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A Bigger Bang Tour 2006

"Why'd you have to leave us like that, you sod!
I could think of a hundred other fuckers who should have gone instead of him!
He wasn't even on my list!"

Keith Richards. Stu's funeral - New York City 1985
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Topic: ashes to ashes (nsc) Return to archive Page: 1 2
22nd November 2006 07:43 PM
stonedinaustralia any of my fellow ROers, in particular but not limited to those of you from England, taking any interest in the Tests?

22nd November 2006 07:56 PM
Fiji Joe All males over 40 should very much take interest in the testes...have them checked regularly
23rd November 2006 02:38 AM
Hannalee
quote:
stonedinaustralia wrote:
any of my fellow ROers, in particular but not limited to those of you from England, taking any interest in the Tests?





Up all night; just off to work...
23rd November 2006 04:08 AM
stewed & Keefed

First Test, Brisbane, day one (close): Australia 346-3 v England


Ponting led by example as Australia dominated the opening day
Captain Ricky Ponting served notice of Australia's determination to regain the Ashes by hitting a superb opening day century against England in Brisbane.

The home side were 346-3 at stumps, with Ponting (137) and Mike Hussey (63) sharing an unbroken stand of 148.

Andrew Flintoff provided England's main threat, dismissing Matthew Hayden (21) and Justin Langer (82).

Ashley Giles had Damien Martyn (29) caught at slip but England ended the day weary and short of inspiration.

Earlier this year, Ponting admitted Australia had been "embarrassed and ashamed" after their 2-1 defeat last year.

And he looked like a man bent on laying down a marker not just for the opening Test, but for the entire five-match series, as he made the most of an excellent batting pitch.

There were only a couple of anxious moments during Ponting's innings, once when he played the ball uppishly past gully and later on 72 when Giles had a confident lbw shout turned down after he missed an attempted sweep.

Prior to the match, much had been made of the need to seize the initiative as England did at Lord's last year when Steve Harmison peppered Justin Langer and Ponting with short deliveries.


This time, however, Harmison was short on control and confidence after starting things off with a wide which Langer could not have reached if he had been holding three bats glued end to end as Flintoff took it at second slip.

Four boundaries followed in his first two overs and Harmison found himself confined to fielding duties before he had even got properly warmed up.

The total went past 50 in the 11th over as Langer sliced Matthew Hoggard away past point, prompting Flintoff to bring himself into the attack.

Once again he proved a galvanising force for the team as he angled an excellent delivery across Hayden and the big left-hander edged to Paul Collingwood at second slip.

Ponting was soon into his stride by pulling a long-hop away to mid-wicket and then punching the next ball through mid-off for a second boundary - shots he was to repeat all too frequently as England erred in line and length.

The home side continued in the same positive vein after lunch, but Flintoff stuck to his task and was rewarded again when Langer, on 82, carved the ball to Kevin Pietersen at point.


Skipper Flintoff provided England's main cutting edge

Harmison bowled a better spell during the afternoon without ever looking like his old self and it was Giles who finally achieved another breakthrough.

He tempted Martyn into a late cut, but he misjudged the bounce and Collingwood, moving smartly to his right, made the catch look easy.

Next up for Australia was Hussey, a prolific scorer since making his Test debut 12 months ago, but new to the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes contest.

He showed no sign of nerves, however as he stroked Flintoff through mid-off for four and then whipped Giles away through the leg-side for four more.

Despite that, Giles could be well satisfied with figures of 1-51 from 18 overs in his first Test for 12 months after being preferred to Monty Panesar.

Giles was not the only England spinner in action as Flintoff resorted to giving Pietersen an extended spell of off-spin in an attempt to separate Australia's fourth-wicket pair.

Pietersen showed he had suffered no serious damage when he jarred his knee in the field earlier in the day, but the turn and bounce he obtained provided a warning about what England can expect from Shane Warne later in the game.

