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Ashes 2009 third test day 1 highlights
In the rain battered first day of the third test, almost 6 hours of play was lost and only 26 overs were bowled. Watson replaced Huges for the opening slot and looked impressive, eventhough he started sedately, once he settled in started to play his cuts & pulls. On the other side Kaitch looked positive and went on to score 46 before falling to Swann. Australia would like to continue the same way on the second day too.
Watch the Highlights of the First day here:
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Watch the Highlights of the First day here:
The ashes 2009 - Finally the match has started in third ashes test
After more than 6 hours of delay due to rain the match has finally started. Ricky ponting won the toss and elected to bat first. As expected Shane Watson replaced Huges in the playing XI, who came opening with Simon Katich. There has been no changes in the XI, apart from Watson but the shocker for Australia has been late injury of Haddin, who is suspected to have a broken finger. Graham Manou replaces Haddin in his debut. Haddin's injury comes has a severe blow, as he was in great touch with the bat, and leading run scorer in the series.
England playing XI too had no surprises, with Ian Bell replacing injured Kevin Peterson.
Australia playing XI:
RT Ponting*, MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, MJ North, GA Manou†, MG Johnson, BW Hilfenhaus, PM Siddle,NM Hauritz
England playing XI:
AJ Strauss(c), AN Cook, RS Bopara, IR Bell, PD Collingwood, MJ Prior(wk), A Flintoff, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, Graham Onions
The ashes 2009 - Hughes dumped for the third test
Phillip Hughes following his unimpressive perform ace in the first two tests, has been axed from the playing XI. This was confirmed by phil Hughes himself, through his Twitter update.
He posted:
Disappointed not to be on the field with the lads today, will be supporting the
guys, it's a BIG test match 4 us. Thanks 4 all the support!.
Shane Watson is tipped to replace Huges for the test, he could be a useful addition considering his all-round skills.
The ashes 2009 -What are Australia's bowling options before the third test
With the competition entering an interesting phase, both the captain has to be on their toes to win the remaining matches.
Australia has been struggling with their bowling in this series, with Ricky ponting's men losing an Ashes test at Lord's after 75 years and the Australian media reasoning the defeat to 'collective failure', Aus. has more things to worry, but their bowling looks to be in deep trouble.
Australia has been struggling with their bowling in this series, with Ricky ponting's men losing an Ashes test at Lord's after 75 years and the Australian media reasoning the defeat to 'collective failure', Aus. has more things to worry, but their bowling looks to be in deep trouble.
In troubled waters:
Brett Lee, Australia's premiere fast bowler, suffering from a side strain has been ruled out of the third test, leaving a severe blow to the bowling lineup. Brett Lee with his pace and bounce can take wicket in any type of pitch, also his presence in the middle would make the Aussie bowling look more formidable.
Johnson has been the biggest flop for the Aussies in this series. In the absence of Brett Lee, he was touted has the spearhead for the bowling attack but has done very little to live upto that expectation. His lackluster performance has cost Australia in both matches, failing to take the early breakthroughs. Lot of other stuff going around him is not helping him either, troubled relationship with his mother and so on. He has to put all things behind and concentrate on the job at hand, if Aus. need to make a comeback in the series.
On the Border:
Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle have not been outstanding but have done their job they were trusted with. Hauritz was impressive in the first test taking 6 wickets, but was not effective in Lord's, taking just 3 wickets in Eng. second innings, when the batsmen where trying to make some quick runs. Peter siddle went about his job of finishing his quota of overs without troubling the batsmen. With front line bowlers struggling, it is time for these two to raise their game to help Aus. square the series.
Brighter side:
Ben Hilfenhaus surprisingly was the most impressive of the lot, trying to swing the ball and looking like taking wicket. He looked impressive at Lord's too, taking 4 wickets on the first day on a flat pitch. His performance comes as a pleasant surprise, when others are struggling to make a mark. Much was not talked about him before the series, he was expected to fill up the overs and work as a support bowler, he turned to be the best one for Australia for the first two tests. For Edgbaston, he needs to continue the same form and take the responsibility with Johnson not at his best.
Options:
With an unimpressive performance by his men , Ricky Ponting is under pressure to make changes especially in the bowling line up, what options he has infront of him & do they have the potential to turn things around for Aus., only time will tell.
Stuart Clark, present in Aussie squad, is a tall fast bowler who could be useful in the docile Edgbaston pitch by generating bounce with his height. He is Mcgrath type, bowls line and length and leaves the rest to the ball & pitch. Making his case easier is the performance of Johnson, who is struggling visibly with his bowling. He is a strong possibility for the third test.
