Tag Archives: cricket

The Ashes: The Poms retain the Urn … what now for Australia?

August 6, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , 1 Comment

It is trite to say it but if the Ashes are staying in England what really is the interest for Australia and its fans in the last two test matches of the series? That statement belies the fact that no Australian cricketer, pundit or fan would accept anything other than a supreme effort against the English and a focus on beating the enemy that they are. That said: when I started thinking about this post I was definitely in the camp of using the next two test matches to experiment with the line up to find what is our best line up in advance of the “return” bout between the two teams starting in Australia in November.

With that in mind I was pondering resting Ryan Harris for the next test match, both to rest his injury prone body and at give Jackson Bird a run. I was also going to suggest that James Faulkner be given a run to give him experience and that the batting order be tinkered so as to give Matthew Wade a run and to try Phil Hughes in his “best” position (opening).

Then I had an epiphany of sorts: one of my biggest complaints as a fan of the game and someone who blogs about it is that Australia has, in recent years, changed its teams, at times, with an alacrity akin to that of the Red Bull pit crew (except when it is Mark Webber’s tires they are changing), particularly when the team has been losing. By extension I have complained vociferously that the Australian NSP has made too many changes and has not stuck with players. To go down the path of using the next two games as trial games of sorts would have been to suggest that the Cricket Australia do exactly that which I have been so swift to lament.

That being the case, my immediate answer to the question I pose is this: from Australia I want to see more of exactly the same as that which we saw at Old Trafford and I want to see if from the same team, injury permitting. My premise is, if this is the best team Australia can put on the field then the selectors need to stick with that team and back it to win.

Of course I am worried about Ryan Harris and his knee BUT the importance of getting on a roll against England in advance of the “return bout” in Australia and to have the team that played so well in Old Trafford build into a consistent unit in advance of that bout at Chester-le-Street and the Oval is more important than being conservative in the “management” player health.

So, on the premise that Australia must select the same team as that which played at Old Trafford and does so, what else must we see from the Australian team for this tour to be considered to be a success? Here are the three further things I want to see from the Australian team:

1. Australia needs to win: It is all well and good for Australia to lift their performance like they did in Old Trafford. However, performing better than expected and not winning is only a habit that can go on so long. The losing streak of this streak (draws including) is becoming ever longer and a win would do wonders for the confidence of a rebuilding team.

2. A hundred from a batsman OTHER than M Clarke: Michael Clarke continues to score runs in difficult circumstances. The fact is that the last time an Australia batter other than Michael Clarke scored a hundred was 22 innings ago on 22 November 2012. Someone else needs to share the load of scoring runs for Australia and take some of the pressure of the Captain and his ailing back.

3. The Captain supporting the spinner: I mentioned in my post from earlier today that I did not think that Michael Clarke had captained Nathan Lyon particularly well at Old Trafford. Limited bowling time on day 3 when the “going got tough” was a strange move and smacked of the Captain not particularly supporting his spinner. This must change in these coming two tests because there are at least 3 test matches in Australia where the bowling of a spinner will be vital to victory.

So there is my wish list: the same team, a win, a hundred and the spinner getting a fair go. If that it what Australia presents in the next two games then I will be very happy and a reckon most Australian pundits and fans will be too.

The Ashes: 3rd Test Player Ratings

August 6, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , 2 Comments

Here are my ratings for each of the Australian players involved in the 3rd test at Old Trafford which ended in a draw over night:

Shane Watson: 5 out of 10 Again made starts with the bat. Got a good ball in the first innings. Bowled with his usual tightness: there is none better in this current line up at locking up an end.

Chris Rogers: 7.5 out of 10 Brilliant knock in the first innings got Australia away to a flyer. Out in the second innings trying to force the issue. Is an obviously good team man and buzzed around the field.

Uzman Khawaja: 4 out 10 Got a woeful decision (which still would have been out if DRS was not in use) and was bowled around his legs by a Swann corker in the second. Needs time at the crease.

