Watched the Aussie women lose the Ashes to the Poms and cried in my beer as usual.
The Poms are slightly more skilled and physically imposing. Ring a bell?
Often one player imposes themselves on a cricket match or a season or a career, and the team he or she plays with runs with him.
A young lady called Kath Brunt looked like a Darren Gough replica and tied the Aussies up early. She appeals as a match winner.
Of all the ladies, she seemed to have the most power.
Ellyse Perry is obviously a gifted athlete. Meg Lanning did an excellent job. The Aussie bowlers were fine.
Apparently Ian Healey’s rellie, Alyssa, should be the keeper according to one strident TV commentator. The captain, Jodie Fields, was keeper and missed a stumping chance… but that can happen.
What I noticed about the Australians is their lack of physical strength, their inability to go over the top in a T20 contest to keep the run rate moving, and their fielding.
With physical strength comes confidence. Now I am not recommending that the Aussie gals consult Essendon Football Club for ‘strength’ tips, but they do need to get stronger in the legs and arms.
They had to bowl on a very flat deck so the England run chase was always going to be easy when we could only make 127.
There was evidence the Aussies had not practised hitting over the top while keeping their head down through the swing.
That is a mental failing and a practice thing.
If the Ashes are to be decided by a points score in two T20, three one day internationals and a Test, then each game skill needs to be replicated.
Throwing and bowling power, batting power and fielding and throwing power and skills will be enhanced when the coaches work on strength first.
So sorry to have to say this, but more torture is coming up before the Southern Stars beat the Poms.
That said, after Charlotte Edwards retires the Poms will hurt. I thought the Aussies and the Poms were about equal athletically, but Lydia Greenway’s 80 left handed runs and Brunt’s bowling and that of Dani Hazell were very tough to beat.
The Aussies are game, but not physically imposing enough. Simple to fix – up to you ladies!
Dave
Guest
To suggest that "they're better cricketers than almost everyone on here who plays" without knowing who is on here, is somewhat presumptuous don't you think ChrisUK? That's simply a "head in the sand" suggestion. What do you know about ilovewarnie's or my cricketing abilities for instance? NIL. ZILCH. Or anyone else's who happens to be on this site. And if the administrators selected a ground such as at Chelmsford with a capacity of only 5,000 +, to conduct this match,, they must realize how little it excites the public's interest. Crikey, even last year's Goanna Pulling Championships at Wooli drew 3,000 people.
AlanKC
Guest
I think we have you covered at whinging at last!
ChrisUK
Guest
Don't worry, beating Australia at everything will get boring eventually.
ilovewarnie
Guest
wow, there really is nothing to do in England.
ChrisUK
Guest
I would suggest they're better cricketers than almost everyone on here who plays. And the game in Chelmsford sold out - that's over 5,000 - and the one in Southampton had 8,000 spectators. So some do.
Dave
Guest
Same as sheilas' Rugby. Don't know why anyone bothers watching it.
ilovewarnie
Guest
who cares? it is rubbish cricket, should get the publicity it deserves, nil.
expathack
Guest
Can't agree that the bowling was good. Quicks bowled far too much on the pads, no variety. Should have been obvious that scoring on that wicket was hard with the pace off the ball. Perry in particular was guilty of just trying to fire it down fast as possible.