Fifth Ashes Test, Sydney

[QF WP]

53.6
Bresnan to Hussey, OUT, 138.3 kph, that should be the killer blow! Hussey has gone. After all his hard work he's slapped a wide long-hop powerfully but straight to Pietersen at gully who held the rocketing chance solidly above his head. Wild celebrations from England, they're nearing their triumph
MEK Hussey c Pietersen b Bresnan 12 (49b 1x4 0x6) SR: 24.48

Only question now, is will they play extra time today if a result is considered possible by the umpires???

 

[QF WP]

The only thing I'm looking forward to now is to see Johnson bat...I'd love it to be with Haddin and have them both get on top of the bowlers (for once in the match!) and smack it to all parts of the ground...

Not that it will have much impact on the inevitable result

So I barely have posted this and look what happens:

56.3
Tremlett to Haddin, OUT, aggressive bowling gets Tremlett the wicket! This has been an excellent spell. Banged in just back of a length and it rears up at Haddin who got in a terrible position as he tried to pull out late of an attempted hook, finds a top edge that loops gently to Prior

BJ Haddin c †Prior b Tremlett 30 (41b 3x4 0x6) SR: 73.17

Oh well, let's just hope Johnson gets another top score in this innings....he only has to beat 40.

Damn it, turns back again to see him out first ball...

56.4
Tremlett to Johnson, OUT, full! Straight and bowled him! The SCG goes wild! Swings back late and through Johnson's defences in a hurry to peg back off stump

MG Johnson b Tremlett 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

They'll definitely play and extra 30 mins now

 

[samh004]

The only thing I'm looking forward to now is to see Johnson bat...I'd love it to be with Haddin and have them both get on top of the bowlers (for once in the match!) and smack it to all parts of the ground…

They'll definitely play and extra 30 mins now

I clearly misplaced my trust in your cricket team. I really thought Hussey, Johnson and Haddin would do well, but they’ve just crumbled today.

10 overs to go!

And then all day tomorrow

 

[QF WP]

Perhaps it's no surprise, Khawaja has the second best average in this Test (29), behind Watson (41.5).

 

[simongr]

Any hints on how you get in for free tomorrow? I havent done that before so am not sure of the protocol.

S

 

[RB]

Any hints on how you get in for free tomorrow? I havent done that before so am not sure of the protocol.

S

May be best to pay up front- Apparently you get money back if there are less than 25 overs-doubt the Aussies will be up to that

 

[simongr]

Already announced that it is free tomorrow.

 

[RB]

Already announced that it is free tomorrow.

Sorry turned off the cricket at 5.30pm & was going by your previous question.

 

[samh004]

Already announced that it is free tomorrow.

Make your way to Barmy Army stronghold and I’ll try spot you!

 

[tuapekastar]

A long way off, and plenty can happen in between, but here is a stab at a preferred 11, in batting order, for the Sri Lanka tests in August (based on current situation).

Afraid my knowledge of who is doing well at Shield level is not sufficient that I should pull any 'left-field' players into the team.

Watson (averaging ~50 in the opening spot)
Katich (doing just fine before injury)
Kuhwaja (showed enough for another chance, and a long-term No. 3 prospect)
Clarke (experienced and has looked in good form, the test where his back was an issue aside) - Captain
Ponting (still a great batsman, unlucky a few times - leg side catches and the like, and it's not like other players have not dropped down the order as they get older - but I've never been keen on his captaincy)
M Hussey (I would have dropped him early in the series, but still doing enough)
Haddin (just a competent rather than great keeper, but a good cricketer) - Vice Captain
Johnson (who knows?)
Siddle (did as well as any of them)
Hilfenhaus (only because there is no-one else standing up for the spot)
Beer (showed enough for another go)

I think Smith is, unfortunately for him, not good enough to be a No. 6 bat, and Haddin should be at 7, and not good enough to be a frontline spinner. Just misses on both counts.

Not a Bollinger fan (the cricketer I hasten to add, not the fizz :shock.

Would love to fit D Hussey and C White in (does my bias show? ) but not yet...and maybe not ever.

It'd be nice to throw a bunch of 'em out, and pull in new players, but as always it's a case of who are you going to replace them with?

