England get temporary fix
Shortly before England began their second innings at the Gabba, needing a mere 648 to win, Coldplay's melodious ballad was played on the PA system.
If ever anything needed fixing at that point, it was the England cricket team.
They had taken just 10 Australian wickets, while watching the hosts rack up 804 runs, and in between had been dismissed for a thoroughly inadequate 157.
Something else needed fixing too - the hinges on the door of the Test Match Special commentary box.
Producer Peter Baxter, who eventually found some sprayable cooking oil to solve the problem, told me nobody in the booth had noticed the squeaking until a few e-mails complaining about the problem began to trickle in.
One thing could not be repaired, however, and that was Andrew Strauss' predilection for what for him should be forbidden fruit - the hook shot.
In the first innings he top-edged an attempt at a hook when on 12 and got out. This time, he was on 11 when foolishly trying it out again.
This time he middled the shot but was late on it and was easily caught by a substitute fielder at fine leg.
Soon afterwards, Ian Bell fell and a finish before the end of the day was on the cards.
Then along came the fix - in the shape of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen. They have not done enough to prevent the likelihood of defeat but have given some reason to be optimistic for Adelaide and beyond.
Crucially, they provided an enjoyable day out for England's fans, who had really been through the mill up until now.
Most people in Brisbane seem to be following the cricket one way or another, with the notable exception of Albert Garcia, a taxi driver originally from Barcelona, who drove me to the ground in the morning.
He was actually the goalkeeper of second team, and had a photograph, dated 1946 to prove it.
He is a FIFA-registered referee and in his spare time officiates at women's matches around the city.
Why only women's matches, I enquired?
"Ladies don't run too fast and don't kick the ball too far - so it's easier for me," he replied.
In a country that can at times be unnervingly PC, Albert Garcia makes a refreshing change. Shame he doesn't care for cricket, but then again I have never met a Spaniard who does.
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Olly they have only taken 10 wickets - but thats not the point - finally a couple more batsmen are standing up to be counted. Strauss needs shooting for continually trying the hook. And Freddie needs some batting form to go with his bowling.
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Just to correct you there Oliver, Enland have managed to take just 10 wickets(not 11).
Perhaps we need Bob the Builder to fix the situation.
It all hinges on Pietersen tmrw.My hunch is Jones wont last long.He will crack under pressure.Its up to KP and giles to salvage a draw.
Fingers Crossed.Hope England can do the unthinkable and draw the match.Btw, Does anyone think that another 355 runs is possible tmrw,eh?
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Do you think Ponting is cursing his decision? He has picked up some sort of injury and I hear at least one forecaster thinks there is rain in the air. Wishful thinking but enough to give the Aussies a bad night at least.
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Nice to wake up for once and not feel utterly depressed. It's bittersweet though - another case of what might have been? Pietersen will get a few but Warne will wrap up the tail soon enough tomorrow. But maybe we're inching our way back into the series? McGrath a bit sore, Ponting injured? We live in hope!
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Who's glad Giles is in the team now. He'll sort us!!
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"Shame he doesn't care for cricket, but then again I have never met a Spaniard who does."
Except, of course, the King of Spain.
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Some great play today, but it's a pity that Collingwood and Flintoff went briefly mad. The weather forecast has changed dramatically, if Colly had hung in, maybe we could last out until the threatened sub-tropical thunderstorm which may end play early tomorrow. Still not impossible, but unlikely. But more hope now for the series than appeared likely from the first ten sessions.
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spaniards not caring for cricket? let me remind you that england's multicultural team also includes the king of spain.
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well, its about time england show some spirit, but 'Defiance', what defiance, three more stupid dismissals if it was not for that we would be poised for a great draw.
Flintoff continues to disapoint me, why did he play such an ugly shot, its simply not needed and very reckless, play like you did in Mumbai, 50 from 181 will very much do again.
Anyway, tomorrow don't you just have that feeling, kp to produce something special and Jones takes his chance to prove hs position.
picture this, its 30 mins past lunch on day 5....
ENG 445-5, Pietersen 160*, Jones 62*.
Ponting off the field still, a doubt for 2nd test spotted looking to the sky frowning as a thunderstorm looks on the cards.
i mean it aint immposible... lets do this...
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Well after watching a very interesting and exciting day of cricket today, I'm so glad to see England fight back. They may or may not win/draw tomorrow but at least they will have something to show for their 1st test here in Australia. Their first innings both bowling and batting was nothing short of atrocious.
The Pieterson v Warne tustles today made it compelling viewing! I know that Pieterson will be proud of himself for not just surviving today but carting Warney all over the ground. It was obviously irritating Warne - and Warne's response to not getting him out? I'm sure tomorrow it will be to let KP score a century and beyond but eventually leave him with no one to bat with...
