The Ashes Test Series

.......and I wouldn't be so sure about that, except they do pick Nathan Bracken for the one-dayers who, for the life of me, should also be in the test team . He would have loved that Oval wicket because of the many facets to his bowling, despite his lack of sheer speed. Anyway, we'll see how he goes this time in the English conditions.

Sorry about not getting back to you sooner.

Yep, I for one rate him - he's a very tall left armer who still bowls from a high trajectory [ unlike Johnston who tends to sling as we know] so he can get some unexpected bounce . He can swing the ball esp in to the right handers and when a track flattens out he is quite clever at varying his pace and can bowl a big slower cutter which cuts in to the right handers - a real technique tester. It can nip in between bat and pad and it's also very handy in going away from the left handers . He's very experienced now and quite wily - a thinking bowler . I rate him esp in English conditions.

Unfortunately for him , he's only rated in Aust. as a one day bowler, mainly I think because he's not express paced. Because he bowls at the death he has had some pizzlings but name me an 'at the death bowler' who hasn't .

Coincidentally, the first one dayer starts tonight Aussie time . So sticking my neck out as I have , he'll probably get tonked and get none for. All the best to the combatants.

^

Bloody hell, Brett Lee destroyed us.

They'd have probably won the Ashes if he'd been fit and had been picked.


Edited by James - September 12 2009 at 17:15

Yes but you outplayed us in the Tests too. 

England have a bad reputation with the One Day game.  We should do better.

No sour grapes at at all - well done Aus. Shame it's killed the series at the earliest possible stage tthough. Still, at least I've got my football

Of course, I'm talking about the Trent Bridge one dayer where England scored a highly respectable 299.

I just saw the last few overs which included the worst last over I've seen from an International bowler in many years . Well done Mitch !

He started that last over with figures of 2/62 [ obviously off 9 overs ] so he was already expensive due to his waywardness. Now, bowling to the Nos. 9 and 10 [ Rashid and Sidebottom - with all due respect to them, not the most skillfull of bats ] he managed to bowl just one on the stumps . The only good length ball he bowled [other than the 2 wides which were well pitched up ] , was wide outside the offstump and went for four . At least three very short balls were dispatched, 2 off top edges over the keepers head . 18 !*# runs were taken off that over while Bracken who had bowled only 8 overs and had gone for a comparirvely modest 42, watched on.

Not your best call Ricky when young 'Mitch the Meathead' was already loose as buggery . Now, it seems to me Mitch is dispensible . Hopefully he will be rested and Lee will come back at his expense. Ponting had to put together a champions innings to get the Aussies home due to the damage caused by Johnston and Watson who also had trouble keeping the ball up and on the stumps .

It's a funny thing - lower order batsmen don't seem to like balls on the stumps 'cause if they miss'm , they're generally out. You just need to have the bowlers who can put them there. We struggle to find bowlers who can, and when we do , we give them a rest ! !