4th Test: Australia v England at the MCG

[dr nick]

Originally posted by DaveW
Lehmann has been coming in at #6 when the work has been done. That is, a performance wasn't really needed from a team point of view. Unlike Mark Waugh whose failures at #4 triggered collapses. Lehmann showed in the recent one-dayer what he can do when given the responcibility up the order.

that doesnt erase the fact that Lehmann has added nothing to the team since mark waugh was dropped. #4 is a harder spot to bat than #6 anyway. 100 at #4 is worth just as much as a 100 at #6 and the fact that he is allowed to get away with failures just because the rest of the batters are pulling their weight is a bit of a cop out.

perhaps he'd be good as a specialist one day player ala michael bevan. they are very different games and a performance in one form doesnt suggest form in the other.

 

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by DaveW
Don't count on it.

Maybe so, but from what I've seen in this series his batting has gotten more impressive as each Test has gone by.

He looked very ordinary and stodgy in Brisbane. In the 1st innings of that match, his slow scoring along with Martyn's slowed down the enormous momentum of Australia's innings and they allowed England back into the game.

He looked far more assertive in Adelaide, and would've been disappointed not to make the most of his bright start.

He batted for longer in Perth and looked solid throughout in scoring a half-century. He may have looked awkward against the short ball at times but that is hardly anything new.

And yesterday was his most impressive innings yet of the series; after some unusual shots first up he settled in and looked in complete control; he looked totally switched on and his placement was superb.

Going on his form overall in this series with it's steady improvement, he should be picked for the Caribbean tour. He's looked more impressive then Lehmann has anyway.

 

[ScouseCat]

LUNCH - DAY 2

Australia: 4 for 445
Langer 191 not out, Love 21 not out

The only wicket to fall in the morning session was Steve Waugh for 77.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by nicko18
that doesnt erase the fact that Lehmann has added nothing to the team since mark waugh was dropped. #4 is a harder spot to bat than #6 anyway. 100 at #4 is worth just as much as a 100 at #6 and the fact that he is allowed to get away with failures just because the rest of the batters are pulling their weight is a bit of a cop out.

perhaps he'd be good as a specialist one day player ala michael bevan. they are very different games and a performance in one form doesnt suggest form in the other.

Give Lehmann a proper go at #4 and he'll prove his worth.

 

[larrikin]

Langer's reached his 200 and is looking very good to go on and get hig highest Test score (currently 234 I think).

 

[Jaymin]

4/490

Langer 218*

Australia should try and make 1000

 

[BW]

Langer currently 223 and Love 36. If Love goes on with the job then i reckon he warrants a spot before Lehmann. Just my opinion, and the fact Im a big fan of Love.

Englands selectors are a disgrace IMO. What are everyones thoughts on playing more of the current one day players just for the last 2 tests? I reckon they should of brought in Blackwell for Dawson,which adds to their batting, Knight for Key or Crawley and another quick for Key or Crawley. Their bowling would be able to be competitive, and the batting would only be slightly tarnished.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by larrikin
Langer's reached his 200 and is looking very good to go on and get hig highest Test score (currently 234 I think).

Justin Langer is now 224 not out, his new highest test score passing the 223 he made against India at the SCG a couple of years ago.

 

[Macca19]

Comment of the year Bill Lawry "Michael Vaughn...couldnt catch a cold int he middle of winter"

Sad thing is its bloody true. This guy has to be the worst fielder going around.

I wont begin on their bowlers.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Macca19
Comment of the year Bill Lawry "Michael Vaughn...couldnt catch a cold int he middle of winter"

Sad thing is its bloody true. This guy has to be the worst fielder going around.

I wont begin on their bowlers.

i was in the car when he dropped Langer. Kerry O'Keefe goes..

"fair dinkum, you wouldnt get Vaughan to shout a round of drinks, they'd all be on the floor by the time he got back... *funny laughing sound*"

 

[scmods]

Richie had another good one this morning, too... Caddick was apparently copping a bit from the crowd (not surprisingly since he was bowling ****), and extended the middle finger at the top of his run.

Richie: "There's nothing unusual about that, a lot of bowlers signal to the wicketkeeper what they are about to bowl."

Rest of Nine team: <LONG SILENCE>

 

[Nige_Bix]

You're never going to get all the your top 6 or 7 going well all the time - when some are looking a bit lean on numbers others are doing the job - and at other times different players step up, while others might then go a bit quiet! You need to put peformances into the perspective of how the team is going.

