Ashes Blog – First Test,Trent Bridge: Post Mortem

England First Innings 215

Australia First Innings 280

England Second Innings 375

Australia Second Innings 296

 

Making sense of it yet?

Comments

  1. 1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Hughes
    5. Clarke
    6. Khawaja
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Pattinson
    10. Bird
    11. Lyon

  2. haiku bob says

    1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Hughes
    5. Clarke
    6. Warner
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Pattinson
    10. Bird
    11. Lyon

    With the unseasonally warm summer (!) drying out the pitch, a spinner is a must. So Lyon (or Smith) must play. Was a bit concerned with Swann’s comments at the presser yesterday buttering up Lyon (I think they like what they see). I’ve added Warner despite the fact that batting down the order puts him at risk of facing a turning ball. But nothing I’ve seen of Khawaja convinces me that he will play a knock of any significance. If Bird doesn’t play, Boof is a nong.

    HB.

  3. 1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Clarke
    5. Hughes
    6. Warner
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Pattinson
    10. Lyon
    11. Bird

  4. James Lang says

    1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Clarke
    5. Smith
    6. Hughes
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Siddle
    10. Pattinson
    11. Lyon

    I’m trying to second guess Darren Lehmann. He could spring a surprise and put Steve Smith in the middle order on the back of his strong form on the Australia A Tour

  5. I think Smith will play if they go on with four quicks. But I reckon that would be very risky.

    Smith also played in the county game, with Agars.

    He is also an incumbent from memory – played in fourth Test in India?

  6. Luke Reynolds says

    1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Hughes
    5. Clarke
    6. Warner
    7. Haddin
    8. Siddle
    9. Pattinson
    10. Starc
    11. Lyon

    Love the Trent Bridge Test, usually throws up some interesting cricket. Remember sitting up most of the 1st day in 1989 when Tubby Taylor and Geoff Marsh batted through the whole day and never looked like getting out. Warnies 6 for in 1997 and Flintoff’s brilliant all round game in 2005, probably his finest performance also stand out.

  7. Luke Reynolds says

    Yes Smith played in the 4th Test in India, making 46 & 18. He didn’t bowl in that game.

  8. 1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Clarke
    5. Hughes
    6. Warner
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Siddle
    10. Pattinson
    11. Lyon
    12th man. Smith

    Though this might be the line up chosen by our esteemed selectors, it doesn’t fill me full of confidence. Hope i’m proven wrong on that last point !

    Glen!

  9. Watson
    Rivers
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Warner
    Khawaja
    Haddin
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Starc
    Lyon

  10. Andrew Starkie says

    Are you blokes serious? Sidds must play, he’s heart and soul of the squad. here’s how I think they’ll lineup, not how I think they should:

    Rogers
    Watson
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Cowan
    Smith
    Haddin
    Siddle
    Starc
    Pattinson
    Lyon

  11. Rivers? Should be Rogers!

  12. Someone who averages 30
    Someone who averages 30
    Someone who averages 30
    Michael Clarke
    Someone who averages 25
    Someone who averages 25
    Haddin
    4 half decent bowlers

  13. DBalassone says

    Watto
    Rogers
    Cowan
    Clarke
    Hughes
    Warner
    Haddo
    Patto
    Siddle
    Starc
    Lyon

    Some thoughts: Our batting after all is the biggest area of concern. Thus Clarke MUST bat higher than 5. I can’t believe that Smith is in consideration – I would rather see Wade play as a specilaist batsman than see Smith at no.6. I have chosen Warner on the provision that all is forgiven (after all, it was mainly the press that crucified him – you can’t tweet anything against a journalist – and as for the punch, when Botham did the same to Chappelli did he cop the same negative press?
    Our bowling stocks actually look quite promising, with Harris and Bird decent replacements.

  14. Good point re Smith.

    Re Siddle, I’m not sure work-horse is what is required. Merv was more than a work-horse in England. He was Soo-mo. Had some fire.

    Bird is a wicket-taker.

    I’d like to see competitors play:blokes who want their team to win the match. I like Faulkner for that reason but balance does not allow him in here. He may well be a permanent fixture by the Gabba.

  15. Sam Agars says

    Rogers
    Watson
    Cowan
    Clarke
    Hughes
    Warner
    Haddin
    Starc
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Lyon
    12th man Bird

  16. proposed team

    Watson,
    rogers
    khawaja
    clark
    hughes
    warner
    haddin
    starc
    pattinson
    siddle
    lyon

    warne not available. poms have made sure the pitch gives nothing to our attack but will favour superior spinner swann. batting line up could go all right if they just calm down and listen to boof.

  17. 1. Katich
    2. Langer
    3. Ponting
    4. S Waugh
    5. Clarke
    6. Hussey
    7. Gilchrist
    8. Starc
    9. Pattinson
    10. Warne
    11. McGrath

  18. daniel paproth says

    Rogers
    Watson
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Khawaja
    Warner
    Haddin
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Lyon
    Starc

  19. Haggard Howie K says

    1. Trumper, V
    2. Ponsford, W
    3. Richards, V
    4. Bradman, D
    5. Chappell, I
    6. Border, A
    7. Marsh, R
    8. Higgs, J
    9. Alderman, T
    10. Lillee, D
    11. Lindrum, W

    Note that Viv Richards is a late inclusion as there was some delay on Kevin Rudd stamping his refugee papers, but all’s good now.
    And Walter Lindrum is included as we should have a massive total amassed by the time he comes to the crease so he will be freed up to do a few trick shots.

