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

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Beny

English batsmen out of their depth as they have been from the start of the series with only difficult bowling conditions aiding them to get a decent score.

Controversial, Probebly. Arrogant, mabey. But I stand by everything I've said.

So cutting to third man is out of your depth? Getting run out proves that too, does it?

I can understand you getting confident but stop going so far over the top.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Beny, hard to argue that today the the aussies have bowled well, and england have gone of the boil but you must be watching different games for the rest of the series. England have played well on occaision - conditions or not and to pin all of england victories on that and only that sounds like a very sore loser to me.

[Notts Exile]

Even Darren Lehmann has said that England outplayed Australia earlier in the tour.

Of course, a nine wicket win at Headingley was probably pure luc!

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Seamer

More a headache for the English selectors i think. That wicket is a belter. Consistent bounce and little sideways movement. Aussies are starting to peak at the right time and England are starting to go off the boil. Some are saying this game has no bearing on the tests but the confidence of the Eng top order must be dented big time. Not what they need 10 days out from the main game.

Again the difference between the ODI format and Test is so huge.. The shots played wouldnt be played...

We defiently have to be wary but we know that of course.

[Beny]

There have been far too many english batting colapses for anybody's liking. Aside from one ton which was mostly luck England's top order have looked very poor, not comfortable against the Aussie bowlers at all. Today was the third major batting collapse of the past 4 matches and considering we've had 2 bowlers way out of form, that is disgracefull. What's more is the type of dismisals, caught close-in or bowled.

As for the wins. Headingly was a game the English should have, ofcourse eaisily won. The bowling conditions didd'nt suit the Aussies in the first place and there were only two of them who we're in form. At the same time ODI's are all about a bit of luck and I'm not sore at losing, just find it very easy to get on with it. As soon as we play on good pitches the English suffer horribly. That might change today if they are forced to use Harmison or Flintoff first up and acctualy take a risk.

So cutting to third man is out of your depth? Getting run out proves that too, does it?

And how we're they going before that? They we're scoring no runs and had been dropped twice... When a bowler can bowl 4 maidens in a row then there is something wrong.

[greg]

I have to say the new sub rule is a joke.Even though it has benefitted England greatly and Solanki has batted well it doesn't alter the fact that the ruling makes the game a complete farce.The sooner it is ditched the better.

[Trescothick]

Solanki and Pietersen have made it a defendable total.

Giles and Solanki are now on strike... Whoever doubted the sub?? and the master Giles doing well!!

[Milo]

I's funny how Australian bowlers (and probably the batsmen) are 'out of form' when they dish up rubbish, but England's bowlers are 'out classed' when they don't perform.

Beny, I have probably been one the biggest knockers of England's chances in the Ashes on this board, but this type of nonsense really makes we want to be so wrong. Have a bit more humility like other posters from your country and please try to leave some of this 'tabloid rubbish' where it belongs - in the playground.

[Lemming]

It's only useful if you win the toss and can therefore dictate when you use your substitute. It's really stupid and shouldn't have been brought in.

But I've just realised something. The teams have missed a trick. If a team names an extra batsman to begin with (4 bowlers), then a bowler as sub I think they will be in business. Then if you bat first, all is good and you can bring on the bowler to replace whoever for the second innings. BUT if you bowl first you will have to bowl someone out pretty quickly, granted but then sub off a bowler for the substitute bowler around 30 overs or so, then bowl him out. That way you will never lose overs from 5 full-time bowlers, and always have the extra batsman. Does that work???

[Beny]

Milo, just watch the different ways that the two sides play. The Aussie batsmen have been much more comfortable than the English....

Ok we'll have it your way then. England's lower order have been 'out of form' for the last 2 series...