Ashes is here

[acuguy]

Just thought the Ashes deserves it's own thread.

Must admit to be pretty nervous about this upcoming series, we don't have a great balance in attack with Hauritz as our spinner, Johnson, Siddle and Hilf unproven in English conditons and Clark and Lee short of a gallop.

There is a lot of pressure on Hughes and North as new boys, Hussey and Ponting have been down on form. Ponting is a concern it seems to be a beautiful 60-100 or nothing from him of late. Clarke, Haddin and Katich are the only 3 bats who seem on top of their game.

I sound negative!

The key is we can't hold onto the past, Siddle, Johnson and Hilf must lead this attack with Clark as the added extra. No point playing Hauritz when North and Katich are equal to or better bowlers.

Ponting and Hussey must have 400-600 run series if we are going to win.

Big Hilf has to be the find of the series, never will he get the conditions and the cricket balls better suited for swing bowling. The key for him will be length!

We haven't got the all conquering team we once had and his means we need to catch better than ever before. We aren't going to create as many wicket taking opportunities so we need to hold onto 90 percent of our catches. The reality is with 2 evenly pitted teams catching may hold the key to the series!

 

[Old Den]

I am not in the least worried about Australia's pace bowlers - nearly all pace bowlers thrive on English wickets - England's great fast and medium pacers - all the great West Indies pace men and all of the top Australiam fast bowlers and some Australian fast medium swing and seam bowlers such as Neil Hawke,Bob Massey and Terry Alderman arrived unheralded and blew the opposition away.

I think Hughes is the big Question mark that hangs over the Australian batting and one of the 2 keys to the series IMO - I don't like his unorthodox style and I have had concerns about his ability against spin at this stage of his career - succeeding in England has always been the hallmark of the great Australian batsmen and every one that I have seen have had a sound batting technique - It was said that Bradman was unorthodox...nonsense ,he had every classical shot in the book from late cut to fine leg glance and in addition scored heavily with unorthodox improvised shots when his eye was in.

Katich is somewhat unorthodox IMO but he seems to be getting away with it and should be OK - overall the batting should be competetive.

It hardly needs to be said that spin bowling is not the Achilles heel of the Australian side - it is a glaring weakness and can only be compensated for by outstanding performances from the pace men that I think they can provide - wickets that are a spinner's paradise will favour England heavily.

Really looking forward to the Ashes series once again.
.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I've really run my gob off on another forum, so am now feeling a little nervous.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Katich is somewhat unorthodox IMO but he seems to be getting away with it and should be OK - overall the batting should be competetive.

Any bets on how many LBW's Katich will get? I get uncomfortable with his waddle across against good swing bowling.

 

[Old Den]

Any bets on how many LBW's Katich will get? I get uncomfortable with his waddle across against good swing bowling.

Katich is very comfortable with his technique and has markedly improved his average lately - perfect batting technique still requires the batsman to get behind the ball in front of the stumps - I think he is more in danger by exposing his leg stump.

 

[acuguy]

Katich will need to play late and straight against that swinging ball

 

[Old Den]

Two spinners in for England - right on cue.

 

[King Of The Hille]

you know that when simon katich is playing for your side, you really have no hope of winning..where has matthew hoggard gone???

 

[acuguy]

I don't think the toss is a bad one to lose. English wickets don't break up historically. A couple of early wickets will have the English dressing room in a bit of a panic!

 

[Old Den]

you know that when simon katich is playing for your side, you really have no hope of winning..where has matthew hoggard gone???

The power of positive thinking is alive and well on Big Footy.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Pitch is shithouse.

 

[acuguy]

**** off Cook you are out! Great catch Huss! Let's put Bopari under the pump!

 

[Hollow Knight]

Sharp catch by the Huss!

 

[lion4ever]

3/97 now and Lunch...

Looks like the Aussies are really on top.

Quite bias commentary IMO too

 

[acuguy]

Siddle is the key to getting through that middle order, big off cutters!

 

[Hollow Knight]

Siddle is the key to getting through that middle order, big off cutters!

Hilfenhaus has Pietersen on the run. With Siddle unleashing hell at the other end, KP is not going to get much respite.

 

[Cousin Jed]

Both Bopara and KP looked very shaky early.

Collingwood is the danger man really. I don't rate him at all, but he seems to be a big partnership man and would be a perfect foil for Pietersen if he gets his eye in.

I hope Johnson can get his seam upright just so I can stop ****ing hearing about it. Good grief, been discussed more than Michael Jackson's death.

Aussies looked quite dangerous even though both Siddle and Johnson never really settle into a good rythymn. Hilf looked better than he did in SA IMHO.

 

[notting18]

Was lucky enough to be at the game today. My basic thoughts were that Hilfenhaus looked really dangerous, Siddle bowled a lot better than his figures reflect and Hauritz a lot worse and Johnson's form with the ba;l may be a little worrying.

It is pretty evenly balanced at the moment but I think the Aussies are just in front as long as we don't let Broad and Swann get too many runs in the first session. Keep 'em under 400 and we should go okay.

Also, the pitch will deteriorate badly by the end of the test. 10 overs in and the footmarks were incredible...

 

[Respected Journo]

Was there much "tennis ball" like bounce at the game notting18?

On TV its hard to tell, you really need to be side on, but the wicket appeared to be very slow and placcid.

 

[lionshine]

Katich 104 not out and Ponting 100 not out. That's a partnership of 204. Doing well boys keep it up. Australia chasing 435 in 1st innings and Australia are 1 out for 249 on day 2-session 3. Phil Hughes is out for Australia for just 36 runs off 54 balls. He hit 5 fours and no sixes.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Katich 104 not out and Ponting 100 not out. That's a partnership of 204.

No it's not.

 

[acuguy]

Siddle is the key to getting through that middle order, big off cutters!

This acuguy is genius! Siddle is an out and out gun, Hilf looks very good and Mitch well I rate him but his bowling really takes out the option of bowled and LBW.

The selectors should be shot for picking Hauritz!

 

[Hollow Knight]

This acuguy is genius! Siddle is an out and out gun, Hilf looks very good and Mitch well I rate him but his bowling really takes out the option of bowled and LBW.

The selectors should be shot for picking Hauritz!

I don't think anyone needed convincing on Siddle after his form against South Australia. The guy has a heart bigger than Phar Lap's.

As for Hauritz. I hope the selectors aren't stupid enough to be fooled by those 3 wickets he got.

Pietersen self destructed and played the stupidest shot of his career (and he's played some bloody stupid shots in his time).

Anderson was closing his eyes and swinging for the hills.

Panesar is Panesar.

Please... no more Hauritz.

 

[POBT]

Not saying that Hauritz bowled well but probably worth remembering that the Aussies are 1'fer after 30 odd overs facing spinners with far greater reputations than Hauritz. The pitch is turning but I didn't think it was turning square nor is there sharp bounce. I just don't think it is a particularly good wicket for bowlers, full stop. It is also worth noting that Hauritz wasn't the only bowler getting carved up by the tail yesterday.

 

[weevil]

You guys know **** all about cricket!!!