Posts and words Comments
Loading ...
By Will last year, at the end of August Add your comment below
Before this Test, many (me included) weren’t sure Stuart Broad would even play at The Oval. After yesterday’s play, he’s suddenly an Ashes hero and, according to one commentator, has produced one of the finest spells of fast bowling in the history of cricket.
That is overplaying it by an embarrassing margin, of course,but he did nevertheless bowl beautifully – and how amazing it is that one spell, one set of 47 deliveries, can alter not just a Test match but an entire series.
England are by no means home and dry yet, but Australia have it all to do. As one big England allrounder departs, another, much younger, takes over the batten.
I remain completely perplexed that England are in this position when it’s Australia who have made seven hundreds to England’s one or two. Doesn’t make any sense at all.
More thoughts after the Test…way too busy until then.
Tags: 2009-Ashes, ashes, australia, england, stuart-broad, the-ashes |
Australia made many hundreds in Cardiff, a splendid effort but ultimately worthless. Strauss made the most important hundred at Lord’s. Clarke has been the most telling century maker for his side.
England have relied on their long tail to wag when needed, and in the main it has done just that. The Aussie tail has been more traditional, a few blows, resistance, but not much of a hurdle.
England will probably need the tail to contribute again if it is going to win the Ashes.
True, Will, doesn’t make any sense but this often seems to be the essence of the Ashes – or any series with England recently. You never know what is going to happen in the next session. I’m so pleased though that Broad did well.
The big question now is how far England can/want to go whilst leaving themselves time enough to bowl the Aussies out? A 400 lead at the Oval should do it.
Hands up – I never thought Broad had it in him. Thought he was vastly overrated and was being selected on promise rather than performance, but he’s been exceptional for 2.5 tests and turned the series. Cap dothed, the boy done good. He’s definitely good enough to bat 7, and already has equalled Fred’s 3 5fors. He’ll never be a 90mph spearhead, but is starting to look the McGrath metronome he’s been hyped as.
If Harmy gets selected for SA the attack of Anderson, Harmy, Broad and Swann plus one looks pretty exciting to me… given this aussie side won 2-1 there, we really should expect an England whitewash there!! 
http://www.cricket.mailliw.com/archives/2009/05/17/public-support-for-the-ashes/
They are talking about this on talksport now, why it doesn’t feel as big as 2005, and I’m sure it’s cos it’s not on terrestrial. The hardcore sports fan watches, the vast bulk of the nation no.
Like to see the viewing figures and compare.
Broad will need the assistance of equally incompetent umpires in SA. His spell did include North’s bat before wicket dismissal, and his heroic efforts at Cardiff required a howler of a decision to avoid a first ball duck. Hawkeye had it hitting middle 1 foot from the base.
“I remain completely perplexed that England are in this position when it’s Australia who have made seven hundreds to England’s one or two. Doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Yes it does. Look carefully at the stats of the series, not the individual players. Only in one Test were England bowled out twice.
It’s all well and good to score loadsa runs, but if your bowlers can’t take 20 wickets, you won’t win matches. The Aussies, bereft of Brett Lee and with Mitchell Johnson seemingly determined to be the next Steve Harmison, simply didn’t have sufficient depth or variety in their attack to win the series.
England occasionally struggled for runs – especially at Cardiff and Headingley – but their bowling attack delivered when it really mattered, and that is what made the difference.
Stuart Broad turned on the heat when it was most required.
However he will need to more consistent.
If it wasn’t for his performances with the bat, he would have had a poor ashes.
« Not England’s number 3 | Main | Ashes win just the start for the new England »
The Corridor (a cricket blog) is proudly powered by WordPress
Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS)
The Corridor (a cricket blog) All content © 2004-2010 Will Luke. All Rights Reserved.
None of the views or opinions offered on this site reflect those of my employers, Cricinfo Ltd and ESPN International
| 