The Ashes 2006/07: The Adelaide Test Thread - Day One

[John]

Clark where have you been? This is good stuff from Australia.

[south beds mikey]

There is no way Clarke should be having us 2 down. An ordinary bowler has us in dreadful trouble. Doin't worry guys no doubt our impressive batting No. 7 and 8 will get us out of trouble just like at Brisbane. Oh no hang on....

[Django]

England in real trouble on this perfect batting strip. It appears everything is going for Australia at the moment. The Australian bowling is not great but the English batsmen are playing poor shots.

I do not see the match going beyond the 4th day, with Australia winning the match by an innings.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

There is no way Clarke should be having us 2 down. An ordinary bowler has us in dreadful trouble.

England IMO were right not to start clubbing Clarke for 4, but not taking singles just lets a bowler settle in a good line, and Clarke has done just that.

[Django]

Originally Posted by Ernest

England IMO were right not to start clubbing Clarke for 4, but not taking singles just lets a bowler settle in a good line, and Clarke has done just that.

I agree. Clark relies more on batsmen making mistakes rather than anything else. The openers have obliged him.

[Aussie-Yank]

Well I would have to say that the first session of the day belongs to Australia, once again to good pressure bowling and poor batting concentration by the English batsman.

[south beds mikey]

Clarke seems to me to be just a straight up and down bowler. I'm not suggesting we should club him but surely we should be up to keeping him out

[Irish Left Armer]

Strauss gave it away, silly shot.

Wouldn't blame Cook so much, just nicked one on the drive.

Clark has been the most impressive bowler on either side so far imo.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Well I would have to say that the first session of the day belongs to Australia, once again to good pressure bowling and poor batting concentration by the English batsman.

Yes I agree - Clarke is bowing a good line, and will continue to do so as long as the batsmen are not playing singles.
Clarke is doing the siple things right - the England batsmen arn't.

They can only keep him out for so long South B - the England batsmen are creating the counter pressure, not the bowlers - they are just saying thank you on this pitch.

Originally Posted by Django

I agree. Clark relies more on batsmen making mistakes rather than anything else. The openers have obliged him.

Yes Englands openers are poor, or at least playing poor - Trescothick going home was the final straw as far as the openers are concerned.

Strauss is the biggest worry, he should be setting an example to Cook, I think it will be may moons before he is considered to be a candidate to be an England captain.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

Clark has been the most impressive bowler on either side so far imo.

Pity Clark chose not to qualify and play for England as both his parents are English-born.

This is the same player who scored 0/87 off 7 overs in a ODI against the West Indies in September. Slater reckons England have not batted with any intent this morning. The least they should be doing on a perfect batting strip is try and put Clark off his line and length with some attacking shots. They have allowed Ponting to set close-in fielders. Australia completely dominated that session because all the England batsmen have been in their shells. When Bell came in Warne was immediately brought into the attack. I thought I was watching the 5th day because of the dryness of the pitch and the turn Warne was getting.

How on earth Fletcher didn't play Panesar in this match beggers belief. If England lose this match Fletcher should be sacked.

Strauss was trying to whip a ball off his pads to mid-wicket but mistimed it and got a leading edge which flew to mid-on's right side where Martyn took a well-judged catch at chest hight. Earlier he had played the pull shot well by playing it down to ground instead of spooning it up but he found another way of getting out today. Perhaps he needs to play his natural aggressive style a bit more to give himself some confidence.

Cook was a bit unlucky to drive at one that seamed a bit and got the nick. He looked very good until then. He was probably desparately looking for something to score and a widish delivery is very tempting to drive.

Bell is still struggling to pick Warne's straight ball. He let one go through to Gilchrist which missed the off-stump by millimetres and brought a huge groan from the crowd when they saw the replay. To counter, Bell is trying to get to the pitch of as many deliveries as he can. Just to get off strike with a single.