skyrocketed.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
That's true, I think we need players who are up for a battle though. Trott has proven that temperament is so so important, especially in an England side that you always feel is capable of being skittled out like we were in the West Indies and at Headingley.
I feel Key is very tough and really values his wicket, that's just whats needed at the moment imo.