  20. Watson
    Rogers
    Khawaja
    Clarke
    Hughes
    Smith
    Haddin
    Pattinson
    Starc
    Harris
    Lyon

  21. Rick Kane says

    My Australian Cricket Team:

    Coach: Baz Luhrmann – we might not win under his direction but man the game is gunna look more spectacular than 20Twenty, even if it was made over by Bollywood … and he has a real dinky-di Aussie nickname

    Starting line up:

    Dave Warner – he’s packed his bags, he’s sold the amp, he’s moving outa Rock … okay, he was heading for Wimbledon but now that a Brit (technically a Scot) has won Wimbledon for the first time in 77 years (technically Virginia Wade was the last Brit to win Wimbledon in, er, ’77) he’s looking for a different challenge … also, when push comes to shove Warner (the real Warner not that snotty nosed clock puncher) has been known to be ‘pissed off, shat off and leapt outa the car still moving’ – a real asset!

    Sam Newman – a knucklehead’s knucklehead and we can’t get enough of them in our national team … also, he’s has so much botox in his system he won’t flinch at anything – a real arse

    John Howard – I just want to see him bowl again … and he knows this sport better than anyone, well better than Keating (I think)

    Howard Florey – We are going to need all the pain killers we can find (and word is, he’s a better chemist than Walter White) … also, I just wanted to remind us of a great Australian talent

    James Packer – It is his cricket set after all, so, you know, gotta squeeze him in … and he might invite us all to Macau when this nightmare is done

    Louie the Fly – he’s proud of his own dirtiness and is afraid of no-one, which is exactly what we want in an Aussie cricketer. Sorry, late breaking news. Mr Louie the Fly is actually afraid of the man with the can of Mortein. Fingers crossed the Poms don’t spray us

    Nancy-Bird Walton – in 1935 she became Australia’s first female commercial pilot and that means she’s bold, daring, courageous, smart, cool in a crisis and reliable. She already has 6 more attributes than most of the current team so she’s in!

    An unknown SA man – apparently he “deliberately crashed into a Stobie pole to collect insurance and was caught out when he left his mobile phone in the car with the last text message being for a friend to collect him from the crash site”. Need more be said!

    Darcy Dugan – notorious prison escape artist, because we are, I suspect, gunna have to get outa jail time and time again, even to draw this series

    Gina Rinehart – She’s West Australian and we’d better have a West Australian in the team or they will cry foul, sook and call it an Eastern States conspiracy … also, she can dig big holes in the ground to hide the bodies

    Simpson and his donkey – (not Bob) for his valor and he’s a legend and he can rescue better than anybody but mostly because he has a donkey

    12th Man (and captain): Michael Clarke – we probably should have at least one player who can play the game. It is the Australian team after all.

  22. Paul Hibbert
    Greg Shipperd
    Greg Ritchie
    John Buchanan
    Greg Matthews
    Darren Berry
    Graham Beard
    Damien Fleming
    Rodney Hogg
    Brendon Julian
    David Saker

    Selectorial tactic of this team: let’s try bore them to death

  23. The Black Prince says

    Rogers
    Watson
    Cowan
    Clarke
    Warner
    Haddin
    Faulkner
    Pattinson
    Bird
    Starc
    Lyon

    Hasn’t anyone watched a Sheffield final in the last decade…Jimmy Faulkner is a star! Can’t wait for 8.00 :)
    Watch all the Vics hammer me for leaving out Siddle and playing 3 Taswegians!

  24. Extract from boys email banter from earlier in the week (please excuse the cynicism it is a carryover from the pre-Boof era):

    Gents, My thoughts:

    1.Watson
    2.Rogers
    3.Cowan
    4.Hughes
    5.Clarke
    6.S Smith
    7.Haddin
    8.Starc
    9.Pattinson
    10.Lyon
    11.Bird

    So it looks like we all broadly agree on the XI. Therefore, based on recent selection policy, the XI will probably look like this:

    1.Rogers (has been announced)
    2.Watson (ditto)
    3.Vacant (or Hughes – only a couple of runs difference)
    4.Starc (bowling all-rounder – the selectors like all-rounders)
    5.Clarke
    6.Watson (bowling all-rounder – yes he gets two bats – did I mention the selectors like all-rounders)
    7.Smith (batting all-rounder – yep another one)
    8.Faulkner (middling-at-both all-rounder – one more for team balance)
    9.Siddle (hasn’t taken a wicket in the lead up)
    10.Harris (ditto with Siddle)
    11.Lyon

    Patto, Birdy, Smitty and Cowan all rested under the “you made too many runs or took too many wickets in the lead up” rotation policy.

  25. e.regnans says

    Agree that we need to play blokes that play to win.
    But also important to stick to a “No Tools” policy. Team harmony is a wonderful intangible thing, much bigger than any individual capabilities.
    Smith & Lyon both play. Smith can bat. Needs the non-striker in his ear.
    1. Rogers
    2. Cowan
    3. Khawaja
    4. Hughes ( to play only if Lehmann rules himself out)
    5. Clarke
    6. Smith
    7. Haddin
    8. Siddle
    9. Pattinson
    10. Bird
    11. Lyon

  26. Lehmann said it was about having fun…

    1. Boon
    2. D Warner
    3. D Walters
    4. J Ryder (pending ministerial approval)
    5. M Cosgrove
    6. D Lehmann
    7. (the late) Slug Jordan
    8. Warney
    9. R Hogg
    10. K O’Keefe (before he gave up the drink)
    11. M Hughes

  27. Watson
    Rogers
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Cowan
    Smith
    Haddin
    Pattinson
    Starc
    Harris
    Lyon

    No Khawaja – sorry, he has never impressed at international level. Warner – anyone who thinks this guy should play test cricket needs a rocket. He is a dirty slogger and bad Tweeter. He is in the squad due to the Weet-Bix rule. If you appear in Weet-bix ads, it is a requirement from Sanitarium that you must play for the Test team Brett Lee got an extra 5 season out his test career under this often overlooked rule. Happy for Little Davey to run around slogging and sledging in the 20/20 game.

