Have I missed something???

[ledge]

Re: Have I missed something???

Ponting went out cheaply this morning and his facial expressions as he left the ground were not good , looked like a man under pressure and not looking forward to this series.

Finally he has a side he has to captain well and will not win games due to the great players he had.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Have I missed something???

I always liked the analogy about the kid who had friends because he was the only kid at school that had a swimming pool.

I was playing around with the analogy, had games console in there but I much prefer your one.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Have I missed something???

Omit the Bulldog reference in your name and you'll have it right I reckon

Meow.

[lemmon]

Re: Have I missed something???

Currently the Englands lions are 219/5
Brett Lee has figures of 18 overs, 5 maidens, 5/47
No other bowler has had any impact. Well done son you just earnt your place in the starting 11.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Have I missed something???

Currently the Englands lions are 219/5
Brett Lee has figures of 18 overs, 5 maidens, 5/47
No other bowler has had any impact. Well done son you just earnt your place in the starting 11.

Lee's reverse swinging indippers which turn into sand-shoe crushers are the most devastating pill in world cricket when they work.

Let's hope he can recapture that delivery when it counts.

[Happy Days]

Re: Have I missed something???

Lee bowled with great consistency in his 17 overs;

Then he went off for a rest.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Have I missed something???

Australia squad selection ridiculous - Chappell

Ian Chappell believes Australia have picked a "ridiculous" Ashes squad and it would be "nonsense" to rely on part-time spinners during the series. Chappell, who captained the 1972 and 1975 touring squads, has tipped England to prevail in the five-match contest, a prediction backed by the former England captain Tony Greig.

"If you're looking for clues as to who might win, I always look at the bowling attacks," Chappell told Cricinfo. "Generally you can go with the team with the best attack. At the moment England certainly have got it.

"A bit will depend on [Andrew] Flintoff and his fitness, but if he's fit and can stand up for all five Tests then England have definitely got the better attack, and a better balanced attack. On that basis I would have them slight favourites."

Greig, who played in 21 Ashes Tests, said he was not convinced the Australian batsmen could handle the England bowlers if they swung the ball like they did in 2005. "I'd go for England, but only by a whisker," he said. "There's always so much tension around the first Ashes Test so temperament could play a very important part."

A four-man pace brigade is a strong possibility for Australia following the disappointing early performances of the offspinner Nathan Hauritz and Chappell said the balance of the side was the biggest concern going into the first Test in Cardiff on Wednesday. "I just don't believe part-time spinners can do the job for you," he said, as Australia consider the merits of using Marcus North, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich instead of Hauritz.

"They should have learned the lesson after what they tried in India and that was an abject failure. You might get away with it on occasions. You shouldn't win Test matches against decent cricket teams relying on part-time spinners. The selectors have made an absolute nonsense of what they've done with spinners." Chappell would prefer Australia to play three fast men and a slow bowler.

He also said it was a mistake not having a specialist top-order batsman in the squad, especially with Phillip Hughes' early-tour problems. "I thought it was ridiculous," he said. "Certainly not going with a third opening batsman is just asking for trouble. There seems to be this widespread feeling that Hughes is fine, he's going to be a star. Well, he's only played three Tests. He's got a very unorthodox technique that could come unglued at any time. If it happens to be a wet summer in England he could be in a bit of trouble."

[ledge]

Re: Have I missed something???

Ian Chappell never one to hold back!

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Have I missed something???

He hasn't actually come and said which spinner he would pick.

His post doesn't meet WOOF standards.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Have I missed something???

Wait for it - Neil Harvey will be next - also fukl of praise for everything

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Have I missed something???

Krezja and McGain are the biggest spinners in Australia, but bleeds runs. Both have been given very limited time to prove themselves while out of form, near on retirees get as many chances as they like.

I honestly beleive Marcus North moves the ball more than Hauroty who is poo. He is a slow bowler. McDonald a slow/medium bowler who offers far, far much more. Keeps it tight and makes things happen and can bat a little bit.