As an Australian who is temporarily home in Brisbane but usually resides in London, I am glad that the Aussies are finally taking this Ashes series seriously - I got so much crap from my English mates after we lost the Ashes last year. It was painful of course, but at least world cricket had finally become competitive again after many many years of Aussie dominance.
However, the difference between Australia and England is that whilst England were having victory parades, week long drinking benders, lunch with the PM, collecting MBEs, in celebrations that seemed to last months etc, Australia began their campaign to win back the Ashes as soon as they handed them over at the presentation. They are the best team in the world and have been for several years. It will take a lot for them to be knocked down. They will ALWAYS strike back.
A little message to the England team may well be to never rest on your laurels - ESPECIALLY against Australia who, previous to 2005, retained the Ashes for over 15 years.
They want them back - and I think they are making positive steps to getting them.
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Thank goodness for Colly and KP! Now all we need is for KP to hold his nerve for a double ton and Jones to straight bat his way to a century and we could at least make Ponting sweat about the follow-on decision. If we can make it through the morning session with no further wicket loss then that screw is going to be turning. Perhaps Gilo will turn out to be an inspired choice and rack up his customary 20 off, oooh say 200 balls? We need a Jason Gillespie syle effort from our tailenders and the innings of the series from KP!
Hmmm, so KP got it turning square in the first innings and Warney goes for over 100 runs and is getting frustrated? And McGraths foot is giving him gyp after only 35 overs spread over 3 days? These old men don't sound like they are up to a long hot day in the field, so lets hope we can keep them out there for as long as possible!
Shame that Warne seems to have Bells number though, means he will have to get his runs in before we see Warney, which given the rate he scores at means he will likely get no more than 50 this series.
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When I was at school (admittedly back in the 60's) I was regularly second highest scorer in the first XI and felt my place was secure. Then I ran out a team mate whilst trying to achieve some personal target of my own. Despite a severe warning from the games master, I did much the same in the very next game only this time it was my own wicket I threw away. As a result when the next team sheet was posted on the board, I was twelfth man and when I protested my worth to the master was told; 鈥淲hen you can follow instructions and behave responsibly you can represent the school. Until then pick up that bag and get it on the bus鈥. Andrew Straus, take those drinks out, there鈥檚 a good chap!
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"In a country that can at times be unnervingly PC"
"at times" ??...its basically ALL the time. I'm a
West Aussie and its just as bad over here.
great to see overseas person notice and mention it - the press here never do (too busy being PC).
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"In a country that can at times be unnervingly PC"
"at times" ??...its basically ALL the time. I'm a
West Aussie and its just as bad over here.
great to see overseas person notice and mention it - the press here never do (too busy being PC).
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swing for the fences england!!!
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And there was I thinking that most cricketers had brains,and along comes Andrew Strauss,who talks a good game,yet contadicts himself when on the field of play.Ok,so he has a good test average ,ok so he is a good opener,and has served England well, but please someone tell me why he can't resist the hook shot after seeing the Aussies post a man in a catching position, and a repeat run of his dismissal in the first innings to boot.
With a bit of patience he could no doubt had gone on to post a plus 50 score.
The same can be said of Paul Collingwood, having done all the hard work and shewn what a grafter he is, what does he do, throw his wicket away on 96,attempting to loft Warnie into the stands to achieve his century.
England could easily have been 300 plus for 2 orv 3 wickets at the close, which would have given the Aussies something to think about, instead they are 5 wickets down, and face a monumental task to escape defeat.
All is not lost however, as we have a least shewn some fighting spirit, and can only get better.
The nerves will be long gone when the second test gets underway, and if the coin comes down the right way and we get first bat, then we can square the series, that is assuming we lose this one,as seems probable.
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Am I the only person who thinks Ponting doesn't have faith in his ageing bowlers to last a prolonged period in the field? There was talk about humiliating England by stretching the lead, but surely an innings defeat would've been more humiliating? England can now look at the possibility of trying to bat out a draw tomorrow, instead of the very real possibility that they'd've been all out for less than 450 and have lost the match already. Big psychological boost for the boys, I'd've thought...
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I'd be suprised if England can draw this match but if they do then good luck to them.
Posibly the worse thing that could happen is England get close but lose because of the inability of the bowlers, with the exception of Flintoff, to put two balls in a row in the same place and take wickets, 20 of them that is.
Lets not forget that you need to bowl the Aussies out twice in each test not take only 10 wickets. So if England get close the bowlers are going to be feeling even more pressure for not performing than they already are and pressure can do some very ugly things to people. For the sake of a good series I hope third slip does not have to wear the keepers gloves for Harmy's next ball.
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HEAVY RAIN!!! has just started - I live down Vulture St from the Gabba! I was praying for it for the garden, but I'll accept it for the cricket!
