Ashes 2010/11

[OzVilla]

I know what youa re saying but surely Saker will be coaching about technique and reverse swing etc, Mustaq (although a quality spinner) can still coach about length to bowl in the sub-continent and the mindset of the Asian sides.

It is a wonderful position to be in though, I was only today thinking about Graham Onions and what a good bowler he is for those certain kind of seaming wickets, we really do seem to have all of the bowling bases well and truely covered right now.

The blood letting has well and truely begun here - the shit is flying, the natives are not happy and everyone is trying the shift the blame.  Today James Sutherland (Chairman of Cricket Austrlia) tried to blame their build up schedule as the main reason for the defeat, whilst Chairmen of Selectors, the happy hooker Andrew Hilditch claimed the selectors had done a ''great job".

Not a word from Punter yet!

[Chris Smith]

I think Saker's biggest influence is that has kept things simple. Made the bowlers concentrate on line and length and stick to plans. Bringing in another coach runs the risk of over complicating things. We have confounded expectations by showing that we can get the most out of the Kookabara (sp) ball and have worked well as a unit. Not sure either that I would play an additional bowler as Swann can bowl enough overs to allow the others to be rotated.

[OzVilla]

Well that was a fun few weeks!

So what was your favourite Test match out of them all and why?

[OzVilla]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/the-ashes/aussies-your-cards-are-marked/story-fn67xawe-1225984295422

And here's just a sumptuous, delicious taste of it.

[KevinGage]

I know what youa re saying but surely Saker will be coaching about technique and reverse swing etc, Mustaq (although a quality spinner) can still coach about length to bowl in the sub-continent and the mindset of the Asian sides.

Mushy -if he's still on board by the time we tour India and Sri Lanka again- will be useful no doubt.  In fact anyone who's played out there will have a degree of awareness as to how the wicket may play. As much as you can with wickets liable to change over the years, obv.

But any fast bowler who has previously played for India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka and knows how to get the absolute maximum out of the ball in often batsmen friendly conditions is a notch above that level.

It's no big priority at the moment, I agree. Just something to possibly look at in the future. Saker is a Victorian and had a face like a smacked arse when he was interviewed prior to the Melbourne test, sounded very uncomfortable talking about 'we and us' in relation to England. I'm sure the ECB have looked after him in the wake of what happened with Troy Cooley. But he will return home at some point, with his country's national sport in a mess it would be hard to resist the call for too long.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we've got a good chance in the World Cup, because I think our bowlers have really learnt how to bowl well in all conditions.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Aussies are still number one in the one day rankings, it won't be easy, but if we could beat them it would set us up nicely for the world cup.

[Dave Cooper please]

We have confounded expectations by showing that we can get the most out of the Kookabara (sp) ball

Did you notice that only two people (Cook and Anderson) were allowed to work on shining up the ball? And that everyone else was so utterly careful to avoid even getting the slightest bit of sweat or moisture on it. It's that attention to detail that is starting to make us so ruthless. We'll be thoroughly hated soon, and I look forward to it.

[PaulWinch again]

We have confounded expectations by showing that we can get the most out of the Kookabara (sp) ball

Did you notice that only two people (Cook and Anderson) were allowed to work on shining up the ball? And that everyone else was so utterly careful to avoid even getting the slightest bit of sweat or moisture on it. It's that attention to detail that is starting to make us so ruthless. We'll be thoroughly hated soon, and I look forward to it.

Yep agreed, I will enjoy it as well when we are top of the tree in all forms of the game.

[VillaZogmariner]

Well that was a fun few weeks!

So what was your favourite Test match out of them all and why?

I'm going to say Adelaide - especially that first few overs - it was then that I knew we'd win the series.

[taylorsworkrate]

I'm going to miss this thread.

Will it be kept open for the ODI's and T20's?

[Dave Cooper please]

Don't see why not.

England win their warm up against the Presidents XI, Bell hitting 124 from 102 balls.

[Warren Aspinall]

The final episode.

[peter w]

One thing I meant to bring up during Ian bell's innings of 115 (?)  at Sydney. Was I the only one to see a feint mark on the inside of the bat on hotspot? As soon as it went through I thought it was out but Atherton and AN Other said that there was no mark so there you go. i thought it was a huge snick on hotspot - okay not a white hot glowing mark - but a mark nonetheless. Did anyone else see it?

[Somniloquism]

One thing I meant to bring up during Ian bell's innings of 115 (?)  at Sydney. Was I the only one to see a feint mark on the inside of the bat on hotspot? As soon as it went through I thought it was out but Atherton and AN Other said that there was no mark so there you go. i thought it was a huge snick on hotspot - okay not a white hot glowing mark - but a mark nonetheless. Did anyone else see it?

I'm assuming that was the one that went to review so the third umpire also dismissed it. You can't go on the ball as it will have been warmed up by the bowler and also on contact with the ground or even contact with the batsmans shirt. That's why they only check the bat on hot spot for giving Out.

Edit: Doh you did say Bat in the first place.