.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

Sight Screen

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Ashes : T5 day3 - Open Thread

Weekend morning...just managed to wake up in time to catch the start. Lets see if it happens on time(cricinfo is still on yesterday, tv converage is on ads :)

Haven't caught up with reports on yesterday's game, but I guess besides Hayden's cautious tread on path to a mini-survival, and Eng's self-inflicted thin-ness of bowling attack, not much else to check.

Anyway...open thread...

posted by worma at 5:23 AM

116 Comments:

  • First comment for day 3 as players walk off the ground due to rain. Forecast for today is not very good...so there will be lots of stop-starts. I think it was a bad decision for Australia to walk off yesterday...they should have played on until it started raining. I mean wouldn't they want the most time available needed to press for a win...what if on the last day England is 9 wickets down and play is called off early for bad light/rain.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 06:45  

  • Boycott talking about his column in the Telegraph which talks about Pietersen getting ahead of himself. Kinda what we were discussing here and even Atherton & Slater talked about it yesterday.
    All of them think that he needs to perform because he has immense talent and self-confidence but all the attention and stardom is getting to him. Boycott now saying KP should bat at #4 as that will give him more responsibility.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 06:50  

  • yeah calnnzu...listening to Boycs...totally agree...haven't yet started liking the test-cricketer in Pieterson yet, as I noted in my thoughts yestday

    By Blogger worma, at 06:52  

  • oops..that was clannzu..sorry

    By Blogger worma, at 06:52  

  • and did you read the Langer column about the light offer...saying they would have done differently had they known its going to rain and end the day

    By Blogger worma, at 06:53  

  • Exactly worma...with rain predicted for most of today...it wouldn't have been that risky to bat last night because the main problem was bad light which frankly wasn't so dark. And England bowlers were under more pressure at that time..Langer & Hayden looked very much in control...so I don't buy the thought that they could have lost wickets. You can lose wickets any time and there is more chance of it when you're batting after rain delay.
    More than anything I thought it was a defensive approach and it let England off the hook a bit. But still there is lots of time to go in the game and who knows we might not even need the 5th day.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 07:01  

  • I think KP is like Sehwag...someone who doesnt care about the bowler or even the situation to an extent...he backs himself to go out there and do it. And many times that can backfire. Only thing you have to watch is that he wins you more matches than he costs. And yes this is just his 1st series...he will mature like Freddie did and get more selective in his shots. Atleast I hope so because he is a treat to watch.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 07:05  

  • yes, totally agree on that clannzu. Langer and rest of them probably thought its ok to be safe if its a matter of half an hour or so. Didnt bargain for the whole session being lost. Anyways....Boycott has a good critique here.

    And btw, interesting comment by him in same article, that this game Eng attack is comparable to Aus...with Aus having the edge with 'that spinner' :)

    By Blogger worma, at 07:07  

  • clannzu, its good to be a sehwag in the 'mental' approach to the game (esp good if you are playing in a good batting lineup for others to backup). But today KP's shot selection is nowhere close to sehwag...who is not looking to 'bash all the balls out of the ground'

    By Blogger worma, at 07:09  

  • Sehwag still has that problem in ODI's...tests obviously he has done exceedingly well.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 07:11  

  • Hayden scores his first 50 of the series.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 07:13  

  • yeah in ODIs, he tries the wrong approach we are just now discussing. Dont understand why he doesnt play his test game in ODIs also (maybe subcontinent pitches almost compell the opener to bash out, we see even 300 is chasable score there). As Prem pointed out in the final game, thats what he was looking to do...play like tests....

    By Blogger worma, at 07:13  

  • Do you guys think they will keep Hayden if he goes on to make a 100 ? I think the axe then might fall on Damien Martyn.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 07:28  

  • damien martyn has his first series failure (if he fails in this game)....he was their best batsmen throughout last couple of seasons....why would they drop him ??? I dont think they are so 'emotional' about ashes as we think.

