Ashes 2006 / 2007

[bacon]

this sums up the test for england It was too timid, too uncertain, and completely lacked character

Yeah your right .. sums up the difference in approach. Australia ALWAYS go for it .. they always think they can win a test .. England came over all saying a drawn series would be good enough to retain the ashes ... The Aussies were aiming for 5-0 hammering .... That difference in attitude and approach shows in the performances and results so far ...

[Zambian_Red]

Awesome performance by Aussies on the final day......didnt expect england to collapse as the game was heading into a draw but its not the first time that england have collapsed and this defeat was a crucial blow to thier confidence and moral i wonder how they will play in the remaining tests.

Aussies need one more win and they re claim the Ashes. I wonder what Mr Flectcer had to say about Warnes bowling on the fifth day. As the saying goes it aint over till the fat lady sings and thats what exactly happened.

Common Aussies letd wrap up the test series and put the pommy's out of thier misery. Cant wait for the third test and another Ponting century just two more to equal one of the greats.

[Red Chilli]

I can take it from Aussies but not from a Zambian

Let's see your boys with their pads on first

[Beachy]

Common Aussies letd wrap up the test series and put the pommy's out of thier misery. Cant wait for the third test and another Ponting century just two more to equal one of the greats.

Let's not forget Warne only needs 6 more wickets for 700

[JCase]

I can take it from Aussies but not from a Zambian

Let's see your boys with their pads on first

Unbelievable how England managed to choke

[SouthAfricaRed]

His dropped catch changed the match. If he takes Ponting there, England win. I don't think there's much doubt about that.

Funny that he's being picked for his batting when I'd have thought his primary ability (which is meant to be bowling) would be more important

If Panesar was picked, England go much much closer to winning IMO

I Agree.

Even his batting 27* in First Innings (When it didn't matter) and 0 in Second Innings (When it did matter) is not worth keeping him

Bowling:

1st Innings: 42 overs 103/1
2nd Innings: 10 Overs 46/1

Any bowler that averages 40+ in Test Cricket is just not good enough IMO. England need a Spinner that can put pressure on the Aussies. That's not Giles

[SouthAfricaRed]

What do you reckon for team changes before the next test?

Out

Jones
Giles
Anderson/ Harmison

In

Read
Panesar
Mahmood

I can't see 3 in, 3 out myself but there has to be changes, both in personnel and tactically.

I think your changes are spot on.

Jones - He's been found out. Serious Flaw in his technique
Giles - England need more than a Spinner containing from one side
Anderson/Harmison - Both were miserable so far. Tough choice who to leave out though. I'd go for Anderson. but Harmison is having a shocker too.

I also dont think that Flintoff is ready to Captain yet. He reminds me of Gerrard. Brilliant player, but doesn't do enough as captain. His field placings never seem like his working towards a plan, but then again it's impossible to set a field for Players like Harmison/Anderson when they are bowling ****e.

[saveferris]

Fletcher played it safe. Didnt work

drop Giles

Play Monty

Exactly, if any day should have proven that Monty should have been playing it was this one.

Giles couldnt spin a yarn. King of Spain seems more accurate now.

[Los Rojos]

Fair play to Australia, that was a knockout punch in the 13th round after England had been level or slightly ahead on points.
They totally outclassed us, I'm embarrassed to be an England cricket fan today.
Feel free to rip the piss out of me for the next 2 and a half years

As for trying to disect what went wrong here, well it's obvious the blame lies with the batsmen. Collingwood is excepted not just for his first innings performance but also for the fact that he batted sensibly in the second innings without any assistance from his "team".
Cook, he's just too easy to get out, I swear he'll waft that bat outside his off stump all series.
Strauss, it's just not happening for him yet but he was unlucky and has the quality to make an impact in the remaining Tests.
Bell, inexperienced but has quality.
Pieterson: his first innings saves him from a bloody good beating after the second innings.
Flintoff- ****ing terrible with bat and captaincy
G Jones: needs replacing with Reed, simply because Reed is a winner and Jones is a faggot (mentally speaking)

With respect to the bowlers well it's a complete shambles, but they aren't at fault for this defeat. They were equally at fault for the first test though.
Giles doesn't justify his place, full stop, everyone except Fletcher knows this.
Harmisson has experience and ability when he's match fit. He needs to keep bowling ESPECIALLY at the WACA. Hoggard is consistent, we need him everytime. Anderson is still struggling and has been extremely unlucky.

So for the next Test, I'd bring back Reed and Vaughan for GJones and Cook respectively. Obviously Monty for Giles. I think I'd leave out Anderson for Plunkett or Mahmood. Both are quicker than Anderson. Mahmood has more pace and bounce so I think he'd be my first choice.

The worst thing about this morning was hearing Fletcher talking about the Monty non-selection. He keeps saying "we need to bat to 8" which makes me terrified he will pick Giles again Maybe at the expense of Anderson and not Monty but at the WACA this is another big mistake.
Fletcher has taken us as far as he can, fair play to him for winning the Ahes but time is now up for him

Top post mate

[saveferris]

Think there is a lot of pressure now on Read and Panesar in particular and Plunkett and Mahmood to play and perform well, which is pretty unfair on the guys, as if they have an off game they are tainted with the same brush as their more experienced colleagues.

They will either come through with flying colours or be heavily criticised.

[Fiddy]

Mahmood can bat a bit anyway, so it wouldn't weaken the order all that much if he came in for Anderson and Monty for Gilo

[animal magic]

next test starts on thursday can eng win it

[Red Chilli]

next test starts on thursday can eng win it

No!

And it looks like Plunkett is out

[animal magic]

the bowlers played well last night so there might be some hope apart from giles who dropped another chance

[LFCman]

Read this on another forum, sorry but I had to.

Q. What do Geraint Jones and Michael Jackson have in common?
A. They both wear gloves for no apparent reason
>
Q. What is the height of optimism?
A. An English batsman applying sunscreen.
>
Q. What does Ashley Giles put in his hands to make sure the next ball almost always takes a wicket?
A. A bat.
>
Q. What would Glen McGrath be if he was an Englishman?
A. An allrounder.
>
Q. What advantage do Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Strauss and Geraint Jones have over the rest of their team-mates?
A. At least they can say they're not really English.
>
Q. What is the English version of a hat-trick?
A. Three runs in three balls.
>
Q. What do you call an Englishman with 100 runs against his name?
A. A bowler.
>
What is the most proficient form of footwork displayed by English batsmen?
A. The walk back to the pavilion.
>
Q. Who has the easiest job in the English squad?
. The guy who removes the red ball marks from the bats.
>
Why is Andrew Flintoff the unluckiest English player?
A. Because he was born in England.
>
Q. What does "Ashes" stand for?
A. Another Sad Horrific English Series.
>
Q. What's the English version of LBW?
A. Lost, Beaten, Walloped.
>
Q. Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone in the English team?
A. The person who ironed the cricket whites.