Matthew Hayden vs Mike Hussey

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Come now Tresco, despite all the above factors, the English still only just won. Deep down, you know the truth, though i hardly expect you to admit it. Either way, the English won and that is a good thing as the series would otherwise be dead. Despite injuries ect, the Aussies will hit back and win 3 or 4-1 - to much class, but for the sake of the series, it was important England won that one. I am genuinely happy for the long suffering English fans.

Why would you have neccesary won? Our bowlers were actually making the ball move around a little bit and the Aussies would have slogged away and found themselves in trouble like they did in the 2nd innings and getting all out for 300 odd. The pitch did not change between the 1st and 2nd innings enough to dramatically change anything.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Why would you have neccesary won? Our bowlers were actually making the ball move around a little bit and the Aussies would have slogged away and found themselves in trouble like they did in the 2nd innings and getting all out for 300 odd. The pitch did not change between the 1st and 2nd innings enough to dramatically change anything.

Tresco, McGrath's injury moments before the game started was crucial and you know it. Everyone acnowledges (deep down you too i suspect) that Ponting made a huge mistake in bowling first. All i am saying is all things equal, the Aussies would have won it in a canter. But cricket is a funny game, England won it fair and square and full credit to them.
The Aussie's had the worst of the pitch conditions no doubt, but that was Pontings fault and he paid the price. It is a culmination of these factors that ended up in a narrow defeat - not complaining or making excuses, just my honest assesment thats all.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by anthman

Ok I can more or less agree on that. Would your position change if we were to lose at Old Trafford?

anthman, i won't answer that one yet because i honestly think we will win and win well at Old Trafford. If we do lose however, my thoughts might well change and we will have to reopen this thread again in that case. Hopefully we won't have to

[anthman]

Well from the looks of things, if Hayden wants to prove me wrong, he's about to get his opporunity. Having read your Gillispie thread, I'm hoping only one of has to say "I told you so" at the end of this Test.

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Tresco, McGrath's injury moments before the game started was crucial and you know it. Everyone acnowledges (deep down you too i suspect) that Ponting made a huge mistake in bowling first. All i am saying is all things equal, the Aussies would have won it in a canter. But cricket is a funny game, England won it fair and square and full credit to them.

Seamer, I agree with most things you say, but can't agree with this. There is no way of telling whether McGrath would have been a success at Edgbaston - history suggests he wouldn't - and remember if he was in the side your tail end batting (which produced a good percentage of your runs) would have been a lot lot weaker. I don't think a game can be reviewed along the lines of if we had player A we would have won, it is impossible to do and who knows without all our injuries in Australia for the last Ashes we might now be talking about us retaining rather than winning them back. I also don't think the toss was as important in the last game as a lot of people made out.

[Seamer]

Just stating my opinion PR, which is sometimes right, sometimes wrong. The phycological blow was a factor - imagine if the same happened to Harmison, for example.
Anyway, as the saying goes "If if's and but's were candy and nuts". We will never know for certain - maybe England still would have won but just in a different way. I agree with your sentiments all in all.

[The Phantom Ram]

I appreciate that Seamer, opinions are opinions mate, if we all always agreed life would be a bit boring wouldn't it? Yes I agree an injury to Harmison would be a mortal blow, especially as we would need to bring in a test novice in to the side - Tremlett. Difficult to compare the two instances I suppose.

[Beny]

Ok I'm fed up... Drop Hayden and bring in Hussy.

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Beny

Ok I'm fed up... Drop Hayden and bring in Hussy.

Which one? Not the one at Durham please he's in my fantasy cricket team. Please have the Notts one!

[cantplaycantalk]

Sorry to tell you but the Durham one is off to play for Aus A in Pakistan after the Yorkshire match.