Ponting's hundred eventually arrived with a push through the on-side off Hoggard, and in the process he equalled Steve Waugh's Australian Test record of 32 three-figure scores.

So deflated were England that Flintoff delayed taking the second new ball, and even when he did, he did not deem it necessary to summon Harmison from the deep, a decision hardly likely to boost the Durham paceman's self-belief.


23rd November 2006 08:19 AM
Hannalee I'd have played Mahmood. And Monty. And Chris Read.
23rd November 2006 08:18 PM
stonedinaustralia
quote:
stewed & Keefed wrote:







yes a bit of a disappointing first day really...I have been looking forward to a tough tight contest

hope we still get one but Flintoff aside England didn't shown much..still, early days i suppose
24th November 2006 03:49 AM
stewed & Keefed First Test, Brisbane, day two (close): Australia 602-9 dec v England 53-3


McGrath proved he is still one of the world's best new ball bowlers
England face an uphill struggle to save the first Ashes Test in Brisbane after being reduced to 53-3 at close of play on the second day.

Glenn McGrath dismissed Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook with successive balls and Stuart Clark turned the screw by having Paul Collingwood caught behind.

Australia made a massive 602-9 declared in their innings, the third highest total at the Gabba.

It was built around Ricky Ponting's 196, which included 24 boundaries.

After a good spell in mid-afternoon when Matthew Hoggard dismissed Ponting and Adam Gilchrist in the same over, the effect of five hard sessions in the field took its toll on England.

And Australia added insult to injury as Clark (39) and Brett Lee (43 not out) hit out with unfettered abandon in a ninth-wicket stand of 50 off 44 balls.

Clark hammered two sixes off Jimmy Anderson before he was yorked by Andrew Flintoff, who had separated the overnight pair of Ponting and Mike Hussey during the morning session by ripping one through Hussey's defence to bowl him for 86.

But by then their partnership was worth 209, a fourth-wicket record for Australia at the ground, beating the 170 by Kim Hughes and Graeme Yallop in 1978.

Flintoff is still feeling his way back following ankle surgery but he was by far England's most threatening bowler and returned figures of 4-99.

One delivery, in particular, indicated Flintoff's strength of purpose as it leapt ferociously off a length and narrowly missed the edge of a startled Ponting's bat.

His demeanour was in marked contrast to that of Steve Harmison (1-123), who again began his work for the day with a wide and looked almost apologetic when he claimed a solitary wicket as Shane Warne gloved a catch to the keeper.

Facing Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath is a daunting task at any time, and doubly so when a total of 403 is needed just to save the follow-on.


Lee suffered as Hussey took a brave catch to dismiss Strauss

Strauss and Cook began cautiously as Lee hurled the ball down at around 95mph and McGrath found some of the nip of yesteryear as the new ball pair strove for a breakthrough.

It was eventually handed to them on a plate when Strauss, on 12, attempted the pull shot which has led to his downfall on a number of occasions in the past year and top edged to backward square leg.

Hussey and Lee both converged on the ball at full tilt and it was Hussey who won the race and held on despite a collision between them which left Lee with a cut knee.

He was back in the dressing room receiving treatment when McGrath ran up for his next delivery, which proved to be a perfect length that cut away just enough to take the edge of Cook's bat.

Warne made the slip catch look simple, sending the Essex youngster on his way for 11 in his first innings in an Ashes Test.

Lee's exit from the field also meant a bowling change and replacement Stuart Clark confirmed the good impression he made in taking 20 wickets in South Africa earlier this year.

Although quicker than McGrath, he followed his principles of consistent line and length to keep the pressure on the batsman.

It proved too much for Collingwood, who played slightly across the line at a superb leg-cutter and was caught behind by Gilchrist for five.

Kevin Pietersen announced his arrival in the middle by pulling McGrath authorittatively for four, but he then settled for playing out time and was six not out at stumps with Bell on 13.