Michael Clarke: 9 out of 10 The Captain stood up when it mattered most for his team and scored another big hundred. Was tactically astute albeit could have used Nathan Lyon more for mine.

Steve Smith: 7.5 out of 10 The other half of Australia’s biggest partnership nearly 12 months and but for a brain fade would have scored his maiden hundred. Has secured his spot in the team.

David Warner: 4 out of 10 All at see in the first innings and gold medal winner for worst review in the test match and possibly the summer. Got runs in the second innings when under no pressure.

Brad Haddin: 7 out of 10 If Lords was one of his worst games with the gloves this was one of his best. Got vital runs in the first innings.

Peter Siddle: 7.5 out of 10 Yet again was excellent with the ball in this game bowling with aggression and purpose everytime he got the ball.

Mitchell Starc: 5.5 out of 10 A strong burst in the middle of the first innings aside bowled with line or length or seemingly a plan that could be identified. Needs to find a way to be consistent. His ability with the bat continues to grow.

Ryan Harris: 8 out of 10 Australia’s best with the ball and does not get the plaudits he deserves. Allows looked like getting a wicket and, indeed, the body language of the English suggested relief whenever he left the bowling crease.

Nathan Lyon: 3.5 out of 10 Queue all of the Lyon bashers out there again but can anyone convince me that he was well captained in this game? Bowled well in the afternoon of the second day and the morning of the fourth but the third day was disappointing. Not given enough time by Clarke after Pietersen went after him.

The Ashes: 3rd Test Day 5 … Rain, Ryno and the Urn

August 6, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Well the inevitable happened over night: it rained all but for 90 minutes of play on Day 5 of the 3rd test and a draw ended up being the result of a match that Australia, by any measure, dominated.

The 90 minute burst from Australia that saw 3 wickets fall and a dropped catch from the captain, served a significant purpose in the sense that Ryan Harris, if he needed to, solidified his standing as Australia’s premier bowler. His spell was 7 overs of pure joy for members of the fast bowlers cartel and fans alike and all eyes will now be on how his knee pulls up given that the 4th test commences in 3 days time.

So, that is that, the English retain the Urn as the best available result for Australia is that the series is drawn. Attention now turns to the Chester-le-Street ground in Durham for the 4th test starting on Friday.

The Ashes: 3rd Test, Day 5 … Keys to Victory

August 5, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

It all comes down to today for Australia: win the test and they are still in with a chance of winning back the Ashes. Draw or Lose this test then England have retained the Ashes.

Here are my keys to victory for Australia from tonight’s play:

1. Rain, rain go away … come back to visit another day!

Obviously Australia needs as much time as possible to bowl out England and that means that it needs blue skies throughout the day. Looking at the forecast, it certainly does not look like that will eventuate but we can only live in hope.

2. When will Australia declare?

The obvious move for Australia is to declare overnight and take all over possible to win the game. That said, if the weather radar is clear and I was the captain I would be tempted to bat for another 7 to 10 overs. That way the English opening batsmen have not had all morning to prepare and only get the advantage of the 10 minute hand over. If that was Australia’s strategy they would only lose the overs and two over for a change over.

3. The Captain’s Tactics

Michael Clarke will need to present his best tactical performance as a captain in this innings to win the game. He must be happy to use Nathan Lyon even during periods where he is being yet and must avoid the temptation to overuse Ryan Harris.

4. Come in Spinner

If Australia’s spinners (Lyon and Smith), take 6 wickets between them then Australia wins the game. This is Nathan Lyon’s chance to kill off all of the doubters who say he is not a test calibre bowler because he has not bowled Australia to victory as yet. There is no better opportunity than the present.

5. Get the unholy trinity and the rest will follow

The big wickets for Australia today are Cooke, Pietersen and Bell. If all three of those batters are removed for less than 20 apiece then it will be game on in Manchester.

