[Closed] Ashes 2013

So Swann has denied that it's anyone in the current England dressing room that his 'up their own arse' comment was directed at (and has specifically made his peace with kp who was most folk's favourite suspect).

But it's a current player, so rules out the ex captains in the commentary boxes.

And it's insinuated that it's one of the aussies, although can't find that a reference to that at all.

So - who's your money on? Mitchell Johnson I can't see, 'cos he's been down to the bottom and could well go there again. Warner seems too obvious. Watson? Or one of the new boys, Smith or Bailey? Hmmm.....

So - who's your money on? Mitchell Johnson I can't see, 'cos he's been down to the bottom and could well go there again. Warner seems too obvious. Watson? Or one of the new boys, Smith or Bailey? Hmmm.....

Doubt it's MJ or Watson: both are paranoid of their own frailties. My money's on Clarke, who most of the Aussies I speak to seem to agree that he's more than a bit of an arse.

I reckon Swann is not being honest.

Seems like 275 was being far too hopeful 🙁

Phew that was quick. Can get to bed early now.

Shambolic 🙁

What a cheat - Bailey knocking the cover off it and not walking 😆

Well, it's from these positions that we've let Australia off the hook in two of the last three tests. Let's see if we can do it properly this time...

Haddin still in. That's another of the big differences this time, he's been a real pest at 7 allowing the tail to score runs without being under real pressure. Prior has scratched around.....

Dammit dammit dammit!

Yeeha!

Interesting game this, good to finally see some belated fight from the Poms... Plenty of life left in this one I suspect, though Engerland in front of course at this stage

This is why tests are the only form of cricket worth watching. When two teams who are relatively evenly matched play, the result can be anybody's guess for a very long time.

Now then, wtf didn't we play like this a month ago???

Looks like my wee bet at 4-1 on England will pay out this time!

Even a poor batting day tomorrow will leave the Aussies with over 300 on a tough pitch. A decent batting day will test Cook on his declaration skills. How many v how much time needed?

I'm probably a bit off the pace - but I have to take issue with all the unconditional praise for KP's knock.

He did come within a yard of holing out to long leg again, when in single figures (did he not?) The end does not necessaraily justify the means. A yard or two less, and we would have been talking about another massively irresponsible dismissal for virtually no runs. Now for the flipside..............

After that, however, he did knuckle down appropriately and make the top score of the innings - so well done Kevin, at least it seems you can realise when you've had a lucky escape and you can then make the most of it.

I still don't think he's worth the candle.................

I'm probably a bit off the pace - but I have to take issue with all the unconditional praise for KP's knock.

Now there's a surprise 😆

I still don't think he's worth the candle.................

H8rz gonna h8 😉

Oh come on zokesy, I did give him some praise for the way he knuckled down after nearly giving it away (again). I wasn't being fatuous either, he genuinely did play well after that. But you can't score runs in the hutch, and that's nearly what happened this time as well.

You need to be able to rely on your best batsmen to make the most of their talents. It reminds me a bit of the early 80s Hampshire side that had Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge opening for them. Absolutely brilliant to watch, obviously, but not that good from the team point of view if your less experienced number three and four have to accept that on any day, in any conditions, against any attack, you might be going in at 200 for two or 10 for two. Solely depending on what mood the 'gun' batsmen are in. Or whether they'd had a night on the piss beforehand. Another example might be IVA Richards and IT Botham at Somerset, although lower down the order.

The team must come first.

Pietersen's knock of 70 odd in the first innings means jack shit.

The ashes are lost, Pietersen clearly and obviously plays for himself which is fine when he's scoring heavily. He isn't scoring heavily these days in test cricket. A tainted luxury we can no longer afford. Should have been cut loose after the texting thing. Will be cut loose after this series I'm very hopeful.

Just this once it was brilliant watching an English batsman get worked over by an Aussie fast bowler.

What you've accurately described there is the problem facing our batters at three (Root) and four (KP), but with a lot less of the 200-2 of late. Cook and/or Carberry are pretty much guaranteed to both be out before the team reached 100 at the moment, so what sort of pressure is that placing on numbers 3, 4, 5? Too much is the answer.

I really don't understand how you can single KP out when there hasn't been a single batter in the team who you've been able to know you can rely on. Bell's got the same level of experience KP at this level (they both played in the 2005 series against a much better Australian team), Cook's played as-near-as-dammit as many tests, Carberry's an old hand and has made good starts before getting out. They are all culpable.

