AUST V ENG 2nd test Adelaide.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Yes, it's a different game when Giles and Anderson are bowling. They're bowling well, but nowhere near as dangerous as the other three. We're only 400 runs behind. Doesn't sound much if you say it quickly.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Ponting reaches his 33rd century in the baggy green, 1 better than Steve Waugh as the most for any Aussie Test batsman. He also has a current Test batting average of just over 60. Fantastic effort.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Tea 3/185
Ponting 101 Hussey 49

[mal]

AU 3/185
SIR RICHARD PONTING 101*
SIR MICHAEL HUSSEY 49*
120 PARTNERSHIP
GILES 8 OVERS 0/22

What a proud day to be an Australian
MAY08
APRIL25
NOV11
DEC03
All great dates in history when the Aussie spirit, the Aussie fight was on parade.

Sir Richard 101*
100 off 181 balls
8 fours
263 minutes
s/r 54.95
That magnificent effort as AH mentioned propels Sir Ricky to 33 test tons, a new record.

The 6th best converter in history for innings to centuries in test matches.
BRADMAN 2-75
HEADLEY 4-0
WALCOTT 4-9
SUTCLIFFE 5-2
WEEKES 5-4
PONTING 5-53

The captains curse does not apply to Sir Ricky he averages 71 as skipper in an era
when most skippers drop in form with the captaincy.
He now has about 9150 runs at 60 odd.
Lara has 11953
Border at 11174 is second.

And Sir Micky 49* , Mr fixit comes to the rescue again.
Also a special mention to another Australian assett Anthony straightbreak Giles
0/22 ofF 8 inspirational overs.

Sir Ricky + Sir Micky thank you for making my day.
Both great players off express bowling.
If Ricky never went to India he would average 65
The subcontinent India is the only place for he and Mike to conquer.
I say Mike is a champion, but spin may be his nemisis there.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOthe aussies

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'll never understand the modern cricketer. Why take a risky run at this point of the match? Very stupid, and very lucky that Hussey survived.

[RoosterMarty]

I'll never understand the modern cricketer. Why take a risky run at this point of the match? Very stupid, and very lucky that Hussey survived.

I have no idea. Ponting was lucky early in his innings, if Collingwood had hit the stumps he was gone. It's Day 3 of a test match and you are over 300 behind, not a one dayer!

Another risky run as i type this.

[Adelaide Hawk]

The captains curse does not apply to Sir Ricky he averages 71 as skipper in an era
when most skippers drop in form with the captaincy.

Are you talking about Aussie captains? The only player I can think off who had a lower average as a captain than a player is Mark Taylor. I went back and checked a few. Benaud, Simpson, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Waugh. They all did better as a captain. Bill Lawry and Alan Border remained about the same.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Ponting out, game back on!!! 4/257

[Adelaide Hawk]

Bloody hell!!! Ponting just out, the very next ball Hussey chases a wide one and fortunate not to get a nick.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Hussey plays on for 91. 5.286. Gilchrist has been all or nothing of late, about 8 overs remaining tonight. Poms could be in a good position this evening.

[Dog_ger]

Is OOOh Ahhhh Glen McGrath Fit...?

Older Fellas take longer to recover.....

[Dog_ger]

Aussies to win. Late on day 5......

[Adelaide Hawk]

Stumps Day 3. Australia 5/312 Clarke 30, Gilchrist 13

I have to say, Clarke and Gilchrist looked very good this evening. Very sound in defence, and timed their shots beautifully when required. Also, their footwork was very good. At this stage of his career, I'd think Clarke has to be a better bet than Martyn.

Great day of Test Cricket.

[mal]

AU 5/312 STUMPS
GILLY 13*
CLARKE 30* and looking a million $$$$$

Flintoff let the Aussies of the hook .
Tea we were 3/185
At the risk of repeating myself you bring on your best 2 bowlers after a break, Flintoff
brought on Anthony PILES on runs + Gimmy more runs ANDERSON.
And then Pieterson, well 3/185 went to 3/242
Pieterson averages 122 with the ball in test cricket!
He allowed the crapp to bowl when the new ball was available to 3/253.
Fair dinkum if ANDERSON + GILES are better bowlers than PANESAR + MAHMOOD
then i will give up.
Unless the selectors are racial predujuice they must play next test.
Darren Gough at 36 years old could bowl better, and hes at the ground!

