3rd Ashes Test - WACA

[Adelaide Hawk]

The pitch is offering some assistance so how many runs do you think we need to defend?
I still think we need to be 370 up to have a shot but am hearing plenty reckon we can defend 220

my opinion only, i'd think we'd need at least a 300 lead & probably 60 runs more than that....what do the cricket gurus think ?

I don't know what the gurus think, but I think you're pretty much on the money at this point in the game.

[Q.]

This from cricinfo:

"Perhaps Nick should reflect on the fact that in the last four tests at the WACA the team batting fourth has got 300+..." says Paul.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I like watching Hussey batting, his concentration, watching the ball onto the bat, playing each ball on it's merits. He's a walking coaching manual. I'd like to think young players copy his technique ... before the 1st class system in Australia tries to stuff them up.

And ... why is it every time they show Strauss in the field, he's playing with his nose?

[mal]

WATTO another half ton ,
AU 3/105
WATTO 50*
MR CRICKET 21 *

[Jim05]

At last someone from the opposition bowling pies. Swann bowling rubbish but strauss isnt giving him a good field to bowl to. Pietersen looks like hes done a hammy he is very sluggish in the field.
Siddle has the pads on to come in next. Only problem with that is haddin relegated to 8

[Jim05]

End of day aus lead by 200

[Adelaide Hawk]

Why did Monty take something out to a player with only 1 ball remaining?

[mal]

AU 3/119 [33]
Lead of 200 beautiful runs
WATTO 61*[113]if he makes a ton becoz he didnt bowl ?
HUSSEY 24*[28]
Still 3 days left

Im just trying to remember who won the toss ....

[Adelaide Hawk]

Swann bowling rubbish

He really does bowl a poor line at times for someone who is supposed to be the best spinner in the world. I honestly think the Aussies have at times made him look better than he is, and I still rate Panesar at least his equal, if not better.

[Dutchy]

Great days cricket, Test cricket...

MJ has gone back to what got him a Baggy Green in the first place, that inswinger to the right handers, people kept telling him he needed to develop an outswinger to RHB's and I reckon that stuffed up what he was good at. great to see that change today. If you see the Collingwood dismissal again have a look how late he is reacting and where the bat is, dont think ive seen such a misjudgment for a long time.

Hughes aint up to it, Jacques or Klinger for me. Cant believe people are asking for Punters head, esp ahead of Clarke.

Going to need 400, the pitch aint going to deteriorate at all

[Rik E Boy]

Great days cricket, Test cricket...

MJ has gone back to what got him a Baggy Green in the first place, that inswinger to the right handers, people kept telling him he needed to develop an outswinger to RHB's and I reckon that stuffed up what he was good at. great to see that change today. If you see the Collingwood dismissal again have a look how late he is reacting and where the bat is, dont think ive seen such a misjudgment for a long time.

Hughes aint up to it, Jacques or Klinger for me. Cant believe people are asking for Punters head, esp ahead of Clarke.

Going to need 400, the pitch aint going to deteriorate at all

You can't believe people are calling for Punters head? How about that shot he got out to today? Dancing accross to the offside to feather a ball that is pitched around middle and leg and going down leg??? The guy has seriously lost it.

regards,

REB

[whufc]

I know he wasnt the only one but FFS

will Michael Clarke ever stand up for the Aussies when we need him.

Worlds greatest ever front runner.

[Dutchy]

Great days cricket, Test cricket...

MJ has gone back to what got him a Baggy Green in the first place, that inswinger to the right handers, people kept telling him he needed to develop an outswinger to RHB's and I reckon that stuffed up what he was good at. great to see that change today. If you see the Collingwood dismissal again have a look how late he is reacting and where the bat is, dont think ive seen such a misjudgment for a long time.

Hughes aint up to it, Jacques or Klinger for me. Cant believe people are asking for Punters head, esp ahead of Clarke.

Going to need 400, the pitch aint going to deteriorate at all

You can't believe people are calling for Punters head? How about that shot he got out to today? Dancing accross to the offside to feather a ball that is pitched around middle and leg and going down leg??? The guy has seriously lost it.

regards,

REB

So you would get rid of him? Who would be your captain? You would keep Clarke in in front of him?

