The Cricket Thread

[i_amtrunks]

What do you know, the twerp stepped up!

Instead of throwing his wicket away when we were in early trouble, Clarke (66)stepped up and combined with Ferguson (41) to get Australia to 7/198 after being 2/28. Late hitting by Hauritz helped, with the scorecard once again fairly dismal. David Hussey and Symonds are walking a fine line between selection and demotion, and there is no lack of players waiting in the wings.

198 was going to be hard to defend, but frugal bowling by Hauritz(!) broke the 95 run opening partnership, before removing Younis Khan next ball. No hat trick but the damage was done, Pakistans middle order collapsed to Clarke's spin (3/15 off 6) , and Hauritz (2/25 off 10) backed him up well. Every other bowler bar Hopes getting a wicket, Pakistan all out for 171 in a game they should have won.

Australia used 7 bowlers, without resorting to Hussey or Ferguson (who can bowl some spinners too, I think), and if not too prevent a back strain, Watson would be bowling too. I wonder if we have ever had such a side with so many bowling options?

[i_amtrunks]

Dismal

I am not a fan of the perennially injured Watson, but he has been in fine form playing as a specialist batsman, but he has once again injured himself in our terribly embarrassing thrashing at the hands of Pakistan. After Watson was erroneously given out on 33, Australia fell under the spell of Afridi and Gul wiped out the tail, Australia collapsing again from 1/61 to all out for 108.

Our bowling was not better than our batting, the lacklustre Lee pulling up okay, with Bracken and Hopes punished from their overs. Both Hopes and Bracken join Watson on the sidelines with minor injuries.

The team needs a refresh and injection of young blood, Bracken cannot compete on the 2020 stage, we will be lucky to win half our pool matches in the world cup at this rate.

[i_amtrunks]

Back from the dead!

The Aus vs. India series has been fantastic, been too busy listening/reading the updates to really get into my essay.

Australia and India both took turns dominating days, Watson top scored, but Tendulkar did what he does best, and Australia were lucky that Laxman was plagued by back spasms in India's first innings, to take a slender lead after the first innings.

Second innings for both teams have been less than spectacular, both sides bowlers getting on top, as I type, India need 11 runs, Australia needs 1 wicket... gripping conclusion (and nice to actually get a conclusion from an Indian game, their series vs. Sri Lanka saw bat-a-thons where 1500+ runs were being scored on lifeless wickets, no wonder Sharma and co looked flat on the first day of this test!)

And anyone have feelings about the new ODI domestic comp format? 25 and 20 over innings for both teams, and teams allowed to pick 11 players from their 12 man squad for each innings (so you might have someone bat the first innings, and take no further part...).
I'm interested to see how it goes, but I liked the 50 over domestic comp, it was the international games that I felt were going stale.

[i_amtrunks]

Went and watched NSW vs. Sri Lanka at Blacktown on Wednesday, a great game, Sri Lanka had a near full strength team, and it showed, Murali, Malinga, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Fernando and Dilshan!
Rain took the game away from NSW, Sri Lanka never really let them get into the match post the rain delay and I am expecting them to be very good in the 20/20 and 50 over games.

And as I switch on the TV to see Australia struggling, I'm not surprised, Sri Lanka are the best fielders from the asian teams, and they are a great bowling team with a strong early batting lineup, only weakness is once they get 4 wickets down, they collapse quickly.

Up to Haddin, Smith and the bowlersa to get Australia 120-130 and defend it, Clarke is a decent fielding captian, but I think this is further proof he should not be in our 2020 side, let alone the captain, let White do the job.

[i_amtrunks]

England are playing well in their tour matches, if they dont choke, they will be very strong this summer.

Australian test palyers had a terrible week, Ponting, Hauritz, Watson, Hussey, North all failed to score runs, but then again, no-one on the fringes (bar McDonald, who has been in fine form all season) put in a stellar effort either.

Clarke played well, but seems to have done his back again (so no bowling from him this summer, meaning more chance of playing Hauritz at the Gabba), and Bollinger, Siddle, Katich are all only coming back from injury. Hilfenhaus is only recently back from injury too, so the entire 11expected to be chosen are either only just back from long term injury or out of sorts on Australian pitches...

[Kazza]

Time to revive this thread, anyways sucks that Ricky Ponting won't be going out on such a highnote, i don't see australia winning this test let alone batting out a draw against RSA.

[Trent]

I reckon they could get a draw if they really want to, just depends on what They want as a team. It wouldn't be easy though. 2 days of nothing but blocking would require focus and patience. It will also result in a boring as hell game that won't win them any fans.

Personally if I was Clarke I'd be chasing a spectacular victory or going down in flames trying

[Kazza]

I want to see if they can actually bat out a draw, faf du plesis is a freaking tank when it comes to blocking back in adelaide. I'm hoping we can achieve that, cause i dont want ricky ponting leaving test cricket behind with a lost to RSA. Draw is better than that.

[Kazza]

Thoughts for (if he decides to) warne coming out of retirement? I for one hope he does come back and play some test matches. Maybe even bat 100 runs.

[Trent]

Past his used by date.