If anyone who said test cricket is boring, watch the Ashes now !!

[AHLUNGOR]

I love your optimism AHLUNGOR

Well, no one had any idea what Agar and Hughes could have done as the last pair standing ! So anything is possible . But on exposed form, Harris and Lyons will be doing their fair share if they can each last 5-10 overs - it's just a matter whether Haddin is still there til the end and how many runs can he put on with a no 10 and no 11 at the other end ??

It will be a miracle if the Aussie are still batting at lunch !

Again I draw the comaprasion from that first test at Trent Bridge , it came down to we lost by 14 runs, right? And Stuart Broad didn't walk and be went on to make 65 !

What if Harris does a 36 or something this morning ??

Cheers

[AHLUNGOR]

It's on again !!

Harris out for 9 !!

Stuart Broad took 6 wickets !!

Only 282 - very tough from here now !!

:fire:

[AHLUNGOR]

Run out at 93 !!

And Haddin continues to run off the field !!

Australia all out for for 295 !!

This is not how we want the innings to end.

Now it's our turn to bowl !!

C'mon Aussie !!

:shout:

[AHLUNGOR]

Harris draws first blood, Cook out for 13 !!

[AHLUNGOR]

3 for 84 !!

Once we get rid of Carberry and Ian Bell, we will be on our way !!

C'mon Harris and Johnson, one more from each of you.

And Nathan Lyon - 3 overs for 3 maidens !! but we need wickets from you brother, do a Graeme Swann on the Poms mate !!

[AHLUNGOR]

4 for 87 !!

Johnson strikes again, Carberry is gone !

Game on !!

[AHLUNGOR]

5 for 87 !!

Lyon got Bell - the triple century man in England, gone for 5 !!

Surely, the Aussies are on top now !!

Keep going Aussie !!

Let's get the Pommys Bang, Bang, Bang !!

:miao::miao::miao::miao::miao:

[AHLUNGOR]

6 for 87 !!

Prior got a golden duck !!

Lyon on a hat trick !!!

C'mon, get Broad out !!

[AHLUNGOR]

JOhnson strikes again,

Root is out for 2

7 for 89 !!

C'mon guys, let's put the sword to their heart and finish them early !!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

Oi, Oi, Oi

[AHLUNGOR]

What a session !!

3 for 82
4 for 87,
5 for 87,
6 for 87,
7 for 89

REVENGE IS SWEET !!

[Oneonone]

What a session !!

3 for 82
4 for 87,
5 for 87,
6 for 87,
7 for 89

REVENGE IS SWEET !!

Still away to go yet don't get too excited there is another one Swan is out 8 for 91

[Punter Poontang]

Fooking hell .... we might enforce the follow-on yet!!

[AHLUNGOR]

Still away to go yet don't get too excited there is another one Swan is out 8 for 91

Bloody hell,

Who would have thought that the England wickets are falling quicker than I can type !!

8 for 91, Swann got his duck!

C'mon Mitch, 4 wickets, get the last two and match Broad !!

[AHLUNGOR]

I love your optimism AHLUNGOR


Only the true believer will prevail !!

[B-man]

still fucking boring.

I used to be a avid player and watched all the games in my eariler years but not any more.

[Travelmate]

Only the true believer will prevail !!

I am only interested on easy and exciting money making sports.

NBA, Tennis.

Who the fuck interested to bet how many 4s and 6s? This is not for me .

my 0.5 cent

[AHLUNGOR]

still fucking boring.

I used to be a avid player and watched all the games in my eariler years but not any more.


Haha, say whatever you like brother:

if this is still fucking boring for you, then it's fine by me, I am just a very happy little old man - wishing I could have watched it all unfolded on TV rather than listening on ABC...............lol



What a session !!

3 for 82
4 for 87,
5 for 87,
6 for 87,
7 for 89

REVENGE IS SWEET !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Siddle took the last wicket !

England all out for 136, we have a lead of 159 !!

Bring on the second innings!!

We now have the momentum and full of confident

Lest We Believe !!

[Oneonone]

Lets hope we can bat sensibly this time.

[Oneonone]

Started much better we are rotating the strike we don't have to hit every ball for a four!

[Oneonone]

What a shocking start this morning what was Watson doing hogged all the strike got next to no runs for 30 minutes the hits a 4 and gets out for 6

Why don't they rotate the strike.

Warner is in danger now as he has not had any of the strike this morning.

Come on Aussies!

[AHLUNGOR]

Settle down, the Captain is batting now !!

[Oneonone]

100 to Warner well done now make it a 200

[AHLUNGOR]

Warner gets his century !!

Fittingly getting the century hit off Joe Root who sent him packing away from the first two tests in England .

And the Captain gets his 50 too !!


Cheers

[Oneonone]

Great to see Clarke in top form!

[AHLUNGOR]

Warner couldn't hang on after his century.

Smith out on a duck !

Lets see what Bailey can do!

Now that we are 400 runs ahead , he should just play it like a 20/20 or ODI and have a go !

Go Aussie

[AHLUNGOR]

The Captain got his century !!

25th Test Centuries !!

[AHLUNGOR]

The leading is over 500+

Surely we can't be run down from here!

When will Clarkey declare and send Cook back to bat ?

[AHLUNGOR]

Haddin and Johnson are building another partnership !!

Clarke may wait until both of them made half century before declaring !

Haddin on 50 now, Johnson on 33, so quick! 81 runs partnership just off 78 balls!

The lead now 546 !

The boys are on fire !!

[Oneonone]

Declared at 560 or 401 in second innings and now the poms are 2 out another good day for Australia!

Lets finish them off tomorrow!

[AHLUNGOR]

8 for 160 !!

And a second rain delay!!

It's the Lyon and Johnson shows again!! After Lyon took Cook out after the rain, Johnson strikes and take two quick wickets and Lyon took out the keeper as well - game over and rain comes again !!

We lead by 400 ! And England got two wickets left, if we don't win this, there is no justice !!


Sunny Monday please!!

We need sunny Queensland weather !!

[Oneonone]

Don't need Monday got the job done today a win to Australia Well done

[AHLUNGOR]

It's a big win, one up in the series which will give the team great confidence going to Adelaide !

And although Mitch Johnson was a stand out, the good news are, it's a team effort and most people have stood up and contributed:

Warner, Clarke, Haddin, Johnson with the bats and all the bowler!!

And even the sub fields man took a great catch on Piertersen !

BTW, let's not forget Jason Day and Adam Scott won the Golf World Cup in Royal Melbourne today too! Our first in 24 years. And only Days second tournament win. Good on him to do what he did after losing so many relatives in the Philipines .

And the Wallabies won third test in a row. And the Kangaroos are in the RL World Cup final meeting the kiwis next week !

A great sporting weekend for the Aussies !!

Cheers

[AHLUNGOR]

OK, it's ON again !!

This is it, Mr Michael Clarke, please be good, go out there and win the toss, and put on 400+ at stumps tonight OK, and hopefully you yourself are still batting or better still, we could be only 1 down ................haha

Anything can happen in cricket, now we have the momentum, let's get out there in Adelaide and go 2-0 up, then head west to Perth to win back the Ashes !!

Then we can all relax for the Christmas break and really enjoy giving it to England in the MCG on Boxing Day and in the SCG in the New Year - where Clarkey can bat for three days with no pressure and get a triple century again !!

Go Aussie

Oi, Oi, Oi

:shout::shout::shout:

[AHLUNGOR]

Monty Panesar is back on the England side, so the POMS are showing their hands with two specialist spinners !!

Bring it ON !!

[Oneonone]

We won the toss looks like a great wicket to bat on so I hope we can make the most of it.

[AHLUNGOR]

0 for 25 after 6 overs !

Rogers has 1

Warner has a flying start, 24 off 22 balls, 4 boundaries already.

[Oneonone]

0 for 25 after 6 overs !

Rogers has 1

Warner has a flying start, 24 off 22 balls, 4 boundaries already.

And now he is out to a loose shot, what a waste Rogers needs to work the ball instead of just blocking them or letting them go puts too much pressure on everyone else.

[Oneonone]

Looks like we are trying to dig in, both Rogers and Watson aren't too keen to rotate the strike Watson want to block or hit a 4 come on we need to rotate the strike and not get bogged down.

[AHLUNGOR]

And now he is out to a loose shot, what a waste Rogers needs to work the ball instead of just blocking them or letting them go puts too much pressure on everyone else.


Yeah, that was disappointing, I expect Warner to at least get to 50.

We are now 1 for 71, so Rogers and Watson both has a start, again, hopefullly they can both get on.