Shane Watson, all-rounder could also find himself in the team in place of Hughes, who is struggling at the opening slot and Aus. having a weak bowling, could double up has a bowler. We may even both the changes happening for the third test, scheduled to be started on 30th July.
Brett Lee, Australia's premiere fast bowler, suffering from a side strain has been ruled out of the third test, leaving a severe blow to the bowling lineup. Brett Lee with his pace and bounce can take wicket in any type of pitch, also his presence in the middle would make the Aussie bowling look more formidable.
Johnson has been the biggest flop for the Aussies in this series. In the absence of Brett Lee, he was touted has the spearhead for the bowling attack but has done very little to live upto that expectation. His lackluster performance has cost Australia in both matches, failing to take the early breakthroughs. Lot of other stuff going around him is not helping him either, troubled relationship with his mother and so on. He has to put all things behind and concentrate on the job at hand, if Aus. need to make a comeback in the series.
On the Border:
Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle have not been outstanding but have done their job they were trusted with. Hauritz was impressive in the first test taking 6 wickets, but was not effective in Lord's, taking just 3 wickets in Eng. second innings, when the batsmen where trying to make some quick runs. Peter siddle went about his job of finishing his quota of overs without troubling the batsmen. With front line bowlers struggling, it is time for these two to raise their game to help Aus. square the series.
Brighter side:
Ben Hilfenhaus surprisingly was the most impressive of the lot, trying to swing the ball and looking like taking wicket. He looked impressive at Lord's too, taking 4 wickets on the first day on a flat pitch. His performance comes as a pleasant surprise, when others are struggling to make a mark. Much was not talked about him before the series, he was expected to fill up the overs and work as a support bowler, he turned to be the best one for Australia for the first two tests. For Edgbaston, he needs to continue the same form and take the responsibility with Johnson not at his best.
Options:With an unimpressive performance by his men , Ricky Ponting is under pressure to make changes especially in the bowling line up, what options he has infront of him & do they have the potential to turn things around for Aus., only time will tell.
Stuart Clark, present in Aussie squad, is a tall fast bowler who could be useful in the docile Edgbaston pitch by generating bounce with his height. He is Mcgrath type, bowls line and length and leaves the rest to the ball & pitch. Making his case easier is the performance of Johnson, who is struggling visibly with his bowling. He is a strong possibility for the third test.
Shane Watson, all-rounder could also find himself in the team in place of Hughes, who is struggling at the opening slot and Aus. having a weak bowling, could double up has a bowler. We may even both the changes happening for the third test, scheduled to be started on 30th July.
England squad for third test announced - THe Ashes 2009 update
England has announced their 13 member squad for the third test which starts on 30th july. Following Achilles injury kevin pieterson has been replaced by Ian bell, who is expected to play in the 3rd test. Despite Andrew Flintoffs concern over his fitness, has been named in the 13 member squad along with Harmison who will play in the third test if Flintoff is unfit.
13 member squad:
J Strauss (capt), AN Cook, RS Bopara, PD Collingwood , MJ Prior (wkt), A Flintoff, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, MS Panesar, IR Bell, G Onions, SJ Harmison
Doubtful Brett Lee ruled out of Edgbaston test - Ashes 2009 update
Australian bowler Brett Lee, 32, who was suffering from side strain was ruled out of the third test after the bowler failed to pass the fitness test.
Vice captain Micheal Clarke confirmed today, that Lee will not recover in time for the third test.
Clarke said:
I don’t think that Brett is going to be right for Thursday. He only bowled off three or four steps today in the net.
He is doing plenty of fitness work and is working very hard to get himself right.
I am not sure exactly how far away he is but I think he is out of contention for Thursday.
Clarke also expressed his surprise about the Edgbaston wicket being dry and he feels spinners would play a major part in the third test.
Ponting surprised over the heckling at Lord's - Ashes 2009 news
Ponting expressed his surprise over the heckling he received from the Lord's crowd during the second ashes test. Ponting was continuously booed at the home of cricket after he queried the umpires decision to refer the catch to taken by Andrew Strauss.
Ponting wrote in daily telegraph:
I'm not sure why I was so much the bad guy with the fans," Ponting wrote in the
Daily Telegraph.
Lord's is the one place around England where you don't expect to get heckled. You tend to get a more subdued, cricket-loving crowd and one that's more focused on what's happening in the game.
But I guess any Australian captain is going to cop it over here. Some people have said it's because I'm the last one out of that group of players who had a lot of success
in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Perhaps it's just payback time.
Ponting has more things to worry about than getting booed by the crowd, they need to lift their game if they want to make any impression in the coming tests.
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