Obviously, the weather presents a massive obstacle to Australia’s chances and a draw is the most likely result. If Australia is to win all of the foregoing keys to victory MUST come together for Australia.

Go the baggy greens!

The Ashes: 3rd Test Day 4 … Bad Light, Dissent and Walking

August 5, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , , 2 Comments

It was another gripping day of Test Match cricket overnight at Old Trafford (has there been a day this series that has not been entrhalling?). Unfortunately the intervention of weather that had looked inevitable since day 1 finally occured late in the afternoon on Day 4 just when Australia might have been thinking about a declaration. Still Australia leads by 331 runs with a day to play on a wearing 5th day pitch so the game is there for the winning for the baggy greens: if Manchester’s rain does not get in the way.

Here are my top 5 talking points from Day 4:

1. Maybe the bad light call was wrong … suck it up it is the law: I have read much condemnation of the decision of Umpires Hill and Erasmus to declare that the light was too poor to continue play about 30 minutes before the heavy rain started. Whether you like the decision or not (and I for one did not) the fact is that since the law of the game was changed some 3 years it is solely in the umpires discretion to make a call that they light is bad and the players have to go off. The old law, which was that the bad light was offered to the batsmen and they decided to continue, would have seen a different decision made BUT that is not the law at the moment so bleating about the decision gets no one anywhere.

2. Dissent … why bother really? There are a couple of incidents of what I would term dissent over night that makes one just sit back and wonder “why are you bothering?”. First, the English players’ reaction to their failed DRS review of a David Warner hook shot was unseemly to say the least and the “why bother” moment for me arises because they had had two appeals at the shot (the original appeal and the DRS) both of which were declined and the DRS was one of the more obviously easy decision for the 3rd umpire to make. Why have a go at the umpire after going through the review process? That makes no sense to me. Secondly, I do not understand what Michael Clarke has to gain by giving the umpires a bake after they decided to adjourn play for bad light. They have made their decision: arguing with them about it on the field is not going to make them immediately reverse said decision is it?

3. Walking … is it the new black all of a sudden? Much was made in the commentary I heard and on social media about Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann walking after they knicked balls through to the ‘keeper. There are two types of walking: walking when you know you are going to be given out and walking when the decision has already been made that you are not out. Can anyone argue that both of the acts of walking here were in the former category? One only needs to look at the replay to see Umpire Hill nodding his head so vociferiously in response to the Swann appeal that his neck was close to snapping to know that he was going to be given out. Credit where it is due: they both walked but lets not be too hasty with out kudos: it wasn’t like they had both been given not out and then walked.

4. Sticks in the throat to say … but S Broad is a quality player: Say what you like about his perceived personality, his perceived petulance at times and the fact that he knicked one to first slip and did not walk, there is no mistaking the fact that Stuart Broad is a quality allround cricketer. Test cricket is no charm school and to have nearly 2000 runs at an average of 25 and over 200 wickets at an average of 30 is indicative of that quality and, more to the point, his importance to the English team. He did not look troubled in compiling 32 runs in just over an hour to thwart Australian hopes of enforcing the follow on. I will pose this talking point another way and then leave it (I feel like I need a shower): J Kallis aside … is there a better medium fast bowling all rounder in the game at the moment than this bloke? Enough said really.

5. N Lyon: this is your time Nathan Lyon again seemed as penetrative as a plastic spoon in the early exchanges overnight. Readers of this blog will know that I firmly believe he has been harshly done by pundits and selectors alike in recent times but it must be said that he has been presented with the moment that many of his critics have been gasping for: a big lead and a 4th innings pitch to bowl on. If Australia is to win, and assuming they have enough overs to do so, Nathan Lyon will need to take 4 of the 10 wickets to fall as a minimum. It is his time to shine.

So here we are again: day 5, both teams capable of winning (England could score 331 in 90 overs if Australia do not bowl well) and the Urn well and truly at stake. Will this be a day akin to the last day at Trent Bridge or will the weather gods have the last laugh? Play starts in just under 12 hours time.