Ponting's negative captaincy has denied the chance at a result

[OZGOD]

Notwithstanding the fact that the Poms took almost two days to crawl to 6/553 declared at a run rate of 3.1 on a wicket that was at its most placid on the first couple of days, I feel Ponting's safety-first tactics has cost the OZ any chance of winning, and there being any chance of being a result in this Test. By batting on until we were dismissed for 513, nearly up to England's first innings total, he's used up valuable time to get runs which will not assist us in achieving a win.

Ponting should have declared halfway through the second session at 450, a hundred runs behind. This would have been a positive move designed to encourage Flintoff to set us a target for a run chase tomorrow by giving him a hundred runs in the bank.

Essentially Ponting would've traded runs for the chance to get a win, for both England and OZ. He threw away this chance to play safety-first and go for the draw. Though England also deserve criticism for taking all of two days to get to 550 in the first place on a flat deck.

As a result, there will be no result. This will likely become only the second Test in the last 15 Tests in Adelaide to end up as a draw. England will also play safety-first and bat till well after lunch tomorrow to give themselves an unattainable 350+ lead so as not to lose the match, and they won't give themselves enough time to bowl us out.

The curator also deserves a spray. I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, to see if we saw a "typical" Adelaide wicket which was good for batting but also gave opportunities to bowlers. It's been a hard slog for the bowlers, all things considered.

The chance to get a result for both teams now lie in England's hands. Will they give the OZ an enticing target to chase, and give themselves the opportunity to get 10 wickets in the process?

[Fish]

I think you have your wires crossed here, Ponting has a 1-0 lead and its England that have to take the chances if they want to secure a win. It would be stupid if Ponting gave England a chance to level the series. How do you think the media would react if Ponting declared 100 runs behind then England scored a quick couple of hundred and Australia lost. He would be crucified. It doesent matter what Ponting does someone somewhere will critisize him for it.

[OZGOD]

It's still negative captaincy though, going for the draw than going for a win.

[MIG]

Originally Posted by Fish I think you have your wires crossed here, Ponting has a 1-0 lead and its England that have to take the chances if they want to secure a win. It would be stupid if Ponting gave England a chance to level the series. How do you think the media would react if Ponting declared 100 runs behind then England scored a quick couple of hundred and Australia lost. He would be crucified. It doesent matter what Ponting does someone somewhere will critisize him for it.

Is that all that matters now ? Media ? How about good wholesome mothers, homemade patriotic fervour ?

Seriously though, OZGOD - Ponting is many things but he doesnt want to have another loss to England on his record.

[KaSaNoVa_G]

Even though England aint now i expect win this game aswel as Aussies i think the wicket
Australia had for this game has got Englands confidence right up now.. they should have
had a wicket that had somthing in it for the bowlers and really gorn for this push and won
this game.. A draw it should be but this will give England loads of cinfidence for the last 3
games now !!!

I cant see England giving Aussies anything to chase tomorrow.. they wont do anything that
could leave them 2-0 behind tomorrow

[Asim2Good]

good suggestion from entertainment point of view ONLY

just have feeling that Aussie still a BIT of chance in this test, if Warne cdo his magic. A target of arou200-220 in 40 overs, Aussie may try and go for win

[Oxy]

From all accounts, Clarke was mopre focussed on playing for his place in the team, rather than any team purposes.

When you've lost the Ashes in Eng, you're unlike to take any risks to jeopardise a potential series win.

He'll settle for 1 win/ 4 draws I think!

[volcyz]

Its all about keeping the one nil lead so the Aussie media don't bash the dad's army.

[musti]

if, lets say ponting did declare at 100 runs behind, and maybe england went beserk and smashed 150 runs and maybe 100 odd more before lunch on the final day and then declare, wouldve given aussies a target of around 300 odd...with 2 sessions left to play. they couldve faltered going for the runs, england wouldve won, and ponting would have been hung.

