Anyone for cricket?

[Biffen 12,564]

Quiet test for flat track bullies.

[Macca 16,174]

Johnson...

Johnno !

[45HG 1,539]

This is woeful bowling.

[Sir Why You Little 35,322]

This is woeful bowling.

Batsmen didn't back up the first innings Spirit has left them...

[45HG 1,539]

Batsmen didn't back up the first innings Spirit has left them...

That makes sense....

The batsmen play poorly so the bowlers decide to bowl rubbish.

[Sir Why You Little 35,322]

That makes sense....

The batsmen play poorly so the bowlers decide to bowl rubbish.

it actually does make sense...look at the pitch its a good one.

We batted terribly today after the Bowlers worked really hard yesterday...

The bowlers have no spirit...

That will help as i write Smith................not out...Dam...

[45HG 1,539]

it actually does make sense...look at the pitch its a good one.

We batted terribly today after the Bowlers worked really hard yesterday...

The bowlers have no spirit...

That will help as i write Smith................not out...Dam...

You cannot blame the batsmen for the bowlers bowling poorly.

[Sir Why You Little 35,322]

You cannot blame the batsmen for the bowlers bowling poorly.

i am not blaming anyone.

We got SA out for 225 and now the bowlers are 200+ behind with only 1 down...within less than a day

Spirits are low.

[Biffen 12,564]

i am not blaming anyone.

We got SA out for 225 and now the bowlers are 200+ behind with only 1 down...within less than a day

Spirits are low.

Blame the guy that sacked McDermott who forced them to pitch up

[Macca 16,174]

Remarkable catch .

It's been a dirty day but that was one hell of an effort from Lyon .

[Macca 16,174]

Now he drops a 'Soda' . It's a cruel game ...

[Sir Why You Little 35,322]

Australia could not value their wicket and are now paying.

Amla & Smith just played smart.

Yes sacking C McDermott....silly

& i hear that an ex wicket keeper is the new spin bowling coach.

Now that is different.

[Nasher 33,246]

Unless a miracle happens, Hastings will be a one test wonder. Props to his nuggety innings with the bat, but it's not what he's there for. All three of the specialist quicks have been bloody hopeless though. This test is all but lost, on day two.

I'm feeling very blah now after what had been a great series so far. Couldn't even be farked watching the last hour.

[titan_uranus 23,226]

It's such a pity, really. There are fair arguments to say that the washed out day in Brisbane and Pattinson's injury in Adelaide cost us those two matches. We were on top in both of them, and we could easily be up 1 or 2-0. But one terrible day, and the series is now gone. Really, we've only played one shockingly bad day all series (today); they've had more bad days and played worse for longer. That's Test cricket, I guess.

Hastings won't get another Test any time soon. He's bowled one good ball all match (got de Villiers out). Starc has no control, nor does Johnson, both bowled far too many short deliveries. Siddle walks back into the side, and Hilfenhaus probably joins him for Hobart, with Hastings and then one of the lefties to go.

As for the batsmen - in every innings we've been 3 down for not much, only today Clarke and Hussey weren't able to bail us out. Warner is not a Test batsman, he simply isn't. His 100s look good but they continually get followed with sub-20 scores. He's a boom/bust batsmen and that's not good enough. He has to drop down the order or go. Cowan isn't doing much better, but I see a Test batsman at least in him. Watson's also not a Test batsman, and isn't going to go anywhere if he keeps batting by plonking the front foot down the crease.

Chances are we'll be bowling for a lot of tomorrow and then have a futile 2-3 days to have to bat to try to score about 500 or save the match. The only chance of either of those is if we get a top order platform. Hopefully Ponting makes some runs and helps out in that regard.

Edited December 1, 2012 by titan_uranus

[dee-luded 2,958]

Unless a miracle happens, Hastings will be a one test wonder. Props to his nuggety innings with the bat, but it's not what he's there for. All three of the specialist quicks have been bloody hopeless though. This test is all but lost, on day two.

I'm feeling very blah now after what had been a great series so far. Couldn't even be farked watching the last hour.

totally agree Nasher, there seems to be a lack lustre approach to the game, No fight, vim or vigger, bowling or batting?

to me it shows we are thin on the ground for hardened competitors after Punter, Siddle, Mr Cricket, although at least Wade showed some grit & lyon looks reliable.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Blame the guy that sacked McDermott who forced them to pitch up

Hell, I wish the bowlers would pitch up. We have been too short too often during the series.

totally agree Nasher, there seems to be a lack lustre approach to the game, No fight, vim or vigger, bowling or batting?

to me it shows we are thin on the ground for hardened competitors after Punter, Siddle, Mr Cricket, although at least Wade showed some grit & lyon looks reliable.

