The Ashes - Take One

[Officer Barbrady]

The Ashes
Take 1

Captaincy
Andy Flintoff was poor. Rather defensive field settings and a show of panic in replacing Harmison after just two, actually decent, overs right at the start. He’s an attacking player and that’s exactly how he’s got to think about captaincy or it won’t work. Harmison could have been more effective had he been allowed to settle in early and work over the two aged openers. Especially Hayden, though he was rightly on his way soon enough. He remained more or less defensive for the rest of the day with things getting worse towards the end.

Monty and more Monty
How bad really was the decision to drop Monty Panesar? Bad enough, yes, but perhaps we should consider the reasons.

How good was his bowling form? We know he hasn’t bowled in Australia before and we know it does take a while for a spinner to get accustomed to conditions there. Perhaps he’ll be better prepared by the second or third test. Rumor has it he was a tad ‘flat’ in the warm-ups and his replacement hasn’t bowled any worse than he did last Ashes.

It is the wrong move but probably not as important a factor for this test at the least. I’d certainly want to see him play this series and he will have a role. The outcry is a little over the top.

Langer-Jacques-Hayden
On the other end, there were calls for Phil Jacques to replace Justin Langer. That’s right, and, wrong. Jacques should probably play but in place of Hayden, not Langer.

Ponting upgraded?
There’s more than the fair share of talk about how Ponting has ‘matured’ as a leader. Richie Benaud provided the little pat conveniently just before the start of the series and there was more from Healy and Co during the game. On what grounds do we base this assessment, I say?

Last I checked, he was one the defensive against the mighty Bangalis when put under a little bit of pressure. Ponting’s leadership is only tested when he’s put under the cooker as captain, on the field. Australia is too good a side to be troubled with or without a quality leader when the going is plain smooth.

He’ll be tested when – and if – England take the attack to Australia. For that to happen, the batsmen will need to play with the desire to attack, succeed in doing so and then there’s analysis on how Ponting responds. Of course, it will help to have an uncertain Flintoff at the opposite end rather than the cool, calculating Michael Vaughan.

The Day Itself
Returning to the game, Flintoff isn’t at his best with the ball – yet. He bowled fairly well but only for a man returning from injury. I doubted Hoggard’s effectiveness in Australia and if he doesn’t find swing from somewhere he’s going to be a liability England may not even realize. Hoggard, Anderson and Giles are too defensive a combination to succeed in most conditions. England’s got to think hard about their basic strategy to beat Australia and they did it with the attacking game last time round.

Hayden will struggle against good bowling whenever and wherever. If Hayden succeeds this series it will have to have been a really poor series for the England pace bowlers. Anderson was quite decent and Harmison can come good. As for Ponting, he again played like a true world class batsman and Langer scrapped and pulled with the grit we are accustomed to. Mike Hussey is the one major improvement over the last Ashes and gives that middle-order a far more robust look and he’s a real important factor this time round.

Not a good day for England and another long day, tomorrow, for Flintoff and Harmison would be far from the ideal way to start a 5-test Ashes campaign. They need a pick-me-up and quick. Pietersen? Harmison? Surely someone!

[akpower]

Beautiful analysis.

1. I agree Flintoff was too panicky n defensive. Changed the field a dozen times in the 1st few overs and removed Harmison after 2 overs. That was unbelievable.

2. Outcry on Panesar is fair though. He has an attacking style n doesn't mind giving the ball air. Also is head n shoulders above Giles who I dont think is any better then a part time off-spinner like Symonds or Malik.

3. Jacques was an interesting option but I see where the Aussie selectors are coming from. They are looking regain the Ashes in what is probably the most anticipated Ashes in the last 20 years. So, the opted for experience.

4. Also, Read is the better keeper n your best keeper shd play in a test. Test cricket is still a specialists' game. If Jones drop a couple of catches, it could all end right then n there for England.

England went into the game defensive with those selections and they played defensively on day one. Thats not how they'll hold on to the Ashes.

[Daoud]

The bowling change hinted panic and too much was made of Harmison's shocker first ball. He didnt actually bowl too badly after that even though he went for 17 off his 2. The 4 that Langer clipped off his pads very nearly got through his defence. The next was an edge for 4 and there was at least another genuine edge for 4. So not too bad a start so to replace him was panic.

