The Gooner Forum

The summer has begun!

First day over, 14 wickets falling and while the ball was swinging a bit you can't help but feel these are two average batting sides. However England have had poor first innings in most of their recent test series' and imo if England find a higher level with the bat they should pull away from this Australian side quite convincingly. Bowling wise there isn't much in it but England have the greater experience and as long as the selectors stick with Finn who gets wickets over Bresnan we should be able to skittle this Australian batting line up a fair few times.

If one of Cook or Trott bats as they can - and gets three or four massive scores - then England will win the series. Australian bowling attack has raw pace and is pretty useful, but the England seamers have a bit more guile plus a very good spinner - if England are beaten it will be by their batting. Pietersen returning makes the top order look more formidable and the way he plays can be so demoralising for a bowling team - but for all his showmanship and undoubted ability the way Cook and Trott can pile up the runs is what will do the damage.

If Australia can get Bell coming in with less than a hundred runs on the board they will back themselves to bowl England out for under 250 every time. Granted not great batting conditions and the schedule (2 pointless Test matches followed by weeks of wall-to-wall short-form cricket) means that no batsmen are really 'in form' at the moment, but it doesn't bode well that the old English propensity for a batting collapse is still alive and well, and seeing so many batsman score 10, 20, 30 runs then throw their wicket away with an ill-advised and poorly-executed shot is worrying.

Imo there is no way Stuart Broad will play 5 Test matches. Jesus we didn't even get through one day without him sustaining an injury which prevented him from bowling. Must share a physio or something with Diaby. Big role still for Bresnan/Onions to play.

Come on Aussies!

Loved going to the Gabba as a kid in Brisbane to watch legends like Thompson, Lillee, the Chappells... but modern cricket... not so much.

DB10GOONER wrote:Come on Aussies!

Loved going to the Gabba as a kid in Brisbane to watch legends like Thompson, Lillee, the Chappells... but modern cricket... not so much.

Like most Aussies these days.

Agar is taking this test away from England

g88ner wrote:Agar is taking this test away from South Africa

My mate has a ticket for Saturday. Was originally jealous but now laughing at him having made travel plans etc with decent prospect of no (meaningful) cricket

arseofacrow wrote:

g88ner wrote:Agar is taking this test away from South Africa

England now 11-2 This test match is an embarrassment.

A very exicting car crash of a test match.

arseofacrow wrote:A very exicting car crash of a test match.

True... very enjoyable stuff! but completely bonkers too!

g88ner wrote:

arseofacrow wrote:A very exicting car crash of a test match.

True... very enjoyable stuff! but completely bonkers too!

Like my relationship with hJD

Every now and again, I forget just how mouthy and chav the Australians are. They are the Stoke of world cricket.

Only England would allow a team to double their score with the last wicket partnership, as if that shite with Tino Best was bad enough...

Two iffy wickets to cap it all off, why Root didn't review is a mystery.

Still, not the end of the world - it's now about even going into the third day. We just need to bat out tomorrow (easily said I know) and not do anything silly.

Great recovery - England shouldn't have many problems defending 300+ but Aussies will still probably make it tough for them, especially if Watson pilfers some quick runs at the top and/or Clarke gets in.

As for walking although Broad was clearly out plenty, if not most, Aussies would have done the same. A bowler wouldn't call back a batsman who he knew had inside edged an LBW decision. It's in no way the same as claiming to have taken a catch which you know has bounced.