Whitewash looms for deflated England
England are facing the grave prospect of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash after closing a mere 12 runs ahead of Australia with only five rather fragile wickets intact.
Player of the Day
Shane Warne top scored for Australia, and for a while was on course to score his first Test century in his final Test. He hit his first two balls for four and six, but should have been dismissed on 10.
Umpire Aleem Dar clearly did not see the ball touch Warne's glove off a Monty Panesar delivery which was pouched by Chris Read.
This completely incensed the England fielders - and Paul Collingwood at slip in particular.
The sledging that followed only served to fire Warne up and, in his typically unorthodox fashion, he bludgeoned his way to 71, and took Australia from a deficit of 101 to a match-winning lead of 102.
Key Moment
Umpiring errors are part and parcel of the game, and must be accepted as such.
But England had another chance to dispose of Warne on 10, which had nothing to do with the umpires.
Taking a second run to the non striker's end , Warne was well short of his ground when the throw from James Anderson arrived.
Sajid Mahmood's casual attempt to run him out was utterly craven - I am not sure he was even aware of the situation - and Warne escaped.
That would have been 270-7, still 21 runs behind, and England can blame only themselves for missing the opportunity.
Talking Point
The main talking was between Warne and Collingwood, and this was clearly audible on the pitch microphones.
Warne responded to Collingwood's views on the catch behind by ridiculing his award of the MBE when England won the Ashes in 2005.
Admittedly Collingwood's contribution in his one appearance was not necessarily overwhelming, but this was given to the team as a whole.
Warne was heard to call him a 'club cricketer' (Collingwood scored 206 at Adelaide) and continually said that his award was 'an embarrassment'. On and on he went until, finally, he was the last man out.
Prospects for day three
The first 5-0 whitewash for 86 years.
Aggers, yes, Dar did miss that Warne gloving but the bowden decision to give gilchrist out was a shocker and that may have saved England from total decimation today. As you rightly point out, england had plenty of other chances to catch, run out or put pressure on and it didnt happen.
Complain about this postWell, what could we expect?
An England team giving up and playing awful cricket. Of course not...
I wake up each morning, turn on the computer and am faced with an England team disintegrating in front of my eyes.
Where's the team spirit? The desire to win?
Pathetic. Just pathetic.
Complain about this postThe MBE's given to the entire team WERE a joke. Like Boycott said this morning on the podcast, he played 100+ tests for his and now these gongs are being given out willy nilly.
Complain about this postIts good night and good bye. Your boys took one hell of a beating!
Complain about this postI'm a passionate Aussie and love my cricket, so you'd think I would be absolutely over the moon about what is likely to be a 5-0 caning of the Poms. But somethings missing... Did I get tricked last year into thinking England were a great team - or were they just an average team playing fantastically. Are they still a great team playing poorly? I'm happy about the result cos it will give me an upper hand in the banter at work, but I would have loved to have 2-1 in a thrilling series. Major dissapointment, not only for England fans, but for cricket followers. Freddie and Co should be ashamed.
Complain about this postWarney is right regarding Collingwood MBE as it is a joke but in the main it was FUN.
Complain about this postThanks for your views, Mr Agnew: interesting as always. By the way, "finally" is misspelt in the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph.
About the only thing that I've enjoyed about this series is the coverage here on the BBC website. I particularly enjoy reading the over-by-over commentaries, which are always pertinent and often highly amusing. Congrats to the chaps involved.
In response to your selection and assessment of the "key moment", two quick points:
1. Mahmood's error, which was schoolboy stuff, shows how poor England are at some of the basics of the game. Batsmen not moving their feet, batsmen playing the wrong shot at the time, bowlers unable to bowl with any reasonable accuracy: these are the symptoms of England 2006-7. Not moving behind the stumps in readiness for a return from the field is the sort of thing my eight year-old son might be upbraided for by his coach.
2. Your "key moment" involved an England bowler, but not when he was actually bowling. How predictable. From what I saw of our efforts today and across the series, our bowlers are far from matching the consistency of good line and good length that the Australians - and others - take as requisite for cricket at this level.
It is not necessarily that England are not talented enough. We are simply not accomplished enough.
Thanks again for your coverage.
Complain about this postAnd so commences another generation of Australian cricketing dominance. We don't need Warnie, Pidge, Alfie or Marto as England are so good at shooting themselves in the foot. Hell, I reckon we could field a team of blind, one legged dwarfs and still pull off a whitewash.
Ha ha ha ha, better luck next time fellas.
Complain about this postWarne is the greatest sledger never to be reprimanded. I guess it takes a bit of intelligence to talk ill of your opponent without swearing!
Complain about this postI suppose people from the subcontinent dont get away with sledging becuase they are not native english speakers!
I'm still amused that Monty was sent in as night watchman to protect our 'recognised' batsman Read
Complain about this postThe nightmare is about to come to an end.
This tour has been a complete disaster with further pain awaiting us in the one-dayers.
Everything that can be said about how this nightmare came about has been said.
Complain about this postI am expecting an announcment by the Queen sometime soon announcing that she is awarding MBE's to the Austrlian Cricket team for their 5-0 whitewash of the ashes. Considering that it would only be the second time that it has happened it is surely deserved especialy as her title is Queen of Australia.
Complain about this postIn regards to the umpires, it's swings and round abouts, mate. Gilchrest was never out and yet he was given.
Complain about this postNeither decision will decide this test match.
Hilarious...I thoroughly enjoyed Warne last night, he will be missed!
Complain about this postI think the umpiring has been disgraceful throughout the series. That shouldn't excuse England's obvious failings, but it's a shame. Whatever happened to the notion of a batsman walking ? Hussey should have walked 1st innings, even Ponting hung around waiting for the most obvious of run-out dismissals. I don't think England can be considered angels, but this 'great' Australian side could show decorum and still win plenty. That said, JL always comes across as a gent. Unlike the others, he'll be missed as a player and a person.
Complain about this postWell it all started out as tonk-a-pom & finished as pom-a-tonked.
You guys have been comprehensively flayed! Thanks for providing the entertainment, though, I really enjoyed it!!! How about you?
On a more serious note, full credit to you guys. Close game really. Score-line didn't reflect the match. Keenly fought contest. Cricket was the winner....anything else you want me to add?
Ahhhhh, god that was GREAT. You know that feeling when you've already won convincingly, by an amount equal to the maximum possible margin, having lost the previous one last year, but the game gets to go on tomorrow as well, and the next day after that if we want it to? When you can just sit back all evening and all day next day & just smile & chill with a cold one in the hot sun, hang on a moment - AH, YEAH MAKE THAT 3 SCHOONERS COBBER, NO SORRY MAKE IT 4, ONE FOR ME SHIELA AS WELL, YEAH PUT IT ON THE TAB WILL YA BRUCE? - sorry, where were we? yeah so the cricket...do you know what I'm talking about? No? Oh, OK then....
Complain about this postIs there a case for batsmen to be encouraged to walk when they know that they are out? Difficult to "prove" that they know (or knew), I suppose. I can't say that I'm a big fan of sledging but it appears to have a place, rightly or wrongly, in nearly every level of every sport.
I agree with JA that Warne's wicket could have been secured at a number of occasions but contributions from Symonds, Gilchrist and Clark all helped to elevate Australia's score. If England's tail can add as many runs then it could be interesting - the likes of Mahmood and Read have a chance, however pressured, to prove their batting worth.
Perhaps Pietersen has the opportunity to show that he can control the game by handling his batting in these circumstances - keeping the strike, playing sensible shots, etc. Rather ironic that he got moved up to 4 to avoid batting with the tail!
However it looks from experience, I hope that England can make a proper fist of this and show that they do have the guts and passion to make it as hard as possible for the Australians.
Complain about this postTypical of the Aussies to use England's MBEs to undermine them. One narrow series victory and we believed ourselves to be the best in the world, our players worthy of honours that others work a lifetime to achieve.
Such pride, if not backed up by an unquenchable appetite to improve and a ruthless hunger for victory, will always lead to a fall. And how they have fallen.
it's a dismal end to the chapter that began in the summer of 2005, it's time to write a new chapter with a new coach, a new captain and real desire and ambition.
Complain about this post"Umpire Aleem Dar clearly did not see the ball touch Warne's glove off a Monty Panesar delivery which was pouched by Chris Read"
Benefit of the doubt, Aggers, unlike Bowden's boneheaded decision which cost Gilchrist a likely century.
Complain about this postanyone else dead keen to read a script of the Warne v Colly sledging?
Complain about this postI so want to see it... cmon BBC!
Why so much fuss about the Warne glove catch Aggers??You mentioned it all the time this morning.Gilchrist was given out when he wasn't so it was one-all in the umpire error stakes today & Gilchrist could have really made us suffer!!!
Complain about this postBesides on commentary last summer you reckoned overcoming bad umpiring decisions was good for a cricketer's character!! Vic Marks I recall responded that on that basis we should have as many bad decisions as possible & so produce a generation of cficketers of strong moral fibre.
No complaints really .. the Aussies have been superior in both thought and deed. BUT ... the umpiring decisions against England have been dire and as always happens have occured at precisley the moment where a real break was needed. Warne was clearly out on 10 and then made 60 more .. a lead of 100+ instead of simply 40. What do England have to do?
Complain about this postWell, I have to say that I dont think Australia have been that great, but to see how we have bowled, fielded and batted shows how good we have made them look.
Complain about this postWhy are the press not having a go at the batting and bowling coaches, as something drastic has changed. Look at Flintoffs approach to Warne, and Andersons comments about bowling shorter rather than pitching it up. Terrible Dave
I think Warne's right about Collingwoods MBE, but then again he could take the p*** out of all of our 'honoured????' team, because not one of them deserve the honour. Still, maybe it kept Tony Blair happy!!!!
Complain about this postIf we're allowed to see videos of Saddam's hanging, can the BBC please release a tape of the Warne/Collingwood exchanges? We've got to get some entertainment out of this sorry series...
Complain about this postInitially thought that Warne had gloved Panesar's delivery, but after a number of replays there was still considerable doubt. Indeed from one particular angle the Sky commentary team were calling it a very good decision. Warne's bat did hit his boot which might have contributed to the feeling that there had been contact.
Complain about this postDoesn't alter the fact that it was an excellent effort from Warne with some agricultural shots mixed in with some fine strokes.
Collingwood's sledging of Warne was comical, it only served to fire Warne up. Flintoff should have told Collingwood to button it.
First things first: Australia are not half as great as England's woeful performance has made them appear. They are eminently beatable, but who's willing to bet against Australia wrapping up its second three-day test victory of the series? The only success that England can claim is that Australia have had to play more than 15 days of cricket to whitewash the series. Since they have capitulated in every other sense in this series, how about the England team just recognise the inevitable and concede the match? They could start to work on their preparations for the world cup in WI a day earlier. They need all the time they can wangle. Nothing I have seen or heard suggests to me that the forthcoming campaign is likely to be anything other than a disaster. In fact, with a bit of luck they will be eliminated from this competition at a fairly early stage. They can then go home and start to try to do something about the malaise in English cricket generally. There needs to be a general recognition that, with the exception of a few brief interludes, English cricketers have been technically and psychologically weaker that their Aussie counterparts for the past 35 years. I do not believe they have been generally less talented, they have just made less of their gifts and skills. All the changes made to the county game and the setting up of a "cricket academy" have produced zero improvement in this regard. This needs to be recognised at all levels of the game and the players themselves have to be fed up with producing second or third rate performances. Only then will they be deserving of the exceptional support they receive from their fans.
Complain about this postInflated ego and more concerned with magazine deals. And for once i'm not talking about Shane Warne. The England team arrived in Australia with the expectation of the country and again they failed to deliver. How long can they trade off the ashes victory in 2005? 5-0 whitewash, thorughly deserved.
Disgruntled England fan.
Complain about this postI am wrong, so so wrong
Complain about this postI knew Mahmood wasnt good enough to play one dayers, I thought he was good enough to play test matches. He is not. His attitude seems very wrong, he could easily have run out Warne if he had done what every Kid is taught when they start playing cricket. Awful!!
The flower of English cricket has been de-blossomed, will our players ever recover from the psychological scarring? The champagne stuff of last year has turned sour. Never mind, it was like this all through the nineties. I'll still support our boys anyway.
Complain about this postagian england crash
and again KP is batting for himself
last over of the day and he gets a single to avoid batting (chicken) and leaves monty to see out the over
who is the specialist batsman? monty or KP
anyway a gutless tour by england
Complain about this posthopefully it will be over when i wake up tomorrow
This really has a horrible feeling of inevitability about it. We'll be lucky if its not all wrapped up by lunch tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to turning the radio on. Despite all the talk and tales of how England are going to pick themselves up and really take it to the Aussies the same thing has happened again and again this tour. Glimmers of good play, a sessoin where we really look like we can take control and then total capitulation. That is what is so frustrating as an England supporter. The ability is there and the talent but we're just not consistent. What is lacking? Is it the will? Concentration? I can already hear the weak comments made in retrospect by the senior players and coaching staff. It'd be great for somebody to front up and tell it like it is (A la Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares - don't take shoddy excuses!)
Complain about this postAs for Warne's comments, can't Colly come up with something decent? Put him back in his place? The banter is stuff of legend when done properly.
what can i say the english have been appalling to say the least and it would have been nice to have a contest on our hands.but i must say it has been good watching them getting walloped down here in zimbabwe
Complain about this postAggers - I don't buy this praise of Colly. A plucky cricketer he is - but Test Class ?? His 200 at adelaide was made on a wicket which gave the bowlers absolutely nothing. The guys technique is fragile - and the Aussies have found him out big time. If there's any help at all to the bowlers Colly just simply fails.Surely to goodness there must be a classier no 5 in English Cricket than Paul Collingwwod. And yes I think its very fair for Warne to mock the MBE given to Colly - and Bell come to that. Colly played one test. bell failed in virtually all of them.
Peter
Complain about this postWhen will Collingwood learn, not to sledge the past master of sledging plus' he can not do it properly. Is the 206 by Collingwood going to be his innings of a test career he seems to have settled for his mediocre standard in recent innings. Plus his writing for the bbc is the standard bland stuff of good spirit and we are trying our best , which really scares me if this is the best they can do. What England need is total ruthless honesty in their own performances not trying to sledge like a junior cricketer and Warne is correct the awards of the MBE'S was shocking.
Complain about this postAgree with the prospects, Aggers - despite decisions going against England for most of the series, the England team have only themselves to blame for the embarrassing position they find themselves in.
On other matters, I don't agree that the wicket-keeping position is still open. Yes, Read failed with the bat (again) but his glove work is far, FAR better than Jones'. That is why he should always be picked ahead of him. There are 6 batsmen above Read who should be doing their jobs properly - it is not the responsibility of your W/K to post large scores, only to contribute as often as possible and to keep wicket effectively.
Complain about this postPerhaps after the last couple of tests and the appalling batting of the England tail (if you can stretch the term Batting to include their minimalist efforts) those on here so critical of Duncan Fletcher and his omission of Panesar and Read will realise that it wasn't pig-headedness or ignorance on his part.
England have a real problem with their batting ending at 6 (frequently 5, or even 4 now Pietersen has moved up.) They cant' go on like that. If Giles or someone could hang around while making 25, a proper batsman could maybe add a hundred with him - but nobody in the lower order now is capable - they are utterly hopeless.
Fletcher is responsible for the team, it's his head on the block. He knows the batting problem which is why he went the way he did in the early part of the series and having seen how England's tail perform, you can definitely see why. We can't continually pick people from number 7 down who can't bat at all. Many test matches are won from tail-end contributions, probably this one will be as well. It can't go on.
Complain about this postengland do just not care. I was watching the match all night and have done for the whole series in hope of a fightback which has not only not happened but has never looked likely. Andrew Flintoff should not be the captain he is overburdened with his all rounder status. Paul Collingwood as far as I'm concerned is an alright bowler and has not been used while KP has. To me the england cricket team is a shambles. They are so casual about the job they're doing even though there representing their countries. My school team shows more passion than them. My way of putting the passion back into them would be to scrap match fees if they don't win as some seem to be just there for the money. Having said all of this I wish to congratulate all the australians especially those retirees who have been a joy to watch this series and in all the others they have taken part.
Well Done
England you play cricket like it doesn't matter to you, you have made depressed by just watching you. Thanks for a great tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this postWell in regard to the Gilchrist decision if I remember correctly a similiar thing happened to Strauss! So thats all square! Why are we so bad at batting? Its been the story of our cricket team for years maybe they need some Pietersen style confidence since they seem to enjoy getting out to non-committed stroke play. All credit to the Aussies though they didn't hang around in crushing a lacklustre England.
Complain about this postYou know I have nothing but praise for the Aussie atitude skill and professionalism.
Complain about this postThe embarassment is not losing the ASHES but the stark contrast in ability, focus and determination between the sides throughout the series.
A. Flintoff has had an almost devil may care demob happy demeanour about him in this final test.
I don't recall anything like that from Ponting in 2005.
Criket has arrived in the UK, as people tire of Football it has enormous potential.
The players, selectors and coaches have to adjust to the heat and pressure of this new level of expectations.
Look to the Premiership in football - thats the standard, the Aussies are already there!
Yes it looks like a whitewash... so what?
The only people who truly care about these sort of things are those that love stats... I said the other day what really mattered for England was to use the last 2 tests as building blocks for the future and not worry about 3-0 4-0 or 5-0.. s
Sadly Flintoff and management team thought otherwise and put out this rubbish about putting everything they had into this test and treat it in isolation... what a complete waste of time and wrong use of these dead rubbers... hasnt anyone in the England set up got any vision for the future and realise how useful it would be to youngsters being blooded in the test arena.... of course what has happened once again is that England have capitulated.. So not only will we lose 5-0 but we wont have gained anything from the last 2 games which we could have done...
The other thing that does concern me is the attitude especially of the Aussies towards the English team. All that so called goodwill and friendly banter which is all part of a positive good game seems to have vanished.
What an appalling example to young cricketers for Warne to accuse an English test player of being just a club cricketer and say that the MBE is an embarrassment live on tv... Does this really tell us what the Aussies really think and all the pleasantaries are all a smoke screen to appear nice enough, but underneath they cannot stand anyone including the English?
The Aussies have won the Ashes and well done for that, Warne is retiring in his last test. Why on earth then does he need to get involved in letting himself and the Aussie nation down by portraying them as unsporting, nasty and lacking integrity and modesty
I wonder if we will look back on the Australian years of domination as many do to Michael Schumachers F1 career... Everyone agrees he was was one of the greatest drivers of all time but he wasnt well liked by his peers and had a side to him that was quite clearly flawed and nasty. Maybe the Australian Cricket team will be remembered likewise...
I hope one day the spirit of playing the great game returns and once again players enjoy the game and be grateful for having the chance to play for their country...
ps in another post i posted when i mentioned the Aussies attitude, some Aussie piped up about the Bodyline series.. for heavens sake we do realise that was wrong.. surely you have got over it?
Complain about this postCan't Bat
Can't Bowl
Can't Field
Can't Fight
Can't Captain
Can't Win
Can't Draw
Can't Be on honest about performances
Can't be proud of those MBE's
Can't help but be a pessamist
Can't wait for one dayers as all the embarrassment is compacted in one day rather than stretched over 5 no, 4 no, 3 days.
Can't stop following England. C'mon make a game of it please....
Complain about this postNot so long ago every county in England could provide at least two bowlers who could drop it on a sixpence. Whatever public utterances were made, the Aussies respected both this and the tenacity of the English batsmen in fighting what was often a lost cause. The woeful shambles presented to the world on this tour is not worthy of the name English cricket. Every mistake that could be made in every quarter has been made in spades. At least a 5-0 drubbing will make the blazers do something. 4-0 would have been hailed as a triumph and proof that everything was really OK.
Complain about this postMaybe we're on for a 1981 style comeback from the dead, with Pietersen reprising the Botham role and later on, Harmison playing the Graham Dilley/Chris Old role ?
OK, maybe not......
Complain about this postHad Warne been knighted last year, it could've been the master-stroke to contain his sledging... another missed opportunity!
Complain about this postWhy was our best bowler (Panesar) given only 19 overs out of 96 on a turning pitch, and was brought on only as a last resort as 5th bowler after the batsmen were well set and attacking in the morning, 75 minutes after play started, and then again as only the 5th bowler after lunch? And why, as in Melbourne, were fields to Panesar so defensive - with the field set too far back on the distant boundary, skied mishits were missed with no-one in the gap, and no-one was at silly point to take a bat pad.
Flintoff's captaincy has once again been woeful, to add to his share of the selection blunders. Time to go.
The need to strengthen England's batting through an extra batsman or batting all rounder is ever more obvious. But on the evidence of this match the policy of 5 front line bowlers weakens our bowling as well! 4 bowlers plus an extra batsman (Joyce) or batting allrounder (Dalrymple) would have forced England's blundering captain to use Panesar more!
Chris Read's performance has been excellent - two of his 5 catches were very difficult and crucial 50/50 efforts, and the stumping could have been missed with a lesser keeper. Playing an extra batsman (or Dalrymple) instead of Mahmood would have allowed him to bat at Number 8 which would be enough to sort England's tail out. Read deserves a run in the side.
Having said all that, well done to the Aussies, 5-0 won't flatter you even though England have played so far below their potential.
Complain about this postHaven't the Poms got anything better to do than this continual sledging of the umpires? You lot were quite happy with Kasprowiz given out last year...to give you the Ashes. Take it on the chin, it's part of the game. And he may not even have gloved it.
Complain about this post"Umpiring errors are part and parcel of the game, and must be accepted as such"
This statement is palpably untrue. It is well-known that Agnew is against using technology in cricket, but surely this is yet another demonstration of the need to introduce appeals, in the way that tennis, football and rugby all have.
Come on Aggers, wake up and smell the technology
Complain about this postThe most anticlimactic sporting event I have ever anticipated. Absolute rubbish from 1st ball - This is a beating of such emphatic proportions, that it could well spark another decade in the doldrums for English cricket. Troy Colley must be laughing himself to sleep every night..
Complain about this postGeoff Boycott had it right when he said that England climbed Everest when they won the Ashes 2005, then they sat back as if the job was done in perpetuity. When will we work at being the best like the Aussies have role modelled for years now? Being good players is not enough; being brilliant more often than not matters more than anything; we have a huge team issue - nothing to do with individual selection (Monty or Gilo, Reid or Jones - inane drivel) it is to do with making it matter whether we win or lose. It's time for an attitude transplant! START EARNING THE THREE LIONS ON YOUR KIT rather than heaping shame on them match after match!
Complain about this postShane Warne should never have been allowed back after he was found to be a drugs cheat. In other sports his career would have been finished. This, along with appalling behaviour - he was practically sledging Aleem Dar when he was bowling in the first innings - set a terrible example to youngsters watching the game.
Complain about this postWell Done to AUSTRALIA. But not Billy Bowden. Adam Gilchrist was nowhere near out and if he di nick it he would have walked. Everyone knows, Other wise it would have been another quickfire century. Warne's 71 was entertaining too, so Was Stuart clarke. Whats up with Ricky Ponting. Has he lost his great form. 5-0 is Sure result.
FARE and SQUARE.
I can't wait for same in ODI series. They will be thrashed no matter who the captain is, FREDDIE, VAUGHAN or STRAUSS.
England should know that AUSTRALIA are unbeatable in home beacause the experiance, quality, condition that suits to AUSTRALIA better.
I miss Great Glenn McGrath accuracy and Great Shane Warne Leg Spin+Accuracy. Justin Langer batting is also other thing i miss. That deternination sometimes aggration. GOODBYE LEGENDS.
Complain about this postThanks, Aggers, for clearing up the Colly/Warne episode. But really, good old fashioned verbal stoushing. I was disappointed that England couldn't stand too more this afternoon. It is better than that but seems resigned to a whitewash. The morning session was a ripper though. One of the best sessions all round that I have seen in years.
Complain about this postDid Flintoff say anything to Saj after his woeful laziness in failing to properly back up his stumps?
Saj didn't even hang his head in shame after the incident he just strolled back to his mark.
If the captain appears apathetic towards incidents like this surely they will keep happening.
If England players can't give 100% then why bother playing at all.
Monty really shows up some of the more jaded apathetic players with his enthusiasm.
Complain about this postWhy do we always focus on the decisions that go against England and ignore the ones the other way? There seems to be a creeping view that England have been hard done by in this series by umpiring. The facts hardly merit this - with only Strauss as an individual having been truly disdavantaged overall. Today was a typical case in point, with the Gilchrist decision being just as poor the other way as the one Warne benefited from. Concentrating on umpiring decisions, like the other excuse of lamenting injuries, is just a way of masking the underlying faults.
We should learn also from the Aussies on this. In 2005, an incorrect dismissal at the end of the remarkable 2nd test stopped them from going 2-0 up and with that the Ashes would still have been theirs. But rather then moaning about it, or using it as an excuse - they simply brushed it aside as one of those things that happen and got on with their game. They had more injuries in that series and the cost of that decision - but instead of dwelling on their misfortunes, they stood up to their faults, took the defeat on the chin and prepared to get it right next time, which they duly have. One of the biggest concerns over this England team is not just the performances on the pitch, but the tendency to brush all the causes of this aside, to point at excuses, make out there is nothing wrong, and then hope that in 2009 an Australia without McGrath and Warne will be easier to play.
Unless the England team, captain and management stand up to the many ways in which they have contributed to their own position in this series, then even without these two great bowlers, Australia will look far the better bet in 2 years time.
Complain about this post"First things first: Australia are not half as great as England's woeful performance has made them appear."
I might have to stop you right there mate. How about we simply compare the records of the two teams since the 2005 Ashes???
Like it or not, Australia are the dominant team of the last 10-15 years and from about 1995 there has been daylight second.
England are possibly the #2 team.....
Complain about this postWell may it be said "God Save The Queen" ... coz nothing can save the British Cricket team!
Well Done Australia !!!
I wonder if Australia's "Queen" will offer MBE's to her "Antipodean Subjects" also? I somehow doubt if the Aussies would really want it anyway!
Complain about this postP.S. Niether did you complain about Gilchrist getting his marching orders.
Complain about this postI now realise why England have been so poor - they are deliberately losing matches with one or two days left to deny Cricket Australia extra money from gate receipts that would help them invest in the future of the game over there.
Well done England, very canny.
Complain about this postYou people are always so pessimistic. I have absolute faith in a 4-1 score. KP and Monty to centuries. Hoggard and Harmison 50 each. Then we skittle them for 150 and win with 100 runs to spare.
How on earth can the lads be expected to perform when their fate has already been sealed by the papers and nation? The football team doesn't get this before a match, whether they are expected to win, lose or draw.
When England go all out for 100+ it's time to start the negativity. 115-5 isn't too bad. Had it been 115-3 we'd be much more positive. I'm really not sure why this blog is always so negative.
Complain about this postOk for 3 days now I've been trying to watch cricket all night and working all day. I've followed the same proceedure for all bar the melbourne test. Will someone please tell me why? Am I insane? Is it a masochistic streak? Am I just plain stupid?
I am angry, VERY angry. The capitulation by England has been nothing short of pathetic. We wathced the aussie bowlers length and line hit the seam, keep the runs down and take the wickets.
Harmison looked totally baffled when he was beaten by a McGrath delivery. Steve let me give you a hint - that's what happens when you bowl a length ball on or around off stump.
Why couldn't we do that today? It's beyond me.
And one final point. Where was the passion, pride, heart and fight?Totally missing throughout.
Anyway. Monty and read 50 apiece with Kevin hitting a double should give our bowlers something to aim at.
yeh i know, totally insane
steve
Complain about this postM. Pattabiraman makes mention of sledging on the subcontinent. Well, I lived and worked on that continent for a number of years and, yes, even spoke a couple of the languages (the caste system in India forced me to deal directly with lower castes at times because my middle managers refused to speak to them!!!). I will back up what several international captains in that some of the best sledging happens on that continent. The pakistanis, especially, are absolutely brilliant! And of course, most international refs don't know what the hell is being said, so no action is taken. So, please, everyone; don't believe that only english speakers sledge. No todo es como parece!!!
Complain about this postCollingwood getting a MBE was the biggest joke of all the jokers getting an award. He is not a Test match player and his 206 was on a flat wicket when nearly everyone got runs. Gillespe got 201 n.o. last year and no one would call him a test batsman. When it really counted Collingwood fell like a house of cards.
5-0 and history will show this is the worst English team ever to come to Australia. With Flintoff the worse captain ever in Test cricket.
Complain about this postIn answer to Julia: I'm sure Her Maj would be delighted to award the Aussie team MBEs (and probably higher orders for Ponting, Warne and McGrath); on cricketing form they thoroughly deserve it. But I gather from postings on other sites that the Australian Government enacted some years ago that British "gongs" would no longer be acceptable to Aussies. So no MBEs, OBEs or "Sir" Shane Warnes, I'm afraid.
What England could (indeed SHOULD) do to signal our appreciation of great cricketing skills over many years, is snap up Warnie and Pigeon with fat, lucrative training contracts over the next 3 or 5 years so we benefit from their abilities.
So howzabout that ECB, are you big enough to swallow your pride and admit we need some help from the best?
Complain about this postThankfully it will finally be over tomorrow. England have been second-rate in every department on this tour. Only Pietersen might make it into an Aussie XI at the moment. We can deduce this from the fact that he the only England player they have been slagging off! They've stopped bothering with the others. Just a thought, but maybe, just maybe, some of this England team should consider sending their MBE's back to the palace. Vaughan and Simon Jones can keep theirs, but the rest???
Complain about this postYes JA the ball did nick Warney's thumb and he was very lucky to survive but we all downunder thought Gilly's dismissal was very average and that evened things up, seriously another average day in the field for England, then the batting disinigrated into more dismal fare with just "FIGJAM" [f##k I'm great just ask me] to knock up a double ton tomorrow.....if he can only just stop giving the tailenders the strike [well done Captain freddy for protecting your men] you might just put enough runs on the board to cause an upset....Good beer these Boags.....
Complain about this postI am ashamed of how poorly England have performed in the Ashes. They keep saying in public that they are trying their best, are they really? Harmison doesn't seem to care, Fred's too laid back to be captain, the openers haven't been mentally swtiched on for most of the series and Pietersen's more interested in the size of his ego than his team's performances. Collingwood may be a grafter but does he have a brain? What was he doing trying to rile the great Shane Warne? They are by and large a gutless and pathetic lot!
Complain about this postA poor show from the very start of this series - with few exceptions. The old bus ride through London must have been in a paralell universe! But just look at the reality - we scraped the ashes win last year on a couple of lucky 'bouces' - laudible though it was. Then we start to believe our own publicity! Then poor preparation - poor selection - poor everything, apart from the supporters - yes and they paid for the trip themselves. Okay - No Vaughn or Jones - Trescothick should not have been selected as we knew he'd be a distraction - but 5-0!! Like any business or enterprise - it's only the people at the very top who have the authority to sort it out - but as in (our) Football and Rugby - they retain a self-reporting, boys-club closed-loop and remain in essence unaccountable. Also there is abroad band of punditry, public opinion, knowledge and huge experience covering millions of supporters (in all these sports) - who's only interest is the success of our National sides - why is this so readily ignored - we are the ones who ultimately are paying the bills.
Complain about this postHussey WASN'T OUT first innings. Why should he walk?
Gilchrist is one of the Aussie's who walks if he feels he is out - he wasn't out today. He shouldn't have to walk when he feels he isn't out until he is GIVEN out. Bloody ridiculous. Maybe we should by Billy some glasses. Why all the appealing from England when he missed the ball by a mile? After that, it was facical.
Good on ya Warney for sledging about the MBE's - you spoke for the majority of Australia. And today - Collingwood DID look like a club cricketer.
Complain about this postThe English Cricket team, now heading inevitably for another defeat, should replace the 3 lions on their shirts with Manx cats, animals renowned for their lack of a tail.
While the Australian tail has only once failed in the current series (ie the last 5 wickets adding less than 100 runs), the English tail has only once succeeded (ie the last 5 wickets adding more than 100). And even on that one occasion, they only managed just 108, whereas the Australian tail has added 3 amounts over 200 - including 335 in the 4th test.
The Aussie kangaroo, which packs a mean punch with its vigorous tail, would on the other hand seem the ideal image for their successful lower order batsmen.
Complain about this postStrauss - Poor shot selection, lack of interest and a couple of bad decisions
Cook - Out of his depth but will come good, maybe better at 4?
Bell - Some good starts but hasn't converted them
Pieterson - Our only decent player, let him do what he wants
Collingwood - Not good enough
Flintoff - Not a Batting number 6 in Test Cricket
Read - Has struggled but wouldn't you if the coach said he didn't rate you? needs to be given the whole summer to relax.
Mahmood - Under bowled, can be expensive but best strike rate out of seamers.
Harmison - Improved as series went on, will benefit from not playing one dayers to let him get more overs in for Durham
Monty - Left out because he couldn't hold a bat, now night watchman. Well done Fletcher.
Anderson - Needs a season is county cricket to get comfortable with his new action.
My god didn't we miss Vaughan, Trescothick and Simon Jones.
Complain about this postNot one opening partnership of note, defensive captancy and lack of leadership and no bowler to turn to to keep the pressure on.
Warnes sledging and aggression is something we should learn from (along with many more aspects of the Australian winning mentality).
Unfortunately we won't - we'll just spend all our time blaming our bowlers for the low scores rather than the batsmen and thinking a wicket keeper batsman would have made all the difference.
Complain about this postWarney's got a point! Collingwood can look like a club cricketer at times, he doesn't seem to have many shots in the bag, and while he's a fighter his technique will always be his undoing.
You're making a lot of the sledging Aggers. I don't see a problem with it, Warne's a pastmaster and has a test career to back up his comments. What do the England players have? An MBE...
Says it all really!
Complain about this posthow many more Australian cricketer's are writers going to simper around, every time an Aussie cricketer plays well, it's Englands sledging that fired them up, there was an article on here yesterday stating that England's player were too humble in the presecence of is green and gold machine which are clearly super human and unbeatable!! according to our press. however now we can't sledge them (something they invented) as it fires them up...
Complain about this postMaybe in future our crickets should ask the Aussies what is going to help them most and then act accordingly.....
must admit that Warne's response to Collingwood ...""You're making me concentrate, mate,"... made me laugh
Complain about this postAs Keith rightly points out (#1), BillyB's dismissal of Gilchrist was a shocker. Everyone knows that Gilly walks when he is out (even if the umpire thinks/signals that he isn't), and the way he stood there leaning on his bat wasn't an attempt to hoodwink anybody - he's just not like that.
But as we've all been saying, umpiring is never going to be perfect and we all have to accept their decisions gracefully or the game will disintegrate.
5-0 here we come. I only hope (as an Aussie) that England (aka EWCB) decide to review and restructure their system for the future, or there probably won't be one. We do like to beat the old adversary, but not like this - it's just not cricket.
