Ashes 2013/14

[taylorsworkrate]

The only saving grace is that on this deck i cant see the Aussies bowling us out twice. But we have been a shambles in the field. Swann seems more interested in protecting his run-rate than taking wickets. He looks a different animal from a year ago.

Really? Have you not seen the way we've batted the last 2 years?

Cook - Very poor run of form
Carberry - Nothing I've seen suggests he's remotely good enough at international level
Root - Being constantly mucked about in the order
Pietersen - Will probably make a glorious 25 before playing a ridiculous shot at a wide one
Bell - Cannot save the side on his own all the time
Stokes - Really should be a no 7 at best at this stage of his career
Prior - woeful run of form
Broad - Not living up to potential with the bat
Swann - Used to be useful, now bats like a drunk no 11
Anderson - walking wicket
Panesar - walking wicket

I wouldn't back us to keep out the Barnt Green 2nd 11 bowling with a tennis ball at one stump. (There. Prove me wrong England)

[taylorsworkrate]

Well the Aussies have finally had enough and how we bat now may decide the series one way or the other.

It's a flat pitch but it's time to stand up, something we haven't done for a while.

4 dropped catches, 2 missed run outs and a wicket off a no ball - pretty shite all in all.

Graeme Swann has now been humiliated in two Test Matches.

Absolutely, no way can he play in Perth.   

Totally agree on Swann, he bowled well at Lords, but besides that was average in the summer, now looks completely innocuous against their right handers and seems unable to do anything about them attacking him.

I'd also suggest as excellent a bowler as he's been, that Anderson should miss Perth. I don't know whether he's carrying a knock or is just plain exhausted, but he's looked a shadow of the bowler he's been the last few years.

Perth is going to be quick and bouncy, so I don't see the point in playing Bresnan either. I'd go with a bowling attack of Broad, Finn, Rankin and Panesar (who bowled much better than Swann despite the figures).

I'll wait until Stokes bats to see if he warrants a place in the team

[taylorsworkrate]

Johnson has looked more threatening in an over and a half than our seamers did in the 80 odd they bowled

[taylorsworkrate]

And the procession begins

[taylorsworkrate]

I know that was a quick ball, but for Cook to miss it by that much is pretty pathetic

[taylorsworkrate]

Swann came out with that tweet about fair weather fans after the first test.

To me it looks like these are a bunch of fair weather cricketers. The slightest challenge and they go missing.

[OzVilla]

Well that's what 2 days chasing leather, the inevitable scoreboard pressure that it brings and 150 kph bowling does to you.

I fear this could get ugly now, we won't just get beaten, we'll get humiliated.

The Aussies in the office have that air of just knowing that they're going to win this series after today, it's really just about by how many.  I can tell they are reigning it in with me though - it's almost turning to pity already.

[taylorsworkrate]

I'm starting to think that only weather or a glut of Australian injuries can save us from 5-0 in this series. We look completely shot.

[Proposition Joe]

Well who saw that coming?

We'll lose this one more heavily than the last one.

Watching the bowling this morning was painful. Spinners getting whacked and seamers all unthreatening dibbly dobbly. Anderson especially looks shot.

[OzVilla]

It reminds me a lot of 06/07. 

I know Australia were a great side back then but we look equally hopeless and shambolic as back then as well.

[taylorsworkrate]

Well that's what 2 days chasing leather, the inevitable scoreboard pressure that it brings and 150 kph bowling does to you.

I fear this could get ugly now, we won't just get beaten, we'll get humiliated.

The Aussies in the office have that air of just knowing that they're going to win this series after today, it's really just about by how many.  I can tell they are reigning it in with me though - it's almost turning to pity already.

There was no scoreboard pressure after the first innings at Brisbane though, and we still folded faster than a poker player holding 7,2

[taylorsworkrate]

It reminds me a lot of 06/07. 

I know Australia were a great side back then but we look equally hopeless and shambolic as back then as well.

This is much much worse. That Aussie side is probably the best team to have played the game and were hell bent on revenge after 05. This Aussie team has a batting line up which has consistently failed over the last 18 months.

[taylorsworkrate]

Lyon coming on. Time for our batsmen to get completely bogged down and back themselves into a corner then play a poor shot against him.

[Proposition Joe]

Cook seemed looking to play it to leg, but played the wrong line. Apart from that, nothing too alarming out there for the batters.

[OzVilla]

That's right and they have the X factor now in Johnson and Clarke.

We've had the X factor in England the with Swann on dusty pitches and Bell with the bat.

Bottom line is though, if you field as poorly as we did in the 1st innings, where you effectively have to create 16 chances to take 9 wickets, you're gonna struggle to beat Bangladesh let alone Australia in Australia.

The real damage has been done in the last 20 minutes of last night and the first 40 minutes this morning.