Australia have slumped from 85/3 to 126/6, Bishoo has taken all three wickets this morning, the latest to depart the hopelessly out of form Brad Haddin for 8.
The Windies would break your heart. The lead was 30 I think when the eighth wicket fell. It’s now 156 and counting. Century for Voges on debut, taking full advantage of his opportunity.
Its just idiotic now. Hazelwood at Number 11 has faced 66 deliveries, hasn’t been remotely troubled and is 2nd highest scorer on 33. Marlon Samuels is in the attack now.
Australian followers of the shrewder variety will be worried about their batting. Bar the 35 year old debutant, yet another complete systems failure in their top order. The one comfort is that England don’t have a spin bowler worthy of the name. Australian players typically play spin very badly.
ouch-once again schadenfreude bites you on the arse:D
Hardly. I stated what the score was when the 6th wicket fell and commented that Haddin’s run of poor form continues. What’s schadenfreude got to do with that?
In the 2013/14 Ashes in Australia, Haddin was man of the series, scoring 493 runs in 8 innings at an average of 61.63 with scorecards of 94, 53, 118, 55, 5, 65, 75 & 28.
In 10 test matches in the 17 months since the last Ashes,(3 in South Africa, 2 against Pakistan, 4 at home to India and now this one against the Windies), Haddin has scored 208 runs in 18 innings at an average of 13.87. His scorecards in those 10 tests read 0, 9, 1, 13, 3, 22, 0, 10, 13, 0, 14 (n.o.), 6, 1, 55, 13, 9 (n.o), 31 (n.o) & 8.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1153496, member: 377”]Its just idiotic now. Hazelwood at Number 11 has faced 66 deliveries, hasn’t been remotely troubled and is 2nd highest scorer on 33. Marlon Samuels is in the attack now.
Australian followers of the shrewder variety will be worried about their batting. Bar the 35 year old debutant, yet another complete systems failure in their top order. The one comfort is that England don’t have a spin bowler worthy of the name. Australian players typically play spin very badly.[/QUOTE]
The batting is a serious worry for Australia. The cracks have been covered over for too long by the tail pretty much always performing, or someone in the top order getting a big score (usually Steve Smith). But when you look at it, Warner will go cheaply or score a tonne. Shaun Marsh is as flaky as shit, Rogers will never really score more than 50, Clarke is the walking dead at this point with so many injury issues, Haddin is there because there’s a perception he’s experienced and there’s no better wickie, so we don’t really mind if he can’t score runs, Watson - I rarely watch Watson as he’s so frustrating, they’ve never figured out where he should bat and there are times when it looks like he’s trying to figure out how to bat (then of course he’ll go and produce the odd innings which is a thing of wonderous beauty, all Tendulkar drives and Ponting hook shots, but it’s very very rare). Voges will go well in England and I expect Smith to still be on song.
But what happens (and it will happen) when they fail, when Smith gets out early and then the tail doesn’t perform? England win is what happens. They can’t rely on the bowlers always skittling teams, especially with a Duke in hand, and I can see England approaching it with this in mind - hold onto your wicket, wear them down, straight bat, fuck scoring runs, patience possum. I can see a number of draws in the Ashes if this is the case. The aussie top order need to stand up and maybe learn to block a bit and get themselves in, they’re too focused on scoring quick runs and playing test match cricket like it’s ODI stuff. The aggression and positivity of the Clarke captaincy has been admirable, but it’s been naive in terms of the batting at times. A test match lasts five days. It doesn’t always have to be won in four. They have the attack to get 20 wickets in every test, but the top order need to give them the platform by batting intelligently, along with the aggression, not stupidly aggressive.
After the Ashes, a clean out is needed. Rogers, Watson, Haddin and probably Clarke all have to go. The Marsh experiments have to end once and for all. Voges should have 30 tests under his belt at this stage, but at 35 he has a very limited shelf life. Youth will be the key, as Steve Smith has demonstrated.
But, I still think Australia will win the Ashes 2-1.
