Cricket

[Alex]

The test is basically gone now. Especially with Rodgers and Warner batting at the end.

Think its set it up nicely for a good series. Plenty of needle.

[Vermilion]

6 wickets for 9 runs!!? That is imo an anomaly, no side bowls that well or bats that badly surely.

[Shaggy]

Every single time in a first away Test, every single time.

[Vermilion]

Could still end up working in Englands favour though if rain stopped the Aussies getting a desperately needed win in the first test.

That will hurt, and they will know England aren't likely to collapse in such a manner again, and also knowing they themselves have atleast one big collpse in them at some point in the series.

edit: Just read the above back after posting. Does it sound like wishful thinking ?

[Shaggy]

191 all out in India, 167 all out in NZ. Now 136. A hundred and thirty ****ing six. Getting worse. Cook, Trott & Prior have all done **** all since NZ.

[Chazza]

****ing hell.

What a mess we have made from a decent position to battling to save the Test in a matter of hours giving the Aussies a massive confidence boost in the process.

Any sign of the rain? We are going to need it.

[Alex]

Cook and Trott need to take a serious look at their form. Especially Trott. He hasnt offered anything for a while now. I can excuse Prior, he is a brilliant Wicket Keeper.

[Shaggy]

Trott made a ton in NZ earlier this year. **** all since. Don't think Cook even made a score out there. We start every series either 1-0 down or batting for our lives 2nd innings to save it. It's an absolute joke.

[Shaggy]

I knew we should fear Johnson though. We can't handle raw pace and hostility.

[Alex]

He was smashing into Broad when I got up this morning. Really hammering him. It was nice to see someone with a bit of battle.

Cook started this captaincy really well, its strange how his form has gone for a ****. He was regularly making Tons.

The biggest worry for me at the moment is the inability to make over 400. We will never be able to strangle teams like before if we cant.

[Sarb]

Mitchell Johnson was looking ominous in the ODIs in India. He was battering some of the batsmen. A few moaned when they sent him home to prepare for the Tests rather than play the final game. Looks like they have been proved right. Hostile, express pace bowling

I am surprised at Cook too. When he was made Captain, he was getting hundreds in every Test. I know the Aussies got hammered in England, but they seemed to expose a weakness in that Series and exploited it again today.

Series is set up nicely now though. Just like Clarke will get a load of short stuff in the series, I think the England middle and lower order are going to get a sever examination by pace and short balls too. Should be excellent viewing

[Shaggy]

On paper our team is superb - batters that rank on the all-time scale and in Anderson, Swann and Broad three top bowlers. Yet for nearly two years the batting has been dreadful and the bowlers look one-paced and not especially threatening. We are carrying Tremlett - bowling 80mph long hops is no good to anyone. Australia have improved - can't bat like, but their bowling is every bit as good as ours. Harris and Johnson would arguably both get in our team. We need Finn to find some form and to start being more aggressive. For too long we have been safety first, cautious.

[Sarb]

On paper our team is superb - batters that rank on the all-time scale and in Anderson, Swann and Broad three top bowlers. Yet for nearly two years the batting has been dreadful and the bowlers look one-paced and not especially threatening. We are carrying Tremlett - bowling 80mph long hops is no good to anyone. Australia have improved - can't bat like, but their bowling is every bit as good as ours. Harris and Johnson would arguably both get in our team. We need Finn to find some form and to start being more aggressive. For too long we have been safety first, cautious.

Darren Gough was saying similar about Tremlett. Can't see him taking many wickets. Thinks Bresnan will come in as soon as he is fit.

Tremlett is one big mofo though.

[Shaggy]

Also you look at the ages of our players and there is going to be a tipping point.

Anderson 31
Swann 35 in March
Prior 32 in Feb
Carberry 33
Pietersen 33
Bell 31
Tremlett 32
Trott 32

Sooner rather than later there will be a series when we hit the downgrade, fast. Early days obviously and we could easily come back and win 3-1, but this series might be it.

[Shaggy]

Darren Gough was saying similar about Tremlett. Can't see him taking many wickets. Thinks Bresnan will come in as soon as he is fit.

Tremlett is one big mofo though.

He's ****ing huge

And yet his bowling is so friendly. Should be much more hostile. Three years ago he was a beast but he's done now.