Such a shame that Carberry and Cook lost their brains.
Root and Pietersen showing how easy batting on this pitch can be.
Root and Pietersen showing how easy batting on this pitch can be.
Ashes II - 2013/14 - In Australia
- Thread starter NinjaFletch
- Start date
Looks like such an easy wicket to bat on. Some of the batters need a long hard look at themselves getting dismissed for 170 odd in the first innings.
Need to break this partnership, quickly. Root has played quite well.
Hahaha, what timing. 
Bell. 
What a bad way to get out.
This can be wrapped up soon.
What a bad way to get out. This can be wrapped up soon.
So 2-0 down with Perth next. Ashes won I'd say.
Can't see anything but another win for Aussies at perth. Question is whether it will finish 5-0 or not, after that.
Well played Broad and Prior, got a tiny bit fractious towards the end but we survived the day.
I have a plan to avoid a white-wash. Find eleven average club cricketers who have been watching the ashes at home on TV, and have IQs of over 6. Tell them to just do what all of out batsmen should have been doing, but for some reason are incapable of, and just leave anything high or wide alone, and we should just about manage a draw in one of the matches.
While there's no doubt this Australia team are currently much better than us, it's a total lack of common sense that has meant we've not escaped with a draw in at least one of the matches. It's not like there's actually been much to worry about in the pitches, we've been our own worst enemy.
While there's no doubt this Australia team are currently much better than us, it's a total lack of common sense that has meant we've not escaped with a draw in at least one of the matches. It's not like there's actually been much to worry about in the pitches, we've been our own worst enemy.
I was very, very impressed with Joe Root yesterday (I was with KP as well actually).
He batted maturely, sensibly and well. He put away the bad balls and he had nothing to do with the good ones.
Too little too late, of course, and he was let badly down by Cook and Bell (and Carberry, but can you really blame someone with 3 tests behind him for not having any experience) but that was a knock of real maturity and ability.
Keep that up and he's going to be a cracking player.
The absolute minimum for England has to be to not lose the next test. In the wider context not getting blown away at Perth says a lot about them and for the series it could be the start of something.
He batted maturely, sensibly and well. He put away the bad balls and he had nothing to do with the good ones.
Too little too late, of course, and he was let badly down by Cook and Bell (and Carberry, but can you really blame someone with 3 tests behind him for not having any experience) but that was a knock of real maturity and ability.
Keep that up and he's going to be a cracking player.
The absolute minimum for England has to be to not lose the next test. In the wider context not getting blown away at Perth says a lot about them and for the series it could be the start of something.
This is all true, but it's the same every innings. One or two players just do what is obviously required - ie not handing over their wicket on a plate - but it's meaningless as the other 5 or 6 batsmen only last three balls each before trying to sweep a 90mph bouncer for six. Last night, it was just that Root and KP decided to swap roles with Bell and Carberry for a change.
This with United's form is making things very depressing at the moment.
He did do well, probably secured the number 3 spot for the rest of the series.
For the next game i'd drop Swann, play 4 pace bowlers, Root can spin a bit. If he gets slogged, that's no different to what happens to Swann anyway.
Cook, Carberry, Root, Pieterson, Bell, Ballance, Prior, Broad, Bresnan, Finn, Anderson.
I'm really not Finn's biggest fan and he does habit of getting slogged all over the place, his form this year also isn't great, but he can take wickets so he's worth the gamble. We need to get 20 wickets from somewhere, I don't think Rankin or Tremlett will help in that regard.
For the next game i'd drop Swann, play 4 pace bowlers, Root can spin a bit. If he gets slogged, that's no different to what happens to Swann anyway.
Cook, Carberry, Root, Pieterson, Bell, Ballance, Prior, Broad, Bresnan, Finn, Anderson.
I'm really not Finn's biggest fan and he does habit of getting slogged all over the place, his form this year also isn't great, but he can take wickets so he's worth the gamble. We need to get 20 wickets from somewhere, I don't think Rankin or Tremlett will help in that regard.
I reckon Prior and Broad will put in a good show actually, for some reason I have a good feeling about tomorrow.
This is exactly why I say Trott is my favourite batsman. Trott in good shape both mentally and physically builds up a wall and lets the runs come themselves, there's very little hollywood shots because there doesn't have to be. Grind the runs out and assert your dominance, don't let the bowlers dictate the play.
I fully expect one of Prior or Broad to go within the first 5 overs of the day, and i'd be absolutely stunned if, rain aside, we're still batting after lunch. Considering Swann's scores the first 3 games, and Anderson/Panesar are entirely useless, once they break this partnership the game will end very soon.
Hopefully at the very least Prior can get a 50 and restore some confidence. Prior to the New Zealand series you were basically guaranteed a good stand from Prior when he came in, usually putting on 40-60 runs himself. Desperately miss that at the moment.
Hopefully at the very least Prior can get a 50 and restore some confidence. Prior to the New Zealand series you were basically guaranteed a good stand from Prior when he came in, usually putting on 40-60 runs himself. Desperately miss that at the moment.
Too right. This is as bad as I can remember sport being for a long time!
I actually have a good feeling about Broad & Prior. I reckon they'll play smart and pick their shots, like they should.
I'm gonna watch, tho' I know I shouldn't.
Don't do it to yourself. Johnson will take a wicket in his first over, and the tail will collapse.
It's raining!!!! I can watch the rain.
God it would be so sweet to see the rain come down today, the aussies would be stewing.
As much as I would love to see us bat the day out I can't see it.
As much as I would love to see us bat the day out I can't see it.
Only 10 mins delayed
How idiotic was that from Broad.
Totally fecking moronic - modern players are too stupid to play test cricket properly.
I'm so baffled.
It's pathetic how stupid England have been in this series so far, Australia have played really well but they've been given plenty of gifts by the English batsmen.
I mean, all series they've pretty much kept two men out for the hook, you have 1 whole day to bat, surely message number 1 from the dressing room is "avoid the hook at all costs".
Moronic batting.
If it's true that Cook has the idea of playing Prior into form at the sake of attempting to bat out the day while rain is around, i'd be so confused.
Prior's form with the bat is hardly the most worrying. Cook, Bell etc have much more to answer for than he does. In essence, it's not worth risking batting out the day to get Prior some runs.
Broad needs a kick up the arse for that shot.
Prior's form with the bat is hardly the most worrying. Cook, Bell etc have much more to answer for than he does. In essence, it's not worth risking batting out the day to get Prior some runs.
Broad needs a kick up the arse for that shot.
Cook lasted about an over yesterday, Broad didn't even last that before doing it. It's a lack of discipline that England have had for a while now.
What does that even mean though? For Prior to gain some form, surely he has to bat as long as possible anyway.
By telling him to play shots, rather than be more conservative. I'm paraphrasing Bumble and Warne's convo.
The barmy army are fb.
They're playing this like it's a one-day game and they need 70 to win not a test in which they need to stick around.
Did you really expect them to keep 4 wickets for 90 overs?
No. But not get out by being moronic.
Priors gone a bit loco. He'll get everyones hopes up then we'll lose all our wickets in 3 balls.
He's playing with no pressure. I'd expect him to return to type when he's playing another meaningful innings.