Tag Archives: Ashes 2013

The Ashes: First Test … the 5 lessons

July 15, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

What an amazing first test match of this winter’s Ashes series. That is what test cricket is all about: it is hard fought, it is tense and it is close.

Simply put: the best team won and that was England. Australia fought hard and will take many positives from the game.

Here are my five lessons from the first test:

James Anderson: Superstar

If you ever needed convincing, and I for one did, Anderson’s 13 over spell to start day 5 was just a brilliant effort and showed that he was in a class above the other bowlers in this test match. 10 wickets, the bowlers century, on that wicket was nothing short of exceptional.

DRS: that is the system … live with it

It was inevitable wasn’t it that the DRS would play a role in the end of the game? I have to confess that in real time my first instinct was the Brad Haddin had touched the ball on the way to Matt Prior and I have no cavil with how Umpire Erasmus went about his decision there. The fact is though there are massive flaws in the system. The second fact, which is more important, is that the system is here to stay and can not be changed mid-series. We are going to have to get used to seeing a scintilla of the ball hitting the stumps being deemed “umpires call” and get on with it!

Brad Haddin: Streetfighter

I can not be more complimentary about the innings of Brad Haddin. It was an gritty and hard fought knock that was perfectly paced in almost stole the game. That innings is a snapshot of exactly why Haddin was picked for this series. Strong in mind and strong in will Haddin was perfect in the role of Australia’s almost savour.

Number 11s made Australia look better than we were

Let’s be honest here: Australia was very lucky to be in the position is was in going into the second innings of this match. Additionally, we are lucky we are not sitting here lamenting an 80 run loss rather than a 14 run one. 123 runs out of our number 11 batsman was unexpected and indeed welcome. That said, the success of our lower order has been masking the failures of the top six for some time now and again Australia has finished a test match without a test century from any player. I know finding form takes time BUT everyone in our top six needs to find some and fast! Obviously there are some players more under the microscope than others but this is a whole of order problem.

Test cricket: how good is it?

18,000 fans in the ground at Nottingham and millions around the world witnessed a fantastic first test match in a battle between two proud countries that is now in its 126th year. Obviously, not all test matches are going to be like this but, if nothing else, this test match should have tattooed in the minds of those who believe test matches are a dying form of the game that it is well and truly alive and kicking.

We now have a 3 day break before the second test at the Home of Cricket, Lords. Time to bank some sleep and get ready for round two of this ten round super heavyweight bought.

The Ashes: First Test … the last day equation

July 14, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

What a brilliant day of cricket awaits us at Trent Bridge tonight (Australian time). Here is the state of play for those who missed it overnight:

Australia need 137 runs.

England need 4 wickets.

There are 90 overs to be bowled in the day.

8pm tonight (Australian time) can not come quickly enough. This has been a wonderful display of test match cricket that may have a couple of twists and turns left in it yet.

The Ashes: First Test Day 4 reflections

July 14, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

Aside from the first hour of play on day 4 from Trent Bridge when I was otherwise engaged watching the Queensland Reds extend their wining streak against the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby to six games, I was able to watch the bulk of play over night and to say it was another pulsating day of test match cricket would be an understatement.

Here are some reflections on day 4:

Oh Eddie: not again!

I am on the record as being an unabashed fan of Ed Cowan. I am unsure as to whether it is just nerves or the new coach has suggested that he become more positive at the crease but he seems to be in a rush with the willow in his hands at the moment and again fell to an ill-disciplined and “unCowan” like dismissal. If Australia do not win this game then I suspect this my curtains for my favourite current player.

DRS plays are role: again

When DRS was introduced it was touted as a means to avoid “clangers” in umpiring decisions. It did that on day 4 when C Rogers was given out caught behind having, patently, not hit the ball. The umpire got it wrong, the batsman reviewed and the wrong was rectified. The decision to give Phil Hughes out was another line ball decision that went in England’s favour and we just need to get on with it and accept it.

That said, the use though of DRS Will continue to create angst for players and fans alike whilst the system remains flawed. I have written on this before but simply allowing only 2 challenges makes no sense in the context of the avoidance of “clangers” imperative for its introduction. The ICC must look at this sooner rather than later.

England one bowler short?

After going for 80 runs off 15 overs in the first innings, S Finn put in another uninspiring performance for England on day 4. He again seemed to bowl without rhythm and was generally a little bit too short and the Australian batsmen looked largely at ease when he was bowling. I can’t see him being retained for the second test regardless of the result tomorrow.

Chris Rogers = quality

I know he was dismissed softly (I tweeted as much) but innings of Chris Rogers did nothing but enhance his reputation. In only his second test match but having the benefit of nearly 20,000 first class runs behind him he looked confident and assured in his method and stroke play. I know he is 36 but I am wondering how long he can go on because I quite like seeing him at the top of the order!

Win, lose or draw: a moment of pause for the Poms?

