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[Detective RDS]

Micheal Hussey scored 51 runs as I said he would return to form

But Australia is in the backfoot in the close of day 1 of 2nd Asheas test. They have lost 8 wickets making about 160 runs.

For me some strange selction by England. They have bring in Onions for Panesar. I would have dropped Swann. But I think Swann is selected perhaps for his batting display in Cardiff but he went wicketless giving 130 odd runs. On the contrary Panesar picked up 2 wickets including the wicket of Ricky Ponting (150).

I would have brought in Steve Harmison not Graham Onions. I guess, for any reaseon Eng has lost faith in Harmison, probably for the fact of his miserable show in the overseas conditions. But I think Harmison should be given the new ball in hands or he will struggle. Harmison did well and caused some problems to Australia while playing for England Lions.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Hussey needed to go on to make 100, so did Katich really.

Hard to see Australia coming back from here, there's still 3 days left and we don't look like avoiding the follow on, let alone posting a competitive total.

All hope lies in Hauritz now, he's actually not a bad batsman and if Australia can somehow still be batting by lunch tomorrow then it would be a real morale booster.

[andy24]

a draws, is the best outcome now.

[Detective RDS]

Looking forward to day 5. Aus needs 209 runs more with 5 wickets in hand. Either Aus will win creating history of chasing 500+ runs in the 4th innings or Eng will win keeping the past history alive.

Micheal Clarke (125*) and Brad Haddin (80*) are in the wicket. But I guess Eng will win as there is no real batsman after them. Mitchell Johnson can bat but the question is how long. The match will not be a drawn, it's finalled anyhows...

[Detective RDS]

As I said, England has won by 115 runs in the 2nd test going ahead 1-0.

Mitchell Johnson scored a fifty (63) but was running out of partners. Clarke and Haddin was removed early in the morning. So, a defeat was just a matter of time. All of their good innings went in vain...

Scorecard: http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/eng ... 45971.html

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I watched all of the 5th day (not that it lasted long )... it was all over once Haddin got out. Haddin and Clarke needed to add at least another 50, but if we were any chance we needed to be trailing by less than 100 runs by the time Johnson got in.

As it turned out, that did not happen and in the end we did not get close at all.

It was a great knock by Clarke, and I am glad for him on an individual level that he got that Test hundred at Lords that he deserved. I think he made 91 in 2005 there, and I remember my heart sinking that day when he just missed out.

Oh well, an England win means the Aussies will be fired up for the next Test, so hopefully it is a cracker of a match. Hopefully Ponting wins the toss for a change so we can have an opportunity to bat first.

[alan132]

A terrific win by England and it was a great day's play on the first day at Lord's. England, in particular Strauss and Cook, batted superbly although they were aided by some fairly ordinary bowling/fielding/captaincy from Australia.

I'm not sure what is wrong with Mitchell Johnson.... his bowling was all over the place. At one point just after lunch he had figures of 11-0-77-0! Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers moving the ball both ways and unlucky not to pick up a wicket or two before lunch.

The fielding was most un-australian like. Overthrows and misfields gave easy runs to the batsmen and Brad Haddin behind the stumps was untidy giving a fair few byes away.

Also Ricky Ponting also made some strange bowling changes, bowling his 3 seamers in one and two over spells in the first hour and continuing with Marcus North after the interval.

All in all though, if you were a neutral cricket fan and were lucky enough to have had a ticket for the day's play, you would have had a fantastic 90 overs of cricket.

[Detective RDS]

Heard that, Shane Watson might open the batting with Simon Katich in place of Phillip Hughes. Well, I reckon Watson as an opener in the ODI's is perfect since he is a strong hitter and makes the runs quickly. I will give one more chance to Hughes keeping in mind that how he batted against South Africa averaging 60+. If he fails, then I will preffer Watson as an opener for the 4th test.

Another fact, Mitchell Johnson is out of form. I would like to see Stuart Clark in the line up. He has a good test record under his belt.

Kevin Pietersen is ruled out of Asheas as he undergoes surgery for Achilles injury. That's a very disappointing news for me. I'm a big fan of KP and I guess that will decrease a lot of my interest in Asheas. Ian Bell is likely to replace him. Andrew Flintoff will also retain his position despite having an injury.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I'm not a big fan of Watson, he's hugely overrated I think. The only reason he ever made the Australian team in the first place is because the selectors were looking for an allrounder like Flintoff.

Not a bad one day player, but I wouldn't have him in the Test team. Australia can't discard Hughes like they discarded Casson and Krezja and a few others... Hughes is only 20 and has tremendous upside. Just like they persevered with Clarke and Ponting from a young age (to great success) they need to give Hughes the same opportunity.

[Detective RDS]

Australia can't discard Hughes like they discarded Casson and Krezja and a few others... Hughes is only 20 and has tremendous upside. Just like they persevered with Clarke and Ponting from a young age (to great success) they need to give Hughes the same opportunity.

Agree... I guess, Beau Casson should be given more chance. I think, he did allright against WI in a test picking up 3 wickets. But after that eventually dropped. Steve Waugh was also shocked at this decision.

Jason Kreja picked up 12 wickets in a test match against India although he gave 200+ runs. But he wasn't able to repeat his good form against South Africa in a practise match, I can remember. His form totally fell. But he is an aggressive spinner, that's a good point. Legend Shane Warne actually made this point.

Nathan Hauritz is doing a great work till now.

I think, all these Aussie spinners likes of Hauritz, Kreja and Casson should all come together and work hard in order to prepare themselves to fill the spot of Shane Warne.


(Edit: Yes, I have completed my 600th post )