5th Ashes Test Discussion

Richo · Jan 7, 2011

COMPO said:
What comes around goes around. All great teams face a reality check sooner or later. Now it's our turn. No disgrace to be beaten by a better team. But as Arnie almost said "we'll be back".
We did have a South African player in the 80's but we treated him rather badly and he went home to captain South Africa.

Yes but we only had ONE and he didn't go back because he was treated badly he went back because the ban on South African sporting teams had been lifted (which was the reason he was playing for us).

That said, we were clearly beaten by a better side, even without Peterson, Trott and Prior I believe we would have lost as their bowling was brilliant and Cook was unstoppable!

Congratulations England and their coaching team, we are lucky to have won one IMHO.

Now I look forward to the youngsters coming through and what they can do

Warney · Jan 7, 2011

bjs127 said:
Thought Alex might enjoy reading this - was written on the The Daily Telegraph on November 19, under the heading "10 REASONS POMS WON'T WIN"....quite comical reading now, especially the bit where he says "Australia have eight Test-standard speedsters in the queue". Eight? We don't have ANY!!! LOL

haha very enjoyable to read now.. what a load of rubbish..

Who was the clown who wrote this? No depth? Australia with 8 quicks in queue? No Superstars and a Passive Captain? That captain won them the Ashes for god sake...

howzat · Jan 7, 2011

HAHA very funny! Sounds like something you might here over @ the sportal forums! There's one pommie on there saying that england threw the game in perth to make the series more interesting haha...

Did England throw the Perth test ? - Cricket - Sportal Forums

Cobretti · Jan 7, 2011

howzat said:
HAHA very funny! Sounds like something you might here over @ the sportal forums! There's one pommie on there saying that england threw the game in perth to make the series more interesting haha...

Did England throw the Perth test ? - Cricket - Sportal Forums

more liek they put down a bet for aussies to win when england were on top and betting odds were good.

bjs127 · Jan 7, 2011

Thanks for the link Liam

Just saw this - is Digger for real? If it wasn't so sad I'd be laughing instead of crying:

Hilditch: Not our fault - Cricket - Sportal Australia

howzat · Jan 7, 2011

Cobretti said:
more liek they put down a bet for aussies to win when england were on top and betting odds were good.

Yeah, maybe the pakis rubbed off on em over there. They threw games out here and when it comes to light the ashes get stripped off of them and returned to us and all records of the past series are destroyed

bjs127 said:
Thanks for the link Liam

Just saw this - is Digger for real? If it wasn't so sad I'd be laughing instead of crying:

Hilditch: Not our fault - Cricket - Sportal Australia

NP. I couldn't even read all of that brad, makes me sick

COMPO · Jan 7, 2011

Hilditch "Our next two series are tougher than this one I think, playing Sri Lanka away and South Africa away are as tough as it gets, so it'll be a steep learning curve for some players."
What planet is he on.

Warney · Jan 7, 2011

Hilditch is a joke thinking that it wasn't their fault, what about Nathan Hauritz being completely left out? I don't know if anyone here has heard a certain interview before the series with Graeme Swann, he said that he is trying to improve his action and consistency by watching Nathan Hauritz bowl..

Matty76 · Jan 7, 2011

Brad, I'm still trying to work out how someone who has never played international cricket (Jamie Cox) can a) be on the national selection panel and b) hold the position of "Director of Cricket" with a state team at the same time.

The Mad Hatter · Jan 7, 2011

I want to know how Tim Nielsen got a three year extension to his contract BEFORE the Ashes series finished. FMD!!!

Something stinks.

I have also heard that many of the top liners have been playing injured for ages and this is why they are so rusty in the field. Clarke dashing off each night from SCG was for physio on his back I have heard and that is why 20/20 retirement was announced.

Richo · Jan 7, 2011

We have some BIG issues that's for sure!

bjs127 · Jan 7, 2011

Matty76 said:
Brad, I'm still trying to work out how someone who has never played international cricket (Jamie Cox) can a) be on the national selection panel and b) hold the position of "Director of Cricket" with a state team at the same time.