Very strange to see England using two spinners at the same time, both Swann and Panesar are bowling together, one would think they will bowl seamer/spinner and seamer/spinner.

Time will tell.

The run rate has slowed right down though.

[Oneonone]

yes I think that they tried the spinners while there is still some moisture in the wicket. gone back to one spinner one pace now.

We have faced 3 maidens in a row and Watson had a single but didn't take it.

So negative we need to be positive and rotate the strike what is the coach telling them.

[AHLUNGOR]

yes I think that they tried the spinners while there is still some moisture in the wicket. gone back to one spinner one pace now.

We have faced 3 maidens in a row and Watson had a single but didn't take it.

So negative we need to be positive and rotate the strike what is the coach telling them.

Well, I think both Rogers and Watson don't want to get out cheaply, they both gonna to dig in and probably get to 50 first, then they will loosen up the shoulder and let go. I think that's the right way to play test cricket, if Warner is still in, he would probably be close to a century by now, wasted opportunity!!

Rogers on 48 and Watson on 43, looking gooooooooood.

Cheers

:shout:

[Oneonone]

Well Rogers has got his 50 with 9 fours and 8 singles so he needs to get more singles.

Lets see if he loosens up know.

[AHLUNGOR]

5 for 273, day 1 at Stumps!

I'll say England is slightly ahead !!

Ideally we would like to see 4 down only with Bailey and Clarke coming back tomorrow !

Bring in on Day 2

Cheers

[Punter Poontang]

Either team could be in the drivers seat, but Even Steven at this stage. They put down a couple of catches, but christ we gave some cheap wickets away too (Warner, Watson & Bailey).

[AHLUNGOR]

We need at least one century from here to be competitive !

Who's it gonna be ??

[Oneonone]

We are about 50 runs short of what we should have got yesterday needed 300 to 330 with only 4 or 5 down.

First session this morning will be critical we need to get minimum 350 but more like 400 to 450.

Clarke, Haddin and Johnson will have to do it again.

Then we will have to bowl well.

Should be an interesting days play, hope the rain stays away.

[AHLUNGOR]

We are about 50 runs short of what we should have got yesterday needed 300 to 330 with only 4 or 5 down.

First session this morning will be critical we need to get minimum 350 but more like 400 to 450.

Clarke, Haddin and Johnson will have to do it again.

Then we will have to bowl well.

Should be an interesting days play, hope the rain stays away.

I agree, it's on again this morning !!

5 for 273 is probably not enough and below par. We thought the 295? at the Gabba was not enough and probably 100 runs short, not until we bowled England out under 200 and eventually had a big win. So it's hard to tell until we see how England bat and whether we can rip through them before they all settle in.

But to be sure, I think another 100 to 150 is imperative to get the upper hand.

Let's see who will stand up today !

Go Aussie

Oi, Oi, Oi

:shout:

[Oneonone]

Well a streaky shot by Clarke to start by he has been much better since and such a positive approach this morning and well supported by Haddin.

Lets go on with it.

[AHLUNGOR]

C'mon Aussies !

Stand and salute your captain!

Back to back centuries in Ashes Tests !

Now lets cheer Haddin to get one too !!

[Oneonone]

Yes a great century to Clarke and Haddin half way to one as well come on keep put on the runs.

[Oneonone]

Closing in on 500 Haddin has his 100 a couple more wickets to England and we will be bowling!

[AHLUNGOR]

Yes a great century to Clarke and Haddin half way to one as well come on keep put on the runs.

Yeap, Haddin got his Century !!

Clarkey out for 148 - but the Captain has done his job.

We are now 8 for 483, we should see a declaration or let everyone have a few crack whichever comes first.

Let's put England out to bat and try to take some early wickets !!

Go Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

It's great to watch !!

Ryan Harris hit Swann for SIX to bring up the 500, then SIX again !!

Good to see the bowler have a go !!

[Oneonone]

I think we will continue to bat after tea, which is ok if the score quickly.

[AHLUNGOR]

I think we will continue to bat after tea, which is ok if the score quickly.

I think the key is to get England's batsmen out there to face 25-30 overs while our quicks are at their best, fresh and powerful and Lyon may play a role in a few overs too, before stumps tonight and hopefully take out a couple of the England top order.

It will be a bonus if Harris can get to 50 !!

We saw in Brisbane how a good batting session had done to Mitch's confident !!

Go Aussue !!

[Oneonone]

Harris lets hope he can get his 50 they sure stay hit when he hits them

[Oneonone]

Harris has his 50 so now all we need is a couple of wickets tonight.

[AHLUNGOR]

The Captain has declared at 9 for 570 !!

After no. 10 Harris made his half century.

Great to see Lyon got to 17 and a big SIX to finish !!

A total of 12 SIXes were scored, the most SIXes ever scored in an Ashes Inning.

Let's go on from here and bowl England out quickly and go 2 Up in the Series !!


ps. Just want to add: It's a great batting display by the whole team, two centurions and 4 half centuries !!

Clarke 148
Haddin 118
Rogers 72
Harris 55
Bailey 53
Watson 51

A great looking score card indeed !!

[Oneonone]

Johnson bowling so fast 152 just needs to get some on the wicket

Don't let them get settled.

[Oneonone]

First ball he has got on the stumps and wicket you beauty their captain Cook is out to Johnson.

[AHLUNGOR]

First ball he has got on the stumps and wicket you beauty their captain Cook is out to Johnson.

148 km cannon took Cook out for 3 !

1 for 9,

YOU LITTLE BEAUTY !!

[Oneonone]

Looking at the replay it was just a great delivery and at such a pace.

[Oneonone]

Come on Aussie we need another wicket or two tonight!

[Oneonone]

Could have done with another wicket or two pity we didn't appeal the last ball of the day as if we had we would have had two out!

Never mind I think that they should only use the appeal if its a definite error by the umpire not just a close call so perhaps justice was done.

[AHLUNGOR]

The boys are bowling well !

Two early wickets on Root for 15 and the big big one on Piertersen for 4 (don't worry about his 200 last time in Adelaide!)

I think once we get Carberry and Ian Bell, we could enforce a follow on !!

Go Aussie

[Oneonone]

Ian bell can just stand down the other end and let Johnson loose at the others hope Johnson can get a hat trick. He deserves it.

[AHLUNGOR]

6 for 36 Mitchell Johnson you little beauty !!

A three wicket over!

Twice on a hat trick !

9 for 135 ! How good is this ??

Follow on now ??

[Oneonone]

Might need to bring Johnson back for the last wicket we are making hard work of getting Panesar out.

[AHLUNGOR]

Might need to bring Johnson back for the last wicket we are making hard work of getting Panesar out.

We did and Mitch is now a Mr Seven !!

What an inning !

[Oneonone]

Wonder how long we will bat tomorrow, probably let Warner get his century and declare about lunch time. We don't need anymore runs.

[AHLUNGOR]

Wonder how long we will bat tomorrow, probably let Warner get his century and declare about lunch time. We don't need anymore runs.

Clarkey has declared!

[AHLUNGOR]

Wonder how long we will bat tomorrow, probably let Warner get his century and declare about lunch time. We don't need anymore runs.

Great Captaincy, surprised your opposition!

And Mitch has done it again!

1 for 1 and Cook is gone

Go Aussie!

[harmony]

Say goodbye to foreign coaches
Say goodbye to coaching overload including high performance managers that have never played cricket
Say goodbye to the flawed rotation policy

What a hole we buried ourselves in for some years now. MAY WE NEVER MAKE THOSE MISTAKES AGAIN

Say hello to Cricket's Aussie Coach - Darren Lehmann, who was a straight forward, simple, no nonsense batsman of the highest quality over a long career
Say hello to Soccer's Aussie Coach - Ange Postecoglou - a nonnonsense successful football manager

Say hello to our best players picked on form alone, and playing every Test match - our cricketers have more job security and certainty in their positions, and look at the results. Mitch Johnson has transformed into a Lillee/Thomson progeny at long last

And say hello to a resurgence of Australian national team success ! About time !

[Oneonone]

Well Harmony I have to agree with you Aussie teams should be coached by Aussies, Cricket we had a South African Coach with out much success, Rugby Union we had a NZ coach and Soccer well the list goes on but for my way of thinking Aussies know how we think and compete and so if they know their job then they should be first choice to coach an Aussie team. Go Lehman!

[Oneonone]

Joe Root out for 87 as an Aussie I am happy but I must admit he deserved 100 he batted so well for a lost cause. I just love someone who is committed and determined a real fighter.

