Ashes 2015

[Warks]

Poms all out 149 after a little tail wag. Clarke has enforced the follow-on for the first time ever.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Poms all out 149 after a little tail wag. Clarke has enforced the follow-on for the first time ever.

Finally!

Well done.

 

[Foreigner]

Poms all out 149 after a little tail wag. Clarke has enforced the follow-on for the first time ever.

Clarke has paid the price. Now he should get the consolation prize if the Aussies win the test

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just loved this piece of memoria with Arthur Morris

"It did occur in business when a fellow came up and didn't know all that much about cricket, but he did know about Bradman's duck. In the conversation something reminded him of that and he said, Bradman got a duck. I said yes, I was there. He said, "Were you? What were you doing over there? Were you on business?" I said, "No, I was up the other end." He said, "Did you get any runs?" I said, "196"."

Brilliant!

 

[andye]

Notwithstanding the reported deficiencies in his man-management, my impression of Clarke's tactical decision-making was that is was very good and tending to the agressive. I was also always impressed by his effort especially when injury took a toll on his previously excellent batting form.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Notwithstanding the reported deficiencies in his man-management, my impression of Clarke's tactical decision-making was that is was very good and tending to the agressive. I was also always impressed by his effort especially when injury took a toll on his previously excellent batting form.

I think Clarke's been a good captain, up there with the best in recent years. Much better than Cook for example who is too negative and dull.

Just a pity the Australian team lost the plot in this series.

Not to mention the selectors in Rod Marsh. "Peter Siddle - 4 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for none."

 

[whatmeworry]

I think Clarke's been a good captain, up there with the best in recent years. Much better than Cook for example who is too negative and dull.

Just a pity the Australian team lost the plot in this series.

Not to mention the selectors in Rod Marsh. "Peter Siddle - 4 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for none."

I wonder if their was a touch of nepotism in his selections.

Australia has been gun shy to enforce the follow on renctly, after losing a couple times after enforcing the follow on.

 

[trixydoza]

I wonder if their was a touch of nepotism in his selections.

You might be thinking of former selector Geoff Marsh.

And 1981 and 2001 are the follow-on fails. Enforcing it isn't always the sensible thing to do.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just loved this piece of memoria with Arthur Morris

"It did occur in business when a fellow came up and didn't know all that much about cricket, but he did know about Bradman's duck. In the conversation something reminded him of that and he said, Bradman got a duck. I said yes, I was there. He said, "Were you? What were you doing over there? Were you on business?" I said, "No, I was up the other end." He said, "Did you get any runs?" I said, "196"."

Brilliant!

As a follow up the full text of the article is hilarious http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/673947.html

 

[QF WP]

Now only Neil Harvey left from the 48 Invincibles team.
Good to see the Poms were cleaned up in their first innings

And one wicket already in the second innings

 

[Warks]

Poms 6-203. Smith got Cook just before stumps. Supposedly there's rain coming which would have influenced Clarke's follow-on decision but it has to be at least 5 sessions of rain to save the Poms now.

Not much for them to play for so I would imagine it will be all over in the first session tonight. 2-3 looks a lot better than 1-4 or 0-5 but the end result is the same. Bye bye Ashes.

 

[whatmeworry]

Surprised Siddle was left out for the last two tests. I thought we missed his accuracy and swing.

Selectors must be reading my posts.

 

[Warks]

Rain almost saved England which would have been desperately unfair. Saw the 7th and 8th wickets fall but the rain came after an hour and they didn't get back on until 3pm. Siddle took the last two wickets for Aus to win by an innings and 49 runs. 3-2 to the Poms. If only the final Test was the decider. Only 18 days with play in the series and the first time a 5 Test series has had no day 5 play at all.

Odd stat:

5 One-sided Tests in this series; the margins of victories were 169 runs, 405 runs, eight wickets, an innings and 78 runs, and an innings and 46 runs. There have been only three series in which the result margins were so decisive each time (eight or more wickets, 169 or more runs, or by an innings): West Indies in England 1984 (West Indies won 5-0), India in England 1959 (England won 5-0), and South Africa in Australia 1931-32 (Australia won 5-0). This is the only instance where one team hasn't been the dominant one throughout the series.

Short series, whopping margins | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

We're left wondering but for a dropped catch in the first Test and the exclusion of Siddle throughout the matches that mattered if this could have been a different story. All out for 60 probably tells you who deserved to win though.

See you in 2.5 years.

 

[samh004]

I'm just surprised the Australians got away with throwing that match

 

[moa999]

And another half hour of batting earlier on would have made it 2-2.

Which I think would have been a fairer result - neither side deserved to win the series, both were atrocious at times

 

[JohnK]

Poms all out 149 after a little tail wag. Clarke has enforced the follow-on for the first time ever.

Just as well. If we had batted there may not have been a result.

We lost the Ashes to a flaky batting order that collapses more than us. Our bowling was poor except for Siddle whose career is almost over. Can't blame the pitches. What did we expect? Pitches to suit us?

Now for wholesale changes or give everyone more chances after inflating their averages against Bangladesh?

 

[whatmeworry]

Siddle is only 30 and looks like he still has a role to play.

 

[JohnK]

Siddle is only 30 and looks like he still has a role to play.

You can't fit Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Pattinson, coughmings and Siddle into the one team.

Plus there are no plans to take Siddle to Bangladesh?

 

[Warks]

Some more stats:
The middle-order difference | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

South Africa tour India soon and then the Poms tour SA after Xmas. Will be interesting to follow those tours.

Anyone been to a Test or ODI overseas? I can only claim going to The Oval for a Test, Lords for a domestic one day match and Newlands (Cape Town) for another domestic one dayer. A Test in India would be an eye-opener.

 

[drron]

Went to the World Cup in the West Indies.A trip remembered forever.