ljkeane Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Yes, Wednesday 8th it is. What's this sudden fascination with starting Tests on a Wednesday? The Lords Test starts on a Thursday, at least...Yeah I don't understand why they are introducing these Wednesday starts, I don't see any benefits and you just run risk of not having significant play on the Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Slighly strange decision by the selectors tp ignore Harmison in favour of Onions. I just don't see anything in Onions. Of course, it's not like he's going to play anyway. Fingers crossed.I'd probably have considered Sidebottom ahead of Onions as well, since he did look like he was returning to form in the World 20/20, and I'd say he might trouble the Australian batsmen if the ball was swinging. Onions did bowl well against the West Indies, but I don't see him really troubling the Autstralian top order. I wonder if Harmison is going to be recalled later in the series, it sounds like the Cardiff pitch is likely to be slow which wouldn't suit Harmison's bowling.Yeah I don't understand why they are introducing these Wednesday starts, I don't see any benefits and you just run risk of not having significant play on the Sunday.There's also a risk of not even having play on the Saturday. I don't really understand it either, the only thing I wonder is if it is to give an extra day's rest for the players before the next test (which starts on the Thursday after the first test ends). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delete this account pls Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Yes, Wednesday 8th it is. What's this sudden fascination with starting Tests on a Wednesday? The Lords Test starts on a Thursday, at least...Keeps the rabble out of the hallowed grounds for an extra day, old chap.Honestly though, I got no idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 So much for the team that I had in mind for the Aussies. Lee is now in serious doubt for Cardiff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multaniette Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Brilliant contest being played out in Galle between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan needs to chase down 168 in order to win the game - all eyes are on Mendis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IheartTesla Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Didnt Lee just get back from injury? While quite not reaching the level of McGrath-steps-on-ball, it is a big blow for the Aussies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltaran Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Bye bye BrettLooks like he'll miss the second Test too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Bye bye BrettLooks like he'll miss the second Test too.I wonder who will replace him? I'm guessing Watson is still injured (that's usually a safe assumption) so it would be either Hauritz, Hilfenhaus or Andrew McDonald. Somehow I don't think the England batsmen are going to mind too much if they're facing one of those three rather than Brett Lee ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'm desperately fighting against totally unwarranted optimism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 I'm desperately fighting against totally unwarranted optimism.Don't give in to the seductive optimism... remember 2006/7. And 2002/3. And 2001, 1997, 1989. Basically any year that isn't 2005 (although I suppose you could remember the Pakistan tour that year as well). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 A few weeks ago I would've said it was a blow but sustainable seeing as Lee's been out of the team for the past year anyway. As it is, he looked like he was in good form with the reverse swing happening so this is a big blow, not to mention the added little extras like his batting at No. 9 that would have been quite handy. I tell you, the selectors will rue that they picked Watson, as it seems that Watson has made his injury curse contagious and infected the squad.I'm pretty sure it'll be Hauritz who benefits. Hilfy didn't get a run in the last game, while Hauritz's figures were at least tidy in the last innings, and it's supposedly a dusty, turning track. Still, an attack of Johnson, Clark, Siddle and Hauritz is hardly as intimidating as the last Ashes attack of McGrath, Lee, Clark and Warne. I expect a lot of the load will rest on the one constant in those two attacks - Stuart Clark. Everyone talks about Mitchell Johnson as the strike bowler and impact player, but I expect Stuart Clark to be the best bowler on this Ashes tour. Even before Lee went down with injury, I would have said Clark was the most indispensable bowler in the Australian lineup. In the tour matches he's showed he's stilll quite capable, and he had the most consistently economical figures. He's an accurate seam bowler who can extract some bounce. Aside from McGrath's success in English conditions, the fact that this style crops up so often in the English domestic game is a hint that it's probably the most effective style for the English pitches.Hereward...optimism is not unwarranted. ;) If you take away a healthy Lee from Australia and add a healthy Flintoff to England, I think you may find the odds have tilted slightly in your favour. If England stays fit (Pietersen and Flintoff in particular) I think you'll find that you have the superior team on paper when home ground advantage is taken into account, and with Lee's withdrawal, the better bowling attack. Australia in particular has a lot of unknowns/unpredictables in the lineup - Hughes, Hauritz, Siddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Do not tempt me with your foul optimism. I remember 1989. The Australian squad was described as the worst ever to tour England, I had tickets and I dragged along a mate from the Australian Embassy in Germany. God, I've never been so depressed in my life. The worst day, and there were a Hell of a lot to choose from, was the first day at Trent Bridge. I remember distinctly that they were at one point 329-0. PS Even with Lee we had a better bowling attack, IMO. It's the batsmen who worry me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 I remember distinctly that they were at one point 329-0. :stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Spectacular collapse from Pakistan there, after it looked like they had it wrapped up at the start of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 I remember distinctly that they were at one point 329-0.Was that Marsh and Boon? Or was Taylor involved somewhow?Looking foward to tonight. I will get home from work about an hour into the first session. It will be Radio for the first bit (in the car) and then it will be live and largely ad-free on Pay TV.I don't care what the Aussie selectors end up doing as long as the Clown doesn't get a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I think the one Hereward is referring to was Taylor and Marsh...although I could be wrong.And you're probably right...even with Lee you might've had the better attack. Although I'd argue that if Lee and Clark had proved themselves to be fully fit and in form, our three pacemen would match up to your three. The only problem is that we play a nonexistent spinner.And I'm not sure I'd call our batting any better. Hughes is unknown; Hussey (and to a lesser extent Ponting) haven't been setting the world on fire lately. The England lineup might be a little thinner (with Flintoff at 6) but your openers are just as good if not better than ours, Bopara is in good touch, Pietersen is amongst the top batsmen in the world, Prior is a strong bat from the wicketkeeping position and Broad offers some tailend depth.I feel Australia has a lot more uncertainty than England. We haven't played Test cricket for a while, we have potentially three guys (Hughes, Hauritz, Siddle) who have only come into the Test side in the last few months.If only the First Test were at Lords then I would be a little more confident. ;)So soon! Can't wait for it to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Yes, it was Taylor and Marsh. They eventually declared at 600 and something for 6.We're nearly off. God I wish this was on terrestrial TV so I could watch it at work. I've taken a day's leave to watch the first day, but I will miss much of the rest. :( I think Flintoff will bat at 7, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Mongoose Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 We're nearly off. God I wish this was on terrestrial TV so I could watch it at work. I've taken a day's leave to watch the first day, but I will miss much of the rest. :(Was the 2005 Ashes series the last one on terrestrial? I remember it being about the time I stopped watching much cricket, and that's probably why.Stupid shortsighted ECB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 The Aussies have dropped Clark! I didn't see that coming. :stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Today is the big day! Which online venue do y'all like the most for the play-by-play? There is no way in hell I'll be able to watch the matches, but I'd like to idly follow along... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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