[Punter Poontang]

Well Harmony I have to agree with you Aussie teams should be coached by Aussies, Cricket we had a South African Coach with out much success, Rugby Union we had a NZ coach and Soccer well the list goes on but for my way of thinking Aussies know how we think and compete and so if they know their job then they should be first choice to coach an Aussie team. Go Lehman!

Totally agree, but pre A-League the Socceroos simply HAD to go foreign. Farina & Arnold were abject failures in the top job, and there simply were no suitable local candidates .... don't forget Ange was also a miserable failure with our national youth team before resurrecting his career and proving himself in Brisbane.

Should be less of an issue in future though, the coaching pathways are much improved now, and aside from Ange (who I feel IS now ready), we also have a much-improved Arnold & Popovic waiting in the wings.

[Oneonone]

Well we are in a group that completely out classes us on paper and on rankings so we have nothing to loose by having a go might be just what we need to cause an upset or two.

[AHLUNGOR]

Joe Root out for 87 as an Aussie I am happy but I must admit he deserved 100 he batted so well for a lost cause. I just love someone who is committed and determined a real fighter.

Well, I also like to see Clarkey let Smith and Warner have a go this morning and let Warner gets his 100, he deserved it too!

But looking at the way England fight back today. I am glad that he declared and sent England out to bat and took Cook out inside two overs!

Who knows, if he hadn't declared , Cook might not have got out so early and England could be only 2 or 3 down with 300 and the game could be still in the balance.

Now only a stormy Monday could save England !

I think we only need an hour to 90 min of play tomorrow , hopefully!

Cheers

[Oneonone]

Well today should see us go two up in the series come on Aussie come on!

[Oneonone]

Don't tell me the weather is going to beat us again!

[AHLUNGOR]

Haha, Play will be underway in a few minutes !!

C'mon Aussie C'mon !!

No mucking around brothers, let's go in for the kill !!

Go Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Haha, great start !

Stuart Board hit Siddle for six, then try to hit it six again and caught by Lyon.

7 for 255 !!

Victory is in sight now !!

Go Aussie !

[Oneonone]

The wicket looks a bit tame this morning so we might have to work hard and count on some good spin bowling.

[AHLUNGOR]

Swann is out, bowl Harris and catch Clarke !!

8 wickets down now, two more to victory, only Anderson and Monty to go !!

C'mon Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Siddle got his 4th !

Prior is out for 69

9 down 1 to go !!

Get into the queue for some collections !!

Only no. 10 and no. 11 on the crease now !!

Go Aussie !

[Oneonone]

They are dishing it up to Anderson

[AHLUNGOR]

That's it ! Harris got 3!

Two up in the series, well done boys, great job !

Have a rest , lets do it again in Perth and win back the Ashes !!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

Win, Win, Win

[Oneonone]

There it is all over well done Australia now 2 up in the series

[B-man]

It pays to be a sledger. We should all allow our children to participate so they can win too.

[AHLUNGOR]

It pays to be a sledger. We should all allow our children to participate so they can win too.

I'm not sure what you meant!

I'm just very happy and proud of the boys for doing a great job in the two tests so far!

It has been a long time between drinks ! Three Ashes series lost was very hard to swallow ! Then no wins in India !

Now lets concentrate for Perth !

I'm not resting easy until we go 3-0 up !

Cheers

[harmony]

I'm very happy.
Australian coaches finally for rugby, soccer and cricket

Coaches who players respect, and coaches who in rugby and cricket have played for Australia

Same playing personnel in most cases, vastly different results

Old world coaching again, not new world player 'homework'

Watch out world

[AHLUNGOR]

I'm very happy.
Australian coaches finally for rugby, soccer and cricket

Coaches who players respect, and coaches who in rugby and cricket have played for Australia

Same playing personnel in most cases, vastly different results

Old world coaching again, not new world player 'homework'

Watch out world

Yeah, always pick the best team on the field, no more those rotation and resting players shit !!

[Oneonone]

Yeah, always pick the best team on the field, no more those rotation and resting players shit !!

Have to agree with you here, that rotation system didn't work. Pick the best team we are in it to win it every time.

[AHLUNGOR]

Have to agree with you here, that rotation system didn't work. Pick the best team we are in it to win it every time.

Having said that, if we win in Perth and regain the Ashes, we probably should give Ryan Harris a rest for the Boxing Day and bring James Faulkner in! I think after Perth , Harris 's aging body will need a break before he injure himself anymore !

Again, nothing wrong with the top and middle order at the moment but Rogers hadn't really fire although he fielded brilliantly but he is 35/36? And with an Ashes victory under his belt . May be he will make way for some younger batsman like Khawaja or Hughes? They both have good domestic forms !

Just my two cents !

Cheers

[Oneonone]

Khawaja or Hughes? They both have good domestic forms !


Yes and there are a few others in the wind all with good form in domestic cricket but when given a chance they have fallen short.

Used to be a player was picked because he was in good form and in the case of a batsman they very rarely failed in their first test.

These guys have yet to succeed and most of them have had quite a few chances.

I think the problem is they don't know how to bat for a long time how to play every ball on its merit, Warner is only just starting to learn this, Rogers doesn't know how to keep the score ticking over and Watson is hit and miss more miss than hit.

So we might be going to win the ashes back but we sure have a long way to go to be world number one again.

[AHLUNGOR]

Yes and there are a few others in the wind all with good form in domestic cricket but when given a chance they have fallen short.

Used to be a player was picked because he was in good form and in the case of a batsman they very rarely failed in their first test.

These guys have yet to succeed and most of them have had quite a few chances.

I think the problem is they don't know how to bat for a long time how to play every ball on its merit, Warner is only just starting to learn this, Rogers doesn't know how to keep the score ticking over and Watson is hit and miss more miss than hit.

So we might be going to win the ashes back but we sure have a long way to go to be world number one again.

Very true, but I think in the past few years, the team as a whole was not in good form - nothing good from coach Arthur anyway. The team spirit is down, confident is low and no one is secure except the Captain (and to be fair, Clarkey has been carrying the whole team for a while !).

But now the new coach Lehmann is doing some wonderful things for the team and I think they have turned the corner. If we go to Boxing Day at the G already regained the Ashes, I am pretty confident any in form batsman comes into the side will have a better chance to do well than say back in England or in India !

Still a lot of pressure but at least the Team is winning and you can't beat momentum and that winning feeling .

Cheers

:smile:

[Punter Poontang]

Agree with OoO, Khawaja & Hughes have had plenty of chances .... surely there's someone else knocking on the door in the domestic comp??

[harmony]

The batsmen you mentioned that have been given a chance before were dropped into a dysfunctional Australian national team which didnt know its head from its ars-
Stupid homework projects and rotation policies just left all players not able to maintain their position in the term, or to feel safe
Consistency is bred by being given a position to keep in the team, until your poor form leads you to being dropped

I predict that the Australian cricket team will regain its stability, and although lacks the global matchwinners such as Adam Gilcrist and Glenn McGrath, will be a great launchpad for the younger players who are once more given a chance

Lets support having Australian coaches, ideally those who have played for Australia
These are the men that our cricketers admire and will follow
A professional coach without top level experience is no more than a player manager

[Punter Poontang]

That's a very valid point and I don't disagree, but at some stage they need to show something with the bat.

[harmony]

I agree with you
Many of the truly great players including Ricky Ponting were given a chance in first grade before the age of 20 and performed

But I am sure a younger player does a lot better when he is given the confidence to succeed by being in a successful confident team

The shambles that we all have watched over the last few Ashes series has a few origins

*Loss of a large group of incredible players at almost the same time
-Warne, Langer, Haydn, Brett Lee, and my all time favourite player Gilcrist

*Dodgy foreign coach

*Dodgy rotation policy which most ex Australian cricketers criticised as being counterproductive

*Huge fall out at the top between Michael Clarke and the sacked Katich (the fall out from that lasted many months)

*Huge fall out/disagreement between Michael Clarke and Hussey over how they would celebrate after his last match in Sydney (Clarke wanted to go out on Packers massive yacht, Hussey wanted a humble few beers on land with family and close friends and the Aussie cricketers)

*Huge fall out between Shane Watson and the rest of the team. Much unteamlike behaviour was noted, a lot possibly due to lack of respect for the foreign coach and or the coaching methods

So many seemingly trivial issues all were distractions from keeping things simple
ie back to basics coach (Darren Lehmann), and avoiding the gimmicks including the stupid "homework" tasks

[Punter Poontang]

Another good post and I agree. I think Clarkey losing his spot as a selector has been huge, he had way too much power before. But this bit:


But I am sure a younger player does a lot better when he is given the confidence to succeed by being in a successful confident team

just reminded me of the old days where it was a cliche that it was "harder to get into the Aussie team than to get out of it". We need to find the happy medium of giving guys enough of a chance to settle, but cutting them when they're not up to it.

