[caladanbrood]

Bopara, Cook and Strauss are all in good enough form to be a relatively safe top three. Doesn't mean they wont collapse, but I can't remember the last time this year that one of them wasn't at least the second top scorer in an innings.

Biggest worry, for me at least, is actually Pietersen and Flintoff, which might seem a bit odd at face value... Pietersen's test batting has been awful for a while now, and Freddie is obviously only just back to fitness, from problems which have been haunting him ever since 2005. Bowlers I would have Broad and Anderson opening, Flintoff too obviously, Swann, and then either Sidebottom or Panesar, dependant on the conditions. On the other hand, Rashid and Harmison both did extremely well for the Lions in this current match...

[Cougar]

I'm going to the Headingley test but I'm not expecting a good series, nothing I've seen in the last 2 months changes my opinion that both sides are pale imitations of the 2005 vintage.

I hope it's good, that 2005 series was genuinely a magical few weeks for me, I'll never forget going wild in my car on the 3 hour drive to Essex listening to TMS on my radio as Hogard and Jones tore into the Aussie openers during the Friday afternoon of the Old Trafford test. I was in a traffic jam on the A14 near Cambridge and we got a wicket and I started pucnhing the air, looking across to the car next to me I saw a guy doing the exact same thing. We exchanged a knowing look.

I'll never forget Harmisons slow ball to dismiss Clarke at Egbaston (I think one of the best balls I've ever seen) or Ponting showing the world how hypocritical it is for Aussies to call us whinging poms when he spent half the series whining, especially when he was dismissed by the sub. fielder Pratt. Flintoff doing his 'messiah celebration, then Lee taking the piss out of it when he got Flintoff on his way to defeat at Trent Bridge but both men being genuine sportsmen when Lee got hit off Freddies bowling at Egbaston, which exemplified the true spirit of the sport (which Ponting had failed to understand) . Strauss' superman off Gilchrist and Warne failing to get 100, again.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

So, squad for the 1st Test's been announced:

England squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ian Bell, Graham Onions.

I've gotta say, Im surprised Panesar made it in ahead of Rashid. Not hugely surprised, but I'd have like to see Rashid get the nod.

[Corporal Nobbs]

So looks like Lee's out for the first couple of Tests.

...which exemplified the true spirit of the sport (which Ponting had failed to understand)

Ponting has never been a sportsman, and I read he's already had a whinge
about specialist 12th men. Though I don't know how that will work with the new rules
about subs. Can't get a sub unless your injured or something.
Wasn't enforced during the tour match, maybe it won't be in the tests either.

Also 5-0 in 06/07. It can happen again.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Not with English weather, it cant!

Rain will ensure we get a draw in at least one test. Good old British summer!

[caladanbrood]

Hmm. You get the impression that Hauritz, while not being particularly expensive, really poses no actual threat to international batsmen, unless they do something stupid...

[Cougar]

Hauritz looked like he couldn't bowl a hoop down a hill the other day, he looks marginally better today but by god he's a sad replacement for Warne and no mistake.

[MTS]

I agree. I have no idea what Hauritz did to convince the selectors he deserved a spot on this team. We are certainly at a loss for spinners nowadays, but Hauritz is nowhere near our best spinner.

[masan's saddle]

Another classic KP shot, what was he thinking.

One of these days he will combine that phenomenal confidence and talent with a functioning cricketing brain, infuriating.

Also Why does Ponting feel the need to second guess and question the umpire whenever things don't go his way ?

( Only just remembered this thread was here ! So its good afternoon from a slightly overcast Cardiff where England are 262-5.)

[Thelomen Toblerone]

336-7 at the close of play, unfortunately because of work (bah) and the fact Im not even allowed onto the BBC website, I couldnt keep up to date with the score so only saw the highlights. But still, it looks like its shaping up to be a great match, not a great score by England but not a poor one either, this could be very close (provided the weather holds up).

[caladanbrood]

Hoping we can race up to 380ish in the morning before getting all out, that'll at least give us something to bowl at...

[Cougar]

Toby can you get on Cricinfo at work it's miles better.

[caladanbrood]

I'm actually using Yahoo/Eurosport to follow the over-by-over stuff nowadays... updates much faster, and you can avoid the awful "banter" between 606 and the commentators...

[Corporal Nobbs]

Starting to look solid at Tea, after letting the poms
get away in the morning session.
Bloody good spell from Flintoff, unlucky just to get one wicket.

[Cougar]

Let me just say in case I wasn't clear: I fucking hate Ricky Ponting, in a sport where graceful sportsmanship is almost as important as the game itself, he is the most ill-educated, ill mannered, ignoble,loutish, bad loser I've ever come across.

But the batting display from him and Katic was perfect 2nd day batting on a slow wicket, I hope Cook and Bopara were taking notes. Cook should learn to play like Geoffrey Boycott Katic noodling a hundred whilst the number 3 makes the pace.

Good contest so far, I think that pitch will do more over the next few days, Panesar seems out of sorts and Anderson seems a bit quiet which is always a risk with him.

Only real complaint is Billy Doctrove he's bottled two obvious LBWs (one in each innings so far) Pietersens only cost a few runs but today he's done ENlgand out of about 80 runs.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Fuck me that was a tense finish, I was actually biting my nails. I was convinced Panesar would lose his wicket just early enough to let the Aussies come in and finish the job, but fortunately a resolutely defensive display allowed us to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

And I think we'll all agree, it's not the winning that's important, it's the winding up the Aussies by narrowly denying them victory that counts.

[Impirion]

Lol, to be fair, that kind of draw is probably the best kind ...ish.... apart from the heart attacks we all suffered every time the ball went anywhere near an Australian fielder, at least it was interesting!

[Cold Iron]

Cougar, on Jul 10 2009, 09:25 AM, said:

Let me just say in case I wasn't clear: I fucking hate Ricky Ponting, in a sport where graceful sportsmanship is almost as important as the game itself, he is the most ill-educated, ill mannered, ignoble,loutish, bad loser I've ever come across.

All quiet on the windy isle now eh? Bad loser eh? Graceful sportsmanship eh?

[Thelomen Toblerone]

In the scheme of things, the physio came on only once, for about 30 seconds. That's, what, one ball? And 6:40pm rolled around by the 2nd ball of the over, so it's not like it affected, well, anything, in the end.

[Corporal Nobbs]

Thelomen Toblerone, on Jul 14 2009, 03:45 AM, said:

In the scheme of things, the physio came on only once, for about 30 seconds. That's, what, one ball? And 6:40pm rolled around by the 2nd ball of the over, so it's not like it affected, well, anything, in the end.

I agree, but its still not a good look.

Really thought we had this won at 70 for 5.
Good to see Hauritz outbowl 2 English spinners. Though I was a massive doubter
of his abilities. Apology on CricInfo is worth a read. http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/conten...ory/413955.html

Thought Ponting stuffed up with the second new ball, which is where it should have been won.
Should have opened with Siddle and Hilfenhaus, and given Hilfenhaus a longer bowl, taking him off after getting a
wicket was ludicrous.

This post has been edited by Corporal Nobbs: 13 July 2009 - 06:39 PM