*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[Tom Halsey]

To be honest, I don't think England's troubles are really a psychological thing. They've come into this series so clearly unprepared and many with the same technical flaws they had in England. I realize Trott has his issues, but he also was making the same exact set of mistakes and just looked flat out unprepared. They say the English thinktank and Cook's captaincy relies on rigorous statistical analysis. Not seen much of that while they've been in Oz

I think we have seen it, we've just seen the shortcomings of such an approach. They've not seen Johnson bowling like he has done in these two Tests (as well as other things like an off-spinner turning and bouncing it from around the wicket) and they've consequently been left without any statistics on such things that they can fall back on and indicate what is going wrong.

EDIT: And I also think a massive proportion of England's troubles are psychological.

 

[Jono]

To be honest, I don't think England's troubles are really a psychological thing. They've come into this series so clearly unprepared and many with the same technical flaws they had in England. I realize Trott has his issues, but he also was making the same exact set of mistakes and just looked flat out unprepared. They say the English thinktank and Cook's captaincy relies on rigorous statistical analysis. Not seen much of that while they've been in Oz

Ok... think you are overcomplicating my point.

England are gutted after being knocked over in the first innings. They'd be quite disappointed.

Cook tried to lift their spirits, as a captain should do.

Chappell said its a waste of time they should have batted well.

:-/

 

[NUFAN]

It is actually important how quickly the Aussies fold here, tbh. Even if they win this one by heaps, a good bowling performance could fire up Broad or Anderson for Perth and beyond.

Yeah exactly. This is why I would have bowled again. A good showing with the ball can also strangely give confidence to the English batsman. If we had of bowled again, we'd just have to bowl 42 overs, that wouldn't have been too difficult to share in terms of workload between the 5 bowlers.

 

[NUFAN]

Last test innings for Watson? I've been a big Watson fan, but now the runs are simply not flowing and injury is no longer an excuse

Definitely not. Surprising comment from a big fan.

 

[Spark]

This does remind me a little of last year, though, in that we lost a bunch of wickets early in the 3rd innings too - but it was basically meaningless

 

[JontyPanesar]

Ok... think you are overcomplicating my point.

England are gutted after being knocked over in the first innings. They'd be quite disappointed.

Cook tried to lift their spirits, as a captain should do.

Chappell said its a waste of time they should have batted well.

:-/

You got me. I used your post to tangentially make another point. A lot of folks in the media keep making the point "They just need to get their minds right", which I simply don't think is true, or at least it's hardly the whole truth.

 

[wiff]

It is actually important how quickly the Aussies fold here, tbh. Even if they win this one by heaps, a good bowling performance could fire up Broad or Anderson for Perth and beyond.

I agree, 200 runs should be enough, but don't give away your wicket

 

[harsh.ag]

I think Clarke declared because he wanted to give rest to his bowlers, esp Johnson. Also, Lyon will get more help from the pitch tomorrow.

And now will somebody please do the needful and throw Mr Watson out of this ****ing side! Why is he still there? He does nothing except add uncertainty to the top order. Pick me, I could do that, and I am much funnier too.

 

[Spark]

I agree, 200 runs should be enough, but don't give away your wicket

Zero would be enough, but still annoying.

EDIT: Man that's sweet

 

[Top_Cat]

*cream*

 

[centurymaker]

The fact that Johnson has been amazing and England have been far behind Australia in the runs, should not hide the fact that Australia only have 3 world class batsmen in their lineup, namely Clarke, Warner and Haddin IMO.

 

[Burgey]

So frantic, this.

 

[Tom Halsey]

The fact that Johnson has been amazing and England have been far behind Australia in the runs, should not hide the fact that Australia only have 3 world class batsmen in their lineup, namely Clarke, Warner and Haddin IMO.

Odd definition of world class, as IMO only one of those is world class. Did you mean Test class? Bit harsh on a couple of others if so though.

 

[wiff]

Zero would be enough, but still annoying.t

Don't need to make a target they could possibly get. I still remember SA V Australia at Perth with 400 odd runs to get

 

[JontyPanesar]

I think we have seen it, we've just seen the shortcomings of such an approach. They've not seen Johnson bowling like he has done in these two Tests (as well as other things like an off-spinner turning and bouncing it from around the wicket) and they've consequently been left without any statistics on such things that they can fall back on and indicate what is going wrong.

EDIT: And I also think a massive proportion of England's troubles are psychological.

1. Cook still not finding some way to compensate for a shaky movement off the front foot, while Aus were actively targeting that a full length outside off stump to Cook all of last Ashes.
2. The shuffling of Trott's feet leaving him vulnerable to getting strangled. His inital movement forward leaving him at risk against the short ball.
3. Root hanging on the backfoot is still there

Meanwhile, during the Ashes in England, it took a while for England, specifically Anderson, to straighten their lines to Watson. Watson was consistently getting away for 30 or 40 via cover drives. By the time they really straightened their lines (when Bres got him lbw), Watson was immediately making adjustments

 

[andyc]

I think Clarke declared because he wanted to give rest to his bowlers, esp Johnson. Also, Lyon will get more help from the pitch tomorrow.

And now will somebody please do the needful and throw Mr Watson out of this ****ing side! Why is he still there? He does nothing except add uncertainty to the top order. Pick me, I could do that, and I am much funnier too.

People forgetting that he did score a 50 and take a wicket this Test already...

 

[andyc]

The fact that Johnson has been amazing and England have been far behind Australia in the runs, should not hide the fact that Australia only have 3 world class batsmen in their lineup, namely Clarke, Warner and Haddin IMO.

 

[centurymaker]

Odd definition of world class, as IMO only one of those is world class. Did you mean Test class? Bit harsh on a couple of others if so though.

Yes I am referring to the Tests there. There's no way Rogers, Smith, Bailey and Watson (of now) are Test class.

 

[centurymaker]

Serious?

 

[Tom Halsey]

1. Cook still not finding some way to compensate for a shaky movement off the front foot, while Aus were actively targeting that a full length outside off stump to Cook all of last Ashes.
2. The shuffling of Trott's feet leaving him vulnerable to getting strangled. His inital movement forward leaving him at risk against the short ball.
3. Root hanging on the backfoot is still there

Meanwhile, during the Ashes in England, it took a while for England, specifically Anderson, to straighten their lines to Watson. Watson was consistently getting away for 30 or 40 via cover drives. By the time they really straightened their lines (when Bres got him lbw), Watson was immediately making adjustments

Whilst all of those calls are fair, I'd imagine England are not unaware of the issues. But it's one thing knowing about them and another thing fixing them. Statistics can't actually fix them for you.