The Ashes - Australia vs England 2010/11 Test Series.

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You stop going in the 90s when collingwood was tripe?

You can't compare the two.

One's a cricket team, and one's the best football club in the world.:)

What I was stating was that this test match is done and dusted, no need to go again and watch that tripe, when there are so many "greater" and more enjoyable things to do, like play golf, go for a surf (if it ever ****ing warms up) or even spend time with actual friends and family who don't go to sporting events.

Today was ****ing boring after the Aussies were bowled out, there were actually people falling asleep around us, I've never seen that a Collingwood game, even during the mid 80's (1987 comes to mind) and the 90's.

And cricket to me has always been just a "summer filler", until the "real stuff" starts again in March.:thumbsu:
 
He was just referring to this Test match, and not many people would go to a game at half time when they were down by 10 goals.

The analogy of a test match and a footy game doesn't really wash. All I can say is that I have never walked out on a Collingwood game early - be that at the game or on TV. I'll be listening to the game on ABC with interest. My lil bro is going and so would I if I had tix. Through thick and thin.
 

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You can't compare the two
Yes you can

We went through a period where we were the best, instead of preparing for retirements and generational change we held onto our heroes even when form, age and fitness were against them that led us into years of nothingness.

What did the Australian team do? Continually choose out of form heroes, players with fitness, age, skill level issues and its led us in to mediocrity. Exactly what our club did in the 90s

Anyway as harsh as today was to watch I'll continue tomorrow and in Sydney and when we are on tour. I watched when we belted teams and I'll watch as we hopefully build back up to that level of dominance
 
Anyway as harsh as today was to watch I'll continue tomorrow and in Sydney and when we are on tour. I watched when we belted teams and I'll watch as we hopefully build back up to that level of dominance
Where did I say I wasn't going to watch?

I said I wasn't go back to the G to watch that shit again, not that I have lost all interest.

Heck, I'd watch a contest between 2 flies crawling up the wall if one was English and one was Australian, but it doesn't in any form or way compare to the love and emotion I feel when watching a Collingwood game.

I wouldn't even rank the Australian Cricket team in my top 5 sporting teams anyway, the likes of Newcastle United, SF Giants (also World Champs by the way), The Niners, LA Kings and SA Spurs would all rate above the Aussie cricket team, just because I have followed their fortunes for so long, and when they win a title, it is all the more sweeter.

I'll keep watching, I'll probably even watch the absolutely terrible ODI series that follows the ashes, but I lost a lot of respect and admiration for the team watching them live today, they had no fight. I have watched young Collingwood teams get their arses kicked over the years, yet show more fight in their little toes then blokes like Hilfenhaus and Johnson showed in those last few hours, it really pissed me off.

Tomorrow is the last chance of all last chances anyway, Australia would have to bowl the Poms out before tea, or it's bye bye ashes for at least another 4 years (our "new" team will have no chance in England in 2 1/2 years).
 
Haha we are just fans pricey it's not like we are playing. Australian cricket will be fine there is a lot of talent out there it's a matter of finding the right balance and giving the young guys the best platform too be successful international test cricketers
 
just beggars belief how poorly our batters are playing.

Its hard enough carrying 1 player,we are carrying 3 maybe 4

Ponting and Clarke are in terrible form.Hughes was not playing that well before getting put into the team.Smith is neither here nor there.

Just terrible selection.Clarke has to be dropped.Ponting needs to go down the order
 
Yeh how poorly we are batting is honestly beyond belief. We really now need to start to rebuild and restructure. As I mentioned before there is a lot of talent around it's just a matter of how to transition them in.

I'd go something like this

Watson - I am torn on this, he is playing well as an opener and is certainly doing the hard part and one of the most important parts of opening well. That said I am tempted to drop him down just to see if the easing of the mental pressure to get off to a good start will result in him cashing in more. He is our second best bat for the series and is without a hundred.

Hughes - Positive signs from him this match I think, playing his natural game. He is talanted enough and I think he has to be backed in for now.

Hussey- Unless Watson is dropped down to three then Hussey is the only man who can do it. Clarke isn't in the form and doesn't have the game for 3 IMO. You don't want to rush a youngster in too batting at 3. So Hussey by default IMO.

Clarke - His spot in the side right now is debatable but I think right now, especially considering the lack of inform cricketers smashing the door down for a spot you have to give a guy with his class and talent your backing.

