3rd NatWest Series ODI: England vs. Australia at Bristol

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by R W S

Harmy is putting down a marker here

What's astonishing is that he's actually got into a great rhythm in the first spell of the day in the first big game of the year, albeit not with the new ball. IF he can actually crack turning up from the start of games/ series that's a huge bonus for England.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

It is a cause for concern. The aussies will recover but its certainly a decline!

Surely this is true. There is so much psychology involved in this game that every single knock to the Australians' confidence is a significant boost to England's Ashes campaign. I'm still a long way from seeing an England Ashes win this year, but we are closer now than we were last evening, and definitely closer last evening than we were a week ago, and not only in terms of the passage of time. Did anyone have money on Ponting having an average of 0.5 after two innings? Missed it myself!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Rachael

What's astonishing is that he's actually got into a great rhythm in the first spell of the day in the first big game of the year, albeit not with the new ball. IF he can actually crack turning up from the start of games/ series that's a huge bonus for England.

Precisely Rachael. The Australian batsmen in general have always found Shoaib Akhtar a very tough bowler to handle; Harmison, when on song from his first over, bowling with rhythm and to a plan, is as good an attacking proposition as Akhtar, and probably much more durable, in that he would actually bowl more than the 5 over spells Akhtar is capable of.

[John]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

It is a cause for concern... If england had lost this much we would be a laughing stock. The aussies will recover but its certainly a decline!

I agree there does seem to be a decline going on but it also might be in conjuction with bad form as well. Therefore I would be careful about going to far about the depth of decline.
They've got Warne and Langer to come for the Ashes they got Lee to come back. How long is a player like Ponting going to get score like 0,1. There is stacks of quality in that side even if they are in decline.

[R W S]

25 overs up - 6 an over from here on will take Australia to 253

Hussey looks a decent player - I say 'looks' but I'm listening to the radio!
I'm off down the Irish pub here in Utrecht to catch the end of the Ausse effort & for some sunday lunch.

[Maranello]

He does look decent on TV too RWS ;-)

6 an over from here on end is possible, but not much batting depth; there are only Watson and Hogg, and Harmison has quite a few overs still up his sleeve. I would not be surprised if Aussies do not play the full 50.

PS: GBH has bowled 6 overs for 17 runs and 4 wickets thus far

[Maranello]

The absence of Giles and Jones is hurting England. Lewis is going at 7 an over, and the 'fifth' bowler, either Collingwood, MPV or Solanki, are not really cutting it.

Hussey just scored an excellent 50 - well done, 53 from 56 balls, but it is a beauty of a batting track. At this rate, 270+ should be possible.

[Mongoose]

Aus are fighting back through Hussey and Clarke. Both nearing their 50s, 100 stand nearly up. Don't ever write them off!

[Mongoose]

You're quicker than me M! Eng need to break this partnership before the damage becomes serious.

[Maranello]

Yes M, a seriously good partnership in a pressure situation. 100 p'ship up, off just 111 balls, coming in at 63/4, that is good.

Must add though that the bowling has been pedestrian in this 'middle-period' of the innings too, once Harmison was taken off.