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***Official*** 1st Test at The Gabba

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Sir Redman said:
Collingwood's ball was good - it moved a fair bit off the seam. However, he closed the face on it and it looked like he was trying to hit it through mid-on when the ball was outside off-stump. If he'd kept the face open it could have taken a thicker edge and gone through gully a la Langer about five times yesterday. Didn't move his feet to it either.

And yeah, awful shot by Strauss.
What about his footwork though? I swear I almost heard him say "Nobody puts baby in the corner" before his 10 step tango on the crease. It was awful...

EDIT: Also noticed Gilly indirectly telling him to 'go forth and fornicate'. It's been reported over here that the general opinion is Collingwood's attitude far outstrips his cricketing ability, which may have had something to do with it.
 
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Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Sir Redman said:
What's this rubbish about Bell being plum lbw? You couldn't say for certain that was going to hit the stumps, and if it was it would have only just clipped the top of the bail. Doubt about whether it hit him in line too - givable, but givable in the same way that Ponting's yesterday was givable. Not 'plum' by any stretch of the imagination.

And while we're on that decision, I see Warne was doing his usual over-appealling rubbish. Wonder if anyone will ever have the balls to fine him for that.
I think you'll find on that occasion Warne was making sure the umpire knew they were appealing for LBW and not caught behind. He actually pointed at the batsman and appealed again.
 

nightprowler10

Global Moderator
Slow Love™ said:
No, though I followed it, so I'm aware of how well he did against Pakistan. But what I saw today only increased my doubts.
Though his knocks against Pakistan were very good ones, he wasn't once under pressure while scoring those centuries against a depleted Pakistani attack. This will obviously be the real test for him.
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Laurrz said:
Well Two McGrath's has worked well so far...very well...

i said it after the first day i'll say it again... after seeing how everyone said it was a batsmens paradise ... i agree, however i always thought Australias bowling attack was taylor made for this wicket

Englands bowlers are hit the deck bowlers and swing bowlers... and they couldn't get swing today... and with Aussies batsmen being very good against the bounce they cashed in
Aussie bowlers are seam bowlers who bowl from a steepling height, a 150+ kmh bowler and a champion spinner
very different i reckon and it didn't swing for Lee, and it showed, he didn't take a wicket... however McGrath can seam it on glass... and he uses his head better than any other bowler... and since ppl say Clrak is a mini McGrath well its no surprise he is seaming it as well and IMO bowling more accurately
Given Harmison and Flintoff's size there's no reason for them not to get any movement if they hit the seam. In fact, no matter how tall you are...if you hit the seam consistently something will happen.
 
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Craig

World Traveller
GeraintIsMyHero said:
Overall, very disappointing. Didn't have the energy to watch last night, so got up early instead so I could catch a fair bit before work.

Our only hope of a draw is to avoid the follow-on. There is no chance we will avoid the follow-on. Therefore, we have no hope. :@

Even this optimist here is now looking at all these 5-0 predictions and thinking...****
Well TBF England was wiped off the park with such a inept performance at Lords last year and they bounced back fine.

I wouldn't be getting the suicide pill out just yet, although I understand your frustration and anger, especially getting up so early and in general as a cricket and sports fan.
 

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Craig said:
Well TBF England was wiped off the park with such a inept performance at Lords last year and they bounced back fine.

I wouldn't be getting the suicide pill out just yet, although I understand your frustration and anger, especially getting up so early and in general as a cricket and sports fan.
At least the first Aus innings at Lord's showed that we could get amongst their batsmen, even if our own batters had me forecasting 0 - 5 then as well. But there's been absolutely nothing so far to suggest that England have a prayer this winter, and you'd have to back Ponting's men to secure the first whitewash since the 1920's.

Good piece by Will Luke on Cricinfo, btw.
 

Laurrz

International Debutant
Son Of Coco said:
Given Harmison and Flintoff's size there's no reason for them not to get any movement if they hit the seam. In fact, no matter how tall you are...if you hit the seam consistently something will happen.
yes but McGrath and Clark are more specialised in seaming i reckon...
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Laurrz said:
yes but McGrath and Clark are more specialised in seaming i reckon...
Look, I agree that the pitch is quite well suited to McGrath and Clark and have been saying so since the beginning, but equally it should be a good wicket for Flintoff and Harmison. Not perfect by any means, but with plenty of pace and bounce there's no reason they shouldn't have been a handful on it, and Flintoff certainly was. Harmison might have been, but he bowled absolute rubbish. It's a nice wicket for fingerspin as well, and Giles probably won't get a better surface to bowl on until Sydney.
 

Matt79

Global Moderator
If we roll them before lunch, I think Ponting will make them follow on (and that's not outside the realms of possibility, those cracks aren't going to shrink) - otherwise, he'll have another bat, and try to bat through to just before tea on day 4, probably, trying to set a target near 500.
 

silentstriker

The Wheel is Forever
FaaipDeOiad said:
Warne bowled a pretty poor over, but it was funny to see him send down the flipper first ball. Seemed a bit disgusted with himself after it anyway, so I'm sure we'll see more from him tomorrow.

Can't say how great it was to see McGrath bowling like that. After everyone writing him off again, he always picks the best occasions to stick it to his critics. Could well have had Bell out as well. Clark was excellent and complements the rest of the attack perfectly, and Australia were on the ball in the field. Australia will be batting again by stumps tomorrow, unless England get all out before tea, in which case it'll be England again.
That's why he's the BEST.BOWLER.EVER. :laugh:

Someday, people are going to agree with me ;). No one gobbles up the top order like that guy.

