Walddk Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Fletcher should be shot. Not until someone has told him that he is burned out and useless. I guess Jonathan Agnew already did when he wrote: "England will be stronger with a twin-spin attack." And Geoff Boycott did a month or so ago when he suggested that Fletcher steps down. With this said, don't forget to blame Flintoff too. If he had insisted on having Monty on the team, even Fletcher would not have had his way. Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 After Andrew Strauss threw his wicket away for the 3rd consecutive time: "If I were Strauss now, I'd be stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room saying 'you stupid idiot'." Geoff Boycott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Breaking news from Australia. Duncan Fletcher has already named the team for the 3rd Test in Perth on December 14-18. No surprises really: 1. Ashley Giles (Captain)2. Geraint Jones (1st officer)3. Ashley Giles4. Geraint Jones5. Herman Fletcher (Duncan's cousin from Twit)6. Ashley Giles7. Geraint Jones8. Heather Fletcher (Duncan's niece from Berwick-above-Twerp)9. Ashley Giles10. Oliver Fletcher (Duncan's uncle from Nuts)11. Freddie Flintoff (wicket keeper) BOSS: DUNCAN FLETCHER3rd assistant water carrier: Monty Panesar. I have given it some serious thought (6.3 seconds) and agree with the dictator: England could not possibly field a better team than this! Roland P.S. You could perhaps argue that Duncan's aunt Rosemary from Pathetic Town should have been included at the expense of Flintoff, but other than that I think Duncan is spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeGee Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 (edited) I think you've missed out that Captain Mainwaring and Private Jones are contenders. Geoff Edit... Oops, that should of course be CORPORAL Jones. Credit where it is due. Edited December 1, 2006 by GeeGee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 266-3 COME ON!!! Now for a KP special this morning (of the good kind!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 If I were Fletcher, I would declare. Why waste half an hour when you are all out for less than 300 anyway? That will also give Giles and Anderson the opportunity to bowl the Aussies out before lunch and enforce the follow-on most likely ;) Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 551-6. Now it gets a little more interesting. Lets see how the Aussie batsmen do in the face of such a big total. Their decision to go in with only 4 bowlers is now looking a bit suspect in the light of the physical state of Warne and McGrath... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Excellent batting by Collingwood and Pietersen and tired looking McGrath and Warne. England are in a healthy position, but I very much doubt that they have the bowlers to dismiss Australia twice on such a slow wicket. Ponting is the key man, so if they can get him early on day 3, there is a glimmer of hope. However, to save my life I would put all my money on a draw. Roland P.S. Curious that KP got out on 158 for the third time in Test cricket! On the other hand, if this is the weakest part of your game, you should consider yourself lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 KP is going to do a few very special things before his time in cricket is over. As a Englishman, I can't wait. There is another parallel with the last ashes. Although we got totally spanked in the 1st test both times, in each case it has been Pietersen's counterattack against the much vaunted Aussie bowling that has injected belief into England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Looks like a draw - only Australia could realsistically win the match from here. And once again, Glenn McGrath's 5-0 statements look like a load of complete twaddle. Just one what if - what if the King of Spain had held on to Punter (as he should have done)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickyB Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 I know next to nothing about cricket, but I'm going to give my opinion anyway. Isn't that what internet forums are for? Why weren't we more aggressive on day two? Looking at the run rate in 20/20 games, I'd have thought that we should have been able to slog a few more runs in that time, even if it meant being all out in the process. Panesar not playing has probably cost us the match, having two bowlers who can take wickets would have been pretty useful. Then again, if we'd lost the toss or KP/Collingwood hadn't done so well we may well have been in a weaker position for having him in the team. I'd sure it would have been Monty in for Giles if they'd known that Giles was going to field like Monty. What did people make of the run-out decision on day three? Ponting and Hussey were at the crease, I forget which one almost got the finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikl Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Both teams were wimps in the selection room for this test and this is why this will be a draw. There is a very slim chance that Australia can win the test but England cannot realistically win it. The selection mistakes: Australia MacGill should have played for Australia, he may go for a few runs, but he gets wickets. Usually more than Warne when they are in the same team. However, to bring MacGill in means Michael Clarke would have been dropped, and perhaps Stuart Clark, so perhaps a good thing in the long run. England There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Giles can't bowl, especially against Australia; he is simply not a test bowler. Pietersen spun the ball more than Giles did and actually attacked the batsmen, all Giles did was try to contain. Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct St unfiltered 53 1394 59 20.80 0 4 141 5/57 40.12 5 32 0filtered 8 226 59 16.14 0 1 18 4/101 55.00 0 7 0 Who has someone with a bowling average of 40 on their team? (filtered is against Australia) To claim he is an allrounder is just a waste of time. What I find absolutely unbelievable is that a test spinner with 141 wickets has never had a stumping!!! This should tell a story also. Then there is Geraint Jones, he is not a test keeper; and his batting is not good enough to mitigate this. When Alec Stewart was keeping, his batting was good enough to make up for his deficiencies as a keeper. This put England in something of a fix. Do they weaken their batting by dropping Giles and Jones to give them a chance to take 20 wickets? Unfortunately England took safety first as the option. --- Now, don't get me wrong, England have played damn well during this test. There are question marks though. Why did Freddie only bowl 4 overs today, his last ball being bowled at 11:29am? Can they keep Anderson? Are they forced to keep Harmison and hope he comes good? Can they justify to anyone keeping Giles? And if they do drop Giles, is Jones up to keeping to someone that can spin the ball? Australia has other question marks. Lee is clearly underperforming, as he has always done against England. Stuart Clark is a real find, is he now the first picked seamer? Perth takes considerable spin now, it is not a fast bowler's paradise. Perth is a more likely venue for 2 spinners than Adelaide now. Shane Watson is now fit apparently. What does this all add up to? I think Damien Martyn's career is over, Michael Clarke has taken his chance and done everything that could have been asked, his "useful" left-arm orthodox makes him a better prospect also, and then there is the age difference. I am guessing Martyn will be dropped for Watson and then a seamer will miss out. Who do you choose? Stuart ClarkGlenn McGrathBrett Lee A tough choice, but realistically it should be one of Lee or McGrath. --- It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow on the last day, and even more interesting to see what happens in the selection rooms. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Ponting and Hussey were at the crease, I forget which one almost got the finger. My quote of the Ashes so far along with Michael Holding's (pitch report at the start of the fifth day in Brisbane) 'Mike Atherton has got four fingers into a crack this morning and may be able to get his whole fist in later'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al_U_Card Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 And here I thought :o that Cricket was just something to do between sips B) of my cuppa.....(I have just ducked tyvm) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 What is there to say other than well done Australia and ?&¤¤!+/&** England. I recommend that the English players don't read Wednesday's tabloids. England set a new (negative) world record. No team in history has lost after declaring on a higher total than England's 551-6 batting first in a Test. Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 I should leave the country.I can't believe Jeffrey positively wanted to get up early and watch TV this morning. Sleeping through it all was much more relaxing as well as less depressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Breaking news from Australia. Duncan Fletcher has already named the team for the 3rd Test in Perth on December 14-18. No surprises really: 1. Ashley Giles (Captain)2. Geraint Jones (1st officer)3. Ashley Giles4. Geraint Jones5. Herman Fletcher (Duncan's cousin from Twit)6. Ashley Giles7. Geraint Jones8. Heather Fletcher (Duncan's niece from Berwick-above-Twerp)9. Ashley Giles10. Oliver Fletcher (Duncan's uncle from Nuts)11. Freddie Flintoff (wicket keeper) BOSS: DUNCAN FLETCHER3rd assistant water carrier: Monty Panesar. Excellent decision, Duncan! You got it your way, and you got the result you deserve. Get out, and let someone who knows something about cricket take over! The worst part, really, is that after the debacle you even defend your selection of Gilo. "We want to bat to 8". How pathetic. If you don't resign, I hope the ECB has a few sensible people who want to get rid of you sooner rather than later. I have a feeling that they will get the support of thousands of English cricket fans and the tabloids. It won't be pretty reading tomorrow (Wednesday). Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Looks like a draw - only Australia could realsistically win the match from here. Do I know Cricket... I'm not happy. The problem is that with Flintoff's ankle being dodgy, he can't carry a full workload, so we can't play him at 7, a keeper at 8 and have 3 specialist bowlers. Although I think its the only shot we have, but it means that Monty has to play because he can bowl all day. Colly is a bit of a pop-gun especially on these pitches and with the sorry excuse that is the Kookaburra ball. The problem with 4 bowlers is that we don't even look like taking wickets with 5... Maybe Saj and Monty in for Gilo and Anderson. And even Plunkett for Harmy if he cannot get a wicket. Saj and Plunkett are supposed to be able to hold a bat a bit... Yes, I'm gutted, but I have to cling to some hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikl Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 On another note... WTF!!!! Akhtar and Asif decision overturned by PCB!!!! Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Yeah, thats a bit dodgy. Didn't know about being careful with supplements. That is either unbelievably naive or just wrong. How many high profile drugs cases have we seen through Nandrolone supposedly being in nutritional supplments? Lots and lots. For any professional sportsman to claim that is very poor and I can't believe the appeals board bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keylime Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 The PCB has a lot of explaining to do. BTW, who was envious like I was at Adelaide's weather? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikl Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Wow! That was a shock, Damien Martyn has retired from all forms of cricket effective immediately. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I was at Lords when Nasser did the same after hitting a winning ton against NZ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Monty, Monty, Monty.... ...though our batting, as usual, seems to be leaving something to be desired Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Monty, Monty, Monty.... ...though our batting, as usual, seems to be leaving something to be desiredBell was unfortunate to get a good ball straightaway. The hawkeye view of Cook's last three dismissals, showing that he has been out each time to exactly the same ball, is both damning and (hopefully) helpful. p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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