I heard Deano on the radio say that he thought TB would be the best batting wicket in the series.Naveed said:What have the pitches been like this year. I know the Oval is pretty flat......but how has TB been this season?
I know when SA played there a couple of years ago it was a nightmare pitch from day 3......extremly variable bounce......James Kirtly got 6 for.
Deano actually said it was traditionally the best batting wicket in England and "everyone knows it". That, as far as I'm concerned, is crap, since The Oval has a much bigger reputation for being flat.archie mac said:I heard Deano on the radio say that he thought TB would be the best batting wicket in the series.
That wouldn't be a surprise, a fit McGrath/Clarke bodes well for 'em. That said, the series is so unpredictable that I am giving up calling it now.JASON said:I expect the Aussies to come back with a vengeance and take the next 2 tests 2-0 !!
OTOH Trent Bridge was pretty reasonable for the batters when NZ toured last year.Naveed said:What have the pitches been like this year. I know the Oval is pretty flat......but how has TB been this season?
I know when SA played there a couple of years ago it was a nightmare pitch from day 3......extremly variable bounce......James Kirtly got 6 for.
Mark Nicholas was saying in his Telegraph column on Wednesday that some of the England players are yet to hit form, and mentioned how worried the Aussies might be that they will - he ended the passage with "Imagine if Steve Harmison were to hit his straps at Trent Bridge. The Aussies might trade more reverse swing for that."wpdavid said:OTOH Trent Bridge was pretty reasonable for the batters when NZ toured last year.
As for the Oval, all I will add is that Harmison's best home performances in 2003 & 2004 were at the Oval. Here's hoping ....
its not form really. its hard to deny that harmison has bowled any differently in these last 2 test matches than he did in that 1st test at Lords. the difference being that at Lords he had the conditions to his favor, while in the next 2 he didnt. if harmison were to get uneven bounce/ seam movement in any of the next 2 tests, i have no doubt that he'll be quite a force for australia to play against.Barney Rubble said:There's no denying Harmison hasn't been on top form so far - if he does get there at some point over the next two Tests, and by that I mean extreme bounce, searing pace, and 5/6/7-wicket hauls, the Aussies will be really in trouble.
Naveed said:What have the pitches been like this year. I know the Oval is pretty flat......but how has TB been this season?
I know when SA played there a couple of years ago it was a nightmare pitch from day 3......extremly variable bounce......James Kirtly got 6 for.
Yeah that's true actually. I'm being a little harsh in saying he was out of form. A quick, bouncy pitch at Trent Bridge should make for a great Test match - especially if Tait plays (which IMHO is fairly likely).tooextracool said:its not form really. its hard to deny that harmison has bowled any differently in these last 2 test matches than he did in that 1st test at Lords. the difference being that at Lords he had the conditions to his favor, while in the next 2 he didnt. if harmison were to get uneven bounce/ seam movement in any of the next 2 tests, i have no doubt that he'll be quite a force for australia to play against.
And yet, Lee has had some highly effective spells in the last 2 tests. I know he's not identical to Harmison, but it shows what an out & out quick could do if he put the ball in the right areas.Barney Rubble said:Yeah that's true actually. I'm being a little harsh in saying he (Harmison) was out of form. A quick, bouncy pitch at Trent Bridge should make for a great Test match - especially if Tait plays (which IMHO is fairly likely).
Agree re: Hoggard - he was probably worse than I've ever seen him for the first five innings of this series, bowled some absolute tripe and couldn't swing it at all.wpdavid said:And yet, Lee has had some highly effective spells in the last 2 tests. I know he's not identical to Harmison, but it shows what an out & out quick could do if he put the ball in the right areas.
I think Nicholas is probably right about Harmison. If he can find his radar, England will have something they've missed at Edgbaston & OT. The other positive I'd suggest is that Hoggard bowled some decent stuff in the 2nd innings at OT, so maybe he's belatedly finding some form.
Erm, Giles doesn't bowl at 90+?Barney Rubble said:The next Test could be very interesting indeed - we could have FIVE bowlers capable of reaching 90mph plus playing in the same game! Last time that must have happened was probably WI v Aus in the 80s sometime......
Eh? I think he's including the Australiansmarc71178 said:Erm, Giles doesn't bowl at 90+?
What about England in Windies? Harmison, Flintoff, Jones, Edwards and Best?Barney Rubble said:Agree re: Hoggard - he was probably worse than I've ever seen him for the first five innings of this series, bowled some absolute tripe and couldn't swing it at all.
The next Test could be very interesting indeed - we could have FIVE bowlers capable of reaching 90mph plus playing in the same game! Last time that must have happened was probably WI v Aus in the 80s sometime......
lee hasnt exactly caused that many problems to the england batters either. harmison too has had a couple of good spells this series-after lunch on the last day with simon jones, but i dont think that the pitch has suited either of them. i do think though that lee has got a bit more out of the wicket than harmison given that hes a bit faster and can reverse it while not a great deal.wpdavid said:And yet, Lee has had some highly effective spells in the last 2 tests. I know he's not identical to Harmison, but it shows what an out & out quick could do if he put the ball in the right areas.
Welcome to CWNaveed said:The way Flintoff and Jones are reversing it no pith can be called flat....the same with Warne you cant call any pitch flat as long as he is bowling.
Reverse swing will win England the series. It is pretty hard to coach a team to bat against reverse swing in the middle of the series. I will be surprised if the pitches are anything other than dry and hard to get reverse swing.
The Aussies are talking of getting a plan against RS....but RS is not something like conventional swing which fades away after 10 overs.......it was reversing it from 20th to the 80th over at OT. So it would mean a completly new gameplan not just a minor adjustment....you just can't do it in the middle of a series.......it is like asking right handers to bat lefthanded.