[caladanbrood]

Ricky"He's just not cricket" Ponting said:

"They can play whatever way they want to play. We have come to play by the rules and the spirit of the game and it is up to them to do what they want to do."

AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[Corporal Nobbs]

Had quite a chuckle when I read that.

[Corporal Nobbs]

Anyway, moving on to the 2nd Test.
Whaddya reckon, wholesale changes to the Poms
Drop all the bowlers for some new ones, none of them looked threatening... on the other hand...

Straight swap of Harmison for Flintoff (now that his leg has fallen off or whatever he did to it).
Or does that Onions bloke have a chance?
Drop a spinner for another batsman?

I predict no changes to Aussie team, though I've been wrong with every thing else I've predicted.

[caladanbrood]

Harmison will come in if Freddie is injured... I could see Onions replacing Panesar, but I'm not sure exactly how the Lord's pitch will play, to be honest. Batsmen will be the same purely through lack of any alternatives.

What are the aussie options for changes? Lee would come in if fit, I'm sure, but I don't think he is.

[Corporal Nobbs]

caladanbrood, on Jul 15 2009, 03:10 AM, said:

What are the aussie options for changes? Lee would come in if fit, I'm sure, but I don't think he is.

I'm not sure he would.
The bowlers did ok except for getting that last wicket, and the selectors rarely
change a successful team

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I keep reading about how the Lord's wicket won't favour spinners, but I honestly dont see why.

I was there all of what, 2 weeks back, since when it hasnt exactly rained too much (and you'd have thought the covers would be on half the time anyway), and in that match the top bowler was Kartik - a spinner - who took 5 wickets in an innings, iirc.

That could be something to do with all Middlesex's other bowlers being crap, but that's besides the point. I think it'll be equally as good for spin as Cardiff. The real point is whether we actually have any spinners worth playing...

I'd be tempted to bring in Harmison for the injured Flintoff, and Rashid for Panesar. Rashid's a better batsman, so would help make up for the loss of Flintoff's batting.

[caladanbrood]

I could see them putting Rashid in for his batting, it's true. But I don't think they will, the England selectors are remarkably conservative.

[caladanbrood]

So Onions in for Panesar is the only change by either side... and finally Cook gets a good innings - he's been struggling for most of the year so it's very nice to see him vindicated in the end

Hauritz looked in a quite ridiculous amount of pain when Strauss oblingingly whacked him on the end of the finger with a ball travelling at about 500mph. I doubt he'll be bowling for the rest of this match, to be honest. Poor bloke, it looked horrendous

Ponting looks like a petulant baby at the moment. Neither side's bowling attack looks worth spit against the 2005 teams'.

[Corporal Nobbs]

Hauritz should've straightened it and kept bowling. The big baby.
It's not even the spinning finger.

Hope the bowlers put in a better effort today and get the rest of these wickets before lunch.
And Ponting needs the position of 3rd man explained to him. Too many boundries down there, especially to Strauss.

[Sir Thursday]

Corporal Nobbs, on Jul 17 2009, 09:11 AM, said:

Hauritz should've straightened it and kept bowling. The big baby.
It's not even the spinning finger.

Hope the bowlers put in a better effort today and get the rest of these wickets before lunch.
And Ponting needs the position of 3rd man explained to him. Too many boundries down there, especially to Strauss.

I thought it was the most important finger for his spin bowling?

England need to be setting their sights on 500 - I think Broad, Swann and Anderson can provide Strauss with the necessary support to get there, and I don't think England's bowling attack is good enough to defend anything less...



Sir Thursday

[Sir Thursday]

Not a good start...

[Corporal Nobbs]

It was his ring finger wasn't it? Didn't see it, only listening on radio at work.
Also, I wasn't being serious.

YESSSSS!!!
Strauss out.

Now Swann.
The natural order of things being restored.

This post has been edited by Corporal Nobbs: 17 July 2009 - 10:10 AM

[Sir Thursday]

Corporal Nobbs, on Jul 17 2009, 11:08 AM, said:

It was his ring finger wasn't it? Didn't see it, only listening on radio at work.
Also, I wasn't being serious.

YESSSSS!!!
Strauss out.

Now Swann.
The natural order of things being restored.

I think it was his middle finger, from what I remember of the highlights. We're going to be lucky to make 400 now .

But at least it sounds like the conditions are a bit better for bowling today...


Sir Thursday

[Corporal Nobbs]

Yeah, cold and overcast.
Normal English summer day

They might be going out on purpose to get the best of the bowling conditions.
Sneaky Poms.

[Sir Thursday]

Hopefully Mr. Anderson can get a run or two and keep up his duckless streak...but even 400 looks optimistic now .


Sir Thursday

[Corporal Nobbs]

'bout time. Last wicket partnerships are annoying when they're not Australian.
Now we can have a bat for a couple of days.

Bugger.
Well the other 10 can bat for a couple of days

This post has been edited by Corporal Nobbs: 17 July 2009 - 11:23 AM

[Sir Thursday]

Nothing like last wicket partnerships and early wickets to raise the spirits . Go Anderson go!

[Sir Thursday]

Well, despite a poor start, that session ended up not being too bad for England . Just have to work out how to get Katich out cheaply now...


Sir Thursday

[masan's saddle]

Perfect conditions for bowling, have to give Onions a crack.

Anderson and Broad are bowling well and applying pressure, but England need to get a few more wickets before the heavens open...

It's 38-2 and the aussie batsmen are starting to settle, OOH ! maybe not Katich nearly played on to his stumps !

[Sir Thursday]

Suddenly everything is rosy with Australia on 111-5! Now it's Haddin and North at the crease...got to get those guys before they get in...


Sir Thursday