The Ashes 2006/07: The Brisbane Test Thread (Day 1)

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

plunkett would be a better bet than Broad IMO.

Not seen much of Broad, apart from the few one dayers. Though Plunkett should be nowhere near the team, he'd get carted all round Australia.

Anyone know what they see in this guy? Where the hell is Chris Tremlett?!

[Nazza]

If he's found guilty of drunk driving he should never be allowed near the team again.

[Vrock]

I don't think the Aussies batted amazingly well today; they just dispatched the bad balls when they came and they were very frequent; simply allowing them an easy way to get their eye in. They gave respect to the deliveries that were put in the right areas and there weren't many of those from some bowlers.

I think KP should be bowling first change in the morning, he certainly looks the most dangerous of our bowlers at the moment. Gilo is bowling okay but, as has been said earlier on in this thread, is certainly showing his lack of match practice. There's no point in dwelling on the missed opportunity of playing Monty Panesar, I just hope he gets selected for the rest of the series.

If two bowlers can get a decent partnership together in the morning then I can see Australia being bowled out for less than 450. If we see anything like a repeat of today's performance 550+ with a declaration is definitely on the cards.

I can see it now, at least three of four guys around the bat as soon as Warne comes on.

[Ernest]

We will have to agree to not agree over Mahmood - he played at his worst in the one dayers, as did all the other England players.

Anderson has been the England tea boy for to long, he need more overs under his belt before becoming an automatic choice for England - wrote post after post that Anderson should have been allowed to go back and play with Lancashre, he has just has annual holidays with the team.

I don't know much about Plunkett - so I will bow out on that one, Broad I have seen in ODI matches, and IMO has a long way to go, and needs to aquire more pace to get into the England Test side.

Like I say - I am not going to change my mind, Mahmood has bowled important spells (I admit he has gone for runs), you are set in your possition - so we will never agree on this one unless Mahmood is picked for a Test this series and we have something to go on.

[south beds mikey]

Its clearly a tac tic by England to keep the Aussies interested. Just like last year where we gave em a 1-0 start. There are just a colony after all so we can't be too hard on them straight away .

Seriously we shouldn't be throwing the baby out with the bath water. It is just 1 day. As everyone knows I am a huge Monty fan, but I would just say I was refreshed by Giles approach. He is never going to be a massive turner of the ball (which despite Rachaels quite hilarious post is important!) but atleast he looked like he was trying to be proactive in his bowling rather then just waiting for something to happen. I do feel langer was a touch fortunate early on but Ponting is genuinely world class as he showed for the umpteenth time yesterday. Sure the Aussies are favourites but there is still a long way to go.

[Collyisamackem]

Well I watched the first hour, already battling a cold, and the experience has not done well for me at work today! Shocking first ball from Harmison, but then he was given hardly any overs in the ICCCT - he should have bowled more then and he may have found some rhythm to take into the first over this morning. IMO Hoggy should have bowled the very first over and let Harmy come in second knowing that he didn't have to produce a jaffer from nowhere having hardly bowled since September! That said, I think if Fred had wwatched the first edge go flying through wide gully and reinforced that area Harmy could have had Langer early, given the ensuing repeated edging to that area.

As for what I didn't watch, I was appalled to hear the scoreline as I woke at 7am, it's barely better than the half-squad we showed up with last time. Clearly Ponting batted well and Langer also after surviving those edges early on, and Hussey just doesn't know how to get out at the moment! However the performance of the whole team, Fred included for his field placings early on (just ask Strauss if you're stuck Fred...), needs to improve drastically if we are to save this test and compete in this series. I am hopeful and optimistic of that, but this first day has been poor.

[outswing]

im sure this has been said before, but picking Giles was a sign that Fletcher intended to go for the draw.
He can hold up one end with the bat, which would come in handy if/when england are up against it.
But with the ball, even though he got a wicket (to a horrible shot), anyone with a fundemental understanding of cricket could tell that Panesar would be the more attacking choice.

Apparently Peitersen got some decent turn towards the end, and having Monty with those sort of conditions, might have picked off a couple of late Aussie wickets.
Warne must have been licking his lips...

[Occasional Fan]

As usual for matches which attract a lot of traffic to the board, we'll open a separate thread for each day. Please post your comments on Day Two here.