Cricket

[pink_triangle]

Disappointing collapse there, abysmal shot by bairstow. Great century for bell, yet I felt once in he needed to go further. I have always wondered if the psychology of the century is damaging. Lots of players seen to get out between 100 and 110, I have always wondered if a player didn't consider 100 as a special landmark and instead a target between 90 and 110 if they would end up scoring more runs.

[TheGayTent]

Disappointing collapse there, abysmal shot by bairstow. Great century for bell, yet I felt once in he needed to go further. I have always wondered if the psychology of the century is damaging. Lots of players seen to get out between 100 and 110, I have always wondered if a player didn't consider 100 as a special landmark and instead a target between 90 and 110 if they would end up scoring more runs.

The shot that Bairstow got out to was not as poor as Trott's.

Of course there's a link between the psychology of 3 figures and getting out soon after. In the same way batsmen often look untouchable for hours and then get out when they reach the nervous nineties. Though it's far from the only factor IMO. Fitness, ability to concentrate for long periods of time, and tiredness all play a part too.

Bell was superb for the 2nd time in a row in a very difficult position. Strange that after 6,000 test runs it's almost as if he's finally coming of age. 3 centuries in 3 successive ashes tests - not very many have done that down the years.

Still think barring a big wagging of the tail, England's total will be well below par.

[pink_triangle]

The shot that Bairstow got out to was not as poor as Trott's.

Of course there's a link between the psychology of 3 figures and getting out soon after. In the same way batsmen often look untouchable for hours and then get out when they reach the nervous nineties. Though it's far from the only factor IMO. Fitness, ability to concentrate for long periods of time, and tiredness all play a part too.

Bell was superb for the 2nd time in a row in a very difficult position. Strange that after 6,000 test runs it's almost as if he's finally coming of age. 3 centuries in 3 successive ashes tests - not very many have done that down the years.

Still think barring a big wagging of the tail, England's total will be well below par.

I have always wondered what the reaction would be if a player came along who didn't accept 50/100 as landmarks and didn't react when getting the scores. I suspect they would be considered to be awkward and disrespecting the tradition of the game, even though I think I could completely understand the logic behind it.

I agree, definitely under par. A little pressure on Bresnan as I think people may be building him up to be a better batsman than he really is.

[strangetown]

Great knock by Bell. Might just keep us in it for this test.

[lharris92]

prior needs to buck up his ideas or can see his spot being under threat. which is good because if there is no competition then people will become complacent.

really need bresnan, broad and swann to get decent knocks now

[TheGayTent]

Worst possible start.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Don't agree with that analysis - not on that track in these conditions. If England end on less than 350 the convicts will be happy and England disappointed.

Unfortunately you may be right old son

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Jimmy gone. Harris has done well

[TheGayTent]

361 ao. About 50 short of par I reckon.

Though of course, that's not to say that Australia will reach par either.

[Ted Dansons Wig]

69-4 and all's well

Edited July 19, 2013 by Ted Dansons Wig

[Ted Dansons Wig]

96-7. dearie dearie dearie

[Ed209]

This piss poor cricket from both teams is starting to annoy me

[pink_triangle]

I wonder what cook is thinking in terms of declaration. Realistically they almost certainly have enough runs already and are close to setting a world record run chase. I personally would like to get them in for half an hour at the end of the day.

[TheGayTent]

Na, time isn't an issue - grind them into the dirt

[Gre]

My dad managed to get tickets for tomorrow- restricted view but they were £30 so can't complain too much. Just hope the view isn't *too* restricted.

Botham/Willis level miracle-aside, the game is in the bag. You got a great day Oafc, today was quite lacking entertainment-wise. Hopes for tomorrow are for Root to go as far as he can, Prior & Broad to have a slog if needed. Take the lead to 650-700, and give ourselves at least a day and a half to bowl out the Aussies.

[pink_triangle]

My dad managed to get tickets for tomorrow- restricted view but they were £30 so can't complain too much. Just hope the view isn't *too* restricted.

Botham/Willis level miracle-aside, the game is in the bag. You got a great day Oafc, today was quite lacking entertainment-wise. Hopes for tomorrow are for Root to go as far as he can, Prior & Broad to have a slog if needed. Take the lead to 650-700, and give ourselves at least a day and a half to bowl out the Aussies.

I don't see any logic in taking the lead up to that level, theres possible rain forecast for Monday and I don't think its worth the risk when they already have enough runs on the board. As I said previously I would have put them in this evening. However with the decision made to bat through the day and assuming they will want to give Root the chance of a double century I would bat for an hour maximum and probably less if Root is out early.

[Ed209]

You must be watching a different match...

I was watching the match where 23 wickets fell in the first 2 days (16 of which fell on the day I made that post) in what appeared almost perfect batting conditions with the majority of those 16 wickets being down to awful shot selection.