Complain about this postThings that wont happen tomorrow: The England tail helps Pietersen add 180 to leave Australia needing nearly 200 to win.
Steve Harmison then rips through the Aussie top order leaving them at 100 for 6 at the close.
Things that will happen: England are skittled out quickly leaving Australia needing about 80 to win.
Australia knock the runs off in no time.
At the post match press conference Flintoff focuses on 'all the positives we can take from this tour'. Pressed for what exactly they might be he can only come up with the fact that at least England dont have to play Australia again till 2009, and Warne McGrath and Langer have retired. Oh, and that geraint jones and gilo will never play test cricket again. Thinking about it, things are looking up!
Complain about this postAnyone who still believes Flintoff's words about pride and passion etc. are kidding themselves. From Mahmood's lacklustre effort to run Warne out to Flintoff's lazy attempt to get back in his crease before veing stumped todays play cntinued to reinforce (as if it wasn't hammered in enough already) that England never thought they could win this series.
In a reflection of team mentality Australia's lower order was willing to fight tooth and nail to give the side the upper hand after the top order stumbled along whilst the English lower order has continually collapsed and will no doubt do so again tomorrow leaving KP stranded YET AGAIN! I thought him moving to 4 was supposed to prevent this happening....
Complain about this postThis test side should hang their collective heads in shame. What a discrace. All round ineptitude, from the selection of the team, to the middle to tail end batting(the lack of!), and a times, very weak to down right poor bowling and fielding. Once again, selection appears to be favouring the 'old boy network', and not who appears to be best for the job, and the conditions of the wicket, at the time. People paid good money to go to Australia, only to get treated to the home side playing a 2nd rate team. WELL DONE AUSTRALIA!
Complain about this postIt should be obvious by now that a lot of English players are getting out to rash shots - Cook, Bell and Collingwood all fell to attacking shots. Once you get a central contract, you do not play much first-class cricket, the amount of which is far less
Complain about this postthan it used to be. How many times has Cook , for instance, batted in a first-class match in a situation where technique and patience is required , as well as a certain mind-set ? . I look forward to the day an England cricketer says ' No, one-day internationals are a waste of time, I'll use the time to improve my technique' . ( Perhaps this is what Harmison has in mind ! ) . I teach in a secondary school which was buzzing with cricket in Speptember 2005. Thanks to
the ' Sky' give-away, the pride of Darrell Hair and
the one-sidedness of this series, all that interest
disappeared rapidly. It is high time we Welsh were given a chance to plough our own furrow in cricket- but I've thoroughly enjoyed the winter so far.
So Aleem Dar made a mistake. Most complaints about Umpires and Football Referees are made by people who have never done the job and don't realise how hard it actually is. Aleem is still the Second best umpire on the panel. Unfortunately the two best umpires in the world cannot umpire this series. Peter Willey from England, who will not go on the panel because of the amount of time spent away from home (I don't blame him, he spent enough time away when he played for England) and Simon Taufell who is without doubt the best Umpire anywhere in the World. Cricket has either got to use technology for everything or it should be not used at all, by using it for some decisions only you upset the swings and roundabouts balance.
As for the real reason England will lose the series 5-0. We have been woefully poor. Australians play with pride, England just seem to play for the money!
Complain about this postCan someone remind me: Why is Mahmood on the tour? He's barely been bowled, his batting has been poor, fielding on a par with Monty or is that insulting Monty these days?
Complain about this postRE Simon,
"I think the umpiring has been disgraceful throughout the series. That shouldn't excuse England's obvious failings, but it's a shame. Whatever happened to the notion of a batsman walking ? Hussey should have walked 1st innings, even Ponting hung around waiting for the most obvious of run-out dismissals."
Firstly, umpiring has got to be one of the most difficult and thankless jobs going. Are you implying that the officials are corrupt? if not then you should accept that they do their best but, especially with the advances in technology, will be shown to get it wrong from time to time. That is just one of the nuances of this great game.
Secondly, Gilchrist IS a walker but was given out when he shouldn't have been and accepted the umpires (wrong) decision. Ponting's run-out was referred to the 3rd Umpire. Would you walk off in his position? Also, I can't recall a single English player walking in this series (or the last for that matter).
Complain about this postChris Hamilton
Why do we need 5 bowlers when one of them does virtually nothing apart from concede 5 an over and pick up cheap wickets.
Complain about this postWith Flintoff in the team we should have a balanced side but Dunc insists on 5 bowlers. Australia have 4 and I dont think Australias 4 are much better than Flintoff, Hoggard, Monty and Harmison when on form.
Australia have an extra batsman and ultimately post bigger totals
This really is a joke. Why do we keep collapsing? Simple, not mentally up to it imo. I hope we at least take it into Day 5 with a KP double century, heck maybe we will even win this game with one. Never mind, we've got the ODIs to look forward to and a guy I know said our fortunes in ODIs will shoot up once Vaughan plays in the ODI series!
Complain about this postDear o' dear. Is there anything else to be said? Comprehensively flogged in every department of the game by a professional and committed opponent.
It's as though they are playing on two different pitches in two different universes. Has there ever been such a crushing and humiliating defeat???Pride come before a fall and in this case its an abyss.
Why do we so readily wear the clothes of sporting arrogance while forever showing nothing more than the frills of our ignorance and lack of true sporting metal. Dear o' dear.
Complain about this postThe worlds' batsmen are certainly not going to miss Shane Warne or Glen McGrath, however cricket lovers from all over the world, will miss them, especially Warne. His contribution to world cricket 'entertainment' over the last 12 years cannot be under estimated, if only the England cricketers had showed 50% of his will to win, we would still have lost the Ashes, but whitewashed, I don't think so.
Complain about this postPersonally I would like to thank Shane Warne for his immense contribution to cricket, and thankful that he will continue to play for my county Hampshire for the remaining 2 years of his contract.
What is the point of walking if it does not result in any recognition from the umpires?
Gilchrist is the most famous "walker" in the modern game, and yet Bowden won't take his word when he claims he didn't hit it!
The "gentleman's rule" needs to apply both ways, in that you should be able to take a player's word for it one way or the other.
If even Gilchrist is not believed by the umpires when he claims not to have hit a catch, then there appears to be little option but to never walk and simply accept the swings and roundabouts of bad umpiring decisions for and against.
Complain about this postAustralians, naively and somewhat sentimentally, take British honours like MBEs and OBEs more seriously than the Poms do themselves. So when a whole team of narrowly victorious pommie cricketers got them last year it came as a shock - but only because our last real contact with them was back in the 70s. A lot of us thought you needed to save a family of drowning refugees or devote your life to charity or at least make a substantial and long-term contribution to a sport, like Boycott has done. The pointy end of this sentiment is Warne mocking Collingwood's gallant 17 as a qualification for a gong.
Complain about this postI'm tempted to broaden this a little and say that a lot of Australians don't at all mind acknowledging a British heritage and are secretly disturbed when it appears that heritage is being pissed down the toilet.
Simon (15) get off your high horse. The only player who walks these days is Gilchrist. Thats right, an AUSSIE. You know...the team you accused of showing no decorum. Can't remember the last time an englishman walked. Also i guess your english side staggering around drunk for a week after the 2005 series was showing proper decorum...........
Complain about this postHATE TO SAY IT BUT WARNE IS DEAD RIGHT THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS IN NEARLY EVERY MATCH WE HAVE HAD CHANCES TO AT LEAST GET CLOSE TO THE AUSSIES BUT HAVE BLOWN EVERY ONE ! JUST LOOK AT THE AVERAGE SCORES OF THEIR LAST 4 TAIL ENDERS COMPARED TO OURS.
Complain about this postCan't wait for the one day series to start. At least NZ can provide us with the competition by showing some spirit and pride you english severely lacked.
Complain about this postThe England players (nor to that fact the Rugby Union World Cup Winners) didn't ASK for the MBE's, they were bestowed upon them by this inept, populist, totally celebrity obsessed joke of a Government
Complain about this postAn utterly disappointing series for the English and cricket fans. However, for us Australians who love nothing more than demoralising the English, it was great!
Complain about this postAfter last series the 'Queen of England' congratulated the English on a 2-1 series win and even handed out MBE's. Will the 'Queen of Australia' be congratulating the Aussies for a 5-0 win??? ... I doubt it.
I have just been doing some sums to date on the current Ashes Series..... makes for amazing reading.
To date, and including Sydney scores as of close of play.
Australia have taken 91 Wickets for a total of 2497
England have taken 59 Wickets for a total of 3068
32 Wickets and 571 is the margin between Australia and England in this current Series as it stands.
Or, Australia are 114.2 runs and 6.4 Wickets better per Test.....
Paul (Sydney)
Complain about this postWill be travelling to England in 2009 for the return of serve. Can't wait..... Saving the cents (pennies) now!
Would anyone out there know if I can reclaim the money I spent on a DAB radio before the start of this series? On day one, I returned the thing to the shop due to poor reception (which I thought shouldn't happen) only to realise later that the incessant 'um', 'ah', 'er' noises were, in fact a broadcaster attempting to describe proceedings. Much overrated these DAB things if you ask me. Well done Oz and it's been a priviledge to have seen Warne, McGrath, Langer, Ponting and co. give a lesson on how to win games by carrying out the basics well.
Complain about this postThe commentary of Tom Fordyce and others has been brilliant, thanks a heap for the entertainment.
Aggers too, great too. Just one quibble. The Aussie angst about the MBEs is not so much directed at Paul Collingwood. It's not that he got an MBE its that the team were given MBEs for winning one - I repeat one - cricket series. This of course made things ludicrous - should some of the substitute fieldsmen in the series got honorable mentions. Plus several OBEs to others like Duncan Flectcher (what about Troy Cooley? Oops he's Tasmanian). In the interests of retrospective justice the England sides that actually managed to win several series in a row against Australia should all be admitted to the House of Lords forthwith. Arise Lord Ian Botham, onya Lord Geoff Boycott....Seriously I doubt those former players of demonstrated longstanding talent were amused.
Your choice but if you want to make regal gongs that cheap better crank up the printing presses for garden party invitations. Celebrate your victories but try to keep them in perspective. Of course this is advice some Aussies writing in here should do to - only fortunately they dont get to award gongs.
Complain about this postWe(the English) should take our hats off to the brilliant way the Aussies have worked as a team and showed determination. We should also be dismayed, not by how we have failed, but by the bullish assumption, and assumption held it seems by the coach and many players, that we just had to turn up to compete. In the longer run, 5-0 may do us some good. Most of all though, the daft assumption that proper warm up matches werent needed, that players could pick and choose to when to participate, has let us down.
Fred's game has suffered from being skip, but worse perhaps is that we have selected some club cricketers. Collingwood isnt one of them though.
Complain about this postAnd Warne: great player, the best ever perhaps, but does he just get carried away, or is he a thoroughly unpleasant person, as some of the media try and suggest. I dont think the latter is true, but he does sledge with style, and gives as good or better than he gets. With stump mikes, etc, surely the answer is to have a campaign to cut out sledging: it is pathetic, demeaning, and goes to show that many cricketers are no brighter or more worthy of praise and respect than many overpaid soccer players.
Well done Aussies: you are the best. bad luck England: we now need to rebuild and, hopefully, this will deflate the egos of some of the one series wonders, and will get them focussed on cricket, hard graft and practise, not false stardom.
England cricketers - and administratorr have failed. The results show it. I am frustrated by the fact that they seem incapable of fully recognising the fact. Until they do so no lessons will be identified and corrected. Why do I think that they are all complacent and comfortable in the bubble of their central contracts and the results do not really matter? Perhaps as a start they should all return their MBEs - given a little prematurely - which I always thought were awarded for individual efforts rather than collective results. Some of our sportmen recognised only after full and successful careers must wonder.
Complain about this postSO WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT A WHITEWASH. IS THIS THE TIME TO CALL FOR GRAVENEY TO FALL ON HIS SWORD? THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM THIS SERIES IS THAT THE AUSSIES ARE BETTER BATTERS, BOWLERS AND FIELDERS. WHY HAVE WE PICKED UNFIT PLAYERS? I DON'T BLAME FLETCHER, ALTHOUGH I THINK HE'S MADE SOME MISTAKES. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN'T BOWL THE AUSSIES OUT TWICE IN A MATCH - SO WHY WERE WE PICKING ASHLEY GILES? JIMMY ANDERSON AND SAJ MAHMOOD HAVE GOT POTENTIAL, BUT YOU DON'T FACE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD WITH 2 PLAYERS WHO'VE GOT POTENTIAL - WHERE ARE THE BOWLERS IN ENGLAND? EXTREME LACK OF DEPTH!
Complain about this postFINALLY LET'S HOPE GERAINT JONES RETIRES, AND STEVE HARMISON REDISCOVERS HIS BOWLING ABILITY, BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T HE'LL NOT EVEN GET A GAME FOR DURHAM.
FINALLY (AND I REALLY HATE SAYING THIS) THE AUSSIES SHOWED WHY THEY ARE NUMBER 1. LET'S HOPE THIS IS THE FINAL TIME I HAVE TO SAY THAT.
England can still win the 5 th test if Pietersen scores 200 and Read chips in with another 100 and monty makes a odd 50 and anderson and mahood chip in with 30 or 40 a piece and if pigs learn to fly.
Complain about this postThe best course for England will be to pray for rain which may ensure a draw and delight a drought stricken Aus for the heavenly drop.
There are no surprises in this match - just more examples of ineptitude. The last rites on this series were long ago and it is now a dead rubber. England have to learn from the experience and realise what the Australians long ago did - that you are only as good as your last result. 2005 hurt them because they felt they were good enough but events proved otherwise. 2005 lulled our side into a false sense of security and self-belief and we have paid the price. Too many of our players simply aren't of test standard either in terms of skill or more tellingly, attitude. The most successful England cricketer this winter has been Mark Ramprakash - and that tells you all you need to know!
Complain about this postIan Pulham's observations are spot-on.
The technical inferiority of England as compared to Australia has been plain to see throughout this series. In one sense cricket is a simple game in that bowling straight and playing with a straight bat usually brings rewards. To do that when you under the kind of pressure that the Aussies can exert is of course another matter, but by the time a player reaches test level, the fundamentals of the game should be second nature. However, that doesn't seem to be the case for many of our players, as per Ian's comments about all levels of the English game requiring scrutiny.
It continually frustrates me that there is not one English seam bowler who can bowl straight enough to apply consistent pressure, there will always be a good ration of balls wide of off or leg served up for a hungry Aussie batter to tuck into. Matthew Hayden's comments when England's bowling plans were stolen were absolutely right - I think he said something to the effect that bowling isn't rocket science - you just bowl to hit the top of the off stump. Glen McGrath is not even quick any more but he can still tie a batsman down with a relentless line and length. Stuart Clark is a test rookie but he has come straight in to the side and bowled, er ... straight ... and bagged plenty of wickets.
It amuses me to hear English players talking about 'putting the ball in good areas' as if there was a wide range of options the length and breadth of the pitch. I'd suggest that the options of where to put your stock ball when you're bowling to players of the calibre of Ponting et al are strictly limited to a rather small area on a good length bang on the off stump.
Complain about this postNo one seems to be making the point that we have been let down by our opening batsmen. Alastair Cook will probably be a decent batsman long term but he's been out of his depth all series - the hundred at Perth was scratchy but determined. Even then he lost his wicket at a crucial time and we were without hope.
Agree with the comment on Chris Read - his keeping easily makes him worth his place as it lifts the bowlers and fielders. As for his batting, I think he has guts and if he'd been playing from the start he may even have found some form by now.
England look lazy now - their preparation was woeful and while we hear continually about the overheavy workload for international players this does not stack up when you examine the facts. Giles, Harmison, Anderson - latterly Mahmood & Read too would have benefitted from more games not less.
When we won the Ashes we had Troy Cooley & Trevor Penney on the coaching staff - now they're gone we look half the side in the field. Whoever let them go should be fired. Why oh why do our fielders insist on resting their hands on their knees until the ball is actually struck in their direction??
Complain about this postWhy is that everyone keeps looking at our bowlers who fail to add runs to the total? if our top 6 "batsmen" can't put a sufficient total on the board why should our bowlers be expected to add another 100-150 runs?
Whilst there should be no reason for them not to be able to hold an end up we can't expect them to make up for our batsmens failings.
Our batsmen need to take a long hard look at themselves and the way that they have played throughout the series. I don't think there is one of them that can say that they have not contributed to their own downfall at some point.
Our bowlers seem to have enough trouble putting the ball in the same spot for a whole over without having to worry about going out and scoring runs to supplement our failing batsmen!
Complain about this postI agree with Charles that tail end runs are important but I would wager that it is more to do with the players ability to bowl than bat.
The Aussie bowling attack is very disciplined and to be fair to Punter they have been backed up by good fielding positions.
We on the other hand have bowled very poorly and without any discipline for most of the series.
Shane Warne averages 17 in test cricket but this series he is averaging about 50!
Complain about this postJust a thought, in the NFL, the head coach has the right to challenge an on the field decision. The referee then asks the video booth to review the play and the decision. When made the result is then given.
With the the third umpire now on hand to look at any contentious stumpings or run outs, could not the Captain request that the third umpire look at the video evidence.
This obviously would have to be for both batting and fielding sides, in the case of the batting side if the captain was not at the crease he would have to indicate from the balcony his challenge.
Complain about this postFlat Jack: couldn't agree more, awarding the England team MBE's for winning just two games of cricket in the summer of 2005 seems incredible now and I believe helped contribute to some players believing the hype about being the greatest and forgetting that to be the best requires preparation, commitment and dedication across a far longer period of time.
Complain about this postI would also agree 100% with Ian Pulhams observation about how the Aussies ability to make the most of their talents. Lets face facts, even without Warne and Mcgrath the Australian side over the last 15 years would still be at the top of the tree. They have the best work ethic and a desire to be the very best at whatever sport they take part in. For an Aussie, getting into the national side means nothing unless you contribute something to the cause. Unfortunately for the English the reflected glory of making the national side (not just in cricket) seems enough for an awful lot of our players.
I would however disagree with Ian on one point. The academy in my mind is a sound concept which has been undone by typically British mismanagement. Can you imagine the Australian system allowing Rod Marsh to leave after such a promising tenure in charge?. Or for that matter Troy Cooley who even expressed his desire to stay on in England but was deemed surplus by the powers that be. To me this sums up the vast difference in achievements between the supposed best two cricket teams in the world.
I have a huge problem with some of the comments (not of Aggers, but viewer's).
Complain about this postAs an Australian supporter, I am as dissapointed of this series as any English. It is boring.
But you have to look at positives.
If you don't like your team, we will gladly have Cook for Langer, Panesar for Warne, and Hoggard or Flintoff for McGrath.
You have great talents in your side.
Stick by them.
And for heaven's sake, please stick by Fltecher. I don't like him. I think he's arrogant.
But he brought you out of darkness.
Although none of you will accept it, you were down there with Zimbabwe (might been slightly worse than them) in mid to late 90s.
Fletcher brought some winning mentality back to England.
You only lost 5-0 (almost), because it really is against one of the greatest Cricket team in the history of the game.
It's almost like looking at Charlton last year with people calling for sacking of Curbishley. saying they are sick of mid-table finishes, when they should be going for European places.
Well, sacking of Fletcher may take you where Charlton is heading (in Cricket term, Zimbabwe)
Well, given we've just had day three, it's not going to be another three-day victory, but that's about the only good thing we can say.
This whole sorry episode began the day that we had ticker tape parades through the centre of London simply because we won the Ashes back. You could see in the side that played test matches in the aftermath of that great series that they had decided they were the best, because they'd beaten Australia in a series that could have easily been a 3-1 loss, and showed no application against sides they should have been able to thump.
The 2005 Ashes victory was a point we should have been able to kick on from, to become one of the best England sides in decades, but instead it was treated as the pinnacle of achievement and too many people felt they'd done all the hard work there.
I've been expecting the Aussies to regain the ashes since we failed to finish off Sri Lanka in the first test at Lord's, but to have done it so convincingly just undermines the fact that they wanted this much, much more than we did, and worked that much harder to get it.
Complain about this postEngland 234-4 to 291 all out; Australia 190-5 to 393 all out. Another illustration that tail-end runs DO matter, and "just let the batters get the runs" is a totally simplistic, and thus misguided philosophy.
Complain about this postSalty
You fighting a losing battle. The ump rightly gave Warnie the benefit of the doubt, but an excited appeal being turned down is all the Pommy nongs seem to need to start screaming "WE WOZ ROBBED!"
Complain about this postIt was frankly a ludicrous decision to give those MBEs. I think that can be traced back as the moment the Ashes were lost, almost as soon as they were won.
Complain about this postI think the dissent that Warne and the other Aussie players displayed towards the umpires..and their excessive appealing, and their excessive sledging.. are all products of Ricky Ponting's cocky attitude. He has often challeneged umpiring decisions and so hie players think it's fair game. At least the English players played cricket like professionals.
Complain about this postI do not begrudge Australia their position as No.1, but I would not in my wildest dreams use people like "SMS Texter" Warne, "Cocky show off" Lee or "Look at me, aren't i the greatest" Ponting as role models for my kids!!!!!!!!!!
There are several lessons to be learnt by this Aussie team..and the most important one...is be Humble. And this is from a neutral cricket follower.
Well lets face it, the Poms just cant play cricket. Beaten by a more powerful, dedicated and talented Aussie team. Way too good for ya!! Regards from Mark N in South Australia.
Complain about this postA lot of people seem reluctant to properly criticise Steve Harmison. I'm personally livid that he publicly announces he can't wait to get home and away from the tour. He is a disgrace to the word commitment and shouldn't be picked for England again. Regardless of whatever form he might find. It is a priviledge to play for your country - ask Warne and McGrath - and this whinging prima donna should take a leaf out of their books. He seems to think he is a legend of the game but he is merely going to be a forgotten embarrasment.
Complain about this postSorry Charles Hamiliton but Duncan Fletcher was pig headed in his decision regarding the Monty/Read vs Giles/Jones issue. Yes there is a problem in the wicketkeeping dept, I think JA mentioned yesterday that the position is up for grabs in the summer but by having the best spinner bowling to the best wicketkeeper in the squad would have enhanced our chances of at least competing better at a crucial stage of the series. Both combinations on the batting front are equally limited but Read and Monty are going to give you the opportunity to take more wickets.
Complain about this postWell done Australia, you have outplayed us in this series and with all the Aussie retirements coming up I suppose it will forever be 1-1 in terms of Ashes series against these 2 sets of players. I'm sure we would have put up more of a fight with Vaughan and Trescothick present and Flintoff fully fit but alas, it was not to be. Only one thing has really surprised me this series in fact and that is the Aussie weather - we in England are led to believe that it is perennially sunny over there and that everyone has a 'baaaarbie' every night. So how come we keep getting interruptions for bad light, cloud, rain, etc. In Melbourne the crowd were wearing overcoats! And it is mid-summer over there! Sounds as bad as an English summer to me - I'll never believe Neighbours (set in Melbourne) again!
Complain about this postvery one eyed there arnt u ? forgiving about gilchrist shocker didnt hit the ball ? hes more dangerous then warne he could have destroyed eng even more :)
Complain about this postWhy are the aussies always the bad guys with sledging?
Warne went on and on did he?
Didn't collingwood start it?
Complain about this postThe three great cricketers retiring after this test should be joined by Billy Bowden, he has run his race.
It is difficult to see how the ICC can keep Darryl Hair on ice yet appoint Bowden to umpire in the important Ashes tests.
He really fluffed the Warne decision and then deprived the spectators of seeing the most spectacular batsman of our time in full flight by incorrectly giving Adam Gilchrist out.
Come on Billy, make it four retirees.
Complain about this postAggers
Complain about this postI am so disillusioned by the lack of collective fight in the England team. Under Freddie we simply seem unable to get ourselves up for it. We have lacked intensity from the first day and this what the Aussies have in spades. This was summed up by Warney's innings today. We simply appeared to lack the stomach to get stuck in. Can Fletcher survive what looks like an inevitable whitewash? I'm undecided! We can never allow a team to leave these shores with so little intensity. They have let themselves down and all their supporters. Lets not forget the Aussie public hoping for another 2005 series.
To Donmega
Re. KP's selfish batting with the tail by exposing Monty to the strike in the last over.
That's exactly what the nightwatchman is there to do. If Monty had got out in that over it would have meant the end of the day's play, so no decent batsmen would have been exposed. What do you think the point of sending in a nightwatchman, if the more capable batsman shields him from the strike?
Do us a favour and educate yourself, just a little, about how the game is played.
As for KP being a "chicken" - have you ever walked down the pitch to someone bowling at 80+mph. Have you even faced 80mph? He's as brave a batsman as there is, whatever his less endearing traits may be.
Complain about this postMcGrath copped a lot of flack for his 5-0 comments last year but the truth is he was very close to the mark but just not aware that England were scheming a secret weapon being reverse swing. Take away the reverse swing by using a different ball in aussie conditions and this is what happens. I am not sure why many fans are surprised by this and now out for blood.
Next series will be closer with the ball reverse swinging again, although I suspect aussies will be better prepared for it next time around.
Complain about this postThe over-the-top celebrations after England won the Ashes in 2005 worried me at the time. I mean, a parade and MBEs for what? Winning a test series (narrowly).
Since Australia recovered from 1981, they have won several world cups, they built on solid success to totally dominate international cricket, they have held the test league trophy (whatever it is called) since it was invented.
England's achievements are pathetic by comparison.
The hysteria following our Ashes victory shows England to be an absurd, Lilliput-like nation, with grand ideas left over from a by-gone era, that never really existed anyway.
What happened to the usual sensible voices of sport that you get in other countries? Like "We are happy to win the series but realise Australia are still a far better team and we have a lot of hard work to do to reach their level".
It was drowned out by the absurd, over-inflated egos of the English. The over-the-top celebrations have clearly been a motibvating factor in pushing Australia to rub our noses in it. Certainly for Warne, if not the rest.
In series past, Australian teams would have relaxed a bit once the series was theirs. Not this time.
Complain about this postI think the MBE were in order. They are given for a unique performance, not for live time achievements or something like that.
Complain about this postThis Ashes series shows how hard it is to get the Ashes from the Aussies and indeed how extraordinary that 2005 series was for the Poms.
Let them keep it as permanent reminder how high they have been and low they have become.
Dear Rodney (#22),
Do you think the incorrect final dismisall in England's 2 run victory last year may have impacted the outcome of the series? Or the atrocious dismissals of Martyn and Katich when aussies were in a winning position in the 3rd test?
Cry me a river.
Complain about this postYou have to love the generous comments from some of the Aussies who have hunted down this blog to spend their time running off at the mouth - well done lads, but you're so predictable with your hard thought out put downs. Try a bit of subtlety sometime maaaate.
The England team is getting the back to back (make that 5 backs...) defeats its inept, heartless and hopeless "defence" has deserved. Oddly enough these are talented cricketers who have won matches and even series in the past, but who came here with some idea that they would turn up to matches and it would all fall into place. Not without preparation. Not without hard work. Not without determination. All missing.
There will be a competition for the Ashes again and it will be hard fought and, yes you cashed up Bogans, England will even win them again.
Complain about this postMen against boys. Over and out.
Complain about this postWarne is an odious and nasty piece of work. He's a convicted drug cheat and the poorest sportsman within a team of poor sportsmen. His treatment of Collingwood today is totally in character and demonstrates his total lack of character. A nasty little man who world cricket can well do without. Good riddance Warne. Go and take your drugs, chips, pizzas and fags somewhere else.
Complain about this post6 batsmen above Read ? That's one too few. The balance of the side is wrong, given the available talents.
It's clear now that Fletch was seduced by what worked in 2005. It worked then because all 4 pace bowlers were up to standard, and Gilo could be just a container and score a few. And the keeper was (then) not completely useless with the bat.
Fletch had a new hand to play with Monty being an aggressive wicket-taker as well as a containing spinner who could bowl all day. And once Jones was injured, there was not a 4th seamer up to the job - Anderson and Mahmood bowl good balls, but not often enough. So why play them ? They just release the pressure. And they can't bat either.
With 4 aggressive, wicket-taking bowlers (Harmison - eventually - Hoggard, Fred and Monty, who have between them done 95% of the good bowling in the series) he could have had an extra batsman, followed by Fred at 7. Note that the Australians have never played Gilchrist at 6, despite his batting ability. It gives him licence to fail occasionally with his aggressive approach. Fred could turn games too, but has usually comes in after everything has fallen apart. It also gives the team the luxury of having the best keeper in the world on a tour where every catch must be taken, even if his batting is not that great.
Who should the extra batsman be ? Well, Shah had/has the technique and the aggression to get up the Aussies' noses.
But his face doesn't fit, does it ?
Too late now. Can we have another go ????
Complain about this postI agree with the sentiments about the MBEs which were thrown about in 2005. I suppose Mr Blair will make sure there is plenty of distance between him and the England cricket team this time round!
And I'm not at all happy about some of the England players now appearing in newspaper advertisements for the "Official Beer" of the England team appearing glum, and supposedly lamenting the loss of the Ashes.
This tour has been a complete disaster and humiliation...it's hardly appropriate to use it as a marketing opportunity!
Complain about this postWhat is the BBC doing sponsoring bad English?!
What is all this crazy stuff about calling a demolition job a 'whitewash'? A whitewash is something used to cover over cracks, mistakes, poor joins, to make things look better than they are - which is the opposite of what you mean!
What you mean is a walk-over (which is what such things used to be called - rightly).
Philip Seddon
Complain about this postCollingwood whinging about an umpire decision is ridiculous. Didn't they see what happened to Gilchrist when it was SO obvious he didn't hit it and yet was given out? The entire England team appealed even though he wasn't out...
Won't make any difference to the outcome. Australia will still give you another cricket lesson in the form of another thrashing.
Good on you Warney - sledge them for those ridiculous MBE's... You are saying what most of Australian supporters are thinking!!!!
And btw: Today especially, I agree with Warne- Collingwood DID look like a club cricketer.
Complain about this postThe difference between the two teams is visible in the details of the scorecard.
In England's first innings 3 players made more than 30, in Australia's first innings 7 players made more than 30. In England's 2nd innings we've currently have 24, 28, 29 n.o. Maybe Pietersen will cross that threshold but I can't see anyone else likely to do so.
At the other end of the scale, 5 English players didn't reach double figures in their first innings but only 2 Australians. (In both cases we had a 0 not out.) So far in England's second Innings we've had two players already not reach double figures.
Complain about this postWhy do people think Monty was sent in as a nightwatchman for Chris Read?
Given the performance of the England tail, it's far more believable that he's been moved up the order to seven ...
Complain about this postIt is appalling to see same story repeats itself. Every time pre-match interviews are so positive and claim to go for a fight etc., but the reality is so pathetic. No one seem to remorse for the poor show, including the coach and players who write sports columns.
Complain about this postI completely agree with the "Felix" post No' 7.
I must congratulate the bbc web chaps on some of their commentary, especially the piece last night about mothers spitting !!
On the matches between the two sides, I am fairly embarrassed by the whole situation. It gets worse when my Aussie friends tell me they are annoyed with winning 5-0 as they want a better sporting contest.
We have been outplayed - simple as that. I would like to highlight two areas where we have failed miserably in comparisons
1, Building big partnerships and totals. Our batsmen have looked gutless when facing the Aussie attack (apart from a couple of glimses from Fred, Collingwood and Bell. Where as the Aussies have taken the game to our bowlers.
2, The Aussie attack caused us severe problems - our top order were constantly playing and missing outside off stump. The Engand attack did that at times, hoggard and Flintoff especially, but no where near enough pressure was exerted on the Aussie top and middle order.
Finally, to follow on from most of yesterdays posts regarding the wicket keeper situation. No matter who had played at No'7, it wouldnt have made 1 bit of difference - whether it was Read, Jones, Prior, Batty, Davies, Pothas - or any others mentioned.
Complain about this postThe England team may have not performed as well as they could have done, but the 5-0 score does not represent what the England "A" team (captained by M.Vaughan could have acheived). Since my 5 years in Australia I have become used to the totally one-sided Australian view of all things to do with sport (they are the best at everything), but the one sided radio commentary on the ABC here is a complete joke. Only J.Agnew and the other English commentator (M.Slater?) provide any counter to the "isn't everything the Aussies do wonderful" broadcasts that I have been listening to. Roll on the next Ashes series on with no Warne, no McGrath and a more mature England A Team.
Complain about this postWhat an embarrasing time to be an England Cricket fan! Our players should make a swift and quiet exit from Australia to apologise and explain themselves to the thousands of fans who spent a fortune to see a WHITEWASH and to those of us who could have had much better nights sleep back here! Then they should get straight back to the basics of cricket and come down from whatever cloud they are still on from the 2005 Ashes.
Complain about this postWhat a difference a year makes in cricket, Freddie was the golden boy of cricket in the last ashes, now he is going to go down as the english captain that lost the series 5-0 for the 1st time in 80 odd years.
But i dont balme freddie, its the whole management structure that was ill prepared and had made him captain ahead of strauss.
There were too many players coming back from injury and management were guilty of being too negative with team selection.
Complain about this postThe reason for Collingwoods MBE and the rest of the team was due to an amazing test series in 2005 in which England regained the Ashes. People have got medals and gongs over the years for single battles as well as long term service. Boycott is a Yorkshire bore who will always complain.
Complain about this postOK, so England are going to lose the series 5 zip, and they have been comprehensively beaten, but they have been up against the best in the word. I agree that some of the players have at times rested on their luarles and that they have had a few bad sessions and have thrown it away at times, but we are still the second best side in the world with a fully fit squad. England are a young team with some pretty amazing talent coming through who will only learn from this humbling experience.
I for one, am looking forward to 2009....
I'm an Englishman / England fan and am, like everyone, gutted by the way we've played... and most notably not competed... in this series. I am only writing to respond to some nonsense I've just read:
Complain about this postSimon (post 15), I even made note this morning (I'm in Thailand) that Hussey DID walk when caught behind today, even though it was a close call on whether or not the ball carried for Read to make that excellent catch. I reckon I might have hung around for longer than he did, even if I was part of a side that has been destroying its opponent for the last month or so!
Cheers
anyone else just start laughing after reading Ian's comment (61).
Complain about this postHilarious. There is just too much material there for comeback-comedy I wouldn't know where to start.
This series comes down to one word - TICKER - Australia has had it, England haven't. It's as simple as that. In the crucial, potential match turning situations, the Aussies came through. England had no answer. No ticker.
There seems to be a lot of similarities between the England Cricket Team of 2005 and the England World Cup winning team of 2003. One great series/tournament; close win against Australia and all of a sudden they are the best in the world and having afternoon tea with the Queen. Pity no one let them know that it's harder to stay at the top than it is to get there.
Having said all that, England fans are far more gracious in defeat than any of my fellow countrymen would be. Love the Barmy Army.