Totally agree Matty...he wields far to much power over the entire structure down there.

Also Mark Sorrell - never even played State cricket yet coach of the state side! What the hell are they thinking???

I hear everyone screaming for Boof's name, I am not impressed. I have heard that in his last season with SA his attitude was disgraceful - arriving late for training, not putting in on the track and not mentoring the younger players at all - very selfish attitude to have as the elder statesman of the side with the ability to have a huge impression on a young group but choosing to look after himself before the team. I hope he never gets the job.

pommiealex · Jan 7, 2011

bjs127 said:
Thought Alex might enjoy reading this - was written on the The Daily Telegraph on November 19, under the heading "10 REASONS POMS WON'T WIN"....quite comical reading now, especially the bit where he says "Australia have eight Test-standard speedsters in the queue". Eight? We don't have ANY!!! LOLQUOTE]

thanks Brad, makes a great read!!
We had a similar article published by Christopher Martin Jenkins saying 8 reasons why England will win the Ashes, published in The Times on the 20th of November (sorry can't get a link to the article as its a subscription only site) . I guess it shows that with the obvious difference of opinions, one of them has to be right!! still unsure as to who your guy was meaning when he said about 8 test class speedsters? who makes up the eight? CMJ came out with some great reasons, which have now been proved to be right.

i never understood how Jamie Cox got the selection job either, as great a player as he was in state cricket and with somerset where he scored loads for somerset and took them to some trophies, i just think he does not have the experience. And as for Hilditch !!!! It is always hard for selectors because when they make a call and bring a new face in and he does well they always say great call, when it is the other way around they take a fearful amount of stick, especially with the Ashes on the line. In previous years with us when we have gone through what feels like 25 players a series, there is loads of stick flying about.

Hauritz should have played 4 games minimum, with possibly being left out for Perth. It was great for us that he didnt though. He has looked in terrific form this season.

guess the Spinkler dance is not going down too well with the locals though!!

howzat · Jan 8, 2011

pommiealex said:
guess the Spinkler dance is not going down too well with the locals though!!

Quite frankly australia and especially QLD doesn't need the sprinkler dance

I think the robot would have been more appropriate

On another note, maybe we should take hilditch and cox on a boat ride to central qld and sink them there! What a joke! Also after those away series we have the indians at home and they will be licking their lips at the chance to really take us to town, if you thought this series was painful, then hang on because the indians will serve us a severe case of whipass! Say 750 declared at the gabba first up might do it!

Rekless · Jan 8, 2011

If Clarkes back is as bad as it seems, he cannot be the heir to Pontings thrown. If we are looking to rebuild then surely long term injuries would have to come in to consideration. I do think Ponting will be back, down the order though. Watson needs some serious coaching on respect to calling and running between wickets. I think this could also be helped by settling on an opening pair. Katich's age means he will have to be replaced, Hughes is just gets out to too many bad balls. Marsh is an option, not really sure who else there is. Khawaja seems technically sound and will stay 3, I'd say Ponting 4, hussey 5 (my favorite batsmen but I think age will become a factor. I think that Haddin is a great keeper batsman, but would like to see Paine in the team after another season of domestic cricket. We should also play a genuine #6 batsman. I like Smith he has a wow factor, bit I don't think he is a #6, would love to see him groomed onto out full-time spinner.
Now to our bowlers. WTF!? Some great individual performances throughout the series but all on all very poor. We need 2 genuine new ball bowlers. Mitchell Johnson has been far to inconsistent. Hilfenhaus and Siddle really can't be on the same attack, Hilfenhaus just doesn't look a massive wicket taker. There are plenty of young quicks out there that would do well. And as I said either pick Smith as the spin option or stick with Beer. It's time the spin cycle stopped and we stick with someone.

I think we need a few experienced guys left to guide and mentor the younger guys. Watson, Ponting Hussey Haddin. That gives us a chance at blooding a fair few young blokes, and let's make sure they are young, not bordering on 30.

I have Ponting pencilled in as captain as I cannot see a better option at this current time.