England have looked very good the last couple of days though. Australia have been abysmal though. I'm hoping for the sake of the series that they come back fighting in Manchester

[Ted Dansons Wig]

Somebody really needs to sit the convicts down and tell them how the appeals system works.

[Ed209]

The bowling by both sides has been really good. Yeah it was a batting pitch but when the bowling is that good its going to get you widkets,

Ok the batting by both sides that has been a bit ropey, or in the case of the convicts fucking abismal... But the quality of cricket is just fine. Unless you only concern yourself with batting alone...

The vast majority of wickets I saw fall on that day where mostly good bowling instead of bad batting. I think I only remember three I would put down to bad shot selection or something similar....

The convicts though simply can't live with our guys.

I don't know what you're watching bazza. The Australian bowling, aside from a couple of decent spells by Harris, has been very pedestrian. Ours has definitely been better, with everyone picking up some wickets, but the Aussies take the blame for the low first innings, we were not bowling at the kind of quality that should get them out for 128 on that wicket. I think you need to watch the highlights of the first couple of days again because a lot of the shot selection from both teams in those 23 wickets was dire.

The first test, while exciting, wasn't exactly glowing with world-class cricket either.

What we have is a decent England team which is just about clicking, beating a poor Australian team

And then we get onto the quality of the reviewing and umpiring ....

Edited July 22, 2013 by Ed209

[TheGayTent]

And then we get onto the quality of the reviewing and umpiring ....

Quality of umpiring is an issue for me. As far as I'm concerned the best umpires are English or Australian. Which means ashes test matches are umpired not by the best umpires. In fact I think there's only 4 elite umpires that aren't English or Australian - which doesn't leave the ICC with many options.

I didn't see anything wrong with the old rule. I.e. one home nation ump and one neutral.

[TheGayTent]

Also come down more on Ed's point of view than Bazza's. Convict bowling has been poor and by and large England's batsmen have got themselves out.

Agar might be able to bat, but he has been poor with the ball. Pattinson didn't come to terms with the Lords slope (which isn't unusual for players making their Lords debut to be fair), and Starc was crap at Trent Bridge.

[pink_triangle]

I think Australia should bring back Warner for the 3rd test, a team with such a poor batting line up cant afford to leave out players who average 40+.

I would personally like to see (but know it wont happen) Watson dropped. He acts like some kind of big time Charlie despite the fact he only averages 35 in test matches. He acts like a baby if he cant bat and field where he wants but doesn't have the pedigree to match the ego. The captain cant stand him and I wonder if would make for a more cohesive team, they also may end up with more succesfull appeals with DRS!

[Gre]

I don't see any logic in taking the lead up to that level, theres possible rain forecast for Monday and I don't think its worth the risk when they already have enough runs on the board. As I said previously I would have put them in this evening. However with the decision made to bat through the day and assuming they will want to give Root the chance of a double century I would bat for an hour maximum and probably less if Root is out early.

It didn't work out due to Root & Bresnan getting out so quickly yesterday, but basically do grind the Aussies down, break them mentally. Their batting has been abysmal at the top of the order- if the tail hadnt wagged so much they would barely have broken 200 yet.

Not that England's batting has been much better- Root & Bell's good innings being the obvious exceptions. A lot of wickets on both sides due to poor shots. It really does seem like that the prevalence of one day / 2020 is having an effect.

And the less said about the convicts use of drs the better. The system needs tweaking, it's becoming too much of the game, but I'm not sure how.

[kaosmark2]

Been watching highlights after getting back and we really weren't that good. I think we played better last summer against south Africa than so far this series. Bowling is good but not spectacular, fielding solid, batting variable. We still haven't posted a score over 400, yet have comfortably outplayed the convicts. Poor cricket, but great result

[kaosmark2]

Warner brought back by the Aussies. Needed move IMO, although from the little I've seen of him I'm not sure he's a match-changing batsman.

Great knock from Taylor in the warm-up game. IMO he should definitely start the 3rd Test, ahead of Bairstow if KP's fit (which I doubt). I thought it was harsh that he didn't make the plane to India after his knocks against the Saffers. Not massive scores but his 34 in partnership with KP was fantastic cricket IMO, he read the situation brilliantly and played the supporting well excellently. By contrast, I'm still not convinced by Bairstow's mentality. Clearly got talent to score, but I think a stint back at Yorkshire would do him good. I think we need solid middle-order players at the moment more than power-hitters.

Good to see Panesar and Tremlett called up to the squad. I'd like to see two spinners in a 5-man attack at OT, possibly with Tremlett coming in for Bresnan, but I'm sure the attack will remain the same, and it's not like getting the Aussies out is particularly difficult at the moment!