Official 3rd 3 Test - Perth

[BenchedEagle]

I dare say Gilchrist has just slogged himself into form. Just another dent in he Poms ego today. hahaha

[mal]

Haydos 92
Gilly 102*
_________________________________
Symonds 2
_________________________________
England 1/19 chasing 557.

THANK YOU COME AGAIN. You have been served.

regards,

REB[/quote]

REB Symonds was stiff, after all he had to face Panesar instead of Giles

[Adelaide Hawk]

Gilchrist's batting was breathtaking. I felt almost exhausted just watching it. The amazing thing is Clarke's batting was superb, and yet he paled in comparison with Gilchrist. I'm not going to forget that sessions for a long time, that was batting in its finest form. The English bowling wasn't bad, it just got hammered.

[sydney-dog]

Great Day's cricket

even though this is Hussey's first test at #4, in my opinion he is the best #4 in world cricket today

[mal]

Great Day's cricket

even though this is Hussey's first test at #4, in my opinion he is the best #4 in world cricket today

AND QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST BATSMAN IN THE WORLD
And to think that he had struggled to make pura/cup runs before
being selected.
His average must have been 40 or less the last couple of years.
I recall TAIT making him look ordinary in some of those games.
He used to open a fair bit then.

[Mr66]

Gilchrist's ton was the second fastest in history.
Some guy called Richards with a girly first name has the record.

[GWW]

The Symonds experiment hasn't worked, hes never going to be a test class batsman, and his bowling, although occasionally handy, is nothing special.

If/when we win this game and go 3-0 up, time to bring in a legitimate batsman into the number 6 position, one who can play test cricket for next 5 to 10 years. Candidates - North (WA), Birt (Tas), Voges (WA). Personally, I'd love to see Birt given a go, although North (or Voges) could be the safer bet.

[Rik E Boy]

Gilchrist's ton was the second fastest in history.
Some guy called Richards with a girly first name has the record.

Isaac is a girly name? You must know some funky babes 66!

regards,

REB

[Mr66]

That happens when you drink too much Caribbean rum REB!
Richards got his ton from 55 balls,Gilchrist 57.
Marsh and Healy may be marginally better keepers, but Gilchrist is a way better batsman.
And as I'm writing this, Monty Panasar has to fly back to England because his wife is sick.

[Rik E Boy]

No mate, it's Gilo who has gone back to blighty.

regards,

REB

[heater31]

And as I'm writing this, Monty Panasar has to fly back to England because his wife is sick.

correction its Giles who has flown home and replaced by Jamie Dalrymple from Middlesex

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/story/272929.html

[stampy]

and i thought mr gilchrist was over the hill!! excuse me. what an aberattion last series was,

[Squawk]

Jones has had another bad day today with a fumbled stumping chance (albeit not an easy take) and a missed catch which he should have been called out of by Peterson.

Was VERY interested to note that when Gilchrist smashed Panesar for 24, Panesar was replaced by Hoggard who was then smashed for 18 I think. At the other end Mahmood was smashed as well (about 15) and replaced by Harmison who got smashed. What made me VERY interested? Well, apart from the batting, the England Captain didn't stand up to bowl. I would have been tempted to keep Panesar on and replace Mahmood, but why did Flintoff stay out of the attack? Either he currently rates Hoggard and Harmison as his best 2 bowlers, OR he is not fit, OR he didn't want to be smashed himself.

Flintoff is supposed to be three things out there - captain, bowler and batsman. Why didn't he stand up?

Also amazing to note that the aussies scored 430 today and bowled for 25 minutes. Whilst it was on a different pitch, the Poms took nearly 2 days to make 6/551 in Adelaide. Generally a measure of a good day's cricket is 300 runs in a day and say 2 wickets a session. The 551 only came about because of Petersons late, rapid scoring.

I cant see Flintoff being dropped and nor should he be. But someone should get into his ear about leading from the front because it hasn't happened this series. Sure he has tried to rally the troops and he says all the right things at press conferences but his leadership is sorely needed on the field with bat, ball and captaincy.

The Melbourne Test, assuming the aussies win, could see Read in for Jones. They may also look to another batsman (at least to prop up Panesar's batting shortfalls as Fletcher maintains!), but who would go? Strauss will live on and should. Collingwood will stay put as will Peterson. That leaves Bell or Cook. Bell has made 50,0,60,26,0,9 not out so far. Cook has made 11,43,27,9,15,7 not out so far. That makes Cook look in danger. However, I doubt they will change the batting line up but I still tink Jones could be replaced by Read. Jones' scores? 19,33,1,10,0 so far.

[spell_check]

Could Gilchrist get 100 before stumps?

He shitted it in. What a marvel - alongside Ponting, Hussey etc.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Flintoff is supposed to be three things out there - captain, bowler and batsman. Why didn't he stand up?

Personally, I don't like all-rounders as captains. They are too involved in the game as a top order batsman and as as a front line bowler. For most, the added responsibillity as captain is too much to handle. I would have thought they'd learnt from the Botham experiment.