Managing the transition is also huge, we should never be in the position of losing so many experienced players all at once again. It should be a constant process to replace guys one or two at a time as necessary.

[harmony]

Oops, I almost forgot to mention the omission of the very talented Brad Haddin, who has proven himself for many years as a very competent batman wicketkeeper
I know he was injured for a while, but Wade was a shadow of a replacement

So another reason for our brief downfall period was:

*Mistaking 20 20 cricket form for Test cricket form

[AHLUNGOR]

Agree with OoO, Khawaja & Hughes have had plenty of chances .... surely there's someone else knocking on the door in the domestic comp??

Yes, they have been given plenty of chances before so was Watson and Warner ! I just feel that Hughes and Khawaja will be a different player if given the chance to come into this winning team and the current environment !!

Think of it as a good player joining the Melbourne Storm or Sydney Rooster now will have a good chance of becoming a better player vs if he is joining the West Tiger or Parramatta !

Hughes is in really good Shields form at the moment !

Just my 300 cents

Cheers

[harmony]

You made my point better than I, Sir Ahlungor
Exactly. Put a young player with proven winners, not with a rabble, and he is going to want to be up to the standard of winners

I feel for Phil Hughes. Had a wow of a debut - hard to forget his early promise over in England years and years ago

I dont think cricketers lose their talent. They just lose their mojo

But Phil Hughes hasnt yet lost his hunger

[AHLUNGOR]

For a mad NRL fans to skip the Game Plan and the Footy Show pre-Origin Decider and watch the Ashes, you know how good the cricket is !!

Day 1, 14 wicket falling, Siddle taking 5 wickets! And bowled England out for 215!

I thought the Aussie are well on top, a few centuries from Watson, Clarkey and Co will just about wrap up the first test, then we lost 4 wickets including the captain, I thought no shit. !

The morning started off well, Smith made 50, looking good, then all of a sudden we lost 5 wickets in quick time 117-9, the first innings looks all over, in come the 19 year old Ashton Agar on debut ! History is rewritten and records are tumbling all around him!

At lunch, we are leading by 14. Both Agar and Hughes made half century and 100+ runs 10th Wicket partnership will give the Aussie a huge morale boost and now we have momentum.

Agar, Agar, Agar

Oi, Oi, Oi

Win this first test for us mate !

Cheers


Haha, I suddenly felt the urge to relive the moment I started this thread during the first test in England in July!

Phil Hughes played a steady more senior role in the world record 10th wicket partnership inning with young Agar on debut ! What a night in front of the TV !!

Unfortunately nothing else went our way including the DRS, Stuart Board and the bloody England weather and we lost 3-0 and three Ashes series in a row !!

Compare that on Saturday afternoon when Johnson took 7 wickets and Monday morning when we quickly went 2-0 up!!

What a turn around !

What a feeling of national pride !!

Cheers and good night !!

[Oneonone]

Well you better organise you punting so you can watch the test in Perth with a bit of luck you will only need three days!

They are behind us time wise so maybe punt early and still get home and watch most of the cricket.

[AHLUNGOR]

Early Payout: Sportsbet pays out on Aussies to win Ashes


Yeah !!!

My Christmas bonus have come early !

No doubt it would be a win, but I thought I have to wait until after the 5th test at the SCG in the New Year. Great to see Sportsbet actually paying out NOW even before the 3rd TEST !!

Very happy !!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie !!

:shout:

[Oneonone]

Early Payout: Sportsbet pays out on Aussies to win Ashes


Yeah !!!

My Christmas bonus have come early !

No doubt it would be a win, but I thought I have to wait until after the 5th test at the SCG in the New Year. Great to see Sportsbet actually paying out NOW even before the 3rd TEST !!

Very happy !!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie !!

:shout:

What happens if we loose the next 3 test do you have to pay them back? Cant understand why they would pay out before we have won at least 3 tests.

[AHLUNGOR]

What happens if we loose the next 3 test do you have to pay them back? Cant understand why they would pay out before we have won at least 3 tests.

I don't really care, but I'm sure the bookies know what they are doing !!

haha

Cheers

[Oneonone]

I don't really care, but I'm sure the bookies know what they are doing !!

haha

Cheers

Yes the bookies never loose so their only going to pay you if they have lost so bad luck England your time is up!

[AHLUNGOR]

Sorry to hear that James Faulkner hurted his finger !

Who will be the 12th man now?

Or should I say the new water boy?

Cheers!

[harmony]

I heard on the radio an interesting way to view the current Ashes series against England

Some commentators are combining the two together - so currently the combined series is 3-2 to England

I think that is the only way to maintain interest in this series, for the Melbourne and Sydney fans

Otherwise both tests could be written by many off as just dead rubbers

I like this idea. And I also dont think anyone wants to see back to back Ashes series again

Its terrible - both teams are sick of the sight of each other

[AHLUNGOR]

I heard on the radio an interesting way to view the current Ashes series against England

Some commentators are combining the two together - so currently the combined series is 3-2 to England

I think that is the only way to maintain interest in this series, for the Melbourne and Sydney fans

Otherwise both tests could be written by many off as just dead rubbers

I like this idea. And I also dont think anyone wants to see back to back Ashes series again

Its terrible - both teams are sick of the sight of each other

May be true for the English media and supporters!

For us, we want to win back the Ashes in Perth with 3-0,

Then 95,000 people will turn up on Boxing Day at the G to cheer the boys to trash the poms again and go 4-0!

Then a the new year, it's Sydney 's turn to cheer for their favourite sons Clarkey and Warner to bat England into submission !

With no pressure this time, they can both go for the records and personal glory! a double century for Warner and 380 for Clarkey !!

Cheers

[harmony]

Ahlungor, I do like to see Australia be victorious, simply to confirm that at the moment Australia is playing better than England

And there was no mercy at all shown by England in England in 2013

But really, I dont enjoy paying to watch a 4-0 or 5-0 series

Similarly, if I want to watch Clarke score a century, it has to be a hard fought century, not one played against Bangladesh (no offence to any Bangladeshi members), or an English team that have already given up after the Ashes have been lost

[AHLUNGOR]

We won the toss and we are batting first !!

This is it !!

Let's put on 300 by stumps today.

Go Aussie

Oi, Oi, Oi

[AHLUNGOR]

England has come to Perth to play, and got an early wicket.

Rogers out for 11

This may not be as easy as we thought !!


C'mon Aussie

[Oneonone]

England has come to Perth to play, and got an early wicket.

Rogers out for 11

This may not be as easy as we thought !!


C'mon Aussie

England won't just lie down we have to play well that was a stupid run out by Rogers and all his fault.

[AHLUNGOR]

England won't just lie down we have to play well that was a stupid run out by Rogers and all his fault.

It's amazing that both Captain Cook and Captain Clarke are playing their 100th test match respectively!!

We will soon find out who will be celebrating on Monday or Tuesday !!

Go Clarkey !!

[Oneonone]

One hundred test that's a lot of test so congratulations to both Captains lets hope we see a good game.

[Oneonone]

Watson out to a loose shot once again he doesn't seem to have the right mental attitude for test cricket to my way of thinking.

[AHLUNGOR]

Watson out to a loose shot once again he doesn't seem to have the right mental attitude for test cricket to my way of thinking.

11 and 18, that's not how you want you top order to get out!

Warner and Clarkey need a big partnership right here to steady the ship !!

[Oneonone]

Unfortunately Clarke is out that gives Smith a chance to make a well over due score. Warner is batting very well he has improved so much in the last 12 months.

[AHLUNGOR]

and Warner out for 60 !!

Smith, Bailey, Haddin, Johnson, what can they do ??

Harris had a half century last time.........may be we can still post a big score !


C"MON AUSSIE !!

[Oneonone]

You have to say England are on top so its up to Smith and Bailey to do something for a change if they are out cheaply we are in a lot of trouble.

[Oneonone]

Bailey is gone might be time he was gone all together don't tell me we don't have better batsmen than him

[AHLUNGOR]

Bailey is gone might be time he was gone all together don't tell me we don't have better batsmen than him

Phil Hughes and Khawaja are waiting in the wings !!

Oh, there is a Ben Cutting who can really bat too !!