Anyone knows those leg glances can easily be knicked or go for 4, very small difference between pleasure and pain, the reason he danced across was becuase there was no fine leg, as Watson showed a couple of time when he got 4 the same way.

Pontings last 11 hits he has 5 50's, best bat since Bradman and you want him gone,....seriously....guess he aint a blue bagger

[Jim05]

Ponting averages 39 over last 12 months. Wouldnt find a number 3 in world cricket with a worse average. WAS a great batsman and WILL go down in history as one of the best but even Bradman knew when to finish up.
Do you want us to hang onto him until we find the next skipper, could be years. Give haddin the job and move on. Stop keeping kids out of the side

[Hondo]

Ponting averages 39 over last 12 months. Wouldnt find a number 3 in world cricket with a worse average. WAS a great batsman and WILL go down in history as one of the best but even Bradman knew when to finish up.
Do you want us to hang onto him until we find the next skipper, could be years. Give haddin the job and move on. Stop keeping kids out of the side

Mr Cricket went far worse for far longer. 39 is not what he used to score but it's decent enough for a test number 3 out of form.

Ponting will be around for a while yet unless he wants to retire. Some of you guys are too quick on the trigger finger.

Hughes and Smith are in the team so the kids are getting their run. We have bigger issues than Ponting at 3 IMO - we may need a new opener soon; Smith is a huge question mark; Katich and Hussey are also aged around 36 and not getting any younger.

[Jim05]

The selectors cant sack him, they cant afford the payout but they can make life difficult by forcing him to bat lower in the order. Let him decide his own fate, bat lower or step aside.

[Hondo]

The selectors cant sack him, they cant afford the payout but they can make life difficult by forcing him to bat lower in the order. Let him decide his own fate, bat lower or step aside.

It's not a war on Ponting! Maybe he does need to drop down the order but I'm not seeing replacements that will do any better. Khawaja would be better off starting off at 5 or 6.

[brod]

Agreed..and I also think our biggest concern is who will be Wattos partner.. WHO DO YOU PICK????

NSW
Hughes - simply out of form..he is averaging under 20 this summer (10/11 FC AVE 19.54)
Jaques - injued..batting version of Shaun Tait (10/11 FC AVE 21.3)
TAS
Cowan - Not convinced he is up to Test level (a 28yo who is averaging 36 in FC cricket) (10/11 FC AVE 21.0)
Cosgrove - Sure hes only 26 and averages over 40 in FC cricket, but only just started opening in Shield cricket and he is not fit enough to play test cricket (10/11 FC AVE 51.75)
WA
Robinson - 30yo who is only just finding his feet in FC cricket (10/11 FC AVE 44.80)
Davis - Im a bit of a fan (but not a real chance in 2011) (10/11 FC AVE 25.12)
SA
Cooper/Moffat - Do I need to put a comment (Cooper 10/11 FC AVE 43.2 - Moffatt 10/11 FC AVE 7.67)
Klinger - His form just could not warrant serious consideration (10/11 FC AVE 22.58)
VIC
Quiney - Sorry but dont much rate him as a FC player, let alone a test player (10/11 FC AVE 42.0)
Hill - See Davis (10/11 FC AVE 35.09)
Rogers - see Jaques (10/11 FC AVE 22.0)
QLD
Broad - Struggles for Qld (10/11 FC AVE 20.4)
Townsend - NO (10/11FC AVE 28.1)

[Adelaide Hawk]

Cosgrove - Sure hes only 26 stone

Edited for accuracy.

[brod]

Australia have made a concerted effort to turn up the volume on England and the extra sledging is increasing the tension between the sides. Mitchell Johnson called Kevin Pietersen a "smart arse" for asking for his phone number on the field and was also involved in arguments with James Anderson.

Matt Prior exchanged words with Peter Siddle after being bounced out and appeared to invite the bowler out the back for another confrontation. "Siddle was going pretty hard, coming around the wicket and bowling short balls into his ribs," Johnson said. "I don't think [Prior] liked it too much."