[QUOTE=“Fitzy, post: 1153596, member: 236”]The batting is a serious worry for Australia. The cracks have been covered over for too long by the tail pretty much always performing, or someone in the top order getting a big score (usually Steve Smith). But when you look at it, Warner will go cheaply or score a tonne. Shaun Marsh is as flaky as shit, Rogers will never really score more than 50, Clarke is the walking dead at this point with so many injury issues, Haddin is there because there’s a perception he’s experienced and there’s no better wickie, so we don’t really mind if he can’t score runs, Watson - I rarely watch Watson as he’s so frustrating, they’ve never figured out where he should bat and there are times when it looks like he’s trying to figure out how to bat (then of course he’ll go and produce the odd innings which is a thing of wonderous beauty, all Tendulkar drives and Ponting hook shots, but it’s very very rare). Voges will go well in England and I expect Smith to still be on song.
But what happens (and it will happen) when they fail, when Smith gets out early and then the tail doesn’t perform? England win is what happens. They can’t rely on the bowlers always skittling teams, especially with a Duke in hand, and I can see England approaching it with this in mind - hold onto your wicket, wear them down, straight bat, fuck scoring runs, patience possum. I can see a number of draws in the Ashes if this is the case. The aussie top order need to stand up and maybe learn to block a bit and get themselves in, they’re too focused on scoring quick runs and playing test match cricket like it’s ODI stuff. The aggression and positivity of the Clarke captaincy has been admirable, but it’s been naive in terms of the batting at times. A test match lasts five days. It doesn’t always have to be won in four. They have the attack to get 20 wickets in every test, but the top order need to give them the platform by batting intelligently, along with the aggression, not stupidly aggressive.
After the Ashes, a clean out is needed. Rogers, Watson, Haddin and probably Clarke all have to go. The Marsh experiments have to end once and for all. Voges should have 30 tests under his belt at this stage, but at 35 he has a very limited shelf life. Youth will be the key, as Steve Smith has demonstrated.
But, I still think Australia will win the Ashes 2-1.[/QUOTE]
Watson is nowhere near the batsman the Australian selectors have always seem to feel he was, but he’s a much better bowler than he’s given credit for and very valuable as a 4th seam bowler. He’s not a strike bowler in the mould of the Mitchell’s but he’s accurate, gives few runs away and is a good man to tie up an end and build up pressure.
I see three key men for Australia in the upcoming Ashes series Warner, Smith & Lyon. As you’ve said, its almost a 50/50 shout as to whether Warner will score a duck or a century. He won’t hang around for too long in either case, bringing up that score. If he’s prospering in England, Australia will be a long way towards finally winning an Ashes series in England. They really need Smith to continue his good form. His dismissal to Bishoo yesterday was embarrassing. He was nearly half way down the wicket when Ramdin stumped him. Australian batsman always have this mentality of taking on the spinner and trying to blast him out of the attack from the off. Lyon has come on a lot in the last year. He seems to have gained in confidence from the selectors realising that he is their best option as a spinner. He delivered a real match winning Day 5 performance when Australia beat India in Adelaide picking up 7 wickets. With Graeme Swann gone, Australia seem to have the advantage in the spin department.
Watson cant be selected based on bowling, but it’s been used as a justification many times, even though a couple of years ago he could barely move and all hope of him bowling again seemed lost. Yes he’s a good bowler, but nit good enough on its own to justify selection and his batting certainly doesn’t.
Smith actually plays spin well and that dismissal was uncharacteristic from such an intelligent cricketer.
It’s a good point you make about Lyon, he has been impressive in the last year and surprisingly since Warne retired, a full time australian spinner who actually takes wickets. He should thrive in England. It is very surprising on the other hand that England don’t seem to have a spin option, especially as some, if not all, of the ashes tests will go to 5 days.
I wonder if Lyons’ improvement is anything to do with competition from Fawad Ahmed, since he received his citizenship?
Unbeaten 4th wicket stand of 134 from Shane Dorwich & Marlon Samuels moves the Windies to 171/3 & they now lead in the match by 1 run.
