: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:22 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

If they need that to get motivated, they're in the wrong business.

Likewise if it affects their performance in a negative way then surely?

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:26 pm  

cut the shonkie tactics out. play in the spirit of the great game

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:29 am  

Stuart Broad holds on to his place. I can only assume he is being kept on simply for his batting.

At least Onions has replaced the spinner who is unable to spin the ball and who's only 'change ball' is a wide, long-hop.

Maybe it's nostaligia, but IMO international bowling attacks are generally very poor at the moment. Most international bowlers appear to be slightly quicker and more aggressive versions of Derek Pringle.

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:19 am  

Decent start 65 without loss England having won the toss and batted.

Pitch is another flat, slow pudding apparently, which with the weather scheduled to take a turn for the worse overnight and into the weekend would point towards a draw.

As a sidenote, Mitchell Johnson - one series wonder?

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:26 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Decent start 65 without loss England having won the toss and batted.

Pitch is another flat, slow pudding apparently, which with the weather scheduled to take a turn for the worse overnight and into the weekend would point towards a draw.

As a sidenote, Mitchell Johnson - one series wonder?

Not wanting to temp fate but he could not spray it any wider if he tried. If this was Harmison people on here would be running out of socks!!

[Matt_Horton]

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:32 am  

According to Aggers on Tiwtter he's been speaking to the groundsman, some bloke called Mike Hunt, and he says there is some life in the pitch.

Is there a relevance between the groundsman and the statement?

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:15 pm  

Oldham Rhino wrote:

According to Aggers on Tiwtter he's been speaking to the groundsman, some bloke called Mike Hunt, and he says there is some life in the pitch.

Is there a relevance between the groundsman and the statement?

"Have you seen Mike Hunt?!"

I'm surprised the Aussies only managed to bowl 29 overs in the first session. They seemed to be getting through their overs much quicker than that on the final day in Cardiff.

At the risk of tempting fate I thought Mitchell Johnson looked the weakest of the Aussie seamers in the first Test. He's got a very round arm action and seemed to struggle to keep his line.

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:15 pm  

Very nice start. Please England – build on this.

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:16 pm  

125-0 at lunch, I'll settle for that!

Obviously it'll lead to a collapse just after lunch, but let's enjoy it while we can. I fully expect Johnson to get the majority of the wickets, seeing as the BBC text service tell me he's been bowling like an absolute drain.

: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:17 pm  

Prince of Denmark wrote:

At the risk of tempting fate I thought Mitchell Johnson looked the weakest of the Aussie seamers in the first Test. He's got a very round arm action and seemed to struggle to keep his line.

His arm is lower than it was in South Africa where he was so successful, he's also changing his wrist position on delivery so the ball is coming out with a scrambled seam as well.

Puts a lot more pressure on Hilfenhaus and Siddle to take wickets when their assumed "strike" bowler in Lee's absence is leaking runs all over the park.