Will miss you Warnie.
Complain about this postHow dare Shane Warne ridicule the veracity of somebody's received the MBE? Doesn't he know that June Sarpong has one?!
Complain about this postWhy doesn't Agnew get off the fence and tell us what he thinks about the warne - collingwood exchange
He seems to be defending Collingwood by sticking tentative comments in brackets but the reality is that Warne is right
Collingwood getting an MBE was a disgrace, when you consider that Graham Thorpe didn't get one despite winning his 100th cap that summer and being England's best batsman for the whole of his 12 years in the team. This was rectified the year after but is still a joke and cheapens the whole honours system when winning one cap can get you an MBE
In hindsight were any of the team really worthy of the award? One series, they thought they had made it.
Out of interest has Warne got even an MBE? He is on the only one of Wisden's 5 cricketers of the century not to be knighted
Complain about this postI've been reading these comments and the overwhelming feeling I get is that there's no perspective here, What is it with English cricket supporters? When we win a series we're apparently the best team in the world. When we lose, we're apparently an embarrassment and a disgrace. How terribly English that attitude is, I can almost hear nanny giving their bottoms a spanking. It's completely unrealistic. The fact is, last year we played at home with our best team and everybody firing on all cylinders, and we narrowly beat the best team in the world. This year we play away from home with our third-or-fourth best team, with nobody firing on all cylinders against an opposition fired up for revenge.. and we lose. Big Deal. Yes it's a dissapointment, of course it is. But try and keep things in perspective.
Complain about this postNaseem Hamed has had his MBE stripped for criminal behaviour.
Complain about this postSurely those in the current England side who were decorated a year ago must suffer the same fate?
Or will they be touring London in a newly whitewashed open top bus?
Re Post 52# At 10:32 AM on 04 Jan 2007, Jon Dennis wrote:
"Shane Warne should never have been allowed back after he was found to be a drugs cheat. "
Yeah, and they should ban McGrath for taking too many wickets also, and maybe we could change the rules so that Ponting is out if he hits a boundary...
Yeah, that will even things up a bit!
Complain about this postEvery England player so far has defended the clear lack of preparation prior to the series. Even Harmison last night stated the same despite his obvious improvement as the tour has gone on. Is this their honest view or is this the "siege mentalitity" and defence of an under pressure management team?
Complain about this postAs an Englishman living in Oz I will be glad to see the back of this dismal ashes series. Obviously I've taken a fair amount of stick, but I must say (through Union Jack eyes) I've been disappointed by three key things:
Complain about this post1) The English Cricket Team in general and the selectors (for obvious reasons),
2) Blatant over-appealing, aggressive sledging and basic nasty, bully boy attitudes of the 'we're so good/it's not fair' aussie team,
3) Crappy umpiring both ways (but particularly in favour of the Australians.
I have watched/read with increasing frustration from my home in middle America as the Aussies have run roughshod over the England side.
I am a Surrey fan, and wonder if a player like Ramprakash might be a useful addition? He had a smashing year!
Complain about this postI like how many of you have blamed the Upmire for not giving Warne out. But do remember, if there is doubt, the batsman is not out. Simple!
Funny how in 2005 the British press claimed that this is the best team you've had in 2 Decades, a little over one year later and it is now possibly the worst team you've had in nearly a Century.
Fall as quickly as you rise - that has been the path of English cricket for many decades, so don't feel so down, you surely should be used to it by now.
Have a good day...
Complain about this postRegarding Post 60# At 11:26 AM on 04 Jan 2007, tagnut wrote:
"England 234-4 to 291 all out; Australia 190-5 to 393 all out. Another illustration that tail-end runs DO matter, and "just let the batters get the runs" is a totally simplistic, and thus misguided philosophy."
If England had decent bowlers they could have gotten the Aussies all out for 250 after having them 190-5.
Complain about this postThere's no shame in losing to a better team when you have given your all but this England side have showed a complete lack of fight.
Complain about this postThe English players should be made to sit down and watch Justin Langer's press conference before this test. Maybe then they will learn something about pride, passion, commitment, professionalism and what it should mean to represent your country.
As an Englishman who hates losing I am utterly embarrassed by the England team's pathetic displays throughout this tour.
Even during the dark days of the 90's we at least showed some fight and were never whitewashed! The worst display by an England team in 86 years - where's the honour in that?
well maybe a 5-0 whitewash is what is required to make those who should take a good look at how we prepare for tours.
also, nice to see the art of sledging still exists - something that is missed in the highlight shows!
Complain about this postEngland are so pathetic they shouldnt even being playin out there, there no better than a boys cricket team, how can shane warne there tailender score more runs than anyone in our team its a disgrace to the country iv watched every ball and im so disappointed i dont no why i actually thought england had a chance in the ashes how wrong can i be,
Complain about this postWhy is it that i feel if Australia were in this position at 114-5 they would have enough in their tail to post at least a challenging fourth innings target. England will no doubt be bowled out for about 175 and Australia will reach the runs without losing a wicket, thus completing the most humiliating series defeat in history!
Complain about this postAs I have reiterated again and again...
I TOLD YOU SO!!!
England were never gonna win this Ashes, the moment they left for Australia! And the 5-0 prediction I made and McGrath made is going to be fulfilled tomorrow, unless it rains or a miracle happens.
I mean lets all get realistic!
They only have the one-dayers left to redeem themselves. I certainly believe England will play much better in this format of the game!
And Aggers, I think your optimism, views, and correspodence is all very much like the current England performance.
By the way everyone:
HAPPY NEW CRICKETING YEAR!!!
Regards
Yusuf.
Complain about this postsomething that hasnt been said is that England's decline in cricket over thast 30 years coincides with the full on one day games that they play in England.
Complain about this poston the other hand the australian states play 4 day games as the basis of their cricket competition-traditionally known as the Sheffield Shield-until england develop a similar competition to enhance their test skills in batting and bowling australia's domination may continue for some time yet
JON DENNIS (Entry 52)
Warne a 'drugs cheat'? Mate - it was a diaretic for weight loss. Hardly what some of our Pakastani cricketing friends are allegedly taking these days.
How are drugs going to help Warne's performance? He's hardly an 'athletic' cricketer?
You wouldn't be whinging if he played for England instead.
Collingwood is average. He should keep his gob shut.
Complain about this postI am so pleased that it will be 5-0 to Aussies. For this England team to avoid this would not have been deserved and no doubt had England won we would have had to suffer a lap of honour etc etc etc.
The team deserves NOTHING from this series. It began with no preperation poor selection and has ended with no sprit or heart.
With regards Warne/Collingwood Warne is correct. Collingwood number 4/5 for England is a joke. He is not good enough.
Finally will Harmison please stop his over the top celebrations when he finally gets a wicket. At Melbourne we had it all when he finally got a wicket after a stand that had taken the game from England .It wa like scoring in Football at 0-6 and running round the field in celebration.
Roll on the World Cup Results are wholly predictable.
Complain about this post'I think the dissent that Warne and the other Aussie players displayed towards the umpires..and their excessive appealing, and their excessive sledging.. are all products of Ricky Ponting's cocky attitude. He has often challeneged umpiring decisions and so hie players think it's fair game. At least the English players played cricket like professionals'.
I totally agree with these sentiments.. Many of the comments here seem to be saying we need to be more like the Aussies...
If this means other teams including England need to be nasty and treat other teams with contempt and also challenging allsorts of umpiring decisions... then fine you can keep the Ashes as long as you like as firstly the game of Cricket will eventually die... and as a proud cricket lover i would rather see the game played as it should be ie by the rules and lose than win every series by being the way most of the Aussie team are...
Is all that really matters to the Aussies, winning? What about the game of cricket and its future? Ar e they not equally responsible custodians of Crickets future.. what example are they showing the youngsters? Is Winning everything and sod the consequences?
Complain about this postI for one will not bag the poms, although the MBE's were farcical. This tour has generated so much interest with many individual highlights drawing great crowds to our venues. The English team will bounce back and all us Aussies can't wait for the next confrontation when we will try and whip your butts (and your Balmy army) again.
Complain about this postLet's not make so much of the tail end runs issue. It is one of many parts of the England game that have failed to deliver and is one of the less important ones. Over focussing on that issue apparently was a factor in the daft selection errors early on.
Complain about this postThe main problems have been that both the frontline batting and bowling has generally been poor. Only two players, Pietersen and Panesar have consistently performed to the required standard. In addition, Flintoff's captaincy has been dreadful.
Some say that there is far more individual talent in this England team than for example the one of 4 years ago. However, as this is certainly not the strongest Austalian team, it does not say much for the character or preparation of England.
Just a thought as I watched the inevitable "5 out all out" scenario develop again. We have to have someone coming in at number 7 that can bat and we have to get Vaughan back in when fit. Assuming Collingwood will give way to Vaughan why not throw Collingwood the keepers gloves for the one day series and the world cup and take a chance on developing a genuine keeper batsman to protect our fragile tail. It worked with Stewart why not Collingwood as an exceptional fielder surely he can adapt to keeping wicket.
Complain about this postThere's no doubt the Aussies are ruthless and they deservedly are miles in front. It's a pity their play is marred by the boorish and bullying antics players such as Shane Warne repeatedly display, not only against opposition players but in more recent years, against umpires. It sullies the nature of the game, and let's face it, cricket is a game and not the gladitorial be-all and end-all of marketing hype.
Complain about this postEngland's been unable to press home the advantages it has had at certain times. And it's batting has become woefully defensive and / or idiotically attacking. Where are the basics - taking short singles can be an attacking ploy.
And how is it that the tail is so long? How is it players such as Anderson and Mahmood can't improve their batting? McGrath, once a bunny with the bat, took himself on and got better. Gillespie too.
There are too many excuses with England. It's the same old same old.
England have been pathetic. Flintoff keeps going on & on about trying to win but I never hear the Aussies talking about TRYING to win. You either go out there to win & turn in a good performance but trying doesn't even enter into the equation. It really is black & white. You go out there with the clear intention to win at all costs. You don't go out there with the intention to TRY & win. That is all I hear from Flintoff, Harmison etc. "It isn't for the lack of trying!" What a stupid statement. Just look where your trying got you! You never hear Ponting talking about the most ludicrous of intagibles "trying" to do anything. They go out there with the clear Intention to win. The have had the whitewash on their minds since the second test match & what is about to transpire? A whitewash. That is because they set themselves tanglible targets!
What has Flintoff & his second rate chums done for 5 test matches. They tried to win & look where it go them. You have to have tangible targets in your mind. Trying is too vague because it doesn't even exist. You go out onto the field & bowl to the best of your ability for every ball. Harmison has been woeful but he's been playing game after game because apparently he's been trying to get hsi action right. Look, I haven't played international cricket but I have never bowled a ball to 2nd slip. He's been woeful & the England management are a bunch of softies that are incapable of condemning 2nd rate performances. They are men & not boys...they need to be told that they are under performing so that they can improve. The stupid excuse of " It's not through the lack of trying!" doesn't wash with me. It's just a feeble excuse because they aren't man enough to admit that they have played worse that a bunch of school kids.
Complain about this postMBE - multiple batting errors
They were a joke when they were handed out - they're more of a joke now.
Too right Shane, keep serving it up.
Complain about this postFor England to save this test, it will require something special. Every time this Englan team have needed to do something special in Australia, they have failed. Even the most ardent England fan must admit that Aggers is right and a whitewash is inevitable....
Complain about this postFlintoff should resign as Captain. Wiser heads (and a lot of fans) wanted the brains of Strauss in the job, but Freddie's ego and need to lead the team scared the selectors into giving him the job, in case his performance was damaged by losing the captaincy.
Well, the odd decent spell aside, he has never looked threatening as a bowler and one ok innings out of ten failed ones show the lie in that.
As a captain he isn't good enough. Under him, a team who were hard to beat and threatening to win have become a weak shambles. After each embarassing defeat, Flintoff has come out to speak to us at home and said, and I quote, 'I'm not too bothered, to be honest. It didn't come off for us.' Harmison said something similar about his own awful bowling for much of the series. The fact is, it DOES matter, and this attitude is the key to why Flintoff must go and go now.
Freddie needs to bat and bowl and inspire with his physical ability and nothing else and England need a Captain with moral authority to instill some backbone and flair back into the side.
Complain about this postI think we must remember a number of things before we all go mad about how poor England have played:
1. We are missing World Class Key players e.g. Simon Jones - Englands secret weapon in the last Ashes series, Marcus Trescothick - Proven opener over the last few years and a key player in our last victory against the Aussies, Michael Vaughan - Our Captain, tactically spot on, proven run scorer and fantastic man management.
Any team would struggle when they lose World Class players and yes we have struggled, just look at the effect it had on Australia when they lost McGrath in 2005.
2. We are playing the greatest team in the World. The Aussies are without a doubt the greatest team of the modern era. If a team has a weakness they will exploit it with no remorse and it is clear that has happened.
3.We are Number 2 in the world and will continue to beat teams in England and on tour for the foreseeable future as I think we have the potential to mould another great England side out of the raw talent we have e.g. Panesar, Mahmood, Cook as well as the returning Key players.
English Test Cricket has nothing to worry about.
Yes we will be whitewashed, yes it has been painful but as long as the team use this experience to drive them onto number 1 spot in the world we will once again retain the Ashes in the foreseeable future.
Complain about this postSo Jonathan , now that Geriant Jones has been dropped who are you going to blame for the tail collapsing in the first innings ?
Complain about this postAll of a sudden, the term "Winging Poms" is crystal clear. Morning, noon and night, at work, in the pubs, in the clubs and even in church all you hear is, Warne was out, but the umpire missed it, Strauss was dfinitely out but the umpire missed it, please look at the facts and now the records, England lost to Australia. Forget about the sour grapes and give the Aussies their due, they are the best in the world. Stop winging!
Complain about this postWhen interviewed all the England players keep refering to the lessons they are learning while being trounced.
No interviewer ever asks them "What lessons ?"
So before this series didn't they realise:
Net practice is not the same as warm up games
Not to bowl short and wide
Not to play loose, unecessary shots in a 5 day Test
Not to seize the initiative
Just admit you've been outclassed.
Complain about this postApparently MBE's can be withdrawn by the relevant cabinet office if behaviour not becoming of a person holding such an honour can be evidenced.
I would suggest that Messrs Flintoff, Collingwood, Jones, Pietersen et al should have theirs removed forthwith. It was a joke the way the ECB, players and much of the (non-cricket watching public) responded to the 2005 series win. Things are coming home to roost big time now.
Let's say goodbye to Mr Fletcher and his staff and ask Mr Boycott if he would like to steer the good ship England for the next few years.
Complain about this postdid monty come in as night-watchman, or did they just realise that he is a better batsman than chris read??? certainly looked more comfortable at the crease.
thing is with monty, his major run scoring shot is his slog-sweep, and everyone enjoys that. however, he has other, better run-scoring shots, and i don't think he needs to play the sweep that seems to be becoming his downfall. its a high risk high gain shot that a tailender would play, and i think monty is better than that, and doesn't need to resort to it. I think he is pressured to play it because the fans expect it because they enjoy it, and see monty's batting and fielding still as something of fun.
i know it seems strange to be analysing monty's batting so much, but tomorrow he's our best hope of scoring some runs with pietersen, as for the others......
Complain about this postI'd just like to congratulate any English supporters who have managed to continue watching. You must really love your cricket.
Positives to come out of the series.
* Panesar established a place in the team.
* You found a real wicketkeeper (again) in Read - he should have secured a long-term place.
* Continued good form of Pietersen.
* Cook looks like a long term prospect.
* Hoggard continues to be a great workhorse.
* Losing 5-0 means you can take the captaincy off Flintoff and he can get back to being one of the best all-rounders in the world.
Around these six guys -
Flintoff, Hoggard, Panesar, Pietersen, Cook & Read, you can build for the future.
(I also believe Anderson has what it takes, but have no real evidence to back this) :-)
One last thing, sack Fletcher and hire a very experience Aussie such as Tom Moody or Greg Chappell or maybe even current Aussie coach John Buchannan (off contract after the world cup), and give them free rein.
Once again, congratulations on continuing to support your team in adversity. You are the true fans.
Complain about this post1st innings:
England batsmen 1 to 6 = 277 runs
England batsmen 7 to 11 = 4 runs
Aussie batsmen 1 to 6 = 200 runs
Aussie batsmen 7 to 11 = 173 runs
And given that the main four Aussie bowlers knew exactly where to pitch their deliveries, consistently, England's problems are very clear.
Complain about this post"Around these six guys -
Flintoff, Hoggard, Panesar, Pietersen, Cook & Read, you can build for the future.
(I also believe Anderson has what it takes, but have no real evidence to back this) :-) "
Oh, I forgot to add Harmison.
Looks like he is coming back into form.
Now you know for the future that he requires a LOT of bowling to get himself ready for a series.
So make that
Flintoff
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar
Pietersen
Cook
Read
and maybe Anderson
plenty of bowling talent...
Complain about this postI have found the interviews with Harmison and Anderson over the last two days both illuminating and depressing. Harmison's main interest seemed to be to get back home asap, and he didn't appear to have any idea as to what he might be doing over the next several months to prepare for the two summer test series, in which he claimed to be determined to perform at his best. Anderson just appeared totally woolly-headed and uncertain as to what he has been trying to do at all. Both their demeanours and statements contrasted with the invariably articulate and purposeful remarks of the Aussies in interviews throughout the series.
We need Vaughan back asap, as at least he has some brains, and of the rest I would only retain KP, Strauss, Flintoff, Panesar (definitely) and Bell and Cook(somewhat reluctantly) from the team in this match. We must find an Alan Knott type from somewhere to keep wicket and a couple of medium fast bowlers with a reasonable idea of where they are trying to put the ball. However, I am not optimistic that much of this will happen, even if the dreadful Fletcher works out we have had enough of him.
Complain about this postMy suggestion to Ricky Ponting for tomorrow.
Put Langer and Warne in as Openers, then have Glenn McGrath in at first drop.... Give the three an opportunity have the final day and final innings part of the celebration of saying goodbye and saying hello to a 5-0 whitewash....
Paul
Complain about this postThe problem with allowing some sort of appeals system is that it gives an unfair advantage to the bowling side. The captain is always on the field, and can quickly inform the umpire that he would like to review a decision.
But the batting side has no such advantage. Consider Strauss' appalling "bat pad" decision. He's been given out by the umpire - does he have the right to stand there, while Fred runs out onto the field, they discuss whether it's worth appealing, and then it goes to the third umpire. We've lost five minutes of play, and the umpire's authority has been undermined? I can't see the ICC going for that.
It's already 11 vs 2 - why give the fielders any more advantage than they've already got. England aren't losing this Test because of one upiring decision.
Complain about this postI love Warnie - he's a true larrikin, he has his own hair, 700 wickets and not an eyelid out of place.
Somebody give that man a job in TV! Oh, they already have. How did that happen.
Complain about this postAggers I have enjoyed your commentary on
ABC radio immensely (lamentations notwithstanding). But your BBC contributions have not been so spot on. Totally different audience though isn't it?
You only mentioned the decision favouring Warne (which in real time and without the benefit of replays I defy anyone to get right with certainty - it was a toughie). You could also have told your readers about the poor decision against Gilchrist - a man noted for walking when out but who stood his ground and was incredulous at a plainly incorrect decision? Or better still you might have ignored both decisions in your column altogether since neither will have the slightest effect on the outcome of this match.
This has been rather typical of your comments for most of the series - along the lines of "England outplayed - yes, but what might have been if only the decisions had been fair?" It has become a little tiresome not to mention plainly unbalanced and inaccurate in that you have failed to also mention occasions when decisions were favourable to Englands cause. You might point out that the umpiring has had no significant impact on the outcome of the serious or indeed any single match. The best team has won on each occasion and the margin has probably been a fair indication of the difference between them.
Complain about this post
Complain about this postIf winning the ashes merits an MBE, does losing them mean they will have to return them?
Having seen our batting, is Monty the nightwatchman, or is our tail so weak that he has actually been promoted to number 7 because of his batting skills relative to Chris Read?
Complain about this postMy patience is being sorely stretched by the constant, unjustified and vitriolic attacks on Kevin Pietersen. He has undoubtedly been our most illustrious and effective batsman, yet he seems to have been made into a scapegoat. I watched him today and despite the the enviable quality of the Australian bowling which all but extinguished his scoring opportunities, KP still exercised great restraint and resilience. He didn't play any indiscriminate shots, although he could have been forgiven for doing so. Despite a most uncharacteristic strike-rate of 48 this series compared to 71 in 2005, he has been our most productive batsman with an average of 60. On the issue of giving the strike to a tail-ender at the embyonic stages of the over, I think it merely reflects the distorted plans engineered by Fletcher and presumably Flintoff as even the captain and Chris Read, the latter at the MCG, were doing the same thing. In the case of today, perhaps KP's actions were understandable as he was trying to preserve his wicket in the last over so as to replicate Botham's heroics of 81 at Headingley. If people are consistent, why not condemn Read and Flintoff? Let's look at the merits of the other batsman. Strauss, despite suffering at the hands of the umpires, has been injudicious in his shot selection and not being given the captaincy has nullified his potency. Notwithstanding his century at Perth, the flaws in Cook's technique have been exposed and exploited. At three, Bell has been sound, but perhaps was mentally found wanting as suggested by a failure to convert 50's into 100's. Collingwood started well, which has given his series avearge a somewhat perverse boost, but in the last six innings has had low scores. One cannot doubt his endeavour and courage, but his strokeplay was limited (none more so than at Adelaide in the second innings). The captain has been out of touch and there's no point mentioning the wicketkeepers or the tail. KP has been a standout and deserves our recognition, not misplaced villification. Imagine England's plight without him.
Complain about this postAggers, another good summation. Sadly England has been pathetic in terms of their preparation, attitude & performance.
Complain about this postJust a quick correction, the outfield throw which Sajid Mahmood should have collected behind the stumps to run Warne out was thrown by Alaistair Cook, not Anderson. I was sitting on the concourse in front of the SCG Ladies Stand today and Cook was fielding right in front of us.
As much as the Aussie supporters wanted the Ashes to return 'home', no-one has derived much satisfaction from seeing a 5-0 whitewash, although it's a great tribute to Ponting's champion team and the 3 retirees.
BB, Sydney.
Stop whining about the Queen and those MBE's for pity's sake. It's phony Tony that decides on those, not Her Maj - who just doles them out, so get off your sad horse and enjoy the Ashes win.
Complain about this postPoor ole' England team,
I've watched the whole series and for the life of me i jus can not seen how these matches could have gone so terriblely wrong.
Australia is the best team in the world but even with its problems england is a good team and i never thought 5-0 would be the result.
Funny game cricket.
I want to be a ozzie!
ST
Complain about this postEven though Australia have won the ashes (Yess!),I have to say this is very boring cricket.
England needs to change.
First of all, don't get rid of Flintoff. He's lovely, like a labrodour, and plays good cricket, but he isn't a leader. Just let him do his own thing and release him from the burden of captaincy.
Second of all, if Jones or Giles ever say they want to play cricket for England again, then they should be given the incorrect address or date of where or when the game is. They should never play cricket for England again. Ever.
Third, for Harmison, to rid those homesick nerves so he can bowl straight, bring everything English along when touring. As an Australian, I won't pretend I know what many of these things are, but maybe something like jellied eel, Harry Potter, and London could do.
Fourth, the next time England wins something, they shouldn't be so bloody cocky about it. Don't accuse Australia and their beautiful cricket players of being cocky.
We're not the ones who had a parade.
A huge ticker tape parade.
On a big, red bus.
Followed by MBE's.
Complain about this postI believe the magnitude of the achievement of England winning the 2005 Ashes was completely exaggerated due to the disgraceful underachievement by their predecessors. It is for this reason I believe it was an erroneous decision to award the MBE to the whole squad. At most I would have given gongs to Vaughan for his captains role, and Flintoff for his outstanding contribution.
Complain about this postWill Australia's Queen now be awarding honours to the Australian side for their historic Ashes win over England??? Fat chance.
Complain about this postI'd like to thank my surgeon for operating and re-building my knee, therefore saving me the £3000 i had ready for my tickets and travel etc to the perth and melbourne tests.
When will the England heirachy learn from their mistakes of old that preparation for the overseas tours is appalling. not just for this one but the vast majority of the tours we go on.
one 14 a side 3 day game against some small boys, and a one day game - is hardly preparation for a test in Zimbabwe let alone a 5 game match up with the world champions.
can you imagine Germany going to the footie world cup with one friendly against enfield reserves as their warm up - i think not -
wake up messrs graveney, fletcher et al - smell the coffee and get it right.
p.s. MBE's etc are dished out like sweets these days - i gave 25 quid to save the tiger at xmas so i might put myself up for one and see where i get......
Complain about this postI believe Australia would have done almost anything, short of murdering somone, in order to regain the Ashes.
Complain about this postTime and again during the key moments in each test they have gone for the jugular and not let England escape.
Not only did England fail to prepare physically they failed to condition themselves mentally and clearly had no idea just how much the Aussies wanted to win.
England seem to have assumed that, as holders of the Ashes, they would be automatically granted respect Down Under.
That they now stare down the barrel of a 5-0 whitewash only serves to show how misguided their entire complacent approach to this series has been.
Is anyone really surprised at the lack of heart and fight in the England team, perhaps a team full of Enlishmen might help!! KP bats for himself, is this a major shock - he is SOUTH AFRICAN!! he wont give a toss if England win, lose or draw as long as he grabs a few runs - he may be a good batsmen but i say ship him out and bring in a young English player who will hurt like all of us at the humiliations we have had to endure, this goes for other average overseas players as well!!
As for the dodgy umpiring decisions, this has had no effect on the results of the five test matches, Australia have had bad decisions as well as England, the ones involving England have simply been highlighted more!!
Bring on the ODI's and lets at least put up a fight!!
Complain about this postThe only time you can effectively complain about umpiring is when you win.
Any other time it is just whinging.
The umpires are neutral, and there is a process in place to review their performances
Complain about this postWhat a load of rubbish!
Complain about this postThe hierarchy of the ECB should do the decent thing and resign en masse.
Those non playing hangers on in Australia should defect.
At this rate I reckon the Aussies will give us a series every 20 years or so as it will galvanise their players to scale greater heights and give our players the attitude that they can actually play cricket.
I feel sorry for Freddie, KP and Hoggy as these are the only three who should be playing international cricket.
The rest are a spineless, gutless, clueless, hopeless bunch who will all no doubt be picked again for England.
Bring back Geoffry Boycott's grandma!
How many members of the England team would get into the Australian XI? One? (Pietersen)
Man for man, the Australian players have been far better than our overrated bunch, and I hope this isn't forgotten in an orgy of excuses.
After England lose 5-0 (by lunch) the strangely compelling misery and embarrassment will be over. I could say a lot more but will only express one hope: next time, a lot less press conferencing, interviewing, and blogging, and a lot more practice, preparation, and self analysis. All that empty fighting talk just insulted our intelligence. Action not words, please.
Complain about this postif the playing stock are not up to scratch, its time to step back and look at the system they develop through, and revise it.
Pretty simple really, just dont write it on a napkin in a bar :)
Complain about this postIt's like a feeding frenzy when England lose, which only adds fuel to the almighty stick they already get from a jingoistic Australian press.
Complain about this postLet's get a few things straight. The players had absolutely no say over 'Her Majesty' awarding them MBEs so it's hardly fair to criticise them.
MBEs are a complete irrelevance to most right-thinking English people who despise the monarchy and everything it stands for with a passion. It seems to get up the nose of Australians far more that the England players received MBEs. Does this hark back to pent up feelings of inferiority/anger Australians still feel regarding the mother country?
2005 was the first time England had won the Ashes in 18-odd years so it was fair enough they wanted to celebrate in style but again it's the powers-that-be who arrange open-top bus parades, not the players. Australians see this as the England players ramming it down their throats that they won, when it simply wasn't the case. They just enjoyed the moment as the Aussies have done since Perth, and with far more dignity and with a lot less gloating, I would add, given Gilchrist's appalling hand-cupped-to-his-ear histrionics in front of the England fans at the WACA, and the constant disrespectful words and arrogance of Australia's players amply displayed throughout this tour.
Australia have won back the Ashes playing a severely weakened England side. Given the absence of Vaughan, Tresco and S Jones, plus Flintoff's lack of fitness, it would be interesting to see how the Aussies would have coped without Ponting, Hayden and Clark (given like-for-like absences) and a half-fit McGrath.
It strikes me that where Australia have been far superior is in the bowling department, just as this was where England won back the Ashes in 2005. McGrath, Lee, Clark and Warne have hunted in a pack much like England's 2005 four-pronged seam attack. Troy Cooley is clearly a tremendous coach. England's bowling attack, already decimated, has simply not performed.
Two key players to improve the Australian side have been Hussey and Clark. The irony is, the rest of the Aussie side is clearly in decline but England have been too far below their best to be able to expose Australia's frailties.
2009 will be a keenly-fought, fantastic series reminiscent of 2005, I would wager. While Australian conditions accenuate the gulf between sides, English conditions are a far better barometer.
Rannyroo FYI
Diuretics increase the rate production of urine and can be used by drug cheats to purge the body of incriminating traces before drug tests.
I must say Warne has shown remarkable resilience over the many years of his career considering the incredible strain that his action would usually have on the human anatomy...
Complain about this postEngland have not just lost against the Australians they have been ridiculed and mocked by them such was their rage when they lost the Ashes in the UK two years ago.
There is very little, in my opinion, which endears this Australian attitude and I personally find it offensive.
England will learn from this series and, in a few years time, might find themselves cricketing superiors. Let us hope that if this does happen they will have learn't that it is possible to be humble in victory.
Complain about this postTo clear up a couple of points made by people. Pietersen was absolutely right to leave Pannesar to face the last few balls, it's the night watchman's job to protect the recognised batsmen. On the subject of bad decisions and walking, it seems a bit tough on Gilchrist that Bowden gave him out. Everybody in cricket knows that Gilchrist walks, Flintoff should have shown the same level of sportsmanship that Gilchrist displays and called him back.
Complain about this postI like the view below of having some perspective. We do not have Vaughan in the side we do not have the vital Simon Jones. We have top players coming back from lay offs. we have come up against a fired up Aussie side with extra motivation of having lost the Ashes and that 2 of the greatest bowlers of all time are on a last hurrah.
Complain about this postThere are areas for criticism - not selecting Monty was a mistake - you should always pick your form players - this is an England failure in all sports not just cricket - how badly has Beckham played and still kept his place. We are too sentimental.
We did not prepare correctly.
Finally we have fallen into the trap we set for Australia in 2005. We stopped them hitting boundaries and so they thrashed out for the runs and were out. In situations where we should have had the Boycott mentality and hit nothing if not necessary we were still flailing away with the bat.
We need to take stock go back to the drawing board and fire ourselves up - how sweet it would be to reclaim the ashes when they come back over.
We have world class players lets get them peaking at the right time and we can win!!
Umpiring decisions affect weaker teams badly. Stronger teams always have batting or bowling prowess to overcome umpiring errors. The only way to do away with such errors is to make use of technology. It is argued that it would take time to give such decisions but that would be only in case of a few decisions and the overall time giving in giving such decisions may not be much. Only LBW decisions should not be referred to the third umpire as technology is not yet perfected inspite of hawk-eye.
Warn's drubbing of Collingwood that he is a club cricketer is not very far from the truth, inspite of his big century in the second test.
Without Vaughan, Trescothic, and Simon Jones England looks an ordinary team. I am not bit surprised for England's loss to Australia 5-0,which is now a forgone conclusion.
bajarkar
Complain about this postThe Aussies are all racists - poor old Monty will have to put up with all manner of racism in Australia
The tour schedule was set up to favour the Aussies...
The umpiring has been biased against England...
The Aussies sledge too much...
The Aussies appeal too much...
We didn't win, but at least we are not arrogant...
We didn't win, but at least we play in the spirit of the game...
We don't even care about the cricket that much.
Why do you Aussies take it so seriously...
Australia would be nothing without Warne & McGrath...
We'll win in 2009 for sure...
OMIGOD! WHEN WILL THE WHINING STOP ??!!!
Complain about this postI was asleep when it happened this morning, but I've just seen a photo of a concerned Brett Lee crouched over a prostrate Andrew Strauss who he had just hit with the ball. All the talk of the lack of sportsmanship of the Australians, and the better atmosphere of 2005, but is my memory mistaken in remembering that when an Australian batsman (Ricky Ponting?) was hit in the first test at Lords, no-one approached him to show any concern. I believe this led to complaints, after which the matches were played in a better atmosphere! If my memory is faulty and I have made this up, I apologise.
Complain about this postJust spent a few moments reading the blogs, a new experience. What strikes me is what short memories you all have. The 2005 Ashes series win was touch and go, either side could have won, very exciting for sure, but not a whisker in it. Two average sides battling it out, dropping catches by the hour. As I recall, since then England have been up against it, remember the farcical draw against Sri Lanka? No surprise to witness the Aussies, having regrouped, thrash an average England side. No amount of discussion on who keeps wicket, the batting order, the bowling options, can disguise the fact that England are just plain ordinary. Admittedly they were not helped by mismanagement of the pre Ashes schedule, and it is clear that Fletcher's influence has become stale. But leave it off, it was all entirely expected, and everybody tried their best. The media hype, driven by a desire to sell TV packages and newspapers, has backfired badly, yet boring Test cricket series will carry on as normal. Roll on the World Cup, so we can see proper one-innings-a-side cricket take centre stage.
Complain about this postFirst question - was Monty a nightwatchman, or simply promoted?
Post 61: "How on earth can the lads be expected to perform when their fate has already been sealed by the papers and nation? The football team doesn't get this before a match"
Errr... it's the lads jobs? If the England football team were playing a series of internationals and had lost the first 4, I'm pretty sure they would be getting exactly the same (probably worse) treatment from the press. England have underperformed from day 1...
Which brings me to my main point. It was the first day of the first test that set the tone for the series. Whether or not Fletcher believed the batting was weak, why let the Aussies know before a ball has even been bowled? England were on the back foot before play even started, and then, Flintoff made his first mistake. He gave the ball to Harmison. If Vaughan had been captain, I think he would have insisted on Panesar and Read in the team, and would then have called on Flintoff to whistle one passed Langer's nose first up.
We should have been saying, "We're here and up for the fight", not, "We're playing for a drawn series and will do our best to bowl somewhere near the wickets".
Somewhere in these comments was a remark about the Aussie sportsmanship and how it has been lacking in this series. Maybe I haven't seen enough to say whether this is true, but from what I have seen, Brett Lee certainly deserves exemption from this. He might make the odd comment, but rarely is a smile far from his face.
I think the greatest disappointment is that England have not made Australia work for their (deserved) victories. I will be interested in the post-series interviews. I might even stay up, it is likely to be over well before midnight.
