2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

[Ozza]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Considering our current side is far inferior than the sides of say, 1995-2007 - would this be one of the worst/most out of form English sides that has been sent out here for a long time?

The teams that were flogged by Taylor, Waugh and Ponting's sides were up against some of the best line ups ever. Being belted comprehensively in this series - if it continues this way - is a pretty bad look for the current English team.

[azabob]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

OK you arm chair guru's -

Why are we 2 nil up? What has changed in the space of a few months.

Is it the new coach? the batsmen performing? the bowlers performing? Geeting sick of the negative press?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Considering our current side is far inferior than the sides of say, 1995-2007 - would this be one of the worst/most out of form English sides that has been sent out here for a long time?

The teams that were flogged by Taylor, Waugh and Ponting's sides were up against some of the best line ups ever. Being belted comprehensively in this series - if it continues this way - is a pretty bad look for the current English team.

Beat me to it, this is exactly what I would've said.

[Sedat]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Considering our current side is far inferior than the sides of say, 1995-2007 - would this be one of the worst/most out of form English sides that has been sent out here for a long time?

Absolutely. Feeble and timid are the words that spring to mind. Complete lack of interest in fighting to hold onto the urn.

Those English teams from 89-03 were simply rubbish. By contrast this team has talent but no desire or intestinal fortitude whatsoever. They have been completely blown away by a willing and hungry opponent.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Excellent surprise, and a big difference with a United happy team.
Wouldn't underplay Lehmann's role in all this, as he took a bunch of young players to a shield a few years ago.

[Ozza]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Absolutely. Feeble and timid are the words that spring to mind. Complete lack of interest in fighting to hold onto the urn.

Those English teams from 89-03 were simply rubbish. By contrast this team has talent but no desire or intestinal fortitude whatsoever. They have been completely blown away by a willing and hungry opponent.

4 dismissals were caught on the boundary....chasing 530/trying to bat 2 days when rain was forecast. Some outrageous dismissals for a team who should have been trying to guts out a draw. What about Ian Bell's dismissal?!

This mob is completely shot, mentally. And it doesn't help when the captain is out hooking, caught on the boundary, for one.

[Ozza]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Excellent surprise, and a big difference with a United happy team.
Wouldn't underplay Lehmann's role in all this, as he took a bunch of young players to a shield a few years ago.

I know players are always happier when they're winning - but they certainly seem a far more united side.

Bailey and Smith seem to be good for the side in terms of morale - well liked, and energetic.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

OK you arm chair guru's -

Why are we 2 nil up? What has changed in the space of a few months.

Is it the new coach? the batsmen performing? the bowlers performing? Geeting sick of the negative press?

Combination of factors:

1. Coach - Lehman doing a great job.
2. Johnson's bowling - he is really firing
3. Clarke's batting compared to in England
4. Homeground wickets and home BALL makes a difference to the bowlers.
5. Some interesting stats - Smith has got Bell out three times now - In the past Bell killed us, Siddle has bowled Petersen 9 times in test cricket.
7. England's bowlers struggling on our pitches. Swan, Andersen really are the main ones.
8. Cook also struggling compared to last time they were here.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

9. Fielding standards. This is a well drilled team in the field. It's light years away from the slap dash attitude that had prevailed in the Australian team over the last few years.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

10. to hell with the sports scientists, to hell with the rotation selection policy and to hell with "informed player management" and in with actually picking the best players and having a settled team.

11. and to hell with being meek and subserviant but in with playing with pride, passion and good old fashioned aussie grit & toughness

thanks Boof for bringing it back!

[GVGjr]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

It has nothing to do with Boof because the batting is still brittle. McDermott is the one person who has steered this in the right direction.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

It has nothing to do with Boof because the batting is still brittle. McDermott is the one person who has steered this in the right direction.

Yes credit to McDermott and they keep talking about the bowling plans, BUT Boof also deserves credit. There is obviously some self belief that was previously missing and all the "toxic relationships" under Mickey Arthur seem to have disappeared.

The fielding has also risen to standards reminiscent of the 90s sides.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

It has nothing to do with Boof because the batting is still brittle. McDermott is the one person who has steered this in the right direction.

Agree with McDermott, but disagree with Lehmann's contribution .
The dressing room seems more content , and although I agree the batting is brittle that can't be put at the feet of Lehmann.
Not many great batsmen around at the moment, although it's an improvement on the last couple of seasons.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

Are we getting ahead of ourselves? We have bowled very well but Clarke, Warner and Haddin have been the ones that kept us competitive with the bat.

I'm concerned that if Johnson doesn't keep backing up with great performances we will vulnerable to a side with plenty to prove.

[lemmon]

Re: 2nd Test Australia v England - Adelaide Oval

We have set this series up with the bat which is something you wouldn't expect to say about this team, its been the two big totals in second innings Brisbane and first innings Adelaide that really put England out of the games. The work we have done blunting Swann and particularly Anderson has been the big win, you need some extra pace on Australian pitches and at the moment Anderson is lacking the zip he had out here a few years back.

The way England have batted stinks of something wrong behind the scenes, KP, Cook and Prior have all carried their poor form from England, I can't believe there isn't something wrong in that dressing room going by how they've played.