There a lot of players not playing for Australia atm who would get a walk up start into other sides.

dzm

 

[Nige_Bix]

1 for 13

Vaughan has gone - played on to McGrath!! - 1 for 13 - didnt look really comfortable

McGrath and Gillespie look a class above the English bowlers!! They give no free hits as Bill Lawry was saying which just increases the pressure and brings about faulty shots.

dzm

 

[JUBJUB]

Originally posted by Macca19
Comment of the year Bill Lawry "Michael Vaughn...couldnt catch a cold int he middle of winter"

Sad thing is its bloody true. This guy has to be the worst fielder going around.

He must of dropped about 8 catches so far this series.He dropped 2 or 3 in the 1st test.In fact the very 1st run of the series came from a mis-field by Vaughan.

 

[Nige_Bix]

McGill's come before Bret Lee - interesting - reckon he'll be on soon though!

 

[Nige_Bix]

Originally posted by dezzmo
McGill's come before Bret Lee - interesting - reckon he'll be on soon though!

I spoke too soon - double change - Lees on now!! - have to watch that hyper-extended/double-jointed elbow!
dzm

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by dezzmo
I spoke too soon - double change - Lees on now!! - have to watch that hyper-extended/double-jointed elbow!
dzm

bowling VERY quick, 156.2 k's but is going for a few runs. these poms are batting well. 1/71 as i type.

well done Langer!!!!! you're a champion.

 

[Navy Master]

They finished up on 3/97 and Nasser Hussain should've been out... another third umpire low catch decision

 

[lamby29]

Brett Lee seems to be an automatic selection now ahead of Bichel, which is good.

 

[Catman]

I might be being a little cynical here, but do you think Steve Waugh's strange decision to declare when he did was part because of the fear of Martin Love going on to make a deserved hundred on debut, giving the media more fuel to question Waugh's place in the side? Because on the radio they thought he should have batted on and let the score reach about 650.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by Catman
I might be being a little cynical here, but do you think Steve Waugh's strange decision to declare when he did was part because of the fear of Martin Love going on to make a deserved hundred on debut, giving the media more fuel to question Waugh's place in the side? Because on the radio they thought he should have batted on and let the score reach about 650.

Yeah I agree, poor bloke, should have let him bat until he got out or reached 100, it is not like he will get another bat in this test.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Catman
I might be being a little cynical here, but do you think Steve Waugh's strange decision to declare when he did was part because of the fear of Martin Love going on to make a deserved hundred on debut, giving the media more fuel to question Waugh's place in the side? Because on the radio they thought he should have batted on and let the score reach about 650.

pfft, the radio commentators are always the self proclaimed experts on these issues.

the rate love was scoring, it would have taken another session for him to reach his hundred, at which time we probably would have batted for 2 days and lost 6 wickets. That would leave us 3 days to get 20 more wickets. we dont even have our main bowler. why on earth would you put love's personal ambitions before that of the team.

i can also guarantee this board would be rife with critics if Australia did bat on and it was Waugh in Love's position.

 

[wagstaff]

Went to the MCG today, and saw a pretty good day's cricket.

It appeared after England's early collapse that the match could be all over by the end of today. But they batted pretty well over the last five hours and have given themselves a chance of making Australia bat again.

The dry heat that was there all day was the obvious reason why MacGill bowled virtually all day from one end of the ground; so that Waugh could rotate his fast bowlers from the other end. Certainly McGrath in particular struggled; he rarely bowled and when he did he wasn't even able to get Caddick or Harmison out.

Gillespie was easily the most impressive of the Australian bowlers although if you went by the radio commentary, you would presume that Brett Lee was the best - commentators get sucked in by pace and forget to look at facts and figures quite often.

I think Vaughan is England's big hope. He looked very classy today and it wouldn't surprise if he went on tomorrow and got a big hundred. If he does, then England will make Australia bat again and at least gain some dignity out of this match.

 

[BW]

Craig White tore his side muscle, and wont bowl for 6 weeks, effectivly the rest of the tour. Deserves a batting place with his current form.

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by wagstaff
commentators get sucked in by pace and forget to look at facts and figures quite often.

Lee had conceded 6 runs an over, off just 5 overs. That's poor at ODI level but at test level that is appalling. Why do they bother?

Jason Gillespie is the best of the bowlers, by a mile at the moment. To concede only 25 from almost 17 overs is world class bowling. He doesn't get the recognition he rightly deserves.