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

[Beny]

Have a bit more humility like other posters from your country

I'm not going to pretend England deserve to beat Australia.

[greg]

228-7 only about 50 runs short of a good total.

[R W S]

Our friends over at cricbuzz have a free audio stream (here) if you fancy an alternative to the TMS boys.

Simon Jones has made some easy money today.

[Seamer]

England can not be accused of not being able to mount a recovery. 228 looked a long way off at 6-93. The English top order's problems have been papered over again by the efforts of the lower order. Not nearly enough runs on that wicket you would have to say, but there is a bit of pace in it - you never know. Being a bowler short will not help England cause.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Beny

I'm not going to pretend England deserve to beat Australia.

I tried it. It seemed to annoy the English members more than me being cocky. Damned if you do, damned if you don't Beny.

[greg]

Harmison will have to get among the wickets early to give England any chance as you can't really see Gough doing it.

[flanflinger]

Seamer,

As I have stated the ODI's are not England's best suit. Our batsmen in Tests will pick the bad ball to hit, here they got themselves out by trying to attack good bowling.

More worrying for Aus is they had England at 90odd for 6, and then letting England escape to 228-7.

[Maranello]

Lemming, you cannot do that. If someone has bowled out their full quota, the sub cannot bowl any more. Similarly, if someone is out, the sub cannot bat again. If someone has bowled 5 overs, the sub can only bowl the remaining 5 of their quota. Makes sense really.

All in all, a good rule. Has prevented today's game from becoming a completely predictable farce. Solanki being in has allowed England to get an extra 60-70 runs; not enough, but at least interesting enough to follow and look forward to Australia's response - without a sub, this game was over at over no. 35.

[English_Al]

I agree that the sub idea doesn't seem to be quite right at the moment, although I think it will take a few more tight games to see how beneficial it is.

As for today, England did fight back well once again, it makes you wonder just what we would be capable of if our top order actually got going.

I think Oz will walk this total - smallish target, perfect batting wicket, extra batsman, England a bowler light.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Problem is seamer, Beny is saying what we're all saying - aus will no doubt win the ashes - only saying it in a crappy way ! Not nearly enough I agree but a recovery none the less. England being a bowler down wont help but at least solanki contributed.

Point is sometimes England have performed, acknowledgement for that would be nice. We do when the aussies play well (like to today mcgrath was awesome) You cant just keep saying your out of practice - england said that against SA and after a while it just didnt wash.

Having said that IF in the unliely event england win isnt beny gonna look daft.