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The Aussies lack something...

Clarence

U19 Cricketer
Is it pride? No.

Is it guts? No.

Is it talent? No.

Is it the lack a big Queensland left arm quick? Probably.'

Stuart Clarke wtf? Get Mitchell Johnson in there, he is strong, fast and accurate. Plays with good starch as well.
 

marc71178

Eyes not spreadsheets
If you ask me, it's passion.

Warne aside, they've not seemed to have any of that in the side IMO.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Mitchell Johnson isn't even a regular in the Queensland side yet. He's not in the Australia A team either, he's a reserve for them, which tells you how far he is from the Australian test team.

Anyway, Australia have lacked luck, ability against reverse swing, catching ability and Glenn McGrath. Without those things, and against an England team which is both very good and playing at the top of its game, it's not unthinkable that they would have trouble.

Not sure where the lack of passion thing comes from really, I'm sure Australia want to win just as much as ever. And faulting the passion of someone like Brett Lee who has absolutely worked his heart out all series despite all sorts of setbacks seems incredibly unfair on him.
 

marc71178

Eyes not spreadsheets
To me, there's nowhere near the onfield get up and go that the English have (apart from Warne IMO)

I said it earlier in the series, and the odd foul-mouthed outburst from the skipper isn't enough to change my mind on it.
 

Pedro Delgado

International Debutant
Warne, Lee, Langer have shown passion in buckets. Clarke has been more like Gilly then Gilly. Gillespie has never stopped trying, even Hayden is thinking about how he can survive to help the cause (debatable whether this way is right for him, however playing his natural game had him undone too so go figure).

No, they've been outplayed by better cricket for longer periods and they've missed a great bowler, simple as. If they hadn't shown passion, grit and determination it'd all be over by now, it's because they've displayed those qualities that the series remains "open", though whatever happens at the Oval England cannot lose the series, which is still remarkable from my perspective.
 

Linda

International Vice-Captain
marc71178 said:
To me, there's nowhere near the onfield get up and go that the English have (apart from Warne IMO)

I said it earlier in the series, and the odd foul-mouthed outburst from the skipper isn't enough to change my mind on it.
Like Pedro mentioned, youd have to include Lee there. His head has almost exploded various amounts of times.
 

Pedro Delgado

International Debutant
Linda said:
Like Pedro mentioned, youd have to include Lee there. His head has almost exploded various amounts of times.
And Martyn is just cool and handsome, eh Linda? Which is enough for some :D
 

luckyeddie

Cricket Web Staff Member
What's been missing appears to have been a little bit of commitment early on.

A similar thing happened in the tour of Sri Lanka when time and time again (all right, twice) Australia got themselves into a frightful mess early in the game, then suddenly the koala turned into a cougar and they fought thyemselves out of a hole.

Why that trend has continued into the Ashes series I really don't know, unless the side are just ring-weary. Australia of old used to dig deep BEFORE the cliches were on the table, and put sides out of the game before they knew they were even in one.

I see retirements - and lots of them.
 

Linda

International Vice-Captain
Pedro Delgado said:
And Martyn is just cool and handsome, eh Linda? Which is enough for some :D
I'd prefer cool, handsome and coupiously scoring runs... but I guess I can't have everything.
 

Hoggy31

International Captain
andyc said:
Katich has played pretty passionately too
Yeah i agree, he's been the one i've been most impressed with. In the field he never stops trying and is always there trying to gee 'em up, and when batting he values his wicket immensely
 

dinu23

International Debutant
luckyeddie said:
What's been missing appears to have been a little bit of commitment early on.

A similar thing happened in the tour of Sri Lanka when time and time again (all right, twice) Australia got themselves into a frightful mess early in the game, then suddenly the koala turned into a cougar and they fought thyemselves out of a hole.

Why that trend has continued into the Ashes series I really don't know, unless the side are just ring-weary. Australia of old used to dig deep BEFORE the cliches were on the table, and put sides out of the game before they knew they were even in one.

I see retirements - and lots of them.
that is very true.
 

age_master

Hall of Fame Member
i would say that only Warne and Lee have played with anywhere near enough passion. Clarke and Langer the best of the batsmen but still not quite there.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
I don't think they've actually lacked a great deal and I don't believe this stuff about them not being at their best. The warm-ups and previous series show the Aussie batsmen are hitting the ball well but England are just playing so much better cricket, in the basics and the more specialist arts. The hallmarks of a great team don't just centre around playing well themselves; they also prevent the opposition from playing well. To say 'where have the Aussies gone wrong' doesn't give England due credit.

Everyone blames the Aussie batting but in reality, none of them are woefully out-of-form. Hayden is the closest but he's still gotten starts. This typifies the problem; they're getting starts but no-one is going on with it because the relentless pressure by the English bowlers (as well as chasing a few big scores conceded by their bowlers) means that you can only hold out for so long before that reverse inswinging yorker you've been playing well for an hour and a half gets through.

Just have a look at the batsmen so far;

Langer; couple of good scores without going onto a ton. Looks as good as he has for the last two years. Just undone by excellent bowling.

Hayden; Several starts where he's been hitting the ball well but not making the converstion into a decent score. Good bowling and slightly indecisive batting.

Ponting; The only Aussie to make a ton and also has a half-ton. Hitting the ball well but has been undone by good bowling on other occasions.

Martyn; a good 50, sawn off a couple of times when he's really looked settled and about to hit the 'Go' button and was lazy in both dismissals in the second Test. Again, doesn't appear to be batting any worse than he has for the last two years. Can count himself a bit unlucky in a couple of dismissals.

Clarke; A couple of good scores and others times, undone by good bowling.

Katich; A couple of really good fighting knocks but again, didn't go on with them. The sheer frequency of good deliveries has gotten to him in the end.

Gilchrist; Worked-out. Hitting the ball well but eventually falls the same way most times as evidenced by his usual innings this series of 4.4.4.4.OUT.

Australia havent 'lacked' much; England have just been that much better. Instead of finding where the Aussies have failed, have a look at where England have succeeded. The bowlers have been so good, in fact, that I doubt they'll all bowl so well together again.
 

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