  28. Andrew Else says

    Watson
    Rogers
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Warner
    Haddin
    Starc
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Harris
    Lyon

    Why pick a batsman who doesn’t deserve it just for the sake of it? Our strength is our bowlers. You still need a spinner so pick Lyon along with four quicks and blast them out. Give them short spells and tell them to deal with it for the sake of a win. The small batting lineup would force them to perform. Only cricket’s “because that’s what we always do” logic is holding this side back.

    Won’t happen. Don’t care.

  29. Gordon Ricketts says

    Watson
    Rogers
    Cowan
    Clarke
    Hughes
    Warner
    Haddin
    Starc
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Lyon

    Was in the crowd at Trent Bridge First Test, June 1981 about 11 degrees, the great D K Lillee returns to fine leg after completing an over and puts a third jumper on. He had just been hit for four by a Pommie bat and steam was coming out of the ears. “How did you like that Dennis” said a crowd wag. “We’ll see how his nose deals with the next one!” replies Dennis, a general silence followed, no-one seemed to doubt his sincerity. We won that first test but those old enough may remember the Botham cameos which followed, pretty much destroying the Aussies single handed.

  30. Rogers
    Watson
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Warner
    Haddin
    Faulkner
    Pattinson
    Starc
    Lyon
    Harris
    I love Cowan as an old fashioned grafter, but the opener slots seem filled and I can’t see him down the order. I think Boof will go for broke, and play dashers. He figures Faulkner/Haddin are as likely to make runs as Smith/Khawafa. He may save Harris for Lords if he figures it more likely to seam, and play Bird or Siddle at Trent Bridge. He will know he can only get a couple of Tests out of Harris’ body – but I suspect he has a high regard for him. Not the side I would pick, but my best guess of Boof’s thinking. My own side would be: Rogers, Cowan, Khawaja, Clarke, Watson, Warner, Haddin, Pattinson, Starc, Harris, Lyon.

  31. Mark Doyle says

    I am glad that contributors to this website are not selectors. I have more confidence in the selectors who are with the team in England such as Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann to select the best team because of their superior knowledge of all players’ strengths and weaknesses. It is bemusing how most people want to select a dud B grader in Ed Cowan.
    The only certainties for this first test are that Shane Watson and Chris Rogers will open the batting, Michael Clarke will be the captain and will bat at four or five and Brad Haddin will be the wicketkeeper and be vice captain.
    In my opinion the other batting positions in order should be Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. The four bowlers should be Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Jim Pattinson and Nathan Lyon. David Warner should be 12th man because of his fielding skills.

  32. Andrew Else says

    I’m glad the selectors aren’t contributors to this website.

  33. Mark Taylor give the Aussies a chance if they can make enough runs. In other words he thinks we can bowl then out often enough to win. I agree. I also think Boof would be of this view, that’s why we need to bat deep and rely on Pattinson et al getting it done. So our bowling attacks will change with the tracks. If the Poms have doctored Trent Bridge into a flat track Siddle has to play as the work horse.

  34. Andrew Fithall says

    MD – How can you call Ed Cowan a dud B-grader? Ed Cowan launched Gideon Haigh’s most recent cricket book (or maybe his second-most recent cricket book – Gideon has so many he is running out of book launchers) and Gideon has been known to talk to certain senior Almanackers, and has spoken at an ALmanac fevent, which means that Ed Cowan is almost a relative. You can’t diss relatives. And besides, you destroy your own argument against the selection of dud B-Graders by naming Hughes, Khawaja and Steve Smith. But I am a self-assessed non-aficionado of all things cricket. I wasn’t going to contribute at all to this discussion, but just couldn’t help myself because Andrew Else made me laugh.

    AF

  35. MD,
    Where will we send your copy of Footy Town if your batting order is correct?

  36. 1.Watson
    2.Rogers
    3.Khawaja
    4.Clarke
    5.Hughes
    6.Warner
    7.Haddin
    8.Pattinson
    9.Bird
    10.Starc
    11.Lyon

  37. Spies from Trent Bridge and environs are telling me that Ed Cowan is no certainty to play.

  38. Very fine portrait on Gideon Haigh from the New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10884408
    I met Gideon at the Perth Writers Festival earlier this year. He was charming in an aloof and dismissive sort of way. It reminded me of the Groucho Marx quip about “not wanting to belong to any club that would have me as a member”.
    Gideon is my hero and the patron saint of aspiring sports writers. He reminds me that I have a lot to learn to become a better writer. He reminds the Avenging Eagle and all Almanacker partners that we are not the nerdiest, most obsessive tragic they could have married.

  39. Justin Kruger says

    1 Watson
    2. Rogers
    3.Hughes
    4.Khawaja
    5. Clarke
    6. Smith
    7.Haddin
    8. Siddle
    9.Pattinson
    10. Starc
    11. Lyon

  40. 1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Clarke
    5. Hughes
    6. Warner
    7. Haddin
    8. Siddle
    9. Pattinson
    10. Stark
    11. Lyon

  41. Kruges, Good to hear from you. And where might your port-infused appreciation of this evening’s events be taking place?

  42. Like the footy tipping, I’m getting this in at the last minute:
    Rogers
    Watson (thanks for the tip, Boof)
    Hughes (ridiculous)
    Clarke (I think he’ll bat 5, but I’ll put him here in my bid to win the book)
    Khawaja
    Warner
    Haddin (at 7, not 6, surely they won’t select 5 bowlers)
    Siddle
    Pattinson
    Bird
    Lyon
    Unlike the footy tipping, I’d like to at least make the Top 10.

  43. Hearing that Smith will play (technically I heard it from J.Harms on Offsiders, but hearing it more this arvo). Can’t believe I put my team sheet in only 10 minutes ago.