I wrote in my preview suggesting that Australia could still win this series that the English were smug and expected to win this series. Australia has shown enough fight in this test match for some of the smugness to have worn off one suggests. Indeed, some indications from the field in the last session of the day were of a team frustrated, particularly given some of the sniping between players that was obvious when some mistakes were made in the field.

The Ashes: On the question of Broad and walking

July 13, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Just a short post today: I am astonished by the vitriol that is coming out of so called cricket fans today surrounding the failure of Stuart Broad to walk at Trent Bridge yesterday. Let’s be honest: it was the wrong call by the umpire but does that make is Broad’s fault?

The fact of the matter is that when we, as young men and women, are taught to play the game of cricket we are taught to respect the umpire’s decision as a default. Has anyone stopped to think about whether or not we are taught to walk if the umpire is wrong?

Why is it that when players get to the top of the game the rules seem to change? I played cricket from the age of 6 through to the age of 19 constantly at club, school and representative level and then made the odd comeback in the my twenties. Never once did any one of my coaches tell me that if the umpire made a mistake I had to walk. In fact I reckon some of my coaches would have been filthy if I had have walked.

I remember vividly one day playing at Ivor Marsden 3 field in Ipswich against Marburg Cricket Club. A left arm swing bowler induced me to edge behind and I was given not out. I did not walk and when I came off some 35 runs later my coach did not rip into me about not walking. He did not even ask me. It is apposite to note that the opposition that day did have a few words with me on the field that day and I gave a bit back and then after play we sat around having a chat and a drink. That is what cricket is about isn’t it? The umpire makes a call, there is a bit of banter and then we move on?

It is counter intuitive: at every level but for the top we are taught that the spirit of the game is to respect the umpires decision and yet we lambast players for not doing that very thing when they do not walk.

Whether or not Stuart Broad is a walker is NOT the point. Going all the way back to W G Grace some of our most lionised players were non-walkers and, frankly, nor should they be. Players must do nothing more than respect the umpires decision. If the umpire gets it wrong the focus must be on the umpire and on ways that mistakes can be minimised without moving away from the central canon that was drummed into us as kids: “the umpire is always right!”

The Ashes: Day 2 reflections

July 12, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

What an amazing first two sessions of cricket overnight at Trent Bridge. I held on to watch the Starc hatrick ball and then shuffled my way to the land of nod. The remainder of the post tea session seems to have seen the way many expect this game return to type with England grinding Australia down. Still it was a day for fans of cricke to savior. Here are my 5 talking points:

Agar the Magnificent

What an effort from A Agar! OK so he is clearly not a number 11 batsman but under pressure in one’s first test that was a mighty display from this young man. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves though: he was picked to bowl for Australia and has a massive job to do now

Hughes: the effective crab

Phil Hughes produced the innings many of us have been waiting for: he was patient and assured when all around him was in the eye of a cyclone of indecision. When Agar came to the crease he assessed his ability and went with him. That said, Chanderpaul aside, is there a more bespoke method in the whole of cricket?

Finn: the great provider

I have followed many English cricket fans in my couple of years on twitter and blogging and the consensus regularly is that he will take wickets for you but he can be mightily expensive. Last night’s display was woeful and set the tone for Australia’s comeback. Absent a bag of wickets in the 4th inning that wretched 4 over spell may see him out for the next test.

DRS: again in the news

Whether the decisions (Agar’s stumping and Trott’s LBW) were right or wrong the system is flawed because it is still capable of 100% accuracy. You will never convince me that there is a better system than letter the umpires make the decisions on the field.

Australia’s other batting: what happened to leaving the ball?

Australia’s dismissals largely have a similarity about them that is concerning: we seem to have lost the ability to leave the ball outside off stump. This must be rectified because Jimmy Anderson is just going to destroy us with swing if we do not get this right!

All in all: another day replete with Ashes moments. What will day 3 bring?

The Ashes: my Australian XII

July 9, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

After much debate, at home, in the office, on this blog and on twitter I am finally prepared to nail my colours to the mast and name my Australia XII for the first test. I am naming twelve players here because I have no clue about how the Trent Bridge wicket is going to look when M Clarke goes out for the toss of the coin.

In batting order:

Watson

Rogers

Cowan

Clarke

Khawaja

Smith

Haddin

Starc

Pattinson

Harris

Lyon

Faulkner (12th man)

I have written earlier about why I think Cowan should be selected (https://shumpty77.com/2013/07/04/the-ashes-we-know-who-the-openers-are-but-who-bats-number-3-for-australia/ ), why I think Nathan Lyon is a must for the team (https://shumpty77.com/2013/06/13/the-nathan-lyon-conundrum-the-second-inning-fallacy/ ) and why I think Peter Siddle must not be in the side (see my twitter feed). Smith has proved himself both in India and on tour to date and has earned his spot. Haddin replaces Wade: this should have occurred as soon he was available and Australia needs his experience in the team.

Faulkner is a player of the future and if there is a green top then I would like to have his ability with the willow in at number 8 and in that scenario Lyon will miss out.

 

I wait with bated breathe for the naming of the team. Only one sleep to go!