Just my thoughts guys. Congratulations to the Poms, well deserved. Bring on the ODI's

bjs127 · Jan 8, 2011

Amen. Great article by Deano. I am not the world's biggest SW fan but he is exactly what the side needs right now. Someone to tell it to them straight with no nonsense - give out a few reality checks and refuse to accept mediocrity.

As Michael Slater said yesterday, "what i want to know is why the bowlers can't bowl 6 balls an over in the same spot?"

Steve Waugh must be coach

Matty76 · Jan 8, 2011

I reckon Deano himself could be the man for the job. There is something about Steve Waugh, I just don't think he is an inspiring personality, and the way that he lingered at the end of his career perhaps doesn't make him the ideal role model for any young bloke coming in to the team.

Deano certainly could improve the fielding, and I reckon would be an infectious personality. I think he could reduce the type of video analysis-type nonsense that goes on and pick up batting faults quickly....then actually DO something about them.

There is one issue with the coaching of the Australian team that continues to confuse me - why, oh why are the bowlers allowed to bowl no-balls in the nets? Is it meant to be proper practice or muck-around practice?

The Mad Hatter · Jan 8, 2011

Shane Watson has talent. He did well as opener last summer, but that is why he gets out from 50-99...he is a No 6 batsman. He has been stoic as an opener, and CA completely ruined Hughes and Katich is too old.

I'd go the whole hog and say we need a brand new opening partnership, Khawaja at 3, a 4, M Hussey at 5 AND captain for 2 years then retire, a 6 (I still think S Smith has the goods, improve his bowling). Paine in as WK. Bowling - well take your pick, but I'd get Johnson a head-coach cause as per Perth he can be a wrecking ball and Siddle for heart. Hilfy is gone IMO - since his back injury, lost his zip. And if we can't find a spinner, then go with quicks.

Plenty of youngsters around. Cowan & Maddison, Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood.

And physios - since Errol Alcott went to Souths, we are the walking wounded and now we're the walking dead.

The only person I don't want in the side is C White. He might be a tactician, but that boat has sailed. We need to be ruthless, we need to be tough and we need to re-build. Ergo, Clarke and Ponting go. And seriously, with Ponting, he LOST THREE ASHES CAMPAIGNS!!! LOL - do we need anything further. If he wants back in, go play Shield for the rest of the summer (no ODI, no World Cup) and then some County cricket this winter. By August, if he has scored mountains of runs, regained his mojo and still has the hunger...maybe we could consider him.

As for Haurtiz, I am not a fan of his. BUT...man, he has impressed me by being so unceremoniously dumped after India (a country where even the GREAT Shane Warne never performed) and went back to NSW and scored runs and took wickets. You have nothing but my admiration now.

England are beatable, just like we saw in Perth and South Africa are the same after we walloped them at home in March 2009.

But CA needs to be gutted like a fish. It won't be pretty, but at least we will be served something fresh next time around.

As for England, what a wonderful performance. Cook is now my fave bat. A rock. Suck it up Australia. Take the pain, turn it in to something positive and rule the world again.

walshy · Jan 8, 2011

Just got about 6 emails saying claim for ecb winner shirt.

one reads like this:
ENGLAND WIN THE
ASHES? IN AUSTRALIA?
THAT'S SOMETHING
TO SHIRT ABOUT!

RECEIVE A FREE LIMITED EDITION
ECB ASHES WINNERS T-SHIRT

COMPO · Jan 8, 2011

Here is my two bobs worth.
None of the executive is accepting any blame. What hope is there. After such a drubbing we should be asking serious questions about the selection and coaching. Hilditch wants to continue after his appointment ends after the world cup. Nielson has just been reappointed for another 3 years. Cooley is leaving after the world cup, with his reputation he hasn't done much for the bowlers, and he is going to the Centre of Excellence??. Sakker is staying with England for another three years. So who will be bowling coach. I hope it's a bowler. Langer was a great player and a nice guy but he hasn't been able to show the batsmen where their off stump is. As for the captain, Ponting is the only possibility. Looks like more of the same until old age catches up.

5th Ashes Test Discussion

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