Complain about this postjust a comment on the pitch microphones......
some people still think crickets's a gentleman's game, I think if you listened to the pitch microphone you would beg to differ.
It would be good to listen in on the pitch microphone at home (or the umpires at the very least like rugby) the match is being played well after the watershed anyway!
Complain about this postRe Post 117 At 11:36 AM on 04 Jan 2007, TopRev wrote:
"Only one thing has really surprised me this series in fact and that is the Aussie weather - we in England are led to believe that it is perennially sunny over there and that everyone has a 'baaaarbie' every night. So how come we keep getting interruptions for bad light, cloud, rain, etc. In Melbourne the crowd were wearing overcoats! And it is mid-summer over there! Sounds as bad as an English summer to me - I'll never believe Neighbours (set in Melbourne) again!"
That's global warming for you TopRev me old china. Just before Christmas we had snow falling! In the middle of summer !!
Melbourne is usually pretty sunny in summer
But if you really want to experience beautiful weather, head to Queensland (in Australia I mean) in winter.
Complain about this postWhy is that people always say a batsmen should walk? Why is the onus on being honest only put on the batsmen not the fielding team. Bowlers and fielders always appeal even when they know it's not out. If batsmen should walk then captains should call a batsmen back when he knows he's not out otherwise it's double standards. Well done Warney top sledging. If Collingwood wants to give it out then he's got to expect to get some back. Stop whinging aggers it's as pathetic as your team! Looks like Pidge has got it right this time. He's owed a few apologies I'd say.
Complain about this postTo "Rannyroo" - you really are the typical one-eyed Aussie, aren't you?
Complain about this post"Only a diuretic" eh? Well, the reason diuretics are banned is because they very effectively mask the use of steroids by flushing signs of other drugs out of the system about 15 times faster than nature would allow.
At the time he was tested positive Warne had been trying to recover from a bad shoulder injury in order to play in the World Cup.
How funny that they should find a diuretic in his system, which masks the use of most muscle-healing steroids, as he was recovering from injury!!!
God, if anyone wanted to use their brains then they might thing he had been on the roids to speed up his recovery in order to play in the World Cup.
But, no, just keeping following your Aussie "Sheeple" and keep believing that he only took the diuretics because he wanted to look good on TV.
What would the Aussies have said if it had been a Chinese swimmer? The hypocritical twats would have been calling for a life ban.
To "Rannyroo" - you really are the typical one-eyed Aussie, aren't you?
Complain about this post"Only a diuretic" eh? Well, the reason diuretics are banned is because they very effectively mask the use of steroids by flushing signs of other drugs out of the system about 15 times faster than nature would allow.
At the time he was tested positive Warne had been trying to recover from a bad shoulder injury in order to play in the World Cup.
How funny that they should find a diuretic in his system, which masks the use of most muscle-healing steroids, as he was recovering from injury!!!
God, if anyone wanted to use their brains then they might thing he had been on the roids to speed up his recovery in order to play in the World Cup.
But, no, just keeping following your Aussie "Sheeple" and keep believing that he only took the diuretics because he wanted to look good on TV.
What would the Aussies have said if it had been a Chinese swimmer? The hypocritical twats would have been calling for a life ban.
There is no shame in losing a game. It doesn't matter even if england lose 500-0 instead of 5-0. It's just a game whose real purpose is entertainment and nothing else. So please don't get angry. If this game gives u anxiety then don't watch it. BUT don't cry over it. The print and electronic media has created such a hyphe over a sport that it has a become a nuissance as a result of this loss.
Complain about this postFirst thing. You do not ask for an MBE you are awarded it. You have to be nominated by other people to receive one. I don't recall many England fans calling for the England team not to be awarded a gong when the won the ashes. If memory serves, some were even calling for knighthoods for Vaughan, Freddie and Fletcher.
Complain about this postSecond, the Aussies have won the series fair and square. They have played better when it really matters. However there have been promising signs for England. If you look at the ages of both test sides the Aussies have one player under the age of 30, whereas England have a number of young players in the side.
This is not an excuse as to how they have played, poor performances are poor performances, however you can but hope they will develop as players as a result of this series. Not many players start off brilliantly and get better.
Personally after this series I am excited by the potential future of the England test team, and I hope to see players like Cook, Bell and Monty develop into true world class players. My only concerns is that this largely depends on the England management and coaches, and after this series they have some serious questions to answer.
As an England fan I would like to say well done the Aussies. The determination shown in the series has hopefully set the benchmark for the England teams of the future
Tactics wrong again.
Why did Fintoff keep 4 seamers going all morning and only bring Monty on to bowl to a defensive field with 6 overs till lunch and the seamers knackered.
Yes the early overs were tight.......but he could have had Monty attacking at one end and fresh seamers all morning from the other..........
But then again.....what's the point...none of our batsmen can score anything worth talking about.
It's been a total shambles ever since the tour intineray was agreed and has only got worse since.
Complain about this postAs with all things English, we win something then, at best, spend decades in the wilderness, at worse, totally embarass its fans. It's an English disease inherent in our culture be it sport or anything else for that matter. And invariably it's the faceless wonders that govern our said sports be it football, cricket or rugby that need to be named and shamed. Those governing bodies coupled with the pathetic sports infrastructure this country has it's a wonder we do any good at anything. It's always a "just managed to win" or "snuck in through the back door scenario". Rugby and cricket will always have test matches, be it home or abroad. So for the governing bodies it's a jolly-up thats in the bank. As for football, but for the grace of being seeded thus having an easier entry into competitions or that sport will be an even bigger national embarassment than it already is. There is something in our psyche that thinks we still have an empire and that it's our God-given right to just turn up and win. Unfortunately these comments would of been as relevant if they were (and I'm sure they were) said in the Twenties, Thirties, (geuine excuse for the Forties), Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, Eighties, Nineties to the present day! No-one will be too harsh if preparation, dogged-determination and endeavour was carried out by these professionals (!) and I don't just mean the people who took to the field but that sadly is not the case. Enough said.
Complain about this postWell all I can say is thank God that's over. Its been an embarrasment. The missed Warne glove hurts but is one of those things that happens. The Gilchrist decision was even worse. the Mahmood run out incident is oneo f those things that can't be allowed to happen at this level. It should cost you your place. In Australia it would. Maybe not forever but long enough to learn not to do it again. That's the difference. Australia are good. No doubt about it but we have conspired to make them look even better than they are. When Clark can bash 38 off our bowlers at no. 10 and then none of our top 4 batsmen can do better, something is seriously wrong. Flintoff's captaincy has also been suspect and we should not harp back too much to 1005 because this is not the same team or leadership Come back Vaughn, Jones(not Geraint!)and Marcus, your country needs you!. The England approach to the tail-enders has been poor to say the least, thick headed to be honest. I wish the Australians would nick the bowling plan a bit earlier BEFORE the England bowlers get a chnace to read it. That way they might have start thinking about what they are doing. How many good yorkers or slower balls did Harmison bowl at the tail enders? I don't remember one, just a succession of wide and short cannon fodder. If they are not capable of controllign a cricket ball then they are not test players. If they are but don't have the imagination to choose appropriate tactice then they need a tougher style of coaching than Fletcher can provide. I have a natural aversion to Fletchers. The Bumbling idiot Fletcher on the television ranks high on my list of blokes I'd like to approve as candidates for Euthanasia and the coach Fletcher is begining to work his way up the list. He may be a good technical coach but I suspect for all the poor cricket they have played, Englands main problem is not only technical. Let's hire Chappel, make them all suffer a bit for their England cap and know that no discipline means no place in the test team
Complain about this postAbout the MBEs - Boycott and Aggers are being churlish and narrowminded in saying that Collingwood and the younger players didn't deserve them because they had only played a few matches.
How wrong to see it like that!!!
The Ashes summer of 2005 enthralled the nation. It was gripping pressurised stuff and it entertained and thrilled us like nothing else has within the game or outside of it for a very long time.
The MBE awarded to Collingwood was in the context of the most intense scrutiny, the hottest national focus, the biggest media spotlight and with a nation's hope at stake. It wasn't about how many tests he played for England - or even in that series. It was for the fact that when it came to the crunch and the country needed him to perform, he did.
We loved it and for once we could party as a country for a spectacle which most commentators agree may never happen again and party we did. The open-top bus, the gongs, the booze - it was proper. It is how a celebration should be. I for one will never begrudge that side their honours.
Thank you boys of 2005, you deserved your rewards and for the rest of us, we deserved to be silly with flags and to weep quietly and estatically into our beer.
Dont ruin that, Aggers and Boycott, you old duffers.
Complain about this postEnglish Cricket has no hit rock bottom. There are absolutely no excuses and our performance has been shocking to say the least.
Complain about this postVery disappointing and to lose 5-0 is just not acceptable.
Did we win the Ashes or was it a dream ?
Aggers, good coverage as always. England deserve nothing other than the embarassment of a 5-0 whitewash on this tour. From start to finish they ve shown we are nowhere near the australians in terms of attitude, desire, and committment. The occasional umpiring decision did not alter the outcome here, we did. Although we have enjoyed a few good sessions, when it came to the crunch moments, the aussis stood up, and we lay down. Whereas the aussis seem to be despondant when they get out for 50+, our batsmen seem happy if they get to 50 (esp Bell) and think they're job is done. OUr batsman have on the whole been found out and need to go away and do some serious work on their techniques.
Complain about this postAs for the bowlers, again the consistency is lacking. Yes we have guys who can bowl wicket taking deliveries, but the other 5 balls int he over will be shockers! And when we do find a spinner who can produce some pressure and wickets, we put fielders in such defensive positions that the ones and twos are there for the taking.
The Captain, coach and all the players need to take a good long look at themselves. They ve let down all the amazing fans who ve made the trip out to support our country and never stopped singing their hearts out. Well done the Army! As for the sledging, i wish we could hear more of it, as we loved every minute of it! And what are our chances in the one dayers.......hmmm Let me think about that one!
Notwithstanding the Warne decision, England never seem to bowl at him well, even in the 2005 series. As he is a step away and sythe or pull merchant, surely the tactic should be a few well aimed yorkers or at least full and straight. With Simon Jones missing we don't seem to have anyone who can bowl those deliveries though.
Re Warnes' sledging, he has made undermining Collingwood a theme throughout the series. Good to see Colly having a go though, shows some spirit.
Hats off to the Aussies who have played with complete intent and commitment throughout but England really haven't played well in this series. I think it is a little early to talk about going back to square one though as we would still beat most of the other sides in the world. One thing is certain though - we need a new wicketkeeper.
Complain about this postJon Dennis give yourself an uppercut.
Warne paid the price for his drugs suspension. To say he never deserved to come back is absolute dribble.
He's a competitor and sure was out of line with the umpire but these things happen.
Dumbest thing written in this blog.
Complain about this postI think we (as cricket fans) have to forget about this tour and quickly move on. The cricket team and coaching/support staff cannot, they have (like the aussies did 2005) to sit down and try to find out where it all went wrong. They need to fix the problems that we've had and work hard at it. They know this, and i'm sure they will do it.
True, we were not helped by injury/illness but the performance was still under-par and I think the whole team would agree.
I don't believe too much blame should be heaped on Freddie or Duncan Fletcher or anyone in particular, this is a team game, and everybody will cop a bit of the blame.
The aussies played well, hats off to them and lets now sit down and work hard on how to beat them next time
Complain about this postGive MBEs to the Australian team. And then let's see how the Australian players will behave in the following Tests.
Anyway I'm sure the English players are regretting their decision to make fun of Australian cricketers for going to a bootcamp. That's something England urgently needs to do.
Complain about this posta couple of small points. Someone should remind Christopher Martin Jenkins and those that sympathise with his views that Pietersen is about the only player in the England side that has honestly done his bit. To criticise him for batting badly with the tail when he has made a decent score and prevented the team from being bowled out for the square root of nothing, is typically English and one of our most appalling characteristics. We don't need Australians to put our sporting heroes down, we make a hobby of doing it to ourselves.
Now as for the Australian jibes about imports playing for England, I'd keep a bit quiet about that if I were you. At the Sydney Olympics I noticed a very large number of "Australian" competitors and medal winners whose tenure in Australia was little more than the bare minimum to qualify them as Australians. All those odd sounding names wera bit of a give away. Yes they could have been second and third generation but a large number of them weren't, so lets have no more of that hypocracy shall we?
Complain about this postAggers, stop with the England football excuses this is cricket, I thought cricket fans were a little more respectable, with umpires, you win some you get some, Warne should have been out on 10 yes fair enough, but that is just the way it goes.
And also, one 206 does not make you a cricketing legend, or even a world class player, Colly is international standard and nothing more (at least as of yet). Warney is the greatest leg spin bowler ever, I don't think you are anyone else has the right to say anythin demining his views.
Complain about this postHey! It's only a game. Nobody dies.
In a couple of months time we will have forgotten the pain of this (and boy! There's a lot of pain!) and be looking forward to being one of the best two teams on the planet who win slightly more than we lose.
England aren't Australia and won't dominate like they have done but we're pretty good. Future contests between the two countries - post McGrath and Lard-boy - should be pretty tightly fought affairs and 5-0 won't happen again for another generation.
Well, that's my optimism used up for the day anyway.
Complain about this postNext England test side:
Trescothick (if fit) or Cook
Strauss - Captain if no Vaughan
Vaughan(if fit)-Captain or Key
Peitersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Batty - wicket (best in the country)
Broad
Lewis
Panesar
No place for Mahmmod, Harmison, Giles or Anderson
5th bowler shared between Collingwood, Bell and Pietersen. This side bats down to number 9 and not no 6 as present.
One day side:
Maddy or Trestcothick (if fit)
Pietersen
Strauss (Captain)
Benning or Brown
Collingwood
Flintoff
Batty (Wckt)
Broad
Dalrymple
Lewis
Panesar
This side bats down to 9, has 4 front line bowlers and 4 batting all rounders (Maddy, Benning/Brown, Collingwood, Dalrymple.
Pietersen or Flintoff must open to potentially capitalise on the first 15 overs. Darren Maddy, Alistar Brown and James benning are the most destructive one day batsmen in 1st class cricket.
Complain about this postWell done Billy Bowden, at last you got a wrong decison in giving an Aussie out, sorry for that gilly, but go over the series and see how many times the umpires have got it wrong and you will find that there has been far too many poor decisions and yes I would say it is something in the region of 3 Aussies given out when not and about 10 not given out, Michael Clark and Warne in one innings and a good 10 -12 given out when not out and 3 not given out.
Complain about this postThats neither teams fault but very poor umpiring, Can someone do the full stats in support of the use of technology.
Give MBEs to the Australian team. And then let's see how the Australian players will behave in the following Tests.
Anyway I'm sure the English players are regretting their decision to make fun of Australian cricketers for going to a bootcamp. That's something England urgently needs to do.
Complain about this postIn respomnse to Collingwood and his double ton. Jason Gillespie has scored 211, therefore it obviously makes him a better batsman? No it doesnt, cause the circumstances are different. This is also the reason for me suggesting Colly is a Club Cricketer, just like Warnie suggests....and he would know as his cricketing brain is about as good as a dozen Colly's!
Also, in regards to decisions, there have been many go both way throughout the series. Furthermore, in the last series in 2005 there were also a lot of mistakes made for both teams. Nobody has complained about them as it is all swings and roundabouts. This is also why batsmen dont walk any more - would you walk when you knew the next time you may get given out when you are not? I wouldnt.
Complain about this postIn calculating what the Aussie score might have been if Warne had been dismissed earlier would it not also be fair to speculate what it might have been had Gilchrist not been wrongly given out on 62?
Complain about this postEngland thought that winning in 2005 was the start of a revival in the fortunes of the game over here. In fact the celebrations should have been an indication to us that we were so relieved and surprised to win that we were still in an under dog mentality and repeating the feat down under was a very different thing. Add to this Australia's embarrassment and anger over losing and England were lambs to the slaughter. The game in England holds a mythical status above both it's recent achievements and it's true popularity which has been in slow decline for two generations. This see saw from the unexpected high of 2005 to the pits of 2006/7 will leave the game here in the doldrums for years - I'm afraid it will be a long time before Australia can expect a decent competitive series against England again.
Complain about this posta couple of small points. Someone should remind Christopher Martin Jenkins and those that sympathise with his views that Pietersen is about the only player in the England side that has honestly done his bit. To criticise him for batting badly with the tail when he has made a decent score and prevented the team from being bowled out for the square root of nothing, is typically English and one of our most appalling characteristics. We don't need Australians to put our sporting heroes down, we make a hobby of doing it to ourselves.
Now as for the Australian jibes about imports playing for England, I'd keep a bit quiet about that if I were you. At the Sydney Olympics I noticed a very large number of "Australian" competitors and medal winners whose tenure in Australia was little more than the bare minimum to qualify them as Australians. All those odd sounding names wera bit of a give away. Yes they could have been second and third generation but a large number of them weren't, so lets have no more of that hypocracy shall we?
Complain about this postIts not our style to kick a man when he's down, but with interest in the game and accomplishment on the rise in Scotland why, oh why couldn't we have drawn England in the World Cup...
Complain about this postRe Post 47 from Phil of Wolverhampton.
Why is Monty only being used as a 5th bowler to defensive fields.......it looks pretty obvious that some want him to fail....just as there is little praise for how well Read has kept....
Complain about this postEngland should learn from how Australia reacted to losing the Ashes - The took the challenge seriously trained HARD and prepared properly. England must do the same and focus on the fundamentals. Australia are going to miss their experienced players and I hope to see England to regain the ashes next time if they move forward under decent coaches and administrators.
Complain about this post"England should pack up their bags and come home now to avoid embarressment in the ODI series,"
Complain about this postWell. Cometh the hour.....
If ever there was time for Pietersen to dig in and play a heroic innings, and for Read to show he can score runs, then this is it. They must aim to bat as long as possible, taking no risks. No more wafting at balls that can be left. Do what Barrington, Boycott and Tavare would have done. Die rather than surrender.
I fear there is as much chance of that happening as of Yeovil Town reaching the Premiership. Nice to be proved wrong on both counts.
Complain about this postDid we lose the match last night? All the views seem to suggest it, and maybe England's problems are through a wider 'losing' mentality among the fans. The fact is there's still five wickets left and one of them is one of the best batsmen in the world today.
The two things England can learn from Australia and this series is never give up until it really is all over, and never relax until it really is all over. Choosing Panesar as a nightwatchman might yet be a stroke of genius - he's the one guy I bet still thinks he can win the match, and will be desperate to push the total into a decent target to set up his magnificent eight-for bowling in the 4th afternoon.
Post-mortems should be left until it's over...
Complain about this postWith regard to the "sledging", perhaps our cricketers should concentrate on their own game, rather than try to put off the opposition who have no doubt heard it all before and have more to crow about in any case!
Complain about this postI think as much as England have been outplayed they have been done over time and time again by bad umpiring calls.
Strauss wen't three times in a row because of bad umpiring calls.
Hayden and Symonds both should have been given out at crucial times in the last test, Hayden twice should have gone in fact.
Warne should have gone for ten this test.
This is no excuse but I definatly think the umpiring hasn't been good.
Complain about this postMBE = Major British Embarrassment
The England team + management should hand over their match fees and other Ashes related income to the Barmy Army as a reimbursement for coming to OZ.
Complain about this postI also like the idea of having the English team being driven around in London in a whitewashed bus .
This is total arrogance from Shame warne.
Complain about this postIn fairness to Shane Warne, Collingwood has, with a couple of notable exceptions, performed poorly in this Ashes series. Although he is not the only one of course.
Complain about this postI personally think the honours system is an irrelevant concept but if you are to achieve an MBE it should be on your own merit and not on the back of a team's performance. I think individual members of the England Ashes and Rugby teams deserved recognition but not the whole team.
We must not crucify Flintoff for this. He filled a captaincy breach and like Botham 25 years ago shows that a great player is not necessarily a good captain. Vaughan should have appeared in the two final tests because his leadership has been sorely missed. He could hardly have performed than worse than most of the team.
It is unfortunate if Duncan Fletcher did not treat the captain seriously in matters of selection decisions as has been suggested. This cannot have helped the captain's morale.
Perhaps the elite test squad principle has not worked for England. This has been the dimmest show that I can remember in more than 50 years.
Finally, are England players overplayed? They seem to lack the zest for the game that the Aussies have in such abundance.
Complain about this postInteresting you only pointed out umpiring errors that benefitted Australia. How about those that benefited England? Remember Adam Gilchrist being given out?
Complain about this postNot too impressed with you defending Collingwood. Sledging whether it is true or not should not be excused. By statring it, Collingwood sould expect the consequences.
Just the other week I was watching my sons under 10s rugby team preparing for a local derby only to see that within the first 5 minutes of the game they were 2 - 0 down and struggling, to their immense credit however they never said die realised they were actually in a game and ended up losing 2-1... we as parents were all talking about why they lost as for the remaining 20 odd minutes we outplayed the other side completely.... the answer ..... the coach ( and may i also say the parents) hadnt prepared them for the intensity of the first few minutes of the game... Which had given the opposition the upper hand.. Sounds like exactly what happened to England in the first test ... fought back in the second only to see the good work not produce the right result... the rest is history..... cmon ECB lets make sure their up for the fight next time and at the peak of their game otherwise the phrase rabbit and headlight comes to mind !!!!!
Complain about this postIf your hit on the glove you walk, its exactly the same as getting a nick, except you know as a batsman that it has hit your glove. Its not sour grapes, its bad sportsmanship.
The queens awards are a joke. There is no excuse for sledging however.
Shame about the whole series from an England perspective, and it shames me how little fight our players have shown. I agree with the arguments for poor preparation, but at times the players haven't looked that bothered. If I was Duncan Fletcher after the first test match I would've made the whole squad watch the 2005 Ashes DVD, and shame them and their performance.
Complain about this postOf course impending 5-0 is a disappointment, but let's get real. Austaliia are simply better than us, a lot better.
Winning the Ashes in 2005 was indeed a fantiastic thrill but I do not think it would have happened had Glenn Mcgrath bit fit for all five matches. He is just too good and would have tipped the balance.
Why are Australia better? The are a sports cultured, outdoor nation. They have the weather, the inclination and seemingly the time to coach and enthuse their youngsters from school age, where talents are born. My son is in his final year (11) of a state education at a typical 2ndry school in the south of England. His "official" exposure to cricket has been almost nil in those 11 years. You can bet that will not have been the case for the average 16 year old in Australia.
What can be done? In my view it would take an incredily massive sea change to get the national appraoch to cricket up to the level that the Australians have. The target oriented, PC atmosphere in our school system (state at least) simply does not have space any more for a game that takes several hours, several afternoons a week, if it is to be played to a level where kids can hone their skills. Cricket has slipped to a status of a minority sport in the UK for which we are all responsible in a small way through years of apathy toward sport (other than football) in the school curriculum. So we have to live with consequences such as 5-0 drubbings.
But does it matter?? It's only sport. There are other ways of building self-esteem. I bet our kids could thrash them in a play-station tournament...
Complain about this postJust flicked through the comments here and have a couple of my own. Firstly, the Mahmood failure in the potential run out typified this series for me, Englands lack of concentration, intensity and inability to do the basics well. Secondly, I'm a big fan of Read but it is probable that he is not a test number 7, however Flintoff is a test number 7, therefore play 6 batsmen, Flintoff, Read and 3 more bowlers (I'm not convinced we have any English keepers who are a test number 7, although I can't say I've seen enough of Prior or Batty to make judgements on whether they're good enough keepers for test cricket). I'm still not convinced Flintoff is good enough to be a "specialist" batsmen at test level. I note many of the comments regarding the long tails and how a tail wagging can win you a test, my main comment would be that it's not the failure of the tail that's lost us 4 tests already it's the failure of the top 5, the tail may contribute to wins but the top order are the ones that should stop you loosing!! Thirdly, very disappointed to see some people claiming Bell's been a failure this tour, yes he's not converted his half centuries but I would say that he's the only England player to have improved since the last ashes, all the rest have fallen below par for whatever reason. I look forward to Bell being a stalwart of England's middle order for years to come. And finally, in response to the comment about the Warne caught behind being the a classic example of the need for tv replays and appeals against the on field umpires, the commentators on Sky immediately said "out" when it happened but then the slow mo footage actually made them doubt whether he had hit it with his glove at all......
Complain about this postI'd love it if the members of the heavily-maligned (and rightly so) England tail could stun their critics and their opponents and keep KP company while another 150 or so are added.
But realistically tomorrow could be the most disappointing fourth day of an Ashes test since Lords '05. I remember it well: I cut and ran early from a friend's stag weekend in Nottingham, catching the 0657 train back to London on the Sunday morning and arriving just before the scheduled 1030 start. England were due to resume at 156-5, chasing 420, Flintoff having just been dismissed on the Saturday evening. KP was 42 n.o. and GO Jones 6 n.o.
We sat and watched it rain for an hour or so, then splashed out £5 on a bacon sandwich and £9 on a pint of Pimm's and had a long chat with some mates for another couple of hours. At about 2.15pm we gave up, thinking "oh well at least we'll have the minor consolation of getting our tickets refunded" (£50+ I think). Maybe it would even rain all day Monday too and we'd get a draw. It was still raining steadily as I entered St John's Wood tube.
On reaching Waterloo the rain had stopped, and the sun was out by the time I got back to Streatham, and I just KNEW they'd be back on. Play restarted at 4pm or so, and England managed just 24 more runs in 10.1 overs, KP scored 22 of them, Jones was out without further addition, there were two extras, and Giles, Jones, Hoggard and Harmison all got ducks. There was even another 20-minute rain break when we were, I think, eight down, to revive hopes of a refund, but they were back out soon, the final wickets fell, and I was swearing profusely at the telly. Happy Days.
So that's the challenge for tomorrow: KP to exceed 22 runs, and the tail to manage a single between them. Perhaps we'll take the game beyond lunch, but I'd bet against that, and in any case it wouldn't mean much if we did. I've invested plenty of hope in this series so far, not in terms of winning it, but in terms of us competing, but I am now bereft and bankrupt of further hope, I'll be saving myself for other, hopefully less fruitless, causes in the future.
Returning to work on January 2 is depressing enough without having to endure the final agonies of a truly miserable series. Roll on Monday, when at least all this will be history, albeit a rather horrible chapter for England fans.
Complain about this postTONY BROWN:
Is this another thing you are an expert on and no one else knows nothing else about?
I know what diaretics do - I have a degree in chemistry(so I use my brain). There was nothing 'one-eyed' about what I wrote. In comparison to a few others we could mention, Warne has served his time. It is by no means a shadow on how good a bowler he is (or is that all too 'competative' for you?)
Tea and cucumber sandwich, anyone?
Complain about this postOver the series, if one was to choose a side from both teams, how many Englishmen would get into a combined side? The only one to merit it would be Andrew Flintoff in place of Andrew Symonds. No others. A damning indictment of how poorly we have performed.
Complain about this postHey its only a bit of fun!! i think the odd bit of sledging is good for the game anyway!! keeps the plot going. We all know that off the field most of the cricketers from different sides get on anyway. Its only a game guys
Complain about this postAustralia is playing tomorrow's standard of cricket today. But it is only a start...they intend to improve upon it, refine it further.
Warne, McGrath, Clarke can drop the ball on a sixpence all day long. And any one who has ever tried leg spin will know how much of an amazing feat it is that Warne has done it at will for years.
They didnt learn that skill by accident they did it through being taught and, hard practice...now even Lee is begining to realise that is the way to success.
Australian batsmen move their feet and value their wicket like gold...it saves their bacon when the ball moves and it gives them additional scoring opportunities...another basic skill acquired through learning and hard practice.
Australian cricketers stay focussed 100% for 100% of any match...they learnt that games are won in that 1% gap where the other side gets disctracted.
It is in all respects pure professionalism..its reducing error rates... much like a professional American baseball team... errors beyond a few are too many.
There is no doubt that many international sides all have players with the capability to do these things..but will they make the hard effort to learn, apply and be willing to sacrifice desire to professional discipline.
Amateurs will sometimes score lucky wins but professionals will continually wip you over the long term.
Complain about this postRe Post 52# At 10:32 AM on 04 Jan 2007, Jon Dennis wrote:
"Shane Warne should never have been allowed back after he was found to be a drugs cheat. "
Correction. He was found to have taken something that some people use to conceal being drugs cheats. No proof was ever offered or suggested that he had taken it for that purpose.
Complain about this postTo Rob #131
Mate, your comments regarding Shane Warne are bizarre and ill-conceived in the least. Illogical comments obviously spoken from the supporter of a cricket team which is about to be whipped 5 nil! Yup five NIL.
Warnie is the best bowler the world has ever seen. Might I remind you that he is the world record holder for Test wickets.
The Pommie team would probably perform so much better without supporters such as yourself.
PS Have a nice day!
Regards Mark N from South Australia
Complain about this postMaybe we should recognise the MBEs were given out because we beat the top dogs at their national sport in what, like it or not, is a minority game in the UK. What if our basketball team had beaten the US ? That's what we achieved in 2005.
Complain about this postEngland have lost but I don't think England supporters should be too down beat. Bell, Cook, Panesar, Pieterson and Collingwood can all take a lot personally from this tour and these guys should be the backbone of the team for the next few years. With Strauss as captain, I think England can win lots of series in the future. The selection policy must be looked at and the preparation for the tour as well but it's not the time to panic. Australia are simply one of the best ever teams.
Complain about this postNo-one will read this because it's the last message in a list of 4 million, but anyway...
I think the difference between the sides, over the last 2 series, can possibly be summed up with this:
2005 ASHES - England played great cricket and Australia played poorly, not taking their opportunities. RESULT: 2-1 to Eng. and the series isn't decided until the last afternoon of the last test.
2006/07 ASHES- Roles reversed. Australia play well and Eng play inconsistent cricket, not taking their opportunities. RESULT: 4-0 (so far) to Aus, and the series was decided after 13 days.
Complain about this postFirstly congratulations to the Aussies. They have played in a far superior, focussed and determined way all series. However, one of the most alarming things for me has been that some players (Mahmood, Anderson, Collingwood and even Cook) have been included in the side because our first choice players have been missing (Vaughan, Simon Jones, Trescothick). These were 3 key players who helped us win the ashes in 2005, driven by a captain then who was focussed and on the ball as Ponting has been this time. You'd think the replacements would for injured/missing players go out and make their respective position their own, but if this is the quality of players around at the moment filling test spots then we do have serious problems. We dont possess bad cricketers. What we lack is the infrastructure, coaching, funding, and mentality that winning the ashes is the be all and end all.
Complain about this postWhat is collingwoods job? batsmen bowler all rounder? also Cook and Strauss cant open togeather good test player yes drop colly for vaughan if he ever is back and get him to open with cook at 3
Also get rid of kevin shine and bring in goughy because whats the point of bat a long way down if we cant take twenty wickets?
Complain about this postMy solution to improving the England Cricket side:-
Very simple really, place all squad members on a low basic salary, topped up by big performance related payments, how about £10,000 for a five wicket haul or £10,000 for a 100 runs, that will soon get them bloody well motivated!
Apparaently, some members of the side earn over £500,000 a year from their cosey "central contracts". Where is the motivation in performing well for your country when your're earning that sort of money?
If team members/captains/coaches/back room staff cannot perform their roles to a satisfactory standard, their contracts should be cancelled, period.
Complain about this postAs a proud Aussie, I would like to commend our boys for the business like manner that they have approached the series. A 5-0 win is a fair reflection of the gap between the teams.
Reading some the stuff written, I am amused how some view the whitewash. 5-0? The Poms couldn't even manage a draw? Can you believe that a professional cricket team (self proclaimed as the world's best 18 mths ago) couldn't even work out how to scratch out a draw? Unbelieveable.
If the Poms spent as much time developing an effective game plan, instead of wallowing in the MBE's, premature bio's, and absolutely overstated, ridiculous, big-headed tattoos, then they would have at least been competitive.
We saw the tattoos a lot in the first couple of tests - not so much these last few days. Ashamed boys? There's an Aussie saying "pull your head in, mate". Well imposters, let this series, and those ridiculous tattoos be an everlasting reminder of how success can get to one's head.
Suffer, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys - you've got 3 years to think about it.
Complain about this postPlease, Mr Agnew, what is it that Mahmood has done to especially annoy you? Was it the fact that he didn't attend Christmas dinner? Nor did Monty or KP, but then again you like them. Of course, SM was wrong not to get behind the stumps and screwed up, but then again why did Cook play the shot he did? Again, as you said "we like him here". SM is a raw, young player, who has great potential, something spotted by Aussies like Lawson, Marsh and Lillee; in fact, Marsh lamented in 2005 that SM wasn't getting a run out for Lancs, the place given instead to the ageing Cork. The problem with SM may be that he needs to concentrate more and have clear thinking. He has shown that he has the capability to be a strike bowler, but Flintoff's attitude towards him is reminiscent of the woeful treatment received by Norman Cowans by Bob Woolmer, another moderate bowler turned commentator. Simon Jones is likely to break down again and who will come in then? Broad seems to be your Great White Hope and maybe he'll have the luxury of not facing the Aussies. If SM has sense, he'll seek out Lillee for more instruction and perhaps also speak to McGrath and Lawson. But he shouldn't speak to you, not about bowling anyway.
Complain about this postIt's the seam bowling. I bet that if England's batters faced England's seam attack they'd score pretty much the same as Australia - and that includes some of England's tail. The inability to bowl a consistent length on or outside off stump is, at this level, a scandal and in my view highlights a major selection aberation. There is some excuse for inconsistency at high pace, but whereas the likes of McGrath and Clark are tight and therefore create pressure, our counterparts are buffet. But we do have bowlers in County cricket who can maintain pressure by accuracy (Jon Lewis is one of them) but they are seen to be unsexy and the prevailing thinking seems to be that they are not quick enough. Rather accurate medium fast than dross bowled at pace, I think. And as for Simon Jones, from other bloggers' comments you'd think he was an amalgamation of Truman/Marshall and Lillee. Yes he bowled well in 2005, but to cite him as England's missing saviour is over egging it a bit!
Complain about this postDear all,
I hate to raise the issue, but this Ashes series clearly highlights the mental as well as physical and athletic divide between the two countries. England, as a sporting nation in general, lack the mental component more than anything. Although you have great sporting talents, your lack of self-belief and confidence let you down time and time again. The Australian cricket team on the other hand, although clearly arrogant, nonethless have this confidence and self- belief, and this more than anything, has been the reason why Australia have been able to win those crucially balanced moments when the game could have turned either way.
The American's have it in truck loads, the Brazilian, Italian and German football teams have it, and so do the All Blacks (unlike the former Wallabies of the 1990's). Its callled 'mental toughness', and until you attain it, Engalnd will forever be doomed sporting wise- occassionaly winning a tournament like the 1966 World cup or the 2003 RWC when the pressure was off, and England were never expected to win.