  44. Neil Belford says

    Shane Watson,
    Chris Rogers,
    Ed Cowan,
    Michael Clarke,
    Phil Hughes,
    Stephen Smith,
    Brad Haddin,
    Peter Siddle, ( I would play Bird instead )
    James Pattinson,
    Mitchell Starc,
    Nathan Lyon

    I have the book already :)

  45. Andrew Hedding says

    1. Watson
    2. Rogers
    3. Cowan
    4. Clarke
    5. Hughes
    6. Smith
    7. Haddin
    8. Starc
    9. Siddle
    10. Pattinson
    11. Lyon

    close to Neil ,but order a bit different.
    is it cheating to do it so close to the start?!

  46. Justin Kruger says

    JTH, refute utterly the vicious calumny of the evening being port infused. Thanks to Dry for July and two weeks of a ministering angel or antibiotic called metronidazole. (If you check the Handicapper’s textbooks you’ll find it has a similar effect to a drug called Antabuse.) Alas, the evening is also unlikely to be cricket infused in a televisual capacity. Did consider buying tv today. I’ll be in bed with oolong tea, the radio and Jim Maxwell, Aggers, Blowers, Manners etc. Could get crowded.

  47. Rogers
    Watson
    Cowan
    Hughes
    Clarke
    Haddin
    Warner
    Patterson
    Starc
    Lyon
    Bird

  48. They’re your sort of blokes Kruges.

  49. haiku bob says

    Come in spinner!
    Ashton Agar just been handed his baggy green.

  50. No problem with that. Closing the books at 7pm.

  51. Actually, closing the books at 6.49pm EST.

  52. And the book goes too….

  53. Rick Kane says

    Let it be the dreamer (me) :)

  54. Sorry, but Lyon is ripped off.

  55. Shut up Aggers.

  56. Turned over to Fox. Has AB reached that time in life when a bloke starts to shrink? Or is the camera making the foreground of B. Julian look huge?

  57. Agree with G. Blewett. J. Bird is the potential Alderman.

    Pressure on P. Siddle. Hope he does the job.

  58. e.regnans says

    Loving this.
    No Foxtel here. BBC radio with GEM visuals.
    Fair old time lag between audio & vision.
    Interesting & bold Agar selection. That’s great. On Twitterland Damien Fleming reckons its a selection for the express purpose of dismissing K.Pietersen.
    Good luck to the lad.

  59. haiku bob says

    Good toss to lose given team selections.
    Reckon Agar was picked PURE AND SIMPLE to mess with England’s planning.
    They would have cooked up a fair old strategy for Lyon, involving lots of runs but little running between wickets.
    Would love to have seen Bird bowling though.
    Trott looking all the world like a South African Viv Richards.

  60. John Sandy says

    I went to Trent Bridge in ’97. Wonderful memories! It was an interesting test in that no one made a hundred or took 5 a for. Ponting and Healy (MOTM) put on a great partnership when the game was still up for grabs. I ran into Healy a few days later and told him it was the best innings I’d ever seen, a bit overstated for a 63! We took 9 wickets in the last session to wrap it up on day 4. Dizzy bowled seriously quick and took about 3-60 odd off 7 or 8 overs with tubby set attacking fields (he was diagnosed with stress fractures in his back the following week). We were sitting in the stand directly opposite the members. I ran onto the field the moment the last wicket fell as I wanted to get as close as possible for the presentation in front of the balcony. As I got close to the middle Cyril Mitchley was pointing towards me, I thought he was motioning for me to stay off the pitch but he was indicating to me to pick up the ball which I did. A few steps later Steve Waugh asked me for it and without thinking I gave it to him. Steve tells a slightly different version in his ashes diary!

  61. I am saddened by the number of Almanackers who wrote off P Siddle prior to play.
    Wonderful competitor. Always gives his all.

    Watched a lot of the play from the Phoenix Hotel in Bayswater, London. Hats off to them for being the only pub for miles around to have the cricket on.

  62. Peter Flynn says

    JK,

    That was terrific at TB on so many levels. The Black Orchid etc.

    Today went to script. Aussie bowlers will get frustrated.

    Johnny Bairstow might be the worst Test bat I’ve ever seen.

    Then again I’m sure it’s Lance Whitnall.

    Cook and Root?

    Root and Cook?

    Trott and Root?

    Root and Trott?

    Etc

    I guess it depends on the circumstances.

    R Kane loved your post.

  63. We have a winner – nearest the pin was Neil Belford. Neil selected 10 correct players (nobody selected Agar) and sent them out in the correct order (except for Hughes at 5 and Smith at 6).

    James Lang a close second – 10 players but a different batting order.

    Neil receives a copy of Footy Town, signed by any Knacker he stumbles across in the street.

  64. John Sandy says

    Hey Sneak,
    what about the TMS?

    Ali saw Lance at the footy last week, he was tucking into some chips. , Carlton could have done with him after Waite went down.

    Bairstow didn’t look flash but managed to get a few.

    Not sure why Trott was so flabbergasted when he played on. Was he surprised at himself for trying to play a ball a foot outside off stump on the off side instead of whipping it through mid wicket?

    Were those batting pairs suggestions for pub names?

  65. DBalassone says

    Got up for a slash at 3 and had a peek at the tv. Thought Rogers was unlucky with that LB to Anderson bowling around the wicket, I know hawkeye said it was scraping the edge of leg, but cripes!, surely there was doubt…

  66. Yes, A Starkie and Smokie. No doubt P. Siddle has shown what he is made of. Not only did he shoulder the load, he rescued the whole situation. The opening bowlers were very, very nervous with the ball in their young hands.

    Watto also played a role!

    But what is par on that wicket?

    Superb first day.

  67. I reckon we need 250 and anything more we can scramble. Batting last on this will be tough. Especially if our batsmen keep throwing their hands hard at the ball.

    Who bowls well for the Aussies in the second dig? Can’t always rely on Sids.

