Fair enough, and I enjoy defensive matches in almost every sport I watch, so good bowling and fielding would trump a 320 run chase for me if it meant seeing some awesome catches. With cricket though I don't know if I could stand a team batting 1s as a defensive mechanism for draw. If you can't win, you can't win. Isn't that what sport is about? I'm sure when I start to understand the intricacies of bowling a little more than I do right now, I'll appreciate the test some more.
That's a much better response than I've come to expect from most australians! (I've had this argument a thousand times). I think my favourite thing to watch in cricket is the opening batsmen vs the opening bowlers at the start of a day (moreso, the start of a test). Two pairs of the country's best cricketers chipping away at the other's confidence until someone cracks. Confidence is key and as the batter's confidence rises or drops, the bowler's confidence generally does the opposite. Next time you're watching, think about the reasons somebody might deliver the ball a certain way, or set up the field a certain way. An obvious one is the bouncer, for which there are rules limiting their use. It's a low percentage delivery for a wicket, but the batter can't block it, and pull/hook shots are difficult. Either the batter ducks out of the way, which is a sign they're intimidated by the bowler, or they try to pull/hook a boundary. A very easy boundary if you hit it sweetly, but it could go straight up in the air.
I think the most impressive thing about the innings is that we now have proof of extra terrestrial life.
lol Australia trying to play Test cricket, how long until they team up with India to try and make it a 50 over max sport?
Indian players would much rather play 20/20 and one day cricket, more money and they're better at it. Australia are 6 ranks higher or something like that in one day compared to test cricket?
Yeah but, only a few seasons ago we were unstoppable for ages. These things ebb and flow, and limited overs is diet cricket for women and hairless men.
I totally agree which is mostly why I appreciate the Australian attitude i.e. who cares if we're no.1 in one day cricket if we're lagging in test rankings. I still only give it a few years before the juggernaut that is India rolls over everyone else to decrease test cricket as much as possible. The fact that they are the ONLY country opposed to DRS but still stop it being implemented shows how much power they have amongst the ICB
Stopped following cricket properly when Andrew Symonds was dropped (and Warne, Mcgrath, Langer, Gilchrist etc retired). The state of Aussie cricket now is aweful. Change the fucking selectors/management. Its a fucking boys club. They are afraid to make tough decisions and will never drop their favourites (Hussey, Clarke), and screw over more deserving players (Love, Hodge, Jacques, Katich, S Clarke). Shaun Marsh in test cricket? Granted hes had a good start, but how long will that last. David Warner called up to replace him? Yeah thats a good idea, bring a 20/20 specialist in. We need some fucking players who can carve out some runs in tough conditions (Katich) and have a technique that will stand up when they are out of form/under pressure. I haven't seen Lyon, but I'm guessing hes an average spinner who hardly spins the ball, and all his wickets come from him serving meat pies that are caught on the boundary. Develop a fucking spinner Australia. Or call up Katich as the main spinner.
Khawaja is a good prospect, would love to see him produce some big scores this season. Warner is not a Test player, don't understand that selection at all.
Terrible effort again. Watson and Hughes set us up nicely, and the rest fucked it up. Ponting must be nearing the end.
I was seriously waiting for it. Hughes has to go. I don't care if he makes a few runs a year, fuck off. Watson has to move down the order. Johnson has to go. Same concept as Hughes, one good performance a year or two is not fucking good enough and he's not coming good. Haddin HAS to go. Complete airhead. Ponting... has to go. Siddle almost has to go as well. Fuck I wish Harris wasn't so injury prone.
FUCK YEAH I dozed off and missed the end, but fuck yeah. Good to see the guys who needed to contribute doing something. I'd say there will still be a few changes very soon.
oh it's weird cause the first summer test started here today (vs NZ), and you posted just after it finished.
I wish cricket was...at all....accessible in the US. I know cricket would never have anything close to a following here, but it's always sort of fascinated me. The fact that it only ever really comes on at like 2:30 in the morning when I'm half-awake probably helps.
I was there yesterday, saw us bowl em all out and punter and clarke almost make their half centuries, good day.
Yeah, late start at work tomorrow means I can actually watch it. Fuck this portable AM radio bullshit.
Congrats to Michael Clarke, I honestly never thought he was a good enough batsman to make a really big innnings
Yeah I thought it was too early, but maybe he didn't want to be seen as selfish. Fuck that, how many chances do you get to play on for an innings like that? He could have batted most of the day and declared around tea time, still giving plenty of time to roll India.
I'm impressed with our new quicks coming through, but can any of them survive more than a few matches before getting injured? Fuck.
two patto's gone fuck this shit yeah our bowling stocks are looking good. siddle and hilf have been amazing this summer. i suppose starc and harris will come into the side for perth, they won't play lyon. wish cutting wasn't injured, he should have got the nod ahead of starc for the nz series but LEFT ARMERS OMG BEST THING EVERRRR
As well as Australia have played you can't help thinking that India stopped caring about Test cricket a few months ago. Woeful performances ever since the first test in England
lol "stopped caring" nah, they just can't play away from home. simple as. no dead pitches. but geez, sydney was pretty dead but they blew it on the first day
Watch Sehwag play in recent tests and tell me he is doing all he can to win the game. Combined with the fact that it looks like he put on a stone in weight whilst injured suggests there's a little bit of motivation lacking there