Dave
Complain about this postjust like Nasem Hamed has had his award stripped - can we have the MBE's back from this team please?
it was appalling they were given them in any event. You play the same team every 2 years and you will beat them eventually.
Complain about this postCollingwood picked the wrong guy to sledge. You don't sledge the master.
Complain about this postWhat's all this about MBEs ? I thought the British Empire was long gone. Also interesting that the England players cvs record their school histories and most went to public schools and Oxbridge. The Australians in contrast don't usually bother listing their schools and cricketers presumably come from all walks of life. Cricket in England is still run by the antiquated set of people (the upper crust) and presumably the best athletes outside of this class no longer play cricket but take up other sports.
Complain about this postIf only we could hear audio from the players during this match on the TV coverage. The barracking between Shane Warne and Collingwood would have been a great deal more entertaining than the England preformance.
Complain about this postAll in all, a strong wake-up call for any team aspiring to challenge Australia that being Number 2 in the world means nothing - the gap between Number 1 and 2 is simply too big, both technically, and more importantly, mentally. Occasionally a Flintoff, Butcher or Laxman may play to his true potential and gain the initiative, and on occasion that initiative will carry forward over a whole series, but so far the mental fortitude required to stand up to Australia has been hard to find in the whole world.
While I do believe the MBE issue was rather rude, I do believe that as they were given to the England team for providing a wonderful summer rather than just winning (however great that achievement may be) it should have been given to both teams last summer.
And to those Australians still accusing the Casper decision as the defining moment the Ashes were cruelly stolen from you, and McGrath's injury preventing Australia from showing their dominance, grow up. Even with Glen McGrath playing Australia contrived to scrape a draw by 1-wicket, with Pigeon and Casper hanging on for dear life out there, in a match which England might have won if it hadn't rained. It was a wonderful series, not least because the boredom of watching the best team in the world steamroll over other lesser nations was no longer the de facto script.
And yes, that's a compliment to Australia!
Complain about this postNo disrespect to Jonathan, but umpiring errors in Test Matches do not have to be accepted. Instant referral to video technology would eradicate them for good at a stroke. As things stand, in every Test in this series we have witnessed errors which have changed the course of the match significantly. Since this situation is wholly avoidable, it is nonsense to suggest that no action should be taken to prevent it.
Opponents of video technology like to suggest that its use contravenes the spirit of the game. But think about it - if Warne had been given out when he gloved the ball, there would have been no sledging match with Collingwood, the players would have respected the umpire's decision, and the outcome of the match would be accepted without gripes. Respect for the opposition, the umpires and the result; what could be more in keeping with the spirit of cricket?
Complain about this postI love the australians, no truly I do. They are quite simply incredible, majestic even. In fact I would go so far as to say that it has been an unimaginable honour to be humbled so utterly and completely by a side that is made up such stunning intellects and iconic heros. True Legends in the full meaning of the word.
Warne is probably the next closest thing to sporting godhead. Perfect skill blended with complete focus, unflinching honour, morals and sportsmanship. Will we ever see someone again with such utter perfection in every ball he bowls and every word of wisdom he utters?
How sad that Tony B can't be there to pat them on the back and explain why he can't give them MBE's too. I guess there won't be any votes in it, and it certainly won't save face in Iraq. (psst don't mention the Queen of Oz)
But not to worry, the holy sporting shrine of Channel 9, richie, greggy, laurie and that curious obscure ex pat chappy have already arranged the merchandising and we can collectively worship at the aussie shrine every cricket ad break from now until.... oh god! forever is such a long, long time. Spare me please, think I'll move to a french speaking country instead.
Complain about this postHaving been out in Australia for the 1st 4 tests, i only came back as i'd run out of money i agree with most that England have been awful in this series (it genuinely hurts me to say it as i've followed them all over the world). The list of mistakes by both the management and players get longer and longer.
But, all these Aussies crowing about their dominace for years to come, you gotta know that no Warne and Mcgrath mean you are gonna really struggle to bowl sides out, in fact two champion bowlers going at the same time is gonna take some time to recover. Fair play for this series, your team has been superb Stuart Clark has been outstanding as has Hussey, Clarke and Ponting but 2009 we'll see.....
Complain about this post"I think it is a little early to talk about going back to square one though as we would still beat most of the other sides in the world. One thing is certain though - we need a new wicketkeeper." writes Chris Markham-Lee (post 230).
With all due respect Chris, you are a cricketing numbskull. England are certainly not better than most other sides in the world. Even with home advantage they couldn't beat Sri Lanka, who are again building a handy side. We did beat Pakistan but mainly due to their self-destruct mechanism being over-active. And why do we need another wicketkeeper? Is 6 dismissals in an innings, nothing missed either catchable or stumpable, not what a world class keeper is all about? The sad thing is that the county system seems to be producing a massive crop of mediocrity. Sadly, most of the players in waiting (with a few exceptions -Broad & Tremlett?) are no better, mostly worse, that the present team. The future is not so rosy as some would believe.
Complain about this postThe series has shown clearly that Flintoff is one of the worst captains England has produced. While he may be a decent all rounder and a inspiiring cricketer, his captaincy skills are so awful and laughable. His field placements were lousy, especially when you saw his field placement to tailenders like Stuart Clark with men on the boundary and you could be thinking that it is Viv Richards batting rather than Stuart clark batting.
His strategy has failed to match the aussies, his selections have been lousy and the captaincy has clearly affected his batting. The immediate lesson England can learn from this disastrous tour for them is to find a new captain replacing Flintoff and one who has a proven leadership record.
The whole team needs to be rebuilt. Collingwood, Bell etc are decent players but are they really that good enough to be in a test side. As they say style is temporary, class is permanent ; so should England go for a more classy players in the mould of Thorpe rather than Collingwood types. Also Anderson, Sajid Mahmood etc... what exactly are they doing in a test team? Is Read the best England can do, surely there has to be a better player in the nation that can bat and wicket keep to a high standard. The attitude of the English cricket players also needs to toughen up, it looks like most of them are on a long sunny summer vacation down under funded by taxpayers rather than represent their country and play competitive cricket.
Complain about this postJonathan- I'm sure the journalist you are, you’ll not post this message.
In your commentary and columns, you present a very negative image of Warne- not that he cares or that it’d change the indelible impact of Shane Warne. Your one-sided and exaggerated negative assessments and comments on Shane Warne, at times, flirt with the lines of contempt. This is another example.
No doubt you’re witty and intelligent on many things. But when it comes to Warne you sound unreasonably harsh and highly acidic- like a bitter loser. It’s almost as if you cannot get over the fact the Warne demolished English oppositions for almost two decades.
I’ve been watching the series on tele- but whenever there is damage- a catch drop, or a Warne four or an English wicket- I quickly tune into TMS digital- just to hear your voice, a cringing and displeasured tone of a loser- you cannot respect and enjoy a great stroke, good ball, and a good innings from the opposition.
I’m sorry for English loss- especially because I’m such a huge fan of Freddie and I didn’t want to see this happen under his captaincy- but I don’t mind hearing England loose when you are on the microphone.
Complain about this postDear, oh dear. What a come down from 2005. Like most sports at the highest level it is first of all ATTITUDE that counts, and England's poor attitude has been in evidence in most sessions of all five tests. Mediocre captaincy, bowling, fielding and batting has been the norm when with a better attitude and more application the contest could have been much closer. The team individual report cards should be marked 'Can do better, needs to apply themself with more conviction and energy'. I guess Dalrymple, Joyce and Plunkett should be excluded from the above, as bizarrely in a situation in which their team was thrashed, they had no opportunity to shine.
Complain about this postMr Branson made his usual capital out of the press confernce regarding not being comfortable over flying home this ashes. With a team full of MBEs about to be humiliated 5-0 maybe Sir Richard could do us all a favour by refusing to fly home out team. Maybe if they stayed down under they could pick up the wining gene that English teams lost so long ago.
Complain about this postSuggestion for someone at the BBC - do all English cricket lovers a favour and collect together all the posts on this and other blogs from the smug, crowing convicts. Take that rather large document and give it to the ECB with a note attached suggesting they keep hold of it and use bits of it to present to the English cricket team over the next couple of years whenever they start to think they're any good at the game. Come 2009 the England cricket team needs to be so stoked up to beat the Aussies that even a 5-0 whitewash won't suffice. If any further encouragement be needed, I'd suggest using the incessant clips to come of Warne, McGrath, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist et al smugly basking in the glory of retiring after stuffing England into a cocked hat. England will now never get to send any of them into retirement on a hiding, so we'll be stuck with them gloating forever and a day. Do the decent thing BBC and get to work - do your bit to make sure the next chance we get we send the Aussies back down-under with their great big kangaroo tails tucked firmly between their legs.
Complain about this postThe word craven might be better applied to the 20 minutes or so of arrogant and utterly insensitive carping and criticism, aimed at Sajid Mahmood by of Messrs Agnew and Boycott on TMS yesterday evening, after the young man had failed to run out Warne.
Test match cricket, unlike most other team sports, subjects it´s main protagonists - the batters and bowlers - to intense pressure. For a raw young man striving to make his place in the English team and, let it be said, the dressing room, the strain muist be unbearable. Even more so, in the current world climate, for a young Enlishman of Asain origen in an arena filled to the brim, against what is arguably the best side in the world. Errors of judgement in such a case are probably inevitable.
Agnew and Boycott should be ashamed of themselves, but more to the point, the BBC should start looking at it´s policy of using semi articulate ex-cricketers in the commentary box. To make TMS enjoyable to listen to again, it might be worthwhile to take a trip down to Hampshire to look for a poetry writing ex-policeman. Failing that, why not draft in a couple of Indian commentators (Remember "Luck rides in on a charger but leaves on foot"?): they are far superior to most of ours.
Complain about this postNow the Ashes are about to over — with or without whitewash — the question facing England cricket bosses is what needs to be done to bring England back on tracks. World Cup is just around the corner and a down and out English side stand no chances for the competition.
Complain about this postOnce upon a time batsmen walked when they knew that they had hit the ball, irrespective of the umpire. Sadly this no longer happens, even at club cricket level.
Complain about this postAttempts to damage players concentration by insulting comments, often at crucial moments are not jokey 'sledging' its cheating.
I stopped it when playing club cricket by pulling away every time it happened, usually just as the bowler reached the wicket. On one occasion after a club 'quickie' had run up 10 times in an over to only deliver 3 balls, he stopped the comments from his team mates.
Now the Ashes are about to over — with or without whitewash — the question facing England cricket bosses is what needs to be done to bring England back on tracks. World Cup is just around the corner and a down and out English side stand no chances for the competition.
Complain about this postI went out for the first two tests and I am glad I was there for those and not now - to be English in Oz at the moment must be embarrassing. Under prepared is an under statement - it took me a week to recover and England only arrived two weeks prior to the first test and played two Mickey Mouse games - it is a bit like Italy flying in on the day for their opening game at the next World Cup!!!! Totally fed up with the "spin" being said by anyone connected with the Team - preparing for 2009 - do they think we are daft - Get REAL better still BE HONEST!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this postWhen is some idiot going to say 'just look at how many runs their tail gets - that's what we need, bowlers who can bat'...hmmm...let's start small shall we...and how about some batsmen who can bat? Occasionally (like the Aussies today), nine, ten & jack will conjur up something unusual but, by and large, batsmen win test matches with their batting, bowlers with their bowling. So when we're skittled for 150 tomorrow and everyone bemoans the last 5 for only managing 50 between them, remember that the first 6 barely managed 100 between them...and not for the first (is it 4th?) time this series.
Complain about this postPatrick Franklin has it spot-on. My nephews were brought up and live in Perth WA, where sport played a huge part in their education. My own son enjoyed a (relatively good) state education in which lip-service only was paid to sport. The school certainly had the facilities and boasted of its sporting prowess. But the words bore no relation to reality. Sport periods were never more than one hour long and even then, time actually playing anything was very limited. My daughter attended the same school and for her, sport, as often as not, involved sitting in a classroom apparently being taught netball tactics. They very rarely actually played, mind you.
Complain about this postLike so many aspects of life in the UK lip-service, ticks in boxes, form rather than substance rules.
It is just a game, though. Life, that is......
Once again, England let the match slip away by ill- discipline. The Aussies have shown us that by strangling the batsman and tying down players who want to play shots, wickets start falling.
Complain about this postFlintoff's first few overs with the new ball were incredibly poor and fields have had to be set to defend bad bowling rather than to expose weaknesses in the Aussie batting.
We deserve the whitewash.
Gee Tony Brown your a real well educated, one-eyed england supporter are't you?
Complain about this postThe duiretics are used as masking agents to flush out performance enhancing steroids. Steroids greatly accelerate healing times.
The problem being was that Warne didn't have a muscle injury, he had rotator cuff and stabilising ligament damage, and as any well educated and one-eyed england supporter (and Warne hater no doubt)should know steriods help neither, in fact as reported by the independant medical advisor at the trial they would actually stand more chance of impeding a quick recovery.
Coupled with the fact that no steriods were found in either the A or B sample and that his recovery was predicted in the press by his surgeon at the time of operation I would think it a bit misguided to throw him in the same catagory as those bowlers recently found with actual anabolic steroids in their blood. Bowlers who it would seem are not even going to serve the 12 month suspension that Warne copped on the chin.
Warne is not my favorite human being and there are many things that he deserves to be derided for(constant appealing being one of them) but I doubt calling him a drug cheat should ever be one of them.
This Whole Series defeat could go down to 2 things
1) Team Selection
2) The Declaration in the First Innnings at Adelaide
Would be interesting though to see what the result would have been like if this team had played.
Trescothick
Complain about this postStrauss
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
Read
Harmison
Hoggard
Jones
Panesar
Everyone get some some perspective !!! We didn't play especially well, I think we all agree.
Last year we had a decent team playing very well. This year we have a team without it's best batsmen (Vaughn), best opener (Tresthcothick), best swing bowler (Simon Jones) and also a captain who has been injured for a year expected to bowl/bat/field/captain. We unfortunately didn't have the depth to fill these positions but not many teams do. (Add to this test we also lose Hoggard)
Then we expect to beat one of the best teams that world has ever seen (who are practically injury free). I don't think we need to read too much into this!!
Complain about this postAt 10:31 AM on 04 Jan 2007, daz wrote: Haven't the Poms got anything better to do than this continual sledging of the umpires? You lot were quite happy with Kasprowiz given out last year...to give you the Ashes. Take it on the chin, it's part of the game. And he may not even have gloved it.
Complain about this postYawn..... Yes we were quite happy about that....cos two overs previous he was plumb LBW and got away with it ...... swings and roundabouts as they say....roll on 2009
Keith Standring (250) should blame the scorer not the coach. 2-1 is an impossible rugby score.
Complain about this postAs a lover of the game in general, and as an ardent supporter of neither team (having grown up in Zimbabwe and South Africa and now the States), the writing was probably on the wall when England lost to Zimbabwe.
The good news is that the fans were out in droves and this augurs well for the game of cricket.
Hopefully this outcome will spur everyone on to beat the Australians in the upcoming world cup.
Nothing like a challenge to get everyone fired up.
Complain about this postThe Australian victory has nothing to do with MBEs, sledging or umpiring decisions. They are the better team who have played superbly at all the key moments in the series. In contrast a weakened England team - without key players and others not properly fit - playing away from home have performed very badly.
It doesn't make England the worst team in cricketing history anymore than the Ashes victory made us the best. But people seem to have forgotten that 2005 was an absolutely enthralling series which was sport at its absolute best and a team performance which lifted the whole country.
But even this series would have a lot closer if Aussies did not have Shane Warne just as the last one would have been almost as embarrassingly one-sided if he had not played in 2005. Think of his performance with the ball at Adelaide and Melbourne and with the bat in Sydney.
It is, however, more than just what he achieves when he is bowling or batting. As perhaps the greatest bowler of all time and among the best players ever, his aura and history puts doubts in his opponents' mind even before he bowls.
Any team without him will be severely weakened which is why, despite the no-doubt excellent players that the Australians will bring in to replace him, McGrath and the retiring batsmen, they will just not be so invincible in the future. And also why we should celebrate Warne now when we have a chance to watch him play, painful as it might be for England supporters.
Complain about this postFirst of all, well done to the Auzzies. The best team has won due to its focus, determination and no little skill.
If England are serious about becoming the best in the world the need to take a look at the management of the tour. The bowlers took too long to adjust to the different conditions. By the time they’d adjusted, the Ashes were all but gone. Give the bowlers more warm-up games to give us a chance of the series win.
Team selection on tour needs to be more than simply the coach picking his favourites. The way Read was treated was a disgrace, and the selection of the spinner on their ability with the bat is simply putting the cart before the horse.
Why was Freddie made captain? Even if he was fully fit the lad has enough on his plate as the team all rounder. Add to that the stress of getting over his injury and something had to give. It turned out to be his batting on this tour. Strauss had done well when he had the job and seemed to revel in the responsibility – his batting didn’t fall away – and he has county experience of doing the job.
England need to learn that getting to the top in sport is the easy part. It’s the staying at the top that is the hard part. We’ve failed to take this on board in Cricket, and soon the Rugby lads will have their lesson.
Complain about this postTo Gwyn Williams (post 284): what you are really saying is that Mahmood shouldn't have been selected; if he's not ready to take the pressure of a test series (as he plainly isn't), he shouldn't be playing, simple as that. One more reason why we've lost this series 5-0.
Complain about this postAt 01:34 PM on 04 Jan 2007, The Sling wrote: Jon Dennis give yourself an uppercut.
Warne paid the price for his drugs suspension. To say he never deserved to come back is absolute dribble.
He's a competitor and sure was out of line with the umpire but these things happen.
Dumbest thing written in this blog
You mean drivel not dribble you ignorant peasant. I can have my opinion.
"These things happen?" What kind of justification is that? None at all (unless you're an ignorant peasant I guess)
Why do people insist on believing umpiring decisions cancel one another out? That is totally illogical. If Warne had been given out on 10 Gilchrist may well not have had enough partners to make the runs he did. the dynamics of the game changed at that moment.
I would also add that the biggest mistake - and when the dynamic of the series changed - was the declaration at Adelaide. Too early and too ambitious - we should have batted on for many reasons:
Flintoff's best chance to get into form
The Australian attack on the ropes (how often does that happen)
England were scoring far faster than they were ever likely to in a second innings
The pitch was flat enough for us to expect Australia to score 400 at least.
I could go on but.....
Complain about this postFrom some of the spelling in evidence I would guess that most Aussie posters are juvenile spoilers trying to outdo each other. MBEs were the politicians' way of getting some reflected glory from a sporting event - nothing more. Nobody I know wants one or cares who else gets them. The Australian equivalent is probably an extra cork on the hat or go fast stripes for a surf board. There are far more important issues for English cricketers to worry about.
Complain about this postFisrstly Australia deserved to win no doubt.
I was in England for the Ashes in 2005, and I'm here in Aus for this series.
It makes me laugh when the aussies keep going on about the English getting MBEs and over celebrating last year.
The fact is the Aussies make 10 times more of a fuss about the ashes over here. The media and advertising are particularly excessive. They even needed to teach their fans to chant and dress up!!!!!!
Lastly, it was sad to see a coach who was 4-0 up in a series start having a go at Pietersen, who as most pundits agree (and some of the Aussie team) say is one of the best batsmen in the world at present. I hate to see what he says if they start to lose!
Complain about this postWell done Australia,What a determination to regain the ashes.Collingwood you are a just club Cricketer, it is a fact and of course grapes are sour
Complain about this postI think the whitewash that now seems inevitable is the best thing that could happen to English cricket. It will make people sit up and ask some serious questions that they should have been asking all along. It seems if you have an MBE you can do what you like. Hence Jones being virtually undroppable. Respect is due to them for their past contributions, but if that was the sole factor, Geoffrey Boycott might still be opening for England. The way England have played is for me down to two main factors. Firstly an unsettled side with many changes due to injuries have caused many within to be unsure of their roles. Secondly the management on this tour has been appalling. Ignoring the public's strong belief that Panesar and Read should have played in the 1st Test, this should have been known well in advance and appears that this was not the case. More uncertainty regarding Trescothick and Giles did not help matters.
Complain about this postCongratulations to Australia, you have earned this.
Complain about this postAs they are fully paid up members of the Commonwealth and have/are just about to complete a massive Ashes victory, would it not be appropriate for the Queen to offer gongs to all the Australian team?
Well done Aussies.
It's a shame the level of umpriring has been so poor this series. Although the Aussies deserved to win, I think on balance the decisons went against England at the key times.
I also found it comical that Panesar got in trouble for his celebration, when Warne openly shows dissent nearly every over but for some reason this is just put down to 'Warne being Warne.'
Consistency is all we need ( a bit like England in its' performances !)
Complain about this postI'm off to the 4th day this am. My predictions:
Pietersen- 150 no
Reid- 100
Pansear- 50
England win by 50 runs
Time for my medication
Complain about this postConcerning the MBE award - it is not unheard of for such awards to be rescinded. I believe boxer Naseem Hamed had his award taken away. I think the England cricket team should have theirs taken away too for committing the crime of not being hungry enough, arrogant enough, competitive enough. It takes a great amount of arrogance and desire to beat a team like Australia (who have it in abundance). England display arrogance in the wrong context - for example vainly not admitting they have played pathetically badly, that they have the wrong man as captain, that the coach has made severe tactical errors. As an England cricket supporter (my interest started in the days of Botham, Randall, Willis, Brearley etc) the difference between then and now is marked. The 'arrogance' isn't there any more.
Complain about this postPlease can you not engage Geoffrey Boycott any more on test Match Special...!!!
He is a whinging, whining old moaner and he has completely ruined my enjoyment of the Australian Ashes......
The rest of the commentary team are decent, fair, and highly interesting.. They provide a very positive and engaging style whereas Geoffrey B is completely out of place in the team ...... If any of the England team would have been listening to Boycott it could only contribute a demoralising and disastrous effect....
I beg you to think twice about his position for the future.......
Complain about this postBrian
England has certainly built upon the ashes win on 2005 and achieved new heights! They have managing to accept defeat at every opportunity when a glimmer of a win was in sight. As to the sledging argument, it is sad to see any aussie having some firm ground on which to sit smugly. Our players have as much ammunition in their locker for sledging as desire to perform it seems. England should always keep the sledging highground, after all Australia is only renown for being a nuclear test site!
Complain about this postThe thing that gets to me, is that the England bowlers are obviously getting to see how the Australians are bowling. Yet continue to bowl too short and give easy scoring balls to the Aussies. Five games later they are making the same mistakes. You have to wonder how bright they are.
Complain about this postluk i totally agree with warne. i am english too so i am not being biased but all collingwood did was come in and score 17 runs in 2 innings and is givin an MBE. That really astonishes me! Warne and Mcgrath have played 4 10-15 yrs internationally and they dont gt overwelemed with gongs. Maybe if We had won this year then maybe but to be Whitewashed(cumon were not guna win this test now)is an absolute disgrace, the england players should apoligise for there effort and they can say all they like but this year they did not put 100% effoert in it was disgracefull
Complain about this postThe British boxer Naseem Hamed was recently stripped of his MBE after being convicted for dangerous driving.
If only some of the English batsmen were capable of any sort of driving... or pulling or glancing or clipping without getting out.
Is there an argument for the whole team to be stripped of there MBEs after such a poor showing?
Complain about this postI think England should complain about all these decisions goin against them...it has cost them probably two tests....Perth(strauss dismissal)
Complain about this postMelbourne(Hayden not given out) and Sydney (Warne not given out) England also need to sort out their batting from numbers 1 to 11....apart from a couple of occasions they have all let their country down!
This tour has been shambolic from the very start. I feel sorry for the Barmy Army more than anyone else- undoubtedly the best cricket fans in the world have been badly let down. Excuses should not be used, but the lack of preparation and absence of key players cannot be ignored. The Aussies will still have a good side next time round, but I'd back us to win the Ashes back if we learn from our mistakes and move on. We need to be more positive, aggressive and show more common sense. We need a wicket-keeper who can bat and a third seam bowler who can bowl (What was the point of Mahmood being in the team? Poor fielding, non-existent batting abd below average bowling) Still, KP's still at the crease...Come on England!
Complain about this postThis tour has been shambolic from the very start. I feel sorry for the Barmy Army more than anyone else- undoubtedly the best cricket fans in the world have been badly let down. Excuses should not be used, but the lack of preparation and absence of key players cannot be ignored. The Aussies will still have a good side next time round, but I'd back us to win the Ashes back if we learn from our mistakes and move on. We need to be more positive, aggressive and show more common sense. We need a wicket-keeper who can bat and a third seam bowler who can bowl (What was the point of Mahmood being in the team? Poor fielding, non-existent batting abd below average bowling) Still, KP's still at the crease...Come on England!
Complain about this postHave very much enjoyed the blogs - but take heart England - we will only know how good Warne, McGrath et al were until they are no longer with us.
The next ashes series will be a real test of spirit for both our national teams.
Complain about this postThe problem with english cricket and sport in general is failure to keep things in perspective. Sure the Ashes were won in '05 and deservedley so. However, BUT for 2 runs at Edgbaston it could have been 2-1 to the aussies. England can point to injuries, but remeber the aussies had McGrath missing for the matches England won!! The issue here is that England by beating the aussies thought they had done it, but in fact they had won ONE series. To be the top team you have to go to Pakistan and India and win there, not complain about hotels, food and nights in playing Playstation. Totally disrepectful to your hosts and a reason to paper over your failures out in the middle. As a LONDON Pakistani i feel England have got what they deserved by 'focusing' on the Ashes and losing sight of playing and winning against the other international teams. Finally isn't everybody else sick to the back teeth of the post match PR from Flintoff about team morale being high and that the team is learning? AArrrghh!!
Complain about this post"Can't Bat
Can't Bowl
Can't Field
Can't Fight
Can't Captain
Can't Win
Can't Draw
Can't Be on honest about performances
Can't be proud of those MBE's
Can't help but be a pessamist
Can't wait for one dayers as all the embarrassment is compacted in one day rather than stretched over 5 no, 4 no, 3 days."
John Yeomans
For a minute there, John, I thought you'd blagged next week's team-sheet!
Complain about this postEddie, post 248 says
Post-mortems should be left until it's over...
Well Eddie this match might not be technically over but the series is not just dead but long buried. Even if we'd won the last 2 tests we would still have to say that it was a case of closing the door after the horse had bolted
Complain about this post"Umpiring errors are part and parcel of the game, and must be accepted as such."
We can use television replays to reduce the number of umpiring errors drastically. If we agree that the role of the umpire is to see that the rules of the game are adhered to to the fullest extent it seems reasonable to use replays for LBWs and catches as well. Right now we use replays the expose the umpiring errors but not to help them get it right (with the exception of runouts and bump catches). To avoid frequent stoppages in play we could have a system where each side has three chances to request a replay to clarify the decision with a replay. That way if Pieterson is given out caught behind off the thigh pad Flintoff can call for a replay. If it's Panesar then Flintoff can let it go because it would not matter much anyway. If the replay vindicates the original decision by the umpire then the captain will have two more "challenges" left. On the other hand if the challenge was justified then the side will retain the total of three available challenges. That way, frivolous challenges will be discouraged.
Complain about this postWhat chance that the Queen asks for her MBE's back ??
Complain about this postagger's last comment sums it up perfectly... right from the very fall ball back on the 23rd of november, i think everyone knew that england could be in trouble...
role on 2009? or will things just get worse
Complain about this postHow I love to listen to Geoff Boycott, Jonathan Agnew and the team. Having heard nothing but rubbish spoken from the England camp, at least we have a fair, honest view of the proceedings from the team. I have never seen a more deluded bunch of people than the England management and captain, who before this fifth test were still playing up their chances of avoiding this utter humiliation. Only then to enter the arena and throw it away once again. Didn't Mahmood's involvement in the attempted run out of Warne just sum up the entire series for England. Why doesn't Duncan Fletcher like to give as much match practice to the team as possible? I don't understand that at all.
As for the MBE's, how right Mr Boycott is. The awarding of these to the cricket team has devalued the gong for many other very worthy recipients. Members of the 2005 team should have been singled out (Vaughan, Flintoff) but the whole team should not have received MBE's. A member of my partner's family has received an MBE in the New Years Honours list, the difference being, that she truly deserves it for services to education. Do we not think the establishment jumped a little too quickly in awarding these medals to the cricketers. Perhaps they should have waited to see if they could retain The Ashes first. That would have been something worth celebrating in Trafalgar Square!
SJN
Complain about this postFor all those Aussies currently eulogising the great Warne, can I remind you of how he was treated after the last Ashes series? He was slaughtered, along with the rest of the Aussie "flops". In fact, just two weeks before the start of this series I had some Aussie mates over visiting and they were still telling me how detested he was in Oz, how nobody liked him, how they hoped England gave him a good pasting to speed his retirement etc, etc.
If you want to know why Warne is retiring, it is not becuase he has reached the pinnacle of his career - he's been there many times before. In fact, he knows that the Aussies have beaten better England teams than this one and had more significant series wins than this one.
No Warne is quitting whilst he's ahead. Retiring whilst you're all saying nice things about him. Because deep down he knows that you all still hate his guts.
And you all know it too.
I mention this because (MBEs aside) we didn't over-egg the celebrations last time. A bus parade through London (or any other city) is a tradional way for celebrating significant sport successes over here e.g.: FA Cup winners and Premier League winners have done it for years. We do tend to operate at extremes i.e.: our teams are the best in the world until proved otherwise at which point they immediately become the worst. And then when they do surprise us and win, we celebrate to the extreme to counter all the extreme criticism we've dished out.
You Aussies aren't so different, but you tend to operate like this for individual players, since your teams tend to be generally successful. So before you criticise, take a long hard look at your own attitudes to your own sporting heroes.
BTW, anybody remember that "iconic" picture from the last Ashes series of Freddie consoling Lee after the dramatic win for England? Can't say we've seen any reciprocation in this series from the Aussies - and boy! could Freddie have done with some consoling!!
Complain about this postYeah Ian, I think we'd all pick that team out of choice, but injuries sometimes take choice away. However, Fletcher cannot hide behind injuries - OR HINDSIGHT - because he has contributed massively to our all-too-often pathetic demise.
Complain about this postBefore we got on the plane, he is 1/3 or 1/4 responsible for selecting the wrong captain, taking Giles who hadn't played for 12 months and simply could not be test match fit, taking Trescothick who was obviously not right and it is Fletchers job to determine this, and for the ridculous lack of tough preparation games (a mickey-mouse one-day comp does not count as this, neither does backwards and forwards plane journeys).
Once in Australia, it's Fletchers call completely. I mean, Flintoff is hardly going to question his boss is he? So Fletcher is responsible for Panesar and Read not playing, as well as the latter having to suffer public humiliation to boot. He also has to take responsibility for negativity throughout. Breaks are taken every hour at least, and when Flintoff was getting it wrong, giving Aussie batsmen easy get-your-eye-in runs, instructions shopuld have been sent out with the Gatorade. He also must have been involved with Jones' selction as a player-selector - a guy who apart from being a horribly scruffy and error-prone stumper, was also (in theory) not in the team when they boarded the plane.
The only thing Fletcher cannot be held responsible for - and rash shots over 10 innings by HIS batsmen have to have something to do with him - is the inability of the bowlers to bowl a decent line and length. Harmison and Anderson were both quoted as saying how well the Aussies had bowled on a pitch offering something for anyone getting it 'in the right place often enough'. I can only summise that if they knew it, but couldn't do it, then this can only be a lack of ability and proves that they simply aren't good enough, and only a massive dose of realism, dedicated development, and maybe the loss of their £100 grand paycheques, may ever make them what I imagine they think they are?
Dear me - such vitriol from some of our Aussie cousins - what were you like when you lost?!
Anyway, enough of blaming younger inexperienced cricketers like Mahmood and Cook. The fact is this team has been mismanaged from long before the start. Experienced senior professionals needed to front up and failed to do so. There was some dishonesty about fitness, complacency about the preparation, and stubborness about selection. If lessons can be learned then great - the pain will have been worth it. This Aussie side learned from 2005. England had better learn from 06/07 or it'll be horrible the next time round as well.
Complain about this postI dont know why that, at 39, i wake in the morning expecting anything different to what i`ve seen on the TV.
Complain about this postI`m not someone who knocks England non stop, honest i`m not but this is beyond belief.
They have been good recently...well all except for this series.
This is what annoys me more than anything i think. Why have we rolled over like this when we are capable of at least putting up some resistance.
And to think we are staying for a one day series!
Oh well...............!
Tonkapom have a word with yourself. Pietersen the best batsman in the world!! I presume you call yourself a cricket fan by only watching games involving England. Even so have you not noticed players such as Ponting and Mohammad Yousuf in 2006. Next thing you'll be telling me that England are one of the great football nations in the world. Behave.
Complain about this postreply to Dave Post 270
"England will forever be doomed sporting wise- occassionaly winning a tournament like the 1966 World cup or the 2003 RWC when the pressure was off, and England were never expected to win"
Uh... Dave, England were the hosts and among the favourites for the footie World Cup in 66 and the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and duly won. What's more, despite the close scoreline in 2003, only the most jingoistic and myopic (Australian) supporter would dare to say they weren't the better team and didn't deserve it. If you're going to try and make a point it helps if you get your facts right!
Interestingly the key players retired after that and the team has slumped. Remind you of anything?
Complain about this postFlintoff is not a captain, he should get fit and concentrate on being an all rounder.Other than K.P. the other players should look at themselves in the mirror and ask did they have the desire, bottle and application - the answer is no!!!
Complain about this postHey If you think we're crap at test cricket, just wait till you see the one day team. Now that's proper crap that is!
Complain about this postAmongst all this doom, gloom, and over-optimism of 2009 (the Aussies have busl oads of Laws and Lehmans and Clarks waiting to get a game I'm sure)....can I just congratulate Chris Read for 6 dismissals in successive innings, a new record of some sort. As a stumper, he's a joy to watch. OK, so the batting could improve....a bit of selection-induced confidence and I've no doubt it will.
Complain about this postwho cares!
Complain about this postsod the aussies!
sod the ashes!
sod the 1 dayers!
sod the team!
sod the manegment!
sod my job!
sod my wife!
sod my kids!
sod my beloved ferrari 430!
ok il keep the ferrari
flintoff and co you are at fault i have lost everything in " 15 days why me"
why not the fat bloke sat in the office canning my fellow counrtymen
good night god bless
I got in early with post No. 7 above, since which I've read pretty much everything that everyone has written here. There's much to agree with.
The one thing that stands out is the utter disappointment we all feel. We've been horribly let down. Some of us feel flat, or embarrassed; others are angry and looking for someone to blame. After all, a 5 - 0 whitewash is a sporting disgrace and we've been watching our own national team be on the receiving end of it
I feel especially sorry for the Barmy Army, who travelled all that way and seem to have supported our team so tenaciously and ardently.