HIGHEST TOTALS IN BRISBANE
645 Aus v Eng 1946
607-6 dec Aus v NZ 1993
602-9 dec Aus v Eng 2006
601-8 dec Aus v Eng 1954
585 Aus v NZ 2004


25th November 2006 06:06 AM
stewed & Keefed

First Test, Brisbane, day three (close): Australia 602-9 dec & 181-1 v England 157



McGrath took five wickets or more in an innings for the 29th time

Australia turned the screw in the first Ashes Test by building a lead of 626 after Glenn McGrath took 6-50 to dismiss England for 157 in Brisbane.

The home side opted not to enforce the the follow-on despite England trailing by 445 on first innings.

And Justin Langer (88) and Ricky Ponting (51) shared an unbroken stand of 113 to see them to 181-1 at stumps.

McGrath bowled superbly earlier in the day with only Ian Bell (50) offering prolonged resistance for England.

He hung on grimly for almost four hours before falling to Stuart Clark, who supported McGrath well for figures of 3-21.

Ashley Giles was the only other England batsman to pass 20 and when he was the last man out most people in the ground thought the follow-on decision was a formality.

Not so Ponting, who was clearly intent on grinding England into the turf.

Initially, it looked like Australia were in a hurry to put the tourists in again before the close as Hayden smashed three successive balls from Jimmy Anderson to the boundary.

But the big left-hander gave his wicket away on 38 when he attempted a risky second run to Anderson at fine leg and was beaten by his throw to keeper Geraint Jones.

After that the game meandered along, prompting many spectators to head home early, as Langer coasted to his second half century of the match and Ponting knocked off a couple of personal milestones - 1,000 runs in the calendar year and 9,000 in Test cricket.

England's attack looked toothless but at least Steve Harmison's radar was more reliable than in the first innings, although he had to wait until the 13th over of the innings to be handed the ball.

Australia produced a typically ruthless performance in the field earlier in the day after McGrath and Brett Lee set the tone by bowling unchanged through the first hour and conceding only 30 runs from 13 high quality overs.

Pietersen was dropped by Stuart Clark at long-on when he top edged an attempted pull but McGrath's frustration soon turned to celebration when he won an lbw decision to send him on his way for 16.


The England batsman did himself no favours by shouldering arms but TV replays suggested he was unlucky with the ball apparently going on to miss off-stump.

Flintoff poked uncertainly at his first ball without making contact, but there was no doubt about the edge from the third he faced which gave Adam Gilchrist a straightforward catch behind the stumps and Brett Lee his only wicket.

There was a moment of hilarity for some members of the crowd as a sweep from Geraint Jones felled umpire Bowden at square leg, striking him on the hip as he tried to turn his back on the ball.

England were 118-5 at lunch but were soon in the mire again as McGrath pinned Jones (19) on the back foot and won another lbw decision.

Bell reached his half century off 155 balls with a nudged single but then sliced the first delivery of a new spell from Clark to Ponting at slip.

Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were both caught behind without troubling the scorer and England's innings came to an end when Giles (24) skied McGrath to Hayden at gully.



26th November 2006 12:31 AM
stonedinaustralia when i started thread I was almost tempted to say PSC (possible stones content) as i thought it could well be that Mick would show up down here...the most like likely time being for the New Year's game

while i didn't hear it from the source, a friend of mine said he heard that Mick will be here at that time and will make some kind of "media appearance" at the game

the way Engalnd are playing at the moment maybe Mick should have a bat for them




[Edited by stonedinaustralia]
26th November 2006 06:02 AM
stewed & Keefed better but still not good

First Test, Brisbane, day four (close): Australia 602-9 dec & 202-1 dec v England 157 & 293-5


Spinner Shane Warne took four wickets to put Australia on course for victory in the Brisbane Test.

But England restored pride through the efforts of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen to end day four on 293-5.

Collingwood missed out on a century when he was stumped off Warne for 96, ending a stand of 153, but Pietersen was still there at the close on 92.

