The Ashes 2006/07: The Perth Test Thread - Day Three.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Oh dear - what a surprise, this must be the end of the Jones connection, I wonder if Prior would be a better bet than Read.

I bet the Stewart knockers would be glad to see him back.

You're right on one and wrong on the other.

Prior would be a like-for-like replacement for the original version of Geraint Jones - clumsy with the gloves and nothing special with the bat. Look at his England record to date. Poor at best, and he's had a fair few games against the Zimbos.

I'm really not sure what England's keeper solution is. Jones certainly isn't the solution, Read isn't a number 7. Foster is a number 7, but probably not attacking enough for the modern game (more's the pity). It might be time to blood young Davies, but I reckon he will find himself woefully out of his depth with bat and gloves at the top level.

And as for Stewart - I never liked him as a batsman - didn't ever seem to perform when we really needed him - but at least there was a chance he'd perform. Stewart at seven would make this England team a lot stronger. That's a pretty sad inditement of Geraint Jones, unfortunately.

[Irish Left Armer]

Another catch goes down, Strauss drops Hussey off Hoggard. England are playing like a beaten side.

[Mike]

Flintoff has gone very negative now with his field placings. Hoggard swinging the new ball but Flintoff only has one slip in the second slip position. Hoggard gets the edge off Hussey but the ball is dropped by Strauss diving to his right to attempt a one-handed catch where 1st slip would have caught it comfortably. Flintoff doesn't add another slip despite the dropped catch. Very negative tactics. Please bring back Vaughan. This is not good cricket.

[Seamer]

Yes England's only chance was to take wickets. They are starting to break now. England needed some luck in the first innings but got absolutely none and that is what has sunk them.

[Mike]

Why take the new ball and then have just one slip? Run-rate in that session was 5.5 so England wasn't keeping the batsmen contained. With Hussey nearing his century it would've made more sense to have two or three slips. Smart move though to give Panesar an over before Tea which was rewarded with Hussey's wicket. Hussey might not have nicked it. Looked as dubious as Strauss' decision.

When the ball goes past the bat so closely the air is bound to compress and force the ball to move away which gives the impression it has caught the edge. The compressed air could also create a noise but not a woody noise.

[Aussie-Yank]

400 lead now up for Australia, Englands hope of the Ashes are fading now - but I still rate them a chance at this moment.

[Aussie-Yank]

Well done Clarke, fine 100.

Australia's middle order of Ponting, Hussey and Clarke is looking a class act now for batting.

[greg]

England's flaws have been shown up well and truly in this game.The non picking of Panesar for the previous 2 games,the choice of Jones ahead of Read and the fact that Flintoff is not a top 6 batsman.

Take nothing away from Australia they are going to win the series and they deserve to.Hussey deseved a ton after all his previous efforts and the Clarke ton has been sublime,the biggest compliment you can give Clarke is that Mark Waugh couldn't have looked any classier.

England have bowled tidily enough and stuck at it but you can't afford to give chances to top class players like Jones did to Hussey.

[greg]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Australia's middle order of Ponting, Hussey and Clarke is looking a class act now for batting.

Frighteningly good.

Just need to find the right combination to replace Langer and Hayden and the batting will be sorted for many years.

[Aussie-Yank]

I tell you what, England is now going out of there way to bat Gilly into form - just what they need.