[harmony]

Its clear we still havent got the class in batting we used to, when we had Haydn, Langer, Ponting, and Gilcrist at their peaks slaying the opposition bowlers
These guys made it their goal (particularly the two opening batsmen Hayndn and Langer) to dig in and to accumulate time and runs at the crease

A class international batsman should be relied upon to get a half century / 50 every 3 innings, and a 100 at least once a series, and thats just a modest expectation

Watson and a few of the others (Warner excluded) just dont have the starch to last for a long innings, even when their bowlers have done their fair share of work

[Oneonone]

Its clear we still havent got the class in batting we used to, when we had Haydn, Langer, Ponting, and Gilcrist at their peaks slaying the opposition bowlers
These guys made it their goal (particularly the two opening batsmen Hayndn and Langer) to dig in and to accumulate time and runs at the crease

A class international batsman should be relied upon to get a half century / 50 every 3 innings, and a 100 at least once a series, and thats just a modest expectation

Watson and a few of the others (Warner excluded) just dont have the starch to last for a long innings, even when their bowlers have done their fair share of work

Have to agree with you Smith just made a good century so he might be on the improve.

[harmony]

I reckon Bradman and Gilcrist in that order of course are our best batsmen that ever put on batting gloves and held the willow

Tough examples to follow

[AHLUNGOR]

Great to see Stevie Smith got his hundred and steady the shop!

Great support play by Haddin and Johnson!

6 for 326 I think the Aussies are slightly on top. If we are still batting at lunch tomorrow we should be somewhere near 370 to 400 and that's a good lead for our bowlers to go after England !!

Go Aussie !

[harmony]

Anything over 300 is a great score, and assuming we can manage even 200 runs in the second innings, and assuming Mitchell Johnson (MJ) is fit and well, England are up against it

Go Aussies

[Oneonone]

Its a good batting wicket we need 400 every one who has got out so far has got out to a bad shot, Clarke and Warner perhaps got out playing the wrong shot to a good ball or one that did something but even Clarke wouldn't get out like that if he had just had a look at the spinner before he tried to get after him.

[AHLUNGOR]

Still try to get used to the Perth time, later starting time (for the Eastern States) means I can watch the game duing prime time with dinner, not bad at all.

we have 4 wickets left, how many more runs can we get before lunch, will Steve Smith and Johnson still be there - if so, that will be awesome !! 400? 450?

[AHLUNGOR]

Btw, any one knows who is the new 12th man to replace the injured Faulkner ??

[Oneonone]

Btw, any one knows who is the new 12th man to replace the injured Faulkner ??

Nathan Coulter-Nile (12th)

[Oneonone]

Nathan Coulter-Nile (12th)

He is an all rounder from Western Australia if you want to know more about him her is a link.

http://www.cricket.com.au/players/nathan-coulter-nile

[Oneonone]

You got to wonder about the English Captain every time they have a decision to make they have a committee meeting.

Six balls have flown through 4th slip but still no 4th slip! One bad ball get pulled for four and straight away a man is put on the fence at square leg.

I can't follow it?

[AHLUNGOR]

I suppose 385 is a par score!

All depends on how England bats and if our boys can get early wickets !

Will be great if we would bat again today .......lol


Go Aussie

[harmony]

For me, the highlight of this WACA Third Test would be if Michael Clarke could celebrate his 100th Test with a victory, and if possible a century in his second innings !

Oh, another highlight for me would be seeing Shane Watson posting a decent score to justify his label as a "batsman".
No offence to him, but for the most part, he is more accurately described as a "passenger"
Not good enough for a number 3 batsman

My principle is that if the tail order batsmen are outscoring you more than three times in a series, then you need to be sacked

For the record, Brad Haddin has earnt the tag of "world class batsman" and is not a tailender. He has saved the side numerous times, and is a very competent lower order batsman as we all know

[Oneonone]

I think 350 is above par we are in a good position but we have to take our catches on difficult chance gone down already.

[AHLUNGOR]

For me, the highlight of this WACA Third Test would be if Michael Clarke could celebrate his 100th Test with a victory, and if possible a century in his second innings !

Oh, another highlight for me would be seeing Shane Watson posting a decent score to justify his label as a "batsman".
No offence to him, but for the most part, he is more accurately described as a "passenger"
Not good enough for a number 3 batsman

My principle is that if the tail order batsmen are outscoring you more than three times in a series, then you need to be sacked

For the record, Brad Haddin has earnt the tag of "world class batsman" and is not a tailender. He has saved the side numerous times, and is a very competent lower order batsman as we all know

Agreed, and I think Watson is better off as an opener, he should replace Rogers!

Haddin is in great form and he is filling the void left by Mike Hussey !

Steve Smith needs to make a few more centuries and what the fxxx is Bailey still in the side ??

Cheers

[harmony]

Oh, thanks for reminding me of Mike Hussey

Total champion, and like many before him, including Matt Haydn, wasnt given a proper opportunity to play Test Cricket for Australia until he was much older

Didnt Mike Hussey (Mr Cricket) leave a huge gaping hole after he left ?

He had the mongrel and will to win, and would never lose his wicket without a massive fight

[Oneonone]

Well we are not looking too good at the moment we need a wicket England have had a lot of luck but now their starting to look good. Bring on Lyon see what he can do.

[Oneonone]

England 2 for 90 I think Root was so unlucky to be given out but then up until now England have had all the luck. Its umpires decision so stays out its not any doubt goes to the batsman which is normally the case.

[AHLUNGOR]

4 for 180!

I think we are slightly ahead !

Two great catches from Warner and Johnson to take out Cook and Pietersen!

Again great captaincy from Clarkey to put Siddle on Pietersen ! Dismissed him for the 10th times!

May be Steve Smith can get Bell again !!

Day three will be very exciting !

Can Johnson repeat what he did in the 1st inning in Adelaide ?

Can Clarkey make a century on his 100th test?

Can Australia go 3-0 and regain the Ashes!

We will be close to an answer by stumps Sunday night !

[harmony]

4 for 180! I think we are slightly ahead !

- Looking at the very parched and cracked pitch, in the 40c temperature, and I think the team batting last (ie England) are in trouble. Deep trouble

[Oneonone]

The first session today is going to be very important we need to get a couple more wickets then we are into the tail which has been a bit fragile so far to say the least.

[AHLUNGOR]

There is 12 overs left this morning before the new ball!

Clarkey should put Steve Smith on Bell at some point!

Lyon could come in early to get Stokes as well, early wicket is the key, don't let them settle in, Pryor had a bit of form in Adelaide but Board is shaky especially when facing Johnson, then there isn't much resistances from the tail!

C'mon get them all out, I want to see Warner and Clarkey bats !!

Go Aussie

[harmony]

Ahlungor, I also want to see Shane Watson bat.
Because if he fails this time, with absolutely no pressure (we are 2 up in this series, and are dominating in this test) then I want him sacked

Go Australia

[AHLUNGOR]

England all out before lunch!

134 runs lead, we are in the box seat!

Now lets sit back and enjoy the batting from the Aussie boys !

[Oneonone]

Well the batting is going well pity about the English Fielding Lets hope Warner can get his century 81 at present just starting again after tea.

[harmony]

Yes, lets hope Warner makes a century. Its not as though he is under any pressure whatsoever

Australia ahead by more than 150, the English likely to be batting last on a very warn pitch

Its looking like Aussies 3-0 unless bad weather is forecast

[AHLUNGOR]

How big a lead do we want before Captain Clarke will declare ??

From 369 to 469 ??

May be we will bat until lunch then declare and send England back in. If Watson, Smith, Bailey, Haddin, Johnson all let loose, we can add 100+ in the morning session alone, then it's up to the bowlers to wrap up the series and regain the Ashes !!

Go Aussie

[AHLUNGOR]

Watson is on 82!

22 on Swann in an Over !! One 4 and three 6's !

We'll get 500 before lunch !

[AHLUNGOR]

Watson got a century !

And the ball before hit a six but was caught on the robe and carried a jumping Tim Bresnan over the line for six!!!

And then he hit it straight up the air!

And Swann drops it !!

But Watson was ball watching

And Bresnan hit the stumps and Watson was run out! And this is after Bresnan caught him in the air but over the robe for six ! So Bresnan eventually got his man ! Karma ??

[Oneonone]

I thought Ian Bell dropped it?

Well done Watson for the century, stay fit and injury free.
I met him 1 day and he is a very gentle, humble and friendly giant.
The guy in person is huge and has a hot Mrs!

He did drop it but Watson went walkabout and was run out because he did not run through like your taught.

[AHLUNGOR]

That is it !

The Captain had seen enough!

Lead is 503 !!

4.6.2.4.6.6 that's 28 off a Jimmy Anderson over ! By George Bailey!

Why won't you declare after that ??


