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

[Ernest]

No that's not fair Beny, look at the possition of Colly's right hand, how he held on to that ball is amazing.

Rachael might know the match, a favorite player of hers "Ramp's", took a catch square of the wicket, seemed to be miles over his head, just plucked it out of the air, the only catch to come close to this.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Ernest

No that's not fair Beny, look at the possition of Colly's right hand, how he held on to that ball is amazing.

Rachael might know the match, a favorite player of hers "Ramp's", took a catch square of the wicket, seemed to be miles over his head, just plucked it out of the air, the only catch to come close to this.

I remember that catch well, and Colly's catch today was probably even better than that one - by a whisker.

IMO, the catch was both spectacular AND difficult. It was the most remarkable moment of the match - even Pietersons mighty sixes couldn't quite eclipse that as the 'champagne moment' as it were....

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by admin

Overall impression: Spectacular aerial work. Maybe the best overhead catch seen in England.

And a 9.5 from the Russian judge!!

Originally Posted by Beny

I think Michael Holding was correct when he said that the catch, was awesome, but more spectacular than difficult

I actually don't recall Holding saying that, I only recall him saying that he has seen a better one in New Zealand. I have to disagree with both you and Michael Holding on that count. Possibly the best catch I've seen since John Dyson (of course, I saw a video of it)

Anyway, back to the game. England's bowling just clicked. Steve Harmison was in absolutely unstoppable form. However, the thing is, after South Africa, England fans will be forever thinking that it will stop soon. If Harmison can get it right in the Test Series like he did last night, he'll probably assert himself as one of the world's premier bowlers. On Australia's batting, I said Mike Hussey would play a big knock, and he did. However, I believed that Huss wouldn't go out; would you believe that it is his first dismissal in his ODI career? If it hadn't of been for Hussey, Australia would've got done.

Dizzy Gillespie was absolutely awful for us. Kept sending down wide after wide after wide in his first few overs, and then he just couldn't get a wicket. Kasper has once and for all played himself out of the ODI contention, with another sterling performance of 1-68 off 9. (almost rivals 0-88 off 8 at Taunton) Shane Watson has again proven himself to not be international material, although his batting did impress a little bit. But again, his bowling lacks any penetration or movement off the seam. He fails to take advantage of conditions given to him. I say he needs to get out the tape of the game at Hobart in 2002-03 when England needed 18 off 24 balls with 5 wickets in hand, and then Watson clean bowled Nasser Hussain, had Alec Stewart caught at mid-wicket, and collected James Kirtley caught behind. Australia ended up winning by 9 runs thanks to Watson's bowling.

Also, I think KP has proven what I thought all along, yet so many others doubted; that he's a genuine superstar in the making. Another brilliant knock, and he did it with such ease as well, 91 off 65 balls seems like a sloggers innings, but in Pietersen's case it was a lovely knock. Vaughan again did alright but I am worried at his seemingly slow scoring rate in ODI's. He is definitely a test match player, but as captain of the ODI squad he doesn't really have a choice.

Again, I am confined to misery for another day.

[Beny]

I actually don't recall Holding saying that, I only recall him saying that he has seen a better one in New Zealand. I have to disagree with both you and Michael Holding on that count. Possibly the best catch I've seen since John Dyson (of course, I saw a video of it)

OY get back here boy... You dont get away that eaisily without explaining yourslef.

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Ernest 53019

No that's not fair Beny, look at the possition of Colly's right hand, how he held on to that ball is amazing.

Rachael might know the match, a favorite player of hers "Ramp's", took a catch square of the wicket, seemed to be miles over his head, just plucked it out of the air, the only catch to come close to this.

Ern, I saw a guy do a similer thing in U/16's cricket. It was a big jump and the fact that it was caught one handed adds to the difficulty however I could probebly do it. If he'd been diving to the side or running to the ball then it might have been different. My personal favorite is McGrath's diving outfeild catch or that NZ catch (forgoten his name) against us in the CH trophy.

[Rachael]

The catch was clearly the highlight of the match, the sort of moment of brilliance that would have demanded a MoM award in most games. I can recall assorted blinders from past games.. but I couldn't tell you where any of them took place.. or even who bowled / batted - catches kinda stand alone like that for me.

Ramps certainly took a few that would be contenders for a top 10... but Butcher's made a couple of seemingly impossible takes.. and Hussain has at least one complete blinder to his name (along witha few other quite outstanding examples).

I can't think of a specific catch right now... but I always think of Nick Knight as the best England catcher of the Hussain-Ramps generation.

I still doubt anyone, anywhere, will ever match the great Johnty Rhodes effort though... the one where he fingers (vertically) a ball that looked out of reach and screeching to the boundary... lands... and then cups the ball as it comes down on top of him.

[rineet]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I still doubt anyone, anywhere, will ever match the great Johnty Rhodes effort though... the one where he fingers (vertically) a ball that looked out of reach and screeching to the boundary... lands... and then cups the ball as it comes down on top of him.

Collingwood's catch was an amazing one! But for me, the best catch would be the one taken by Yuvraj Singh to dismiss Jonty Rhodes during the India-South Africa semi-final match ,in the ICC Champions Trophy held in 2002 ,in Sri Lanka. Yuvraj was fielding at short fine leg and Jonty Rhodes swept Harbhajan Singh. The ball took the top edge and was dipping on Yuvraj,but his body was parallel to the ground when he took that catch.Truly,an amazing and an unforgettable one!

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Again, I am confined to misery for another day.

Ah, bless

Still, imagine the misery of being an England supporter throughout much of the 1990's! It's amazing I emerged from the period with my optimisim intact!!

[Notts Exile]

Sorry All, couldn't contribute yesterday due to the lack of internet access in the stands at Bristol !!

How many of you are still doubting me on KP's ability to build a proper innings? He even had me wondering what was going on when he played out a maiden from Brad Hogg, but his attack on Kasper and Gillespie was nothing short of savage! No-one else in that team (Freddie apart, maybe) is capable of doing that to the Aussies.

I'm still not sure whether we won because Vaughan steadied things or despite him batting so slowly. It was disappointing to see all the batsmen (Muppet Jones apart) getting a start and then getting out. Botham on SKY never stopped banging on about our strange batting order and he had a point. Collingwood should not be coming in at four and Solanki should be insulted to find himself below Jones. His keeping might have improved a bit but he can't bat against anyone decent in one-day matches. (I don't care if it's Prior, Wallace, Read or Foster, get him out of the ODI team). KP batted at five in South Africa and did superbly, come back to England and he gets moved down to six ................. explain that!

Great atmosphere, good win. Let's not get carried away, yet. At some point Damien Martyn and Ricky Ponting will remember what they're supposed to be doing and Gillespie is a decent bowler, really!

[Milo]

We said this in South Africa and I continue to agree with you now NE. Vaughan played once again the pathetic Hussain one day innings that almost cost England the game. Bill Athey lost us the World Cup final in 87 batting like that and if it had not been for Pietersen's excellence once again, we would have lost this one. He was too low in South Africa and his efforts often counted for nothing (69 ball century in vain because he had to wiat until the 23rd over to come in - due to Vaughan's slowness again). We cannot expect him to have to rescue the innings all the time. Batting at 6 is a ludicrous thing for him to do. It worked today, but so easily could have backfired once again.