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

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Is it just me or has Ponting made a strategic error by declaring today?

Australia would have to bowl so poor, End England improve by 500%.

I think Australia blew a match like this against SA, or I thought they did.

The only thing going for England is they have nothing to lose.

England can try and bat for a draw - or Flintoff can say, got out and try and his Clarke out of the attack, and ride there luck like Botham did in 1981, or the match could be over before lunch on the 4th day.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Ernest

England can try and bat for a draw.

On that wicket, if England bat for two days they will win. This game has to end up in a result surely and most likely an Aussie win, but England do have the firepower (form is a worry though) to win it. If they try for the draw though, then Warne will eat them alive and the Aussies will win.

[dickies dragons]

Seamer,
yes positive result only option,,,Aus to win before tea 4th day,unless England attack from the off and be agressive,might as well go down fighting!

[Ernest]

The only possitive is that Flintoff made an error when he declared on 550'ish, was never enough at Adelaide.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Hello - ? Has anyone watched the series so far ? The wickets will go down as follows by the end of the day afternoon session, evening latest.

Cook - edged one behind or slips probably off clark
Bell - offering no stroke LBW
Collingwood - lazy drive to gully
KP- Mistimed drive out at midwicket- mid on
Fred - no foot movement tamely edged behind
Jones - chase a wide or stupid hook shot for single figured score (off anyone)
Mahmood - no idea how to play warne. Pick a dimissal
Hoggy - done for pace by brett lee
Harmo - caught in the deep
Monty - not out (stranded on 99 ).

England all out for less than 250 on the way to a 5-0 whitewash. Downfall starts at the top. Fred/fletch at loggerheads, freds head the first to drop, wouldnt happen under vaughan wouldnt have happened under nas. Changes needed - and frnakly have been since the last ashes.

Should also add, well played the aussies, not just winning but walking it. Well played all of them. Will we be seeing you all at the next series ? Wouldnt surprise me.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

wouldnt happen under vaughan wouldnt have happened under nas. Changes needed - and frnakly have been since the last ashes.

Don't agree with you on this one Rich - I agree with your summary 100%, but what could Vaughan or Nas have dobe?, unlike in the field, they could not have held the bats for them.

The buck stops with Graveny Miller and Fletcher and to some extent Flintoff, for bringing an inexperienced side mixed with crocks, and players that failes last time like Bell.

Australia have played well, but in their wildest dreams they would not have thought England would have capitulated like they did at Adelaide on the last day, this loss from the jaws of a certain draw, must have drained an allready poor England side.
PS: I think it fair to say that England biggest loss has been Trescothick, with him in the side, I doubt England would have lost at Adelaide, and probably England would have had a better first innings score at Perth.

Strauss and Cook have not worked, Bell and Colly have been erratic, leaving the England middle order exposed.

Flintoff Jones and Giles/Mahmood should have had more licence to play their shots.

[Underzaker]

It all depends on KP and for him to last 2 days is to block all of his natural instincts ... I dont think so ...

Still I'm peeved about Ponting's declaration. Why 2 days? Why not one and half? So what if that might have caused a draw ?Could have england possibly won the next two? Certainly not but now they might win this one.

[Trescothick]

Pontings declaration is well timed and he knew Aussies would most likely get a wicket on the worlds most demoralising (Panesar and slightly Harmison) apart... England will not get near the total... Nowhere near and the Ashes has been lost. All confidence is gone so Ponting can afford to be arrogant; he has little respect for England this year, and at the moment neither do I...

Had circumstance been different;

Read In - He wouldn't ahve scored less runs than Jones, infact most likely more with his unique style
Panesar In - He looks as good a bat as Giles and can actually take key wickets and Has...
S Jones not injured - Would have replaced the wicketless Mahmood or one wicket Anderson and been much much more effective
Harmison more warm up games - He looked good today and in Aussies first innings
Vaughan not injured - Need his captaincy and could have come good with the runs
Trescothick not stressed - We may have actually had an opening partnership scored so the middle order batsmen don't have to face the new bal

Thats a lot of If's but... Bot too unrealistic and the Ashes would have been a good contest... Ah well, we can always remember the team from last Ashes tour,they are heroes.. Not this lot.

[KennyG]

I like the fact that Ponting declared when he did.

With Gilly hammering away like he did we have more than enough runs on the board

Last year in Perth Keven Piertersons country men held us out for a draw(133 overs) because he did not declare early enough.(The wicket was flatter last year.)
Nice to see he is learning.

Australia have pretty much won back the urn.

IMO England will make at least 300 but with our bowling line-up they won't win.

GILLLYYY,GILLLYYY,GILLLYYY.

[greg]

Well no point me mentioning Mr Koertzen with another shocker against England is there.

Congratulations Australia on regaining the ashes and well done to Gilchrist,Clarke and Hussey for fantastic contrasting knocks.