Giles got outbowled by Pietersen so its goes without saying that Panesar would have been a much better option. The Gabba is renounced for having good bounce and carry so that would assist an attacking spinner far more than a defensive containing one. The extra bounce with any additional sidespin Panesar would have gotten would have made him very tricky for the right handers.

Hayden is on borrowed time no doubt but Langer played a crucial albeit lucky knock. The sooner they bring in Jaques, the better it is for them

Ponting played an excellent innings but it is far easier for a captain to lead by example when batting and things are going for you rather than a bowler when things just arent going right. His knock was top drawer though

[OZGOD]

Good post mate. My comments:

The Ashes
Take 1

Captaincy
Andy Flintoff was poor. Rather defensive field settings and a show of panic in replacing Harmison after just two, actually decent, overs right at the start. He’s an attacking player and that’s exactly how he’s got to think about captaincy or it won’t work. Harmison could have been more effective had he been allowed to settle in early and work over the two aged openers. Especially Hayden, though he was rightly on his way soon enough. He remained more or less defensive for the rest of the day with things getting worse towards the end.


Field placements were ordinary, but he didn't really have much to work with as his bowling attack just couldn't make inroads with the new ball. Agree that yanking Harmy early probably dented his confidence and Harmy's a confidence player. Anderson didn't do much better when he came on.

Monty and more Monty
How bad really was the decision to drop Monty Panesar? Bad enough, yes, but perhaps we should consider the reasons.

How good was his bowling form? We know he hasn’t bowled in Australia before and we know it does take a while for a spinner to get accustomed to conditions there. Perhaps he’ll be better prepared by the second or third test. Rumor has it he was a tad ‘flat’ in the warm-ups and his replacement hasn’t bowled any worse than he did last Ashes.

It is the wrong move but probably not as important a factor for this test at the least. I’d certainly want to see him play this series and he will have a role. The outcry is a little over the top.

To be honest, I thought Wheelie Bin actually bowled better than I've seen him bowl back in 2005. He's being used more as an attacking bowler, though I thought he'd get more turn than he did.

EDIT: That said, I still think it was moronic to not pick Monty in the first place. I think we'll definitely see Full Monty in Adelaide - probably with Giles.

Langer-Jacques-Hayden
On the other end, there were calls for Phil Jacques to replace Justin Langer. That’s right, and, wrong. Jacques should probably play but in place of Hayden, not Langer.

Nah, I'm still not totally sold on Gnome. He got us off on a flier today but he was very shaky at the start of the innings. He obviously had a point to prove and felt the threat to his position, and responded. Can't ask for more than that.

I haven't been happy with Hayden for a couple of years now, but I think he way he has remade himself into a Chris Tavare-type player will suit a more attacking opener like Jaques at the other end. They both should be pensioned off, but I think Gnome will go before Haydo.

Ponting upgraded?
There’s more than the fair share of talk about how Ponting has ‘matured’ as a leader. Richie Benaud provided the little pat conveniently just before the start of the series and there was more from Healy and Co during the game. On what grounds do we base this assessment, I say?

Last I checked, he was one the defensive against the mighty Bangalis when put under a little bit of pressure. Ponting’s leadership is only tested when he’s put under the cooker as captain, on the field. Australia is too good a side to be troubled with or without a quality leader when the going is plain smooth.

He’ll be tested when – and if – England take the attack to Australia. For that to happen, the batsmen will need to play with the desire to attack, succeed in doing so and then there’s analysis on how Ponting responds. Of course, it will help to have an uncertain Flintoff at the opposite end rather than the cool, calculating Michael Vaughan.


Yep, jury still out on Ponting's leadership. I don't rate him as a captain at all, I reckon he's rubbish.

The Day Itself
Returning to the game, Flintoff isn’t at his best with the ball – yet. He bowled fairly well but only for a man returning from injury. I doubted Hoggard’s effectiveness in Australia and if he doesn’t find swing from somewhere he’s going to be a liability England may not even realize. Hoggard, Anderson and Giles are too defensive a combination to succeed in most conditions. England’s got to think hard about their basic strategy to beat Australia and they did it with the attacking game last time round.