[z10]

ponting settled for the draw from the moment warne persisted with the leg stump line to kp

[Taurus]

Ponting also gave our bowlers some time to find some rhythm. Hoggard looks fantastic, and Harmison is starting to improve. Give them a bit of life, and it might be more difficult for the Australians at Perth, especially if Monty plays. Mahmood might play as well to present another different problem.

[Blistering Barnacle]

Why should Ponting risk the series lead of 1-0?

It would have been a huge gamble for Ponting to declare 100 runs behind, given that the Aussies would have to bat last (even if it is a featherbed). Why take such risks when you are already leading the series and the opponents have racked up a huge score of 550 in only their first innings?

What you're saying makes no sense. There's no way you can criticize Ponting for getting as close as possible to England's score.

[OZGOD]

Playing for a heroic draw, though useful at times, is generally an English thing (the heroic rearguard and all that). That's why I'm disappointed in Ponting pursuing it.

[Blistering Barnacle]

I don't think they're playing for a "heroic" draw, but they are playing for a draw.

How many instances in the history of cricket are there where the team batting first has scored 550 and still lost the match? I dare say there would be extremely few, if any.

Having said that, to have an Aus fan complain about Australia's position in the current test match really speaks volumes about the perfection expected from Australia, which might be why they are the no. 1 team in the world.

[isr]

Oz,

A bit harsh there. I think there is a pre-occupation, amongst us keyboard-warriors, with this notion of "aggressive captaincy". Suffice it to say that I doubt anyone who has ever played 1st class cricket would entertain the notion of declaring an innings while 100 runs behind, unless:
1) the pitch has temporarily turned into a minefield, but will clear up in a day (you may laugh, but this actually happened in one Ashes Test)
2) that person has a couple of friends in the betting trade.

[PlanetPakistan]

Well let's face it.....The pitch isn't ideal for test cricket and the scores of the 2 teams resemble those of the IND PAK match at Faisalabad!

[akpower]

What I was more disspointed in was to see Shane Warne bowl negative outside leg stump for 4 hrs and Ponting not intervening. I dont expect this from a champion bowler and the world's best team.

[KB]

Australia has played as if they are wary of England, despite thumping them at Brisbane. They have not played with their usual unbounded aggression.

Warne may like to fly the flag of aggression, but he bowled very negatively in the first innings. And today at the crease he batted in sedate fashion, which is peculiar for him.

The careful approach is probably a legacy of the scars of the last Ashes series when Australia were criticised for being arrogant in their approach to the second Test after winning the first Test.

They seem intent to be a little more careful this time around. England should view that as a positive sign.

[Amir]

Still a chance. If Aussies can nail some early wickets tommorow and possible get England out cheaply and give themselves 40 overs to chase a target, I wouldnt doubt this team.

[James]

England have just as much chance of winning as Australia do. which is not very much for either team.

Hopefully we get a repeat of Johannesburg where going into day 5, the pundits say England winning is the least likely result - someone makes an amazingly quick hundred, we declare half way through the day, then Hoggard shoots out the opposition and we win the match with a few overs to spare.

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by ggm Australia has played as if they are wary of England, despite thumping them at Brisbane. They have not played with their usual unbounded aggression.

The following may have had something to do with it:

1. England batted first
2. the pitch has been pretty easy to bat on, more so than usual for Adelaide
3. Lee is rubbish

I said after Brisbane that I was worried about our bowling and even though there have been circumstances here, I've been vindicated. Lee has to go, and if Pidge is not fully fit he shouldn't play either. He's been a non-factor this match. We've effectively got a 2 1/2 man attack.

[OZGOD]

I've had a night to sleep over it and I suppose Ponting made a pragmatic decision with a view to the overall series. Generally the OZ team is always a positive team and will always go for a win, even if it increases the chance of a loss, but I guess by declaring Ponting would've given us a small chance to win but given England a much bigger chance to win. If he'd declared behind and England with KP and Freddie had hammered a quick 200 to set themselves up 300 in the lead and we had lost the match, Ponting would've been crucified. Seeing as we're 1-0 up in the series it's really up to the Poms to make the plays and catch up to us. No easy declarations.

