4th Ashes Test: Trent Bridge, 25-29, August: Pre-Match Thread

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Pietersen24

Im worried this will be the test in which the Aussies fire on all cylinders and win the test

I'm worried that they will not: I'm going to be seriously unimpressed if Australia flop at Trent Bridge and then shine back at the Oval - the world of cricket needs these supposed superstars to thrive on a proper English wicket!

The flip side is this: England performing at the Oval. If it's going to happen i think it's going to need Harmison to get his act together and probably 3-4 big innings from the batsmen.... but if England can get that right then I suspect it will cause more worry around the world than anything they have yet done.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pietersen24

Im worried about this test. Im worried this will be the test in which the Aussies fire on all cylinders and win the test

No I would not worry, England will get them in the Shires, if we have to beware, then it will be at the Oval.

[The Phantom Ram]

Just been passed Trent Bridge and there is a lot of activity around the ground already. The big screen is up and there is a security presence already. Today in Nottingham is a lovely hot sunny day - like all of the last week except yesterday when it poured it down all day - but the forecast for tomorrow and Thursday is not good. What will all this do to the Trent Bridge pitch? Who will it favour?

[Victor Frankenstein]

I think the great thing about this series so far is that no one can really predict anything. Australia haven't performed in the manner they're used to, but no one really knows if it's because they're all having an off series (i find that hard to believe) or whether England are just bowling really well. I personally think the truth actually lies somewhere inbetween. England, specifically flintoff, are bowling well but australia are facing an entire bowling attack for the first time ever, they can't just see off hoggard and harmison and get stuck into the first change, there is no let up (except giles i guess, but even he is just about holding his own most of the time).

I don't think either side is playing to their potential, England can bat a lot better than they have been and can definately bowl far better. Australia have the best batting side in the world so can definately bat better, and their bowling has been good but lacked the back up so a replacement of gillespie will change them completely, provided that replacement does a top level job too. McGrath carrying an injury has turned the series in our favour as our weakest part (batting) has been allowed a bit of breathing space and has, on the whole, taken it.

I think that both sides aren't playing to their potential because the opposition isn't allowing them to, this is definately a contest between 1 and 2 in the world and i hope it continues in the same way for the next two tests.

[Paoli]

Rach- do you actually go for England?

As for my tuppance, I believe that Australia will win quite comfortably and England will come to rue their lost opportunities at Old Trafford; did they declare with too many runs to chase, or did they simply fail to get Pigeon or Lee out?

What Australia need is obviously to bat first; set a fairly good total, in the region of 450 and then bowl England out for 300. Then, we'll pile on a quick 250-300 and make England chase until we bowl them out. I'm looking forward to seeing Tait win a test cap hopefully.

Part of me wants the series to go to five; an England win or draw the only scenarios there, but most of me wants to see a victory rounded up.

I think we can do this one pretty comfortably; Pigeon's nice and relaxed and our batsman did alright against the likes of Uzman Afzaal and co. down at Northants.

Australia comfortably.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Afzaal is a batsman though so i'd hope they'd do well against him otherwise they really have gone down hill

The toss will be crucial again, i'm just not sure about australia though, we keep waiting for them to turn up and destroy us but they don't, they turn up and we compete with them. I do agree that i think we may come to rue not getting that last wicket, i'm not sure there was anything more we could have done though as if we'd declared earlier then australia would have had a far better chance of getting the total on what was an easy batting pitch, but having got so close it is annoying, i don't think any australian could argue though that if it wasn't for the rain they'd have lost that test as australia weren't even attempting to get the total and yet we still managed to get 9 of them out, 30mins more play and it would have been 2-1.

I guess we'll know this time next week though whether that was a turning point and we've shot our bolt early or whether it's just another improvement step in the england teams progress. I expect the next two wickets to be far more suited to australia though so bowling them out twice will be hard work, but it always is and we've managed it 5.9 times so far.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

The toss will be crucial again

VF the toss for me may decide this Test series. Whoever wins it will aim to bat as long as possible then aim to bowl the other side out twice...(they may need an additional innings to boolster the score)...

I am not too sure why Rachael thinks that England winning will worry world cricket, but thne again I am not fully short how Rachael's brain works FULL STOP....

This Test is thee big one... You really don't want to go to the Oval looking foor a win to level or take the series.

Whoever wins the Test, I feel will win at the Oval as well. it will be 3-1 IMO, but I am not too sure to whom, but I will have a lot oof fingers and toes crossed that it is Engalnd....

[Pabs]

Originally Posted by Ernest

At Old Trafford, England bowled well enough to get 9 Aussie wickets on the last day, despite being handycapped having Hoggard in the team.

All credit to Australia for hanging on, but I thing had Chapple or keedy from Lancashire been bowling those last overs when our bowlers were knackered, it would have been a different tale, I bet a lot of members on this board could say the same.

Would that be the same Chapple and Keedy that took 1 wicket between them from 49 overs on the last day of the Roses match? Pfff...

Hoggard was by no means a handicap at OT, in fact if he had been allowed to bowl at the tail the match might have ended differently (and no, I don't mean an Aussie victory). I thought he was really starting to bowl into form and am convinced he will shine at TB - 33/1 with Ladbrokes to be MotM, got to be worth a tenner...

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Ern

So who has the best chance of winning at Trent Bridge

Both teams have an equal chance.

I'm excited at the prospect of finally seeing Shaun Tait getting a test cap, having heard so much about it. He seems pretty much set to make his debut at Trent Bridge. I wonder how England will play him.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pabs

Would that be the same Chapple and Keedy that took 1 wicket between them from 49 overs on the last day of the Roses match? Pfff...

Yes least said about that .

Originally Posted by Pabs

Hoggard was by no means a handicap at OT, in fact if he had been allowed to bowl at the tail the match might have ended differently

This is a good point, and a reason I have critisised Vaughan in earlier posts, he should have tried Hoggard at old Trafford, like he should have tried Giles in last years one day ICCC final, which drifted to defeat.

Hoggard seems to get an opening spell, then he does not seem to bowl much after that, that could be a reason Hoggard has only 7 wickets to date.
I seem to remember Hoggard getting a one or maybe two over spell at Old Trafford..

IMO if Hoggard is selected, then he should be bowled more, why was he not bowled for about 3 overs before tea on the last day at OT, instead of overbowling Flintoff.

Not quite as bad, but look how they treated Anderson, some say it was because Anderson bowled poor,how did anyone know, it took 14 months as teaboy before he was dropped.