By Tom Wald
August 3rd 2009 @ 6:47am
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Australia on the ropes in Ashes fight
Australia’s Ashes defence is in danger of unravelling after England moved in for the kill on an eventful fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
The touring side’s batsmen must knuckle down on the final day to dig Australia out of a hole with the weather forecast for clear conditions in Birmingham and an English [...]
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albatross said | August 3rd 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Ponting must go!
Tom said | August 3rd 2009 @ 6:45pm | Report comment
What exactly do you suggest he do? Even Peter Roebuck was leaping to his defence today, and that is saying something. He is only as good as the cattle he has.
Harry Callahan said | August 3rd 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Perhaps these dumbass selectors will sack Katich after him getting 2 starts and no 50 this test. Probably, will elevate North and bring in McDonald as we need 700 allrounders in the team! Watson’s bowling was fantastic, wasn’t it? Neilsen’s reign of mediocrity must end imediately. What could a 2nd rate player from the worst performing cricketing state over thelast decade teach Ponting etc about batting or Johnson etc about bowling or Clarke etc about fielding. The short answer is he teaches them NOTHING and that’s what Neilsen brings to the team. From his press conferences I doubt he is even an inspirating motivator. Maybe I could swan around all over the world without any worries regarding team performance as coach for 12 months @ $250K …sounds like a good gig!
Tom said | August 3rd 2009 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
Good point, if they were to drop anyone it should have been Hussey. Hughes’ sacking is baffling – he scored 36 in Cardiff, which is far from a failure, and has one bad test and gets punted. Hussey has been ordinary for a while now, and yet is still there.
old goalie said | August 3rd 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
I agree with Harry about Neilsen.
Judging by some of the fields Ponting sets it appears as if Neilsen has advised him on the most-clever-by-half way of getting an opponent out, and Ponting, not the best tactically, believes him.
Theres a big difference between thinking, and thinking too much. Why not try Miller’s approach? Get all the players on the field and say: “Scatter.” (!)
Bring back Warne, Alfie Langer style.
Brian said | August 3rd 2009 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
THe lack of scrutiny on Neilsen is surprising, how he was reappointed after losing to both India & SA was really beyond me. Many here seem to be demanding Clark plays but he was never a match winning bowler and at test level has not been effective for at least 18 months. Thats a long time for an ageing fast bowler. Likewies Macca only looking good cause he ain’t playing. Truth is either Mitch finds something or I cant see the 20 wickets needed at either Headingly or the Oval – provided they survive tonight.
FIsher Price said | August 3rd 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Johnson’s staring was hilarious, his bowling still dreadful.
As for Watson – has he finally realised he’s not up to bowling fast and altered his action? – his three overs were absolutely pitiful, Damien Martyn-lite fare.
I feel sorry for Hilfenhaus.
Jameswm said | August 3rd 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
We should be able to grind out the draw.
Can’t comment on the bowling, except I did see Johnson bring a few back.
Clark has to come in. Katich needs to be more patient. What’s the rush? Ponting never started too well against spin anyway.
Hussey isn’t exactly inspiring me with confidence and there’s no Haddin. Time for someone to stand up and be counted.
Kento said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
I’m guttered by this. Went to sleep having watched 2 wickets fall and expected to wake seeing us right no top.
Why no Clarke?? I think the selections and team balance are the issues; not the cattle.
C’mon Aussie – don’t lose again.
Kyle said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:41am | Report comment
what was that (in)famous Warne aphorism….”can’t bowl, can’t bat…”. The writing has been on the wall for several years regarding the oz bowling ineffectiveness (including Brett Lee when he is fit). Glen McGrath’s retirement meant the final nail in the luke-warm bowling ‘attack’. Sadly, the batting has become brittle, too. Australia is in a rebuilding phase that may last several years (remember the West Indies…they are still trying to achieve past glories). We (oz) are inept at 20/20; lost our ranking in 50/50 (currently 3rd or 4th?); and lost the Test mantle. Ponting’s dismissal today was predictable as will (IMHO) acquiescence and an England win tomorrow.
Tom said | August 3rd 2009 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
Just to correct you, the quote was “he can’t bowl and he can’t throw” directed at Scott Muller, and it was a TV cameraman, not Warney.
Jameswm said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Nothing like being optimistic, hey Kyle?
Skull said | August 3rd 2009 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Have to agree Kyle, I think we are in for a long downward spiral. Even at first class level there don’t appear to be any potential match winners out there. It seems we have sunk to the level of English County cricket in that we are producing too many pie throwing medium pacers designed for limited overs and 20/20 cricket.
FIsher Price said | August 3rd 2009 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Clark and McDonald should get the nod for Leeds, but who can guess what Punter and his inner sanctum will throw up?
Lee probably. He’ll be ineffective.
Kento said | August 3rd 2009 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
Just like he was last Ashes (and pretty much ever since…)
Skull said | August 3rd 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
FP Punter and his inner sanctum do not select the team. There is a traveling selector (Cox) who consults with the other selectors by telephone back in Australia and that is how the team is picked.
albatross said | August 3rd 2009 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Fran Kelly had an interesting discussion this morning with the author of “First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them”, Steve Cannane
This blurb gives you the gist:
“Australia is struggling to save the third cricket test against England at Edgbaston. We face the real possibility of going two-nil down as we go into the last day at two for 88, still needing 25 just to match the English first innings score. And so just maybe we should be looking more closely at what has made Australia’s great cricketers of the past stand apart — what is it in their backgrounds that let them develop their exceptional skills?”
Audio can be heard at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2009/2643812.htm
Jameswm said | August 3rd 2009 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
Brian Clark was a perfectly good match winning bowler in South Africa on the previous tour.
You’ve got the approach wrong though – it isn’t simply a question of having one star bowler deliver unplayable balls. It’s a question of all the bowlers working together to build up the pressure.
By the way – they were talking about how Mitchell Johnson was setting up the Shermanator for the LBW, and the 3rd one was given out. but surelyu that strategy would work on others too? If you bowl 148kmh inswingers to the right hander, you’re going to get some wickets.
And where is the fanfare about Johnson’s inswinger to the right-hander returning? There was an endless drone about it going, but now it’s back, no one wants to mention it!!
Brian said | August 3rd 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Clark didnt play in the 2009 South Africa tour so I presume your talking about the March 2006 tour? Not exactly recent form. I agree with you on Johnson, thats what I’m saying he’s the best bowler and has to play. So Johnson and Hilfy are certainties, Hauritz has done well and Watson has proven his worth as a batsman. So all we’re talking about is potentially Clark or Lee instead of Siddle. The fitness of both is questionable, especially if your already going in with Watson, now what either give you over Siddle isn’t much. So I’m saying to hold the Ashes Johnson needs to fire. Not that he’ll take all the wickets but that realistically only Hilfenhaus and Johnson have the ability to take a good chunk of the 20 wkts required.
Jameswm said | August 3rd 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Brian you said nothing about recent form. You said outright that Clark “was never a match winning bowler and at test level “. That is plainly wrong. I agree he hardly has recent form, but the guy is smart and his bowling is simple yet effective, like McGrath. He hasn’t lost it as the recent tour match shows.
Clark ahead of Siddle and I’m happy. And I’d have preferred to keep Hughes and leave out North or Hussey if you want to bring Watson in. Probably too late now.
Kyle said | August 4th 2009 @ 2:52am | Report comment
well-done to oz for determined and composed resistance in saving the 3rd Test. Should give confidence to batsmen for Headingly. Excellent partnerships. Excellent innings to Clarke (103 no) & North (96; condolences)