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

[Irish Left Armer]

Yeah with Flintoff injured Hoggard will have to do it all himself, unless Harmo or Anderson suddenly comes to the party.

Almost unbelievably Harmison could save this game for England, a quick 30 from him might just take England out of reach.

[south beds mikey]

Pietersen has turned the ball, worth giving him a go?

[anthman]

The danger is that Warne will take the last three wickets in an over, and Collingwood will be left not-out at the other end with 10-15 runs to his name. Of course if he goes for his shots and gets out he's almost guaranteed they lose. The man is in a lose-lose situation.

[south beds mikey]

Googly bowls Hoggard. Brilliant bowling. Feel for Hoggy after his efforts yesterday

[Irish Left Armer]

Hoggard out, time for Collingwood to start to swing the bat because Harmison and Anderson aren't likely to last that long.

[Notts Exile]

Looks like this board "did an England"!

In the five hours since the last post England crumbled and lost by six wickets.

Fletcher's "go to" men let him down. He selected Jones and Giles due to their batting ability and they have failed him. The batsmen themselves didn't help. Surely England have to change after this? Jones has past 20 once in his last FOURTEEN Test innings, and this is a man picked for his batting. Giles cannot field as he is now less mobile than that wheelie bin, his bowling is too defensive and his batting very unreliable.

One of Fletcher's problems is that we have probably the worst number six batsman in Test cricket (and I'll be shot for writing that!). Anderson should not play another Test until he's done some county cricket.

Anyone who suggests that the above is a knee-jerk reaction should read my previous posts. Unfortunately it's been coming. Without Bell, KP and Collingwood this Test would not have even got to Day Five.

[greg]

Magnificent performance by Australia to turn this match round.Inept by England and you have to lay blame on the team meeting this morning by coach and captain.To be so negative was asking for trouble,yes we got a couple of rough decisions by Bucknor but we got them last time so that can't be used as an excuse.

Giles and Jones were selected for their supposed extra batting ability.What ability is that?

Flintoff and Pietersen chucked their wickets away with ridiculous shots and only Collingwood is free from criticism today.

If we don't drop Jones,Giles and Anderson who are Fletcher's three stooges and play Read,Panesar and Mahmood instead we may as well come home.

All in all i don't mind losing to a good side but losing in the manner they have hurts like hell.Well done Australia on regaining the ashes as we can't come back from this.

I feel sorry for Hoggard and Collingwood as all their brilliant efforts were for nothing.

[Six & Out]

Poor batting in the 2nd Innings. Poor selection. Poor captaincy.

We had a total to defend. Why didn't Flintoff get Hoggard and himself to bowl 18 inches outside off stump, pack the offside field and get the run rate up from the off? Then, when the rate is 9+ an over, go on the attack. I could see it, even a blind man could see that tactic.

Flintoff is not fit and not Captain material. Fletcher refuses to move with the times and his selection policy is favouritism over realism.

After this series, as Mr Boycott said, its time for a change.

[John]

Originally Posted by greg

Flintoff and Pietersen chucked their wickets away with ridiculous shots and only Collingwood is free from criticism today.

Thats what sort of player Pietersen and Flintoff are you have got to take the rough with the smooth.
As for selection the biggest mistake in hindsight was to make Flintoff capitain it should of been Strauss. It would of been less of a burden on him, I don't think it is in England's interests to keep Flintoff capitain.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by John

I don't think it is in England's interests to keep Flintoff capitain.

It wasn't in England's interests to select Giles. But they did (sorry "He" did").