Do we all agree on at least one thing: that winning at international level is important because it has a direct bearing upon national pride? Simplistically: when the English team does well, we are proud to be English (or "British", or whatever it is you want to be proud of). When it does badly, we are less proud.
I believe that the first thing we must accept, if we want to change things for the better, is that sport at the highest level should not be about money - it should be about winning. British sport seems to be much more about subsidising our domestic sportsfolk as professional (i.e. full-time paid) performers and much less about creating a competitive environment that creates, nurtures and motivates champions.
I can't get out of my mind the story of how Sir Donald Bradman developed his hand-eye co-ordination as a youngster. Desirous of becoming a batsman but lacking the proper equipment, he took an old golf ball and hit it repeatedly against a close-by wall with a cricket stump (there is footage of him demonstrating this).
The whole ethos of International cricket earning enough money from its television rights to nourish a system of too many overmanned professional clubs (the "let's put more money back into cricket" argument) might have puzzled that little boy, who grew up wanting to emulate his country's cricketing heroes and who became the greatest of them all.
Complain about this postIt's time that Flintoff and company acknowledged that they lacked inspiration and courage to win the Ashes. In Fact not even once did they show character to win the Ashes. It looked as if they had gone to Australia for a vacation.
Complain about this postShame on them
Re: At 02:28 PM on 04 Jan 2007, Grabyrdy wrote:
I hardly think it’s mis-placed to describe Warne as “drug cheat”. His selfish actions brought shame to himself, his family and his country.
Whether it was pure vanity, or a deliberate attempt to “dupe” opponents and the game’s governing boards, is of no consequence. The man broke the rules for self gain and in my mind can rightly be labelled a “cheat”, and that makes him the lowest of the low.
Complain about this postI totally agree with Jonathan Agnew's comments concerning missed opportunities. I was watching live on television and saw the missed run out.
It is not the first time this series that poor and sloppy cricket by England has sent us slithering to ignominious defeat. It looks as though some of the players are just not paying attention to what's going on. It should be second nature to all cricketers of all abilities to get behind the stumps immediately to receive the throw. I would have been dropped from my prep school team for such poor play.
In addition to Sajid Mahmood's incompetence we were treated to another tooth screeching display by Steve Harmison demonstrating that he has nothing at all between his ears other than a prolonged slouching sulk. I was so disgusted that I went to bed soon afterwards knowing that 5-0 is a certainty.
Well played Australia, they deserve it. At least they stepped up to the plate.
You could not find a better comparison to illustrate the difference between the two sides than that of the two leading pace bowlers. On the one hand there was MaGrath consistently using all his craft to get a wicket or two when his captain really needed it and on the other hand there was Harmison demonstrating not only that he didn't deserve to be in the team but that he wasn't even interested. I have never seen anyone in a test series bowl so badly and show such a lack of self discipline. It looked as though he had no pride in his performance.
Complain about this postWhy is everyone so glum?
It ain't over till its over.
Pietersen is still there, more than capable of a quick ton.
With the valiant Monty in attendance they are bound to put up a fight and people underestimate Reid. He's a fine player and needs a score to cement his spot which Im sure he's more than capable of.
The rest of the tail are better players than in recent tests, harmison has a good eye, whilst Mahmood has scored runs against the provincial sides. Anderson can stick around.
A lead of 200+ is achieveable and with it the Aussies as they are prone to do when chasing low totals will crumble on a quickly deteriorating surface.
Harmison is back to his best with the ball and Anderson and Mahmood are always capable of producing the unexpected. However our real secret weapon is a certain left arm spinner who on his day can rattle out the opposition for single figure scores.
Call me an optimist, but it aint over till its over!
Complain about this postI got in early with post No. 7 above, since which I've read pretty much everything that everyone has written here. There's much to agree with.
The one thing that stands out is the utter disappointment we all feel. We've been horribly let down. Some of us feel flat, or embarrassed; others are angry and looking for someone to blame. After all, a 5 - 0 whitewash is a sporting disgrace and we've been watching our own national team be on the receiving end of it
I feel especially sorry for the Barmy Army, who travelled all that way and seem to have supported our team so tenaciously and ardently.
Do we all agree on at least one thing: that winning at international level is important because it has a direct bearing upon national pride? Simplistically: when the English team does well, we are proud to be English (or "British", or whatever it is you want to be proud of). When it does badly, we are less proud.
I believe that the first thing we must accept, if we want to change things for the better, is that sport at the highest level should not be about money - it should be about winning. British sport seems to be much more about subsidising our domestic sportsfolk as professional (i.e. full-time paid) performers and much less about creating a competitive environment that creates, nurtures and motivates champions.
I can't get out of my mind the story of how Sir Donald Bradman developed his hand-eye co-ordination as a youngster. Desirous of becoming a batsman but lacking the proper equipment, he took an old golf ball and hit it repeatedly against a close-by wall with a cricket stump (there is footage of him demonstrating this).
The whole ethos of International cricket earning enough money from its television rights to nourish a system of too many overmanned professional clubs (the "let's put more money back into cricket" argument) might have puzzled that little boy, who grew up wanting to emulate his country's cricketing heroes and who became the greatest of them all.
Complain about this postPicture the scene, it's 2005
1. Every aussie says they have one of the best teams ever assembled
2. Aussie team (McGrath etc) and English media say England will lose 5-0
3. England lose the first test
THEN we beat them. THAT is why England celebrated so much, and THAT is why MBE's were handed out. Either Australia weren't a great team and it wasn't that high acheivment, or they were a great team and is was an amazing acheivment. AUSSIE's you can't have it both ways. so stop whinging about a few MBEs.
However, I do agree Vaughn should not have had an MBE, he should have been made Prime Minister!
Lastly remember Flintoff consoling Lee. Makes a mockery of how people like Aussie coach slate KP even when 4-0 up...have a little grace. There are still a few things you can learn from the English.
Complain about this postI believe that Paul Collingwood missed a great opportunity to shut Shane Warne up during his non-stop sledging. All he had to say was " I don't understand it. It isn't over and yet the fat lady keeps on singing."
Complain about this postSimple question to ask the England attack...if someone put a tea towel on a good legth on off stump, how many times would you hit it? ...and no underarms allowed! Ok then, a bath towel? Beach towel? King-sized duvet?
Complain about this postAt 02:28 PM on 04 Jan 2007, Grabyrdy wrote:
Re : Shane Warne's drug indiscretion : "No proof was ever offered or suggested that he had taken it for that purpose. "
I hardly think it’s mis-placed to describe Warne as “drug cheat”. His selfish actions brought shame to himself, his family and his country.
Whether it was pure vanity, or a deliberate attempt to “dupe” opponents and the game’s governing boards, is of no consequence. The man broke the rules for self gain and in my mind can rightly be labelled a “cheat”, and that makes him the lowest of the low.
Complain about this posti still think the odds given for the (obvious) 5-0 whitewash were mean; however, it'll pay this month's rent!
i certainly will not bother staying up for the ridiculous one day triangular series.
graystoke
Complain about this postThe English cricket team have been shown up for what we all knew they were. a bunch of FRAUDS!
They are officially the worst English team ever.
Man for man, Australia are in a league of their own. Their tailenders put our openers to shame and warney sums it up perfectly when he says that he is confident of winning when we are 5 wickets down. He should be, our tail enders are incapable of batting, simple.
I hope that Australia prove their complete dominance by burning through the useless lower order within 4 overs.
perhaps when this bunch of useless no hopers returns to England the team will be decimated by a new ruthless team manager. Flintoff will be moved down to 8 where he should be, and pieterson/strauss will open instead.
as for Harmy, Anderson, Bell, Giles, Jones and even the mighty panesar, I hope to never witness them wearing the Lions on their chests ever again. They should be ashamed.
this series has been the single most devastatingly glaringly one sided excuse for a contest that I have ever witnessed. We could even consider handing the Ashes permanently to Australia because English cricket is now officially well and truely DEAD.
Complain about this postpitiful, just utterly, utterly pitiful england. I'm deeply embarrassed by them.
Complain about this postWarne is spot on about Collingwood's MBE but its another man from the North East of England that should be shame faced.
Giving a gong to a man that contributed heehaw to England winning the Ashes is just another indication of the feeble attempts at populism by Tony Blair and Co.
Remember they also rushed through UK citizenship for Duncan Fletcher. You know the self same man that "cost England the Ashes by not picking Panesar."
Blair and Co will hand out gongs to anyone that they think will give them some reflected glory. Too bad that they be tomorrow's flops and some of them, like Bell, Giles and Geriant Jones, hardly set the heather ablaze.
Complain about this posti'd like to say i agree with the comment that we should not look back and moan about the 2005 celebration, most of the people moaning were equally ecstatic, we won, we enjoyed it, what's the problem in that? If you don't enjoy winning what's the point in trying to win?
That is not the reason we lost this time around, that can be put down to a variety of things so numerous im not going to pretent this list is complete, but it certainly includes:
lack of preparation
lack of troy cooley (unintelligent bowling to all batsmen, but most notably to symonds and tailenders)
lack of vaughan
appointing flintoff captain
playing giles
playing jones/read
persisting with 5 seamers (not using one)
harmison's bowling
bad luck (very small in context, but strauss should consider changing his religion!)
lack of experience/nous (cook, mahmood, anderson)
but the main reason is that the aussies have been simply awesome. They've combined skill, experience, and huge amounts of hunger and desire to totally anihalate us. whenever england have threatened to strike back, the aussies have stepped up a gear and torn us apart. each member of the australian team should be proud, as they've been brilliant.
that by no means excuses us, and changes need to be made, especially in the bowling and keeping departments. i can't see anybody who's going to come in and change the batting, so we should persist with the people we've got, as they've each shown they're good enough on occasions, they just need to be led and inspired.
Complain about this postWarne has just been arrested by Yates in the cash for honours inquiry! What does he know about the sleazy way these honours are awarded.
Police have released him with a statement " Shane has been a force for good in cricket and leaves with his integrity intact"
Warne is the worlds greatest wrister and is considered a cricketing colossus. The best example of his integrity was the fact he avoided embarrassing the umpire today by not walking even though he clearly hit it.
Shane Warne is 24 stone and has been a shiny example to all small kids everywhere (apart from theyear he was banned for drug cheating)
Complain about this postNothing wrong in giving MBEs to a team who recaptured a nations interest in a nearly dying sport.
I don't thing any of the players should have their MBE's taken back. There has been some very poor managment and preparation and that is something that needs to be addressed.
I remember many aussie's said last ashes they lost due to McGrath being injured for a couple of games etc and poor umpiring.......do these same people recognise Tresthcothick, Vaughn, S Jones were out the WHOLE series(and now Hoggard) as well as the majority of bad decisions going against England. We all agree you deserved to beat this England A side, i'm just waiting for an even contest.
Complain about this postI appreciate the guys are probably doing their best but what a mess!!
Complain about this postI don't think we should be expecting any 'hard lines' and pats on the back from the Aussies, as payback for our gestures last time. In 2005, our lot knew how close it had been, how the Aussies had geuinely suffered some hard luck. This time round, we've been completely spanked and any 'hard lines lads' would be nothing short of patronising.
Complain about this postOnce again, Agnew does a stellar job of stating the obvious. I don't know what has been a greater failure. England's failure to win or draw a single game or Agnew's inability to write a single paragraph of incisive comments about England's failings. Every day, I pull up the cricket section of the BBC's website hoping to see a coherant, insightful and penetrating attack on the hugely disappointing performance by both the England players and the selectors. Instead, we are all faced will the kind of irrelevant trivialities and mindless gabble that has the air of being written by a five year old. For heaven's sake please bring in Henry Blowfeld.
Complain about this postSo a good Australian team are going to beat an understrength, under prepared England team 5-0. So what! It's only a game!
I have watched and enjoyed cricket for over 50 years, but like all professional sport it is getting silly now. I'm pleased for the Australians, and they thoroughly deserve their victory but it's not a national emergency. Just as I deplored the level of celebration when England won in 2005 I now deplore all the "angst" now.
Let's be more realistic about the importance of sport. In a few years time, probably in 2009 we will win back the Ashes
Complain about this postWarne missed a trick in the sledging. He should have pointed out to Collingwood that CBE stands for Collapse By England!
Complain about this postEnglish cricket's mistake was made when Flintoff was re-appointed captain before being fully MATCH fit. Cue the usual selection of name players rather than those in form and we repeat the mistakes of the past.
Just because these players were the best 18 months ago doesn't mean that they are up to the task today. Harmison wasn't in form either, can anyone honestly say that no other English bowler would have performed better. I know when he's fully match fit he's the best, but for this series he's not been either match fit or the best. QED.
Complain about this postA few hours to go until the start of Day 4....
If I was Flintoff i would tell all the players to watch the Aussie celebrations intently (presuming they win tomoro, sorry to be so pessimistic), just as the aussies reciprocated last year. I don't beleive in players being 'scarred' by losing, they should find more resolve and hunger.
I was glad to see Collingwood giving some sledging back to aussies. I think he has shown good mental strength. I was even glad to see Mahmoud & Andersen stare and chirp at a few batsmen. Do you think the aussies stopped all their antics when they were losing last ashes.
The aussies are supreme at intimidation. However they are about to lose some of their best players and sledgers....i think this in itself is something the English players should start reminding the remaing aussie players.......Brett Lee has been saved by McGrath and Warne for his mediocre bowling for years. B Lee is also keen to sledge...I wonder what he says "you better watch out McGrath is going to bowl you out when i'm replaced"
I also love KP's mental strength. He must be good since the Aussie coach has a go at him even when they are 4-0 up..I think he is worried about the future.
Good bye Warne, McGrath, Langer...and the ashes (even though the urn comes back to England anyway....)
Complain about this postEngland have been awful on this tour, but they are still the second best test team in the world. They beat Paksitan easily without Flintoff. England are nowhere near as good as Australia but they are better than everyone else in tests, and most of this Aussie team will never play England again. So let's look on the bright side of things.
Complain about this postpietersen may be very cocky and huge ego but he gets the runs why can't we be aggressive and go for a win rather then trying not to lose.
Complain about this postInstead of playing for the Ashes, why not play for the MBE's. For example Colly would give his to Warney etc. This would be a lot more meaningful than that pitiful replica of the Ashes urn!
Complain about this postEngland supporters are obviously very disappointed, angry even, about the result, and rightly so. But there is no point getting hysterical. Many of the same team were able to beat Australia 2-1 in a tightly fought series last year, and we should be wary of overdoing the angst now just as we overdid the euphoria then. Probably, given home advantage, England's injury problems, and the improved Aussia batting line-up, Australia would have won this series anyway. But it didn't have to be like this.
Complain about this postWhat are the main changes that should be made?
My pennyworth would include
(1) Flintoff should clearly not be batting at six. He is a number seven. Bell is England's natural number six. The lack of runs in these two spots has been crucial throughout the series.
(2) Whatever anyone else says, I think giving Flintoff the captaincy was a mistake. There are few good precedents for a top all-rounder captaining a successful side.
(2) There is no lack of talent in the rest of England's batting line-up. They just need to play better!
(3) I'm less sure about the bowling. Having detailed plans and executing them seemed to work well in 2005. If your five-man bowling attack is balanced and brilliant (as they were in 2005) then it's worth having them all. But if two of them are ropey and inconsistent, then perhaps England should revert to four to help shore up the batting.
Aggers,
So very disappointing after a great team event in2005 but surely we cannot be surprised? A team with a captain out of action for much of the summer (Flintoff) a bowling force that was injured for the summer (Giles and Anderson), or so under bowled and out of condition (Harmison). No wonder the one fit bowler other that Panesar (best bowler last summer and left inexplicably from the first two tests) has been so over bowled (Hoggard) that he is now injured for the last game and of course the only other bowler given a chance was not used very well (SM)
The batting was insecure and for me the Adelaide test was a key turning point when KP who kept Warne out with his legs in the first innings, fell trying to sweep at a crucial time when kicking ball would have been a good bet. Flintoff in a delicate position rashly drove at a wide one when disretion was called for. Those two come highly regarded but let themselves and England and the supporters down very badly. Had they have fought harder then we could have saved Adelaide and put Aussies on the backfoot but..............................!
The last 2 months have seen sleepless nights and a certain depression following many poor sessions of cricket. There must be a revision of planning, action on the field and the way selection is dealt with....what a stupid decision to put Jones on the selection committee and drop Read and bring Nixon in for the ODI when we need young blood of the Foster type. The Aussies do not mess about with those that don't work hard or are unsuccesful, they replace them quickly and that goes for the Selectors. England's who have underperformed as much as the players!!
Having said all this I have purchased nearly a £1000 of tickets for the next year games but feel I should expect much more from the cossetted well fed professionals and hope that they make a better fist of ALL matches next year. We may not see the like in Australia for some time (but don't bet on it), and we must not forget that we have to be at the top of our game as in 2005 to trouble these Ashes winners.
Complain about this postwhiters
Instead of playing for the Ashes, why not play for the MBE's. For example Colly would give his to Warney etc. This would be a lot more meaningful than that pitiful replica of the Ashes urn!
Complain about this postWell what can i say just another very poor performance and complete lack of fight or thought at times.I glad that i am not one of the poms stacking the deserved flack in Sydney.
Complain about this postWell I guess the anticipation of another great ASHES was short lived. I guess the team selection for the 1st test kinda gave indication that the coach nor the captain had any new ways to keep the aussies in check. They went back to proven formula sans 2 crucial elements vaughn's captaincy and the pace + accuracy of (i forget the bowlers name). Sad, really, to think that the English coach thought that the aussies would stand still and still fall for the 2005 tactics.
Coach: Time for a person with new ideas. Keith reached his prime at the end of 2005. Didn't know how to use Panesar to England's advantage.
Captain: I guess Flintoff looked utterly wanting in the captains cap, as he did not show any signs of a thinking captain than to depend on his own skill as a bowler/ batsman. The most telling moment was when Warne and Clark started slogging, Flintoff went to his fastest bowlers, where Monty would have checked the tail enders technique much better.
Complain about this postCrikey Arnold Rimmer, stop fudging and say what you really think about Agnew!! In all fairness, what can he say that could be incisive about what amounts to a complete disaster we could all see unfolding from the moment Flintoff was reinstated as skipper, Giles as spinner, Jones as stumper, mickey-mouse matches as preparation, etc etc etc.
Complain about this postMy question is this - if Hoggard is our most consistent and impressive bowler, why is he de-selected for the one-dayers. Is it still not cricket...simple game...you bat, I ball??
It looks like it's going to be five-nil, doesn't it? I believe there are a good few reasons for the scoreline, not least the fact that Australia are the better side. But I still say that poor preparation has played a large part in the result. May I suggest two remedies for starters: firstly, stop this 'central contracts' nonsense: some of the players in this squad have played a ridiculously small amount of cricket over the last year, even allowing for injuries which have kept them out of the game. Secondly, can we please have a guarantee from the tour organisers that no England team ever again starts a test series in Australia without a full three weeks' first class cricket as preparation beforehand?
Complain about this postAll that needs to be said about the imminent 5-0 humiliation has been said. And much more, so much more will deservedly come. So let me concentrate on something that has NOT been covered fully by these postings.
As an ENGLISH supporter 2nd and a cricket lover FIRST, I was ashamed to see Bill Bowden give Gilchrist out. Every decent fan and player in the world knows this man walks if he is out. It is well reputed and an example of how the sport should be played. So how dare the Umpire forget this or was he simply being ignorant? In the history of the game, every single batsmen has always known if he nicked a ball or not.
Umpires make mistakes sure but they dont have a right to take away a mans great reputation and thus infer he is a cheat all of a sudden.
I felt it was a truly disgraceful moment and Aggers I am sure will tell Billy Bowden to do the decent thing and apologise not for the mistake but the slur on one of the games greats.
Complain about this postthere have been bad decisions but that is cricket but some have been very bad decisions!! strauss has had some shockers and so have other batsmen and sometimes in vital times in the game we need the best umpires in the world umpiring like simon taufel!! im english and i know hes an aussie but if he does his job properly he shouldnt do any cheating!?
Complain about this postAnd collingwood isnt good enough 4 england he battles but tht aint enough he aint got the technique yes he hit 206 but apart from that not much more
England have one or two more days to erase at least some of the gloom that has spread in the last few weeks since that day in Brisbane.
It will take a miracle, and KP has shown that he can lose interest in the proceedings.
When the best English County teams are successful only because of a good or lucky choice of overseas players, you know the writing is on the wall for the doemstic game. I don't knock 20/20 or One Day in gneral, bring it on. However the skill and nerve needed to hit a fast 20-30 is not going to cut it in a 5-day game played in demanding conditions.
Complain about this postA 5-0 drubbing or close to it was only suffered in the past by weak post-war England teams in both the early 20s and mids 40s of the last Century, when UK sport had not recovered fully. Except for 1958/59, whcih was played against 'bowlers' like Ian Meckiff, England can have few excuses except lack of ability and commitment. Regardless of the outcome, the team has been poor, and management has to stand up and take some responsibility. If Fletcher was a soccer manager he'd be long gone, and Flintoff is clearly not a leader.
Time to rebuild from the ashes, pun intentional, and reform around the new talent.
An excert from a potential letter written by a coach;
Dear loyal fans,
Firstly I can't apologise enough for the teams recent and current performance. We are very sorry.
In this letter I'm going to break the usual shackles and be honest.
It's true. We've been living off the champagne moments of the time we faced the opposition. We were a good team then, but now we've got a right minging hangover!
Let's face it we're not a team that's very adaptable. Catch us on a good day and we'll give you a game. Catch us on any other and we'll lose. But it's not just that we lose, we lose with a whimper when it should be a roar!
It's true the opposition are a great team. They seem to have the knack of replacing good players with just as good players. They have guts, good cricketing brains and the sort of spirit that we are (historicaly) supposed to have! (We can't even come up with good enoughs lines when we're sledging the opposition).
We need to rebuild, condition ourselves to do the basics right with our eyes closed, no, er, wait we're doing that now......... Anyways we need to be much sharper and consistent with our skills, mental attitude and a determination to suceed.
It's a tough thing to do, looking objectively at a situation and making informed choices when there is so much red tape and administrations and committees to tackle. It's hard being a coach, it's all so complicated. I should have listened to my Mum and been a radio cricket commentator, that's a right cushy number that is!
Anyways, I hope you can forgive us this recent dismal performance, I'm hoping the match ends early so we can all get back to our families......
Yours
Coach (for now anyway)
Complain about this postThe sledge who cares , no one hurt they're big boys , yes ?
Its a damn shame it hasnt been a better contest.
Thanks to the gracious Poms and Aussies who've posted.
The MBE's seem to be a big topic, who cares, who needs Royal honours?
I thought it stood for Mediocre Batting & Entertainment??!!
Special thanks to Marto , Alfie, Pidge and Warnie.Shall miss all of you!
Complain about this postif this is an example of test cricket over in two days and failing even in austrails to fill the gropund why is the city of cardiff ruining its green belt to provide a stadium purposely e built fro huge crowds/
Complain about this postAll this may be true.
The real reason for failure is the inability of the selectors to be ruthless and a discredited system. The truth is we were lucky in 2005 AND played very well under a very astute captain.
Now we have key injuries (Simon Jones, Fred's not even close to fit).
We have stayed with batsmen who are clearly not good enough against the absolute best. We have left behind at least one player (maybe 2) in the form of his life who would give his all.
G Jones? A Giles? Did I wake up in a nightmare? Its like Downton and Emburey all over again, we never learn.
However given the collapse of school cricket and the general lack of competitveness at a youthful level in sport its littel surprise we are crap at pretty much everything.
Complain about this postInteresting how Aggers did not mention the decision Gilly got, it all evens out. England's 2-1 was a fluke and 5.0 will confirm that. I am with Dar on the Warne decision , clear daught there so benefit must go the batter
Complain about this post"England have been awful on this tour".....erm...they were never that good!!!
Complain about this postI am an Australian and pleased to see the Australian team doing so well. I was there for every day of the Brisbane match and my main disappointment is that there have been far too few real contests during the series.
The blogs make interesting reading. I would offer the following comments:
- world cricket needs a strong England team
- people need to accept umpiring decisions and move on. To pontificate on what might have occurred had the decision gone the other way is a complete waste of time
- the "rub of the green" theory has some merit. Sometimes you get the benefit, sometimes not. There have been quite a few go each way during the series
- the ICC must try to get the best umpires for the important series. Four of the best umpires in the world were not available for this series. one of those, Darrell Hair, was sacked for doing his job. Another, Peter Willey, does not want to travel and the ICC needs to find a way of accommodating his needs. The other two are also either Australian or English and therefore unavailable.
I do not think it is as bad as it appears for English cricket as there are some positives to come out of it:
- you know Flintoff is not ready for captaincy
- Strauss will be a good player for a long time
- Cook looks good. A bit more discipline and shot selection will make him a long term successful player
- Bell also looks good. You have a good one there
- Pietersen could be anything from one end of the spectrum to the other. He does look completely out sorts and there is obviously something troubling him
- just let Flintoff play
- you need to find another bowler
- the bowlers need to improve their batting
- Harmison needs help to harness his potential
Having said all of that, there is a sense of a lack of discipline and application to the task that seems to be prevalent. The slowness to react to obvious problems has been surprising.
I recall going to France in 2002 with some friends to watch England play France at Rugby. The English press had the England team as the best in the world in the Saturday morning papers. By Monday morning, the papers wanted the coach to be sacked and for wholesale changes to be made to the team. The team did not go from best in the world to one of the worst on the strength of one game.
Likewise, the England cricket team have been badly beaten in this series, but there are a lot of positives and they should be able to learn from this and come back much stronger.
The recovery needs to commence at the top. The "Blazers" have some decisions to make.
Complain about this postJust a few things I remember from village cricket :
1. If fielding at silly mid on (Straus Day 2) wear protective gear and stay down as opposed to jumping scared in the air
2. After bowling a ball, get back over the stumps ready to receive a ball in case of a possible run out (Mahmoud Day 3)
3. Catch the ball with two hands when attempting a run out (Mahmoud Day 3)
4. If a player is plump, was previously balding and now has bleach blond hair and nearly 40 years old, it means a run out is more likely so expect it(Mahmoud/Warne Day 3)
5. Choose a spinner who can spin the ball ( Monty vs Giles) as opposed to a spinner who tries to convince you that a spinner doesn't actually need to turn the ball.
6. Choose a wicket keeper who can keep (Reid vs Jones) as opposed to a wicket keeper who is just friends with the whole team
7. Choose a captain who can captain (Strauss vs Flintoff) as opposed to a captain who everyone loves
8. Let bowlers choose their field, atleast initially as opposed to giving them the impression he lacks confidence in them
9. Don't set defensive fields to new batsmen
10. If teams sledge you then give as good as you get especially if there is no stump microphone where you can remind them of their mother's relationships.
11. Don't play your best batsmen at number 5
12. Make sure players get as much match practice before important games
13. If your best bowler bowls to 2nd slip first ball don't pat him on the back, kick him up the backside and say don't be such a soft lad
14. If your best bowler says his ideal day would be at home watching Newcastle United as opposed to playing for his country, send him home advising him to chose a better footie team.
15. Avoid playing the best team in world at all costs
...but anyway what do I know
Complain about this postW G Grace
Q: Why do people retire?
Complain about this postA: So, they can devote their time for other things.... politicians (family) Warney (bookmakers, diuretics, nurses) Pigeon (future predicting, touch-rugby?), Lang (helmet technology), Martos (sign-language with finger alone)
warne is soooooo right its pathetic that for winning one ashes series in 20 years they all received a gong then they get slaughtered 5-0 but that just about sums up england we love a loser
Complain about this postWhen are cricket's (and for that matter football's) rulers gunna wake up, smell the coffee, and do what the rest of us have been doing for the last 5 - 10 years...and rely on technology that can do things bigger, better, faster and more accurately? Umpiring re LB's and pad-bat must be horrendously difficult, not only because of the seeing it just once factor, but also the knowledge that on every occasion some TV camera, machine, pundits and every viewer in the world will know everytime you get one wrong. It's already making umpires avoid decisions (a la Hayden). It would hardly slow owt down at test level (the speed that Gatorade goes on-off the filed?!) and could only improve things?
Complain about this postI find it highly amusing how we justify Chris Read's selection because he's a good wicketkeeper. Yes he is but if he can't bat then we're better off having KP as wicketkeeper (with his ego he'll think he could do it). I agree that Read is a better keeper and should have played to start but to blame his poor batting on criticism from fletcher just shows how one eyed most fans are as well as the coach. Neither Read nor Jones should be in the side!! We need to find someone who can cope with the pressure of batting at 7.
Complain about this postRemember Donald? Not Alan, but Rumsfeld? He would have said "You go to the field with the team you have - not with what you like!"
Complain about this postThe series has exposed complacency on the part of England after the 2005 victory. Against this the Aussies were more than prepared which showed in their attitude. In each test of this series, England had a chance of at least drawing, but the Aussies won by sheer determination.
Complain about this postNot having Sky Sports nor being brave enough to sit through tonight's highlights programme, I've just seen today's very brief "highlights" on C4 news.
At the dizzy heights of Netherton 2nd X1 to which I aspired I would have been ashamed of Mahmood's pathetic non-attempt at a run-out and any of the shots which led to the dismissals of Cook, Bell and Flintoff.
How dare they talk of fighting to preserve some self-esteem.
Complain about this postHello Aggers
Greetings from cold and damp Dunfermline.
I've absolutely loved TMS espicially since going digital-sadly I work so my attention is not always 100% overnight.
While disappointed that the Ashes has not been a close contest what disappoints me most is when the English players are interviewed I've seen/heard Flintoff and Harmiston recently and they were not exactly humble-Nobody would or could accuse them of not trying but there has to be a fundamental problem when you are so well and decisively beaten and anybody can try hard'if thats all that was required you could have 11 of the barmies-my opinion (not hugely enlightening) is they were ill prepared and picked the wrong players-I feel for Chris Read he obviously realisies that he is not the choice of Fletcher and Flintoff and they only picked him because Jones was so badly off form.
Anyway I'm rooting for you in your exchanges with 'Geoffrey' -I think we've all worked with someone like him ha ha - But TMS is brill
Hope you noted my e-mail address has the Don's test average -now there's a hero
Best Wishes
Complain about this postSomeone said Australians hate Shane Warne!
The only reason we may have expressed this extreme view is because he is retiring. He has brought the cricket world (which includes us Aussies) such joy over the years - the major pleasure being our anticipation of his skill and guile taking the wickets of the world's best batsmen and being the great bowler he is.
Take your bitter and jealous comments to your shrink - you obviously need professional counseling.
This is professional sport not backyard cricket for sooks.
If cricket authorities think it enhances cricket TV coverage by putting in stump mikes - do you think cricketers are going to change the way cricket has been played for years?
Cricketers are sports people, not gentlemen! Stop expecting high morals and polite behaviour from them. Your English sports legends are prime example of 'men behaving badly'. Go watch a chess match if it upsets you so much - sorry an Indian guy was caugh cheating, damn (sorry did I swear), bloody hell!
Complain about this postAs a Pom, living in Australia for the last year I have had to live with the poor performance of the England football team in the world cup, especially with the Socceroos great performance in only there 2nd world cup.
I will now have to swallow my pride as the England cricket team have been thoroughly and utterly thrashed, our team’s attitude has been demoralising to watch, our run rate has been poor and at times only half of what Australia has achieved, and we have lost wickets far too easily. Straus has been unlucky on a number of occasions but in this game you make your own luck, we have been unable to apply pressure when it needed to be applied and our tail end batsman are just not good enough. Just when I have thought that we have Australia on the ropes with an outstanding display from the bowling we fall apart at the crease.
The preparations for this tournament have not been their best, but I would have at least expected a fight, just for some pride, but I guess that’s not to be. I feel sorry for all those fans that have made the long journey over to here and have followed the team round this continent, they have had very little to cheer, the only notable exception was the batsman performance in the 1st innings at Adelaide, we were then let down in the second innings.
What is noticeable from a Pom perspective is how much Australia invests in sports, I regularly cycle within Melbourne and I am always seeing local kids playing cricket, soccer and football, it just seems that the culture here is different. Every kid plays cricket in the summer in Australia and all the parks seem to have cricket nets. I have never seen so many 50 m Swimming pools in one place either, so it is no surprise that with such investment they continually produce great teams and great sportsmen.
The Cricket system in the UK needs modernising from the grass roots level to bring more players through. We cannot hope to compete with Australia unless we invest more in sports, unfortunately Cricket in the UK does not get the same sort of funding as Australia provides, its not a no1 sport in the UK and lags behind soccer and rugby, and is seen very much as an upper class sport with very few players coming from middle class backgrounds.
Anyway enough rambling, with the demise of Warne, Langer, McGrath & hopefully Hayden & Gilchrist soon maybe England’s young side can grow and provide a better performance in a year and a half’s time, although I am concerned with regards to the 1 day matches as this defeat will have an effect on the players, and their preparations for those matches.
Complain about this postAggers - you make no mention of the Gilchrist dismissal! The Warne umpiring mistake was a tough call as it missed the bat and feather touched the glove. Even on replay it was a tough call but yes, an umpiring mistake.
Complain about this postThe Gilchrist dismissal was a farce of umpiring. Imagine if he had not been given out; what carnage then?? He could be forgiven for deciding henceforth not to walk if such poor umpiring is the way.......
The fact is: England bowled, fielded and set fields poorly on Day 3 and then batted even worse. The dismissals of Bell and Cook were both of club cricket standard.
England may have been a bit unlucky to face a 5 - zip series defeat but in this Sydney Test they deserve the thrashing that will be dealt by Lunch on Day 4.
Hello It woould have been nice if the article also mentioned the huge mistake by the umpires in giving Adam Gilchrist out when all the replays showed he was no where near hitting the ball. If Glichrist had remained who knows what the score would have been.
Complain about this postOh and see you conveniently forget to mention that Gilchrist was given out when he missed the ball despite the fact that Gilchrist walks when he hits it. No there just is no excuse whatsoever for your team so don't even hold on to that fleeting illusion.
Complain about this postThe MBEs weren't the team's fault - it was Blair's spin machine trying to hijack the Ashes for political capital. Was Collingwood supposed to refuse it? Well, maybe, but it would seem a bit ungracious, surely - and might have put some of the other members of the squad in an awkward position.
Anyway, I'm pleased to note that the lads weren't too impressed with Blair's sudden interest in cricket. I seem to remember Hoggy called him a 'knob' - an assessment which was endorsed wholeheartedly and publicly by Fred!
I'm sure Collingwood couldn't care less about Warne's random remarks about these baubles. But yes, the Aussie habit of not walking (Langer and Gillie among hon. exceptions) leaves a sour taste, and I must say I've always found Warne's larrikan antics tedious and even rather shameful - especially since if he really is as skilful as he is supposed to be, he ought to have no need for the rather desperate-seeming rigmaroles he insists on going through every time he gets the ball - appealing every delivery, trying to bully the umpires, constant sledging, unwarranted celebration, general histrionics...yawn.
