Rhino Richards

Carp. Lose a couple of wickets earlier, when you bat first and you have no momentum. 20/20 is all about runs runs and more runs. Its about creating momentum with the bat and maintaining it. When you win the toss why wouldn't you bat and set the momentum? Equally if you dont win the toss, you still got the same 20 overs in the same conditions to bat. Its a shoot out. I noticed the Vis losing the toss the other day to Tassie did not hurt them. Brilliant analogy. Little has been amusing so far. I think he is more dug down than the Beaconsfield miners. And with less chance of rescue too.

More than they would hit a big score.

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh Test performances would prove otherwise

They would not be a bad bowling attack then. I think the whole issue is that you may not get 20 wickets because you dont set the opposition enough runs. And in most cases, WYL, when a team wins the toss they bat.... Why? Jason Krejza's noteworthy effort in India in 2008 was a case of an ordinary bowler having a good day or should I say Test out.

Can you name a Test team that has had sustained success over a 2 year period where they have not had at Least one batsman who average 50+? The evidence would suggest not Over the past 35 to 40 years, Test Cricket has been dominated by Australia, West Indies and then Australia. They both possessed fantastic bowling attacks but also intimidating and commanding batsmen over that period. These great sides prove hands down that you need both to be a great side without one being more important than the other. I can name a number of teams who had a great attack but crumbled for success because they could not chase or set runs with class batsman. Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the 1990's And in limited over ODI and 20/20 its totally about runs and batting so much its not funny. The fielding and the bowlers have been absolutely neutered out of the game (as they are in Tests) in the flashy show for runs. I would always go with a masterful batting line up and a competent tight bowling attack in these fixtures. I have seen some bowlers at Test level who were very pedestrian work out a successful ODI career because of the one sided blunted nature of the game. Possibly WA in the 1980s. Former Aust Wicketkeeper Tim Zoehrer was a very handy leggie and played and bowled for WA. I think he even took a 5 for somewhere amongst that. I dont think he ever bowled for Australia though. I might be wrong on that. Mark Boucher

So you thought the 2nd Test was a classic but you did not enjoy Hussey's effort! Yup. After Hussey was dropped early three times, he was solid on a 4 and 5 day wicket. So Hussey was wobbly but no shots Siddle was solid for three hours. Gotcha. I can only suggest you gathered little from the Ashes Tour then. So being bowled out for 127 on the first day of a Test and being 200 runs behind is not pressure!! If you had a little more nous you would have worked out that next years Ashes will be played at all the Test venues (bar Hobart.) It should have been illuminating to a sharper mind about the capabilities of the Australian XI on Ashes Test venues We had Siddle, Johnson, North,Hauritz, Haddin, Hughes, Watson, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus all with under 2 years or 25 Test experience. We had a very inexperienced team this summer with 9 junior players. This was countered by Punter, Katich, Hussey and Clarke. Many of the aforementioned were still be blooded. Which other players were you expecting to come in?

And who bats 3 WYL better than Ponting? Who would be better than Punter at the moment? Careful think about this one. B) Dont apologise WYL for what you cant see. Its been a difficult summer for you to assess the Australian XI. Obviously very difficult. Who would you replace him with on current respective form that would be better leading into the Ashes? And he did show some sterling qualities in that knock that you alone cant see. Nothing new WYL. And as he has scored a century in his second last test. But you missed that. And you do want to smash the Poms dont you?

Thirty years of following cricket....wasted! The number of times being dropped is irrelevant. Both Australia and Hussey made the most of opportunities and won. Of course Australia won it. They took advantage of an opponents weakness. It happens all the time. Its called Test cricket. When the game was there to be won on day 3 and 4, Asif was pedestrian and was toyed with by a tailender. Of course Hussey's knock changed the game. It won the match. The keeper was neither here nor there after he dropped Hussey early. You have proved that. And who do we have to replace him at 4 within 12 months and 4 tests?? If you had your way the your axe grinding would cut Ponting as well. And you want to smash the Poms!!