  68. mickey randall says

    Smith showed some of what will be required. This could be over in three days! Agree that batting last will be challenging although if Broad can’t bowl…

  69. I really like the selection of Ashton Agar. He is as good a spinner as we have and with his height and youth he can only keep improving.
    Two things that set him apart from Lyon and the rest: The kid can really bat. He averaged 33.6 for WA in 10 matches, and several times played long innings under pressure to hold up the tail and win critical matches. He is also a brilliant fieldsman.
    The other is that he appears calm and unflappable under pressure. Lyon seemed to get overawed, and tighten up when the pressure was on him to perform.
    I am backing Agar to get 50 and eke us a first innings lead. He will take wickets when the conditions are better suited to spin than Day 1 at Trent Bridge.
    Above all the Australians seemed to be enjoying their cricket yesterday, and with clear skies on day 2 we still have enough batting for a first innings lead.
    I am an AA man – “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (bloody Watto); the courage to change the things I can (Ashton Agar); and the wisdom to know that the Poms are bloody skittish about this series.”

  70. Tony Roberts says

    215 v 4-75 looks like a typical score after the first day of a park cricket match, and all through the day, from Cook to Cowan, a lot of wickets fell to park-cricket shots.

    Some pearlers from Siddle (to Root) and Anderson (Clarke) aside, there also seemed to be a fair bit of park cricket bowling at Trent Bridge. I hope that the Victorian convenor of ASSH (sports history society) and former Royal Park Reds medium pacer, Tony Ward doesn’t mind me using his name as the exemplar of park cricket bowling…but there: I’ve done it, Tony. Occasional pearls shining out of piles of shit can produce bags of wickets on overlapping savannahs.

    It shouldn’t happen in Test cricket, though – but there you go, That’s what happens when the IPL warps cricket schedules around the world – and adminstrators in Australia and England, which profess to value first-class cricket, hollow out their seasons to stuff T20 down the throats of teenagers at the exact same time that their selectors need to identify credible Test batsmen and bowlers.

  71. well said Tony.

  72. e.regnans says

    I like the Agar selection, too, though I’d never heard of him prior to his naming in the side. Shows a panache and a dash and a daring. A touch of Baz Luhrmann. Love it, old sport.
    We know that cricket is a game played between the ears almost as much as it is played between the wickets.
    And Test match batsmen and park batsmen alike are more than capable of getting themselves out. Perhaps the current generation of Test batsmen have lesser powers of concentration than previous generations. But perhaps not. Who knows?
    Yes, the bowling was erratic at times, but when a bowler executes a good spell/ over, culminating in a wicket, watching the wicket taking ball in isolation can distort the truth of the moment. The wicket taking ball can appear innocuous (why the hell was he playing at that?!?). Seen in the context of the preceding balls/overs, though, the wicket-taking ball can be seen as the glorious hatching of a thoughtful egg (Siddle’s spell and use of the crease etc).
    This was a bowler’s day. Who knows why (swinging ball? batsmen nerves?)? Test matches have those. We’ll see batsmens’ days in the series, too.
    Reckon we’ll lose a quick wicket at the resumption of play, as often happens, but hopefully get to lunch for the loss of only one.

  73. Stan the Man says

    The 2 absolute gems form the TV commentary…..the great camera shot of Boof on the balcony eating the toasted ham and cheese sandwich. This was reminicent of Bomber Thompson munching on his hamburger a few years ago. The other was Nasser Hussein showing us the previous (3) dismisssals of “Prince Harry” Bairstow against other touring teams . No coincidence that we got him out a couple of overs later playing across an inswinger….Quick Boof come and have a look at this ….send out the message with the 12 man….some serious planning went into that one.

  74. The Black Prince says

    Call me optimistic but me thinks we’re still in a good position to claim first innings points. Steve Smith and Hughs will push on towards 180 at lunch with a Haddin comeo to edge us past 215 soon thereafter. My apologies Smokie as I was one of the doubters who had Siddle consigned to the scrap heap prior to play, never again! And Ed, goodness gracious me…what were you thinking son???

  75. Prince – love your enthusiasm. I wondered what you might be thinking after Siddle had 0 for 24 after 3 overs. And what you were thinking when he claimed his Michelle!

  76. Mark Doyle says

    This was a good day of test cricket because of good conditions for both batsmen and bowlers. The Poms have the advantage because of more disciplined bowling from Anderson and Finn. The Aussies bowled too many loose balls which were hit to the boundary. The Aussies can only get the advantage if Hughes has a bit of luck and scores a big hundred with support from Smith and Haddin. Agar made a promising debut and showed that he may have a bit more courage than Lyon to bowl with a bit more flight and aggression.

  77. Neil Belford says

    Just got an email from the land of Champagne alerting me to my win
    ….
    News of your victory has reached the Avenue de Champagne Epernay Fr.
    How you missed Agar I’ll never know.
    Heading to Bruge today to begin my studies into Belgian beer.
    …..

  78. Steve Fahey says

    I am backing Agar to get 50 and eke us a first innings lead.”” Peter B aka Nostradamus (july 11 10.41am) take a bow.

    If you did back that long shot enjoy every cent

  79. I PREDICTED THIS!!!!
    “I really like the selection of Ashton Agar. He is as good a spinner as we have and with his height and youth he can only keep improving.
    Two things that set him apart from Lyon and the rest: The kid can really bat. He averaged 33.6 for WA in 10 matches, and several times played long innings under pressure to hold up the tail and win critical matches. He is also a brilliant fieldsman.
    The other is that he appears calm and unflappable under pressure. Lyon seemed to get overawed, and tighten up when the pressure was on him to perform.
    I am backing Agar to get 50 and eke us a first innings lead. He will take wickets when the conditions are better suited to spin than Day 1 at Trent Bridge.”
    Haven’t enjoyed a ‘session’ (the last 90 minutes) of test cricket so much for ages.
    I couldn’t believe Agar didn’t come in at 8, after seeing the innings he played under pressure for WA earlier in the year.
    First Siddle, then a tall left hander came in – bloody Starc, then Pattinson – what the???
    Cometh the hour, cometh THE MEN. Hughes played within his limitations. He has a cracking eye against the quicks when the ball is coming on. But Agar looked at ease against Swann, while Hughes was a cat on a hot tin roof.