Australia declared during the morning session with a lead of 647 after Justin Langer completed his 23rd Test century.



Skipper Ricky Ponting called a halt when Langer dabbed away a single to reach three figures, his 146-ball innings including eight fours.

Ponting's own share of their 134-run partnership was 60 not out, but he hurt his back during the brief spell in the middle and was unable to field.

There was a further concern for the home side as Glenn McGrath, who took 6-50 in England's first innings, had to operate at a slightly reduced pace because of a sore heel.

Warne, meanwhile, was not at his best despite his wickets, which cost 108 runs.


Collingwood grew in confidence after an uncertain start

He was shown little respect by Collingwood and Pietersen, who produced a flurry of boundaries after tea, and showed his frustration by hurling the ball back towards Pietersen after fielding off his own bowling at the end of an over in which he was twice hit through mid-on for four.

Pietersen had to hurriedly fend it away from his chest before marching down the pitch to vent his feelings towards his Hampshire team-mate.

Warne finally broke the partnership by luring Collingwood down the pitch, leaving Adam Gilchrist an easy stumping, and then added the wicket of Andrew Flintoff, who picked out Langer at long-on with an ugly back-foot heave and was out for just 16.

It was the second injudicious stroke by an England batsman, with Andrew Strauss departing for 11 at the start of the innings when he hit a rising ball from Stuart Clark straight to substitute fielder Ryan Broad at fine leg.

It was the second time in the match that he had succumbed attempting the hook shot, a major error of judgment with his side needing to bat for the best part of two days to save the game.


England could not afford another error of judgment from Strauss

After failing to take a wicket in England's first innings, Warne soon made his mark when Ian Bell mis-read the slider, a front-of-the-hand delivery which goes straight on, and umpire Steve Bucknor adjudged him lbw for a duck.

Bell was replaced by Collingwood, who was all at sea at the start of his innings as Clark found a consistent line on or just outside off stump.

But he gradually grew in confidence and even managed to upper-cut a Brett Lee bouncer over the keeper's head for six during a stand off 55 for the third wicket with Alastair Cook.

Warne struck again with a leg-break into the rough bowled from round the wicket which Cook, on 43, could not counter and Mike Hussey took the chance at short leg.

Australia had to wait 34 overs for their next breakthrough as Collingwood and Pietersen finally gave the Barmy Army fans in the crowd something to cheer.


27th November 2006 01:54 PM
stewed & Keefed England captain Andrew Flintoff vowed his side would hit back after being beaten by 277 runs by Australia in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
"Australia put us under pressure from the word go and we took our time to get into the game," said Flintoff.

"We've been in this position before and we'll be looking forward to bouncing back in the second Test in Adelaide.

"But it was important the batters scored runs and put some partnerships together in this match."

Flintoff rejected the suggestion that England had come into the series under-prepared.

After playing in the one-day ICC Champions Trophy in India, England played a one-day game and two three-day games in Australia before the Test series.

There's no more smiles or friendly banter, we're playing for our country

"We had a great preparation. We got a lot out of the warm-up games and quite a few of us were in India for a few weeks," said Flintoff.

And Flintoff said fast bowler Steve Harmison, who took 1-177 in the match, would be working hard to find some form before the start of the second Test on Friday.

"It's fair to say Harmy didn't click in this game but every time he goes on the field he gives his best," said Flintoff.

"He's been working hard in the nets and he'll probably continue to do so for the next few days to get his bowling back to where we'd like it to be."

Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen, who made a combative 92 in England's second innings, agreed that the tourists would make a better fist of things in Adelaide.


Flintoff bowled well but had a poor game with the bat

"The first three days didn't go to plan and we need total dedication to get it right," said Pietersen.

"There were a few bad decisions in our first innings but we didn't play good cricket. But the way we played the last few days was a good sign.

"To bat for such a long period of time will stand all our batters in good stead come Friday.

"If we can bat like that for the next 20 days and if our bowlers get it right we'll be OK."

