NatWest Challenge, The Brit Oval: England v Australia Tuesday 11th July.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

Is McGrath bowling that well, or are we missing out on runs we should be collecting

He was landing it mertronimically on the right spot...

Good bowling by the Australians, frustrated England in to playing rash shots...luckily the fielders dropped them...Vaughan has a shocker when it came to getting run out though.

Still feel that by losing the Toss England are at a severe dis-advantage thanks to the new rules, but that will be no excuse for losing..

Still feel we will do a lot better in the Tests. Have a good feeling in my bones...

[English_Al]

God, it's worse. Flintoff now gone, got frustrated at not being able to get the ball to the boundary. 74-4 on a batsmens paradise of a wicket. Cant deny that Australia have bowled and fielded really well though.

So, is it Oz bowling or our batting thats getting us to this position every time?

[Teatime FatCat]

Freddy out, it's not looking good. Wonder if KP can build an innings?

Why was Vaughan's run out a shocker?

[Mongoose]

Doesn't matter whether it's the bowling or the batting. the combination of the Aussie bowlers and our top order spells trouble for England at the moment. Let's hope Colly is on song again today.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

but i don't care what the circumstances or how good a throw it may have been, getting run out, when you're the captain, in this situation, is criminal... he's going to have to do something stunning in the field to make up for it now.

Massive problem here for Vaughan VF. He is a woeful fielder, and not an ODI batsman.

He shouldn't be in the one day side. I've been saying it throughout his career.
And anyone who thinks that he (Vaughan) is a master tactician should ask why he played Giles in the match at Headingly.

Presumably because he knew we'd win by nine wickets, and Giles is, of course, the most fleet of foot and the best fielder in the side bar none.

Or maybe he's Vaughan's best mate.

[Victor Frankenstein]

right, well if the theory is correct, as soon as you write off goughy he comes back to bite you. So, this game is already lost, especially as goughy is opening the bowling, we'll be all out for around 150 at best at this rate, and goughy will give away 40 off his first 3 overs so they may aswell just concede now and all go and put their feet up.

I've often thought in these situations where it's so obviously going to be a non-contest, they should just say balls to it, you win, now lets play another game unofficially just so the spectators have something to get for their money.

I'm very dissapointed with how england have performed in these last two games, they really don't seem to be focused on it at all and have completely lost the intensity they had at the start of the series. I hope this is just because they have one eye on the ashes rather than an indication of self doubt now that the aussies have finally 'arrived'. Just makes me wonder why the test series hasn't all been and gone, we could have been 3-0 up before they got their eye in.. i don't recall us getting many games at all before our last tour over there, why are we so welcoming?

[redback]

93/6 aussies are on top now

[Notts Exile]

Doesn't even sound like they're getting us out. Looks like we're really trying to help them get some form and confidence before the Test Series starts next week.

[English_Al]

Oh ****! Jones has now done a Tresco and chipped it up to 3rd man 93-6. Shocking, you'd think it was Headingly.

Vickram Solanki is now the Super sub and has come in to bat now...

[Victor Frankenstein]

err... vaughan has just removed simon jones for vikram solanki. who would you rather have defending a small score, someone who will only go for 3 an over but won't take a wicket (giles) or someone who will go for 5 an over but could also potentially take 5 wickets quickly.

what's the point in trying to defend a score like this? it's impossible, attack attack attack is the only possible option, you can't do that with giles but you can with jones, vaughans love for giles is bizarre.