You are wrong to single KP out.

Pietersen's knock of 70 odd in the first innings means jack shit.

Apart from being the probable difference between the two teams in this game so far. I trust you'll show similar disdain for anyone else (Stokes excepted) who has the temerity to make a big score in our last two tests? Ditto the bowlers - trying hard now it doesn't matter, eh? 🙄

Apart from being the probable difference between the two teams in this game so far. I trust you'll show similar disdain for anyone else (Stokes excepted) who has the temerity to make a big score in our last two tests? Ditto the bowlers - trying hard now it doesn't matter, eh?

The probable difference between the two sides??? Are you on crack? 🙂 the Aussies are 3-0 up and coasting. Half our side are either rocking backward and forward in a darkened room or wanting to retire mid tour and you have somehow decided that a flawed innings of 70ish in a game that's not even at the half way point is the 'difference'. You live in Oz don't you? Are you wearing a hat when you go out?

And actually no, trying hard now is a bit ****ting late. It annoys me more than anything else because it shows clearly the mentality of the senior players before they went 3 down, Pietersen included.

I don't think anyone is pointing the finger just at Pietersen. Cook's hugely cautious tactics need to be revised or more likely he needs to step aside. Carberry is a tidy county player but no more than that. Trott is highly unlikely to play any major role for England again. There's a reason that Bell bats down the order, it's not because he's brilliant or consistent that's for sure. Root will be good in a decade, Prior has totally lost it. Stokes is ginger but talented, Broad at least has tried, Swann can't be arsed, Anderson looks fairly average with the Aussie ball, Tremlett should be back in the uk for the panto season and Monty's a piss head. Don't get me started on Bresnan.

I'm not hopeful to be honest. 🙂

Are you on crack?

No, but you appear to be having trouble to read the rest of the sentence:

Apart from being the probable difference between the two teams [b]in this game so far[/b]

Perhaps you are?

I don't think anyone is pointing the finger just at Pietersen.

Your post seemed to be, seeing as the vitriol it contained seemed to be thrown only in KP's direction, and dannyh certainly is.

Chill out zokes, you do take things very seriously don't you?

Chill out zokes, you do take things very seriously don't you?

Not really. I'll happily point out when you're wrong though, which on this occasion was about three posts up.

KP is what's he is. The fools are the ones who think he can be changed. In certain circumstances he may be valuable for a team in others he is not. It's up to the selectors and the captain to make that call as they see fit.

Having said that, the All Blacks wouldn't have a prize one ¥¥¥¥ in their team however good he was. May be that's the lesson to be learned here. Too corrosive for me, I wouldn't pick him for that reason alone.

(Yossarian three posts up +1 - good shout!!!!)

Not really. I'll happily point out when you're wrong though, which on this occasion was about three posts up.

Good for you. I think you've gone native old boy.

Good for you. I think you've gone native old boy.

Well, it's an improvement on childishly pretending you've not contradicted yourself. Just pretend you meant it as a joke, then we can call it the Edinburgh defence.

And back to the matter in hand, Cook's field placing is so conservative to these two that I'm surprised he's not got them all wearing blue ties.

Well, it's an improvement on childishly pretending you've not contradicted yourself. Just pretend you meant it as a joke, then we can call it the Edinburgh defence.

I've obviously upset you. My apologies. 😆

I've obviously upset you. My apologies.

Not really. I've come to expect you to spout vitriol about one thing, only to then claim that you didn't say that a few posts later.

Would you like to talk about the cricket yet? Or are you happy trolling?

Not really. I've come to expect you to spout vitriol about one thing, only to then claim that you didn't way that a few posts later.

Huh? Are you sure you mean me?

Would you like to talk about the cricket yet? Or are you happy trolling?

With you? No, actually I would rather not. I'm not trolling you zokes, just have a different opinion and like a bit of friendly banter. Picked the angry bloke didn't I...

Just bowl at the bloody stumps. Are these really test bowlers!?!?

Arghhhh!

Phew bed now. All out for 173 when I wake up?!?

TFFT!

Pathetic captaining and bowling this morning from England. Pathetic.

Huh? Are you sure you mean me?