So, nothing dramatic there...interested in other peoples selections (especially those who have taken a closer interest in the Shield performances than I have)

Isn't it wonderful we all can be selectors...:mrgreen:

 

[simongr]

Currently raining in Sydney

 

[simongr]

Watson (averaging ~50 in the opening spot)
Katich (doing just fine before injury)
Kuhwaja (showed enough for another chance, and a long-term No. 3 prospect)
Clarke (experienced and has looked in good form, the test where his back was an issue aside) - Captain
Ponting (still a great batsman, unlucky a few times - leg side catches and the like, and it's not like other players have not dropped down the order as they get older - but I've never been keen on his captaincy)
M Hussey (I would have dropped him early in the series, but still doing enough)
Haddin (just a competent rather than great keeper, but a good cricketer) - Vice Captain
Johnson (who knows?)
Siddle (did as well as any of them)
Hilfenhaus (only because there is no-one else standing up for the spot)
Beer (showed enough for another go)

Isnt this the team that just got comprehensively beaten, has a number of older players who are past their best and includes no real development of a future side?

 

[serfty]

Isnt this the team that just got comprehensively beaten, has a number of older players who are past their best and includes no real development of a future side?

Yep!

Personally I think "Australia A" would beat the current side.

It's a real "Closed Shop" - unless you play for NSW ...

*They nearly did some years ago in a WSC comp (never to be repeated) - Australia A reached the finals against Oz and they promptly nobbled the side.

 

[tuapekastar]

Isnt this the team that just got comprehensively beaten, has a number of older players who are past their best and includes no real development of a future side?

By and large, yes, but the point is there are no alternatives jumping out. Easy to say 'sack them all' but who are you going to replace them with?

 

[samh004]

By and large, yes, but the point is there are no alternatives jumping out. Easy to say 'sack them all' but who are you going to replace them with?

At some point they’ll all need to be replaced if you keep them around, but I feel losing a few of the under performing players and gaining some new blood will help in the long run, the next few tests might be hit and miss, but you can’t be on top forever

By the way, Siddle and Smith are doing their part!

 

[QF WP]

I have to agree with what bensyd said over on the FT thread, but the bowlers aren't guilt free either.

The rain tried to help us this morning by taking the players off after a couple of overs, but they are back again. Not looking like weather will be a big impact this morning

I am pleased to see a nice partnership going this morning between Siddle and Smith (82 at the moment). Would love to think that they could save the Test, but highly unlikely. Maybe England have relaxed because they already think they've won it?

I was debating whether to follow it this morning. This weather in BNE is making me think that I am living in England (all the rain)

 

[QF WP]

Damn, I jinxed them. Just went back to check and...

78.3
Swann to Siddle, OUT eight down now! Siddle departs! He aimed a big slog-sweep, timed it well enough but picked out James Anderson on the square leg boundary who took the catch before screaming in the direction of the Barmy Army who are behind him

PM Siddle c Anderson b Swann 43 (65b 4x4 0x6) SR: 66.15

Well, Hilfenhaus can bat...after all he got 34 in the first innings off 86 balls...but can he hang around until stumps??

 

[samh004]

The rain tried to help us this morning by taking the players off after a couple of overs, but they are back again. Not looking like weather will be a big impact this morning

I am pleased to see a nice partnership going this morning between Siddle and Smith (82 at the moment). Would love to think that they could save the Test, but highly unlikely. Maybe England have relaxed because they already think they've won it?

Looks like we both jinxed it.

The commentators were saying the rain would be a hindrance, wetting the outfield and the new ball coming on shortly.

 

[QF WP]

A beautiful post from bensyd over on FT:

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/...106-19hlc.html


THE worst Australian team ever fielded for an Ashes series will today watch England celebrate a 3-1 victory at the SCG in the knowledge they are the first side wearing baggy greens to have lost three Tests by more than an innings in a single series.

Few could have imagined that such a gulf in class between the sides would be exposed at theconclusion of the 2010-11 Ashes, or that Australian cricket would be in its deepest crisis since the Packer revolution.

Never have Australia lost three Tests in a series by an innings, a result that will be confirmed today when England claim the final three wickets in the fifth Test. Not since Bangladesh in 2007, against Sri Lanka, has any Test-playing nation suffered such a thumping in one series.

And only once before has a home side lost three Tests by an innings - the first being South Africa to Australia over five Tests in 1935-36.

The front page of the cricket section of the SMH is fairly scathing; "Our Worst XI".

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/

 

[QF WP]

Chris Tremlett has the new ball. I envisage it may be over soon....