You can if the opposition have declared in the first innings B) I see your point. I dont think you can have one without the other. While the Windies and Australia had great bowlers they were also blessed with some great batsman and good keepers. Windies: Richards, Haynes, Greenidge, Richardson, Lloyd with Dujon as keeper. Australia: Hayden, Langer, Taylor, Waughs, Border and Ponting. Healy and Gilchrist as a keeper. I guess the alternate view is you wont take 20 wickets in a test if you can set enough runs for the opposition to chase.

You do talk some absolute crap for the sake of taking an opposing view. Asif set the game going and Hussey changed it and arguably won it. Hussey's knock changed the game regardless of how many times he was dropped. Siddle was only the foil. Of course his innings was gutsy and gritty. Its was not polished but it does not reduce its impact.The gems keep adding up WYL. What false sense of security?? We have got problems a plenty. In the last 5 years when havent we had around 3 players in their mid 30s? Keep them coming WYL. Its a rich vein of form you are in.

For someone who has never doubted Ponting as a batsman, you have all the hallmarks of someone who does. Ponting is good enough to understand the changing of the season and adapt his batting to the needs of the situation. Many of the top batsman modify their game in their final years. S Waugh and Tendulkar are good examples. And if he is going to be found out at No 3 by England who is going to do it??? In your own view you dont rate Broad or Anderson. You forget that Roach, Asif and Aamer (at times) were world class. England certainly dont have any pushing 150kmh. We know exactly how good this side is. Its better than the WI and Pakistan but its not the intimidating side it was. I think we will have a very close contest with England and tie the series. Australia has lapses during a Test but it knows how to eek a win out of a tough situation. It does not lay down easily. You need to look beyond the results in the paper. Hussey and North did little to convince indeed. Hussey may have been lucky to have to been dropped but his gritty and gutsy innings anchored the win. Of course he should have been man of the match. Who else could have got it? Another of your gems there WYL .

Ponting is still better than most other cricketers at 3. He carried an injury through most of the Test but he will have to evolve his game at 35. He still went onto make his century count. He is hardly a worry. Your attitude toward him may be so. I thought we learnt heaps about the team and the way its plays. Watson stepping up, North and Hussey. Its a worry if you watch six tests and you cant draw anything from them. We had clear evidence about where Hauritz is out. Unless teams are giong to go the slog, Hauritz, nor any of his teammates have the individual class to run through a batting line up. Hauritz is the best option we have atm. I dont think he is a match winner and I dont think he is potent enough. Solid team teams will keep him out. Class teams will cut him to pieces. We are along way from the days of having McGrath,Warne and Gillespie at their peak

Fair enough but you have highlighted some compelling reasons why we will struggle. I agree about the openers. I think Watson and Katich have been good in Australia and deserve their chance. Watson's reverse swing complements the other fast bowlers. Katich...dunno about him. Why hasn't he bowled earlier..injury..confidence. We3 need wrist spin. If Hauritz wickets flatter him what of Katich?? Katich had on easy street with kamakaze batmen with no hope of winning. Our middle order has real holes at 4 and 6. I am worried that 2 test against NZ and Pakistan (in England) wont help solve it. There's the rub. I dont think we have a capable enough 4th innings bowler...England will not prostitute their wickets as willingly as the Pakistanis. Then so will Bollinger. I dont mind either bowler. I want the one that gets the most wickets. Problem is that there were times that Siddle look straight up and down throughout the summer.

Says nothing why Ponting going for zero would have been better for Australia in the LT. Another of your ridiculous gems WYL.

Why?

