posted Jul 18, 2009

rudeboy

even if you're right on the sentimentality Flintoff looked a little out of touch and he has shown that he rarely adds to his overnight score in previous innings......

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posted Jul 18, 2009

I think they will bat on for 30 mins for 2 reasons

it messes the Aussies around a little bit, coming out and going back in again

gives us just a few more runs so that we can field without caution.

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posted Jul 18, 2009

Sorry Rudeboy missed your last entry re my last comment.

Yes the big 600+ follow on score (some series!). I think the difference is Aussies aren't following on and history is massively against them plus I don't think their current batting line-up is as strong as recent previous......

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posted Jul 18, 2009

There seems to be a certain lack of that Australian fan who told us last night that Australia had England right where they wanted us and would come back and win .

In the end, Andrew Strauss' decision not to enforce the follow-on was proved correct, as batting conditions were ideal. But poor weather tomorrow and Monday should should be perfect from Graham Onions.

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posted Jul 18, 2009

I would have thought they will bat for the majority of the morning session, leaving Aus with a difficult session before lunch, in which they can hopefully snag one of the openers. With that done, and no rain, hopefully this test, and the ashes, is ours

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posted Jul 19, 2009

I feel we need to declare. There is 180 overs left across the 2 days. Allow for weather I feel 150 at best.
We pick batsmen to bat and bowlers to bowl. The batsmen have done their bit (with some help from the bowlers) now it is time for the bowlers to do theirs.
I think we need to look at it if we lose because they have chased down 520 then we deserved it. They played superbly or we were rubbish. We need to play to win. Not play not to lose and hope we can win after.
If anyone questions the issue over Flintoff's knee that is still our fault as far as I am concerned. He went into the match with this doubt over his fitness and this is the risk you take. He should have missed this test and rested up for the next. The same could be said of KP. If we are not careful rather than losing them both for 1 game to rest and recover and be fit for the rest of the summer we may now find the reverse. We push them for 1 game and lose them for the summer.

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posted Jul 19, 2009

England should have enough runs now. Given the forecast of showers today, declare now and get on with the job of bowling them out as soon as possible.

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posted Jul 19, 2009

1 hour of 20-20 style batting then declare, that should give England a lead of around 600 with almost 2 days (weather permitting) to bowl them out...

Sounds like a plan...

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posted Jul 19, 2009

Here's my plan:

Slog while it's sunny and declare when it's darker.

(And declare anyway if the lead gets to 600, that's more than enough.)

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posted Jul 20, 2009

I have always supported England in cricket depite being Welsh ( memories of Jones and Croft)and think that if we get clark a win is on However the australian tial can wag and at this stage must be as excited as a dog that has just been offered a walk

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