Flintoff bowled very short spells but was still the pick of the Pom bowlers. Hoggard will likely be more effective at the MCG and Adelaide where he will get much more swing than he did today. He'll get some reverse swing in Adelaide as well. I don't rate Anderson at all but I think Giles was underrated (but not by the OZ).

For mine the key is Harmy. He's the bowler most suited to OZ pitches because he can get heaps of bounce. Even today where there was little sideways movement he should've troubled the OZ more than he did. He really needs to get some confidence and rhythm back.

Hayden will struggle against good bowling whenever and wherever. If Hayden succeeds this series it will have to have been a really poor series for the England pace bowlers. Anderson was quite decent and Harmison can come good. As for Ponting, he again played like a true world class batsman and Langer scrapped and pulled with the grit we are accustomed to. Mike Hussey is the one major improvement over the last Ashes and gives that middle-order a far more robust look and he’s a real important factor this time round.

Not a good day for England and another long day, tomorrow, for Flintoff and Harmison would be far from the ideal way to start a 5-test Ashes campaign. They need a pick-me-up and quick. Pietersen? Harmison? Surely someone!

It's only 3 out of 15 sessions and a lot can change. It will be interesting to see what Clark, Lee, Pidge and Warney can do on this pitch tomorrow. But I think that by winning 2 of the 3 sessions today we put ourselves in a position where we can dictate the tempo of the game tomorrow. To finish the day 350ish with 7 wickets in hand was excellent and what Dubya and Buchanan would have been aiming for.

[inzidabest]

Too many posts. Difficult to read all of them:)
My two cents.

1) Ponting was sensational today. I just loved the way he walked out and the way he batted.

2) Only Flintoff looked like a bowler who could trouble the Aussies. A liitle bit of Anderson in the later pats. Though I would have preferred Sajid Mahmood over Anderson. Unknown factor.

3) England might be wanting to go back home soon. I really feel so. Its a long long tour for them

[Taurus]

On another site by someone else:

Not picking your best spinner? Madness.

Not picking your best keeper? Madness.

We'll lose this Test because we couldn't do the simple thing - pick your best team.

My thoughts:

Get Strauss back in as captain NOW. I said on Cougar Cricket last week that I expected Flintoff to make a pig's ear of it, and lo and behold. I am ashamed that we were defending after five overs. I am outraged that Ashley Giles was picked. Kevin Pietersen's spinners were better than Giles rubbish.

[Team Slayer]

nice analysis, and agree fully (except for the panesar bit).

[inzidabest]

On another site by someone else:

Not picking your best spinner? Madness.

Not picking your best keeper? Madness.

We'll lose this Test because we couldn't do the simple thing - pick your best team.

My thoughts:

Get Strauss back in as captain NOW. I said on Cougar Cricket last week that I expected Flintoff to make a pig's ear of it, and lo and behold. I am ashamed that we were defending after five overs. I am outraged that Ashley Giles was picked. Kevin Pietersen's spinners were better than Giles rubbish.

I always wanted Strauss as captain. Wanted Freddie to concentrate more on batting and bowling.
I also would have preferred Panesar over Giles.
You know how a Sardar bowler did against Australia in 2001. They called him turbanator and the reason they did poor was they had not seen him enough. Just for that reason i would have picked up Panesar and Sajid Mahmood.

[pakistani pride]

just the first day , i still back ENG to retain the ASHES ! ! !

[Taurus]

Just for that reason i would have picked up Panesar and Sajid Mahmood.

If the paper talk is to be believed, and the England coaching staff are genuinely annoyed by Harmison's performances, Sajid will surely play in Adelaide. Monty has been dropped for good on this tour it seems, unless he bowls in tandem with Giles :31:. It's amazing because his record is better than any other England bowler in the last year apparently.

Mahmood also offers a bit more batting depth - a genuine number 9. Add to this his reverse swing capabilities, and his ability to bowl jaffas even when he hasn't found his rhythm, and Harmison's place is slowly becoming less and less secure.

[pakistani pride]

Well Harmison should not be dropped ! he is very good on bouncy tracks will come good. anderson should have not played instead they should have selected mahmood. He is not as good as S jones but he can reverse at high speed they need that !