Ashes: T5 Day4 Open Thread
The Aussies have to bat the whole day today, or atleast a big part of it, and hope for atleast a lead of around 100. Flintoff is bowling extremely well, and Harmison seemed to be coming to his elements in his last spell yesterday. The first session is again important, especially because the new ball is also due. If these two are still fired up and manage to run through the middle order, most of the Aussie hopes would end then and there.
So, exciting day ahead. If only the weather holds up. Open thread....
So, exciting day ahead. If only the weather holds up. Open thread....
posted by worma at
5:02 AM
44 Comments:
Flintoff gets Martyn.
By
ClannZú, at 05:39
yes, martyn, of all aussie players, has shown the least application in his stay at crease this summer! And he's been amongst their best last season. Something seriously wrong with his head !
btw clannzu, noted your point about hayden comment
By
worma, at 05:44
Umpires getting their light meters out. :-)
By
ClannZú, at 05:59
Flintoff drops !
By
ClannZú, at 06:05
Ok intentions clear now from Australia.
By
ClannZú, at 06:05
yeah aus have probably decided that even if they throw the bat around and loose a few wkts, they'll still end up few runs ahead...
By
worma, at 06:12
they've given up hope of swing...trying to test batsmen's reflexes in tough conditions...harmy was warming up
By
worma, at 06:22
I was just about to say that jiet...slip in a fast toe-crunching yorker.
By
ClannZú, at 06:22
why aren't they testing hayden outside the off? thats where he is weak, not on the pull !
By
worma, at 06:27
hmm, yes maybe so. But he should try and adjust..its no point trying to scare the batsmen, even if its bad light, not esp Hayden....he's been vulnerable to in swing, or the in-climbing ball just outside the off...and I think Eng have forgotten that in this innings to some extent, didn't test him enough after first day. Its not just reverse swing, that line itself would have been tough for him to play...even now
By
worma, at 06:32
Harmison needs to be keyed in every so often...get him fired up.
By
ClannZú, at 06:35
yeah clannzu...they must have some formula for him...his last spell yestday was good
By
worma, at 06:37
hayden gone...will they change the order..send Gilly up?
By
worma, at 06:43
Fuck yes...Hayden gone. Rudi Koertzen lifts his finger in extra slow motion. :p
By
ClannZú, at 06:43
Commentators saying Warne thinks Australia should declare early and put England in to make best use of overcast conditions. Not sure if thats such a good ploy because if light is offered to England they will take it straight away.
By
ClannZú, at 06:47
yep clannzu..thats what Greig also said
By
worma, at 06:48
Clarke's swing goes almost straight to Bell at deep point who doesn't pick it up at all due to bad light.
By
ClannZú, at 06:50
Channel 4 analyst Simon Hughes showing that Hayden gets on the front foot to Hoggard and played that wonderful straight drive but same length ball from Flintoff he stayed on the crease due to the pace and extra bounce Freddie generates and got hit in front of stumps.
Again this is brilliant coverage that ESPN-Star and SET Max could learn from.
By
ClannZú, at 06:55
clannzu, what is the reason for ESP-Star or SET to improve coverage ? They're not looking to attract more viewers anyway. The whole country anyway watches, no matter what..
By
worma, at 06:57
yacrik if you're 70 yards away from the pitch trying to pick the ball in this light is pretty difficult..also the background at The Oval doens't help because of the colourful stands and buildings.
By
ClannZú, at 06:58
Freddie is bowling splendidly.
By
ClannZú, at 07:07
Agreed...Hoggard's figures belie his bowling as another edge flies pass the slips.
By
ClannZú, at 07:12
Gilly gone..Hoggard finally gets the reward for his toil.
By
ClannZú, at 07:29
Which just brings home the point whether this aussie batting ever really performed against a top class attack?
By
Anonymous, at 07:38
And by top class I exclude:
Caddick,gough .. they were just cannon fodder..
cant remember them being that comfy against the pakis when gilchrist made hsi debut. saqlain and wasim made them cringe.. the saving grace for the aussies in that series was the woeful paki batting
By
Anonymous, at 07:39
G.Jones drops another off Hoggard and again its Clarke who gets the let-off.
By
ClannZú, at 08:15
Warne gone..Flintoff gets a 5-fer to his name.
By
ClannZú, at 08:29
i think aus shud declare now..
By
worma, at 08:31
yule - cut off Hayden's 138 from Australia score and see where they would have stood then. Hayden did what he was intended to do...hold on end up while the others scored...it worked yesterday and Australia were in a good position to take the lead. But today Flintoff & Hoggard turned it around with some helpful conditions but mainly good bowling.
By
ClannZú, at 08:51
Light meter just comes out...and the umpires think its good enough for now.
yule - That problem was not supposed to be in consideration today because Australia were thinking of batting till Tea and maybe a bit more and get a good lead.
Tomorrow is supposed to be bright and so Australia could have gone all out for a win...they still can bowl England out but light will go against them now.
By
ClannZú, at 09:07
Umpires telling Ponting that Lee can't bowl in this light so he turns to Warne.
By
ClannZú, at 09:10
And he strikes...Strauss gone.
By
ClannZú, at 09:13
Woohooo...Eng walks off. :-]
By
ClannZú, at 09:22
Boycott thinks since spinners are bowling its not fair to offer the light to the batsmen. As there is no physical danger to the batsmen.
Simon Hughes asking Rudi Koertzen about the decision and he said that they took a reading and decided spinners needed to bowl and then once we think that its getting unfair with the spinners bowling as well then we offer the light.
By
ClannZú, at 09:32
Very interesting discussion about the bad light law.
Basically the law states that if the umpires feel the safety of the players or umpire is at risk due to ground, weather or other conditions then they should suspend play.
Earlier the rule had "physical danger" which has now been taken out which might suggest that if its difficult to pick the ball...the umpires can call off play.
However the law still says that the "risk of safety" should be the criteria and with spinners bowling there is no physical danger.
Even Atherton, Boycott & Mark Nicholas think its a wrong call by the umpires to call off play when spinners are bowling. Only reason is that they are being consistent since Australia were offered the light when Giles & Flintoff were bowling.
By
ClannZú, at 09:46
Players back on...and Warne bowls the first over. Glen McGrath now bowling from the other end.
By
ClannZú, at 10:14
Two loseners from McGrath and Vaughan dispatches them to the boundary. He's not getting the swing Hoggard & Flintoff were getting in similar conditions. Probably still not at his best.
By
ClannZú, at 10:17
Where is everybody ?
I'm talking to myself here...Warne looking very dangerous.
By
ClannZú, at 10:21
clannzu, me around. Just got too engrossed in the Warne show :)
By
worma, at 10:29
tiger 50+ ovrs...or till 7pm whichever is earlier...but bad light looks likely to come before
By
worma, at 10:31
I have a feeling Michael Clarke will pick a wicket.
By
ClannZú, at 10:37
doesnt seem to be putting too much revvs on the ball
By
worma, at 10:40
England probably thinking if Clarke goes for runs..all the pressure Warne build up is negated and Ponting has to make another change.
By
ClannZú, at 10:42
So the rain which finally threatened this series comes at the perfect time for England. It almost seems like a script written up above. And this is a huge change in world order now. And now England will have the pressure of being the unofficial no 1 (I'm not sure winning this series put's them above the Aussies in the ICC rankings). This is a refreshing change, though I hope this one lasts long. I do believe the Indian team has a chance to beat the Poms when they come around in 2006. And that will be a huge morale booster if that happens.
By
Ashwin Ramachandran, at 13:04
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