The Ashes and Cricket World Cup Discussion Thread

For the first time ever Australia have lost 2 tests in a home series by an innings. The margin was also their worst home defeat for 98 years. They fought hard today though with Haddin and Siddle putting on 86 for the 8th wicket, and with Siddle posting his best ever test score (40) to add to his 6-75 with the ball. Bresnan took Australia's last wicket to finish with 4-50 and like Siddle 6-75 in the match.

Michael Clarke has replaced the injured Ponting as captain for the last test.
Bollinger comes back into the team for Ryan Harris.

(30-12-2010 09:03 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Michael Clarke has replaced the injured Ponting as captain for the last test.
Bollinger comes back into the team for Ryan Harris.

This looks very much like the end for Ricky then......His finger was ok enough for him to play in the last test, but not in good enough condition to play in this one? I'd be clearing out my locker if i were him. The last few weeks poor form and his tantrums have ruined his legacy, but he's really only got himself to blame for the tantrum side of things.

Have a feeling that with Punter out the team will be a much stronger proposition.Think this will be good for the Aussies and I think will make for a much more evenly contested game.The Aussies have nothing to lose.

The strange part of this whole situation is that the Aussie selecters have previously never shown any reticence in dropping players who are out of form and never used to let reputations get in the way of selecting a team to win a test match or series.The Waugh Brothers will testify to that as does Brett Lee and many other recent players.Seems that with Punter though the Selecters can't or won't bite the bullet unless of course he has decided himself that enough is enough and it's time to go and not in a 'Kim Hughes tearful 'non Aussie' press conference type of way'

(30-12-2010 11:00 )colino Wrote:  This looks very much like the end for Ricky then......His finger was ok enough for him to play in the last test.

His finger was OK enough for him to wag it in the direction of the umpires when he was unhappy with their decisions.

Australia have enough good players to provide a quality test team, but the selectors aren't picking them. Where's Brett Lee gone?

(30-12-2010 11:24 )Charlemagne Wrote:  

(30-12-2010 11:00 )colino Wrote:  This looks very much like the end for Ricky then......His finger was ok enough for him to play in the last test.

His finger was OK enough for him to wag it in the direction of the umpires when he was unhappy with their decisions.

Australia have enough good players to provide a quality test team, but the selectors aren't picking them. Where's Brett Lee gone?

Brett Lee officially retired from test cricket a while ago, his body couldn't stand up to the 5 day format any longer. A bit like Flintoff before he retired completely.

(30-12-2010 11:00 )colino Wrote:  This looks very much like the end for Ricky then......His finger was ok enough for him to play in the last test, but not in good enough condition to play in this one?

That's absolutely correct, his finger was just about OK to play in the last match, bearing in mind that the Ashes could still be regained at that time, and bearing in mind that Ponting was prepared to take the risk. But by playing in that match he damaged the finger further, confirmed by a new x-ray which shows that the fracture moved during the course of the match. Surgery may now be required to fix the problem, so it was really impossible for Ponting to declare himself ready to play this time. And contrary to what colino implies above, it was entirely Ponting's own decision to inform the selectors of his unavailability. Tim Neilson, Australia's coach, said he expects Ponting to continue as captain in the forthcoming world cup.

(30-12-2010 14:04 )cosmonaut Wrote:  

(30-12-2010 11:00 )colino Wrote:  This looks very much like the end for Ricky then......His finger was ok enough for him to play in the last test, but not in good enough condition to play in this one?

That's absolutely correct, his finger was just about OK to play in the last match, bearing in mind that the Ashes could still be regained at that time, and bearing in mind that Ponting was prepared to take the risk. But by playing in that match he damaged the finger further, confirmed by a new x-ray which shows that the fracture moved during the course of the match. Surgery may now be required to fix the problem, so it was really impossible for Ponting to declare himself ready to play this time. And contrary to what colino implies above, it was entirely Ponting's own decision to inform the selectors of his unavailability. Tim Neilson, Australia's coach, said he expects Ponting to continue as captain in the forthcoming world cup.

Imformation given out by the Aussie management team, you can go right ahead and believe it if you wish, you're in a small minority. In any case it TOTALLY flies in the face of comments made by Ponting himself, who claimed (on tv) that he was "fit and ready to go" in the last test and that his finger was "fine".

And since you're so in the habit of correcting people, regarding your comments on Collingwood's place being called into question you might like to read this quote from Andy Flower on Colly at yesterday's press conference:

"He's a had a bit of a tough series," Flower said of Collingwood, who has scored 70 runs in five innings for an average of 14 in the series.

"But yes, his job is to score runs like all of our batsmen and he'll be looking to do that in Sydney."[/b[b]]"You don't experiment with people's careers."

That, after yet another failure from the man whom you think is under threat for his place.

Anything else you'd like to (try) and correct?

(Besides, i can't seriously see how Ponting could do yet further damage, he was hardly at the crease long enough in EITHER innings)

(30-12-2010 14:27 )colino Wrote:  it TOTALLY flies in the face of comments made by Ponting himself, who claimed (on tv) that he was "fit and ready to go" in the last test and that his finger was "fine".

Those comments were before the finger was X-rayed and Ponting was told that the injury had worsened.

(30-12-2010 14:42 )aaron Wrote:  

(30-12-2010 14:27 )colino Wrote:  it TOTALLY flies in the face of comments made by Ponting himself, who claimed (on tv) that he was "fit and ready to go" in the last test and that his finger was "fine".

Those comments were before the finger was X-rayed and Ponting was told that the injury had worsened.

You forgot the word "Alledgedly"........