    I am not very sure if they were totally convinced to drop hayden also yet....they could have been in doubts..and his team-mates confidence could have saved him...anyways...now I dont see that happening, they would think all's ok for a while (although thats not my opinion, I think he is struggling...same as SG...against good bowling)

    but all this would surely tempt them to speed up the process of grooming the replacements.

    By Blogger worma, at 07:32  

  • Yeah I would much rather they drop Hayden...he's done well here but looks past his peak. I think Michael Hussey can take his place.
    Would hate it if Martyn is dropped...I really like his batting and he was the 2nd highest run-scorer last year. But the Aussie selectors will make a few changes to this ageing side and if Hayden makes a 100 it will be tough to drop him.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 08:00  

  • clannzu, the changes that Aus selectors might want to bring would not necessarily be immediate...but long term. Martyn has given no indications of being finished yet, a series failure has come in much greater batsmen's careers. They would persist with him for a much longer time.
    With Hayden, even if he gets more chances, hes never going to be the same again..so his time will come soon.

    By Blogger worma, at 08:09  

  • tiger, can you post the link here. can't seem to find it

    By Blogger worma, at 08:12  

  • Very defensive field for Giles...3 men on the boundary in the leg-side and 2 on the off.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 08:14  

  • whats this, have these teams switched rules? :)

    By Blogger Toney, at 08:15  

  • hi guys. been in & out all morning.

    Difficult conditions, well played the Aussies.

    yacrik, even at 161-0, the Aussies have a long way to go. The conditions suggest that wickets might fall if the Aussies try to accelerate so Vaughan is not too concerned (just yet).

    England will take a score of 275 for 3 or 4 as long as they keep the scoring down to 3.25 or there abouts.

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:24  

  • Does anyopne know if there are mre rains forecast?

    By Blogger Toney, at 08:25  

  • toney, its pretty beak here. Keeps on raining on and off. Rain forcast today & Tomorrow.

    Even if it does not rain, scoring is extremely difficult...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:26  

  • yeah saurabh...i guess with giles at one end..vaughan is looking to keep the runs down, not so much wkts...and see how they go, since he knows Aus would want to accelerate at one point. Might backfire though, if these two see off the tough times...the middle and lower order can accelerate much more than what vaughan might have seen this series

    By Blogger worma, at 08:29  

  • there was a passsing shower over my house 20 minutes ago. Must be the same. Nothing threatening....

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:35  

  • they have applied the accelerator. Interesting passage of play now...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:36  

  • suddenly you feel you are watching the "Old england" and the "Old Australia".

    :-)

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:37  

  • bowld

    By Blogger worma, at 08:37  

  • and out!!!

    Like I said, its difficult to attack in these conditions...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:38  

  • I love this game man! One ball, and the whole equation changes...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:39  

  • yeah..but Harmison was putting more effort also...a big diff from his bowling most of the time

    By Blogger worma, at 08:39  

  • Jeit, come on. 185 before he raises to the equation!!! High time, you would think...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:40  

  • and its raining now. What a time to take that wicket...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:40  

  • not yet yacrik. Martyn/Clarke and Ponting are not bad strikers of the ball...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 08:41  

  • Yeah apparently Vaughan told Harmison to go all out and rile up Langer with a few short ones. Harmison is much more dangerous when bowls just back of a good length instead of bowling full or bowling short. The extra bounce is hard to handle for any batsman.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 08:44  

  • clannzu..thats the problem...Harmison has to be 'woken up' from time to time, it seems....Saurabh....you were probably right...Harmison not there in World XI yet...dont know if he would ever mature enough

    By Blogger worma, at 08:48  

  • looks increasingly like no play for some time but the Aussies have a pretty good start, hopefully Gilchrist gets a few quick runs an dmakes up for the time lost

    By Blogger Toney, at 09:07  

  • painfully sinstripe, the weather ppaterns in this country still continues to amaze! It's sunshine in Richmond!

    Yesterday, we had hailstorm and flooding in Barne & Kingston and the Oval was relatively dry!

    An early start looks unlikely...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:08  

  • thx tiger, ilovecricket : the links does work. Although not sure how much I enjoy watching Kumble bat ;-)

    By Blogger worma, at 09:14  

  • guys, Richie Benaud interview on BBC Radio. Not to be missed.

