Cricket

Why don't they just let everyone have a go at bowling, like at school - more chance of getting a wicket surely.

They've used 6, usually teams start going though the ranks when the oppo get over 500, surprised Clarke hasn't had and over or two, maybe his back won't allow,

Seems a shame this is looking like fading to a draw, it would be nice to only bat once and have a good two days at them but the weather has taken valuable time off.

1,067 runs for the loss of five wickets according to Mike Selvey. Blimey!

What's the weather forecast?

^Sorry Balki, you're not allowed any native peoples in your cricket team.

Apparently.

http://www.weather.com.au/sa/adelaide

                    Wind                        Rain                        Humid                       Min                         Max                                                                                                 MON                         ![](http://www.weather.com.au/images/icons/19.gif)                      Showers. Afternoon Clouds. Warm. Humid.                         7 km/h

E 5mm
(61%) 75% 20 29 TUE Heavy Rain. Mostly Cloudy. Warm. 12 km/h
SSW 13mm
(99%) 84% 20 29

They've used 6, usually teams start going though the ranks when the oppo get over 500, surprised Clarke hasn't had and over or two, maybe his back won't allow, Seems a shame this is looking like fading to a draw, it would be nice to only bat once and have a good two days at them but the weather has taken valuable time off.

Yes, it is a great shame. God knows what they are going to do for the next test bowling wise. There must be a few hopefuls at the academy you'd imagine.

^^oh ffs.

declare overnight and hope the weather allows enough overs to get them out in less than 300 then.
nafc

Good idea, but I really can't see Strauss thinking about that for more than a nano-second.

Just to play devils advocate here, this is now looking like being a draw, going into the third test 0.0 with a bit of time to regroup in between will rejuvenate Australia and allow them to come back stronger. As someone pointed out, England have won fuck all yet.
If Aus bat out the next two days it'll be like a win for them and they'll carry the "momentum" everyone talks about into the next test.

If Aus pick the right players and England get some injuries or become complacent then Aus are right back in it.

Anderson is flying home after this test BTW

What's up with Anderson?

Good idea, but I really can't see Strauss thinking about that for more than a nano-second.

I don't know, losing the final session to rain really messes up the plan. And the forecast dictates that we should declare sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately it looks like the rain will dictate how much input the players will have on the result.

What's up with Anderson?

Wants to be around for the birth of his child or some ponsey rubbish

Oh FFS - he can have more kids, this is THE ASHES man!

Actually, thinking on declaring, it wouldn't be that much of a huge gamble....hmm

Wants to be around for the birth of his child or some ponsey rubbish

Hehe.

That will be a big blow, going to the WACA, even though it's not the bowlers pitch it used to be.

Fancy a pint watching the first day? Should be on at a more civilised hour.

I imagine he'll be coming back before Perth.Lots of traveling and upheavals over that 10 day rest though, won't be the best prep. Selfish git.

It's going to be later, so you'll get a couple of hours in the morning, would have to be a market pub for the 0700 pint

Yeah, you're right. Balls.

                                                                                         Warm. Humid.                      

swing swing swing wicket wicket wicket.
England will not need to bat again.*

*hopefully

if i was strauss i would declare immediately. no point being 400 in front but running out of time.

It's this attitude from the Aus fans and press that has contributed to the obvious tension and unease in the camp, instead of accepting that the team are not as good as they once were they constantly whinge as if there's some God given right to be best in the world without having the talent.

The only national disgrace is the treatment Ponting and co. are getting from their loyal "fans"

God given right? What?

This same playing group has beaten South Africa away, and are playing well below their best. It's nothing to do with demanding some automatic right to win every match - but people do expect the players to perform somewhere near to their potential, which is not something I can say about Ponting, Clarke, Katich, Siddle or North in this match, and they've been consistently inconsistent for the last 18 months.

The team is dropping simple catches, making basic errors and chucking pies, and it's not good enough. We expect high standards and this group is capable of better. There is talent in the team (not all-time greats like Warne and McGrath, but still very good cricketers) but they are totally down on confidence. That is not an excuse for accepting mediocrity.

so you are saying they should be the best in the world again?
they have no right to that, they have to earn it.
their test form has only been average and they have played some teams in transition and still lost. and in one day and 20/20 they have been beaten by England (current world champions in both competitions)

empires come and go. australia dominated for a long period of time and then there was the 05 loss, thrashing of England at home (England with a poor captain/ineffectual bowling and management disagreements) and another loss back in England.
but in the history of the ashes it's currently 31 to australia and 29 to England so it's not like they have always had the upper hand, they are a team lacking direction, settled line-up, players who are getting on a bit and some lacking experience or raw talent.

it's no surprise they are playing badly, scratching around for decent bowlers days before the series starts was hardly good preparation for beating a settled side in good form.

if i was strauss i would declare immediately. no point being 400 in front but running out of time.

or maybe have a few overs in the morning to add a thrashed 50 runs (shouldn't take long) and keep them guessing as to when they have to bat.

if the rain doesn't interfere too much then there should be little or no batting to do for a win. but look what happened last time on this ground.

^Nah too conservative for me.

Get 'em in and then get them out. Its a risk but life is too feckin' short.

Puts the foot even harder on the throat, shows confidence and its rained and we've got swing bowlers. It's what Ponting least wants us to do and so....

but people do expect the players to perform somewhere near to their potential, which is not something I can say about Ponting, Clarke, Katich, Siddle or North in this match, and they've been consistently inconsistent for the last 18 months.

In which case it could well be time to accept these players have reached and left behind their potential, 18 months is a long time and a lot of innings where you have time to make good again.

KP and Strauss to name a few have been dropped and sent away to work hard domestically and only when form returned were they allowed back in.

In my opinion, Katich should not be in the side ever, Ponting should have been dropped last year and Clarke and North needed to go away to their districts and knuckle down. The problem with this is that it leaves a huge gap which Aus cannot fill.

Who is waiting in the wings? a kid with 2 ODIs under his belt? come on.

All fair points.

The selections are known for their reluctance to change line ups, and that is not really a problem in good times. Aus have been in lean times for long enough now that it is a problem. Not only have quite a few players not been sent back to their club teams to find form, but it also means that there is no depth to do it, as none of the players in waiting have been given any experience at the top level.

Australia "Simply the best"
Oz cricket fan

YouTube - two pricks at the ashes: adelaide day 3