1st Test England vs Australia

[dedja]

My sentiments are best summed up by late and great The Don who said the game of cricket was the winner in the famous tied test in '61.

There's lots of could of, should of, maybes , if only, etc regarding this test.

It was an interesting experience watching the 5 days of this test whilst reading and posting coments in this thread.

Firstly, I can't believe how many people here panic at the first sign of trouble ... 5 day tests are a feat of endurance and patience.

2ndly, whilst everyone has the absolute right to say what they want (and good on all for doing so), I'm astounded by the negative posts regading some of Australia's players.

Words to the effect like ... Pointing didn't deserve the man of the match because his captaincy was crap, or Johnston bowls too much crap to be a front line bowler, or in my day I could hit the spot with my first ball, why can't these guys do it after all their warmups, etc , etc ...

Well, yes the draw was disappointing for a moment or 2, but in the bigger picture, the Aussies played real well for most of the match and can go into the rest of the series full of confidence.

For those that bag Ricky Ponting, well I really feel sorry for you to be honest. The man scores 150 after some quite indifferent form to help set up the huge 1st innings lead but apparently he can't captain.

For those on Mitchell Johnson's case, well what incredibly short memories you have. The absolute best bowler for this side since the retirement of Glenn McGrath and the fall from grace of Brett Lee, who has put in absolutely amazing efforts in the last 12 months (with both bat and ball), yes, he had a downer this test but underestimate his abilities at your peril.

And finally, for those who complain about skills, etc and how they used to do things better when they played ... well, LMFAO, how many times did you play test cricket, let alone in an Ashes Series?

Anyway, keep up the banter as it's all enjoyable, interesting & entertaining, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

[wycbloods]

Good summary dedja. We have all been spoily by some of the greatest players that have ever played the game and now we don't have that same air of invincibility to us we ae jumping all our players for being human and making mistakes and having a rough trot with the bat or ball. We shoulda, coulda, woulda won but we didn't and i found it great that the test went down to the final overs and the result was still genuinely in doubt, draw or Aussie win obviously.

[MightyEagles]

Disappointed of course, we are going to rue the chance to win when the rain came after tea on the 4th day. That cost us crucial overs that meant that we could have won.

[silicone skyline]

At the end of the day, it's a draw, hopefully the sheer embarrassment of England's performance will live on and shatter their confidence into test 2.

[Adelaide Hawk]

everyone has the absolute right to say what they want.

Correct ... and yet you still see fit to criticise others when they do. Strange.

[Dirko]

Some fair points there dedja, but at the end of the day Australia drew a test in what they probably should have won considering the position they were in at both the lunch and tea breaks...

They didn't and in that it's disappointing...

Onward & upward to Lords....

[rod_rooster]

For those that bag Ricky Ponting, well I really feel sorry for you to be honest. The man scores 150 after some quite indifferent form to help set up the huge 1st innings lead but apparently he can't captain.

I will defend Ponting as a batsman till the cows come home. He is one of the finest players of the modern era and is often unfairly overlooked when talking about the greats like Lara, Tendulkar etc. He is more than qualified to be considered to be in that elite company. His captaincy is, however, poor. He had it very easy when he could just throw the ball to Warne and McGrath and it's no secret he wanted Lehmann in the side because of the advice he gave Ponting. His weaknesses as a captain were on show for all to see yesterday. He went with Johnson as he has (as you pointed out dedja) been our best bowler in the last 12 months. Unfortunately Ponting failed to realise that Johnson is out of form and clearly not the best option at the time. He needed to have the courage and instinct to make changes when it was obvious things weren't working. Do you think Mark Taylor would have kept Johnson on for that long or taken Hilf off after making the breakthrough? Ponting is a wonderful player just an average captain though.

[silicone skyline]

One more wicket and Ponting would be a genius in come critics eyes, not saying you're like that RR, just calling it as I see it.

[rod_rooster]

One more wicket and Ponting would be a genius in come critics eyes, not saying you're like that RR, just calling it as I see it.

I agree and it would have been a classic case of winning hiding many flaws. Ponting stuffed up on day 5 plain and simple. Having said that there really isn't a better option to be captain.

[dedja]

For those that bag Ricky Ponting, well I really feel sorry for you to be honest. The man scores 150 after some quite indifferent form to help set up the huge 1st innings lead but apparently he can't captain.

