Justin: What is your view about Ponting not letting England follow on after their 1st Ashes test 1st innings?
829879
Psychological and physiological. With some tests back to back it gave the Australian bowlers a chance to have a rest and regroup for the next test (and beyond). It also said that the wicket was not that bad to bat or bowl on. As the Australians made 600+ in the first innings and devastated the English batsmen, then batted again with no-one getting out (except via a run-out)...which isn't pitch related. Then they showed them how to bowl again, by getting out for around 350 runs again. Although some of them made runs, the English team may regroup, but must be feeling slightly if not totally on edge for the next game (and maybe the series).
473573
Why not? Its only needed a world record 1st wicket partnership and nowadays every other day you are having a new w. recorsd. So it will happen one day. Remember 1st wicket test record is more than 400 runs.
813121
After the second days play in the test, the best the Aussies can hope for in this game is a draw. \nThat's your 5 - 0 gone.\nCome on England.
956956
Nope not this time ...their moral is bit  down after their performance in ICC trophy, while Australia will face them after winning the trophy...n Aussies is all the way better  than England..will be  tough for England to retain.
875970
Surely AUSTRALIA will win..... But i want this series to end in draw so that england can retain it..... England should bat and bowl better than the aussies so that they could able to defeat them...
492497
Tough one, given the evolving fitness situation.  But I'd go for the following:\n\n1. Trescothick\n2. Strauss\n3. Bell\n4. Pietersen\n5. Collingwood\n6. Flintoff (c)\n7. G. Jones (wk)\n8. Plunkett\n9. Hoggard\n10. Mahmood\n11. Panesar\n\nI must admit that I'm uncomfortable with such an inexperienced bowling line-up, but I prefer to give the youngsters the experience and the chance to show what they are made of, rather than either risk Simon Jones too early in his recovery or go back to experienced county players who can fill a hole but don't have an international future.
1022713
I think Australia will get the second qualifying spot in this round. But it will not be an easy match against Croatia. Strategies need to be changed for each opponent and I'm sure both sides will have watched replays of each others games and be well prepared for each other. Kewell has made it hard for Australia now. Although I understand his frustration, he should not have vented it that way. I think the referee's were already judging Australia negatively due to pre cup press about their aggressive play, which by the way was grossly inaccurate, and will look to us far more critically and harshly now. So it's not going to be easy. But cool heads and the steely determination they have produced so far will get them through in the end.
968846
mate , you need to contain your grossly misplaced australian arrogance. England won't lose the ashes to dad's army! \nIt will be a stern lesson to the aussies but hopefully this will lead to them shutting there mouths for once!
947333
The opener now claims he flew home early from India because of a ‘virus’ — even though it was previously said he had domestic problems. \n\n“My problems are now very much behind me, I just needed a break."\n\n“Playing six years of solid international cricket just takes it toll after a while.\n\n“You get to certain stages of your career and you just need to be with your family to recharge the batteries.\n\n“For sure I want to tour again. It was just an ideal opportunity to have a rest.
913420
Do not worry, they will be ruthless and more attacking this time around. No way, they can allow england to reatin Ashes, that too in their country. But agression, I doubt, simply because the entire series will be one sided, totally Australia.