Windies 189/4 at tea - effectively 19/4 - Hazelwood breaking the 4th wicket partnership of 144 claiming Dorwich’s wicket.
Yet another entry in the catalogue of abject Windies batting collapses. 181/3 to 216 all out. Australia have 47 runs to knock off to win.
The West Indies (unlike Australia) have always been prepared to make the ballsy decision to field after winning the toss. There’s a fine line between ballsy and stupid though. In the last 6 months, when the Windies have put in the opposition to bat, its ended up South Africa 552/5 dec at Centurion and 417/8 dec at Port Elizabeth, England 399 in Antigua and now Australia 258/4 at stumps at Sabina Park on Day 1.
Matt Prior has succumbed to injury and retired from cricket.
Steve Smith must be one of the worlds best cricketers at this stage. He has grown so much in the last two years.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1157447, member: 377”]The West Indies (unlike Australia) have always been prepared to make the ballsy decision to field after winning the toss. There’s a fine line between ballsy and stupid though. In the last 6 months, when the Windies have put in the opposition to bat, its ended up South Africa 552/5 dec at Centurion and 417/8 dec at Port Elizabeth, England 399 in Antigua and now Australia 258/4 at stumps at Sabina Park on Day 1.
Matt Prior has succumbed to injury and retired from cricket.[/QUOTE]
Ballsy or stupid? In this case neither. Scared shitless more like, the windies are low on confidence and didn’t want to be skittled again. Funnily enough, it nearly worked. Australia generally bat on winning a toss because they have confidence in themselves.
Again however, this confidence is misplaced. If Smith had failed, Australia would be in all sorts now. Decent innings by Clarke, even if he was lucky at the start not to be c&b, but Warner goes again and Marsh is consistent at least. Voges looks comfortable and should start in England. Crucial innings for Watson’s future.
But the bottom line is that Australia have to stop relying on Steve Smith.
Just brought up his highest test score there. 199. Trapped lbw by Jerome Taylor. Australia all out for 399.
Crushing 277 run win for Australia.
They arrive in England for the Ashes series on Wednesday. 8 of the starting places for the first test in Cardiff looked to be nailed down. Probably three decisions for the selectors to make:
- Shaun Marsh or Rogers to open the batting with Warner
- Watson or Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder at 6.
- Hazelwood or Ryan Harris.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1159222, member: 377”]Crushing 277 run win for Australia.
They arrive in England for the Ashes series on Wednesday. 8 of the starting places for the first test in Cardiff looked to be nailed down. Probably three decisions for the selectors to make:
-
Shaun Marsh or Rogers to open the batting with Warner
-
Watson or Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder at 6.
-
Hazelwood or Ryan Harris.[/QUOTE]
-
Shaun Marsh or Rogers to open the batting with Warner - Marsh
-
Watson or Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder at 6 - Watson
-
Hazelwood or Ryan Harris - Tricky. Harris will feature at some point, but Starc and Hazelwood have been bowling so well, I can’t see either being dropped. They may include Johnson based on the psychological damage he did last time against England, but I think Johnson could well be dropped for Harris for the second test. Harris coming off a long lay off and while fresh, they may think he needs a few tour games and net sessions under his belt before risking him.
[QUOTE=“Fitzy, post: 1159224, member: 236”]- Shaun Marsh or Rogers to open the batting with Warner - Marsh
- Watson or Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder at 6 - Watson
- Hazelwood or Ryan Harris - Tricky. Harris will feature at some point, but Starc and Hazelwood have been bowling so well, I can’t see either being dropped. They may include Johnson based on the psychological damage he did last time against England, but I think Johnson could well be dropped for Harris for the second test. Harris coming off a long lay off and while fresh, they may think he needs a few tour games and net sessions under his belt before risking him.[/QUOTE]
Johnson has never performed well in English conditions. He’s all about raw pace and doesn’t have the subtlety in his armoury that English conditions demand. I’d agree with your analysis. They will start Johnson first test, but Hazelwood and Harris (in particular) are more skilful and consistent bowlers.
Rain saves Bangladesh !
Makes for an ironic headline.
23 sleeps to go!