But it's annoying to see negativity in the OZ play (not just this decision, but Warney doing a Giles bowling to KP outside leg stump the other day). And I still think Ponting's a muppet captain.

[hindsy]

Well 4 for 75, its game on. If Australia knock england over for maybe another 100 to 150 it could end up being a one-day style ending.

[kablooee87]

flintoff gone, We could be seeing the ashes go back to England right now.

[safehands46]

so much for ponting wronging it.

[Amir]

Originally Posted by Amir Still a chance. If Aussies can nail some early wickets tommorow and possible get England out cheaply and give themselves 40 overs to chase a target, I wouldnt doubt this team.

Did I call it or what?

[kablooee87]

Originally Posted by Amir Did I call it or what?

what do you want, a medal?

[PlanetPakistan]

seriously guys what the heck is going on?

[Amir]

Originally Posted by kablooee87 what do you want, a medal?

Preferably or the food you stole from my fridge.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Amir Preferably or the food you stole from my fridge.

give him a break....that was just his share of Hallowean candy!

[Amir]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan give him a break....that was just his share of Hallowean candy!

Who in the blue hell keeps candy in the fridge? Heck even Kabolee is going to lay into you for this one!

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by Amir Who in the blue hell keeps candy in the fridge? Heck even Kabolee is going to lay into you for this one!

hmmm i do....it friken melts outside ......at least it does here in FL..

[omidahomie]

Originally Posted by OZGOD Notwithstanding the fact that the Poms took almost two days to crawl to 6/553 declared at a run rate of 3.1 on a wicket that was at its most placid on the first couple of days, I feel Ponting's safety-first tactics has cost the OZ any chance of winning, and there being any chance of being a result in this Test. By batting on until we were dismissed for 513, nearly up to England's first innings total, he's used up valuable time to get runs which will not assist us in achieving a win. Ponting should have declared halfway through the second session at 450, a hundred runs behind. This would have been a positive move designed to encourage Flintoff to set us a target for a run chase tomorrow by giving him a hundred runs in the bank. Essentially Ponting would've traded runs for the chance to get a win, for both England and OZ. He threw away this chance to play safety-first and go for the draw. Though England also deserve criticism for taking all of two days to get to 550 in the first place on a flat deck. As a result, there will be no result. This will likely become only the second Test in the last 15 Tests in Adelaide to end up as a draw. England will also play safety-first and bat till well after lunch tomorrow to give themselves an unattainable 350+ lead so as not to lose the match, and they won't give themselves enough time to bowl us out. The curator also deserves a spray. I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, to see if we saw a "typical" Adelaide wicket which was good for batting but also gave opportunities to bowlers. It's been a hard slog for the bowlers, all things considered. The chance to get a result for both teams now lie in England's hands. Will they give the OZ an enticing target to chase, and give themselves the opportunity to get 10 wickets in the process?

Negative captaincy my ass...there all most about to win the game here, he trusted his bowlers.

[asifp]

England Batting Today = 1.3 /over most negative I think i have ever seen anyone become

[Zeenix]

So.. Now what do you think of it.. However it was more Crap Play by England.

So the Ashes come back to Australia, unless England turn it on Miraculously..

[OZGOD]

Well, anyone can be a genius in hindsight. Still reckon it was negative captaincy.

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by zeenix So.. Now what do you think of it.. However it was more Crap Play by England. So the Ashes come back to Australia, unless England turn it on Miraculously..

Warney and Lee bowled very good spells - Lee's was the best I've seen him bowl this year. Doubtless the fear of being dropped galvanised him to perform.

But the Pom batsmen mainly threw their wickets away - Flintoff was duped into giving away his wicket, GoJo played an appalling shot, KP tried to sweep Warney when he was on 2 and got bowled behind his legs, and Bell was needlessly run out ballwatching. Effectively once KP's wicket fell the OZ got their tails up and it's amazing what a little momentum does - England fell in a heap.