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:16  

  • painfully sinstripe, you live in London or just visiting?

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:17  

  • no problems tiger. Benaud claims to have a simple philosophy with commentating on Television; Dont offend the viewer by stating the obvious.

    I remember his commentry when England won at Edgebaston by two runs. He just said three words as the camera moved from Jones taking the Catch, Bowden raising his finger and Harmison jumping with Joy.

    "Jones....Bowden....Harmison" and then paused for a few seconds (No "England have won by two runs", "What a game", etc)

    Fact is, everyone knew what had happened and not many were actually listening to the commentary...

    Classic stuff...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:29  

  • painfully, lets try to meet sometimes.

    In fact, I think there are other guys on this blog who live in/around London.

    A drink to celebrate this summar would be nice...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:30  

  • yacrik, we are assuming the Aussies will reach 500 and then England will collapse for 125. If this happens, the the Aussies deserve to win (or England deserve to lose the Ashes).

    But right now, draw is beginining to look like the most likely result...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:39  

  • saurabh_wahi@hotmail.com

    mobile: 07833 675084.

    Game sounds like a good idea. UK XI VS US XI would be great! We can get Prem to caoch the US team and see how good he really is :-)

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 09:50  

  • yacrik, I agree but I think the bowling & batting side should have one decision per session where they can request that the decison can be refered to the Third-Umpire. This will not slow the game too much and will help get rid of most of the umoiring errors...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:01  

  • Play in 15mins??

    By Blogger Toney, at 10:13  

  • I wonder whether cricket will go back to what it was if Aus manage to win

    By Blogger Toney, at 10:23  

  • toney..you mean dominant aussie period? well in either case...there's not much change in the short term...if Aus get their full bowling attack...they're still going to dominate most other teams. Eng meanwhile, would continue to being good, if they have some backup bowlers(and not always expect these four to play). Whether they will improve or not, we'll find out this winter

    By Blogger worma, at 10:28  

  • I think there will be a level playing field with Warne & McGrath gone. The matches will be more competitive instead of one-sided drabs. And that only be good for the game.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 10:34  

  • "At eight minutes past three came the worst moment of the Ashes summer so far. Matthew Hayden smiled." - Simon Barnes.
    :)

    By Blogger Pavan, at 10:35  

  • clannzu, I would rather prefer the game to be one-sided drab..if its on our 'side' :)

    By Blogger worma, at 10:42  

  • RP looks scratchy

    By Blogger Toney, at 10:46  

  • agree with you, yacrik. But I have this feeling the Aussies will do something. You dont really need two absolutely fantastic players, but you do need 11 good players and the Aussies have plenty of them. At least one of them will go on to be an above avg bowler too

    By Blogger Toney, at 10:47  

  • yeah..saw that hook shot...but looking to score. and harmy still in the zone right now

    By Blogger worma, at 10:47  

  • That was one heck of a ball from Harmison...this is the kind of hostile bowling I want to see.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 10:50  

  • Bad move to bring Giles on now.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 10:52  

  • its suprising how consistently Hayden is struggling. We were talking of Chopra yestday, he's playing like that. I dont remember any other Aussie player ever batting like this!

    By Blogger worma, at 10:58  

  • Easy singles coming with Giles...all the pressure build up by Harmy being let off.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 10:59  

  • jd - it was me who mentioned that yesterday...Hayden holding back yesterday is looking more confident and sure about his footwork today.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:01  

  • yeah but clannzu, he's not only holding himself..he is consistently struggling to play within himeslf also...even now close to his century. Sachin...when he refrains himself...is not edgy and pokey

    By Blogger worma, at 11:04  

  • worma, Abt Chopra struggling, I read a few earlier (May-June) posts from Prem and also some links from Chopra, seems like he buckled down per team instructions. It isnt fair to say that he struggled, esp in Aus.