I will defend Ponting as a batsman till the cows come home. He is one of the finest players of the modern era and is often unfairly overlooked when talking about the greats like Lara, Tendulkar etc. He is more than qualified to be considered to be in that elite company. His captaincy is, however, poor. He had it very easy when he could just throw the ball to Warne and McGrath and it's no secret he wanted Lehmann in the side because of the advice he gave Ponting. His weaknesses as a captain were on show for all to see yesterday. He went with Johnson as he has (as you pointed out dedja) been our best bowler in the last 12 months. Unfortunately Ponting failed to realise that Johnson is out of form and clearly not the best option at the time. He needed to have the courage and instinct to make changes when it was obvious things weren't working. Do you think Mark Taylor would have kept Johnson on for that long or taken Hilf off after making the breakthrough? Ponting is a wonderful player just an average captain though.

Some fair comments there RR and with good context.

To be honest, I think where Ricky may struggle a tad is that he's very loyal to players and will persist with them when others might not. The Mitch situation is probably one of them and no doubt he would have been influential in the persistence with Andrew Symonds until the end.

Yes, just as surprised that Hilf didn't get another go.

Cheers ...

[dedja]

everyone has the absolute right to say what they want.

Correct ... and yet you still see fit to criticise others when they do. Strange.

LOL, not all ... I just wanted to point out that I didn't agree with some comments and I tried to respond in a general way and didn't personalise.

Nowhere have I said that people shouldn't continue to post as they wish ... on the contrary, I think it's great to read so many varied opinions.

Whether you or I, or anyone else for that matter, agrees or disagrees with comments that are posted is irrelevant, but the opportunity to have your say is important.

That's what these forums are all about I would have thought.

[jackpot jim]

Aussies CAN'T win this Test form here and will be doing very well to get out of it with a DRAW.

u idiot!

Why? I havent been proven wrong yet.

even from here, i cant see the Aussies winning.

And ultimately i was CORRECT.

Not bad for an IDIOT.

[silicone skyline]

No JJ, no you weren't. ENGLAND were lucky to hope for a draw, the Australian's only just missed out on winning and winning easily.

The ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE of what you said.

Sure, the test ended in a draw, but you clearly stated the best Aus could hope for was a draw when in fact they were one wicket away from an easy win.

An hour's less rain delay and game over.

I'm not calling you an idiot, but strutting round like nostradamus after such a ridiculous statement saves me some typing.

[Thiele]

I know why Johnson bowled so bad prehaps he his mum on his mind

[JK]

Im surprised Punter made mention of the time wasting tactics in his press conference ... We would have been holding a fair mental advantage - and maybe still do - But you risk handing some of it back to the Poms who could possibly use the euphoria of salvaging the match to hit back hard.

I would have thought the best attitude is to give the opposition absolutely nothing, but they would now know they've gotten under his skin.

[purch]

For those that bag Ricky Ponting, well I really feel sorry for you to be honest. The man scores 150 after some quite indifferent form to help set up the huge 1st innings lead but apparently he can't captain.

I will defend Ponting as a batsman till the cows come home. He is one of the finest players of the modern era and is often unfairly overlooked when talking about the greats like Lara, Tendulkar etc. He is more than qualified to be considered to be in that elite company. His captaincy is, however, poor. He had it very easy when he could just throw the ball to Warne and McGrath and it's no secret he wanted Lehmann in the side because of the advice he gave Ponting. His weaknesses as a captain were on show for all to see yesterday. He went with Johnson as he has (as you pointed out dedja) been our best bowler in the last 12 months. Unfortunately Ponting failed to realise that Johnson is out of form and clearly not the best option at the time. He needed to have the courage and instinct to make changes when it was obvious things weren't working. Do you think Mark Taylor would have kept Johnson on for that long or taken Hilf off after making the breakthrough? Ponting is a wonderful player just an average captain though.

Wholeheartedly agreed with all of that rod. Australia's best long term captains since the early 80's (post Hughes) , in order: 1. Taylor, 2. Waugh, 3. Border 4. Ponting ...it has nothing to do with how good they are as batsmen themselves

[jackpot jim]

No JJ, no you weren't. ENGLAND were lucky to hope for a draw, the Australian's only just missed out on winning and winning easily.

The ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE of what you said.

Sure, the test ended in a draw, but you clearly stated the best Aus could hope for was a draw when in fact they were one wicket away from an easy win.

An hour's less rain delay and game over.

I'm not calling you an idiot, but strutting round like nostradamus after such a ridiculous statement saves me some typing.

