Aussies have lost 4 for 20! Needing 30 off 49 with 3 wickets left.

Tense finish!

We could do worse than calling up Katich, given he can bat anywhere in the order and is also a handy part-timer (which may be useful since Clarke's out).

You can also do worse than muting the tv.

Took them until 4 balls to go to realise a tie would be enough, then spent 5 minutes going on about how Lee and Hauritz mustn't have known that we'd already qualified because they scampered for a run - a. why wouldn't you scamper to try and get the win, b. a win would leave us top with a game against the recent bunnies.

Tense is right though

We should be able to beat England, but they're in better form now than 2 weeks ago.

Watson's lucky Clarke's injured. He made 3 consecutive ducks before that match, and despite his bowling, I don't think his batting is good enough at the moment to keep opening.

then spent 5 minutes going on about how Lee and Hauritz mustn't have known that we'd already qualified because they scampered for a run - a. why wouldn't you scamper to try and get the win, b. a win would leave us top with a game against the recent bunnies.

Haha, geez.

I wasn't watching on TV - hurrah for CricInfo.

When's Ponting going to learn.....???? If you win the toss,......BAT!!!!!!!!

When's Ponting going to learn.....???? If you win the toss,......BAT!!!!!!!!

I thought we won?

England we meet again

I thought we won?

If you saw the match you'd understand. Not only were batting conditions much harder when we went in(as the pitch rapidly deteriorated), but we unnecessarily subjected ourselves to the pressure of chasing runs, even against a low score. It was so predictable. Despite our solid start, it was always likely that the loss of a couple of quick wickets suddenly would change the way the new batsmen would play, especially against the turning ball, often keeping low.

Batting first, anything less than 10 off the last over is looked on as a failure. Batting second, it can be hard to pick up 5 to win off over no. 40. We sure struggled.

Edited October 3, 200916 yr by JUMPING JACK CLENNETT

Congratulations to Mitchell Johnson - ICC Cricketer of the year.

What a batting performance from Watson and Ponting! Supreme stuff. Sticking it to the Poms again too!

I think Pakistan will beat NZ tonight, and I think they have the ability to beat us in the final. I'm not sure what it is, but we seem to struggle against Saeed Ajmal (the off-spinner). And they have a few good bastmen too (Mohammad Yousuf is a star).

Congratulations to Mitchell Johnson - ICC Cricketer of the year.

Absolute joke. From those nominated, Strauss should have won. But Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers should have been nominated. Read in The Age today that the South African players boycotted the event (amongst a lot of other players). Good on them. Those awards are token pieces of rubbish.

Agree with pretty much all of that T_U.

Rubbish award. We always seem to struggle against subcontinent spinners. You can really see how the batsmen bat differently when they come on, seem much more tentative and almost afraid of getting out - especially on their home soil.

I reckon our batsmen should attack the spinners immediately they're introduced into the attack. Greg Chappell used to do it to Underwood, and Steve Waugh and Dean Jones did it to the subcontinental offies with success. They have to use their feet, like Michael Clarke.

Early risks have to be taken, before these guys get the psychological edge.

Well the only spinner we'll be facing now is Daniel Vettori. Well done NZ for beating the talented but unpredictable Pakistan, who had them on the ropes until NZ used their batting powerplay (which is how all team should be using them, don't just wait until the last 5 overs).

Should be a good contest, but you'd back us in to beat NZ.

Should be a good contest, but you'd back us in to beat NZ.

Agree. Well it is all well and good if we do win. It's still a hollow feeling losing the Ashes IMO. No one will give a sh!t in a year's time about the Champions Trophy it would seem, however history will show we lost the Ashes.

M.Johnson winning the cricketer of the year (ICC)......anyone see the Ashes when voting?

M.Johnson winning the cricketer of the year (ICC)......anyone see the Ashes when voting?

I'm not sure the Ashes was included in this year's award.

I'm not sure the Ashes was included in this year's award.

That would explain it then.

Go you aussies. NZ 1 for 15 off 8 overs... keeping the runs down with tight bowling.

Petey Sizzle currently with 1/4 off 4

I'm not sure the Ashes was included in this year's award.

Yes they were, as were the ODI's in England after the Ashes......

Really begs the question of who the hell else was nominated?

2/6! Wow.

I'm not sure why Hopes is playing if he's not bowling. I bet Voges and Hussey (D) are wondering the same thing.

Yes they were, as were the ODI's in England after the Ashes......

You're half right - it seems the 'year' was stretched an extra 10 days to include the entire Ashes series. The ODIs are in the 'current' year (source).

2/6! Wow.

You're half right - it seems the 'year' was stretched an extra 10 days to include the entire Ashes series. The ODIs are in the 'current' year (source).

2/100 now!!!

Thanks for that, but it really doesn't change Johnsons voting question marks......

2/100 now!!!

Thanks for that, but it really doesn't change Johnsons voting question marks......

Unless they thought the rest of his year was just 'exceptional.'

This could be promising: Jason Krejza bowling for Tasmania v South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match. 1st innings figures of: 29-9-70-4. Pretty good. Looks like he's worked on his economy rate (2.41)

This could be promising: Jason Krejza bowling for Tasmania v South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match. 1st innings figures of: 29-9-70-4. Pretty good. Looks like he's worked on his economy rate (2.41)

What about the boy from the Vics, is it John Holland ? Is he a chance this Summer ?

Which state will Freddie be playing for in summer, Vics could be a chance in Murali pulls out