England's Tour of Australia - Ashes, ODIs and T20s 13/14

(05-01-2014 00:10 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  He we go a again,captain chaos,KP gets a bowl before Borthwick as Root did before Monty,lost the plot.

The question isn't why Borthwick hasn't bowled. The question is why was he ever selected in the first place? It's hard to imagine a less-merited selection - one that shows how pathetically desperate England are. True desperation. Oh here he comes as I write, brought on at last to bowl the 55th over. And he takes a wicket with his 5th ball. Borthwick bowls Haddin with a low full toss. Australia 239/6. It's a bit late now, but England have found out how to get rid of Haddin. Bowl him a rubbish ball.

(05-01-2014 01:27 )Glenn Miller Wrote:  Oh here he comes as I write, brought on at last to bowl the 55th over.

Borthwick did bowl a couple of overs last night before the couple he was given this morning. At lunch Australia are 248/7. Borthwick has 1/16 from his 4 overs and the Australian lead is 419.

After starting the day on 140/4 Australia are all out for 276. Borthwick bowled only 6 overs but took 3 wickets. England's spirits shoud have been raised a little by taking 6 wickets in 31.3 overs today, but since Cook is out immediately, gone for only 7, depression must have set in now. England 11/1 after 3 overs.

England lose the 5th & final test by 281 runs after being bowled out for 166 in 31.4 overs to complete a 5-0 whitewash.

Michael Clarke must have been under extreme pressure.
The cricket ground managements and TV Companies must have pressured him into batting again so that at least the games go into 4 days and that they don't have to give refunds.

Come home lads.. this is embarrassing

^ Aussies had to bat again as may be a bit surprisingly England did manage to avoid follow on target. I agree though I think he would have been under some pressure although the modern way seems not to enforce it and given the pitch is getting no better probably would not have anyway.

I actually could not be bothered to watch last nights pathetic effort live. Watching the lowlights was depressing enough. Further comment fails me at present.

(05-01-2014 08:50 )Charlemagne Wrote:  The cricket ground managements and TV Companies must have pressured him into batting again

Australia only once had the option of enforcing the follow on in this series, in the 2nd test at Adelaide.

The modern way seems to be to give the bowlers a rest by not enforcing the follow-on.With Harris nursing a dodgy knee Clarke has to look after him & the rest of the bowling attack.Once the series was won,they must look at the bigger picture.A big 3 Test Match Series against South Africa is only a month away.Harris & Siddle will play no part in the ODI's & T20 matches against England & I doubt Johnson will play many if any of these fixtures.

The margins of defeat are staggering. -

1st Test 381 runs
2nd Test 218 runs
3rd Test 150 runs
4th Test 8 wickets
5th Test 281 runs

Centuries/Half Centuries - Australia - 10 100s 15 50s England - 1 100 10 50s

Australia took 100 England wickets at an average of 20/wicket
England took 77 Australian wickets at an average of 41/wicket

Why couldn't Cook react to what happened on the field of play? Everytime England started to get a toe hold Clarke came back with something and the game changed back in Australia's favour. Did England do no homework on the Australian team looking at weaknesses and how to exploit them.