And coming after an 11 month test match layoff to boot.
 
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wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
silentstriker said:
That's why he's the BEST.BOWLER.EVER. :laugh:

Someday, people are going to agree with me ;). No one gobbles up the top order like that guy.

And coming after an 11 month test match layoff to boot.
And you may well be right. To do it in all conditions over such a long period of time probably puts him in a class of his own.
 

Barney Rubble

International Coach
My two cents on last night's play:

1. Ponting's reaction after his dismissal was an utter disgrace, if I was an Australian fan I'd feel thoroughly ignored and unappreciated. Even Stuart Clark raised his bat FFS. Ponting acted like a 12 year old.
2. Paul Collingwood isn't and never will be a Test number four.
3. Stuart Clark is really quite good. Hadn't seen him bowl before.
4. Ali Cook is going to struggle against McGrath big time, just like everyone's been predicting.
5. We're generally not very good.
 

silentstriker

The Wheel is Forever
I'm not really sure where England go from here. They can't drop Harmison, not when he was expected to be your 2nd best bowler (after Freddie). So you kind of just have to grit your teeth and hope this was an aberration.

Who can they drop, and more importantly who can come in their place to get some wickets? Monty might, but thats not a big difference considering Giles did relatively well. So who's left?

Mahmood? Do you really trust him to have his radar straight? I don't.
 

Woodster

International Captain
Barney Rubble said:
My two cents on last night's play:

1. Ponting's reaction after his dismissal was an utter disgrace, if I was an Australian fan I'd feel thoroughly ignored and unappreciated. Even Stuart Clark raised his bat FFS. Ponting acted like a 12 year old.
2. Paul Collingwood isn't and never will be a Test number four.
3. Stuart Clark is really quite good. Hadn't seen him bowl before.
4. Ali Cook is going to struggle against McGrath big time, just like everyone's been predicting.
5. We're generally not very good.
In reply to a couple of these points - I think Colly needs a big series, whether he does, time will tell. I know the feeling generally is that he isn't quite up to the top standard, I believe he can have a good series with the bat. He has a good temperament, is a fighter, can be the adhesive in Englands middle order, letting the more flambuoyant players take centre stage while he nudges and nurdles his way to a decent score. Is exceptionally strong through mid wicket also.

It will undoubtedly be a big test and learning curve for Cook, Mcgrath has tormented better and more experienced opening batsmen in his career, so it would be no disgrace to fall to the big man. But, he got a beauty today off Mcgrath that would get most bats out, I think Cook can become a rock at the top if the order, and there is a second innings for him to put it right immediately.

We're generally not very good ? Would have to question the logic behind that statement, you dont become no.2 side in the world being not very good. Or am I just being blatantly biased in my view of England ?
 

Matt79

Global Moderator
1. Ponting's reaction after his dismissal was an utter disgrace, if I was an Australian fan I'd feel thoroughly ignored and unappreciated. Even Stuart Clark raised his bat FFS. Ponting acted like a 12 year old.
You'd be the world's most sensitive little delicate petal of an Aussie fan in that case. Ponting didn't kick the stumps down, or question the umpire, or anything. He was deeply disappointed to get out in the 190s, particularly when it looked like he could keep going all day. He raised his bat when he got to the fence and waved to the crowd. I think he gets unfairly criticised for his temperment sometimes, probably because he has acted a goose a few times, but this time, he did nothing over than look disappointed. To me, being THAT disappointed when you've made 196 shows just how good form he was in, and how much hunger for runs he has. Didn't mind it at all.
 

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
Barney Rubble said:
My two cents on last night's play:

1. Ponting's reaction after his dismissal was an utter disgrace, if I was an Australian fan I'd feel thoroughly ignored and unappreciated. Even Stuart Clark raised his bat FFS. Ponting acted like a 12 year old.
2. Paul Collingwood isn't and never will be a Test number four.
3. Stuart Clark is really quite good. Hadn't seen him bowl before.
4. Ali Cook is going to struggle against McGrath big time, just like everyone's been predicting.
5. We're generally not very good.
1) a) The man wanted his 200, you could tell. He waved his bat a tad right before he entered the pavillion, but most people understand how much he wanted 200.
b) :baby: :p
 

Matt79

Global Moderator
silentstriker said:
I'm not really sure where England go from here. They can't drop Harmison, not when he was expected to be your 2nd best bowler (after Freddie). So you kind of just have to grit your teeth and hope this was an aberration.

Who can they drop, and more importantly who can come in their place to get some wickets? Monty might, but thats not a big difference considering Giles did relatively well. So who's left?

Mahmood? Do you really trust him to have his radar straight? I don't.
Wouldn't Mahmood for Harmison be a like-for-like switch? And could Mahmood really bowl WORSE than Harmison has?

I'd drop Harmison and bring in Paneser and go with the two spinners for Adelaide. As I've already said in this thread, I think if your best three seamers aren't enough to do the job, what is your fourth best quick going to add to the equation except more dross?
 
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aussie tragic

International Captain
silentstriker said:
I'm not really sure where England go from here. They can't drop Harmison, not when he was expected to be your 2nd best bowler (after Freddie). So you kind of just have to grit your teeth and hope this was an aberration.

Who can they drop, and more importantly who can come in their place to get some wickets? Monty might, but thats not a big difference considering Giles did relatively well. So who's left?

Mahmood? Do you really trust him to have his radar straight? I don't.
I’d name the following team for Adelaide

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Jones
Giles
Hoggard
Anderson
Panesar
 

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