NSW v England

[Aerie]

Strauss out for 50 c&b Clark. Interesting to see the battle between Bell & Cook vs Bracken and Clark. Both pairs possibly playing for one spot in their respective teams.

[blink]

Ding-Dong Bell back to his usually consistently carp form against Australian bowling:

Bell 0 (2) c. Smith b. S Clark

[mal]

STRESScothik B Lee 8
Another failure for glue feet on Australian soil.

[blink]

Eng 7/332

Pietersen 122*
Giles 1*

Pietersen, Strauss (50) & Flintoff (62) appear to be in very good form against the NSW bowlers (3 of which are likely starters next Thursday) which could be slightly worrying. I really think that the selectors have to play one of McGrath & Clark, as they appear far too similar. The real acid test for England will be how they go against SK Warne, who I think will take 40+ wickets again this series.

[Rik E Boy]

Several points Billy.

1. McGrath and Lee are assured of their spot and as such are only really getting overs under their belts at this stage, McGrath in particular will show the Englshmen nothing in this glorified practice session.

2. I don't believe Stuart Clark will be selected for the very reason you mentioned, that he is similar in style to McGrath.

3. Warne will not take 40 wickets in this five test series. I believe (and I stand to be corrected by the spell checks of this world) that the last Aussie bowler to take that many in an Ashes series in Australia was Rodney Hogg in 1978 and he didn't have much help in that (six test) series.

A better peformance by England to be sure, but this REB is still confident.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

Hoggy got 38 wickets in 6 tests

[Rik E Boy]

Cricinfo sez,

Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct St

unfiltered 38 439 52 9.75 0 1 123 6/74 28.47 6 7 0 (career)
filtered 6 95 36 7.91 0 0 41 6/74 12.85 5 0 0 (1978-79 Ashes series)

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

Well there ya go. 40 is a big ask in Australia then it would seem because that year Hogg had a super summer.

regards,

REB

Nup that series 78-79, all the good bowlers were either playing WSC, Pascoe, Lillee, Walker, or cracking the sh!ts because they couldn't play WSC (Thommo), therefore the only test mach quality bowler playing was Hogg and to a lesser extent Hurst.

stands to reason have to be a test bowler to get test match wickets.....

Laughlin, Dymock, Callan test match bowlers, ROTHLMAO

[Rik E Boy]

41 at 12.85 suggests he had a super summer, not that he only took the wickets because the rest were carp.

regards,

REB

[mal]

STRESScothik B Lee 8
Another failure for glue feet on Australian soil.

Well well well he lives up to his name.

14/11 he's going home