Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney, January 3-7, 2011

Two questions re: The Strausser.

Not rhetorical, who knows an answer?


1. Why did he go into retreat with Midge? Jimmy suddenly got nine taken off one over by the Oz 8 and 10, and was immediately taken off for Brez (and Swanny at the other end). But - for all his (previous) reputation as a boundary-monger - Jim has intermittenlty given runs away in this over or that when straining for a wicket, and the batsmen decide to chance their arm. And then has proceeded to bowl tight and testing overs again.

At that point (8 down for about 200?) the lashing in that over seemed as much out of desperation, as any belief that Anderson was hittable. (The "hit and hope" / "Fortune favours the brave" theory.)

Brez and Swann were then bowled for over after over after over with a defensive field, while for the most part continuing to leak runs.

There didn't seem to be any tactical thinking there. Just a drab automatic pilot.


When, for want of any further ideas, Anderson was brought back, he duly took the wicket with his first ball.


2) How come the England skipper was in such a hurry when he got to the crease? He seemed to want to be the new Johnson with the bat ..

Psychologically, you might think it was to make up for the failure in 1), Was that it?

lardbucket wrote:Taping his mouth closed wouldn't stop him talking.

How could his team-mates tell if he got out, being an arse? On those terms I would have thought they'd have to beat him up after every dismissal, so he might not sign up for that ... but in view of his staggering ego and lack of insight, you never know.

Kev is a natural. Also in the Shakespearean sense.

vilkrang wrote:I suppose I did okay then, bit pisspoor of me to let them get from 180-8 to 280 but could have been worse.

No, the Committee has decided to put you on The Naughty Step.

Strauss IS Captain Conservative. Don't think he's going to change...

Cook looks good for breaking both Bradman and Lara's record in the same innings. Just 360 more runs needed from Don Cookman.

And a couple more wicket-taking no-balls ...

God, we are so close to an Ashes victory. Just one good day of batting, one day and that should be all we need.

All out before lunch coming up then.

At least the follow-on's not on.

Ok, truly bizarre odds available....

Eng 1.86
Aus 4.5

WTF? This match is pretty much in the balance

very strange odds indeed

vilkrang wrote:God, we are so close to an Ashes victory. Just one good day of batting, one day and that should be all we need.

All out before lunch coming up then.

We've missed an opportunity though, 189-8.... less than 215 and Aus were spit roasted. We'll need a 100 lead minimum. As posted above, can't believe the odds... maybe i'm watching a different game

Maybe the bookies have turned into siren woofers.

JKLever wrote:

vilkrang wrote:God, we are so close to an Ashes victory. Just one good day of batting, one day and that should be all we need.

All out before lunch coming up then.

We've missed an opportunity though, 189-8.... less than 215 and Aus were spit roasted. We'll need a 100 lead minimum. As posted above, can't believe the odds... maybe i'm watching a different game

Does seem a bit bizarre, might have to have a bit of that on Aus.

Incidentally, like most people I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever with Collingwood walking out tomorrow, but how many times has he been in this situation and hit a match winning/saving big 50/100?

Seems perfectly set up for him.

vilkrang wrote:

JKLever wrote:

vilkrang wrote:God, we are so close to an Ashes victory. Just one good day of batting, one day and that should be all we need.

All out before lunch coming up then.

We've missed an opportunity though, 189-8.... less than 215 and Aus were spit roasted. We'll need a 100 lead minimum. As posted above, can't believe the odds... maybe i'm watching a different game

Does seem a bit bizarre, might have to have a bit of that on Aus.

Incidentally, like most people I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever with Collingwood walking out tomorrow, but how many times has he been in this situation and hit a match winning/saving big 50/100?

Seems perfectly set up for him.

A crabby 10 off 50 balls: mark my words

3/10. Not a single one longer than two syllables. You've done far better previously.

Vilks - here's a polite request - slip three mogadon in your Horlicks at approximately 10.45pm will you?

Basil wrote:Vilks - here's a polite request - slip three mogadon in your Horlicks at approximately 10.45pm will you?

I'm tempted to for the good of the country.

I know this will probably sound unbelivable but I did actually switch on for about half an hour when Johnson and Hilf were smacking us about. It's becoming beyond a joke how sh!t we do when I watch now.