For some reason not entirely clear to me, he seems often to be greeted with admiring indulgence for his pusillanimous behaviour. Perhaps I'm not sufficiently susceptible to his 'charm'...oh well, his bowling skill will be missed, anyway.
Complain about this postOne further point: The best English performance of the series goes, without doubt, to The Barmy Army.
Complain about this postDisciplined, entertaining and outstanding team work.
The Barmy Army is welcome back to Oz next time - just make sure The Army brings some professional cricketing support............thats all they had missing.
One observation: I imagine that the Australians won't consider the game over and the whitewash complete until they bring Pietersen's batting to an end. The Australians will remember a game at Headingly 1981 when England were 7 wickets down in the second innings and still 92 runs BEHIND and the Australians still lost, somehow.
Granted, a repeat performance is unlikely, given that Flintoff is no Brearley in the captaincy department, and England don't have a bowling attack anywhere close to matching that of Willis, Botham, Dilley, Willey, but the Australians will still want Pietersen gone ASAP.
Complain about this postDear John Mclellan....KP cannot face the prospect of putting his pads on having just fiddled his thumbs half the day at deep extra cover...how the hell could he cope with 100 overs behind the stumps before he bats...crikey he'd be asking to go in at 7 so he can have a rest, rub down, sauna, 3-course meal and a kip before having (woe is me) to get padded up!!!
Complain about this postAs gracious in victory as in defeat. The greatest bowler of all time has nothing to prove but cant stop himself lowering the tone. I am sure her Majesty will take note of his views on the Honours system but he should remember that coming from a player who disgraced his own country when banned for drug related cheating (and blaming it on his mum's cough mixture) it is unlikely to be taken seriously.
The rush to retire wouldnt be driven by the need to "exit at the top"and hide the embarrassment of their woeful performance in 2005!
Time to drink the fixture back on lads
Complain about this post5 -0, felt this was coming after the celebrations in 2005, that was a close series and arguably turned, literally, with McGraths ankle. To have had the fuss and the gings made a mockery of it, celbrate yes, but the gongs were like Warney put it, an embarrassment and not just for collingwoods seven. They should be for a career of achievement and ideally success.
Complain about this postI'm looking for the whitewash, perhaps then the idea of a welsh one day and twenty twenty team will be better recieved like for scotland, and ideally a Celtic Test team comprising Wales, Scotland, Ireland and even Cornwall. Its not as if such a team could do any worse s it?
As an English supporter, I completely agree with Warnie's comments, the guy is a legend. his comments about Paul Collingwood being a club cricketer is offensive to ......... club cricketers :D
England have been nothing less than an embarrassment. I could bat and ball better than most of them and I used to be a club cricketer.
Complain about this postHang on...why is everyone so down?
OK, we have been outplayed in this series, but let's think about the wider scheme of things.
England have been outplayed by Australia.
You could replace "England" with any other country the last time they played them - the last side to beat Australia in Tests apart from England was India in August 2004 (when Michael Clarke took 6/9). Their last series defeat was in March 2001 - last home series defeat was I think against the great Windies of 92/3 - that's about 14 years.
And haven't England just beaten Pakistan 3-0?? The team which everyone said would come here and teach England how to play - we were better than them even without Ovalgate.
Since the WC03, we've only lost 9 Tests (excluding this series), and that's a pretty good record.
And look at the rest of international cricket. India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies are good sides, but we've won series against every single one of them in the last 3 years (excl. Sri Lanka, where we SHOULD have won at Lord's)
I would still put us second in the world.
So lighten up!
Complain about this postwell what can i say. if anyone preformed in their job the way this english side have they would be sacked on the spot. if the ecb ran a company the way they run cricket it would be bankrupt in a day. this pathetic idea of gricketers not playing cricket so they will improve their game ehen they play for their country, be a bit like running a bussines and the boss telling the staff not to bother coming into work for a few months, oh dear we gone bust. well its true english cricket has gone bust. therefore we cannot be surprised at how poor we are. what i am surprised at is the total lack of guts though and this useless drivle from freddie and fletcher in the after game talks if you can't be cricketers then at least try to be men admit you are a bunch of losers. we have 2 players to build a team around monty and kp, freddie may make it 3 if he is not captain, these are the only ones would would possibly make it into and aussie state team. the rest would struggle to get into an aussie schoolboy side.
Complain about this postwell done australia you outplayed us in every department of the game and are deserved winners . goodbye to 3 greats of the game glen and langer are a true credit to the game of cricket. warny you are the greatest spin bowler ever but your actions on and of the field let you down.
England lose their last five wickets in the first innings for 50 odd runs.
Australia put on 200 runs for their last five wickets!
Could England do the same today, and make Australia bat on the fifth day?
Or will it all be over befre lunch?
I am going to the game, should be able to get cheap tickets to a sold out day, and I will also make a restaruant booking for lunch.
5-0 who would have thought
Complain about this postRevenge is so sweet. I have never felt lower than September last year. I might have felt sorry for the poms this time had they not rammed it so far down our throats last time.
Complain about this postDon't be so naive to think that the changing guard will weaken us at all. The Australian Cricket Team will always be greater than the sum of it's parts.
Superb days cricket. Bring back full strength beer though. Australia finally has a class system those in the members who can handle their booze and mere plebs like myself who cannot be trusted to behave.Bollocks to the bored police force moving people on in the shade as well. Some sort of tag hanging off the back of flintoffs boot will save him from a stumping in future. cmon england anything but 5- 0
Complain about this postHey Glyn 393...I've seen Netherton 2nd XI and you're right!!!!
Complain about this postJhon lewis should of been picked over mamood, mamood is all over the place when he bowels, however lewis bowles a consistant line and length. Also fred needs to attack more in the field rather than putting men in eras where the batsman don't tend to score runs in.
Complain about this postMy worst fears have been realised and we have been well and truly slaughtered. It is not as if we even put up a fight. England were 2nd best in every department and they ought to be bloody ashamed of themselves. Poor management, poor batting, poor fielding and as for the bowling....!
Morning after morning I would wake and find that we had managed to completely lose control of a promising position.
The umpiring has been a bit suspect at times but we only moan about it when the dodgy decisions have gone against us. Whilst I am on the subject of umpires, what is all this crocked finger and slow rising arm nonsence, why cant they just stick up a straight finger and say "your out" or "on your bike" - or whatever.
What makes it worse of all is that Warne was the main beneficiary of the decisions today and he was probably right when he belittled the MBE's given to Uncle Tom Cobbly and all, but that just proves the cheapening of the Honours systemthat has occured in the last 10 or so years.
Even though Warne is an overweight, balding, vain, drug taking, text pest, he is the master of sledging and unfortunately for us a bloody good bowler and I will miss him when he retires.
The only good thing is that I will now be able to get a full nights sleep now that this horror story is over, I just pray I do not get any nightmares.
Complain about this postCan Mr Agnew please accept that cricket teams need a reasonably competant wickectkeeper, and that in Mr Reed we have been blessed with one, plus. The idea that the team is better with a batsman who misses catches, stuppings, byes, stuppings, catches, is a joke.
I am young enough to have watched your friend Mr Boycott play cricket when Jimmy Binks did not play for England.
Complain about this postFelix,
How would you spell finally then?
You're a very sad man!!!
And doesn't talented and accomplished mean pretty much exactly the same thing?
Any ways, England are just not good enough and I feel sorry for the Australians who surely would have enjoyed a game of cricket, rather than watching their opponents (if thats what they can be termed) crumble at their feet.
Maybe Australia may play themselves in the Ashes next time, put out one of their own reserve teams to play against. There will be more competition at least.
Top notch blog again Aggers, it's probably been the highlight of the entire tour!
Complain about this postI have given considerable thought to why England have failed so catastrophically in this series. Taking account of the views of many of the correspondents to this discussion, as well as those of other commentators on TV and radio, my analysis is this:
They can't bowl -
- and they can't bat.
Sort these two areas out and I beieive that they could we compete with any team in the world.
Complain about this postHey Rannyroo, how sad that your supposed degree in chemistry from the University of Hicksville does not give you a clear perspective on Warne's drug ban.
Complain about this postThe bloke was found with diuretics in his system while he was injured and trying to get fit for a World Cup tournament.
Why do you reckon he would have been taking them then?
Warne will still go down as one of the greats but the drugs shadow will always linger amongst those of us who don't take the Channel Nine kool-aid.
For all of the people lauding the praises of Strauss ... suggesting that he might be an option for England's captaincy.
8 years (or so) ago he played club cricket in Sydney with Brett Lee .. and sat in the stands watching Lee's first match for Australia.
Maybe he learned something at Mosman?
Complain about this postSkippyinlondon has got it right. It should have been a tighter series even if the Aussies were going to win. The build up was rubbish - England needed to play more really tough games before the first test -but we all know that! However, no matter what you do, this Oz side has been pheonemonal for a long time and they were unlucky to lose the Ashes in england. It's not about individual sports - it's about general sporting attitude and Oz is about the best at this. Don't blame individuals - it's the whole national attitude which is important.
Complain about this postFirst of all lets just say congratulations to a magnificent australian side, one of the best in cricketing history. Its been a pleasure to see the likes of warne(who is the greatest bowler to have ever lived) Mcgrath who shows our boys its not all about pace and Ricky Ponting who will also when he decides to hang up his boots be one of the worlds greatest batsmen. England havent been up to scratch, and there are no excuses for this, the coaches and the ECB need to take a long hard look at themselves and the way they prepared for this series, we took too many chances early on with players with little or no cricket, we didnt play enough cricket in Australia and have looked dreadfully out of sorts in all but a few sessions in all 5 tests. Alarm bells started ringing when we surrendered the Adelaide test from what looked like an a dead cert victory.
Things arent going to get any better when the one dayers start, whilst I respect Fletcher as a coach he has taken us backwards in this form of the game and I can only see more trouncings ahead in the coming weeks.
A lot of these comments I am reading from england fans about the ashes 2005 celebrations and the handing out of MBE's, I seriously doubt if said fans aired these views at the time, the team got recognition for what was undoubtedly one of the greatest ever test series, although Australia played a huge part in this and the spirit between both sides was magnificent, england got MBE's and I feel Australia should have got the same recognition.
All will be well when we welcome back Michael Vaughan to the side but lets please get him in some kind of form before we do that, play some state cricket in Australia maybe. We have the makings of an excellent test cricket side but we need batting depth to be number one.
Finally lets just enjoy another 2 days(hopefully!) cricket as some ogf the games greats bow out. KP you need to bat till tea at least so no pressure!
Complain about this postNever fear lads, my son Tim has started playing indoor cricket in Luxembourg (of all places) and he will help slay Aussies in 2018 or something like that. It'll soon be like Ryder Cup, we'll take on and beat Aussies every few years with Team Europe.
Complain about this postHey, and I'm a Scotsman so why should I care?And aren't we drawn against them in World Cup? Allez les Bleus!
I have given considerable thought to why England have failed so catastrophically in this series. Taking account of the views of many of the correspondents to this discussion, as well as those of other commentators on TV and radio, my analysis is this:
They can't bowl -
- and they can't bat.
Sort these two areas out and I beieive that they could we compete with any team in the world.
Complain about this postWhy are Warne and all of these colonials getting so worked up about a daft medal? Do they really desperately want to be Members of the British EMPIRE? What was Colly supposed to do - refuse it? If he had done, and I suspect it crossed his mind, then he probably would never have played test cricket again for insulting the establishment. The current third best spin bowler in the world (after Murali and Mushtaq) demeans himself by his gobshite antics, but then he has already demeaned himself many times before, like when he blamed his mother for his drug taking.
Complain about this postIncidentally, I can understand Colly wanting to be back in the promised land now that Mr Keane is taking the lads onward and upward, but why is Harmy so keen to gan yame? Surely not to watch relegation Roeder and his miserable mags?
Well it seems there are 4 test spots up for grabs in the Australian team. I wonder if any of the english team would make the grade if they emigrated down under? Going by this series i'd say not a one. That say's it all doesn't it!
Complain about this postIf the Ashes winning poms were all awarded MBEs, then Warnie (who Peter Roebuck once described as 'gormless') is surely due a knighthood. But 'Sir Shane Warne' just doesn't sound right. Maybe Australia's reigning monarch can promote him a few places up the order to king.
Congrats to the gallant English lads for selling their wickets so dearly and always bowling the Aussies out cheaply. Unfortunately, the sterling seems to have taken a dive against the Aussie dollar of late. I still remember when the mighty dollar was worth approx. four flat rocks in the mid '80s, and Australia was compared to a banana republic.
A bigger congrats to Tom Fordyce for making the Ashes blow-by-blow actually entertaining. I know exactly where you're coming from.
Complain about this postI look forward to the next ashes series. We have been totally outplayed,out thought and out-sledged.
I have never seen such professional cricket, I don't think I will again
But what price on a young side wiith Vaughn as captain doing the same to Australia in 2 years time.
Australia after losing the Ashes went back home and planned this series to the finest detail, we will have to do the same.
Complain about this postAggers - how about this for a fitting finale:
Langer opens the batting with McGrath chasing a target of 54. They make 30 [ish] before Monty makes the break through.
In comes Mr. Shane Warne and hits the winning runs, a 4, off Collingwood. They shake hands.
it's all over now.
Complain about this postMonty to score 50, Pieterson blasts a ton, Read cracks 70 odd, Harmison & Anderson share a 50 stand, set Aussies 250 ish to win; Monty takes 7 for 80, seamers take 2 and Read stumps Warne off Pieterson to win by 3 runs...that'll keep us awake.
Now where's my medication?????
Complain about this postafter my prvious blog i would also like to add a few other points. the england team after losing the 3rd game and the ashes said they are using the last 2 games as a basis for the 2009 ashes, well i can assure them that they have got it right after 2 more poorly played and well thrashed games (yes we will lose this one) we have formed the basis for what will happen in 2009. we seem to keep on that mcgrath warne and langer are going so they will be a lesser side, well stuart clarke has already filled mcgraths boots and in style, sturat mcgill can be bought in for warne (even if it is only for 3 years) and don't forget he has a better strike rate than the master and phil jaques will be langers replacement no doubt or one of maybe another 10 possibles. thats without mentioning shane watson alrounder shaun tait great fast bowler. with that lot already on the scene it sure looks like a very weak aussie team to come to england. but i guess the england team will come home play as little cricket as possible and expect to win easilly, but as i said we have already formed the basis of the reality we will get thrashed again.
Complain about this postas to the umpiring yes the icc need to come into the modern times. a 2 strikes system of appealing for bowler and batsmanget it right you keep 2 get it wrong you lose one (the batsman then only has 1 appeal in his next innings) its not going to slow the game down anymore than it is already.
but we did not lose the games on umpiring descions we lost the games by turning up with a we don't need to proove anything attitude and we don't care how much money our hard working fans have forked out to watch us play like spineless gutless wonders cause we are getting paid loads of dosh.
Perhaps the English team needs to be reminded that they are not on holiday. The constant reference to "the tourists" is certainly an accurate one - they have had the best seat in the house for this historical 5-0 whitewash. Hopefully, next time they'll act as though they have a day job.
Complain about this postBy all means criticise the England batsmen that have failed in the series, but why are so many blogs picking on Pietersen and Collingwood? Batting averages of 60+ and 48 for the series respectively, the two top England averages by some way. And achieved facing the world's best bowling attack.
So what if 206 of Colly's runs were scored in one innings - it should still have been enough to win at Adelaide but for England's poor bowling. And ignoring those 206 runs, Colly's series average would still be above that of Cook, Strauss and Flintoff. As for the sledging of Warne after he failed to walk, fine, at least it shows the commitment that has not been apparent in many other team members.
For all that this tour has been a disaster overall, with many members of the party deserving to lose their place come May, several also emerge with credit - especially Pietersen, Collingwood, Hoggard and Monty P.
Complain about this postKey moment in this game was Bell slash outside off stump. If England think 2009 is going to be a cakewalk then they are in for a rude awakening. Shield cricket in Australia is very strong indeed. Given the level of expectation this for a Lancastrian living down under has been very difficult to take. Work colleagues now feel soory for the Poms which I am afraid is pretty hard to take.
Complain about this postFletcher has run his course, time to look at Tom Moody!
i think the mbe's are a good point of niggle for the aussies...but as far as sledging goes...consider the England coach sledging and publicly humiliating the Australian Captain when he was run out in the 2005 series. Thought that was a courageous thing to do and may well come back to haunt him....and so it has.
Complain about this postTo Alasdair in Goldalming:
It sounds a bit like you're happy about us coming second. You may be but I'm not.
And coming second by five games to nil, if that's what the end result will be, is simply not good enough. Is it?
Complain about this postSo Aggers is complaining (the "catch" from Warne's; the non runout etc) because we should have lost this series 4-0 or (heaven forbid we might have acually won this last game) 4-1, rather than 5-0 ? How low have we come ?
Very, very sad
Complain about this postWell well well...Warne has to show how the aussies really behave and think about England!
Fancy having a pop at Collingwoods MBE. I doubt he even knows what it means! Poor aussie...it just goes to show what the Australian team have been thinking about since we beat them last time around.
The amount of sledging appeals and cockiness ruins the game and this constant "lets have a pop at England" is taking the michael...
In response to the person who said colly should keep his "gob shut" i think its ponting who should be telling his team to keep their gobs shut!
There is no doubt that the Australian Team have won with skill and grace...that is until they open their mouths!
I just wish the England team could get their backsides back to camp and rebuild. The last thing they need is a one day competition which is only going to demoralise them more.
Respect to the barmy army.
Complain about this postOnce again, Jonathan Agnew tells it as it is. For the umpteenth time in this series England let a good position disintegrate. Mahmood's feeble effort when he could easily have run Warne out is symptomatic of a malaise in the English cricket team. From the captain down they are too casual by half. Yes, they do try but have failed to learn from Australia in that they do not run hard enough between wickets, get themselves out through impatience (eg Cook and Bell yesterday) set field placings that allow an opposing batsman to play himself in with easy singles and allow the opposing team complete domination at crucial points by becoming bogged down at the crease. The most abject moment of the series came on the 5th morning in Adelaide when England scored 30 runs in two hours. Another 30 or 40 - a very modest expectation - would have put a game England should have won beyond Australia's reach.
Australia out thought out batted out bowled and out fielded England in every match despite the fact that in several of the tests England got themselves into potentially winning positions through spasms of good cricket.
As for the reported sledging, England would do much better to leave that sort of foul-mouthedness to those who do it best and, in this respect, the Australians, once again, are kings.
It is not a case of 'vale English cricket' because the 5-0 scoreline does not reflect the fact that some of the matches were good contests. However, have you any faith that the English will learn from all this? All the psychobabble of the English team, talking themselves up before the series and before each test, has been exposed for the hollow sham it was.
Complain about this postNow now Jon no need for insults.
Firstly my apologies for the grammatical error and my thanks for your subsequent correction. Might I add it's such a breath of fresh air to read another blog from people who feel it's their god given right to correct spelling rather than just write an opinion. Regardless to be called an ignorant peasant from someone with such distorted cricketing opinions as yourself really hurts my feelings.
Back to the original point, Warne was never found guilty of taking any illegal performance enhancing substances he was found guilty of taking a suspected masking agent. I'm not saying he wasn't using it to mask any drug taking and agree it still looks fishy how quickly he came back from injury, I suppose we may never know. This is the reason he recieved only a one year ban.
To say that one of the world's best should never have been allowed back is nothing short of ignorant. Pot calling the kettle black Jonny old son. Maybe you should try supporting English....oh no not rugby.......hmmm not football either........lawn bowls?
Complain about this postAs an Englishman recently retired to Australia I have been appalled at the performance of the English team. In all sports the Australian teams seem to have a purpose and never give up even though they are sometimes on the rack. It used to be a proud day to picked for your country and you would do everything to achieve success. You only had to look at the body language of the English players at the tests to see a Doomed attitude. The only one player that seem to be positive was Monty. He WAS proud to be picked.
Alas I couldn't bear to watch England v Australia in the one day at the MCG. I sold the tickets.
Complain about this postCollingwood was giving a lot more than Warne. Warne just had the last laugh thats all.
Complain about this postVery an accurate reporting indeed.
so the australia squad for 2009?
jaques
hayden (unlikely he'll retire)
ponting
hussey
clarke
symonds
gilly
lee
clark
cullen
johnson
mm... i think so
Complain about this postAs an Aussie I am appaled by the standars of umpiring in this test series. Before the series began the aussies voted billy bowden the worst of the international umpires and this was borne out yesteday with the Gilchrist decision. Without this terrible bias against Austraiia we might have won this series 5 - 0
Complain about this postIt's just a farce.
Why the players got an MBE i'll never understand - typical English over-reaction to a rare sporting success. When the team hold the Ashes for 18 years without loss THEN they can have the rewards.
This whole tour has been awful - the preparation has been abysmal, no-one has hit form apart from KP, and worst of all the fielding has been pathetic.
Australia always look hungry for the ball in the field.
here are 3 typical examples of English "fielding":
1. Giles not running in to take a catch in the 1st test that would have dismissed Ponting
2. Strauss missing a bat-pad catch off Hussey at close-in because he flinched, assuming Hussey was going to strike it hard.
3. Mahmood missing an easy run-out
On top of this there is all the lacksidasical fielding - players jogging in to pick up the ball rather than steaming in at full pelt. Australia always run in, and the result? the opposing team are fearful of taking quick singles and doubles. England do not inspire that same fear, and so the scoreboard ticks over.
It is symptomatic of a team who are clearly waiting for the current Australian team to retire in the hope that those who come in are easier to play against. And that is truly sad.
Can MBEs be taken back?
Complain about this postMr. Ronnie Naylor #414 ….and I quote you “I am young enough to have watched your friend Mr Boycott play cricket when Jimmy Binks did not play for England”…Yes I was too and Mr. Boycott is a much more entertaining commentator then he ever was a batsman, in some of his innings we would fall asleep…lol…my be that is what England needs in there arsenal as they can’t play, win and need lots of Mr. Boycott’s to save matches and go for a draw.
Complain about this postNo Jeffry you are champion bloke!
my last blog of the day. for the 2009 ashes we bat kp at no 1 we then kindly ask the aussies if we can use 22 players so then kp can bat for a day, ok thats being optimistic suppose i should be realistic till at least lunch.
Complain about this postI read an interview at the weekend in which Bowden said he respected Gilchrist for 'walking'. Pity he didn't remember that today! Just want to say how much pleasure watching Gilchrist's batting over the past few years has given me. And he seems to be a decent bloke too.
Complain about this postMy summer of cricket has been a disappointment. The great heralded ashes series was a complete farce with England being totally outclassed. This was akin to a first grade team playing a 5th grade side. I like to see Australia win but I also like a close competition...I would have preferred to see a competitive England team even win some of the tests. Who knows..I may see an England revival in the next 30 years and actually see a good contest.
Ray A
Complain about this postWhat have the Aussies done since the last Ashes ..... Worked their arse off to make sure they win them back.
What have we done? ...... Well i've had enough of us adopting the same tactics as the last series. e.g Bowl around the wicket at Gilchrist. Bowl straight and full at ponting early on.......
What do you think they have been doing since the last ashes..... making sure they don't fall for these very tactics twice!!!!
And we arrogantly think the same tactics will win us the ashes.... no way... This is why we need new management with new ideas..... We are stale and devoid of ideas as shown by Flintoffs inept captaincy and management of his bowlers.
What is plan B to bowl at these guys if the last ashes plans don't work?........ Well if we did have a plan B then we conveniently gave them our boling plans for them to have a look........ They probably just laughed and thought 'Is that it ...is that all you've got?
Unfortunatley it is ...New coach ,new captain new ideas, now!!!!
Complain about this postEver the optimist (dreamer ?) - remember Headingley 1981. Pieterson to do a Botham ? Don't check out of your hotels yet !!!
Complain about this postIt's okay for you JA,
Complain about this postNo doubt you will be going home after the tests, I have to stay here and put up with this Aussie gloating.
I take comfort that I don't have to Watch Shane Warne anymore.
I am amazed at how the Barmy Army stay so cool, if this was our football team there would be riots on the hill!
Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. No other word can describe the England performance in this final test, and the four prior to this one for that matter.
Where is the battling spirit we saw in the 2005 series? Why do the England batsmen lose their bottle every time when their backs are up against the wall? Why do they give their wickets away so cheaply? Why do they not see how positive the Ozzies are in their attitude and take a leaf out of their book?
I feel sorry for the thousands of England fans who have spent their hard-earnt money travelling down-under to witness such an inept performance by an over-rated, over-paid bunch of losers. But ironically, at the same time I also feel proud to hear the England faithful trying their best to cheer the team on, albeit to no avail. Well done to the fans!
Fletcher simply has to go - right now. Flintoff must give up the captaincy and try and regain the form he showed in the last Ashes, because it's blatantly obvious he can't be an effective all-rounder and England's captain too (sounds all too familiar, doesn't it!). And some of the so-called cream of England's top order batsmen need to take a damn good look at themselves. Or pay the ultimate sacrifice and let someone else try.
I have been thinking for some time about cancelling my Sky subscription, after questioning it's value for money (or lack of I should say). But having seen the latest effort by an England sporting side to bring some pride to our nation, I now know for sure I am not getting value for money. So, from tomorrow, it's goodbye Sky, hello Freeview!!
Complain about this postPost 417 Chris Comber wrote:
"They can't bowl -
- and they can't bat. "
You also forgot about the poor fielding. Sajid 'here have some runs' Mahmood's schoolboy error could have had Warne run out easily.
After England's cocky celebrations and acting like they were the best team in the world after 2005 they deserve this 5-0 hammering that was handed to them. To be the best you have to be consistently good not just a one off narrow victory (England only won the ashes because of Mcgrath's injury).
And why are people feeling sorry for Oz fans i'm sure the majority are loving the 5-0 whitewash, i know i am!!
Oh and people are going the the Aussies are showing poor sportmanship what about then last series when Ponting was hit on the head by 'Homesick' Harmison, not one of the England players even came up to him to ask if he was ok. All in all England are getting all they deserve!!
Complain about this postI notice you mention the Warne umpiring decision and chose to ignore that Gilchrist was given when not out. After what Gilchrist did to England in Perth, that was a huge favour for England. The only thing going against England this series is themselves. They're yet to win a game even against the PM's eleven, NSW and SA. They must surely be the worst team to ever come to Australia!
Complain about this postI quite liked it this morning when geoffrey said he would strap his MBE to his cat, made me burst out laughing whilst eating my breakfast.
Seriouslly though, i've been sick to death getting up in the morning for work only to see England bottle it time and time again. Last night when Australia were 100 odd for 4 i actually said to my housemate that by the time i wake, australia would have 400!. I wasnt far off.
The thing i'll miss though is geoffrey's little slot at the end and how he speaks the truth (why dont you listen ECB!) and just the general overall coverage. Its been quality.
Come on geoffrey, give me something on the scale of giving your MBE to your cat so that I can laugh at work again tomorrow!
Complain about this postYou can almost guarantee now it will be a 5-0 whitewash and as I'm an Aussie I say fantastic.I now think and please realize this is only my opinion that Micheal Vaughan and the powers of English cricket should concentrate on Alistair Cook and guide him to be the next Captain of England.He maybe out of a bit of form at present but he showed a bit of anger in the way Mahmood bungled that runout.I think the captain needs to show a bit of anger every now and then to get the best out of his players and as you are looking towards the future who better than Cook can you look at.Once again I repeat this is only my opinion and in the scheme of things I'm a no-body.
Complain about this postLiving in the US Midwest gives me a chace to be in bed at a reasonable time and still watch/read/listen to much of the match. The problem tonight is do I plan for an early night, expecting the (almost) inevitable Aussie victory? Do I tune-in, hoping with painful desperation that by some miracle England are making a fight of it? Do I have a consolation beer, play a game or two of snakes & ladders with the kids and read a bedtime story or do I take out my angst at the England team on this blog? Maybe it will be best if the Aussies make quick work of England and I can enjoy more time with the kids. I certainly haven't enjoyed listening to the cricket over the last few weeks. Possibly, I could tell the kids about the big bad Warnie who will get them if they don't behave? There has to be something positive to take from this debacle.
Complain about this postI am very frustrated , I have watched all series and every time their is a glimmer of hope we seem to let it slip . Is this down to the captain or the whole team in general ? Just look at the last two tests when we have taken wickets early in the inning , we let them of the hook . I really am dispondant and am wondering where we go from here .
Complain about this postEngland thought they were a team of champions.
Complain about this postAustralia knew they were a champion team.
Any of you people remember a bloke named Kim Hughes? For those who don't - he was a captain of Aus who blarted his eyes out on TV in his abject apologies for the performance of his team! Ever heard of Dean Jones? Steve Waugh?
Complain about this postWhen they were first seen in test matches they weren't rated very highly to say the least !
For Christ's sake get off the backs of individual players. If selected you do the best you can, no-one goes out on the field intent on failing. This is a VERY good Aus side and they deserve every plaudit for the way they've put the pressure on England. Given more experience at Test level a number of these guys will still come good - given a chance
After each and every England failure this series (and let's face it, out of 20 days so far there's been about 16 of 'em), one poor sod has had to come out to say how disappointed the lads were, and how they need to dig deep tomorrow and bat all day or put the ball in the right areas blah blah....would anybody take 50/1 them doing it today??
Complain about this postNo, me neither. Thing is, re bowling in the right area...do Mahmood, Anderson and Harmison actually know where it is? I mean the intimate parts of a woman remain a mystery to many men throughout their lives. Is just short of a length on off stump the cricket pitch equivalent??!!
what should have happenned..lets go back and dream
team for the 1st test
strauss [capt]
cook
bell
pietersen
collingwood
joyce
flintoff
read
hoggard
harmisson
panesar
this is not just said in hindsight see previous postings from day 1 brisbane
we would have batted to 8- 4 front line bowlers just like australia-hopefully made more runs and then monty with a decent captain would have had more positive field placings....
would the overall result have been different ...who knows...but certainly not 5-0
so to end the series my awards for series
1 to the aussies ..well done.you gave our boys a kicking!!
2 warne and mcgrath...wish you had both been english..enjoy your retirements!
booby prizes
1 DFletcher...you got it so wrong.
2 flintoff the captain...it took you two tests to stop picking your mates rather than the best team!!!! even then your a great cricketer but captain ...please step aside
Complain about this postps let us dream for one more day kp makes 150 with the tail and monty takes 8 wickets and we wake up in the morning having won by 1 run.....!!!or more likely it is 5-0 by lunch
legendaryandy you're kidding aren't you, poor Aussies because we feel hurt after a defeat ?
maybe if the poms concentrated on how hard the Aussies were going to come back at them instead of accepting MBEs and street parades then maybe we would have got a scoreline which may be a bit competitive instead of the 5-0 whitewash..
Complain about this postThe amount of comments about Australia's bullying and boorish behaviour is almost laughable (Keith post #169) Was it not the first test in 2005 that Langer got hit and hurt by a Harmison ball that not one England player came and checked if he was ok, yet it was Brett Lee who was first to see if Strauss was ok when hit by a bouncer? Was it not Collingwood who started the altercation with Warne? How many England players have walked this summer? Hypocrites!
Complain about this postCome back Pod, all is forgiven!
Complain about this postI am an Indian but follow cricket games between other teams too and I love the ashes. In my opinion , England are a hyped up lot and they are cry babies. The last time Eng played hard cricket was early 90s ( 91-92). They complain about conditions , complain about injuries and never stop complaining. Yes , they won the 2004 ashes. Whats the big deal ? Its 1 series win after some 20 years. And its not that they trashed Aus. They won by 1 run in the 2nd test and if not for KP , they would have lost the last test. Every test in the previous ashes was close and could have gone either way. And they won only in home conditions. Where as Aus have been winning home and away for the past so many years. My only suggestion to the England team is to stop giving excuses , stop cribbing , stop complaining and play hard cricket. Result will speak for itself. Get back to the Gooch , Gower , Botham days. They came to champions trophy and complained about the schedule and kept thinking only about ashes and eventually got ripped off in both champions trophy and ashes. And finally Fletcher is just an above average coach. The only saving grace for Eng is KP and if they want Flintoff as a match winner again , better hand over the captaincy to strauss.
Complain about this postConsistent with MBEs for victory would be the reinstitution of the stocks in English cities.
Complain about this postThe heroes should be covered in whitewash and every Englishman and his dog could shower a warm tribute.
Just a thought, but....all the talk of disharmony amongst the squad. Does anybody buy the idea that the Fletcher-inspired Read/Jones thing could have contributed? Read got on the plane with him (and presumably some 'mates' he has in the squad) assuming he had the gloves for the first test. A plane ride later, Fletcher humiliates him and gives 'em to Jones. Do Read's 'mates' then spend a lot of time harbouring thoughts of injustice/favouritism/whatever? Enough to distract them from their preparation? Enough to affect their commitment to the Gaffer? To the Skipper?
Complain about this postJust a thought??
I think The ECB must take a good deal of the criticism about this tour. Not enough matches before the tests and to me the most important error was letting Troy Cooley(sp) go to the Australians as bowling coach instead of offering him the contract he required after getting the England bowlers working well in the last Ashes series.
Complain about this postI never expected England to win but at least I thought they would put up a good effort.
Well would any of you be an umpire? You get one look after making sure a no ball has not been bowled first! Ok Monty was bowling, not a quickie but when people are bowling at 90 mph plus and you have to observe for no ball`s , where the ball has pitched, wether it was hit or not ,where the bowler is following through etc, etc. Not for me thank you a thankless task me thinks.
Complain about this postEver since the ECB flogged off English cricket to the highest bidder, I've been waiting for an excuse to give up supporting England. After all, if you can't watch it there seems little point. Flintoff et al have at at last made up my mind. This is the worst performance by an England side that I have ever seen. Not only were they thrashed by a very ordinary bunch of Aussies, but they played without the slightest sign of intelligence or courage. When needing to bat for more than a day, any six-year old knows that the last thing you do is try and score at a run a ball. These guys came into the series with all sorts of handicaps; it takes real stupidity to make it look much worse than it is.
Complain about this postWarne is right about Collingwood. And right about England. They won one great series. Just. And they celebrated to nauseating effect, dumbing down the whole concept of sporting champions with riotous, on occasion incoherently drunken celebrations hours later as the nation watched.
Andrew Flintoff's stumbling, rambling, partying antics of the time were a metaphor for the dumbing down of a country. In contrast the likes of Shane Warne and Brett Lee grew in defeat - then plotted not only revenge but humiliation.
The way English teams win is often much poorer than the way they lose. Admittedly they have less practice. But it provides the deepest possible inspiration on behalf of the opposition to prevent a repeat. Not convinced? Wait till the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Complain about this postBeyond the player/captain/coach/selection/umpire/whatever focus, the obvious difference between the two sides has been the fielding and running between wickets. England struggle in the Test and ODI's because they don't do these small things that well.