Pietersen added that his spat with Shane Warne on Sunday was a taste of things to come for the rest of the series.


Warne, taking exception to some punishment from Pietersen, almost hit his old rival with a shy at the stumps.

Pietersen stormed down the pitch to remonstrate with Warne and words were exchanged for the remainder of the day.

"There are no more smiles or friendly banter, we're both playing for our country and as hard as they hit us we'll be coming back doubly hard," he said.

But Pietersen added: "What happens on the field stays on the field, it's got nothing to do with what happens off the field."



27th November 2006 01:59 PM
mojoman we know major toms a junkie
29th November 2006 06:59 AM
corgi37 Elton John was gonna be Mick's date at the cricket, but even he has given up on the Poms.
29th November 2006 08:40 AM
TampabayStone
29th November 2006 03:18 PM
speedfreakjive yes - poor start to the series for us Poms!

but with Harmison back this week, I think we'll see an improvement - hopefully! If he plays as well as he can
[Edited by speedfreakjive]
29th November 2006 06:40 PM
stonedinaustralia i hope so speedfreak

after the build up to the tour down here - Harmison's opening delivery was possibly the biggest anti-climax in the history of sport - Humiliating!!




[Edited by stonedinaustralia]
29th November 2006 06:56 PM
Hannalee Funny as hell though - even to a Pom.
30th November 2006 02:19 PM
speedfreakjive
quote:
stonedinaustralia wrote:
i hope so speedfreak

after the build up to the tour down here - Harmison's opening delivery was possibly the biggest anti-climax in the history of sport - Humiliating!!




[Edited by stonedinaustralia]



we need Vaughan back
[Edited by speedfreakjive]
2nd December 2006 12:44 AM
Hannalee
quote:
speedfreakjive wrote:


we need Vaughan back
[Edited by speedfreakjive]



No hurry:

Paul Collingwood became just the eighth England batsman to score an Ashes double century as the tourists took charge of the second Ashes Test.

He and Kevin Pietersen shared a record fourth-wicket stand for England against Australia, worth 310 when Collingwood fell for 206 on the stroke of tea.

Pietersen went to the break on day two in Adelaide on 145 with England 468-4.

Aussie stars Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne both went wicketless and looked troubled by injuries.

Collingwood's marathon innings brought the first double century by an England batsman in Australia since Walter Hammond hit 231 not out in Sydney 70 years ago.

The only low note in the first two sessions was his tired nudge at Stuart Clark that saw him caught behind after over eight hours at the crease.

The partnership eclipsed the 288 shared by Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain at Edgbaston in 1997 as the highest for the fourth wicket by England in Ashes contests.

The previous best for the fourth wicket at this venue - the 214 put on by Alan Border and Dean Jones against West Indies in 1988/89 - was a distant memory.

England began a chill, overcast day on 266-3, knowing they needed to double that score to be able to dictate terms for the rest of the game.

On a pitch even less responsive than the first day, though, they were unwilling to attack to achieve that.

Australia took advantage during the middle of the day as Warne bowled around the wicket into the rough to Pietersen.


Warne has only once been more expensive without a wicket

There were some flashes of inspiration from Clark and Brett Lee, who was aggrieved not to have Pietersen caught behind before he had got off the mark for the morning.

But Australia ran out of answers as the afternoon progressed and this duo began to enjoy themselves.

Shane Warne has only once before gone wicketless for more than the 129 he had conceded by tea, with rumours he has a back injury.

McGrath was clearly struggling with his heel problem, despite captain Ricky Ponting's assertion before the game that he was 100% fit.

Pietersen took three boundaries off his first over and he bowled just 18 balls in the morning session, although he improved after lunch.

If Collingwood, who was out for 96 in the first Test in Brisbane and had to sit on 98 overnight, shovelled the second delivery he faced for three to bring up three figures from 204.

Pietersen tempered his usual style, although there were some flamboyant flashes, like a devastating pull off Lee through midwicket.