FWIW, I thought both WI and Pakistan would be easy beats this summer. I was pleasantly surprised by the WI and there some hope for the future there. Not so Pakistan who have deep problems on and off the field. Besides the first day or so in Sydney, Australia played both sides on pitches that were absolute belters. Australian benefited from and capitalised on mental lapses from both sides (in the case of Pakistan..huge ones!). Both sides played to form although many of the WI's really stepped up. Its clear that when we play the Ashes next Summer, we will face an English team that will not [censored] their wickets easily nor give away an advantage when they are in front. They are unlikely to have any real weak links in their team that will give Australia an easy opening in a match. The Australian team are young and still inexperienced in cricket terms and have shown the following characteristics: 1. They no longer have a true match winner with either bat or ball. Gone are the days when any of Hayden, Ponting, Gilly, McGrath or Warne would change a game. Ponting is a class act but at 35 off his best (He is still Australia's premier bat nonetheless). Johnson takes wickets in spasms but we have no bowler that can rip through a batting line up. We require 5 bowlers bowling well to chip in with 1,2 or 3 wickets here or there. 2. Ponting has had to work harder marshalling his bowlers to make the break and was at most times superior to Yousuf and had the wood on Gayle. However Gayle impressed at times. 3. We found an opening pair in Watson and Katich. We have question marks at 4 (Hussey) and 6 (North). Ponting despite his injury will still be effective at 3. He just wont be intimidating as in past years. 4. Watson may be the all rounder we have been looking for (pray his body holds up). His batting has been great at opening and his ability to reverse swing important at critical times. 5. Dont let the figures fool you, Hauritz is pedestrian as a spinner. He will never have it as easy as he had this summer and was the chief beneficiary of some truly suicidal batting. At no time did he look like he would rip through a side. But I cant think of someone better. But the question mark remains on him and the selectors are wise to explore all options at this point. Its a pretty bare cupboard. 6. The pace attack is workmanlike and honest. Johnston can hurt in a couple of overs and is a genuine wicket taker but is hot and cold. Bollinger bowled well. Siddle lacks a killer delivery and is a little straight up and down. Hilfy back would add a good blend. While much can happen to both sides in 12 months, at this point I think Australia could draw the the series in Australia for the Ashes but not win the coveted urn.

Or if she had allowed someone access to the keys.......... Hmmm On a better topic, Punter gets a ton and the owner of the Top Gear Toy is getting close. 3/226 of 61 overs. Pitch is a belter. We need to bowl well to get 20 wickets.

I was being sarcastic over the Melb test when he squibbed the final overs on day 1 of a Test match. His alleged fiancee *cough* can look after the Aston Martin. Its not good having a bingle around such a fine car.

Shouldn't Hauritz come in before Clarke to protrect him from the new ball?

Only if she can bat at 6. Not playing for NSW will work against her chances somewhat.

The Age reported a punter dropped a sum on Pakistan at a $1.06. http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/pun...00106-luah.html

No problems. I regularly scroll the Bible....Cricinfo

Still reeling how Pakistan stole defeat from the jaws of victory. Australia is in special company being the sixth side to win from being over 200 runs behind on the first innings. Australia completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in cricket's history when they beat Pakistan by 36 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This was only the sixth time that a team overcame a first-innings deficit of more than 200 to win a Test. Australia have been involved in each of those six matches - thrice at the receiving end and thrice victorious. Victories after conceding first-innings leads in excess of 200 Team Opposition First-innings deficit Ground Margin of victory Start date Australia Sri Lanka 291 Colombo (SSC) 16 runs 17 Aug 1992 ---> Emergence of the great SK Warne India Australia 274 Kolkata 171 runs 11 Mar 2001 --> When S Waugh sent India in again and Laxman and Dravid did the unbelievable. England Australia 261 Sydney 10 runs 14 Dec 1894 Australia South Africa 236 Durban 5 wickets 20 Jan 1950 England Australia 227 Leeds 18 runs 16 Jul 1981 --> When Beefy Botham belted Australia Australia Pakistan 206 Sydney 36 runs 3 Jan 2010

Very interesting comment. It was indeed a memorable day. Takes the stuffing out of Hobart for a "dead" test though. (Sorry Nasher)

Bad luck Jaded. it rules you out of the 3rd test then. What a Test. Unbelievable. Pakistan will be crushed. They took their foot off our throat with feckless batting in two innings, poor fielding and catching and terrible captaincy in the way they allowed Hussey/Siddle to pick easy and regular runs. Australia was quite the opposite today to Pakistan and they won the day that counted. Well done Aussies and for you WYL well captained in the end by Ponting in the use of his bowlers and fielding settings. Yousuf could learn plenty from that.