Ashes 2013 in Australia

djdhrubs

Haven't seen much of the 1st 2 Test matches. What's gone so dramatically wrong?

Difficult to prepare for Trott's illness, but there have been hardly any good performers by all accounts.

From Australia's point of view, the Mitchell Johnson I know is a very erratic expensive bowler. Is he just bowling very very fast or is there more to him than that?

JimmyMac

Johnson really has been quick, he's a good 7 mph faster than anyone else out there, the worst things about that for me is the chant for him I used to love no longer works

Our problem is that we have rested on our laurels way too long, we have failed to keep improving and just let the older squad continue and its looking tired. Our batting line up is poor now, it was in the last ashes series but we were saved by the Bell quite literally. We almost could have done with losing the first test in the home ashes as it might have shaken things up a bit!

I heard a stat the other day, we haven't hit over 400 runs an innings in the last 20 attempts, thats pathetic! Nobody is stepping up to the plate and theres not a lot that can, we need changes, big changes or we will go down the exact same route that the Aussie team did in the last few years

djdhrubs

What was your Johnson chant?

Apparently the next ground is his favourite and is extremely pacy and bouncy. Sounds to me like Broad and Finn should do well there. Maybe time to dispense with the spinners?

But yeah the main problem seems to be the batting. Cook played a very uncharacteristic shot to get out the other day and my problem with Pietersen is that I've never rated him as a consistent performer. Brilliant when he wants to be but you've always got a chance of getting him out or getting under his skin.

I keep reading though that mentally several players look shot and things are shaping up for a whitewash. As a neutral here (I'm an India fan) I hope they can fight back and make it 2-1 cos I don't rate the Aussies particularly highly and can see them collapse too if a bit of sustained pressure is put on them.

JimmyMac

He bowls to the leeeeeffft
He bowls to the riiighhhht
That Mitchell Johnson
His bowling is sh**e



Our bowlers ain't getting a decent chance to show themselves properly because the batsmen don't give them a second chance!

We will not win in Perth, probably the Aussies best grounds for them

DrWise

i am loving australia this time
and going 2 nil up did pay abit of wad back
should have heard the english media prior to the tournament LMFAO
johnson been class
hope they can do the whitewash

Lee

Englands best hope could well be to win the toss and bat first. It seems to be the pattern that batting first generally means a win.

Although only ODIs, the Australian team looked very good against India which got them into prime form

There's some encouragement for England in that apart from Cook the other batsmen are looking in better nick.

Trouble is replacing Trott. There's only really Bairstow but he's a walking wicket

kingbender

johnson's renaissance has been startling to the english team but not to any one who has seen him perform throughout the latter part of this year. he's had real pace for the last few months and has been managed well for these ashes. his peak speeds have been right up there with any of the fastest from history but his consistency and hostility has improved. i sense real discontent and a few nagging injuries within the english dressing room and worry if cook can pull the team together.

hutch

I'll be at the WACA tomorrow and Saturday cheering on the lads, can't wait!

Lee

That's the end of that



Nice one!

Can't imagine what it must have been like to sit in 43 degree heat.

hutch

Yesterday was ridiculously hot, today still hot but at least there was a bit of a breeze to take the edge off.