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"Am I the only person who thinks Ponting doesn't have faith in his ageing bowlers to last a prolonged period in the field? " JIM
I don't think that was Ponting's thought at all. I think that Ponting wanted to prove a point that, despite Englands measley 1st innings total on what was claimed was a deteriorating pitch for batting, that in fact, the pitch was still good for scoring runs. In doing so, he gave the English bowlers a lot to think about.
Australia have now declared TWICE. England's bowlers could not get them all out once, let alone twice in this test. Even if you win a toss and bat first, you need to take wickets when you are given the ball, whether that be before or after you have batted. Ponting proved that it had remained a batting pitch despite England's measley first innings total and more runs should have been scored by England. But England haven't as yet, matched the Australian bowling attack
Ponting may have wanted to rest his 'quickies' ie McGrath, Clark and Lee (Warne hardly bowled on day 3) but for these boys a day in the field is hardly hard work for them. Australia then came back out to bat again and made more runs, more than Eng managed in their first innings, in half the time then declared again. Ponting seemed to be making a point.
Also, all the English supporters who seem to think that when Warne and McGrath eventually retire, that the Australian team will not be as good, please remember that there are other bowlers (Macgill, Tait, Johnson etc) that will take their places in the team.... No one is as good as Warney and McGrath, for sure, but these guys, awaiting their turn, aren't crap either...
I personally want this Ashes series to be competitive! I hope that England can get it together before Adelaide and defend the Ashes properly. But they have to all start pulling their weight - it takes 11 men to win a cricket game - with both ball and bat - not 2 or 3.
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No worries! In 1954-55 England had gone to Brisbane having regained the Ashes the previous year at the Oval. They were trounced by Australia's first innings of 601-8 and then skittled for 190 before an improved 257 in the second innings, following on. Apart from the follow-on, history may be being repeated, almost exactly.
England then won the next three Tests, thanks largely to the hostility of Frank "Typhoon" Tyson and the brilliance of a young Colin Cowdrey. Australia's great allrounders were getting a bit older than they had been- Miller and Lindwall. Does all this sound a bit familiar??
I remember the headlines in November 1998, "Storm saves struggling England!"
History teaches that England have an excellent chance of retaining the Ashes.
Cook and Bell will score vital runs, Harmison will once again make the ball and the Aussie batsmen fly and the real sting in the tail will be the best new wicket taker in England- Monty Panesar! Pick him, Fletch. We need more than 10 for 800 to win these matches!
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we play the most important series in our test history and yet we are neligent in our preparation.The question is why?1- to much cricket played;2 players wifes seem to dictate cricket- too long away they seem to apply for divorce- result players under stress - go home. How do army wifes cope and their husbands are paid less and killed.Our playes fly home for births, birthdays and stress conditions- no wonder with the stress in the cricket match we have hard time.
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Thank god for we have finally showed some bottle in this test match. For 2 sessions the aussies were made to look an ordinary side and didnt it get to them!
Gutted for collingwood who deserved a ton as does KP as for freddie and strauss in the context of the match you idiots! and the future what does that hold well.....if we can keep them in the field until after lunch and make them work for their reward as oppossed to giving it on a plate and if ponting and mcgrath are not fit then we are back in with a shout in the series
1/ england to go 1-0 down after lunch
2/ come back and draw the series 2-2
3/ kp to knock out fat boy
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Great to see some mackem class saving the Ashes for the boys down under.
Good look that Giles and Jones were slected for their batting, coz we are going to need everr single bit of it.
So annoyed that Colly got a rush of blood to the head and got dismissed easily, and Flintoff, what was he thinking. I think that Strauss should have a weight on the end of his bat to stop in doing that damn hook again.
Come on boys, lets have more good news to help us get through monday morning
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I think this has proven a few doubters wrong but still the england fans barrack our team. I have written endlessly on the fact we are playing the best team in the world and that all we lack is a bit of fight and now we have shown it we can take more from this game than we first thought. I dont doubt for a minute that australia will wrap the game up tomorrow but this second innings has shown we can bat against this attack. I would love us to bat all day tomorrow but the fact is we dont have anyone left who can bat all day. I believe that this game has shown the gulf between the two teams but the fight from us english is back and hopefully that will stop all the fans i read on here from saying how we have lost it and how useless we now are. Get behind england dont just put your head down after one test.
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Well Oliver,
You must be in luck. I must the onl;y spaniard who likes (and sort of understands Cricket). I like it that much that I actully went along to the Gabba on Saturday. It all started after living in London for a couple of years in the early 90's
Sorry for the loss. Better luck in Adelaide (and yes, I am supporting you guys and not the aussies)
Jose
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Well Oliver,
You must be in luck. I must the onl;y spaniard who likes (and sort of understands Cricket). I like it that much that I actully went along to the Gabba on Saturday. It all started after living in London for a couple of years in the early 90's
Sorry for the loss. Better luck in Adelaide (and yes, I am supporting you guys and not the aussies)
Jose
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