  80. Luke Reynolds says

    Another great morning of cricket. No other format of the game could produce such compelling sport. Nice work Peter, the boy can really really bat. Forget his tons, this is Hughes’ best Test innings so far.

  81. Where does this 10th wicket partnership sit in the pantheon/record book for 10th wicket Ashes stands ?

    Glen!

  82. The radio were calling it the highest of all time I believe. Could the series defining moment have occurred? He really seemed to be enjoying himself, which hopefully pissed off the pons even more.

  83. Andrew Starkie says

    brilliant cricket. cmon Aussies

  84. DBalassone says

    That was great! Can’t recall a more enjoyable couple of houses of test cricket-watching – it was up there with watching Gilly going beserk, or a Warnie spell in his prime. I just love how the Victorian Agar looked so cool and relexad and was smiling the whole time, and loved the frustration of Beefy in the commentary box.

    Hate to say, but it might not be enough – the way Swann was bowling indicates a tough assignment chasing anything higher than 150-200 methinks.

  85. The Black Prince says

    Dips, I do recall saying we’d claim first innings points, to that end I was overjoyed when Demi’s ex and little Hughsey passed 215, not to mention joyously happy as I put my money where my mouth is in this regard. Must admit to being not so enthusiastic at 9/117 however. After claiming Haddin would be our first innings saviour I was furiously looking for Boof’s phone number to let him know Tim Paines thumb is now 100% too! Just glad I can sleep in tomorrow now after failing to miss a ball in the opening two days, it is quickly catching up with me. Hopefully no excuse for a poor performance for the Cats tomorrow though :)

  86. Prince – still pulling on the boots! Great effort. Are the fish biting?

  87. Andrew Starkie says

    TV commentary down, radio up. Aust 9-117, Boycott: ‘They’re not all out yet. England have got to keep pressing’ (insert York accent). He knows his cricket.

    England too ktheir foot off the peddle, a bit like North in a handful of our games this year – every year.

  88. The Black Prince says

    Yes mate I am…albeit at 12.00. The curtain was drawn after a two o’clock defeat in round two. Sat down, the old man came in for our obligatory post game chat and without hesitation I told him there was nothing about the previous two hours that I took pleasure in whatsoever. He said you’ve answered own question then boy…228 games gone in the blink of eye! As luck would have it the reserves were short the next Thursday night and The Prince was duly slotted at Full Forward, we are 13 zip and I’ve a new lease on life in the magoos! Kicked 23.4 since by the way and to top it off am North West Tassie’s’ newest super rules recruit for Darwin in October…Lovin’ it. Still wetting a line out the front door most Sundays with little success of late, I think it’s even too cold for the fish :(

  89. Paddy Grindlay says

    Watto, Clarkey, Sids and Patto. Then pick whoever you want.

  90. Peter Flynn says

    Watto?

    You are kidding.

    Self-absorbed DRS waster

  91. DBalassone says

    Ouch did that hurt! We will have to add this to our list of heartbreaks, am I the glass half full, or do we always lose the close, close ones:

    1 run vs. WI, Adelaide 92/93
    2 runs vs. Eng, Edgbaston 05
    3 runs vs. Eng, Melbourne 82/83
    5 runs, vs. SAF, Sydney 93/94
    7 runs vs. NZ, Hobart 11/12
    14 runs vs. Eng, Trent Bridge 13
    18 runs vs. Eng, Headingly 81
    29 run vs, Eng, Edgbaston 81
    1 wicket vs. Pak, Rawalpindi 94
    1 wicket vs. WI, Bridgetown 99

    Have I missed any? I still reckon the worst was SAF in Sydney. Mind you, I was too young in ’81 to really understand.

  92. Of the ones in my lifetime, they all seem there. I don’t recall Australia winning a close one, apart from the one against SA a couple of years ago? We’ve won lots of course when we’ve almost ran out of time, but we always had lots of runs up our sleeve.

  93. Andrew Starkie says

    Thanks for reminding us Damo

  94. Essay topic:

    Remove A. Agar from the First Test and Australia is the same-old, same-old. Discuss.

  95. PF, close – the correct term for Watto is ‘Self-absorbed DRS waster and all-round wanker’

    JTH – my essay would agree with the premise and then expand on the middle-order being the Baryshnikov of stepping on its own dick, before closing with ‘Kiss my pale, half-Irish ass’.

    B+

  96. JTH – remove J Anderson from the Poms and they look a bit same-old-same-old too.

  97. Stainless says

    Absolutely agree with Litza on this one (albeit I don’t have his elegance of expression)!

    I’m actually pleased we didn’t pinch victory because it would have got our top and middle order off the hook in spite of two lamentable batting displays. We can’t get all dewy-eyed about Agar when the rest of the team keeps going to jelly – boom, boom!

    BTW – we lost another close one to the Poms in Melbourne (about 12 runs, chasing 175-odd I recall). Steve Waugh ran out of partners as we suffered a late collapse when in sight of what should have been a regulation win. It would have been the 98-99 series. Boxing Day was washed out and I remember shivering through an extended second day – the year of the Sydney-Hobart tragedy.

  98. Peter Flynn says

    I’ve heard that old mate Watto is at the top of the order because he can hit ‘some’ boundaries.

    Run that by me again.

    Without the lunch break, Australia might have won.

  99. Peter Flynn says

    Two amazing last wicket partnerships have distorted things somewhat.

    For Lord’s, Bird or Harris must come in for Starc.

    We need to end our predilection for left arm fast medium ordinary.

    The batting is a real conundrum.

