3rd Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 11-15 August: Day Two

[greg]

Clarke won't bat till 7 because he has been off the field for so long.When he does bat i want Freddie and Harmi to give him a going over like Ntini did to Giles under similar circumstances in the winter.Everything in this game is going well for us and we have to be confident in our ability to continue ramming home the advantage we have.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by greg

we would be 434-8 at lunch on day 2 we would have snatched their hand off.

Yes, but if you'd mentioned that we were going to be 290-2 (with Vaughan 166 and Bell just getting going) at the beginning of the seventy-fifty over and we'd subside to 434-8 (with Flintoff and Jones perishing in the forties) thirty-five overs later, I think we'd be wanting to sew that hand back on.

550 was a must today. Australia might have struggled to 350, but we might struggle to put up a decent score to chase in the second innings, with only an eighty-odd lead.

That two run win, could be a five wicket defeat.

[The Phantom Ram]

How is McGrath's fitness? Has he bowled any quicker?

[greg]

Oliver does your pessimistic viewpoint come from years of watching Spurs

[greg]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Ram

How is McGrath's fitness? Has he bowled any quicker?

Nothing over 80mph.Very ordinary pace wise and not a real threat by his own high standards.

[R W S]

A very interesting lunch-time piece on channel 4 (i'm glad I am back in the UK today!) about the art of leg-spin. RB has distilled all his knowledge and expertise into two sheets of A4 - and handed it to one of England u-17's leg spinner's! Thanks Ritchie - in seven years we may have the new Warne!

[greg]

Originally Posted by R W S

Thanks Ritchie - in seven years we may have the new Warne!

I thought we found the answer with Salisbury and Schofield.Would love us to find a good leggie but it won't happen as counties won't encourage them.They want instant success and it would take a few years of careful nurturing to produce a Test class talent.

[R W S]

Originally Posted by greg

I thought we found the answer with Salisbury and Schofield.

*shudders*

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by greg

I thought we found the answer with Salisbury and Schofield.Would love us to find a good leggie but it won't happen as counties won't encourage them.They want instant success and it would take a few years of careful nurturing to produce a Test class talent.

I am no expert on spin bowling - hence I set up the 'Spin' thread in the general forum - but I can't understand why counties won't encourage them, why can't they be as instant success as a fast bowler? Also I would guess they are less injury prone and have a longer life span?

[The Phantom Ram]

Would we say 450 is looking a good score now? Saying that our tail enders (harsh on Giles perhaps) may be due a few runs. Still if I was offered 450 at the minute I would probably take it!