Yawn. Yes, I do mean you. You had a nice rant about KP [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ashes-2013/page/17#post-5627943 ]here[/url], then claimed you weren't singling him out [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ashes-2013/page/17#post-5628028 ]here[/url]. Tedium ensued.

Finally.

Haddin has been a massive thorn in our sides this series. So many runs down the order.

Zokes - chill.

Haddin has been a massive thorn in our sides this series. So many runs down the order.

He should have been stranded not out 30 runs or so ago, if only the bowlers had worked out that Lyon was happy to expose all three pegs every single ball.

Yawn. Yes, I do mean you. You had a nice rant about KP here, then claimed you weren't singling him out here. Tedium ensued.

That's ridiculous. You need to chill out.

And you need to stop typing rubbish that you contradict then claim you didn't mean only a few posts later.

And if you're not interested in talking about cricket, then can I kindly suggest that you sod off to another thread that isn't about cricket.

I've done nothing of the sort. You are desperately casting around to validate your aggressive and ridiculous behaviour. It has nothing to do with me. Grow up zokes, you are acting like a ****.

I've done nothing of the sort.

Are you blind? I showed you where you ranted about KP, then where you claimed you weren't singling KP out only a couple of posts later. If that's not contradiction, then you'd better show me where the dictionary redefined the term.

I didn't 'single' KP out. The discussion was about him. I contributed on the subject of KP. I then went on to comment on other players. What part of that is hard to grasp? You decided I was singling Pietersen out. Not me. Totally and utterly ridiculous.

I didn't 'single' KP out

Really?

[b]Pietersen's[/b] knock of 70 odd in the first innings means jack shit.

The ashes are lost, [b]Pietersen[/b] clearly and obviously plays for [b]him[/b]self which is fine when [b]he's [/b]scoring heavily. [b]He[/b] isn't scoring heavily these days in test cricket. A tainted luxury we can no longer afford. Should have been cut loose after the texting thing. Will be cut loose after this series I'm very hopeful.

I can't see you mention anyone else there

Ha ha. This is becoming farcical. Let me spell this out for you so there can be no further 'confusion' on your part.

The 3 posts prior to mine that you referenced (2 by dannyh and one by you) were about KP. So was mine.

You replied

I replied to you, stating that I didn't think it was just down to Pietersen.

Is that clear for you now? Cos it should be.

You are one angry man zokes, and you have wrapped this round your bollocks.

You are one angry man zokes

Nope, I'm pretty happy sat on my sofa watching the cricket, summer breeze through the house and a cold beer in hand. You on the other hand seem to be getting increasingly terse, chatting nonsense for no apparent reason.

As you said you didn't want to talk about cricket, I'll ask again - please go and not talk about cricket elsewhere

At last - Cook's not the only captain off his game - Why on earth is the injured Watson bowling, especially when he still needs to bat??? Madness!

lol

What a dick

Honestly, I go out for an hour or so and all of a sudden we lose 4 wickets. Grrrr.

Very evenly poised now! 5 down with a lead of 182, anything under 300 and it's on I reckon 🙂

Senseless from Stokes. Do English batsmen ever look where the field is before playing shots?

Here we go....

FFS. I think KP was correct in his assessment that when batting with the tail, he'd better score sixes because they won't last. Brainless from Broad.

3-1, luverly 😀 8)

Haddin's a bit of a tit, isn't he

Nah, mind games innit? Plus, probably looked different from behind the stumps. Make that 4-6, not going to make 250 😀

Make that 5-6! Engerland really balls'd that innings up you'd have to say, but good solid bowling from the Aussies, now to see if Warner comes out with a licence to hit out this evening?

Engerland really balls'd that innings up you'd have to say

I think that's got to be high on the list of most abject batting performances I've ever witnessed.

Not sure what to say... Went to bed at 10-0 and woke up to see us batting! FFS let's just pack up and go home.

teamhurtmore - Member
Phew bed now. All out for 173 when I wake up?!?
POSTED 8 HOURS AGO #

Was meant to be a joke - well I guess a joke was appropriate in the end!!! Sad, sad display.

Only one thing more predictable and obvious..... 😉 ...if only he would follow his own advice.

Strewth. I go to bed and wake up to this. Yossarian, I honestly thought it would be me that zokes finally lost it with when his blind praise for KP became untenable.

England have ballsed this one up again. Barring some kind of kamikaze mentality from the Aussies or a mysterious smuggling of a dukes ball onto the ground, England are going to be off to Sydney looking down the barrel of five nil.

