The Ashes 2.

[bycars rob]

Devastating bowling by Mitchell Johnson, unplayable.

 

Lose or draw this test, Englnd's batsmen have to find a way to stay in the middle and build some confidence and stop Australia's momentum. Bell has to bat at 3 and Pietersen and Root should stop playing extravagant shots 'til they've got 100 on the board.

 

Finn, being our quickest bowler, should play at Perth.

 

Johnson is not unplayable, Bell and Carberry showed that and even Monty put up some resistance. Some of the `batsmen` have not got enough bottle. Prior must be axed for Bairstow, but we`ll probably do our usual and drop a bowler when we bat poorly.

 

If England can't play Johnson on a flat track in Adelaide its close your eyes time in Perth.

[Andyregs]

Cant see anything other than a whitewash. Absolutely dire. We didn't win the last series because we were good, but because they were awful. We needed to up our game in australia, and we've done no such thing. If we were recently the best in the world, then I dread to think how bad other nations have it.

[Paul6754]

 

Johnson was unplayable, an aggressive bowler moving/straightening a ball travelling at >90mph with bounce and accuracy and an awkward left armer to boot is a very difficult proposition on any pitch against any batsman. Both Bell and Carberry batted well but were lucky to survive balls bowled by Johnson. Carberry was dismissed in the first test by Johnson due to a mixture of poor technique and tremendous bowling.

 

I don't agree that the English batsmen haven't got enough bottle, the only person who didn't get inline was Broad (he only faced one ball) all the other Johnson victims were done with hostile, accurate bowling backed up by Harris/Siddle. Monty showed courage and was hit ca half a dozen times by Harris but was blown away quickly as soon as Johnson came back on.

 

It pains me to say it but Johnson is the difference between the two teams at the moment and its likely to get worse at Perth.

[Dr Winston O'Boogle]

Devastating bowling by Mitchell Johnson, unplayable.

 

Lose or draw this test, Englnd's batsmen have to find a way to stay in the middle and build some confidence and stop Australia's momentum. Bell has to bat at 3 and Pietersen and Root should stop playing extravagant shots 'til they've got 100 on the board.

 

Finn, being our quickest bowler, should play at Perth.

 

If England can't play Johnson on a flat track in Adelaide its close your eyes time in Perth.

 

Completely agree Rob.

 

He's bowling very quick and straight, if there's a lateral movement it's tiny and probably the angle. Bell quite easily coped with him as would the top Saffas. Anyone would think it's Ambrose bowling a spell of 1-7 at the WACA

 

They need to man up, not shuffle across and be prepared to get in behind the ball. That may mean you get hit a couple of times but it's test match batting and you need to stand up and be counted by getting in behind the line of the ball.

 

Dreadful showing, glad I'm not there. As disappointed I've been for a long time. KP and Prior were ****ing dreadful.

[Boslem Boy]

All the "experts" like Botham, Vaughan, Tufnell and the whole of 5 Live said before the 1st ball was bowled that England were far too good for the Aussies. Vaughan claimed our batsmen were 70 runs better per player, Botham claimed a 5-0 whitewash for the English.

 

After The Gabba mauling/defeat the experts claimed that we always struggle in the 1st test on tour etc etc. That Mitchell Johnson has never played excellent in consecutive tests etc etc.

 

Fact, our "world beaters" have been found out down under.

 

Fact, the Aussies should have won a test here in blighty during the summer but rain robbed them. They were unlucky in 2 other tests so anyone with a cricket brain should have known we'd struggle.

 

All the experts are now claiming how brilliant the Aussies are and how Johnson is a "class act." Unbelievable!!!...

 

Vaughan & Co seem to have the ability to get everything wrong in their assessments and predictions, they can then change their minds and expect us the viewer/listener to swallow the total garbage that sprouts from their mouths. Yet they continue to collect huge salaries for being totally wrong.

 

England have bottled it. We can't bat, bowl or field. It's not rocket science and has been obvious for a while.

 

Rant over!!!!!................ Oh........... and gis a job!

[Dr Winston O'Boogle]

That's not really any different to pundits in any other sport though.

[Paul6754]

Completely agree Rob.

 

He's bowling very quick and straight, if there's a lateral movement it's tiny and probably the angle. Bell quite easily coped with him as would the top Saffas. Anyone would think it's Ambrose bowling a spell of 1-7 at the WACA

 

They need to man up, not shuffle across and be prepared to get in behind the ball. That may mean you get hit a couple of times but it's test match batting and you need to stand up and be counted by getting in behind the line of the ball.

 

Dreadful showing, glad I'm not there. As disappointed I've been for a long time. KP and Prior were ****ing dreadful.

 

Johnson is not bowling straight. Watch in slowmo the balls that bowled Cooke, Broad, Anderson and Panesar, the movement is there and subtle but at >90mph together with the angle its tough to deal with. Extreme pace alone is hard to deal with, add to that movement, however subtle, and the angle of a left armer and its mega problematic.

 

Pieterson is a big disappointment, Prior is out of form.

[Dr Winston O'Boogle]

It isn't swinging, it's gun barrel straight it seems like it's moving because everyone is playing down the wrong line. 2009 at Perth, different.

