The Ashes 2006/07: The Brisbane Test Thread - Day Two

[John]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

Besides, if peterson and freddy get in they could break a few records (or a few windows) (its a big if I know)

lets just see; But based on observations so far I agree with much of what you say Oliver

Thats right there is a lot of cricket yet.
The fact is this series was never going to be repeat of 2005. A number of things went badly wrong for the Aussies. Gillespie bowled terribly I think this is underestimated especially when got McGrath injured. The back up bowling was badly organised only Warne seemed up for it. This time their backup bowling seems to better they have found Clark and Johnson.
They were never going to bat as badly as 2005.
Its time to leave 2005 behind and realise things have changed.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by John

They were never going to bat as badly as 2005.
Its time to leave 2005 behind and realise things have changed.

I think we do realise that John. What we want is for our managment to put out a team that is prepared for the challenge ahead. And that means learning from your mistakes of the last Ashes tour when we played bowlers who weren't fit. We have an attack that looks way short of match practice. Fortunately Freddie seems to be able to hit his straps very quickly. On the other hand Anderson and Harmison look like they haven't bowled for months. This is the fault of the management. They should take the blame.

I've said it before that I don't believe Fletcher will be coach next summer. I truly hope he won't. He needs to leave and allow someone else to come in, someone with no previous with this lot. Someone with no favourites like he has. Someone who will select a squad and an XI on the basis of what they are truly likely to do, not on what they did last summer(2005)! And I am not saying that Fletcher hasn't done a good job, he has, but his time is now up.

[flanflinger]

I am going to wait and see, but from my point of view the players have been badly let down by the schedule. It is barmy that they have played three games (a one-day game, a joke game and a 3 day F/C game)..

We play 5 day Tests, so why are we playing 3 day games at all!! Because of the result of the toss our batters have only had two meaningful innings. Harmison was injured for the one real game, and he is a guy that needs overs under his belt.

I wouldn't mind but we saw the same problem last year in Pakistan and India, and funnily enough in South Africa the year before. It is time that we got players on to the pitch properly prepared.

Harmison finally found his rhythm, late on day two, but he needed to be at that point first ball day one!!

I am not too sure whether Fletcher is the man who gets the schedule together, but whoever it is should get sacked, and soon!!

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Perhaps Collingwood will one day prove that he truly is a top class batsman against a top class attack.

Gah, do the names Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh mean anything to you?

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

It is really fascinating how the perennial 'hobby horses' (be that Fletcher, Jones, Flintoff, Cook whoeever) come out as soon as there is a sub-standard performance!

[KennyG]

My.my,my,my,my,my.
Not alot of happy campers on this Thread are there?
Here is someone who is.


2/25 & a magnificent unbeaten 8.

Things are just going to get better.
The wicket is starting to crack nicely & Warne loves it here.

P.S. Sorry about the picture but please cut me some slack this one time.I love the old boy.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by KennyG

Things are just going to get better.
The wicket is starting to crack nicely & Warne loves it here.

Yep Mitchell jr certainly prepared an odd wicket - dry and no grass. Thankfully we won the toss hey. Those cracks are opening up already and there is plenty of pace and movement in any case. England are sunk this test for sure, but it will be interesting to see if they can avoid an innings defeat though.

[SixandOut]

It still makes me laugh to see some of the interviews with the Aussies before the series started, where the likes of Atherton and Hussein were trying to goad them in to saying something silly meanwhile bigging up England by saying things like "So how humiliating was it to lose in England", "Do you want vengeance for England being all over you last year" - which considering it was the first time we'd won in like 20 years... well you get the point. Perhaps last year really was only a blip in both teams respective results - that is, Australia losing and England winning.

Hmm, that's quite cynical and it's only the first game. But as others have said - I'm struggling to see how the attack will ever take 20 wickets. I mean, Brett Lee outscored our 3 of out top order batsmen, for crying out loud.

As for Vaughan - I do think his captaincy is being missed - Freddie is very new to captaining a side and it shows - but the simple fact is he IS captain and we should end all this speculation and confusion. I've been saying for a while that Vaughan should get lost.

2 months ago Fletcher should have said "(Subject to injury) this is the starting 12" and let the team settle and bond and do all the other manly dressing room stuff. Despite being hideously out of form, most of the boys barely know what day it is due to all the change. The preparation has been abysmal.

I think we all hoped to turn on the tv last night and to see Harmison - a changed man. He was going to steam in and get 5fer in 3 overs. Not so. Since there's no rest between this test and the next, there's little or no opportunity for him to do any work on his action, so I think it will be very hard for Fletcher to pick him for the next game. But what will that do to his confidence?

"It's just one big **** up all round."

[KennyG]

They were saying on the T.V. day 1 was more like a day 2 wicket.
This bolds well for Warne.
I am a bit worried about our bowlers having 2 innings in a row though.
It is a tight schedule this year because of the O.D.I. tournaments & they might get worn down.

[KennyG]

Is Harmison an automatic pick?
You have to play 2 spinners in Adeliade so one quick has to go.
Greviously Boney Harmlesson looked the most likely to get dropped.
Who honestly thought he was the best bowler in the world?
That guy took 2/25 & plays for us.