Day three will be the test of the Test.
This is it for the Aussies, whilst the series does not hang on this day, Australia's mindset for the future of this series -and the Ashes- does.
I felt over the past three series that much of our batting has been under performing; as a team, not individually. But no one needs me to state that the real problem has been the lack of destructive bowling. That is why THIS day three is so important for the team in the future. If our bowlers can truly defend the solid total built by five of our batting side, we can then say that we again have an effective bowling element to the team.
The impending rain makes a result unlikely, but success will not only be measured by a win.
stoph verismo
downthewicket
Now it appears day 5 will be the test of the test. After a pitiful 2nd innings following a great team batting performance in the first, Aus has left itself with plenty of time to bowl out SA. As was the case here, the question is 'do we have the firepower?' If SA can bat the day they will win the test as the runs will not be an issue. A more bowling friendly deck will help but there are doubts in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI watched almost all of SA's first dig and was excited by some great fast bowling and handy off-spin from North - who can turn the ball alot. I reckon we can do it but SA is batting with much more resolve in this innings. To me this is the opportunity for Aus to demonstrate that the new breed of bowlers is up to the task.
And there we have it! Our blokes were good enough with the ball - our biggest problem in India by far, and a problem, too, in Aus this summer.
ReplyDeleteSA will come back harder no doubt but I'm so glad Ponting and co. showed the nay-sayers that Aus is still a force in world cricket. Hopefully Mcgain gets a trundle but North and Macdonald have done enough to earn positions I feel. I'm not convinced of Macdonald's batting at all but you can't fault his control with the ball. I reckon if the next two pitches look like they'll turn Mcgain will get a gurnsey and Mac will be 12th man.
Overseas - if anyone has been paying attention to Pak vs Sri Lanka and WI vs Eng one could be mistaken for thinking they're playing on local highways. It is a disgrace that pitches such as these are being produced that by challenging the team batting second to make a huge total in reply to a huge total; a draw is all but assured. Come on ICC - DO SOMETHING!
it was certainly there to be won LRO... and i'm so glad that the part of the team that needed to gell -the bowling element- has.
ReplyDeletei think you are right with the Mac combination, if it is a bunsen- then McGain should get a tweak, anything else then Ronald should be on; he has yet to prove himself with the bat at test level, but at least we know he does have the ability.
the ongoing WI pitch/ground issues are beyond a joke, and i heard King Viv lament the fact his name was on the gate when the ground was so poor.
All this will now go unanswered with the Pakistan/Sri Lankan attacks that happened today, as the ICC MUST address the issue of security in Pakistan: the PCB can't sook now when teams refuse to tour there.
stoph verismo
downthewicket
Go to the Australian website for an article that implies the attack may have something to do with Tamil (Sri Lanka guerillas) in northern Pakistan. The fact that this was a direct attack on touring cricketers will scare the hell out of world cricket boards. I feel so sorry for Younis Kahn and his lads who most likely have nothing to do with political stuff that happens around them - they just get told noone wants to play with them at their place.
ReplyDeleteThe Sri Lankan players have always (in general - Ranatunga you !&%$) been exemplary men in how they've conducted themselves (think Murali, Sangakarra, Jayawardena) so I hope there are no serious injuries.
LRO i have sent you an email giving you permission to author... if you want. you just need to reply back. particularly now that the others have dropped the ball!
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s
It certainly was a well fought victoy although I suspect Saouth Africa were given more of a chance simply becase of the abomination in Perth. Everyone who knows cricket also knows 5th day wickets like that are rare as rocking horse turds. Melbourne came down to some poor catching and bowling changes.
ReplyDeleteAnd so it is we rejoice not just an Australia victory on foreign soil but also the dawn of a new generation of the baggy green. Whether it was by design or injury finally we have some new blood. Watson and Symonds have been fine cricketers but both have flaws in their genis. For Watson it is a body 15 years older than his head and for Symonds I believe it is a 15 year old scotch. Clark may force his way back in but it will take a tonne of wickets. I wonder if Johnson can make the step to genuine all rounder and make runs when he is expected to? Imagine the scope we would have to include either another genuine bowler or batter as the conditions demand. I can't recall a bowling all rounder in my time. How exciting!! Time will tell if the selectors have the nodules to follow that through. I suspect not with this bunch.
And s to the 2nd test where injuries to key bowlers rear their ugly heads. I suspect it is a bit of a beat up, I hope anyway. It would be a chame to lose through injury. I am tipping a big score to Hughes, Hussey to fail and Johnson to get another bag.
Oh and Stoph, I can't start new blogs it seems my invite has expired. Do I have to d anything else??
rocking horse turds! ROFL!
ReplyDeletei too can't remember an aussie bowling all rounder, Hadlee was the best Bowling all rounder i can remember (saying that brought up the bile!)
stoph verismo
downthewicket
Painful memories of Hadlee. Twas during my education of the game as a nipper but still as clear as day. Him and Botham....oh my god I just vomited.
ReplyDeleteImran was quite talented too.
at least Botham was a bit of fun. Hadlee was SO uptight he'd make a door-knocking Mormon Elder look like a rock star drug-pig at a week long orgy.
ReplyDeleteImran is having a hard time at the moment with the attack thing, that's for sure... a ripper in his day.
I think Johnson has an average around what Flintoff does - perhaps with both bat and ball. He does so many more shots and composure at the crease than any other number 9 in the world. It could work in Macdonald's favour if he is counted on as a bowler - and he's done ok at demonstrating what he can do - who may get you runs sometimes (!).
ReplyDeleteFor me Johnson has the most compact package of any "bowler" I have seen since Dizzy. More shots though. I challenge you to point out another bowler that can drive on the back foot. His average I think is compromised by the low batting position imposed upon him. Put him at 7 or 8 and it will blossom. What a blessing his injury a few years back was that forced him to open the batting for the 2nd grade QLD side. He sees it like a basketball. I am tipping BIG things for that man. Perhaps even the greatest allrounder of his generation.
ReplyDeleteI feel for Imran, so much more to that attack than it suggests. Why did the Pakistan team bus depart 5 minutes later that day when it departed the same time the previous 2 days. This will smurf Hansie.
the way Jono bats he looks like the best bowling allrounder i've ever seen batting; does that make sense?
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