BTW, just find out 28 off a single over was a world test record previously held by Brian Lara - now Bailey shares this piece of cricket history and record !!

[Oneonone]

That is it !

The Captain had seen enough!

Lead is 503 !!

4.6.2.4.6.6 that's 28 off a Jimmy Anderson over ! By George Bailey!

Why won't you declare after that ??

The English Captain has seen enough too he wasn't going to bother hanging around for the last rights!

[zibab]

Outstanding isn't it. 9 to go before the urn returns home

[AHLUNGOR]

Over 0.1: Harris to Cook, no run, OUT, three slips, gully and a short leg as Harris bowls from the Prindiville Stand end and Cook is clean bowled first ball!! Middle stump is gone, and are the Ashes as well? Ryan Harris - that was brilliantly perfect!

[Oneonone]

Outstanding isn't it. 9 to go before the urn returns home

Would be nice to get another wicket before lunch these two are starting to settle in.

[zibab]

Got him, 8 to go. Carberry was dangerous too, given out caught but was actually LBW. Either way, on your bike son.

[Oneonone]

At 3 for 90 England have nothing to loose the should come out and bat like the Australians did this morning with nothing to loose what a difference it made to Watson and Bailey who have done nothing all series. Have a slog have fun and entertain the crowd at least you will get something out of the game.

[harmony]

Im sorry to say, but anything worse than Australia 3-0 is going to get boring
Dont get me wrong, Im very happy Australia are avenging the Ashes series loss in England

But we need some English fight for the next Test

[Oneonone]

Im sorry to say, but anything worse than Australia 3-0 is going to get boring
Dont get me wrong, Im very happy Australia are avenging the Ashes series loss in England

But we need some English fight for the next Test

Well we do like to see a contest and England aren't competitive at present but as an Aussie its great to see the old enemy get a hiding hope we can go on and finish the job tomorrow.

[AHLUNGOR]

Well we do like to see a contest and England aren't competitive at present but as an Aussie its great to see the old enemy get a hiding hope we can go on and finish the job tomorrow.

Yes, we want to see a contest, but would you rather see Alastair Cook still batting now making a 100 or delight to see him gone first ball in the first over, clean bowl by Harris ??

Right now, the Ashes is still on the line, although I really can't see England bat out the day or actually make 253 with 5 wickets in hand - unless Stokes makes a double century or something - now that would be a contest !! So, centuries for Stokes and Pryor - to see a real contest - and risk drawing or even losing this 3rd test, or happy to see our boys wrap it up before lunch ??

I know what I rather see...................haha

Cheers

:cool2:

[animatrix]

Yes, we want to see a contest, but would you rather see Alastair Cook still batting now making a 100 or delight to see him gone first ball in the first over, clean bowl by Harris ??

Right now, the Ashes is still on the line, although I really can't see England bat out the day or actually make 253 with 5 wickets in hand - unless Stokes makes a double century or something - now that would be a contest !! So, centuries for Stokes and Pryor - to see a real contest - and risk drawing or even losing this 3rd test, or happy to see our boys wrap it up before lunch ??

I know what I rather see...................haha

Cheers

:cool2:

To be honest I think that I would prefer to see the Aussies wrap this game up and win back the ashes, but it would be exciting from a competition/spectacle perspective to see England either bat out the day and draw keeping the series alive going into the final two tests. However the likelihood of that happening are very slim considering that Prior isn't in any form and the last two recognised batsman are out in the middle.

[Oneonone]

To be honest I think that I would prefer to see the Aussies wrap this game up and win back the ashes, but it would be exciting from a competition/spectacle perspective to see England either bat out the day and draw keeping the series alive going into the final two tests. However the likelihood of that happening are very slim considering that Prior isn't in any form and the last two recognised batsman are out in the middle.

Well never give a sucker and even break if they get out of this one and then win the next two the series is tied and they retain the ashes.

Got to beat them while we are in to box seat.

[AHLUNGOR]

To be honest I think that I would prefer to see the Aussies wrap this game up and win back the ashes, but it would be exciting from a competition/spectacle perspective to see England either bat out the day and draw keeping the series alive going into the final two tests. However the likelihood of that happening are very slim considering that Prior isn't in any form and the last two recognised batsman are out in the middle.

Sure, purely as a sports fans, a 3-1 or 3-2 series win will be more exciting than a 4-0 or even 5-0 white wash!

But let's not forget this England side can turn around very quickly and all Cook, Pietersen, Bell and Root need is a bit of momentum back their way and restore some self confidence. For all we know, Harris could be one over away from injuring himself and while Warner and Watson and Smith all found form, they are not rock solid and at the back of our mind is still Clarkey's trouble some back could play up anytime after Christmas, so we must wrap this up now and go for the kill at the G and in Sydney, we are still rebuilding at the moment - so fuck the competition and Spectacle, let's just keep winning test matches while we are on top, next up South Africa - we need to take as much momentum and confidents that we can gather to, yes, being competitive in Capetown and Johannesburg.

Just my two cents

Cheers

:smile:

[AHLUNGOR]

Well never give a sucker and even break if they get out of this one and then win the next two the series is tied and they retain the ashes.

Got to beat them while we are in to box seat.

Absolutely !!

+ One

[animatrix]

Sure, purely as a sports fans, a 3-1 or 3-2 series win will be more exciting than a 4-0 or even 5-0 white wash!

But let's not forget this England side can turn around very quickly and all Cook, Pietersen, Bell and Root need is a bit of momentum back their way and restore some self confidence. For all we know, Harris could be one over away from injuring himself and while Warner and Watson and Smith all found form, they are not rock solid and at the back of our mind is still Clarkey's trouble some back could play up anytime after Christmas, so we must wrap this up now and go for the kill at the G and in Sydney, we are still rebuilding at the moment - so fuck the competition and Spectacle, let's just keep winning test matches while we are on top, next up South Africa - we need to take as much momentum and confidents that we can gather to, yes, being competitive in Capetown and Johannesburg.

Just my two cents

Cheers

:smile:

Very good points brother AHLUNGOR, I guess sometimes when the team is winning you can forget that the team has been riddled with injury over the last few months and as you said our top six (with the exception of Clarke) aren't rock solid by any means. I think I'm just being a little greedy as I've got tickets to the first day at the SCG and while I'll still enjoy every ball, its better knowing that there's still something to play for rather than watching a dead rubber.

[AHLUNGOR]

Very good points brother AHLUNGOR, I guess sometimes when the team is winning you can forget that the team has been riddled with injury over the last few months and as you said our top six (with the exception of Clarke) aren't rock solid by any means. I think I'm just being a little greedy as I've got tickets to the first day at the SCG and while I'll still enjoy every ball, its better knowing that there's still something to play for rather than watching a dead rubber.

Well, by the time we get to the fifth test, I will be only interested and very proud to know that we have got the URN BACK !!

something to look forward to, absolutely, to see if Warner can get a double century in front of his home crowd.

And for Clarkey, last time he hit 300+, he had to put the team winning the test against India ahead of his own personal milestone so he has to declare.

This time, if he is in the similar position, I'm sure, he will bat til thy kingdom and makes whatever !!

Won't that be a spectacle for all Aussie cricket fans !!

Cheers

:cool2:

[AHLUNGOR]

Now that both Clarke and Cook had played their 100th Test match respectively, there is some very interesting stats (tipped off by the cricket commentators !!)

Players...................Test........Runs.......A verage.........100's.......50's...........Highest
Sachin Tendulkar......200.........15,921....53.79........ .....51...........68............248
Michael Clarke..........100..........7,987.....52.58...... .......26...........27............329
Alastair Cook............100.........7,969......47.74...... .......25...........33............294

It is amazing how close Clarke and Cook's respective figures are, and collectively, they are about the same as Sachin's whole career, or should I say they are half way there to Sachin's

Don't think they can play until they are 40 year old though

Cheers

:smile:

[zibab]

Absolutely !!

+ One

Yep, this needs to end now, lets get the Urn & we can worry about a "contest" later

[Oneonone]

Well we are struggling this morning England look very determined lets hope the new ball does the job.

[AHLUNGOR]

Yep, this needs to end now, lets get the Urn & we can worry about a "contest" later


Well, for the brother who earlier said we should see some contest, when Stokes makes the century and beyond and Pryor sticks around, there will be a contest !!

Put it this way, if the situation reverse, and we are batting with Haddin on 16 and Bailey on 91, also 5 down and we need 226 to win - or bat on to draw, do you fancy our chances ??

C'mon Aussie, let's break this partnership and bowl the tails out and get that URN !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Pryor is out, Johnson strikes again!

4 more !

[AHLUNGOR]

Stokes got a century !

