2nd Natwest Series ODI - Ban vs Aus (sophia gardens)

[Hondo]

Well this def has to be the biggest upset in the history of cricket. Well done to Bangladesh! They played well, and out classed the aussies. Poitings face said it all. Just goes to show that Aussies aren't that hard to beat. I remember reading few of the Aussies players saying that Bangladesh shouldn't be playing international cricket. I bet they are eating their own words now.

[Kirsty Harris]

Wow! What a performance from Bangladesh!! Fantastic effort and a well deserved victory. Lovely batting by Ashraful, and he was well supported by the other Bangladesh batsmen. Nice to see them keep their cool and not hit the panic button when victory was in sight. All credit to them, top effort!

As for Australia, things are not looking so rosey. This defeat cannot be shrugged off so lightly as those that have gone before. The Australian bowling attack, by and large, did not look that strong in this game. And the Captincy was very poor, especially with regaurd to field placings. I felt that Ponting was waiting for Bangladesh to throw the game away, and felt that all his little chats only broke the bowlers concentration as well as making him look a desprate man.

He acually admitted that he was 'pretty close' to pushing the panic button, which is certianly a sign he is worried.

But I put all that a side, because to go on about how poor the Aussies were in places takes due praise away from Bangladesh. I was thrilled for them to do so well today

[Maranello]

I seond the comments made by ZR about Australia's bowling and fielding - they did not look like an outfit which was in this to win; very lacklustre at times, and definitely low energy and enthusiasm levels. They did not play badly, but just did not seem to have enough.

The vulnerabilities in the Australian ODI outfit exposed during the VB series by Pakistan have come to the fore during this tour - they could do with Warne and Bevan making comebacks, since the replacements have been found wanting. Katich at no.7 in a ODI? How is he going to score at 8-10 an over for 10 overs? And really, they need more than three and a half bowlers - three good pacers, plus a half a decent bowler in Hogg is just not enough, the part-timers are too inconsistent. Maybe an all-rounder like Watson needs to be considered.

Would be fascinating to see what happens tomorrow!

[Zainub]

Kirsty, you are right about Ponting's captaincy, I think it was very ordinary.

All is certainly not well within the Aussie ranks, Andrew Symonds missed out on playing today because of a breach of team rules. I don't think the dressing room atmosphere will get any better now
http://content.cricinfo.com/natwests...ry/211376.html

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by yubeingfunny

Ern, I may be getting carried away after 3 matches, but i am coming round to your point of view about these aussies, maybe the years are catching up, the bowling seems to be missing some penetration, and the fielding... well is basically of the standard we used to see from england in the 90's!?

Well Bangladesh batted well, as they did against England, what this win tell us, is that if coupled with the 20/20, and Somerset with two class batsmen, Australias bowlers just don't have the answers, when the questions get tough.

Bangladesh showed what can be done with determination, and self belief, I really am pleased for them, Australia could well bounce back tomorrow, but in the medium term, they have it all to prove, they are still world no one.

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Congrats to the Tigers, and to their long faithful 150 million fans. You deserve this!

Yes it could not have happened to a better country, i can imagine the celebrations.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

All is certainly not well within the Aussie ranks, Andrew Symonds missed out on playing today because of a breach of team rules. I don't think the dressing room atmosphere will get any better now

Yeah, when Michael Holding asked Ponting what the teams plans were for tonight (in terms of preparing for the England game tomorrow) I was thinking, nice long coach journey followed by a disruptive disciplinary hearing.....great prepartion!!!

England have probably had a lovely afternoon watching this game!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Hondo

I remember reading few of the Aussies players saying that Bangladesh shouldn't be playing international cricket.

Hi Hondo,
lets hope this puts some confidence into the Bangladesh side, i believe there is a place for them in international cricket.

[Zainub]

England have probably had a lovely afternoon watching this game!!!

England should take a lesson from this game I think, not only in terms of how to beat Aus but also that they should not take B'desh for granted. I am going to go in over board mood and will not rule out B'desh also coming close to beating England in the remaining matches now that their confidence should be sky high after beating non other then the World Champions themselves.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

England should take a lesson from this game I think, not only in terms of how to beat Aus but also that they should not take B'desh for granted.

I agree there, and I think that that was part of the problem the Aussies had - they thought that they didn't need to win the game, because Bangladesh would gift it to them. If you look at Englands performances against Bangladesh in tests and the ODI, they have been ruthless, taking nothing for granted.

I just meant that England have had better preperation for tomorrows game than the Aussies, which may well give them an advantage.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Kirsty

I just meant that England have had better preperation for tomorrows game than the Aussies, which may well give them an advantage.

Australia haven't had any preparation. I don't think I would call losing to England in a 20Twenty international, then losing to Somerset and then losing to B'desh "preparation". I would call it a nightmare.