2013 Ashes Part I

[AngrySeahorse]

Still up watching this. Cowan never looked comfortable. Rogers made a good effort - losing him was a bit of a blow. Clarke & Smith now trying to regain momentum.

Steve Smith lucky England chose not to review the LBW call cause he would have been gone.

Clarke out. The ever so slightest of a mark shown up on Hotspot. Smith gone. Now Phil Hughes goes for a duck. Interesting on the Hughes dismissal referred to DRS, commentators were pretty adament he was ok then DRS shows otherwise......hmmmm maybe I was wrong about the Indians, maybe they are onto something about not using DRS.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Still up watching this. Cowan never looked comfortable. Rogers made a good effort - losing him was a bit of a blow. Clarke & Smith now trying to regain momentum.

Steve Smith lucky England chose not to review the LBW call cause he would have been gone.

Clarke out. The ever so slightest of a mark shown up on Hotspot. Smith gone. Now Phil Hughes goes for a duck. Interesting on the Hughes dismissal referred to DRS, commentators were pretty adament he was ok then DRS shows otherwise..hmmmm maybe I was wrong about the Indians, maybe they are onto something about not using DRS.

Have only read the SMH's description of Clarke's dismissal: it is implied that Clark knew he'd hit it and far from seeking a review he should have walked. Is that how you read the body language etc?
I am usually asleep by the end of the first hour, but the commentators have miscalled just about every LBW by comparison with the prediction on replay (if you know what I mean) - usually they're pretty good.

 

[Scotty]

Still up watching this. Cowan never looked comfortable. Rogers made a good effort - losing him was a bit of a blow. Clarke & Smith now trying to regain momentum.

Steve Smith lucky England chose not to review the LBW call cause he would have been gone.

Clarke out. The ever so slightest of a mark shown up on Hotspot. Smith gone. Now Phil Hughes goes for a duck. Interesting on the Hughes dismissal referred to DRS, commentators were pretty adament he was ok then DRS shows otherwise..hmmmm maybe I was wrong about the Indians, maybe they are onto something about not using DRS.

For some reason I also get the feeling that this DRS has been throwing up a few strange results with respect to ball path.

The hot spot also seems a lot more vague than it is in Australia.

In saying that, I think the DRS should only be used for checking if a player hit the ball, and where it landed/struck the player. Get rid of the predictive stuff and put that back to the umpires.

 

[Aussie D]

One day to go, Oz need 127 runs to win with 4 wickets in hand, Haddin and Agar at the crease. Hopefully Haddin learnt his lesson from SA 2011 and keeps his head and shows he deserves the vice captaincy by guiding the tail-enders to victory.

 

[light]

Day 5 tonight, 4 wickets remaining and still plenty of runs. If the Poms break this partnership early it is all over. I am hopeful but not confident, if there was anyone to back in this situation it would be Haddin (experienced in these situations and can score quickly, although not very successful) and Agar (very little to lose).

If they can survive the initial 10 overs and value their wicket they can win this one. This match has had so many surprises and momentum shifts, there is no way of knowing who will come out on top just yet. Safe money is on England, Aus are an outside chance if this partnership makes it to lunch. Anything less than 60runs for Siddle, Starc and Pattinson and I like our chances, there will be a sh*tload of pressure on the Poms!

 

[mark_s]

The good news is we only need one good partnership, the bads news is we struggle for partnerships. I think the poms will wrap it up quickly, but we can live in hope.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

No margin for error but if these two stay together the Poms blood pressure will rise. Get it in lots of ten boys and as Light said stick around in those early overs. This target, as big as it is, is still gettable.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

We may need an Australian Cricket team Positivity Thread.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

We may need an Australian Cricket team Positivity Thread.

I think they've played a lot better in this test than most of us thought they would. Most scribes had the Poms winning in a canter. We've shown in the first test that it will be a contest.

 

[Lindommer]

And there he goes again, the JOC (James O'Connor) of the Australian cricket team: Watson chewed up a pointless review leaving us with none when Broad snicked the ball to Haddin and Clarke.

And he's now used up ANOTHER review, quite selfishly while batting. The difference here is there's only one team-mate present to use as a sounding board whether to go for it or not. But not our Shane, he's right and every one else is wrong. In my opinion only a century in this second innings could possibly have saved his test career, he's now evolved from FU Watson to FO Watson.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

On Clarke & the DRS thing he said in an interview after the days play that he reviewed because he believed he didn't hit it. The fact that he looked back is irrelevant to me as lots of batsmen occasionally look back to see if the wicket keeper has misfielded - whether they've hit the ball or not.

I'm going to hold out on more judgement of the DRS until further into the series, see how it goes a bit more.

I would rate the Poms as fav's right now. I am really nervous about our battling line-up. I like Hadden, he is capable of getting us through this, but if he goes spastic & gets out early then for me it is all over - pending some kind of miracle. I'd imagine the Poms would have to have shit loads of pressure on them (no matter what they say) so I'm hoping that helps us out a bit. It is advantage England but we have a shot.

 

[light]

Yeah, I honestly think Watson is more of a liability than an asset. Sure, he bowled a few good overs and kept the Poms run rate low but he was rarely threatening. He's the most over-rated professional cricketer I have seen in years. I think his personality has a lot to do with it, Clarke clearly doesn't want him in the team.

I'd rather see Faulkner or Smith take his 'all-rounder' position so we can bring in another specialist batsman like Khawaja or Warner.

Next test I'd have.
1. Rogers
2. Warner/Cowan
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Hughes
7. Haddin
8. Agar
9. Siddle
10. Starc
11. Pattinson

I wish Cummins wasn't injured all the bloody time, same goes for Tim Paine.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

It is on. I fear to watch. I have updates on my computer at best right now - too nervous.

light def agree re: Cummings, we really could have done with him on board. I've got a bad feeling he's made of glass though.

 

[light]

88 runs to win. 2 wickets in hand. Poms have their foot on the jugular, Haddin proving defiant but playing some very risky shots.

Agar's wicket looked to be the turning point, Starc dismissed quickly in Andersons following over. Siddle races to 8 runs. Can't see how the Aussies will win from here, Swann to bowl.

I'm nervous.

 

[light]

Siddle dropped at first slip.


84 runs to win.


That Broad-Bell partnership has really cost us....we would have won by now.

 

[light]

Siddle OUT!

80 runs required, 1 wicket remaining...

Anderson has single-handedly killed us, 3 wickets with the new ball.

All over red rover.

 

[light]

38 to win...Haddin brings up half a ton while Patterson motors past 10.


shit. this is tight


Make that 31..Patterson HUGE 6

 

[AngrySeahorse]

I can't watch.

 

[light]

This is too much.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Keeping up to date on & off on cricket info. Otherwise I can't stand it.