3rd December 2006 10:19 AM
stewed & Keefed Hoggard pleased after 'tough day'

Hoggard was the star bowler for England on Sunday
Matthew Hoggard said his success on day three for England in the second Ashes Test was the result of collective hard work from the bowlers in Adelaide.
Seamer Hoggard took all four wickets as Australia closed on 312-5, 239 behind.

"It's been a long, hard day on an unresponsive wicket and to get four wickets is satisfying," he said.

"We got accused of scoring slowly but we proved if you put the ball in the right areas it's tough to score out there and every bowler did that."


Hoggard's return of 4-76 would have been even better had Ashley Giles held on to a chance off Ricky Ponting early in his innings.

We've got to put in a professional performance, get five reasonably quick wickets and re-asses it


The Aussie skipper went on to score 142 but the Yorkshire star refused to criticise his team-mate.

"You don't mean to drop catches and if catches didn't go down in cricket it would be a boring old game," the paceman said.

With the Adelaide Oval pitch flat, a draw remains the most likely result, although Australia still need 40 to avoid the follow-on after England declared on 551-6 on Saturday.



Hoggard believes a good start to day four could swing the pendulum in England's favour.

"We've got five wickets to get and they are hard to come by on a wicket like that," he added.

"But we've still got to put in a professional performance, get five reasonably quick wickets and re-asses it from there."




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


3rd December 2006 06:07 PM
stonedinaustralia Collingwood's innings was as great as it seemed - as was Freddie's wicket at the end of day two

The way Warne was bowling to Pieterson was simply weird - Humiliating!!


Joey??








[Edited by stonedinaustralia]
4th December 2006 02:29 PM
stewed & Keefed England's main aim at the start of the final day in Adelaide will be to make sure there is no chance of them losing the game to go 2-0 down in the series.
A draw is the most likely result as England resume their second innings on 59-1, a lead of 97 over Australia.

But Australia sense a slim chance of victory with centurion Michael Clarke saying: "The morning will be crucial."

England have confirmed captain Andrew Flintoff will bat if necessary after playing down an injury scare.

Flintoff came off the field near the end of Australia's first innings on Monday and only bowled four overs in the day but the England management said they were not overly concerned about his condition.

Clarke meanwhile emphasised the way Australia were looking at the final day by adding: "We'll come out fired up and looking for wickets and maybe we'll have a target to chase late in the afternoon.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Warnie bowl out there now it's starting to spin."

If England can avoid a collapse and establish a lead of around 250 then, although it is unlikely they can force a victory, they could give Australia's batsmen something to think about before the third Test in Perth on 14 December.

England hero Matthew Hoggard said: "It has been an interesting series but it was the same in 2005 and I expect some exciting cricket tomorrow."

A draw would leave Australia 1-0 up in the series with three Tests still to play.






5th December 2006 08:35 AM
Hannalee I'm speechless (not wishing to express myself in terms unbecoming a lady....).


5th December 2006 08:39 AM
Voodoo Scrounge It s an absolute disgrace that a team like England lose their bottle so easily. Not one England fan can tell me that it was lack of skill or superb Australian bowling that has been England's undoing.

In the first test, second innings, Shane Warne wasnt bowling very well at all and England gifted him 4 wickets!

In this test Glenn Mcgrath has been injured and yet England have still crumbled.

I understand that Test cricket in Australia is a completely different kettle of fish to cricked in Englnad, but that second test would have been drawn by ANY team in any other circumstances. Where have England Bollocks gone?
5th December 2006 01:33 PM
Hannalee I console myself by thinking that at least we've never lost to Bangladesh....

We don't seem to be playing as a team, and the ones who are trying the hardest are going to knacker themselves carrying the passengers.
5th December 2006 02:47 PM
TampabayStone
5th December 2006 03:35 PM
stewed & Keefed SECOND TEST, ADELAIDE, DAY FIVE:
Australia 513 & 168-4 beat England 551-6 dec & 129 by six wickets


Warne took two wickets and helped in a run out in the morning
Australia won the second Ashes Test by six wickets and went 2-0 up in the series after bowling England out for 129 on day five in Adelaide.

