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

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Django

Let us not forget that, even in the 2005 Ashes, England did not exactly crush the Aussies – the series was very close than the 2-1 result suggests. If a couple of things had gone Australia’s way, the result could easily have been 3-0 in Australia’s favour.

Not at all - the matches at times LOOKED closer because of England not being able to mop up the Austraian tail, England were the better side.
Lets concern ourselves on this years Ashes series, England have got of to a bad start, like they did in 2005.

Harmison is dragging the side down, I don't know why but he does not seem to know where the stumps are.

Originally Posted by Django

Reverse swing was the major reason England won that close contest and in Australia reverse swing is almost impossible to achieve.

What happened in England has nothing to do with this series, if there is no reverse swing in Australia, then England will have to solve that, or hand the Ashes back

Originally Posted by Django

I also do not agree with the theory that Panesar would have made a big difference in this the first test match. Panesar may be the best spinner England has since Underwood, but he is inexperienced and has a long way to go to be considered as a strike force.

Well is he the best SLA spinner since Underwood?, I remember Edmunds was a bit usefull, Fletcher was right to pick Giles rather than Panesar, because he is like you say to inexperienced, and not being that much for finger spin, accuracy plays a big part, so Giles seems to be the logical choice.

BTW: Panesar might look like Bishan Bedi, but believe me he does not bowl like Bishan Bedi, he is just another SLA spinner who might or might not be outstanding in the coming years.

[Aussie-Yank]

The 200 run partnership and 400 runs up - then a brute of a ball by Flintoff

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

The 200 run partnership and 400 runs up - then a brute of a ball by Flintoff

Yes well done to Australia - I am wondering if Ponting is thee best batsman ever, his average spans a long time.

[Aussie-Yank]

Well bowled Flintoff - The English Bowling attack

[Ernest]

Flintoff does it again - "The one man England show".

[SixandOut]

This is beginning to get embarassing. FLintoff has just removed Hussey. It just shows that without Fred we really would be up a certain creek.

We're beginning to look like the England rugby squad that won the World Cup - without Johnny Wilks we would never have got there.

[south beds mikey]

Australia are a terrific team but it has to be said we have made it about as easy for them as it could possibly be. It is very difficult to envisage a set of circumstances where they could have had an easier ride. It is virtually impossible to come up with an attack that has been so wayward, so inaccurate and frankly so poorly led.

In every 50-50 choice we have been wrong. Wrong bowlers, wrong length and wrong field placings. For the first time in a quarter of a century we have a spinner who might make a difference and we decide to drop him on the premis that another player might get an extra 10/15 runs

UNBELIEVABLE. .

We then pitch it up to Langer who has been suffering from concussion and let him have a series of half volleys, give Ponting a string of full straight balls he can work away and bowl at Hussey like we had money on him to score!! Lets have a couple up his nose for crying out loud!!

Honestly it was going to be hard enough without bowling like it was a Sunday afternoon benefit game.

Lets be fair; to justify this selection Giles and Jones are going to have to get 200 between them.

Fred is the only guy who looks like hes bothered.

[Beny]

Poor Harmison... Somethings gota give here. The commentators are suggesting this has something to do with nerves and not enough bowling but in all seriousness I think it has to be considered that mabey he just can't bowl in Australia. May be the heat, conditions... I dont know but this is'nt the first time he's struggled down here.

[Ernest]

Anderson - not that effective, not played enough cricket.

Hoggard does also not look effective, maybe should have played in the iCC.

Giles did nnot look that effective, but he has not played for ages, will get better.

Harmison has lost it, might as well bowl him to see what happens

Flintoff - like A-Y said, the England bowling attack at the moment.

[Ernest]

He was same in South Africa Beny - I wonder does he want to be in Australia.
Australia can't be beat from here, a draw would be fantastic for England.