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

[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

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Ernest

England won so easy lat time it's hard to see tham getting beat,
Play starts Sunday 1045 BST
Please post your match comments here on this thread.
Thank's

Hey Ernest, I did not see you write the same about England when Australia comfortably beat England in the Natwest Series. One match does not make the best team, just means they where the best that day. It only has to be a flip of the coin to decide a game between these two sides.

[Chuck Palumbo]

Supposedly Gillespie is going to be dropped with Kasprowicz replacing him. Both have been terribly off form this summer and Australia would undoubtedly like one of them to be in some sort of form ahead of the test series.

It will be interesting to see what the Lords pitch will play like this time. The final last week was a very unlike Lords pitch in that it seamed around and had a lot of pace in it. In recent years it has been a very placid pitch and lots of runs have been scored.

Its important that England carry on the momentum that has been built up in the last three weeks. A series win here will send us into the test series in good heart.

[Rob.]

Well, England have to improve their ODI batting at Lords.

The the last two ODIs England have played at Lords :

• 33-5 vs. Australia
• 48-5 vs India

Thats not very good.

From what I have seen the Aussie bowling isn't really threatening after the new ball attack of Lee and McGrath. Lee and McGrath later on in the innings are not very dangerous, and Gillespie / Kasprowiscz are in poor form at the moment. After that, it is Hussey, Symonds, Clarke and Hogg. I would hope England have learnt a bit about playing Hogg.

Overall, with that in mind, I would be happy with 50/60-0 after 15 overs.

Oh yea, we have powerplays as well. Should be interesting to see how the captains use them in this game. I hope they don't use them all at once again.

Finally, Prior should be sub, Solanki shouldn't be in the squad in my opinion.

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by The Legendary RB

Finally, Prior should be sub, Solanki shouldn't be in the squad in my opinion.

Brilliant fielder and a very good batsmen at least on the level of Prior.. Has been unlucky as of late... I think we should stick with Solanki, good ODI batsmen

[Rachael]

Whatever Solanki's failings.. he's a better ODI player than Vaughan. I suspect that with enough encouragement he could be a quite excellent ODI player. given the chance I'd have him opening with Tresco and Strauss at 3 (ahead of Pietersen at 4).

Sadly.. it's not going to happen.. so england wil continue to carry a ODI passenger who can't get his head around ODI batting (can't judge run rates, can't make decent judgements as to what shots are worth risking), doesn't generally bowl (even though he could) and is not much cop as a bowler or ODI captain.

I like the guy as a Test player and test captain.. but thus far ODI cricket just hasn't looked like his thing.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Hey Ernest, I did not see you write the same about England when Australia comfortably beat England in the Natwest Series. One match does not make the best team, just means they where the best that day. It only has to be a flip of the coin to decide a game between these two sides.

It's not been just one match as far as the bowling has been concerned AY, to be honest Australia have more bowling problems that England, both it would seem have had batting problems.

I have not wrote Australia of by any means, I even mentioned if Australia win tomorrow, how important the oval game is.

I dont expect Australia to lie down and die, but if you are comparing Englands bad game against Australia, with Australia's very poor game at Headlingly, you have to remember Australia are world champions, while England are one of the poorest one day teams on paper, and in the ratings.

I would not be surprised if Australia won tomorrow, but these one day matches are a two headed gambit, whoever wins this series, will have the pressure to keep that form in the Ashes, on the other hand, the winners will have the edge in confidence.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I like the guy as a Test player and test captain.. but thus far ODI cricket just hasn't looked like his thing.

If we are being honest Rachael, Vaughan has not been in any sort of form in any format of the game for a while.

But I think it is worth dragging a passener, because there is no other captain.

I could be wrong, but the only games England have got beat in-in both these one day series, Vaughan was not captain.

[Rachael]

What would a combined XI look like right now? I've lost track a little.. but it seems to me that the only certainties would be Symonds, Collingwood, hussey and Mcgrath.

Tresco's done best of the openers... but only because Gilchrist dropped him and he got a second life later on in the last innings. Gilchrist might share opening duties.. but he hasn't shone... yet none from Hayden, Strauss and Vaughan look more convincing as openers.. and Jones has been neither more nor less convincing as a 'keeper.

Ponting is clearly not going to figure... nor Martyn nor Clarke... nor Flintoff.. nor Gough, Gillespie and so on.. though to be honest there are so many who have ruled themselves out that I wonder if one could even get together an XI.

One thing's for sure: the standard of cricket needs to pick up.. and soon!

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by Rachael

What would a combined XI look like right now? I've lost track a little.. but it seems to me that the only certainties would be Symonds, Collingwood, hussey and Mcgrath.

I think maybe Harmison, Flintoff(for his bowling alone) and Lee must also be in there. All three have been taking wickets and both Harmison and Flintoff have been quite economical as well.

Vaughan despite his criticisms also has 2 half centuries in ODIs between the two sides this summer.

Going by performances between the two teams mine would be: Trescothick, Gilchrist, Vaughan, Martyn, Symonds, Hussey, Flintoff, Hogg, Lee, Harmison and Mcgrath.