You unpatriotic bastard! keep this up, and I may have to hunt you down for the good of Queen and Country.

PeterCS wrote:Two questions re: The Strausser.

Not rhetorical, who knows an answer?


1. Why did he go into retreat with Midge? Jimmy suddenly got nine taken off one over by the Oz 8 and 10, and was immediately taken off for Brez (and Swanny at the other end). But - for all his (previous) reputation as a boundary-monger - Jim has intermittenlty given runs away in this over or that when straining for a wicket, and the batsmen decide to chance their arm. And then has proceeded to bowl tight and testing overs again.

At that point (8 down for about 200?) the lashing in that over seemed as much out of desperation, as any belief that Anderson was hittable. (The "hit and hope" / "Fortune favours the brave" theory.)

Brez and Swann were then bowled for over after over after over with a defensive field, while for the most part continuing to leak runs.

There didn't seem to be any tactical thinking there. Just a drab automatic pilot.


When, for want of any further ideas, Anderson was brought back, he duly took the wicket with his first ball.


2) How come the England skipper was in such a hurry when he got to the crease? He seemed to want to be the new Johnson with the bat ..

Psychologically, you might think it was to make up for the failure in 1), Was that it?

JKLever wrote:Strauss IS Captain Conservative. Don't think he's going to change...

Captain Clueless, rather, today at least.

Poor old Strauss - he's the captain you want off the field, in the dressing room, in the build up, doing all the media. You just wish someone else would take charge once they cross the line and start playing.

Given how often England have a 12th man on, why not make him a specialist tactical consultant or something? Get Bobby Key in there. Maybe. I don't know - not many decent captains around.

JKLever wrote:Better than I feared, though could have done without the KP wicket at the close. I farkin hate seeing a nightwatchman come to the crease because it means an early wicket and if Aus then take anotrher quick one we could be 100 behind with 5 left.

You really haven't been watching Australia this series have you? Anderson will bat till after lunch.

JGK wrote:

Henry wrote:Nah, not going tomorrow. Are you going to all five days? I dunno if I can make it up there for a beer tomorrow, but i'm free Thursday and Friday.

It really sucks that there are no pass-outs at the SCG. Wandering off to a nearby pub at lunchtime, and then lazily strolling back for the second half of the second session after a few pints is ideal.

You can do that if you are a member

Trev - will PM you.
JGK - we'll go for a pint or two today then?

PeterCS wrote:Two questions re: The Strausser.

Not rhetorical, who knows an answer?


1. Why did he go into retreat with Midge?

Strauss is South African born. There's still some pathological inbred fear of choking in his DNA. He can't help it, from time to time it will bubble to the surface.

Even in this series of role reversal we've seen the Aussies not using nightwatchmen and England continuing to use one.

Anderson will either hang around for an hour and slow the scoring rate right down, or just give a wicket and momentum to the opposition straight away. Surely Colly could do the role of protecting the established batsman, it's not like throwing KP in there with a couple of overs remaining.

There's a time and a place for the tactic, but I think it's when you're batting in poor light and the ball's moving about all over the place and one of your openers has just gone cheaply - not when you're trying to drive home an advantage.

beamer wrote:Anderson will either hang around for an hour

or much much longer.

Went to bed at lunch - how the fark did Hilf get 34? Was already the worst 14 I think i've ever seen at the break. The only times he didn't look like getting out were when he was defending the ball with either his adam's apple of his groin. Which Tony Greig seemed to think was his 'back thigh'.

Gary 111 wrote:Went to bed at lunch - how the fark did Hilf get 34? Was already the worst 14 I think i've ever seen at the break. The only times he didn't look like getting out were when he was defending the ball with either his adam's apple of his groin. Which Tony Greig seemed to think was his 'back thigh'.

Hit the shot of his life in that innings. Fat Tim tried to jam a back of a length ball into his legs; Hilf nuked it over wide mid on.

Ugh, yesterday was a microcosm of the whole series. Aus batsmen playing impatient, impetuous shots after doing the hard yards, and then the bowlers bowling poorly to very confident English batsmen.

Still, a couple of early wickets this morning and this one still might turn into the only competitive Test of the summer. It'd be nice to see a tense one that could go either way going right into the final session.