Just making a point to Cyclops that i was right. (tho i understand your point i was wrong)

Making the statement Aussies CANT win after Englands 1st inngs 435 was a bit of tounge in cheek.
Basically was just making the point that very few Tests are WON when conceding 435 in the 1st innings and also knew their was a bit of dodgy weather forecast later in the test.
The one factor that is always hard to factor in is the POMMIE capitulation factor which saw then do their best to lose it.

[cennals05]

Im surprised Punter made mention of the time wasting tactics in his press conference ... We would have been holding a fair mental advantage - and maybe still do - But you risk handing some of it back to the Poms who could possibly use the euphoria of salvaging the match to hit back hard.

I would have thought the best attitude is to give the opposition absolutely nothing, but they would now know they've gotten under his skin.

This is all the English media have grabbed hold of. All the headlines are about Ponting not happy with the time wasting. The Sky News presenter even went as far as to take out his hankie and dab at his eyes and say "dry your eyes Aussies" and laugh. I really hope we absolutely kill them at Lords.

Now off to the 'Things that give me the sh1ts' thread..... The English

[Gozu]

I thought this was a good piece on the First Test in yesterday's Crikey email:


Ashes 09: A joyous draw, long live Test cricket

Crikey Sports and Cricket with Balls blogger Jarrod Kimber writes from London:


One wicket. One wicket is all Australia needed. 69 balls at James Anderson and Monty Panesar, and Australia can’t win the game.

While it is tempting to take a machine gun into a crowded building after a game like that, first you have to marvel at two -- just better than completely useless -- batsmen holding up an end to save a game for their country. Monty and Jimmy aren’t walking wickets, they are ordinary tailenders polished by the professional game. But 69 balls was longer than any of the first five wicket partnerships. And they looked like going out a lot less than their top order teammates.


You may want to punch them right now, but you have to respect them. Australia may have made it easier for them at times (Marcus North?), but they still had to stick it out knowing one mistake meant Australia got the dream start.

Australia was never the favourite to win this Test. Cardiff is designed for spin, and Australia was taking in their club spinner against two international class spinners. Yet, once you look past Jimmy Anderson’s fist pump after saving the game, you realise that Nathan Hauritz took more wickets in the game than England did. Yes, that Nathan Hauritz. The one Australia picked from grade cricket. Yes, really.

Both teams batted for two and a half days. One team took five wickets, and one took 19. Jimmy Anderson might have been overcome with emotion, but it wasn’t from the joy of a hard fought game, it was at the fact they somehow they managed not to lose. Australia was one wicket away from an innings victory on the pitch that was set up for the hosts.

This isn’t a demoralising draw, this is a joyous one. Once Ricky Ponting stops calling the English cheats he will realise that Australia dominated England in this Test.


Four batsmen made hundreds, and Michael Clarke should have. Mitchell Johnson was not even required.


The bowling wasn’t as smooth, but the last two bowlers picked took 11 wickets between them. Mitchell Johnson couldn’t hit the pitch at times, and Peter Siddle was more interested in trying to squeeze imaginary life out of the middle of the pitch than get wickets. But even with their two main bowlers struggling on an ordinary wicket, the Australians almost bowled England out twice.

That has got to be what Australia takes out of this match. They might not have won it, but England weren’t even in the match for the last four days, they had resorted to cardboard cut outs on the fourth day.

Ricky is too angry for positives right now. Being one of the great moralists of our time, he feels it is his right to set England straight on what is in the spirit of the game. Peter Siddle can stand mid pitch and swear at his opponent but England can’t time waste in the last hour.


Once he has sorted that out, hopefully he can get Mitchell Johnson’s mind right, and go one wicket better at Lord’s. They say Australia grow an extra leg at Lord’s, if that is true, England will need to find some serious form quickly.

You have to love Test cricket, five days of play, a draw, and people over here couldn’t be more excited. Love live Test cricket, and long live the exciting draw.



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Crikey's Ashes 09 coverage:

Jarrod Kimber reports from the UK after each day's play.
A media wrap of what the pundit's are saying after each day's play.
And everything Ashes related can be found here.

[Pottsy]

Yep, great sentiments there.

Ricky doesn't need to have a spit about what happened. He dominated, his team dominated. Let the cricket speak for itself. Mind you, when you look at what was actually said, he didn't dwell on it. It's the usual media bandwagon dwelling on any headline making negative they can find.

I loved every ball, even though I really didn't like the result. Good hard Test cricket.

Bring on Lords.