The Ashes

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

As long as Australia doesn't do anything stupid we still have a chance of drawing this one

Which thankfully they didn't. Pup batted well for a century. His shot selection has really improved and he has certainly matured as a world class international cricketer.

If Watson comes back into the side as expected for the game at the WACCA then I can't see how the selectors can drop Clarke. For my mind Marto is in danger of being dropped. If that is the case then I would say that Martyn's career as a test player is over.

Another positive note for us last night was Gilly who seems to have countered the around the wicket bowling of Flintoff and Co with a nice half century before giving his wicket away to the dull and boring Giles.

I'm glad we now have a real fight on our hands but I am a little dissappointed at the pitch that has been prepared by Les Burdett at Adelaide. Low and slow. I'm afraid that this seems to be the emerging trend in Australia. When Perth is overtaken by Brisbane as the fastest wicket in Australia you know there are problems.

[badhat17]

Didn't Gilchrist offer three chances before finaly throwing it away ?
I wouldn't be so hasty in saying that he has found the cure just yet.
I wonder what Monty thought when he saw Warne turn his first ball a yard after watching Giles fail to turn one all day long. I hope Fletcher sees sense but he's a stubborn bugger so I wont be holding my breath.
What about McGrath? He looks all but finished to me and Ponting seems to be thinking along similiar lines.
Did Giles drop the ashes ? That cost 100 runs and cost England the chance of a win at Adelaide.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by badhat17

Didn't Gilchrist offer three chances before finaly throwing it away ?

There was one that landed just inches short of Bell at gully while on the drive so that wasn't a chance. He had one airy fairy play and miss at one outside offstump in the area which he hot out so often in the last Ashes. There was also a close LBW call that was a 50/50.

I wouldn't be so hasty in saying that he has found the cure just yet.

Time will tell at the WACCA in under two weeks.

I wonder what Monty thought when he saw Warne turn his first ball a yard after watching Giles fail to turn one all day long. I hope Fletcher sees sense but he's a stubborn bugger so I wont be holding my breath.

I share your sentiments on the Monty debacle.

What about McGrath? He looks all but finished to me and Ponting seems to be thinking along similiar lines.

I won't totally write him off just yet, but yeah, he looks to be struggling.

Did Giles drop the ashes ? That cost 100 runs and cost England the chance of a win at Adelaide.

Hmmm, that sounds stranegly familiar to a line uttered by Steve Tugger Waugh to Hershelle Gibbs of South Africa a few years back.

[STEED]

Looks like a draw is on the cards.

[mr chris]

Yep a draw is ok roll on the WACCA Now with some wind in are sails we might be able to leave the series in Perth.

[TarJak]

There's hope for a result yet! The poms are 5/89 at lunch!

[badhat17]

Nooooooooooooooooo. This can't be happening, it just can't.

[TarJak]

Oh yess it can!

Go Aussies!

[diver]

Haha

England are 9 for.

We should have about a session to get 170-ish

Can it be done?


edit - 36 overs to get 168 runs.

thats victory at 4.67 runs per over.

[TarJak]

All out for 129!!! The Aussies now have to score at a little over 4.5 runs an over for victory!

[SteveW1]

Hussey you legend, got us over the line with plenty to spare what a fantastic 5th day.


Go aussies

[badhat17]

What a great days cricket by the Australians, and what a poor performance from England. So much for batting down to eight by selecting Giles ahead of Monty, watching Giles bowl in the final session was as painfull as I had feared.

[STEED]

Well, well yet again another batting collapse by England.

Went out on day five being cocky and payed the price for it.

[THE_MASK]

OH YEAH .

[Konovalov]

I'm shattered having stayed up all night watching the final day. I had a hunch that if we could get a few wickets and keep things tight that we might be a chance to snatch this game though I didn't expect Engalnd to aid our cause to such a great extent by a timid rabit in the headlights style batting performance.

@ the england cricket team :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

We have one hand back on the urn. Hopefully there will be many more days of misery ahead for England. Quite frankly with the way they played, they deserved the humiliation.

And please could someone talk some sense into Duncan Fletcher and put out to pasture Ashley Giles. Better still how about the ECB get rid of Fletcher and find a new coach who picks his first 11 on ability and not some chummy loyalty rubbish.

Happy days again.