First 100 from the England side this tour and a great effort under the circumstances !

Well, if we can't get Stokes, lets get the other batsmen !

Go Aussie !

[Oneonone]

Stokes got a century !

First 100 from the England side this tour and a great effort under the circumstances !

Well, if we can't get Stokes, lets get the other batsmen !

Go Aussie !

Starting to get a bit worrying we need a couple of wickets so we can all relax.

[AHLUNGOR]

Starting to get a bit worrying we need a couple of wickets so we can all relax.


4 more wickets needed, only 184 runs in front !!

Anyone who questioned Clarkey yesterday why didn't he declare earlier past 450!

Can you imagine if he did declare at 450 and the lead now is only 134 !!

We would be very nervous !!

So is this a contest now ??

:question:

[AHLUNGOR]

Leads is now only 175 !

[zibab]

Leads is now only 175 !

Nervous wasn't a feeling I was expecting today . . . . :grimace:

[animatrix]

[QUOTE=AHLUNGOR;444530]4 more wickets needed, only 184 runs in front !!

Anyone who questioned Clarkey yesterday why didn't he declare earlier past 450!

Can you imagine if he did declare at 450 and the lead now is only 134 !!

We would be very nervous !!

So is this a contest now ??

:question:[

Can't believe that there are people out there that don't enjoy test cricket, this match is thrilling!

[AHLUNGOR]

Seven and eleven, double 00 7 !!

The lead is now down to 171 !

Stokes is 117 not out,

Bresnan is 7 not out !

We need 4 bloody wickets !!

[Sextus]

Hey! Ahlungor, it was ME who said it! And I don't care if it is like chess - chess is boring to watch too! :D

[AHLUNGOR]

Hey! Ahlungor, it was ME who said it! And I don't care if it is like chess - chess is boring to watch too! :D

Not as exciting as lingerie footy that's for sure !!


http://slanchreport.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/lfl-1.jpg

[AHLUNGOR]

Hey! Ahlungor, it was ME who said it! And I don't care if it is like chess - chess is boring to watch too! :D


How about this chess board ??


http://epicawesome.com/files/imagecache/ImagePost585x650/images/10/sexy-chessboard.jpg

[zibab]

BANG - & now we can breathe again.

[Oneonone]

BANG - & now we can breathe again.

Yes Swan is out only two left to get

[AHLUNGOR]

Fuck !

What just happened, I went for a short meeting and two more wickets down, you beauty !!

And Lyon got two vital wickets !!

Now, I am relaxed !

Sit back and watch our boys cruise home. 156 runs ahead and 2 more wickets to go !!

And the gates are open, free for all, c'mon Perth,

Chris Rogers took a brilliant catch and Bresnan is out.

Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Board, I need to get to a TV.

Holy shit !!

[zibab]

Make that one - prepare the beers

[zibab]

Open them now, the Urn is ours again. Well done lads.

[Oneonone]

Well done Australia finally the Urn returns to where it belongs.

The next two test won't be easy England will come out fighting so lets stick in there and give it to them!

Revenge is sweet.

[AHLUNGOR]

Well done Australia finally the Urn returns to where it belongs.

The next two test won't be easy England will come out fighting so lets stick in there and give it to them!

Revenge is sweet.



Yeap, Now that we got back that winning feeling, let's get on with the job, there is still two more test matches to be played - and at the biggest stage (possibly 85-90K people may turn up at the G on Boxing Day, so we better not stuff this up !!)

Sure, we got the URN back, but over the two series, the score is still just 3-ALL ! We need to win convincingly in Melbourne and Sydney to put the Poms to the sword.

Just my three cents

Cheers

[AHLUNGOR]

It's Boxing Day at the G !!

Clarkey won the toss and elect to bowl !

Lets get some early wickets

Game on

Go Aussie !

[zibab]

It's Boxing Day at the G !!

Clarkey won the toss and elect to bowl !

Lets get some early wickets

Game on

Go Aussie !

You win you bat, hope I'm wrong

[zibab]

You win you bat, hope I'm wrong

Tough start, but one down. I'm on the road for the day from now, so the radio it is.

[AHLUNGOR]

May be one more before lunch I'll say we are on top!

Time for Watson has a go !

[Oneonone]

Only one down at lunch that make England in front just!

[AHLUNGOR]

Two more wickets but Watson is off

[Oneonone]

And what a stupid mistake by the substitute fielder.

Pietersen was caught on just six runs only for substitute fielder Nathan Coulter-Nile to lose his bearings and jump over the boundary rope, handing the Englishman a six instead of an early shower.

We need a wicket or two

Come on Aussie!

[Oneonone]

Yes Bell out come on lets get another two Pietersen and the new batsman Stokes I think he was the one who got a century in the last test from memory.

[Oneonone]

Now Bailey drops Pietersen on 41 so he will end up getting a century and he should have been out already twice.

[AHLUNGOR]

6 for 226, I think the Aussie are on top!

Yeah, Pietersen was given a few extra lives! Should have been out a few times! And England could be all out by stumps !

Shouldn't take too long tomorrow !

Go Aussie !

[Oneonone]

yes we are probably just in front mainly due to Englands slow scoring but it could have been so much better if we could only catch.

[AHLUNGOR]

I don't know what the Fxxx is going on with the ABC Grandstand and the stupid Cricket Australia, NO LIVE STREAMING !! I have to fxxking listen to the BBC sports for the Cricket !! It's not bloody good for the sports !!!

Anyway, Day 2 starting soon and let's get Pietersen out ASAP and finish off the tails, we want to see the Aussie boys bat man !!!!!

[AHLUNGOR]

I don't know what the Fxxx is going on with the ABC Grandstand and the stupid Cricket Australia, NO LIVE STREAMING !! I have to fxxking listen to the BBC sports for the Cricket !! It's not bloody good for the sports !!!

Anyway, Day 2 starting soon and let's get Pietersen out ASAP and finish off the tails, we want to see the Aussie boys bat man !!!!!

OK, ABC Grandstand on the CA website is working now !!

Game on !

[AHLUNGOR]

Bresnan is OUT first ball of his day !

7 for 230 !!

Stuart "not walking" Broad is walking in for the BOOOOOOS at the G !!

Great start Mitch Johnson !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Big Mitch has FOUR !

Two Wickets in an Over !

Clean bowled Pietersen !!

EIGHT for 231

Go Aussie !!

:shout::shout::shout:

[AHLUNGOR]

Mitch got a Fiver !!

LBW on Stuart Broad's foot again !!

[AHLUNGOR]

England all out for 255 !

Let's see what Rogers, Warner, Watson and Clarkey can do with their bats !!

Go Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Warner and Watson both out very cheaply, Clarkey is on !

[AHLUNGOR]

Shit, Clarke is bowled by Anderson !!

1/19, 2/36, 3/62 !!

At the same stage, England was 1/48, 2/96, 3/106 !!

So we are 44 runs behind England after losing 3 !!

May be sending England to bat first was not such a good idea the way our top order is failing !!

[argusplayer]

Aussies are 3/96 at tea....not looking good!!!

[argusplayer]

Now 5/114....looks like its up to Haddin to save the Aussies

[AHLUNGOR]

Now 5/114....looks like its up to Haddin to save the Aussies

That's a pretty poor turnaround from this morning when Mitch was on fire!

Bailey and Haddin have to make a stand here !!

[argusplayer]

That's a pretty poor turnaround from this morning when Mitch was on fire!

Bailey and Haddin have to make a stand here !!


The poms might have a chance in this one, given the number of wickets the Aussies have lost !!!

[AHLUNGOR]

Another batting collapse !

Haddin is gonna run out of partners !

Johnson, Harris and Siiddle should all hang around a bit longer or play some shots !

Bloody Bailey, so gutless, a 19 balls duck ! WTF ! Should play some shots and got out 20 or something!

[AHLUNGOR]

Well then, I suppose a 5-0 white wash may not be a foregone conclusion afterall !

May be losing Trout &, Swann and dropping Pryor has some positive effects on the England side ?

[AHLUNGOR]

Just watched Mike Hussey hitted 85 off 46 balls in the ANZ !

Needing 7 off the last two balls to win and got caught ! But what a session ! He could have made a difference today in Melbourne against the Poms !

