NatWest Challenge 2005/2nd match-Lord's Sunday 10 July.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Big call mate, I hope its sun shine coming your way and not eggs

Well if it is eggs, i have them sunny side up so i can't lose.

[greg]

The only questions now are

1 How many overs to spare when Australia win today?

2 Can England stop a whitewash in the Test Series?

[Seamer]

Aussies will do it with 4 overs to spare. Same as England on thursday except they only lost one wicket - moral victory there.
Whitewash? Rain should help England avoid that. The Aussies usually drop the dead rubber too.

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Will Australia bounce back?, are are England now dominent?.

I don't know, England won so easy lat time it's hard to see tham getting beat, however this is a test of Australian metal, and should they win, then the Last match will hold a lot of significance, whoever wins this series,could well be going into the Ashes Series, knowing they probably have an edge.

Play starts Sunday 1045 BST
Please post your match comments here on this thread.
Thank's

The last two games had nothing to do with who is dominent over who, all it proves is who wins the toss wins the game. To much going on with the pitch for the team batting first. So due to this the last game only holds significance to this particular series. And will still probably go to the team that wins the toss, assuming they are not stupid and decide to bat first.

[Moss]

The lack of consistency from both teams is bizarre. How can it be such a seesaw in just a few days?

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Moss

The lack of consistency from both teams is bizarre. How can it be such a seesaw in just a few days?

I think Aussie-Yank has already answered this one.

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

The last two games had nothing to do with who is dominent over who, all it proves is who wins the toss wins the game. To much going on with the pitch for the team batting first. So due to this the last game only holds significance to this particular series. And will still probably go to the team that wins the toss, assuming they are not stupid and decide to bat first.

[John]

Do you think Tuesday's will be the last ODI for Gough, Vaughan and Gillespie? Because a case can be made can't it?

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by John

Do you think Tuesday's will be the last ODI for Gough, Vaughan and Gillespie? Because a case can be made can't it?

In Gough's case, it looks to me that the English theory is to bring Harmison on as a change bowler and have the two lesser bowlers bowl first. To me it looks like Australia gets away in the first few overs and then get pulled back when Harmison comes on. When I first saw this I thought it was rather a strange plan. But It may be a good system for England. As Gough comes back later and each time he has he has taken wickets and restricted the runs better than what he was doing before. I think England could use Gough more economicaly than they are, but the way they are using him might be better for England.

Vaughan's destiney will be held in the ashes test, performs well he will be back in the ODI, if poorly them may consider dropping him.

Gillespie = Gone.

[Irish Left Armer]

Could be it for Gough alright. I think Vaughan has lost confidence in him. He's afraid to throw him the ball. It's a shame because I think Gough still has enough to contribute, he is just low on confidence and playing with little luck at the minute.

I expect Vaughans poor one day career to survive until the World Cup and then that will be it unless he somehow discovers how to play one day cricket properly.

As for Gillespie, who knows? Is his body not letting him bowl the way he used to? Or will he suddenly find form and save himself?

I don't think today's pitch was a won the toss and win the match wicket (like the one on thursday) but it certainly helps and winning the toss is becoming crucial with the supersubs depending on it so much. Maybe that needs looking at, it's putting too much emphasis on a 50-50 toss of a coin.

England just batted poorly, not enough from Tresco, Strauss, Vaughan or Pietersen. After that it was a rescue mission. Still, nice to see Fred make some runs.

It looked today like the Aussies may have arrived, finally.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

I expect Vaughans poor one day career to survive until the World Cup and then that will be it unless he somehow discovers how to play one day cricket properly.

IMO, Vaughan's ODI career is not that poor...it's not great or even especially good, no, but it's not that bad either. He has made a number of useful knocks this summer. He will be in the OneDay side for some time yet, IMO - regaurdless of the outcome of the Ashes. At least until after the next world cup, as you say.

Gough is a tough call, now days when he bowls poorly it is very poorly, yet at times this summer, he has still bowled well. Every time people suggest he should perhaps retire, he seems to pull a rabbit out of the hat!!

I would point out that in games played so far this summer, it is England 3, Australia 2, tied one, no result one, so overall England still have the edge. The next game could be important, obviously in terms of who wins the Natwest Challenge, but in terms of who starts on a postive note in the test matches.