The Ashes First Test Lords Sunday 24th July..Day 4.

[John]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

A few points:

I'm gutted, but I've realised that we will not win the ashes and as long as we compete all the way and improve through the series I'll settle for that.

There is no reason to be gutted. If you read any predictions of ex Test match crickters you wouldn't be that surprised. I didn't see one in the papers who thought England would win. Willis actually said Aussies no problem.
G. Fowler was put under pressure on Sky by Coville and he reluctantly said yes they can if they to their maximum potential.

[Collyisamackem]

I can feel gutted because I believe what I believe. Pundits have their own opinions and mine was a mite more hopeful than theirs. Fact is I was wrong, but I will continue to be optimistic.

[Irish Left Armer]

As much as I would liked for Thorpe to be picked originally I think England should stick with Bell now that they have picked him.

The Australian's have two brilliant bowlers and most of England's batsmen are painfully out of form. Net result is England don't get to 200 once. Now that's worrying!

My one thought on selection is should Flintoff be batting at 6. He hasn't looked like making any runs and clearly he isn't picking Warne. England's batting is weak enough already. Maybe he should move to 7 and England get by with 3 seamers or no Giles.

[acker]

Originally Posted by Lemming

Key! Look I'm mad !

Don't really know. We need a gritty, determined, disciplined player with no technical flaws, someone not overawed by top opposition or tough match situations. Someone with experience, who has world cricket's respect and runs all around the world against all opposition. Maybe an average of around 45, about 7,000 career runs, with 16 or so 100's. If possible he should also look something like this:



Can anyone think of a player matching this criteria?

Whats Derek Randall up to ?

[John]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

I can feel gutted because I believe what I believe. Pundits have their own opinions and mine was a mite more hopeful than theirs. Fact is I was wrong, but I will continue to be optimistic.

Fair enough. I myself spent a lot of the time ignoring the opinions i didn't like. I have in recent years changed my policy to see if that worked any better. I am not sure it does but it has the added advantage of not being too disappiontedat the result.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by acker

Whats Derek Randall up to ?

Alternatively, Nasser Hussain or Brian Close?

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

I wouldn't go for the knee-jerk action that the Geraint-bashers have been waiting for in dropping him, because the whole side couldn't catch.

I'm sorry, I thought catching the ball was the main requirement for the wicketkeeper? Anything else is a bonus.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

I'm sorry, I thought catching the ball was the main requirement for the wicketkeeper? Anything else is a bonus.

Well.. I'd say the other main requirement is getting the close fielders in close enough... and on that count he also failed: the slips set themselves from the 'keeper.. and Jones was WAY too far back. I don't know if it was panic about conceding byes or worry about dropping catches that prompted him to retreat so far.. but he was so far back he never even stood a chance at one or two of the more serious leg side wides!

Gilchrist was at least 2-3 yards closer.. and even for the Aussies there were edges not carrying.

[Paoli]

Well, it was extremely hyped up but in the end a resounding victory from Australia is the eventual course of action. England's bowling lacked potency in the second innings, showing that Freddie was obviously pretty tired and Harmy wasn't at his first innings best. Simon Jones was the unlucky one in that second innings, however.

Geraint Jones- Let to many slip and the bell might toll to signal a halt to his career at this stage. If many fans had it their way, this test would be the last chance for him to prove himself. If he's going to drop or miss absolute screamers, then it's ok. But he drops regulation keeper catches which are vital for a wicketkeeper to become a good one. Also his taking was pretty ordinary. I recall at least two occasions where the ball just slipped out of his gloves.

I thought Warne played a really good second innings with the ball and showed that he doesn't need to keep the ball turning to get wickets. His dismissal of Bell was a classic example. The only one who played him with moderate ease was Pietersen; incidentally his Hants teammate and one of his close mates.

McGrath is absolutely unstoppable. If there were a 6th test as there were a few years back, I'd back him to get 600 by the end of the series. He really gave England a big hint whilst bowling and cleaning up Vaughan and Flintoff; bowl on off stump, and eventually you'll get a wicket. They just couldn't figure it out. He was assisted by the slope when bowling to the likes of Tresco and Strauss, obviously because they're left handers.

Australia 1-0. England must show more fight in the next test to have any chance of winning back the Ashes. Highly doubtful at this stage.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by R W S

Anybody else feel Strauss should have stood his ground yesterday and asked the 3rd umpire to check if Lee had grassed that catch? It looked dubious enough to me.

No, no, NO! The third umpire is there to assist the field umpires if requested, not to provide a court of appeal for an aggrieved player. Once the ump has raised his finger, the batsman must go. I think that is still the Law, and long may it remain so.