England lost nine wickets for 60 in 43 overs, with Shane Warne taking 4-49 and key batsmen playing some poor shots.

Chasing 168 to win, Ricky Ponting (49) and Michael Hussey (61no) shared a third-wicket stand of 83 in 16 overs.

Ponting and Damien Martyn fell in quick succession but Michael Clarke joined Hussey to win with three overs left.


No team in history has lost after declaring on a higher total than England's 551-6 batting first in a Test.

England now face the daunting task of winning two of the remaining three Tests over the next four weeks to tie the series and retain the Ashes urn, won amid triumphant scenes in September 2005.

In baking heat, a sleepy crowd were expecting a draw as the final day began but Warne, who took 40 wickets in that last Ashes series, refused to let the match die.

Just 17 wickets fell in the first four days but four went down in the morning session to turn the game on its head.


Warne took two wickets and played his part in the run out of Ian Bell for 26, while Brett Lee found reverse swing with a ball just 30 overs old to make Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones look indecisive.

Andrew Strauss was unlucky to be given out for 34 as short-leg fielder Hussey took a catch off pad rather than bat and umpire Steve Bucknor upheld Warne's half-hearted appeal.

But England were to blame for the wickets that followed as they looked to re-establish the initiative with attacking play.

Bell hesitated when called for a quick single as point fielder Clarke threw to Warne at the non-striker's end.

Kevin Pietersen chose the wrong time to begin sweeping Warne and was bowled round his legs by the fifth ball he faced, a delivery pitching out of the rough.


Flintoff perished to a poor shot off Brett Lee

Then, with a captain's innings desperately needed, Flintoff's footwork was lacking as he wafted outside off stump at Lee and departed for two.

It is unlikely England coach Duncan Fletcher ate his lunch with a smile, even though two lower-order men included in the side for their batting would accompany Paul Collingwood into the afternoon.

If he did, his reverie lasted just 10 balls after the break as Jones groped at a Brett Lee delivery a yard wide of off-stump and chipped to the gully fielder.

Three overs later, Ashley Giles got an edge to a fizzing Warne leg break that was taken at first slip for a duck.

Two marginal lbw decisions by umpire Rudi Koertzen accounted for Steve Harmison and - after a 41-minute resistance - James Anderson, and gave Glenn McGrath his first wickets of the match.

Australia lost openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden at the start of their chase but they were down more to over-aggressiveness than England ingenuity.

The home side changed gear as if batting in the middle of a one-day international and England let them, opting to try and restrict runs rather than putting fielders in catching positions.

Flintoff hobbled through the pain of his sore left ankle to bowl nine overs then cut a sorry figure in the field as Hussey hit the winning runs.


5th December 2006 03:36 PM
stewed & Keefed Boycott fears for beaten England

Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones are not making enough runs and I don't see how England are going to get 20 wickets


Geoffrey Boycott says England no longer have a chance of retaining the Ashes after their pitiful second-Test defeat.
England were bowled out for 129 on the last day in Adelaide to lose the match by six wickets and go 2-0 down in the series with three matches to go.

"I personally don't think they can pick themselves up," said Boycott, who is commentating for Test Match Special.

"Australia are cock-a-hoop, they are in good form and are confident. There's a danger they will bury England."




Boycott says England are being let down by both their batting and bowling.

"The batsmen are making too many mistakes," said the former England opener, who hit 22 Test centuries.

"You can't keep depending on Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell. Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones are not making enough runs.

I've been involved when we've thrown games away before but not at this level. I think it's ridiculous

Andy Caddick

"And I don't see how England are going to get 20 wickets."

Boycott said he was fed up hearing how England might bounce back when all evidence pointed to the contrary.

