In this very 1st Ashes Test, No Australian Bowlers had any experience of bowling in the English Soil. Cardiff's Pitch is very much on the slower side, Where spin can really play a big big role.
But Austrlia lacks in the spin department with Hauirtz and other part time spinners Katich and Clarke
England had 2 great spinners in their team, Greame Swann and Monty Panesar.
Australia cannot expect to take 20 wickets depending on some part time spinners to do the job for them
So...Austrlia will definitely struggle in this test
Re: aussie batting
by Suman Das on Jul 08, 2009 05:44 PM
i dont think ponting and clarke would contribute anything in this english tour. Australia's defence in the Ashes all depends on Hussey and Katich. They are the 2 most stable and inform player who had a very major role to play.
i dont think that lee will be fit before the 4th test. the australians were very weak at the initial stages and now with brett lee getting injured all pressure comes on mitchell johnson and i dont think he can capitalize it well that in the ashes which he is playing for the first time and that too in front of english crowds. so th3ey will definitely win this time as they have they also dont have quality spinners.
In papers still aus is the good team compared to england where as it a said that cricket is an unpredictable game. i will still bet on the Aus becoz they have better batting lineup than england and england are ovrall depended on KP and collingwood considering in their recent forms. But ausssie team have players like Ponting,Hussey,Clarke in in the batting line up.
Re: Re: Poor selection by Ponting........
by Anurag Rathore on Jul 08, 2009 03:33 PM
Yes. There is no need to play with two spinner. Sidebottom is very good with new bowl. S.Broad can be use as one change.
Re: Re: Re: Poor selection by Ponting........
by ASHISH KUMAR on Jul 08, 2009 05:08 PM
If Flintoff & KP fit for entire series, Eng will win this series as Aus lacks match winners after retirement of old players like Gilly, hyden,warne, Mcgrath etc.
Both England and Australia are now a shadow of their former selves, with England looking slightly better on paper before the start of the series.
I think Bret Lee hasn't been in any great form in recent months and his absence will not make any difference to Aussie bowling. On their day, Johnson and Stuart Clark can make life hell for England batsmen if there is any assistance from the pitch.
In my view, KP and Alestair Cook are the batsmen to watch from England and Sidebottom and Anderson the bowlers who could help their side. Freddie could yet again be a passenger.
The greatest worry for Aussies should be the lacklustre form of Ponting and Clarke in recent times.
Overall, I would like Aussies to win the series, but wouldn't put my money on either side!
Re: Musings
by vijay M on Jul 08, 2009 03:12 PM
They have dropped Stuart Clark from the final 11 and the spinner Nathan Hauritz is worse than part time spinners in the Indian team.
This is such an over hyped series and will turn out to be a dud. My guess is Aussies will be beaten to a pulp. Their bowling attack looks weaker than Bangladesh. The whole team looks like a shadow of the former champion side. Without Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath they never would have become so invincible. Now that they have left, they are just another beatable side.
Lee has lost his pace and don't deserve the place in test squad. Don't see his performance in practice matches. There is lot of difference between practice match and international level. His performance is very poor in test in recent years. He is only in the team because of Ponting who trust on him.
M.Johnson, P.Siddle and Hilfanhaus are good. But Aussies selectors should taken S.Tait. M.Clarke, S.Katich and Macdonald will fill the place of 5th bowler.
Re: B.Lee couldn't make big difference.....
by ASHISH KUMAR on Jul 08, 2009 05:11 PM
Presently best bowling attack in World cricket as follows- 1)South Africa 2)Srilanka 3)England 4)NZL(including bond) 5)Aus/India 6)Pakistan/WI