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:05  

  • worma - right now he's not edgy at all. Playing more like the Hayden we've loved to hate.
    Vaughan needs to bring some fielders in...and get a short leg when Harmison is bowling. Runs coming here at a good rate.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:06  

  • toney, sure Chopra was instructed to play out. But as during that time also, Wright and Ganguly kept saying (when looking for replacement) that they also needed runs from that end. Not just holding it up. So, am sure, they would have said so much to Chopra also? That chopra was able to follow one part of the instructions so well was to his credit. But they felt there was more needed, and possible from that end

    By Blogger worma, at 11:07  

  • seems Hayden's bad form has ended, the dges are going b/w keeper and slip :)

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:07  

  • yeah clannzu, hes coming back to some extent.

    By Blogger worma, at 11:09  

  • That was out...Ponting gets a life.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:09  

  • yep that was out!

    By Blogger worma, at 11:10  

  • actually not out...zoom in shows

    By Blogger worma, at 11:11  

  • Looked like there was a deflection onto the pads.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:12  

  • Hmm, RP was out, wonder if Gilchrist will give him a dressing down for not walking :-)

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:13  

  • No worma, they showed the deflection very clearly

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:13  

  • zoom in shows no deflection. Greig commented on that also. Snickometer not conclusive !

    By Blogger worma, at 11:16  

  • Snicko confirms the edge...Tony Greig for some reason thinks the snicko indicates the ball hitting the pad & then the bat hitting the pad.
    But the thin vertical lines indicate an edge whereas the thicker lines are sounds off the pad.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:16  

  • The pitch has held on quite well for all the rain and humidity. The bounce is even and not much swing either though only Hoggard truly swings the ball.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:20  

  • Hey, I saw in one of the replays that the ball clearly deflected into the pads off the bat. Not kidding, one replay, dont know why they didnt show it again. And it was a pretty close-up shot, the snickometer one showed a sharpp surge, something assoicated with ball hitting the bat, not bat and pad or ball and pad coming in contact. The contact b/w ball and pad, immediately after the surge had a different indication on the graph

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:21  

  • Hayden 100, great application at last

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:23  

  • was it? Maybe

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:25  

  • Hey, Pratt is on the field, Greig commenting abt it :) You know what, tey should place him at silly mid-off, just to get under RP's skin

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:26  

  • damn the rain, cant they play in NY, the weather is soo good here now :)

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:28  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:28  

  • I think RP and Hayden should open up now, will be real fun if they do

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:30  

  • All the English players congratulating Hayden on his 100. If it were me I'd call him selfish for playing slowly and just to keep his place in the side. ;-)

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:31  

  • Wonder if this is enough to save Hayden though, even Langer will be a bit weary of the selectors, though he's been in better form

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:42  

  • toney I think he will survive for a while, as I said the selectors may be in doubts...to keep or replace....but now with this century (and even otherwise) his team-mates and captain would have supported him. Now more so. So IMO he would be there for a while.

    By Blogger worma, at 11:45  

  • echoing what the commentators are saying, if there are two more days play, how much should the Aussies be looking to be getting?

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:46  

  • Australia with a lead of 200 should be quite a handful on the last day.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:51  

  • I think one day is good enough to get them out...so look to bat till late tomorrow..maybe give 10-15 ovrs to Eng. And runs wont matter once they cross the Eng total...even a lead of 80-100 means Eng can't hope to win

    By Blogger worma, at 11:52  

  • But England doesn't even need to win...they will be more than happy with a draw. So bigger the lead the more pressure England is under.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 11:54  

  • I really wish we can see a last day with Aus having a good chance to win, that'll be the best possible end to this series

    By Blogger Toney, at 11:56  

  • calnnzu...if Eng is not looking to win, then amount of lead hardly matters...they would be playing to survive, isn't it? So the lead should be enough to let Aus go for a win, even if Eng are able to cross the lead, on last day. And Aus can hope to chase down anything under 100 on last day...even with a run-rate of 4-5

    By Blogger worma, at 11:58  

  • suraj, if u read the whole thing...I said Aus should look to bat till close to end of day tomorrow...and look to have a go at Eng at last 10-15 ovrs....now consider this, at this stage if Aus lead by 80-100 runs....do you expect them to close down that lead....manage a big enough target, and then run down Aus again...all in the span of one last day...and some 10 ovrs ???

