2013 Ashes Part I

[No4918]

Pietersen not happy. Maybe rightly but snicko has a definite sound. Have to laugh at Broad shaking his head.

 

[Scotty]

We simply have to throw everything at England today. They aren't chasing the runs and frankly why would they?

The reason to chase is to put the onus back on OZ to defend. We can now do what we want and it plays into our hands.

I hope England's negative play in this match come back to bite them.

 

[mark_s]

Big Kev wastes the second DRS. Another wicket before lunch would set it up very well for us.

Aus bowling is of high quality.

 

[Sully]

Pieterson seemed out BUT

DRS is still fucked!

 

[mark_s]

Pieterson seemed out BUT

DRS is still fucked!

Why, if there was no DRS he would of been out, plus he looked out when snicko was overlaid.

 

[It is what it is]

Is Pietersen England's JOC (James O'Connor)?

 

[Sully]

Why?

Hotspot is being used but is mostly ignored.

snicko seems more accurate but not being used. Instead ump is listening to sound from replay.

 

[light]

Feel bad for KP, he definitely didn't hit that but umpires decision stands and rightly so. There wasn't enough evidence to over turn and I really don't trust snicko anyway, as Healy stated it is far too manipulative. Without DRS he was out so probably just unlucky for him, very similar to Khawaja last test. Interesting discussion at tea regarding bat tampering in order to reduce hot spots effect - would be interesting to investigate further and you'd hope manufacturers aren't interfering with that stuff.

Either way KP was their key wicket and if the rain stays away we have a great chance now. Bell looks like a pest already and we need him goooone, Root is really struggling and been lucky already.

This is a cracking game, pisses me off that the Aussie bowlers are now employing Englands tactics and going off field after their overs- seriously we are better than that and it just looks weak.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Rain is back. Looks like we are heading for a draw. Cheers Weather - NOT!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Apart from a drop in pitch at Docklands/Etihad in Melbourne, are there any other "indoor" test crciket venues?

Can you do a drop in at Cardiff Arms Park?

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Between England farting around & the weather this is really just a painfully slow death. Happy to have seen some real fight from our guys though.

 

[mark_s]

Sully, the two biggest issues with the DRS are (a very small) number of howlers by the 3rd umpire and poor use of it by the teams. It was interesting to see England, who had been very astute up to now, blow both of their reviews on poor decisions last night when under pressure.

Referring 50:50 decisions is biased against you. The 3rd ump will give benefit of the doubt to the on field ump, unless there is a clear howler. This turns the 50:50 odds into something like 20:80 against you. As for Snicko and hotspot, I think the use is pretty much right now. Too much risk of Snikco being manipulated.

As for Aus, we are somewhat liberated now and can start preparing for the home series by selecting and playing well in the last two over there. I have defended Watson up to now, but its time for others to be picked.

 

[No4918]

The 3rd pace spot and spin are issues. Starc was poor last night and I have no facts to back this up, my impression is he is more effective bowling to the tail. Will have to track down the numbers to see if that is correct. Either way I would like to see Cummins or Bird come in for the remaining tests. Lyon was bought in due to Agar not taking wickets and only took one. Not much opportunity last night so am happy to let him see out the series though his performance in the first inngings hardly justified dropping Agar.

Batting is still a problem but at least a few guys look to be finding some form. Get rid of Watson and get Smith to bowl the extra overs. I am sick of shuffling guys around but would like to see Rogers at 3. He has an all-round game that others lack and struggles less against spin early. Bring Warner and Hughes into open, Rogers to 3 and push the others down a spot.

Warner
Hughes/Rogers
Rogers/Hughes
Khwaja
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Lyon

 

[mark_s]

I would definitely bring in Bird, I suspect Harris needs a rest physically anyway.

I would keep lyon. He needs to throw the ball up mroe. I suspect he was told that he was dropped for being too expensive in India and so bowled to keep it tight.

 

[Braveheart81]

Feel bad for KP, he definitely didn't hit that but umpires decision stands and rightly so. There wasn't enough evidence to over turn and I really don't trust snicko anyway, as Healy stated it is far too manipulative. Without DRS he was out so probably just unlucky for him, very similar to Khawaja last test. Interesting discussion at tea regarding bat tampering in order to reduce hot spots effect - would be interesting to investigate further and you'd hope manufacturers aren't interfering with that stuff.

I think not overturning KP's dismissal was the correct decision by the Third Umpire.

I disagree with you saying he definitely didn't hit it? On what basis?

All the evidence besides hotspot (which the manufacturer says will not pick up a faint edge) suggested he was out.

Contrast that to Khawaja's where every single piece of evidence suggested it wasn't out.

Apart from a drop in pitch at Docklands/Etihad in Melbourne, are there any other "indoor" test crciket venues?

Can you do a drop in at Cardiff Arms Park?

Docklands isn't a test cricket venue. They have played ODI cricket there though.

The MCG uses drop in pitches these days as well as some other grounds that are used for football during the Winter. None are 'indoor' to my knowledge though.

 

[Lindommer]

It took the MCG curators about ten years to get drop-in pitches right, which, admittedly, were better than some of the crap pitches there in the preceding 10/15 years. It's a problem for ground managers when football of any kind's played extensively over winter. Let's hope Adelaide's famous batting pitch isn't buggered up when AFL moves there next year.

I wouldn't be rushing to copy this drop-in practice at other test venues.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

One of my gripes with drop in pitches is that they seem to have all been flat batting tracks. The best wickets are ones with a bit in it for everyone.

 

[Braveheart81]

Lindommer - I agree. I don't think drop in pitches are ideal at all.

The SCG still gets away with retaining the centre square during football season and I think any grounds besides the MCG should be able to do the same.

Aside from the MCG, none of the other grounds are used nearly as frequently because they only have one or maybe two home teams. Whereas the MCG gets at least one and probably two AFL games every single weekend.

The SCG would be used on average every two weeks for a game during Winter. The NRL plays a couple of games there a season but then the Swans play a couple of their games at ANZ which also lightens the load on the SCG.

 

[JSRF10]

One of my gripes with drop in pitches is that they seem to have all been flat batting tracks. The best wickets are ones with a bit in it for everyone.

Is it not Eden Park where the drop in pitches are green tops for 2 days then turn into batting paradise for days 3,4,5? I seem to remember both Andrew Flintoff and Nathan Astle breaking various fastest 100/200 records in a test there.

I'd agree that drop in pitches aren't the answer and should be avoided where possible.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Is it not Eden Park where the drop in pitches are green tops for 2 days then turn into batting paradise for days 3,4,5? I seem to remember both Andrew Flintoff and Nathan Astle breaking various fastest 100/200 records in a test there.

I'd agree that drop in pitches aren't the answer and should be avoided where possible.

Just looking up Astle's double and it was in ChCh, but I don't know if they use regular or drop in pitches there. A certain amount of that probably needs to go on in NZ because of the amount of rain they get. Their wickets have been swing and seam bowlers dreams for as long as I can remember.