And Michael Clarke by chance........

[H_T 2,941]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm looking forward to what is left of this Test.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Blame the guy that sacked McDermott who forced them to pitch up

I thought that McDermott walked because of the tough travelling schedual and this way he can take smaller term roles as he pleases, I could be wrong though? Why they didn't hire Waqar Younis as his replacement though I have no idea?

Hastings won't get another Test any time soon. He's bowled one good ball all match (got de Villiers out). Starc has no control, nor does Johnson, both bowled far too many short deliveries. Siddle walks back into the side, and Hilfenhaus probably joins him for Hobart, with Hastings and then one of the lefties to go.

I wouldn't at all be suprised if they all went and Jackson Bird made his debut on his home turf. Mitchell Starc has talent but he doesn't have the control yet. It showed during this test that he's not quiteat the same place as Pattinson and Cummins. Despite his 6 wickets, I thought it was one of the more unimpressive 6 wicket hauls that you're likely to see.

I thought Johnson was better then Starc, but he was still far to short for someone who has as good a record at that ground as he does. Playing both lefties didn't work for me and is the reason why I was more keen on Hazlewood to play ahead of either Stac or Johnson.

Hastings battled hard but he probably falls into the Nathan Bracken category in that he's probably just not quite fast enough to be a top line Test bowler. One dayers might be more his go. His batting is handy!

Jackson Bird on his hometrack could be a real handful. I'd be more then happy for us to have Bird & Hilfenhaus share the new ball for the remaining tests with Sids at first change for the rest of the summer. Once Pattinson & Cummins are up and going then there's a good chance we'll see the last of Hilfenhaus.

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm looking forward to what is left of this Test.

I am HT, although loosing a wicket 2nd ball of the day wasn't the start I was hoping for.

Just a lazy 214 runs more then any other team has ever chased to win a game ever. But I tell you what, if ever it could happen, the WACA with Clarke & Hussey in the form that they've been in with 2 days to go is the place for it to happen.

I think it may be a dissapointing end to the series though unfortunatly.

[H_T 2,941]

Losing a wicket on the second ball of the day reduced the spring in my step, TD.

I'd like to see a miracle.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Goodbye Ponting, the timing was certainly right!

[Biffen 12,564]

Losing a wicket on the second ball of the day reduced the spring in my step, TD.

I'd like to see a miracle.

If I took you to Bangkok you would see some things you could never imagine .

[Tim 3,001]

While personally I have Border and Greg Chappell ahead of him (along with the Don of course) when I think about what Australia's greatest XI would look like, he clearly be the next best there's ever been for mine!

My gut reaction was that Greg Chappell was the best Australian batsman I've seen. There was an interesting article by Malcolm Conn on the weekend (sorry, don't know how to link it) which tried to rate batsmen statistically, so you could attempt to compare eras. The methodology basically was to compare the average of a batsman against that of his team-mates. The result of this was Greg Chappell at no. 2 fairly clearly (Guess Who being heaps in front), with Border next. Billy Murdoch(from 1880s) did well, with Ponting down the list a bit. Fits in with my thoughts, with Chappell scoring heavily against some great West Indian attacks.

[45HG 1,539]

I'm maintaining the rage - Michael Clarke should bat 3 from here on, starting against the Lankans.

Starc has just hit the equal 13th-fastest half century in test cricket!

If only we lost our 9th wicket at 550ish!

[Tim 3,001]

Michael Clarke should bat 3 from here on.

Yeah, as someone said about the previous 2 Tests, "Bradman" comes in at 5, while the work experience kid (Quiney) gets sent in at 3.

[H_T 2,941]

I'm maintaining the rage - Michael Clarke should bat 3 from here on, starting against the Lankans.

Starc has just hit the equal 13th-fastest half century in test cricket!

If only we lost our 9th wicket at 550ish!

I think I'm with you re: 3.

What other options do we have?

Some of the shot selections were again disappointing. This is Test cricket, the amount of mettle shown would suggest T/20 was just around the corner.