"I think the England squad is a pretty decent set of lads, but stop talking a good game and start performing a good game," he said.

"It is as simple as that. Don't tell us you will come back, just do it. But at the moment I don't think they are capable of it."

Andy Caddick, the hero the last time England won a Test in Australia, was equally scathing of England's performance in Adelaide.

"It's bewildering. I just don't know what's going on," said the long-serving Somerset paceman, who starred in the win in Sydney in January 2003.

"I've been involved when we've thrown games away before but not at this level. I think it's ridiculous.

"They need to sit down and have a good look at themselves and realise they are playing the best side in the world.

Is Monty Panesar here or has he gone home?

Ian Botham

"They may have thought they had beaten the best side in the world but now the best side in the world is coming to the forefront.

"It just goes to show you cannot let up. You cannot give the Australians an inch. Unfortunately England gave them a mile."

Ian Botham said it was perplexing that spinner Monty Panesar continued to be ignored by England.

"I am asking questions. A lot of people are asking questions. Is Monty here or has he gone home?" said England's greatest all-rounder.

"I am totally confused. I was confused at the start of the series and I am even more confused now."

Panesar's county coach, David Capel, was also furious the spinner was denied a chance in the second Test.



Panesar took 32 wickets in his first 10 Tests, with two five-wicket hauls, but England opted for Ashley Giles, who has figures of 3-262 in this year's series.

"I feel the British public are being cheated," said Northants chief Capel.

"There is amazement, not only on the English side but from the Australian point of view. They can't understand why we're not playing a wicket-taker."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes coach Duncan Fletcher will face the biggest test of his regime in the build-up to the third Test at Perth.

"He will come under immense pressure in the next week or so," said Hussain, who worked closely with Fletcher during his time as captain.

"His selections have let him down and let England down, in Ashley Giles and Geraint Jones. There have been no runs and no wickets and Giles dropped a crucial catch.

"The coach has got to get his thinking cap on and work out how to get 20 wickets. It will be a difficult time for Fletcher and a difficult time for England."


5th December 2006 04:57 PM
speedfreakjive
quote:
Hannalee wrote:
I console myself by thinking that at least we've never lost to Bangladesh....

We don't seem to be playing as a team, and the ones who are trying the hardest are going to knacker themselves carrying the passengers.




agreed - Flintoff and the other batsmen apart from Pietersen and Collingwood need to pull a lot more weight in runs
5th December 2006 06:49 PM
Voodoo Scrounge Although they havent been performing to the peak of their abilities, the English batting line up is not primarily to blame.

England's bowling attack has been nothing short of shocking! Matthew Hoggard bagged himself seven wickets in this second test, but aside from that, where have all our bowlers gone?

Steve Harmisson - Has lost all confidence in his bowling action and is nowhere near the form he showed just over a year ago. The australians have no fear of him!

James Anderson - Is a very usefull bowler to have. Like Hoggard, he can reverse swing and his extra pace can take the pressure off of the likes of Hoggy and Harmy. But he is nothing but a dolly popper on a pitch that doesnt bounce in conditions that dont swing!

Ashley Giles - This one is simple, the man does not have the variation it takes to really worry a world class batting line up.

If I were Duncan Fletcher and Flintoff I would do this

Drop Ian Bell and bring in Ed Joyce a genuine attacking batsman who due to his lack of test experience, wont be scarred by recent results.

Drop Giles for Panesar. He has more variation and can turn the ball more.

Bring in Mahmood for Anderson, just for variation.

The batting line up should be

Joyce
Strauss (stop hooking! boy, your not Divine Brown!)
Cook (Has to realise that a test match is 5 days nad not 50 overs)
Pieterson
Flintoff
Collingwood (Bats well with tail enders)
Jones (Needs to learn to be more of a stubborn batsman to get out - ala Boucher, Gilchrist ect)
Panesar
Hoggard
Mahmood
Harmisson
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