 

And as Boycott correctly says they lack bottle and neither of those two have the stomach for the fight. Prior a joke again.

[Paul6754]

It isn't swinging, it's gun barrel straight it seems like it's moving because everyone is playing down the wrong line. 2009 at Perth, different.

 

And as Boycott correctly says they lack bottle and neither of those two have the stomach for the fight. Prior a joke again.

 

Sorry for laboring this point but it is moving and the movement is late which is also a huge factor. If you look at the ball that got Cooke in particular, it angles into him and straightens at the last split second, its just impossible to react/adjust at that speed. Given the max width of a cricket bat is 4.25" it doesn't have to move much, especially late, to beat/take the edge.

 

I'm a huge "Sir Geoffrey" fan but I can't agree with him on that one. Virtually no batsmen in the world could stand up to the great fast bowlers, the likes of Holding, Marshall, Garner, Lillee, Thompson etc in their prime, it was more about the quality, speed and hostility of the bowling rather than bottle. Tongue in cheek, Boycott's exile from test cricket co-incided with Lillee, Thomson and Holding in their prime so perhaps he knows more than most about bottle although he did face the West Indies in the late 70's.

[For Us All]

Let's hope that Johnson treads on the ball before the next test.:D

[Dr Winston O'Boogle]

Sorry for laboring this point but it is moving and the movement is late which is also a huge factor. If you look at the ball that got Cooke in particular, it angles into him and straightens at the last split second, its just impossible to react/adjust at that speed. Given the max width of a cricket bat is 4.25" it doesn't have to move much, especially late, to beat/take the edge.

 

I'm a huge "Sir Geoffrey" fan but I can't agree with him on that one. Virtually no batsmen in the world could stand up to the great fast bowlers, the likes of Holding, Marshall, Garner, Lillee, Thompson etc in their prime, it was more about the quality, speed and hostility of the bowling rather than bottle. Tongue in cheek, Boycott's exile from test cricket co-incided with Lillee, Thomson and Holding in their prime so perhaps he knows more than most about bottle although he did face the West Indies in the late 70's.

 

But this isn't Holding or Marshall. It isn't even Dale Steyn but yes it's labouring and we're going around in circles. This isn't tecnhique this is pride and heart and not being scared of the ball, as most have said...

 

They've declared because of a worsening weather forecast.

[Paul6754]

But this isn't Holding or Marshall. It isn't even Dale Steyn but yes it's labouring and we're going around in circles. This isn't tecnhique this is pride and heart and not being scared of the ball, as most have said...

 

They've declared because of a worsening weather forecast.

 

This guy is bowling just as fast as Holding, Marshall and Steyn, he's not in the top 10 all time Australian wicket takers 'cause he bowls medium pace and straight.

 

It isn't pride and heart that's required it's good technique and application together with determination....and a little luck. "Most" whoever most is, criticised Joe Root for lack of bottle, at present he's 60 odd not out and had a torrid time against Johnson, not lacking in bottle at all.

[cheeky]

It's been cloudy today here in Adelaide with the odd spot of rain, but I think showers forecast for tomorrow, and in the 2 weeks I've been here it's the first time I've prayed for rain.

[Dr Winston O'Boogle]

This guy is bowling just as fast as Holding, Marshall and Steyn, he's not in the top 10 all time Australian wicket takers 'cause he bowls medium pace and straight.

 

It isn't pride and heart that's required it's good technique and application together with determination....and a little luck. "Most" whoever most is, criticised Joe Root for lack of bottle, at present he's 60 odd not out and had a torrid time against Johnson, not lacking in bottle at all.

 

 

Bowling isn't just about pace as you seem to think. So is Damien Fleming I wouldn't put him with those three. Steyn takes them at 22, Marshall at 20, Holding at 23 and Johnson up at 30 haha

 

He's 1-53 from 20 overs (Cook playing a daft shot early) because the batsmen showed some application, if they would have done the same in the first innings we would be on course to draw this game but they didn't so we aren't and are staring down the barrel.

 

Perhaps the batsmen will front up and give the bowlers a platform during the next three test matches.

[Paul6754]

Bowling isn't just about pace as you seem to think. So is Damien Fleming I wouldn't put him with those three. Steyn takes them at 22' date=' Marshall at 20, Holding at 23 and Johnson up at 30 haha.[/quote']

 

Depends on the wicket and the batsman. On this batting track Johnson is bowling with pace (>90mph), movement and from an awkward angle being a left armer. Have you watched the tv slowmo's yet.

 

Johnson currently at 29.7, he's been wayward in the past hence his average isn't in the low 20's but at the moment he's got his act together and his technique has improved. Any test bowler with an average around/under 30 is a quality bowler.

 

He's 1-53 from 20 overs (Cook playing a daft shot early) because the batsmen showed some application, if they would have done the same in the first innings we would be on course to draw this game but they didn't so we aren't and are staring down the barrel.

 

So you realize its about technique and application much more than heart and pride?

 

Perhaps the batsmen will front up and give the bowlers a platform during the next three test matches.

 

Need to cut out the risky shots until the batsman have adjusted to the light, pace of the pitch and have had a good long look at the bowler from both ends, on and off strike.