I haven't seen any play yet, but it sounds like KP batted ok. Well done Kevin. Is that ok with you zokes?

Let's just put this into perspective. This is an Australian side that contains Steve Smith. No decent side would contain Steve Smith. He has got a ton in this series as well. It also contains Shane Watson at three. He is not a test three. He also has a ton in the series. They also have a spinner who bats eleven, another no-no as far as good test teams are concerned.

England are very likely to lose five nil to a side that isn't very good.

Rubbish.

Yossarian, I honestly thought it would be me that zokes finally lost it with when his blind praise for KP became untenable.

Nope, you are at least consistent, if predictable. I'm not sure how it's untenable, given that with the exception of Cook, he's the only English player to stand up this game. But I guess that's just because he wanted to, right?

I haven't seen any play yet, but it sounds like KP batted ok. Well done Kevin. Is that ok with you zokes?

He did, and it is.

Cook played very well for his 50, Carbs looked all at sea. Duck knows what Root was playing at, ditto Bell. Stokes and Bairstow tried to emulate Pietersen, but forgot to emulate his talent also. Bresnan and Broad look like number 11s at present, which left Jimmy and Monty to stare down 150 kph of MJ. And two of their bowlers are injured FFS! Frankly, a more appalling display of English batting I've not seen (I was fortunate enough only to follow live text updates of the debacle in the Windies a few years ago)

Dannyh - So did I 🙂 bizarre and embarrassing for the bloke.

Utter garbage from England again. I'm actually enjoying it now. Cook's captaincy is untenable now surely and there needs to be big changes behind the scenes and in the pitch. I've been watching a bit of SA v IND as light relief. Steyn, Morkel and Philander would bowl us out twice in a day.

embarrassing for the bloke

It must be for you, having to resort to hurling insults at someone who you're trying to portray as the foul tempered one when you lose an argument. You must be gutted to see KP batting well again today.

Yossarian.

Yes, South Africa are still the 'big boys' at the moment. They would stuff this England team out of sight right now.

We can't lose sight of what an average team this Australian bunch are. Context is everything.

I think SA host Oz in about six months. I guess we'll see then, but I broadly agree that England have been embarrassed by a team that is in itself an embarrassment by Australian standards.

We can't lose sight of what an average team this Australian bunch are. Context is everything.

Dannyh - Yup, we have been humiliated by Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith. 😯

It's so rubbish it's funny.

Christ on a bike! Can anyone actually hold on to anything?! pitiful!!

When will it end?

RichPenny - Member
When will it end?

I shouldn't be laughing 🙄

it has this is just torture as england show how they can turn a winning situation into a capitulation and humiliating loss

They have created scenarios where they could have one from in a few matches but never failed in their ability to never deliver

Batters have really underperformed.

KP has at least stood up but some of the other have batted beyond poor

Starting watching via iPad while washing up and caught first wicket immediately. But this is slow water torture now, so time for shut eye. Aus to win by 6 wickets when I wake up?

Aus to win by 6 wickets when I wake up?

I was trying to be optimistic mike!!! Started at by 7.

I vote for Piers Morgan to come in for the 1 dayers. It's the only way we can salvage something of value from the tour.

The only positive of the series was watching Brett Lee trying yo take that pricks head off, I thought the record attendance was so everyone could have a go.

If I'd been able to have a crack at Morgan I might have even fetched the Beamer out.

What can I possibly say about this England performance and the series in general? I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the dressing room and at the team meetings.

What is Flower saying, for instance?

Is it "don't worry, we're just being unlucky. We got to number one in the world with this approach".

Is he throwing stuff around and effing and blinding?

What is he doing?

Five nil is now odds on. How are England in this situation?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Have the 1 days games started?
Oz 4/94 @ Lunch

Particularly chipper at Warner failing again. True he has got 500 runs in the series. Still 250+ behind his target though 😉

Stoked for Stokes too, looking better every time he gets the ball 🙂

Oh dear, another 'not really good enough' performance so far today.

Why has Root been left out? Is he injured?

Well done Stokes and well wrapped up. Yet again we have them cornered at 97-5 and can't close it out, another good knock from Haddin and Smith, Haddin has been a real thorn in our side all series and has prevented a late order tumble on several occasions - we really haven't done enough to work out how to get him and paid the price...