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

[Vrock]

Well Strauss, first ball, has just had a half prod at the ball from Brett Lee.

Still no wickets.... phew!

[south beds mikey]

Some pretty extravagant movement. Big test for the top order.

[south beds mikey]

Raining a bit harder now, never good for the batsman thinking they could be off at any time. Expect we'll do our usual; lose a wicket then go off straight away.

[Ernest]

22 without loss - not without a few scares though, I wonder why Flintoff decided to bat on a greenish top, on a murky morning?.

[south beds mikey]

First wicket down. Cook caught behind leaving. Bit unlucky, ball could easily have gone down.

[south beds mikey]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I wonder why Flintoff decided to bat on a greenish top, on a murky morning?.

I think hes worried about it denting in the wet today and getting caught out against Warne batting 4th after its been hot and crusted up on days 4 and 5.

I do see your point; but I think he's right.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

I do see your point; but I think he's right.

Yes I see your reasoning.

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

Cook caught behind leaving. Bit unlucky, ball could easily have gone down.

Yep but his bat was in the wrong possition when opting to leave IMO - rain stopped play.

I think without Trescothick England would be better served with a right and left handed opening bat combination, rather than two left handers.

[south beds mikey]

Yep. Just goes to show if you're going to leave then give it the full Courtney!!

[Vrock]

Rain takes the players off, it suddenly got really bad. Although some credit is due for the umpires who, I think, have done really well to keep the players on for as long as they did. At times the rain did get a little bit worse than spitting but they did their best to keep the players out there.

I really think Ponting is missing a trick (and some wickets) by not opening the bowling with Stuart Clark. Yes, Brett Lee did pick up the wicket of Alastair Cook but he it was a lucky one as Cook was actually trying to leave the ball and just got a fine edge!* Clark has clearly shown he has far superior control and I think he would have been a demon on this pitch. McGrath would have had a much more controlled partner (especially as the ball stopped moving the slighest bit for Lee) and I think there could have been more wickets.

30 odd for just the one wicket down is a pretty good position given the conditions. Talking of the conditions, it's been pretty good in recent test matches (not just in the Ashes) for sporting pitches. The bowlers being able to extract a little more from the pitch than just an average beating.

*I will agree with comments in the previous posts. Cook was pulling out of a shot which you could say was an error on his part. However, it's still unlucky getting out in such a way.

[south beds mikey]

30 odd for 1 in these conditions (outfield maybe cost us 10/15?) is not too bad. Couple of close LBWs on Strauss; maybe his luck's on the turn.