Friday, July 10, 2009

Ashes Day 2: Two-Bits & Hearsay

After Day 1, I was of the opinion that England were ahead; today Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich have ensured that Australia are definitely ahead.

A result is still possible I believe. Don't rule out an Australian lead and an English collapse; its happened way too often in the past.

Particularly in the first tests of an Ashes series.

Speaking of first Ashes series tests, here are my two-bits from Day 2:

  1. Ricky Ponting set the record straight in more than one way with his century; besides erasing memories of a bloody 1st test in 2005, Ponting kicked off an Ashes series in England with a hundred. He had done the same in Australia in the two Ashes series held there in this decade, but not in the two Ashes series held in England during the same period.

  2. Simon Katich managed his 1st Ashes century; strangely he has played all his Ashes tests in England. His previous best was 67.

  3. Ponting became the 4th batsman to cross 11,000 test runs; he did so in 9 more innings than Brian Lara, and in 1 less innings than Sachin Tendulkar.

  4. Before the series began, I called England's bowling shit. Anderson and Broad with test averages of 34 and 38 respectively did not exactly catch my fancy; all they did today was prove me right. Economy rates of over 4 and no wicket to show - they need to lift their game!

And some hearsay.


Make your pitch on this post...



Labels: , , , , , , ,


6 Pitched:

  1. Anonymous said...
     

    Aussies are on heavier side than England now. All they need to do right now is to bat aggressively and bowl out England....

  2. khansahab said...
     

    England look like they will be humiliated yet again in this series.

    They can't produce world class players. Firstly they play too much cricket at home. If their players play abroad more often, then they would have more of an idea as to how the pitches and conditions are around the world.

    Secondly, their selection policy is too rigid. They don't allow players to settle when they are playing international cricket. This is totally unlike Pakistan, where players like Malik and Faisal Iqbal are still part of the Test squad after repeated failures. One bad series, and a potentially good player is forgotten for a while. That affects confidence and in turn, ability.

    Thirdly, they are victims of their own success. Everyone around the world comes to play English county cricket. Players get acclimilatised to English conditions and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of renowned players. That is why they know their way round how to defeat England.

    So when people ask why there is a difference between the England and Australian teams despite good conditions for cricket, developed first class structure, good umpires, good facilities etc, this is the answer.

  3. Q said...
     

    Sam, I sense an innings win...

  4. Q said...
     

    Khansahab,

    I think England stick with their players a bit too much... who have they dropped without too many chances?

    Faisal Iqbal I think has done reasonably well in test matches.. I actually like the fact that the selectors have stuck with him..

  5. khansahab said...
     

    Q

    Think about how many different opening combinations they have used in the past 2 years or so.

    Think about how many spinners they have used- Swann, Panesar, Onions - maybe 1 or 2 more.

    They also keep fiddling with their pace attack. Hoggard was dropped unnecessarily- I think he had 1 or 2 bad series and then he was dropped. They did not persist with Saj Mahmood. They did not persist with Kabir Ali- none of them were particularly bad. I forget the name of this bowler they used recently in 1 match- he was bowling in the late 80's. They also dropped him.

  6. Q said...
     

    Khansahab,

    As far as I remember, it has been Strauss and Cook for the longest time.. and it was Strauss and Trescothick for the longest time before that.. Vaughan opened for a bit in between.. thats just 4.. I thing for a decade it has just been these 4.. thats not much.. thats quite consistent in my opinion...

    I'm talking abt test matches btw.. England's ODI team has hardly had a consistent composition, but their test team has been pretty much the same...

    Onions was a pacer.. not a spinner..

    Their spinner has been Panesar for a long time now.. Swann came in last year cos he was very good.. he replaced Panesar.. and even not both remain in their squad..

    As for the pacers.. initially there were Harmison, Hoggard, Sidebottom, Jones.. now there's Anderson, Broad.. against consistency..

    Hoggard played 67 tests.. and pretty much at a stretch.. thats quite consistent..

    Sajid Mahmood played only 8 tests and rightly so cos he was pathetic.

Post a Comment