[harmony]

Mike Hussey (Mr Cricket), was actually Mr Starch

He could always be relied upon to provide the starch in the middle order - never gave his wicket away without a huge fight

Australias batting line up hasnt been the same since his retirement from Test Cricket

[harmony]

We have been through this topic before on the thread

The big problem Australia faced as you say greeksta was the loss of so many matchwinners in a short period of time

Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matt Haydn, Justin Langer, Mike Hussey to name a few

But equally as devastating to our performances was the foreign coach, and the stupid rotation policy

Many many current players, including the current bowling line up, say repeatedly now that their form and confidence have skyrocketed since the flawed rotation policy was axed

Players now have security that they wont be dropped for the next Test if they perform well

All we have to do now is to drop the "high performance coach", and just have one coach who has total control over the players

Go Darren Lehmann, the traditional "no nonsense National Coach"

[Oneonone]

Well it's the same problem Watson is not a no 3 batsman and Bailey is useless get some decent batsmen to replace them and while your on the job get rid of Rodgers

[harmony]

A big deal was made recently about the fancy athletes diet England had introduced for their players

England was truly intending to win this series

All they ended up with for a diet however has been humble pie

[argusplayer]

Well it's the same problem Watson is not a no 3 batsman and Bailey is useless get some decent batsmen to replace them and while your on the job get rid of Rodgers


Good morning all. Can't agree with you about Watson and Rodgers but I think your totally right about Bailey, he's not a test player. If it wasn't for Rodgers though the Aussies would have virtually no score at present. Anyway I'm thinking totally positive for today. Hopefully Lyon can stick around and allow Haddin to post a good score and diminish the 91 deficit. Hope I'm not dreaming !!!

[AHLUNGOR]

Good morning all. Can't agree with you about Watson and Rodgers but I think your totally right about Bailey, he's not a test player. If it wasn't for Rodgers though the Aussies would have virtually no score at present. Anyway I'm thinking totally positive for today. Hopefully Lyon can stick around and allow Haddin to post a good score and diminish the 91 deficit. Hope I'm not dreaming !!!

Well, Lyon and Haddin put up a good fight, 40 runs partnership on the 10th wicket, not a bad morning !!

Lyon is now the only player from either team that has never been dismissed !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Test cricket is team effort.
Cant have 1 bowler taking all the wickets or 1 batsmen scoring all the runs.
These guys are only human, they make mistakes and some days are better than others.

I think mentally may be the Aussie team is still celebrating the return of the URN !!

Sure, we all hope for a 5-0 white wash but it's very hard to back up after Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. On the other hand, England has already lost the Ashes and only playing for pride, with no pressure on, they are really going out there to have a go.

Also, after losting Trout, Swann and the keeper Pryor, they have some younger new blood in which is always good for the morale. Stokes made their first century in this series and bloody Cook is looking very dangerous this morning. If they are still batting by tomorrow lunch time and have a lead of 350+, I don't think the Aussie can chase that down.

May be Clarkey made the wrong call to send England IN to bat first !!

So far in the last and current series, the team that won the toss and batted first had won 6 out of 6 times. So I hope we can break the cycle !!

C'mon Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

It's the Mitchell Johnson show on again !!

Got Cook out LBW then Bang, Bang, Bang three quick wickets !!

the Aussie are right back in this !!

Johnson, what a great cricketer !! great catch, great run out !

C'mon Aussie, let's go in for the KILL !

6 more to go !!

:shout::shout::shout::shout::shout::shout:

[AHLUNGOR]

Nathan Lyon got a Fiver !!

The Aussie now only needs 201 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand.

We are back in front !!

Go Aussie :shout:

[argusplayer]

Nathan Lyon got a Fiver !!

The Aussie now only needs 201 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand.

We are back in front !!

Go Aussie :shout:


You're not wrong.

It's got to be a no-brainer....201 runs to get over 2 days with 10 wickets in hand.

Surely we can't lose this one.

C'mon Aussie c'mon

[Oneonone]

We'll we got two days to bat so all we have to do is pick the ball to hit and play sensibly.

Let's do it only pressure is any we put on ourselves

[AHLUNGOR]

I think both Rogers and Warner should play smartly and be patient but more importantly to play their natural games !

As the commentators said, if they go after the England bowlers, Cook is likely to back off and the batsmen will have the upper hands!

Go Aussie !

Wow, very lucky ! Cook just dropped Warner big edge !!

[AHLUNGOR]

None for 52 !

And the first inning lead is gone !

And Cook drops another sitter for Warner !!

Lucks on our side too !

[Oneonone]

Warner out to a low percentage shot again

[AHLUNGOR]

Rogers is going strong, his 9th boundary brought the Aussie 100!

Not long to go now !

[AHLUNGOR]

99 to win !

9 wickets in hand

Posting on aus99

And watching on channel 9

Surely now !

[AHLUNGOR]

England looks like a broken team !

88 runs to win after lunch

We should get that before tea!

And the Captain may not even get to bat !!

C'mon Aussie !

[Oneonone]

England looks like a broken team !

88 runs to win after lunch

We should get that before tea!

And the Captain may not even get to bat !!

C'mon Aussie !

We should win let's hope Clarke doesn't have to bat

[AHLUNGOR]

We should win let's hope Clarke doesn't have to bat

Well it's fitting that the captain is out there for the winning run !

And reached his 8,000 test run !!

4 down 1 to go!!

Bring on Sydney !

Aussie Aussie Aussie !

[Oneonone]

Yes a great win! Well done!

[Punter Poontang]

Thoroughly enjoyed.

The fact they were in a strong position and bottled it with shit batting, dropped catches and cowardly captaincy made it all the sweeter.

Bring on 5-0 at the SCG. :-)

[AHLUNGOR]

Thoroughly enjoyed.

The fact they were in a strong position and bottled it with shit batting, dropped catches and cowardly captaincy made it all the sweeter.

Bring on 5-0 at the SCG. :-)

Nothing more pleasing than to see Captain Clarke making a ton or double ton at the SCG !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Everyone likes a winner..
Next time the aussies are having a bad day show some respect!

And where were you when we were supporting our boys when they lost 3-0 in England ??

[AHLUNGOR]

I am referring to this post you made when the aussies were batting poorly and struggled in the first innings, funny how the mood changes when they are winning.
I knew all along the aussies would fight back as they seem to play their best cricket when their backs are against the wall.
Support the aussies win, lose or draw.
I have met George Bailey and he is a top bloke.
Calling him gutless is disrespectful and a cowardly act on your behalf.
Be a man and say it to his face or better still show us how you would face a cricket ball zooming in at 140kms per hour.

When I am commenting live ball by ball, I call it as I see it, nothing personal, I have nothing against George Bailey the person, but when he faced 19 balls and did not make a single run, I call that gutless, he does that again, I will be keep calling him, but when he did the right thing for the team and showing us what he is capable of, I will be the first one to stand and salute, that's just me and the way it will be:

like this: when he hit Jimmy Anderson for 28 in a single over and equal Brian Lara's world record in test match, I was very quick to acknowledge his success too:


That is it !

The Captain had seen enough!

Lead is 503 !!

4.6.2.4.6.6 that's 28 off a Jimmy Anderson over ! By George Bailey!

Why won't you declare after that ??


BTW, just find out 28 off a single over was a world test record previously held by Brian Lara - now Bailey shares this piece of cricket history and record !!


ps. you should read some of the comments the British press made on Carberry after he made 21 off 81 balls !! but then again, if he makes a century in Sydney, they will be calling him different things, that's just how sports work when you are passionate about it. sure, we support our team win, lose or draw but no need to hide our emotions and frustrations though, again, nothing personal, if it was Clarkey, I'll call him names too.......lol !

[zibab]

Nothing more pleasing than to see Captain Clarke making a ton or double ton at the SCG !!

& bat first when we win the toss . . . . . . . . .

[harmony]

Brother Ahlungor
May I say that your coverage of the Ashes has been captivating

It has attracted both positive and negative comments, all good as this is a forum !

Looking forward to your comments for the Fifth Test in Sydney

Will you be posting direct from the S.C.G. ? ; )

[AHLUNGOR]

Brother Ahlungor
May I say that your coverage of the Ashes has been captivating

It has attracted both positive and negative comments, all good as this is a forum !

Looking forward to your comments for the Fifth Test in Sydney

Will you be posting direct from the S.C.G. ? ; )

I think the first three days at SCG have been sold out ! Monday is a work day, so may be not this time , but if there would be an early result on the forth day and the SCG opens it's door after lunch time like Sunday at the G!

I'll be taking the afternoon off !!

And from the SCG - may be Ginza, 316 Central or 888!

Got to plan ahead......haha

[harmony]

So there is a chance that instead of being at the SCG, you may be bowling a maiden over somewhere else ?

[AHLUNGOR]

So there is a chance that instead of being at the SCG, you may be bowling a maiden over somewhere else ?

Yeap, somewhere where Innings has a special kind of meaning !!