Complain about this postAustralia conversely do well because we do these things very well (better than any other team at the moment).
PS We (secretly) love you guys!!
PPS At least you guys have a sense of humour when you lose.
Please would the commentators on TMS please try not to blame the umpires so much for Englands failure...In many British peoples minds the bad decision against Gilchrist probably cost Australia more runs than they gained for the bad decision against Warne (remember Gilchrist was playingly sublimely). P.S. Geoffrey is absolutely spot on about the M.B.E.'s. They started a kind of hero-worship that many celebrities, at the height of their powers in many a discipline, would be unable to cope- with talent and focus unscathed. It reminds one a bit of a club singer getting a Number one record and gaining alot of hangers-on to tell him/her how good they are
Complain about this postAggers, Warne did hit that ball while on 10 and ent on to make 71. Gilchrist most certainly did not hit the wide which Read claimed as a catch - the worst decision of the series. At that point, Gilchrist was just getting into his stride. How many more runs would he have made?
Complain about this postFrom the first ball of this pathetic series there was a chance to change things. Nothing changed. Are the players and the structures so powerful that you cant change things? Players on tour can be replaced. They can be sent home. Captains can be sent home. Think about it. If we had swapped half of our touring party for others when we were 2-0 down, what would have been the result? Certainly no worse than 5-0, and at least we would have given the impression we were serious about winning. But no - we were thrashed by our our stubborn nature and stupid belief that things must get better. Some of the players obviously dont give a stuff. Look at Mahmood - he misses a simple run-out chance that would be taken on a regular sunday afternoon village match. He should be removed and NEVER be let back. The key under-performers know who they are. They should get a life and walk away.
Complain about this postid hate to think how much the bbc has paid out for ,this disgraceful performance...but if theres one true fact to come the greatest australian win of all time.. and yes i'm one of those muppets who did'nt follow cricket till the last ashes, got me and my family,going ,and then they sold out to sky...filthy luka...reep the wind boy's... just one thing before i go.at least the nation ,will finaly understand,those silly pompus men that run cricket.....GET A LIFE....
Complain about this postOn a hopeful note ... does Monty's promotion to No 7 herald the start of a long career as an all-rounder? Can we expect his first Test 50 today? Will he and Pietersen create Test history?
Well, I've got to have something to look forward to, can't see anything else!
Complain about this postHow can England produce 11 top class cricketers when the sport is only played in the minority of English schools. It is currently left to a couple of volunteers at the village club to play 'Quick Cricket' with a blue plastic bat on a wet tuesday night to 20 ten year olds whose parents think it's the best value baby sitting they can buy. I'm sorry but the Aussie culture is sport, sport, sport, and until the school curriculums bring cricket coaching back and the playing of the game throughout the Summer term then we have no chance of matching the Aussies. I urge Aggers and the TMS team to raise this issue at the highest level otherwise the youthful talent out there will never be spotted.
Complain about this postAnd before todays show begins...here's another conspiracy for ya.....Is it conceivable that the Read/Jones debacle split the camp in two? Read got on the plane thinking he was England's stumper. Fletcher got off the plane and said he wasn't. Pretty humiliating it seemed to me. Surely Read has 'mates' in the squad. Wouldn't thay have then become a polarised in defence of their mate? Maybe resented Fletcher and Flintoff for favouring their prodigal son Jones? Maybe taken huff with the 'management'? The captain? Hmmm...just a thought??
Complain about this postQuite fairly the entire England team and management seem to have been ripped to shreds, chewed and spat out over the last 5 Tests. I'm no expert, but apart from the general 'fantasticness' of the Aussies, two things in the England camp really stood out for me:
Complain about this post1. KP - Is it not disturbing how selfishly he bats? He is an exceptional talent, but surely it needs to be used for the team and not just his own averages! Fair enough, he gets stuck with the tail, but as the specialist batsman surely it is up to him to protect them to a certain extent (not that this excuses how poor they've been) even if only to see his own innings last longer and contribute more?
2. Read - Not the lower order miracle batsman promised but a fine keeper who has sometimes looked in finer fettle that even the legendary Gilchrist this series. Is it not possible for England to show some faith in him, persevere with him and hone his skills with the bat? If Alec Stewart could become keeper, why can't the reverse happen?
That said, a fine end to the series with the last match being the most interesting. And thanks a lot Aggers and Sir Geoffrey for so many fun nights!
One further point: The best English performance of the series goes, without doubt, to The Barmy Army.
Complain about this postDisciplined, entertaining and outstanding team work.
The Barmy Army is welcome back to Oz next time - just make sure The Army brings some professional cricketing support............thats all they had missing.
Can MBE's be taken back for poor performance! Perhaps they should be.
Complain about this postWhat a disgrace! I've watched this night after night and got up early every morning - for what? - you have once again made cricket in England look again like a sport for chinless cowards from public schools whilst the Aussies have made it look like a sport that kids would want to play! Well done - thank God you aren't in the trenches as they say!!!!
Complain about this postTONY BROWN:
Drop the attitude, mate - it's only cricket.... Warne isn't trying to cure cancer.
For someone who doesn't seem to like the Australian way of competitive cricket and enjoys the English social, fun side instead, you don't seem like you are enjoying yourself these days.
And from the way you try to insult people who write on these blog, you don't have any social skills either....
Complain about this postAfter the magic miracles of 18 months ago, the inevitable happened. England have been totally out-played and out-classed by the Australians. thank God I live in NZ now, not Oz! Now I just look forward to the mockery when England's rugby union team emulates the terrible performances we have had to watch recently by our cricketers :-(
Complain about this postAt this rate its all going to be over before I have finished watching yesterdays play on BBC2!!!
So dissapointing
Congrats to the Aussies
Complain about this postNow we can see why Reed and Panesar were not chosen for the first two Tests, utterly useless at batting and a pretty mediocre bowling performance from one of them. Are people getting carried away by hype or substance as far as paneasar is concerned?
Complain about this postWhy did you bother flying to Australia? Well, it beats walking, which is how the England team are going back, I imagine. But if you've got a couple of days to kill, pop over the Tasman down to Kiwiland. We've got some good cricket going on ... and the grass really is greener.
Complain about this postAbout your prize, will you be wanting those ashes back after five minutes too?
Martin McMorrow, Auckland
Complain about this postIt could only be an Australian who could sledge while he was batting, it really shows how contemptible they are of our players. And to be honest I don't blaim them for the atitiude.
As for Warnes not out catch, I always think that you can determine if there was a nic if the batsman turs his head to see if the ball has been caught. Warne turned immediately, whereas Gilchrist didn't and is known to be happy to walk.
We are nearly all out and in a sporting context I have never felt more depressed.
Complain about this postSitting in the lounge room in Mount Beauty near Melbourne "enjoying" the cricket.
Not sure whether it is worse being an Englishman living in Australia seeing the debarcle unfold live in front of my eyes or being back in England waking every morning hoping that we have performed reasonably or expecting the usual.
I might not be the fastest typer but in the time it has taken me to draft this e-mail we have lost the 8th and 9th wickets.
I would like to know who the England team's batting coach is - they obviously don't bother with anyone below 6, come to think of it make that anyone below 0. It has been an absolute embarassment watching this shambles. The worst moment for me was Mahmood's pathetic non-attempt to get back behind the stumps yesterday (I spent an hour telling my wife that I leared to back up properly when I was 8 and would have been shouted out by the 3rd eleven captain if I had produced that piece of fielding).
When at the Melbourne test a friend mentioned we hadn't had the comedy runout to compliment the drying of the bats and the misplaced hooks, well it didn't take long to rectify that this morning.
Well we haven't lost the last wicket yet, so either there is hope or my typing has improved.
Complain about this postNo mention of an in-form Gilchrist being given out in the most awful decision this series then?
Everyone knows that Gilchrist walks when he has nicked it, so even if it wasn't blindingly obvious to all that he didn't, Bowden should have known better.
Complain about this postI'm already over it. No big personnel changes required, we just need to score more runs and not have a 4th seamer picking his nose at fine leg for three days. That is to say, pick a team like the aussies do; 6 batters, a keeper and 4 bowlers. Why are we so surprised we get slaughtered when we can't score enough runs (not enough batters and Flintoff ave low 30's at 6? he's a bowler who bats a bit) bowlers have no runs to play with so immediately under pressure, and four of them have to watch whilst our fifth string bowler gets a few overs. We literally are not playing the same game. 5-0 seems just about right. Oh, and we really should have respected one of the finest test sides of all time just a little more than we did.
Complain about this postEngland are a disgrace. The coaches must be awful. Get Boycott involved in some coaching. All so predictable. I knew we had no chance when Hoggard didn't play - at least he can bowl steadily. Heavens knows how this will affect the younger players. CMJ - Ramprakash is not the answer.
Complain about this postto me that exchange between collingwood and warne only shows what a nasty piece of work shane warne is. He is not a great, yes on the pitch, but is attitude to makes him someone to forget, good riddens to him, cricket is better off without him.
Complain about this postRe Gongs.
Complain about this postTony Blairs spin machine went into overdrive after the Oval. MBEs alround was always a way over the top reaction. Keep politicians away from honours. Blair was probably advised to do it by Lord Levy....
Anyway if the Queen wants to recognise a truely meritorious performance she should give all the Aussies the Order of Merit. On the basis of their services ro cricket, Magrath and Warne are certainly worth a Knighthood and an Earldom respectively. The only problem, Blair won't take any money from it.
Whilst I am utterly deflated by the whitewash I feel privledged to have seen Shane Warne & Glenn McGrath bowl - lets face it the Aussies are wonderfully competetive - and I'm just jealous - well done warnie & mcgarth - & I agree with Boycott with regard to the MBE's
Complain about this postCongrats Oz - it really was something else to witness greats, bow out of the beautiful game that is cricket! What can we now offer Oz? How about the latest series of Shameless? Watch out for it! This is what we are good at! Get in!!
Complain about this postWhat a load about garbage re the umpiring, the aussies were robbed in england last year by contentious umpiring decisions and a stray cricket ball. England could only manage a 2-1 with all that assistance including specialist fielders and resting bowlers. All against the the spirit of cricket but within the rules. We took the ashes defeat hard but gave credit where it was due to some wonderful cricket.
The shoe is on the other foot and all you english fans is just whinge, whinge, whinge, whinge and whinge. Your guys were outplayed, out coached and out "teamed". Stop whingeing and accept the fact your guys were totally outclassed. The english were lucky it is not a 6 test series.
P.S. MBEs awarded last year were a joke.
Complain about this posti don't understand the bogans coming on here and all but implying the MBE's were some how the decision of the England team or even the general public.....it's not, what are the players supposed to do hand them back and say we don't deserve them......talk sense they got them end of.
As for Gilchrists dismissal more typical Aussie whine, I didn't se Aussie fans moaning about umpires when hayden was plumb twice in melbourne or the three awful decision that Strauss had in a row.
This series admitedly has been a disaster for England, Colly is never a international number four that has been proved by his last 6 knocks, Bell seems to lack mental toughness and our bowling attack seems to want to bowl 3-4 loose deliveries in evry six, we made it impossible to maintain pressure on on Dame Edna's boys and suffered accordingly. However despite the self delusion by Ned kelly etc this Australia team will suffer when warne and mcgrath go, and it will be interesting to see if Ponting has the nous to win tests when he can't throw the ball to Warne to win it for him..
i doubts he has
Complain about this postCongratulations Australia, we were well and truly outclassed in every department! I ask only one question, how would you have faired without three of your equivalent top class players, Ponting (your inspirational captain), Langer and Mcgrath, on away soil?
Complain about this postThis has been one of the most woeful performances I've ever seen. Serious changes need to be made namely - Duncan Fletcher! What on earth was he thinking??? We need a pro-active coach at the helm of our team not somebody who is so arrogant that changes are made after it's too late. There's nothing wrong with admitting you've made a mistake but to refuse to acknowledge it at all and then to pass on the blame is unacceptable. The selction process also need to be changed without so much influence from the players who are clearly bias towards those they are mates with and not those who are actually able to perform better. We have the makings of a good team a full praise to the likes of Panesar, Read, and in the latter stages Mahmood and Anderson. Flintoff was not ready to have the added burden of captain and his game has suffered as a result. Same old England, bring on the next series...
Complain about this postThe Monty Python English cricket team has finished its tour of Australia to the sounds of "Always Look on the bright side".The English team deserve praise for the hilarious comedy performances over the last 3 months. Who could forget Mahmoods stumping attempt ,etc.Everyone is looking forward to furure appearences of this famous comedy team in the future.
Complain about this postSo it's Australia 31 - England 28 in the Ashes overall and another year and a half to wait for the next series.
Hopefully a whitewash is the best result for England as it will focus them on preparing properly for the next Ashes series such that it is a more even contest. I remember seeing the Aussies training in a "boot camp" when England were still living off their 2005 Ashes victory.
Well England, preperation for 2008 should start tomorrow!
Complain about this postTime to let this bunch of so-called cricket professionals fly home economy class together with a few supporters who spent their own money to watch this craven shambles. Someone may remind the England players that with selection to wear the three lions comes responsibility not feudes, moods, sulks and suchlike. I've been on school trips for the day to Calais that were about as well organized as this tour.
If I were offered a short working stint abroad by my company, and I accepted knowing all the risks, do you think that company would put up with this type of behaviour without comment or criticism. These guys were paid thousands of pounds, the problem is that it's win, loose or draw. Clearly the wages are too high and the bonuses too small to try too hard.
Complain about this postThe inevitable is taking place as I write. Whitewash, clean sweep etc etc etc.
To all of you who said I was talking through my hat in November when my prediction was as the script panned out......ha ha ha. Told you so!!!
To the Australian cricketers, we are all proud of you. A job well done!!!!
To the English cricketers, I applaud your sportsmanship for the guard of honour given to Langer as he walked to the pitch.
On this the 5th January 2007...It's A Beautiful Day!!!! And oh so very good to be Australian!!!
Complain about this postsung to the tune of auld ang syne
5-0, 5-0, 5-0, 5-0
5-0, 5-0, 5-0
5-0, 5-0, 5-0, 5-0
5-0, 5-0, 5-0
enough said
Complain about this postWell said andierae at #493 "Oh, and we really should have respected one of the finest test sides of all time just a little more than we did."
This really was one of the most significant issues faced by England - a false belief in themselves coupled with a lack of respect for the opposition. The form of the Aussies since the loss of the Ashes should have been a good indication of how tough the tour was going to be.
The same mistake must not be made in 2009 - what excuses could be used then on home territory with all its so-called advantages.
Complain about this postWho's up for Strictly Come Dancing?
Complain about this postWhich England Cricketer deserves T.V. exposure next autumn. Nominations on a postcard to G. Boycott c/0 The BBC
inept awful and an embarassment those mbe s should be forfeited
Complain about this postWell, that's it! 5-0!
The Gilchrist decision didn't slow things down much in the end!
What positives can England take out of this Ashes series?
Complain about this postWell done Australia, but so many bad decisions made by the England team management made their job easier. Look at our seam "attack"! All last summer we kept picking Jon Lewis as 12th man in Tests saying that he was being left out because he couldn't bowl in Australia because he was too slow. How fast are McGrath and Clark? Here's Rod Marsh writing on the Jon Lewis benefit website:
Had I been in charge of selecting the England team for the past 5 years, Jon Lewis would have played a lot more Test and 1 day cricket for his country. It's nice if you can have an attack which bowls between 85 and 95 MPH but a waste of time if these express bowlers can't bowl enough balls in the right areas. They become a joy to bat against for the good players and yet continue to get chosen just because they're fast.
Give me a bowling team who can bowl. Give me a bowling team who are continually asking questions of the batsman. Give me a bowling team who can create pressure. Give me Jon Lewis not only because of these reasons but give me Jon Lewis because he's a bloody good bloke who would both die and kill for his team.
Complain about this postEngland - you are a class act when you lose, as shown by the guard of honour being shown to Langer, that's fantastic.. but if the same class act could be applied when you win then even better... I have no doubt that the way Eng celebrated the win in 05 contributed to this 5-0 whitewash.. same with Fletcher smirking when Ponting was run out by the substitute fielder..bad move to get under Ponting's skin as he;ll be named man of the series..
Complain about this postI don’t understand why Hayden didn’t let Langer score the winning run! For England one day competition will be new ball game, and hope they will not give a walkover to the Australians, as they did in the test series!
Complain about this postGotta say to the Aussies well done lads what a fantastic effort to see our 3 retiree's off in style. To the English it has'nt turned out that well for you blokes...I'm not sure that you lot were that bad, you were up against a phenomenal Aussie team maybe the best that there's ever been. Well done and thanks to the English team who came out for the final innings knowing they had been comprehensively beaten, yet stood to form a guard of honour for Justin Langer...what character to do that. Just shows it's not all about winning...here's to sportsmanship.
Complain about this post"it will be interesting to see if Ponting has the nous to win tests when he can't throw the ball to Warne to win it for him."
Err, yeah right Jeff. You just keep on believing that. It must be fun living in the same fantasy land as the English cricket team.
Complain about this postTeam England - It was incredibly gracious they way you have accepted defeat and the guard of honour was truly incredible. Thank you.
Andrew Flintoff spoke so well on behalf of his team and I personally think he has represented his country with sportsmanship, grace and honour to the best of his ability during the whole series. Congratulations.
Complain about this postFarewell, Fred, the foe,
Complain about this posthad too great a thirst for you,
for ashes revenge.
Congratulations to the Australian team!
Complain about this postHistoric moment,5-0.Unprecedented in a non wartime period.
Huge note of thankyou to Langer Warne McGrath and Martyn.
Giants of the game.
The words by Langer post match sums it up for me.Unbelieveable spirit and desire to win and to do so in the Baggy Green.So so much pride in donning that cap its palpable.
These guys would die wearing it.
Mission accomplised.
So proud of you men.
Now that the Fat Lady has well and truly sung, it amuses me to read posts stating that Australia is "not really that good" and is "eminently beatable".
Complain about this postWell, England has stepped into the ring five times and been firmly sat on its backside five times.
Obviously, those responsible for these posts didn't have England in mind when they said Australia was beatable.
What's that noise?
Oh, it’s the Fat Lady still belting out a tune.
Something about "We are the champions..."
Well done Aussies!
Somehow I am reminded of the song Time by Pink Floyd when I think about the English team right now.
England has to go back and make the necessary changes starting from now.
Forget Ashes....
Concentrate on winning every series.
There is an air of staleness with the board of selectors, the coach and the team. Time for changes at the top, not to appease the bloodhounds but to make genuine progress.
Make changes at the grassroot level.
Maybe learn from how the Australian cricket is organised at the junior and county level.
Australia has more grafters and maybe therein lies the answer.
And please don't mention Ashes 2009 right now.........
Complain about this postI'm absolutely mortified that we had such a sloppy team out there this year. It seemed that much deeper than batsman 4, game over. Knowing that when KP goes, things are grim - unlike the Aussie's #7 Gillie.
When we had the chance to win (or at least draw) the second test, it slipped away. I'm not going to even mention the 4th test.
All in all, a very dissapointing spectacle for us poms, and in fact, in many ways the aussie's too - as I'm sure everyone would have wanted some more exciting cricket.
Freddy and KP, my hats off to you blokes, as for the rest of the squad, back to the training nets I'm afraid.
Phil
Complain about this postI Don't know much about cricket, and from the score you could probably say the same about engerland.
But I just had to say well done to the Aussies for sticking it right up them.
Surely the Aussie cricket team will be in the running for the sports personality team of the year :)
They will certainly get the scottish vote thats for sure
Complain about this postMSR - after Hayden hit the six, you could see Langer & Hayden discuss the issue of the winning run & it appeared that Langer just wanted the game finished & wasn't fussed who got the last run.
Complain about this postEngland and Excuse appear to be two sides of the same coin………..inclusion of certain player, ……. exclusion of certain player, ………. injury of the vital players, ……… captaincy of certain player, ………..strategy of the coach, ………… umpiring, ……. and you name it! Get some new excuses for MBEs and OBEs for the one day series!!!!
Complain about this postas an Aussie it was great to see the Ashes and 5-0 result and have to commend the English players on their dignity and humility in accepting the loss.
I actually think England can take a lot out of this series.
They are a young side with some exciting prospects.
Australia lost 4 great players today in Martyn,Langer,McGrath and Warne with McGrath and Warne going as legends of the game and at the top of their craft.
Australia will now need to rebuild and refocus for the World Cup and Tests later this year.
For those who watched the rseries were treated to watch possibly the greatest team in world sport and potentially the greatest cricket team of all time.
For England to lose to this quality is no shame.
I have been lucky enough to watch every test and say honestlyht e series was played in a wonderful spirit.
Congratualtions to both teams for such wonderful memories.
And lastly.....congratulations to The entire Australian team!!!
Well done!
Complain about this postAggers, please read post#55. I've reproduced a section for your benefit. This is a must read for all English cricket journalists.
"We should learn also from the Aussies on this. In 2005, an incorrect dismissal at the end of the remarkable 2nd test stopped them from going 2-0 up and with that the Ashes would still have been theirs. But rather then moaning about it, or using it as an excuse - they simply brushed it aside as one of those things that happen and got on with their game. They had more injuries in that series and the cost of that decision - but instead of dwelling on their misfortunes, they stood up to their faults, took the defeat on the chin and prepared to get it right next time, which they duly have. One of the biggest concerns over this England team is not just the performances on the pitch, but the tendency to brush all the causes of this aside, to point at excuses, make out there is nothing wrong, and then hope that in 2009 an Australia without McGrath and Warne will be easier to play."
Complain about this postDisappointing? yes. But this is a youns side and hopefully with Vaughn back to steady the ship we can expect better in the 2009 Ashes series, and I can get my 40 cigarette a day habit down to 20...
Complain about this postBeing English born but living in OZ since I was 18 months I would like to give you Poms (every bleedin one of you) a look at the Aussie way we go about things.
1. Sport is war (I teach my sons this), sure playing any game should be fun but if you want to win you must try your hardest AT ALL TIMES. If you cannot win, see just how much better they are than you by trying your best up until the end! If you don't feel like puking your guts up at the end of the game you haven't tried hard enough.
2. Cricket is now big money so it is never going to go back to a 'jolly old game'. Most batsmen are not going to walk even if they did nick it. Sledging gives you an edge when used at the right time and if it helps win the game so be it. If you cannot mentally handle being told you did not deserve an MBE, maybe deep down inside you felt that way yourself.
3. The way England went overboard about winning the 2005 ashes series gave the Aussies something to focus on. It was not the defeat that stung so much (you won fair and square), but OBE/MBE/parade's on buses was all over the top
4. You guys need to start the ashes 'post mortem' when the series has completely ended, and not start putting your views forward after the 1st test. You cannot leave your own team alone. Your papers should be banned from printing any negative comments (which I'm sure your players cannot help but read). Your too hard on your team captains and never give them a chance. Freddie needs a few months to learn the ropes but it seems you cannot wait that long. It's hard to step forward when you know everyone behind you is stepping back.
I hope we have some good onedayers that go down to the wire so your team gets it's confidence back, and that they are greeted with muted pride on their return home. No matter what you all think they tried hard and deserve RESPECT.
I enjoyed the Balmy army's optimism. They should all stay and live here. They at least would fit in with how WE think.
Complain about this postWhy we won the Ashes back:
BATTING
Australia: First Five Batsmen 2068 Runs in 35 Innings with 6 N.O. average 71
England: First Five Batsmen 1784 runs in 50 Innings with 3 N.O. average 37.95
BOWLING
Australia:
Top Four Bowlers = 840 overs 2307 Runs 90 Wickets @ 25.6
Overall 889 Overs 2444 Runs 92 Wickets @ 26.5
England
Complain about this postTop Four Bowlers = 418 Overs 1610 Runs 39 Wickets @ 41.2
Overall 796 Overs 3056 Runs 57 wickets @ 53.6
Why we WON back the Ashes:
BATTING
Australia: First Five Batsmen 2068 Runs in 35 Innings with 6 N.O. average 71
England: First Five Batsmen 1784 runs in 50 Innings with 3 N.O. average 37.95
BOWLING
Australia:
Top Four Bowlers = 840 overs 2307 Runs 90 Wickets @ 25.6
Overall 889 Overs 2444 Runs 92 Wickets @ 26.5
England
Complain about this postTop Four Bowlers = 418 Overs 1610 Runs 39 Wickets @ 41.2
Overall 796 Overs 3056 Runs 57 wickets @ 53.6
re: Mark from Mornington
Whilst I do not disagree with some of your comments I am glad that the English have more to their lives that thinking Sport is War.
I feel for anyones children who are likely to grow up thinking that if they make a simple mistake then they are a failure...
Besides, you guys are good at only a few sports nowadays. If we choose to focus on the sports we were good at we could no doubt fill the front and back pages (not saying they are popular sports). And I think it is a sign of a countries emphasise on sport when you see more coverage for the ashes compared the hanging of a tyrant.
Keep enjoying it though, it give you something !
Complain about this postRE GM,
I actually meant sport is war 'when you are on the field of play'. If you have lost be generous in your praise for the victor and if you win don't rub the loser's face in it (something the English find hard to do).
Thankfully, my children have a much down to earth mother so they will all grow up to be happy,level and balanced.
Maybe I did come on a little strong but after reading all the previous comments from English fans, about loss of respect for their own team I felt compelled to put fingers to keyboard.
Simple mistakes leading to feeling like failures? Mix in the all the above comments and serve it to the English team and they will never get over this series.
Complain about this postDear Aggers
Thank you so much for your always informative, well spoken coverage and great cricket knowledge. It has been areal pleasure to listen to you on the ABC. Come back anytime.
Complain about this postWell thank god thats over. let's face it we are not a sporting nation. We have about as much chance beating Australia at sport as they have at beating us at anything else except sport. It is nice when it happens once in a blue moon but if we want to win often we will have to practice before turning up and take the whole thing seriously with complete dedication.
Two hundred years ago there were two new continents with fantastic mineral and natural resources where the pioneers set off to achieve all they could. America created the biggest economy in the world and the Australians created the best cricket team. That's where such dedication gets you.
Complain about this postmahmood should not be in the poms side he has done vertually nothing
its a same hoggard couldnt play he would have been a good show for the aussies and the poms
by the by i am an australian
Complain about this posthussey is the next Don Bradman
To message 441, you are almost right, but imo the Aussie team will be:-
Complain about this postjaques
rogers
ponting
hussey
clarke
watson
white
haddin
lee
clark
johnson
To message 441, you are almost right, but imo the Australian team will be:-
Complain about this postjaques
rogers
ponting
hussey
clarke
watson
white
haddin
lee
clark
johnson
Battles are won or lost before they are fought. Prior preparation and planning prevents poor performance.
Judging England's performance, they lacked concentration and focus. There was an air of desperation and panic about they way they tried to avoid annihilation, which clearly showed they had no answer to Autralian self confidence and ruthlessness.
In situations like this the generals have to be called to account. If the England team comprised the best players that were available then there was something wrong with the planning and preparation.
One cannot simply blame the coaches. Their is something wrong at the very top of English cricket's hierarchy. Some people, who are sitting on some very cosy seats on the various boards, need to have their comfort zone seriously disrupted.
Complain about this postI don't think I have seen Aggers write in such a tone and he is absolutely right. This was a woeful and embarrassing display by an England team resting on the laurels of the success in 2005. Just like the England rugby team, they didn't build on their success, they simply expected further success to come their way without having to work for it.
I am personally disappointed with the attitude anmd comments of Flintoff who does not seem to grasp the demise from Ashes winners to Ashes losers. If he does, then forget the politics Freddie and say so in public.
I can only see further embarrassment in the one-dayers and into the World Cup until someone gets this team by the scruff of the neck and reminds them what they are on tour to do.
I agree with Aggers when he talks about families and girlfriends, the complete lack of preparation, and the ridiculous pub cricket that was played before the test series.
These players are paid well, very well nowadays and they are starting to take on the facade of the other sportsmen and women who see the pound signs and not the performance.
I have played a lot of cricket in my time, and at a good level to know that application is the key to success. They have rarely applied themselves and as such not put the Aussies under pressure. That in itself is inexcusable.
An inquiry may be held but even if it is, nothing concrete will be done. It rarely is in English sport as we do not have the same attitude and application to sport like other countries. That is why they are winners and we are not.
I believe it is time for Duncan Fletcher to move on. He has shown significant failings on this tour and now we muct turn to another man. I would also relinquish Flintoff of the captaincy and let him get on with his all-rounders role. I don't recall too many all-rounders in the history of the game as being great captains.
Finally, well done to the Aussies. They learned from their mistakes from 2005 and implemented the remedy. And they did it to such good effect that they have made the England team look like rank amateurs.
If you hear people talking about revenge in 2009, ignore it. Irrespective of four senior Aussies retiring, they have enough depth in their academies and state teams to be as strong then as they are now.
This is a sad day for English cricket and the bitter taste will linger for some time to come.
Complain about this postWhat an over reaction! Yes, the England side was outclassed and outplayed. But no one has won here in Aus since 1991. Most sides get overwhelmed, except if either Mcg or Warne are injured/taking diet pills.
A quarter of the team was injured and a novice captain in charge. It was never going to be close. Far too much is talked about national character etc when England get beaten down here. Yes, sport matters more, because Aus is not a major player in world politics or money. But English people are capable of winning stuff - look at Rugby 03 or Ashes 05.
Remember that cricket is a middle class minority sport in England. Here, in good weather and with council-maintained pitches, anyone can have a go at getting somewhere. It ain't no surprise, though 5-0 is a bit emphatic. But this Aus team has gone now. Level playing field, I reckon..... So, Aggers, stop stereotyping your nation. The Aussies wouldn't.
Complain about this postReading many of these entries (it's a kind of trauma counselling) the one thing that's really surprised me, is the anger and bitterness that the MBE awards raised among so many Aussies. Fans and Players seem to be more angered (and motivated) by that than the mere loss of the last series.
Personally, I'd much rather lift the Urn than receive a gong from a meaningless 'political aristocracy'.
Well done Australia, a truly great win! But be happy for winning the Ashes, not avenging MBE's and open-top bus rides.....
Complain about this postFirstly, in the investigation into the shambles that has just taken place in Australia must be the public naming of those repsonsible for allowing Troy Cooley to leave the England setup. Then, allowing them to 'resign' would be appropriate. I agree with Aggers and insist it be compulsory that this fiasco is not discussed behind closed doors at Lords. English cricket has enough money in the coffers to make sure young cricketers are coached and encouraged to represent their country with pride and courage. This country has a far bigger population than Australia has and we should be copying their practices right from school cricket to the Test side. I know it is oft said, but we do need more players like Botham who no Aussie was ever able to intimidate and who represented his country with distinction (forget the off field antics he got up to, Shane Warne was no better). The only way to beat Australia is to get on top and keep the pressure up relentlessly and they'll make mistakes then, believe me. Ruthless, that's what they have been to us and it's the only way, together with ability, that's ever going to make us successful against them. I'm sick of us being second best in most sports to the Aussies. Come on those in authority, do something constructive at long last.
Complain about this postTo The Sling - At 09:30 PM on 04 Jan 2007, you wrote :
"To say that one of the world's best should never have been allowed back is nothing short of ignorant."
Well where can one start...
Your note is well intentioned but an ultimately ill-placed defence of Warney.
Once a drug cheat, always a drug cheat. The facts speak for themselves.
The “Ben Johnson” of Australian cricket should have received a life ban rather than the punitive slap on the wrists.
He benefited from his sport having a low profile in the US. With American influence in the games governing bodies he rightly would have had no come back. In Track and Field there’s no “three strikes, you’re out” policy.
Of course, it’s not exclusive to cricket – the Rio Ferdinand debacle proved that – again lack of US governance spared that drug cheat’s career.
The man has a degree of talent, he’s taken some wickets, but is truly a troubled individual, his drug taking was merely symptom of wider troubles. Alleged frivolous gambling, alcoholism and his obvious womanising to the degree he’s labelled a “5ex Pest”.
I mean - Does the man have no shame?
Surely these are all notches in an unstable bedpost – if you pardon the pun.
I hope his retirement grant’s him the grace his pock-marked career has sadly lacked
Complain about this postIt is a strange but undeniable fact that Australians are generally much more competitive at sport than the English. Unless they claim better genes (which would be odd given thier heritage) it must be something else. I suggest that mentally they are more attuned to the sporting arena, either through a desire for success that is stronger, or a fear of failure that is weaker.
Either way, they do not seem able to convert this sporting success into other arenas - commercial, political, philophical or artistic. Again, I wonder why?
It is often claimed that the English are arrogant - but Freddie seems to be a down to earth sort of bloke. He enjoyed the Ashes win in 2005 and accepted the plaundits at the time, but he did not rub the Aussies nose in it - quite the opposite in fact. However, it is clear that this team did not perform nearly as well for a number of reasons. Meanwhile the Aussies, who may have been slightly more confident (or arrogant?) in 2005 made no mistakes and gave no quarter here - well done the Aussies!
Complain about this postIt seems Aggers and some of the more sycophantic posters here have deluded themselves into thinking Warne was having a one-way conversation. You might find that it was Collingwood who initiated the exchange and fell strangely silent when Warne got the better of him. And you all seem to have forgotten KP's little sledge to Andrew Symonds when he called him a "professional fielder" and questioned his test scores and wickets. Symonds went on to make 150....
Complain about this postI have been drinking in this incredible outcome and congrats to a fabulous team effort from the Aussies. When the 'turning points' were there, the Aussies took virtually all of them. I was delighted to watch the game free to air back home in Australia after watching it in England last year.
To my friends at the local pub in Boxmoor, who were more accurate in their analysis than any commentator, I can only say that it was a much closer contest than the final score indicated, But I will give my brief two bobs worth on where it fell apart for England.
Trescothic sent home: unpardonable. I have played some games of lower level sport with broken bones.You don't just send home one of your best because they 'might' crack; you send them into the thick of it. Openers are a crazy breed anyway.
Warney! Enough said.
Bit players found their true potential: Symonds etc.
Strauss for captain. Flintoff was outdone by Ponting big time. He must learn to set fields for Panesaar.
No Vaughan.
But England was in good positions twice in the first three tests, even scoring 350 in a fourth innings. Only good teams get that close when the pressure is really on.
Complain about this postGreg
Cardinal Puff in post 544 implied that it was ridiculous to suggest that Australians could have better genes than Englishmen, given their " heritage". The majority of Australians are descended from people who (a) had to survive in a completely alien, hostile environment, or (b) had the nous to get up and go, leaving everything familiar, often with little other than the shirt on their back ( like my father-in-law, who couldn't even speak English ), in an attempt to make a better life for themselves and their families and were willing to work damn hard, so maybe the slacker genes were weeded out.
Complain about this postSome folks can look so busy doing nothing that they seem indispensable.
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