I just saw some highlights, but it jsut looked like a the tape was a loop of Yousuf helping himself to endless desserts - wide long-hops and juicy half-volleys. The attack is pretty thin right now, so this was bound to happen at some point, but the nature in which the wheels fell off the juggernaut-wannabe was kind of surprising. What was different about the Ashes attack (apart from the faces) was the relentlessness - you had to hit the good balls for 4 if you wanted runs, now it’s just a case of help yourself. Even in India, the bowling was pretty tight and probing; hardly the case here. Looks like the exaggereated praise has got to the bowlers esp. Harmison and Mahmood. And you can’t be here today gone tomorrow like Harmison is right now.

I’m a pak fan. I have noticed that England really do go over the top when they win and hit absolute rock bottom when they start to lose. Who doesn’t know by now that you can’t ask Harmison to deliver in every match. He has only one weapon which is uncomfortable bounce. This can be effective in every match BUT he has little to no control over where the ball will end up. When the pitch is extra bouncy just getting a few deliveries in the right areas will get him wickets. On the other hand when the pitch is not helpful, the few deliveries he gets in the business area can be fended off. He is much like shoaib akhtar. I don’t expect him to come off with a great performance in every match. He has deadly 95mph+ pace but if it isn’t well directed, it just makes the ball get to the boundary faster.
The return of Asif has really cheered me up. Finally, Pak has a bowler that can get 4 out of 6 balls in the corridor. He just gets a little nip in and out. The pressure this creates is much more effective than akhtar’s scatter gun. Being a Pak fan I know that Pak can come back from a hopeless situation and also collapse in a heap from almost certain victory. Therefore, I will reserve my judgement on pak’s prospects till the end of day 3. The best way to watch pak is to expect the worst and then be pleasantly surprised if they do well. Otherwise, I would lose all my hair at the age of 25 something I’m trying to avoid till my late 40s.

England must be missing the guidance of Troy Cooley; Unchecked Harmison’s inconsistency really drags the team down, he is an immature cricketer, i have played lots of cricket and there is nothing more frustrating than a manchild quick bowler.
That said i still think they can win this test, they are becoming quite an enigmatic team.

Last week they were gods, and now they’re crap. C’est la vie. Maybe some of those old injured players were important after all. Gilo would have taken that catch…;-)

Not quite left for hols yet (supposed to be packing

Anyway, I’ve heard rumours about Kevin Shine not being well liked at Somerset because he was (allegedly) quite overbearing. Troy Cooley would sit back and make fine adjustments to each bowler, just giving them 1 or 2 simple things to work on at a time. Rajeev reminded me that the bowling was pretty tight in India - what’s the major factor since then? I think it’s got to be the change of bowling coach. Interesting that Will mentions Harmison as the new Andrew Caddick - I really hope that doesn’t happen, but I can see the potential.

On the other hand, we’re all fretting more than usual because the Ashes are coming up, and the thought of handing them back without a fight is just a bit too much to bear - especially as I’m planning on being there!

I count myself as being among Steve Harmison’s biggest supporters, but even I am lost for words over this recent display. I hate reading critical comments about him, because I know they can only serve to knock the confidence even more, and I’m really hoping that he can get a breakthrough before long, just to up his confidence. I don’t think there’s anything more disheartening than the sight of Harmy, trudging back to his mark after sending down another wide, shaking his head and frowning, especially when Hoggy’s off-colour too. This may anger a lot of people here, but I might switch over to the football in minute…

Come on folks - relax, and stop overreating.

It’s a bad couple of days at the office- bit too early to start writing off our chances this winter. based on that.

As I write this, Pakistan are now 398-6, unlikely to get more than 500, and who’s going to bet that we don’t knuckle down and make a similar score next time up?

You can be sure that Fletcher will have read the riot act to quite a few of the batsmen and reminded them that they’re not on the plane to Australia quite yet.

What are the odds on us winning this one - might be worth a bob or two….

Christ, I’m such a girl!!! (I am actually a girl, so I guess that’s allowed). Japaddy, it’s nice to know that there’s a kindred soul out there. I know he probably needs a bit of a kick up the arse once in a while, but I don’t see how the media can hope to encourage people by suggesting they’re not fit for the bloody team. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It really cheeses me off.

And I lied again about the football, hopefully when Harmy hears Newcastle are winning, he might get even more impetus!!!!!

totally complacent until today - that was the issue. the aussies used to do it to us - thrashed us and gave up the ghost in the last test.

i think well come together in australia. if we get freddie back and firing i think well be ok. although i do worry about the fourth seamer. apparently anderson is strting bowling again soon - could be good news for england. mahmood has a lot of improving to do still. i think we will miss jones a lot in Oz, so hopefully anderson can come back to the form he was in before he got injured.