    In theory, I prefer an attacking number three.

    I’m not a Cowan fan, a Khawaja fan or a Warner fan.

    Hmmmm. Warner?

    This is the nub of the 2013 Ashes story.

    Did we watch great cricket? I have reservations.

    We certainly watched a great contest.

  100. PF – I agree 100% re Starc, and Cowan is a grafting opener (my preference) or nothing (the selector’s preference).
    Despite his first innings heroics I am not a Hughes man either, but he is certainly better against quicks than quality spinners like Swann. His eye will compensate for the footwork deficiencies against quicks some of the time, but never against spin. I would reluctantly return Hughes to #3, where he is more likely to be 20 or 30 before the Poms get a chance to put him on the rack with Swann. Khawaja or Warner make more sense at 5/6.
    Haddin has a series reprieve so long as he shuts his mouth on DRS appeals. He just joins in the bowling cheer squad.

  101. Andrew Starkie says

    Aussies may have just missed best chance to grab a victory for the series. Top order is a mess. Too many with poor technique. Khawaja in for Cowan who can only open. He’s no no,3. Hughes and Smith earn another go. 5 and 6 respectively. Although Smith’s dismissal on day 2 was one of the turning points. Did the hard work then threw it away. Happy for Rogers. He should go on from here. Maybe Bird for Starc.

    Cook only trusted Anderson and Swann. He didn’t want to bowl Broad (flog who raised his bat after making dodgy 40*) and Finn, the choker and chucker. If Anderson doesn’t come up we’re in with a chance.

  102. e.regnans says

    Agree with all this (not sure if strictly possible).
    Quality swing bowling is coming our way, so isn’t it our job to pick the side that can beat it? And surely, wasn’t known many months ago?
    None of Cowan, Warner, Khawaja, Hughes, Watson seem to offer much in this regard.
    The selection of A. Agar from outside the original touring party shows us that touring parties are not the be all & end all.
    So let’s think outside the box. Which Shield batsman/men, originally overlooked, should we get on the Dog&Bone?

  103. Andrew Starkie says

    PF, Agreed about Lunch saving Poms. they were gone.

  104. DBalassone says

    I can’t help but think that a couple of Hussey’s in the middle order would have made a big difference to the outcome of this series. If David had have been given a go earlier (and his age shouldn’t have mattered given that Rogers is back) then Michael would have gone on for one more year. David definitely should have gone to India.

  105. Ashton Agar has made me think of Justin Rose. I hope it’s the same scenario. (Good week to be thinking about it).

  106. Andrew Starkie says

    Damo, agreed. I thought of Huss often during the test.

  107. JTH
    Like your idea that Agar is a breath of fresh air.
    I actually liked the look of Chris Rogers. He adds stability to the top order, knows his game, is unflustered, not a self-promoter. In my view, whilst the DRS gave him out lbw in the first innings, the ball was clearly missing leg stump. Michael Holding, who was commentating on Sky at the time, thought Rogers was “very stiff’ to be sent on his way.

  108. Peter Flynn says

    We assume the technology works.

    By eye, studying the marginal lbws, I’m not entirely sure.

    Agree PB re Haddin. He thinks everything is out. Same with Old Mate Watto at first slip. Australia will be in a far better position if we drop Old Mate forever.

    Under Pat Howard and Mickey Arthur, Anderson would miss the Lord’s Test.

    AS, interesting thoughts re Finn.

  109. Has anyone cared to ask Graeme Swann for his thoughts on Stuart Broad…? http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/19/graeme-swann-perera-cheating

  110. Tony Roberts says

    Damien Balassone’s list of narrow losses (Monday 15/7, 2.22pm) is pretty long, but since the watershed of Leeds 1981, there are actually four more entries to add.

    By runs: 12 (v. England) MCG 98/99; 13 (India) Mumbai 04; 19 (England) Oval 97.
    By wickets: 1 (India) Chandigarh 10. You could also throw three others: 2 (India) Chennai 01; and 3: (England) Trent Bridge 05, as well as Pakistan, at Leeds 10.

    The Chennai loss followed immediately upon India’s follow-on victory at Kolkata , and decided that series. The name VVS Laxman looms large here.

    There is a difference between Australia’s narrowly failed chases of the 80s and 90s, compared to those in the 21st century. Under Kim Hughes especially, most of those 80s and 90s losses were gutless surrenders (Border and Thommo excepted). More recently, by contrast, they’ve usually been brave chases of historically improbable targets.

  111. Tony Roberts says

    Hmmm… anyone here got anything nice to say about Watto?

    Not me – someone else will have to pitch in for the undead Patrick Swayze.

  112. DBalassone says

    Great work Tony. Very impressive. I should have got 97 and 04; I guess the difference was we had already wrapped up those series (I think they were both the final tests of series we had already won). Stainless brought up the 98/99 loss to England which was also a dead rubber – I recall that test ending very late on the 4th day, with Aust being offered the light but opting to stay on.

    As for 2010 test in Chandigarh, I can’t for the life of me remember a single thing about that one – must have been Grand Final week!

  113. I am always amused with coverage of Test cricket which goes with the HBNLITC approach. (Has breathed new life into Test cricket). Often on 6pm news and Fox Sports.

    Even the most cursory glance of Tests over the last ten years will reveal many, many terrific Test matches.

    It will also reveal some very dominant performances and one-sided matches – but the other side of that was the joy of watching Warne et al. Not that I admired their joyless attitude.

    The drama of Test cricket has not only been confined to Australia. If you have Fox there are times when New Zealand v Anyone will hold the attention for longer than The Handicapper deems healthy.