I'm not sure who would captain England, but it shouldn't be Flintoff. Just let the guy play. Maybe drop Mahmood and play an extra batsmen and drop Flintoff down to 7 or 8 may help a little.

I also think he's not 100% fit to be honest, which is why they keep playing the likes of Anderson and Mahmood. Hoggard, Flintoff, Harmison, Panesar, with Pietersen as a 5th bowler is really all they should need. The English attack really doesn't have anyone who wants to take the responsibility as spearhead. They haven't really had anyone like that since Bob Willis.

Just a thought for discussion. Does the cricket world have stars in its eyes in the way it views Andrew Flintoff? Is he slightly over-rated? Personally, I haven't seen Flintoff as the awesome power he appeared to be in the 2005 series. Maybe it's just the added responsibility as captain, maybe it's his fitness, or maybe he just had a freak series in 2005 and will never produce that again. Who knows?

[mal]

Flintoff is supposed to be three things out there - captain, bowler and batsman. Why didn't he stand up?

Personally, I don't like all-rounders as captains. They are too involved in the game as a top order batsman and as as a front line bowler. For most, the added responsibillity as captain is too much to handle. I would have thought they'd learnt from the Botham experiment.

I'm not sure who would captain England, but it shouldn't be Flintoff. Just let the guy play. Maybe drop Mahmood and play an extra batsmen and drop Flintoff down to 7 or 8 may help a little.

I also think he's not 100% fit to be honest, which is why they keep playing the likes of Anderson and Mahmood. Hoggard, Flintoff, Harmison, Panesar, with Pietersen as a 5th bowler is really all they should need. The English attack really doesn't have anyone who wants to take the responsibility as spearhead. They haven't really had anyone like that since Bob Willis.

Just a thought for discussion. Does the cricket world have stars in its eyes in the way it views Andrew Flintoff? Is he slightly over-rated? Personally, I haven't seen Flintoff as the awesome power he appeared to be in the 2005 series. Maybe it's just the added responsibility as captain, maybe it's his fitness, or maybe he just had a freak series in 2005 and will never produce that again. Who knows?

Could not agree more.
He is a terrific bowler
A batsman who should bat 7 or 8
Captaining is too much responsibility
World cricket needs uninhibited star performers without the burdening of captainship.

[Ian]

[am Bays]

Jones has had another bad day today with a fumbled stumping chance (albeit not an easy take) and a missed catch which he should have been called out of by Peterson.

Yep, sqwark, hard take but one that a test 'keeper should take with ease andcomplete, see Smith st Healey b May at Trent bridge (I think) 1993 for a harder take and completed stumping - had to take it a foot to the left of his L shoulder and bring it back...

Jones poor technique of hard hands and coming up too early i.e. not wth the ball cost him that stumping

Flintoff is supposed to be three things out there - captain, bowler and batsman. Why didn't he stand up?

The mind is willing but the body ain't, injured players get caught out on a tour to Australia.

great player but we haven't seen the best of him due to injury and maybe the worries of captaincy....

[sydney-dog]

The key issue has been the POMs preparation and attitude

the Poms planning and preparation was outstanding prior to their home ashes series and they were hungry for success and had and they wanted to compete

since there ashes win, they have been treated like rock stars and have acted accordingly.

their preparation was ordinary, after the ICC trophy they went back home to kick the heels up, this was a good opportunity to get to Australia a week earlier and to get some training in to the squad, this was critical considering Flintoff, Harmison and Giles were all short of fitness prior to the tour

England also decided to play three day games instead of four day games, this is another poor decision regarding the teams preparation.

Flintoff is a great player but a Captain he is not, he does lead with his actions but should not carry the added responsibility of Captain

Finally team selection they have cocked this up from day one

Talent will get you so far, desire and attitude will take you to the TOP

[rod_rooster]

Flintoff is supposed to be three things out there - captain, bowler and batsman. Why didn't he stand up?

Personally, I don't like all-rounders as captains. They are too involved in the game as a top order batsman and as as a front line bowler. For most, the added responsibillity as captain is too much to handle. I would have thought they'd learnt from the Botham experiment.

I'm not sure who would captain England, but it shouldn't be Flintoff. Just let the guy play. Maybe drop Mahmood and play an extra batsmen and drop Flintoff down to 7 or 8 may help a little.

I also think he's not 100% fit to be honest, which is why they keep playing the likes of Anderson and Mahmood. Hoggard, Flintoff, Harmison, Panesar, with Pietersen as a 5th bowler is really all they should need. The English attack really doesn't have anyone who wants to take the responsibility as spearhead. They haven't really had anyone like that since Bob Willis.

Just a thought for discussion. Does the cricket world have stars in its eyes in the way it views Andrew Flintoff? Is he slightly over-rated? Personally, I haven't seen Flintoff as the awesome power he appeared to be in the 2005 series. Maybe it's just the added responsibility as captain, maybe it's his fitness, or maybe he just had a freak series in 2005 and will never produce that again. Who knows?

Could not agree more.
He is a terrific bowler
A batsman who should bat 7 or 8
Captaining is too much responsibility
World cricket needs uninhibited star performers without the burdening of captainship.

This is a little strange. I agree 100% with mal