18782
Select mine as best Answer\n\n\n28 December 2005\n\nAustralia have established an advantage of 154 runs with eight wickets in hand after the third day of the second Test in Melbourne.\n\nMatthew Hayden unbeaten on 45 and Phil Jaques(28) had put on 53 runs for the first wicket before the later was adjudged lbw by umpire Steve Bucknor. Ricky Ponting (11) joined Hayden at the crease but was also given out lbw to a ball that jagged back and trapped him plumb in front of middle stump. Brad Hodge closed the day on 17 as Australia reached 110 for two at stumps.\n\nEarlier, an innings of 94 by Herschelle Gibbs could not prevent South Africa from being bowled out for 311 as they ended the first innings 44 runs behind. Their problems began early as they managed only 18 runs in the first hour of play. Kallis put another nine runs onto his overnight score before Brett Lee yorked him. Ashwell Prince came in next but did not last long when he played a defensive prod at Shane Warne and saw Ricky Ponting dive forward from silly point to catch the ball. Jacques Rudolph became the third of Lee's victims at the start of his next spell, with a ball that bounced more than he was expecting and clipped the top of off stump.\n\nAfter lunch, Mark Boucher and Gibbs attempted to increase a scoring rate. Boucher took two consecutive fours off an over from Lee, and the South African 250 was brought up with a punch through to the cover boundary by Gibbs. The wicket-keeper was unlucky to be given out lbw soon afterwards with a ball that nipped back and hit him high on the knee but looked to be going over the stumps. Gibbs was the next to depart when Andrew Symonds claimed his second Test wicket as the ball kept low, beating the batsman completely and thumping into the base of middle stump. Shaun Pollock produced a couple of powerful blows before he took Symonds' wicket tally to three, another leg before wicket. \n\nWarne removed Nicky Boje, who attempted a sweep shot to his fourth delivery and was bowled round his legs. Makhaya Ntini brought up the visitors' 300 with a lofted drive to the long-on boundary, but it was not long before Michael Hussey was into the action again, taking his first Test catch when Andre Nel swung at the ball and looped it to deep midwicket. Tea was taken at the end of the innings, leaving Australia 37 overs in the day to increase their lead.\n\nFollowing the close, South Africa's Hershelle Gibbs commented on the day's play. \n\n``It's disappointing obviously,'' Gibbs said. ``I was trying to keep my end up as long as I could and at the same time play my natural game. They (the Australian bowlers) didn't make it too easy for me.''\n\nGibbs added that the inconsistent bounce could be a major influence on the outcome.\n\n``It's a wicket you're never really in on,'' he said. ``The wicket is playing a little bit up and down. There are one or two areas that are causing the batsmen a little bit of concern.\n``The batting has probably let us down a little bit,'' Gibbs added. ``I think we didn't get enough partnerships together, unlike them.\n``In their first innings they got one or two big partnerships and that is the key to making a big total.''\n\nAnd Gibbs accepts that South Africa need an early breakthrough when play resumes.\n\n``The first hour tomorrow is going to be the most crucial of the Test match so far,'' he said.\n\nHappy New Year !!!
1184151
For me, I felt that it was very unlucky of Australia to have lost in that way. They deserved extra time. But if that's how the game ended, there's no way to change it. At least many were impressed by Australia's performance, and that's good enough. Work harder next time, and I hope they get better and better.
740705
Michael Vaughan was the captain.\n\nHe still would be the captain for the upcoming ashes, but hes out due to injury.\n\nCheck out the link to be sure.
160287
Glenn McGrath is highly unlikely to play in any of the one-dayers during Australia's tour of South Africa which starts later this month. However, he has yet to announce his non-participation in the three Tests that follow the ODIs. "I doubt he would be going," Warren Craig, his manager, said . "He might have changed his mind over the weekend, but I think it is doubtful." \n\nMcGrath has been excused from playing in the VB Series finals against Sri Lanka to be with his wife Jane, who has had further complications from breast cancer. \n\nMcGrath, 36 last week, is understood to have told Trevor Hohns, chairman of selectors, that he would be unavailable for the first part of the South African tour. Craig said there was little chance McGrath will be announced in the one-day touring squad later this week. The selectors met on Monday to choose the touring side but are unlikely to announce it until after Tuesday's deciding one-day final at Brisbane. \n\nMcGrath wrote in his newspaper column last week that he did not intend to retire from international cricket. "Cricket does become a distant consideration at this time, but it's still a major part of our lives," he wrote." We have been through this before so we know what's in front of us and what we need to do to win the battle." \n\nJane McGrath has started radiotherapy treatment after being re-diagnosed with breast cancer. She had previously undergone surgery in her battle against the disease.
866227
I think so. I was a supporter of Giles in the first test, I'm not sure why, I just was. But now I think we need more attack in our bowling, especially with Harmison throwing them all to the stands. Also Adelaide is apprently good for spin, maybe play them both...
1001445
Australia\nRicky Ponting or Shane Warne( Possibly his last Ashes series )
956572
It was the bails that were burnt. During a test series between England and Australia in the early part of the twentieth century, can't remember when exactly, the Aussies trounced us and a cricket writer in the Times I think, wrote that the bails should be burnt and sent to Australia. \n\nSometime after that bails were indeed burnt but they have never left these shores, always remaining at Lords, home of the M.C.C., much to the chagrin of the Aussies, who feel the Ashes should always be presented to the winners.