  114. Mark Doyle says

    This was a very good competitive test match with England winning because of a good second innings batting performance by Ian Bell and excellent bowling in both innings by Jimmy Anderson.
    The Australian team performed very well considering their inexperience against the more experienced English players. The comments above about blokes such as Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Starc are ignorant and ridiculous by parochial Melbourne people. Notwithstanding the good performance by Ashton Agar, most of the comments on this website and in the media about his performance are illinformed and crass heroworship.
    Hopefully, the Australian selectors replace the dud B grader Ed Cowan with Usman Khawaja and one of the fast bowlers with Ryan Harris for the second test.

  115. Peter Flynn says

    The number of close Test losses makes for an interesting study.

    There are many reasons. I respect TRs opinion and knowledge on this subject.

    One factor not often discussed is Australia’s lack of really good fourth innings batsmen.

    For example Steve Waugh in the 4th innings of a Test:

    613 runs at 25.54 with 2 fifties and highest score of 80

    Yes there are a large number of DNBs.

  116. Mark Doyle posts are always classics. Derisory contempt for everyone, followed by full agreement with their statements.
    A career in federal politics awaits. Always deride your opponent’s attire, before stealing their clothes.
    K Rudd as J Howard in chinos. Abbott as Latham in a blue tie. Love it.

  117. Well said JTH

    Everytime there’s a great Test Match, the 6 O’clock news types act of though it’s had a defibrillator effect on a dying format. Just shows their ignorance, coz Test have never been healthier here. As for NZ Tests last summer, what a super series it was against the English.

  118. Tony Roberts says

    JTH
    Handicapper/s notwithstanding, why should a Foxtel subscriber confine their O/S Test watching elsewhere to NZ? Besides England during winter, also good value from series in the sub-continent and Emirates (these have the best time slots). Tests in Durban and Cape Town over Christmas and New Year also make a great day/night double act with Melbourne and Sydney.

    Damien is right that some of the close losses were in dead rubbers; unfortunately, many others weren’t. Peter F has a point about clutch performers in the 4th dig. No Australian has consistently produced like VVS or Graeme Smith.

    Ah yes, Mark Doyle, the great contrarian… probably thinks that we hate Watto because he’s from NSW. No, he’s not: he’s from Wattoland (everywhere and nowhere), and just naturally gravitated to Sydney because of his natural affinity with Fox Sports News (go on, Mark – have a crack at me for parroting Geoffrey Barker).

    Like Gareth Evans with Bronwyn Bishop, I saved time by taking an instant dislike to Watto way back when he was with Tassie – or was it Queensland?… Seems like Mark’s got a bit of the Bronnys about himself, actually.

  119. DBalassone says

    Fair point PF re 4th innings. It may surprise many, but Mark Waugh was prob better than Steve in such circumstances e.g SAF 97 chasing down 270 odd and also holding out for the draw in Adelaide in 97/98 when Hansie speared a stump through the umpires dressing room.

  120. Peter Flynn says

    DB,

    Yep I agree and I looked at the stats.

    Mark Waugh:

    820 runs at 41.00 with 116 as his highest score (2 50s and 2 100s)

    This is just below his career average.

  121. Peter Flynn says

    TR

    Smith 1533 at 54.75

    VVS 1095 at 40.55

  122. Rick Kane says

    Just to go back to a point you made a few posts ago on this strand Mr Flynn. You said, “Did we watch great cricket? I have reservations. We certainly watched a great contest.” Sometime a great contest is what makes for great cricket.

    I’ll leave it to others (TR and DB) to let me know how many Tests have hung in the balance from ball one to game’s end but I can’t remember too many. I know I’ll be talking about this one for year to come (and not just because it may be the closest we get to winning).

    Cheers

  123. Peter Flynn says

    G’day R Kane,

    My reservation is based on the number of either (i) ordinary or (ii) out-of-form or (iii) developing Test cricketers who played in the Test.

    Cheers,

    P Flynn

  124. Flynny,
    I accept your reservations about the standard of the current Test teams, but in the Instant Era of wall to wall IPL; Big Bash; Champions Trophy etc etc etc – will we ever see their likes again??
    I think not – so this is as good as it gets – and all Test countries will fluctuate around a lower mean of performance (though any measurement is largely subjective given the many variable over time).
    My pet bug bear is how systematically every country now doctors their pitches to suit the home team. The occasional fuserium/dust bowl/green top is now a steady progression of whatever the home captain orders.
    If we could get 1 up at home we’ll get Sheedy in to leave the sprinklers on overnight and tie down the wind sock.

  125. Great test, loved it. Surprised to be enjoying the Sky coverage via GEM enough to not bother much with the radio, since I am kicking it across the room when Boycott comes on anyway.

    Having assumed TV commentary automatically includes
    • stating the obvious
    • self-aggrandisement
    • pushing spurious memorabilia and
    • cross-promotional fluffing by embarrassed retired Test captains,
    its quite refreshing to have none of that. Obviously Strauss MBE gets a bit gloaty.

  126. Peter Flynn says

    That’s a fair call PB.

    4boat I reckon Aggers had to tell Boycott to stop laughing during the Broad farce.

  127. The Channel 7 splash on Arthur should make things interesting in the dressing room.
    Warner to Watson: You ratted me out!
    Watson to Warner: Don’t touch my face! My beautiful face!

  128. Re selection for Lords, get Bird in there for Pattinson. I think our XI was much too syllable-heavy. Eng have started the series with a tight terse team averaging 1.54 syllables per man, the lowest since the war.

  129. I see the British and South African Lions have gone in with an unchanged line up for the second Test. I fancy the Aussies will see a few changes. Boof is going to drag them kicking and screaming into his way.

    Shootings will cease when morale improves.

  130. e.regnans says

    This morale question has me googling “quotes for dealing with difficult people,” in an effort to blithely sweep away squad angst and anxiety with the re-utterance of a pithy line from a notable luminary from the pages of history.
    Alas: “The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that you’ve got it made.” – Groucho Marx.

  131. I guarantee that there would not be a 20/20 thread as entertaining as this one.

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