HOGGARD got PONTING [142] + HUSSEY[91] with the delayed new ball.
HOGGARD 27 overs 4/86 embarrassed me as I said he was the worst new ball
bowler to play for England v Australia in Australia

Ponting + Hussey were superb today.
Ponting the best puller/hooker since Viv Richards.
Hussey averages 254 in test games at Adelaide Oval

I was wrong today
I said Ponting would make 150 [only 141]
I said Giles would bowl 15 overs 0/50 [16 overs 0/45]

This game looks a DRAW now.

[mal]

The captains curse does not apply to Sir Ricky he averages 71 as skipper in an era
when most skippers drop in form with the captaincy.

Are you talking about Aussie captains? The only player I can think off who had a lower average as a captain than a player is Mark Taylor. I went back and checked a few. Benaud, Simpson, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Waugh. They all did better as a captain. Bill Lawry and Alan Border remained about the same.

Sorry AH
I meant Pontings playing era of last 10years
was referring to guys like
SMITH[SA]
GANGULLY[INDIA]
HUSSAIN[ENG]
VAUGHAN[ENG]

I read an article that said how modern day skippers struggle when captains with thier batting.

[Punk Rooster]

IMHO, we did to Lee what the selectors are foolishly doing to Tait at the moment. We did not pick him at a time when he was probably bowling at his top form. When the quicks are bowling well, get them in.

Agree 100%- the selectors tend to go for reputation, over form, which is frustrating.
Same with batsmen.

[Adelaide Hawk]

At the risk of repeating myself you bring on your best 2 bowlers after a break

Ponting the best puller/hooker since Viv Richards.

These 2 points I agree with 100%. I'd maybe even place Ponting slightly ahead of Richards although I think Richards did face a tougher quality of bowler.

[power01]

regardless of whos picked and whos playing that Adelaide pitch is a bloody disgrace.........its as flat as a tack for the side that wins the toss and inevitably bats first your in the box seat...........ok they say it will break up on day three or so but there has to be something for the bowlers.......I dont think Australia bowled that badly, but in fairness the English batted extremely well.........

Just further to my original post end of day three.......only 11 wickets and over 850+ runs, that pitch is a joke.......to give the side that wins the toss such a distinct advantage on such a flat track....is just not cricket...............

[mal]

POWER01

The toss in cricket is one of the greatest advantages seen in sport.
Just look at the last 7 tests played between the two nations.
The side batting first has had all the advantages.
2nd test England last series Ponting won the toss and sent the Poms in = 400 runs at stumps!

Winning the toss at cricket on some tracks [like Adelaide] is akin to a footy
team have a 2 goal breeze 3 times in a game.

This Burdett pitch is too batter friendly, I hate sport when its not played on a level
playing field, all sporting conditions should be as equal as possible.
The 5th day will be difficult, whilst the first was a paradise, the toss was imperative
to win for the best chance of victory.

Warne 1/for a million Mcgrath 0/100+, Collingwood 206, yeah thanks Mr Burdett.

Burdett is quick to defend his pitches saying that there has been 14 results
in the last 15 tests.
Dont kid yourself Les, results are not a direct result of your pitches but more to do
with the fact that teams have to bowl 90 overs a day.
In the pre 1990's sides sometimes bowled only 75-85 overs a day.
These days they MIGHT bowl about 50 overs a test more than some of the past tests
That equates to about an extra half day more.
If Adelaide oval tests meandered on at 80 overs a day we would have a significant
increase in drawn test matches.

As for the toss I once suggested we get the players to have stump throwing comps before
the start of each game as a more skillfull way to win a toss.
I was ridiculed.
There must be a better way then tossing a coin which is luck not SKILL

[Ecky]

Burdett is quick to defend his pitches saying that there has been 14 results
in the last 15 tests.
Dont kid yourself Les, results are not a direct result of your pitches but more to do
with the fact that teams have to bowl 90 overs a day.

I would say it is more to do with Australia being so dominant (generally) over the last 15 years. If more evenly matched teams played on Adelaide Oval in that period I suspect there would be more draws.

PS Side issue on over-rates: There should be greater penalties for not getting through 90 overs by 6pm. Today England only managed 88 overs before the cutoff at 6:30pm - far too many unnecessary delays which doesn't attract any extra fans to the game.