WI v Australia, 2nd Test, North Sound, 30th May-3rd June

Johnson had better be prepared for some flak,now MacGill is gone the press will be looking for somebody to stick the knife in.He is a worry though.The next test will be his last if he doesn't get it together.Pitches are killing test cricket.That was a very boring test,especially the last day,Give me 20/20 over that sort of game any day.

noelene wrote:Johnson had better be prepared for some flak,now MacGill is gone the press will be looking for somebody to stick the knife in.He is a worry though.The next test will be his last if he doesn't get it together.Pitches are killing test cricket.That was a very boring test,especially the last day,Give me 20/20 over that sort of game any day.

I didn't find it boring at all. All three results could have been possible give or take a few bad umpiring decisions and without the poor drainage at the ground. It was another very hard fought contest.

Actually, it's ironic that the Windies probably played better as a team in Jamaica than they did here, and yet they lost the Jamaica test.

It was boring.The Windies played lacklustre cricket,and did not even entertain trying for a win on the last day.This article puts it nicely.
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wivaus/content/current/story/353509.html

Henry wrote:As predicted, Australia are starting to draw more tests now that Mcgrath and Warne have retired. The batting is likely to remain strong for at least the next 2-3 years, but there are doubts as to whether they have enough bowling firepower to consistently take 20 wickets.

The match lost 50 overs to the weather/drainage ...

Henry wrote:It was a bit rich MacGil being carried off the ground on the shoulders of his team mates, as if he's some sort of hero.

Think of it as MacGorn being escorted off the premises....

In all honestly, the Windies had no chance of chasing 370 to win on the last day. We'd all be blasting them if they'd given their wickets away trying to reach an unlikely target. FFS, they're a team that has been down in the dumps for over 10 years now. At least they're starting to show fight. The test win in South Africa, the drawn test series and ODI series win against Sri Lanka, the spirited performances of Jamaica and now here in Antigua- Baby steps, yes. But steps forward all the same.

It might be a bit early to say, but John Dyson looks like he could be a 'Duncan Fletcher' type of coach who takes over a struggling team and slowly but surely starts to put some spine back into their cricket after years of limp mediocrity.

They had nothing to lose by going for a win.It would have created some interest at least,and it may have paid off.The pitch was dead.I agree that they are finally getting it together,but their real test will be when they travel.The same as I see South Africa as being the real test of Australia,that will be an interesting series.

lardbucket wrote:So WI can still tie the series.

Where and when's the Third Test?

Starts 12th at Bridgetown.

Henry wrote:In all honestly, the Windies had no chance of chasing 370 to win on the last day. We'd all be blasting them if they'd given their wickets away trying to reach an unlikely target. FFS, they're a team that has been down in the dumps for over 10 years now. At least they're starting to show fight. The test win in South Africa, the drawn test series and ODI series win against Sri Lanka, the spirited performances of Jamaica and now here in Antigua- Baby steps, yes. But steps forward all the same.

It might be a bit early to say, but John Dyson looks like he could be a 'Duncan Fletcher' type of coach who takes over a struggling team and slowly but surely starts to put some spine back into their cricket after years of limp mediocrity.

It get to the stage when they wanted something like 210 off about 36 overs. Hard, but their two best batsmen were at the crease and were well set, and the pitch had very little devil in it. They should have given it a go in my opinion.

Even though they lost their last 5 wickets in 11 overs in the first innings?

Henry wrote:Even though they lost their last 5 wickets in 11 overs in the first innings?

Somewhere along the line, they're going to have to rediscover the winning habit - and that was close to a decent platform from which to attack the target. It would have shown intent at least.

noelene wrote:They had nothing to lose by going for a win.It would have created some interest at least,and it may have paid off.The pitch was dead.I agree that they are finally getting it together,but their real test will be when they travel.The same as I see South Africa as being the real test of Australia,that will be an interesting series.

Er, yes they had. The series and the test.

eowyn wrote:

lardbucket wrote:So WI can still tie the series.

Where and when's the Third Test?

Starts 12th at Bridgetown.

Barbados pitches are quite lively IIRC.

doremi wrote:

noelene wrote:They had nothing to lose by going for a win.It would have created some interest at least,and it may have paid off.The pitch was dead.I agree that they are finally getting it together,but their real test will be when they travel.The same as I see South Africa as being the real test of Australia,that will be an interesting series.

Er, yes they had. The series and the test.

A win was the only way to save the series.Australia has already retained the trophy.
who cares if they lost the test.Nobody would criticise them under those circumstances.
Negative thinking to bat out for a draw.
They sure need Gayle back,he may have enabled them to think of going for it.

Well done the Windies. Shows that good will at least draw if not prevail. However much Aus cheated, they couldn't get the wickets. Chanderpaul outlined that he shits all over Michael Clarke. The affirmation wasn't needed, but it's good to poke tac's single eye. In fact, I swear when the last ball was bowled, I heard Chanders say "suck my balls, jack, you f*cking sherbert".

Dan

Where did Oz actually cheat?

embee wrote:Dan

Where did Oz actually cheat?

Paid off Tiffin to make many a poor call.

Luckily for the CFO at CA ...Tiffin works for free...

Is it because they all eat him in-between meals?

Henry wrote:It was a bit rich MacGil being carried off the ground on the shoulders of his team mates, as if he's some sort of hero.

Risky too ... no hernias I hope.

JGK wrote:Katich is off the field again. That's a worry - Hodge might play in the next test ...

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

lardbucket wrote:

Henry wrote:It was a bit rich MacGil being carried off the ground on the shoulders of his team mates, as if he's some sort of hero.

Risky too ... no hernias I hope.

So that's what happened to dello?

Leo wrote:

Farewell MacKnob. Thou shalt not be missed.

Disagree completely. We're already missing him. We missed him in this match when it became clear that he wasn't the bowler he used to be.

Australia would love to have a match-winning bowler of MacGill's calibre in the side over the next few years - unfortunately he's got old like the best of them.

MacGill was shocking in the first innings, but landed the ball on the spot for most of the last day. He was dreadfully unlucky not to have Sarwan out stumped.

MacGill was never able to become a regular member of the test team. He was called in as a replacement whenever Warne was injured or suspended and did his job admirably. When given the chance to bowl in favourable conditions with Warne he complemented him superbly. It's a tough gig being called in and out of the side over a 10-year period, but MacGill did it and deserves a little bit of respect on the day he's finally hung up the boots.

Sage, Hass.

Hass wrote:

Leo wrote:

Farewell MacKnob. Thou shalt not be missed.

Disagree completely. We're already missing the old MacGill. We missed the old MacGill in this match when it became clear that the current and future MacGill is and always will be crap.

Australia would love to have a match-winning bowler of the 2002-03 MacGill's calibre in the side over the next few years - unfortunately he no longer exists.

MacGill was never able to become a regular member of the Test team.

fixed