Rain ruins mouthwatering final day of England-India Test

They did lose the odd Ashes test when they were playing, just not a series. In fact in those 8 series that Australia won in succession, Australia only lost one solitary test when the destiny of the Ashes was still undecided and that was first test of 1997 series.

I was going to guess Taylor and Healy, but was sure Australia lost the odd test when they were playing...apparently not!

No I mean never playing in an Ashes series defeat. They are Mark Taylor, Ian Healy (both 6 series), Michael Slater (4 series) and Mark Waugh (5 and a half series). Warne only lost in 2005 through no fault of his own.

Yeah, Lee was hardworking, and would run in all day. Lee with Clark, Warne & MacGill would've been a good bowling lineup in McGrath's absence. Regarding your trivia question, I have no idea. You mean players not even experiencing losing an ashes test? Would presumably be guys in and out of the side then I guess?

Steve Waugh is not one of them btw ... however, although he played in the losing 1986-87 series, he does have the distinction of being the only one who played in all eight successive Ashes series wins between 1989 and 2002-03 inclusive.

Lee actually had a fairly excellent series bar first innings at Edgbaston and having multiple catches dropped off him at the Oval, including KP when not yet many in 2nd innings. Problem was that Ooh Aah was missing for two tests, far from fully fit for 2 of the other 3, Gillespie pouring runs for a grand total of 3 wickets and Tait’s selection was purely based on his overhyped speed. Selecting Clark instead for test 4 would have made even more sense in Ooh Aah’s absence. If we consider that the fact McGrath missed both tests England won in 2005, he never tasted defeat in five complete Ashes series, plus two part ones counting 2005. Four other Australians never tasted Ashes defeat in their careers from his same era, two playing in six series, another playing in four series, and another playing in five and a half series. Can you name all four?

Yes! Stuart Clark would've made a world of difference! :thumbup: :cricket: Lee & Tait were never the types of bowlers to thrive in English conditions, but Clark certainly was.

I’ve said elsewhere, Stuart Clark should have debuted in tests 4 and 5 instead of Tait, and Gillespie should have been left out for Lee’s return for first test, instead of kaspa. Hussey should have probably debuted also in test 4 for either Martyn or Katich, and at the very least, one of M or K should have been left out for the Oval, move Gilly to 6 to allow an attack of McGrath, Lee, Clark, Warne and Stuart of the MacGills. Especially since Warne and Lee were probably our two best batsmen across the whole series!

Couldn’t blame Warnie. A half fit McGrath, plus mediocre backup bowlers: Dizzy, Kasper, Binger & Tait (unfair for Tait on his debut but nevertheless!) weren’t providing a great threat. The great “what-if?” of that series someone else mentioned on here would be to put in MacGill as a “spin twin” with Warne. :unhappy: edit: McGrath on one good leg was STILL far better than the rest of the pace bowlers (unfortunately).

Turns out the Little Tozzie Legend rates this innings every bit as highly as you and I do Micko. That makes us pretty good cricketing judges! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcxzxwvUrIk

I was certain the Aussies would pull their finger out for the rest of the series after such a magnificent effort. But alas in next test their batting was as dismal as it had been in tests 2 and 3 and their bowling was as ordinary for large parts of next test as it had been for large parts of previous two also.

Yeah, that’s it. The aussies managed to draw and were celebrating as if they won. Genius from Vaughan to gather his troops and tell them to look at the aussie side and the calibre of players: Warne, Ponting, McGrath, Gilchrist etc, and see them celebrating a draw. He’s basically telling them they’ve got the (supposedly invincible!) aussies on the ropes, and instead of being disheartened by the draw, they’re dominating them. So start again and go hard at them. And it worked: they won the fourth test @ Trent Bridge!

And yes, the Basin Reserve in Wellington looks a great ground to watch cricket. :thumbup:

You mean after Old Trafford 2005? I don't remember any speech ... what did he say?

The hill at the Adelaide Oval is at least down the line of the wicket (albeit a fair way away). The Waca side on is just essentially to enjoy the atmosphere and get blotto.

When do bowlers get treated fairly in cricket again? But the decision is understandable, if it weren't for Root the match would have been over in day 4 itself.

I remember watching the First Test on TV from Perth in 1970 and how proud everyone was of the Inverarity Stand. I've never been to the WACA but I reckon it looks like a great place to watch the cricket, as is the hill at the Adelaide Oval and as was the old Hill at the SCG. Even the Gabba with it's dog track had it's charms. The grounds In New Zealand look like great places to watch cricket. A tad different from the MCG or Perth Stadium.

That speech he gave after the drawn third test was legendary though.

Hah. Vaughan is prone to hyperbole any given time he opens his mouth. For a guy who was a very successful, I'm afraid he is an embarrassment as a commentator. And I speak as a Yorkshireman.

Oh yeah definitely, if Ooh Aah had not stepped on that ball it would have been 5 zip but to even be in with a chance even after ooh aah stepped on that ball it needed exceptional leadership from Vaughan.