By Tom Wald
August 9th 2009 @ 6:30am
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Aussies back into Ashes contention
Resurgent paceman Mitchell Johnson has produced a show-stopping performance as an irrepressible Australia closed in on a record thumping of England at Headingley.
Marcus North (110) and Ben Hilfenhaus (2-37) pummelled England before Johnson (3-21) set about finishing off the job and levelling the Ashes series at 1-1 in the fourth Test.
Needing to score 343 to [...]
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(13)
megatron said | August 9th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
What a turn around in the series! Welcome back Mitchell. Wonder if the GF and Mum sorted out their differences
Colin N said | August 9th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Another great day for Australia. Mitchell Johnson is a man reborn, the delivery to get rid of Cook was excellent (that considering it’s the only wicket I’ve seen so far in today’s play, and I can’t particularly take myself to watch the highlights).
One thing that struck me though was Broad’s figures of 6-91. Did he actually bowl well? He had a good spell yesterday and seemed to back it up.
It’s a matter of earning a bit of pride now for England and I’m sure we’ll look forward with excitement to the final test match of the Ashes at the Oval, locked at 1-1.
vinay verma said | August 9th 2009 @ 10:47am | Report comment
Colin..Broad bowled terribly and was put to the sword by Clark(not Clarke) hitting him for two sixes. However I think Broad is one for the future and in two years could well be an improved Test match bowler.
Colin N said | August 9th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Vinay, it depends where Broad will improve though. In the County Championship, he reguarly picks up good hauls and the standard simply isn’t good enough.
What do you do? Send him back to his county to work on his action or consistancy perhaps? And then test it out in the domestic arena? Or persist with him at test match level and get Otis Gibson working closely with him?
Maybe the best answer is not to select him for the winter tour(s) and let him work on his bowling?
Viscount Crouchback said | August 9th 2009 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Broad has certain attributes – a strong mind, a clever brain, good batting skills, gorgeous skin – but he’s patently inadequate as a Test match bowler. It’s remarkable that he continues to be picked whilst men like Sidebottom – who on form is one of the most threatening bowlers in world cricket (just ask New Zealand) – languish in County cricket.
Vinay is right. Broad probably will be terrific in two years. But this is an Ashes series. You pick for the here and now.
vinay verma said | August 9th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Viscount, you may find this an anathema to you but a stint in Sydney Grade cricket would complete the man’s education, broadly speaking of course. It has hitherto proved beneficial to Strauss, Boycott, Greig,Gatting et al.
Viscount Crouchback said | August 9th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Not sure about that, Vinay. I hear that a stint in Oz toughens a chap up. But I’m not sure Broad needs toughening up. It’s his basic bowling technique and ability that I worry about.
The odd thing about Broad is that he was a batsman until the age of 17. He’s therefore relatively new to bowling. England are taking the view that he’s bound to come good eventually. Whilst I admire their forbearance, I should jolly well like to see the chap dropped for The Oval and replaced by someone who can do the business in the here and now. Step forward Mr Sidebottom.
vinay verma said | August 9th 2009 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Toughening up in technique,VC, The only way to get respect in Grade cricket is to bowl or bat well. I have found Australia loves a competitor and you cant compete if your technique is wanting. Talent is one thing but hours spent in the sun practicing soon stop you bowling half trackers.
JohnB said | August 9th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
VC – pretty good hair also. Broad is a bit of an enigma’s enigma – he looked taller than Harmison when they stood next to each other at one point, and if the speed gun is to be believed his pace touches 90mph at times, so he has the basic tools to be a more than decent bowler. On the other hand, his pace slips down to the low 80’s much of the time, and he doesn’t seem to get people hopping about. Yesterday he bowled short and unthreateningly a lot and spent a lot of time bowling 2 feet wide of off with a 7/2 field to try to keep the scoring down – but couldn’t do so consistently enough to actually stop the scoring. He was also getting stroppy with fielders, umpires, and the world in general from time to time. Two of his wickets yesterday were catches on the midwicket fence (Johnson and North), and a third was Clark chopping on while swinging the bat, so while they all count in the record books you could argue Broad shouldn’t get full credit for them. His other wicket yesterday, Siddle bowled neck and crop, looked a very good ball. Didn’t see his 2 wickets day one so can’t comment on them. Is it fair to say his bowling is a bit like Shane Watson’s (at least when Watson has a patch of full fitness) – good pace, but no X factor and not the consistency to get good players out on good wickets?
prowling panther said | August 9th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
the glaring and the sledging and the crowd v Ponting really show the bad feeling between these two old rivals
It does detract from the gentlemanly aura of test cricket but its great theatre
Viscount Crouchback said | August 9th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Quite so, PP. And it is the gentlemanly aura that we need to restore to Test match cricket. I regret to say that the Australians are to blame. The frightfully aggressive behaviour of Allan Border’s team – commented on by Mike Atherton during this series – set a precedent which every aspiring cricketing nation now seeks to emulate.
The lesson that has gone out to the world is this: You can only win if you act like a bully and behave barbarously.
It is to Australia’s – and Border’s and Waugh’s – shame that they instigated this disgraceful turn of events.
hazey.the.bear said | August 9th 2009 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
Yes, Viscount, let’s put this “bully-boy tactics” problem squarely on the shoulders on the Australians, and forget that Bodyline ever existed…You want a precedent? Try that one.
Jameswm said | August 10th 2009 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
That’s quite funny – because VC you don’t regret saying that at all. It’s an ongoing theme of yours.