    By Blogger worma, at 12:00  

  • Botham was suggesting a while ago that - Aus should declare when they come within 50 runs of Eng's total, then try to bowl out Eng in quick time (say, in 2-3 sessions) and should fancy themselves chasing it down on the last day. Though it sounds a little risky, the "old Aus" could have considered that.

    By Blogger Nag, at 12:03  

  • Did any of you read abt a SLan batsman-captain also being part of the match fixing and bar-girl scandal?
    Though I am not fond of cricketnext or Sanjay Jha, here's an article that says some of the ICC Mini WC in Eng were fixed too

    http://www.cricketnext.com/news1/next/sanjay/sanjay015.htm

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:03  

  • toney any idea what is getting covered in more mainstream media in india on this. Sanjay Jha mentions currently hogging front - page headline news in leading national newspapers. I dont see much in main news of most sites...but Mid Day was the first one to come out with this story, with info (without self-inserted analysis) on who was caught, what did the police reveal etc. There was absolutely no hint of match-fixing in all that was found out. Lots of money involved, betting...and other 'activities'....but how does that matter. If there was no match fixing, then this has nothing to do with cricket, isn't it so?

    By Blogger worma, at 12:07  

  • worma, I think what Jha means is Times Of India - leading paper alright, not online though. One trashy paper it is but they cover all the sleaze that goes around :)

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:10  

  • play in 18 minutes, good. Really looking fwds to RP and party's onslaught

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:12  

  • worma - I say lead about 150-200 so that even if England do manage to surpass the lead...Australia if they get England out probably won't have to score a lot to win it.
    However with just a lead of 80-100 gives England enough time to even go past that score and get a good lead themselves.
    Regardless of the final lead its imperative that Australia have a go at England preferably late evening tomorrow and get a wicket or two before close of play.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 12:16  

  • 19.1 overs for the day

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 12:18  

  • sure clannzu, Aus wont mind lead of 150-200...but what if they reach of end tomorrow with lead of 100 ? Sould they go on, or take a chance with Warne? I think latter.

    By Blogger worma, at 12:19  

  • Oh definitely try to bowl england out.

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 12:22  

  • If we have a full day's play and another ten overs today, I think 100 is a closer lead than 150-200, they'll use any lead they have by tomorrow (assuming they bat that length of time)

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:22  

  • saurabh 18.1 ovrs :)

    By Blogger worma, at 12:27  

  • Benaud suggested he should declare around Lunch tomorrow and get his bowlers to bowl to England under overcast conditions and chase whatever they set on Monday when the weather is clearer.

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 12:34  

  • check out Indian innings score...now here on cricinfo. Lax, kaif, yuv got out cheaply. SG, Kumble, Karthik got some runs. SG has some problem in the arm.

    By Blogger worma, at 12:39  

  • Pain in his right elbow, another tennis elbow?

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:45  

  • yeah:)...Maybe he will take the break when sachin comes back

    By Blogger worma, at 12:53  

  • Freddie strikes :-)

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 12:54  

  • yeah...strauss looks like a v good catcher...another imp component in test team...good slip fielders..

    By Blogger worma, at 12:55  

  • Oh crap, MArtyn in the middle, would have liked to see Clarke

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:56  

  • Martyn plays far far away from his body

    By Blogger Toney, at 12:57  

  • What a beauty !

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 13:05  

  • yeah...freddie is doing a special here !

    By Blogger worma, at 13:05  

  • I really really hope AF and SH are fit and raring when they come to India

    By Blogger Toney, at 13:05  

  • SH am not sure...its not fitness issue with him. Anyways...I'm sure AF wud do well here, even with the bat.

    By Blogger worma, at 13:17  

  • Slater taking a slight jab at Boycott. :-)

    By Blogger ClannZú, at 13:28  

  • dont think the BCCI would do anything to increase the no of tests, they have always been in the money spinning business, so if it was upto them, they would have had 0 tests and 15 ODIs

    By Blogger Toney, at 19:38  

Post a Comment

<< Home