Pointing - Slide him down to 5, if he wants to prolong his career I think he needs to bat down the order, and I certainly want to see him giving the chance to go out on top.

Usman - The best young batsmen currently not in the side, how he wasn't picked ahead of Smith is beyond me.

Haddin - Not under any pressure based on his performances.

Smith - Exciting young potential all rounder. I think unfortunately neither his batting or his bowling is strong enough to get him picked as either. That said due to the lack of spin options I think it's worth playing him and letting him learn whilst in the side. Doesn't have the game to play as a batsmen right now. When Paine eventually takes the gloves off Haddin then Paine could bat 6 and hopefully Smith is doing enough to put his hand up to bat 7.

Mitch Johnno - Another guy who should be backed to find form. He is currently the only real strike bowler we have and as such we need to try and get him into the form he showed in from 07-09 asap.

Siddle - Has done enough this series to show he can be that real work horse bowler. Seems to learn every match he gets, it would have been tough between him and Harris had Harris not been injured, as it stands Siddle gets the nod.

George - Good tall quicky, due to his height has the potential to extract the extra bounce and be an awkward customer.

That is the side I'd like to see, even as early as Sydney.

There is also a fair few good prospects in each spot outside of that line up.

Openers.

Sean Marsh - Quality game, shots all round the game very compact technique. A good player who is hard to keep quiet. Like Hughes he is a guy who scores his runs quickly, but unlike Hughes he is a much more traditional batsmen. The only knock on him currently and probably the main reason he hasn't played test cricket before now is that he is much more tailored to one day cricket, he hasn't shown much of the mental application to make huge scores or runs in tough conditions.

Michael Hill - Hugely talanted youngster, yet to find his feet just yet at Shield cricket. Made 100 against the England 2nd bowling line up (which included Bresnan) is a guy with a really solid technique with shots all around the wicket who is willing to play to the conditions.

Maddison - Has only just broken into shield cricket but has started in great fashion. Is another really good batsmen to watch.

Middle order bats.

Fergie- Similar to Marsh, hard to keep down, scores all round the wicket, great batsmen to watch and pretty solid technique. Like Marsh is still suited more towards the shorter form. Hasn't shown the ability to really make huge scores or dig in on really dodgy decks.

Paine- I know he is our next keeper in waiting but the guy is talanted enough with the bat to play as a batsmen. He is a serious talent and possibly better then the guy who currently has the gig (which is saying something because Haddin has been fantastic)

Mitch Marsh - Huge strong unit, powerful and long hitter. Unphased at the crease. Again is one (similar to C White) who may end up having his game more geared towards T20 and ODI's which would be a shame. He has a huge future in all forms if groomed right.

White - Has been a lot of discussion on this on the boards already but he has great concentration and knows his game and plays too it. Has made 100 in a tour match whilst the likes of Usman failed. Both Tremlet and Bresnan played in that match and we have seen the form of Tremlet this tour. What makes it all the more impressive is that it was a last day deck. He is at the moment being niched as a short form player but Symonds had a pretty succesful career as a test batsmen and there are similarties between the two as players. He isn't very technically pleasing to watch but he knows his game and plays too it.

Lynn - Another guy who has really bolted on the scene. Has started his career at shield level with great success often on some pretty tough decks.

Finch - Most of us have seen the game of this guy in the short form. He is a fantastic player who has the potential to be a dominate middle order player. He hasn't been able to convert his short game form into the longer form but has the talent to do so.

Tom Cooper - Similar to Finchy, has made runs in the B grade international comps for the Netherlands and will probably play in the up coming world cup for them. Quality cricketer similar to Finch needs to knuckle down and take the time required to build innings in the long form.

Spinners

O'Keeffe - The main guy competiting with Smith's spot in the side, good all round cricketer

Quicks

Hazlewood - Really talanted young quick, solid tallish guy with a great action, hits the pitch hard, is quick and has a ton of upside.

Pattison - Similar to Hazlewood, fantastic action, seem bolt up, loads of room for improvement.

Starc - Another good up and coming quick. Similar pace and upside to the above too.
 
Interesting listening to some of the comments on the way home today on the radio (Yes, I went to cricket, $15 AFL Members tickets = Why Not?), and the one that stood out is that the Australian Cricket Team should aim for 4 years from now (the next Ashes series in Australia) and basically start picking a young and developing team for the next test series (whenever that is).

Ponting and Clarke were woeful to watch today, and I see little future in Ponting, unless they are willing to drop him down to number 5 or 6.

As for the "newcomers", it's hard to judge who could stand up to international test cricket, but the ones I would like to see given a go over the next 2-3 years are;

Khawaja; Form speaks for itself
Ferguson; Has the ability, just needs the right environment around him for him to develop
Hill; Future Australian opener, if not Captain, has all the skills required to be an opener
Marsh(s), Mitch and Sean; Both have immense talent, in all forms of the game, and need to be given their chance, especially at ODI level
McKay; Very good pace bowler, and is tall and lean, something Australia lacks in it's bowling attack
Hazelwood; Has a future, if he can stay fit.
Pattison; See Hazelwood comment.
Beer; Why not, it's not like we have any other better options.

I had a decent day at the MCG today, but I'd like to see us introduce a "development plan" with the eye on the 2014/15 Ashes Series here in Australia, which is the next realistic chance we have to win back the urn.
 

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Well done Pricey :D Enjoy it for the next 2 and a half years.


You may regret this statement later on in the Summer, Collingwood is very consistent with both bat and ball, I expect him to have a good summer.

Quoted for epic fail.
 
Great England team 'with depth' (as CFC would say).

Suggest we try to win in Sydney to keep up some morale. Thus need
- to include an offensive spinner (locals Smith/ O'Keefe? more than Beer? probably more than Haury's steadiness?)
- to include a real spinner probably need to let Watson resume role as 4th quick and bat at 6 - otherwise we get too few overs out of him and he's as good at swing as Hilfenhaus.
- that leaves openers: Hughes and Katich (if fit as rumoured) who know the SCG as well as any body for this one off Test.
- 3? MIke Hussey
- 4 and 5 raffle between Clarke and Ponting
- 6 Watson
- 7 Haddin
- 8 spinner
-9 Johnson
-10 Siddle
- 11 Hilf - or if we drop Watson back to 6 with his swing bowling, then go offensive here - Cameron, Starc know the SCG and England don't know them very much.

Once upon a time there was a bowler called Glen McGrath - didn't he only play less than a dozen fist class games before getting a cap, or is that just a story that he likes to tell around the campfire?
 
Report now stating that Ponting's finger fracture had "moved" during the 4th test.

Surely this shows what type of captain he is, that he puts himself before the team (harsh but true).

We had to win that test match, but we basically went in with 10 players, because our captain was physically incapable of playing his role in the team.

This is the final straw for him as captain, he can still be picked on form as a "normal" player, but it's time to give the captaincy to someone else.

The problem is, WHO?:confused:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...y-test-20101230-19ath.html?rand=1293675321641
 
Report now stating that Ponting's finger fracture had "moved" during the 4th test.

Surely this shows what type of captain he is, that he puts himself before the team (harsh but true).

We had to win that test match, but we basically went in with 10 players, because our captain was physically incapable of playing his role in the team.

This is the final straw for him as captain, he can still be picked on form as a "normal" player, but it's time to give the captaincy to someone else.

The problem is, WHO?:confused:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...y-test-20101230-19ath.html?rand=1293675321641

Over-reaction with the gift of hindsight here IMO. Punter is I think still unfairly a big spirtual batting leader in our side. If he doesn't play and we performed the way we did in Melbourne with that bat people would be calling for his head for not "stepping up" and "pushing through"
 
Report now stating that Ponting's finger fracture had "moved" during the 4th test.

Surely this shows what type of captain he is, that he puts himself before the team (harsh but true).

We had to win that test match, but we basically went in with 10 players, because our captain was physically incapable of playing his role in the team.

This is the final straw for him as captain, he can still be picked on form as a "normal" player, but it's time to give the captaincy to someone else.

The problem is, WHO?:confused:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...y-test-20101230-19ath.html?rand=1293675321641

If it truly moved during, as opposed to before the game, he can't really be held accountable for that imo.

He's been a great player, never convinced he's been a hugely insightful captain, and now we know he's out, and may not be selected again, I feel very sad he looks to have gone out this way.
 

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The Ashes - Australia vs England 2010/11 Test Series.

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