From extensive re-viewing of the highlights yesterday, I would have to say several things.

[Berni]

Few, if any, of Broad's wicket-taking deliveries yesterday were real crackers. I'm not decrying his achievement - he put the ball in exactly the right places over and over again. However, virtually all the Australian wickets were due to suicidal batting that looked as though these people had never played against a moving ball before.

Second, the pitch was doing a bit - as you'd expect on the first morning at Trent Bridge, but it wasn't doing an inordinate amount and certainly wasn't a minefield.

Third, I was right about Smith, but it didn't take a genius to realise the man was a flat track bully whose technique was always going to be hopelessly exposed against lateral movement.

Fourth, Michael Clarke literally looks like a man who has forgotten how to bat. It's quite sad to watch.

Finally, Joe Root is really very, very good - better than I had actually realised. That was a sublime innings yesterday in a potentially difficult situation. It was authoritative, classy, composed and utterly confident.

[barrybueno]

you one basic question: This match will run into Saturday won't it?

[Red N White Army]

[Berni]

up of the Australian tail.

[Rich]

magnificent and so young. Wd JR.

Test wrapped up by lunch on Saturday?

[barrybueno]

[Berni]

game and are utterly flummoxed when conditions suit the bowler. Their response is then to try and drive their way out of trouble, which is pretty much the worst thing you can do on a seaming English wicket.

[Ashberto]

where there was no time to react to the movement and the hard hands carried the ball to slips. Mark Butcher reckoned that all the batsmen were getting their footwork wrong, with both feet pointing up the wicket.

Broad's line and length was McGrathy though.

Aussie press has been good fun.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Rich]

Gibbs can be f**ked out the window for Root imo.

[Luis Anaconda]

and the amount of Tests that will be played in the future - but if he makes to 100 Tests I would say he's a certainty for the record. Although, also have to factor in how long will Cook go on for and what will he finish on

[Ben.]

It would appear to have been a set plan to take the attack to our weakened bowling unit, although on a seaming pitch with overhead conditions you have to wonder who came up with it.
Lehmann surely knows this country well enough by now.
Still you have to laugh at the irony of them sacrificing an all rounder for a specialist batsman.

[Berni]

front pads in most of their dismissals. You can't go that aggressively at the ball in English conditions - you have to wait for the movement to develop and play as late as possible with soft hands. By contrast, England got some nicks as well as the pitch was still doing a bit for the new ball, but a lot of them dropped short or were thick edges along the ground. That's how you have to bat in England.

The Aussie press are always fun when Australia get a thumping. :hehe:

[Luis Anaconda]

meaning if they left everything the innings would have lasted longer

[Berni]

career looks like it will be cut short by it, too. Not a good thing in someone as young as Root.

[Luis Anaconda]

Only Stokes wasn't born in England and he moved there at the age of 12. Brought up in Cockermouth :hehe: Can't get more English than that

[Ben.]

It was either one or none of them were hitting the stumps.
Broad's Michelle took 19 balls, it was all a bit surreal tbh I wasn't quite sure what to think.

How ridiculous did Smith's dismissal look :hehe:

[Luis Anaconda]

Stokes's catch :love:

[Berni]

I like Stokes as a cricketer. Useful second-change bowler, good fielder and the sort of hard-hitting, uncomplicated batsman who I think will do better abroad than in England.

[Ben.]

in 2005, Stoke's was better imo, it was past him.
On Smith you'd think you could almost be able to clip leg stump without him being able to reach it.

[Berni]

leg stump - just for ****s and giggles.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Red N White Army]

Maybe pick up a few in the evening session. They can't be as bad again, can they?

[Ben.]

Flintoff's bowling was still underrated, used to love watching him bowl.
Still no idea why everyone used to talk more about his batting.

[Berni]

Being a nice chap, I will refrain from mentioning the fact that I pointed out Hughes' numerous technical flaws that would be found out before that 2009 Ashes series began.

[Red N White Army]

https://vine.co/v/ewqFlJhxtz5

[Berni]

ask for the decision to drop him to be reviewed. :hehe:

[Rich]

of bend, especially when it was reversing.

If I may opine on his batting - I'd say that his technique was on the lesser end of acceptable. Didn't he used to play with very heavy hands, planting his foot etc? Very destructive on his day, but someone like Stokes is certainly a better batsman.

[Luis Anaconda]

but undoubtedly English conditions were a step too far. In respect of Smith though I never disagreed with you - it was Boycott's opinions that surprised me

[Berni]

when his body was f**ked.

I was listening to an interview with him saying he's now teetotal and looks after himself in terms of diet, etc. At which I thought 'Shame you couldn't have done that when you were a professional athlete representing your country, you stupid f**ker!'

[Ben.]

If Kent ever had anyone any good, I'd be the same.
With these weird quirks on batsmen everyone cites Chanderpaul but Chanderpaul gets back into a (sort of) orthodox position by the time the ball comes, Smith doesn't.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Ben.]

and perhaps my memory is letting me down but I remember hearing far more about his "destructive hitting" than the fact he was easily our best bowler for a period of time.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Luis Anaconda]

the one against South Africa at the Oval springs to mind. I was there the day before when Trescothick got 200 and Thorpe a ton

[Rich]

:hehe: Is he f**k! This is Freddie Flintoff we're talking about. I watched England play at Newlands in Cape Town and after the game he came down for several beers with the Barmy Army. Rob Key, Simon Jones and MP Vaughan were also in attendance.

He did not strike me as a man that would ever be teetotal.

[Berni]

orthodox position.

[Ben.]

L B L B LBW L B L B LBW while he was batting at Cardiff.

Tune was the musical bit before the chorus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPWyv4Jd_8

[Ben.]

Was amazing when he came off with the bat, I just thought his bowling was a leetle bit underappreciated, although it's looking like I may have been wrong :hehe:

[Berni]

happens on a green wicket at Trent Bridge or Edgbaston.

[Berni]

[Luis Anaconda]

thankfully Smith proved him wrong. I mean look at Root - there really is no comparison

[Ben.]

and they phoned him to ask for a prediction , his response

"No idea, ring mystic Meg and ask her" :hehe:

[Berni]

flawed those ratings are.

[Rich]

Unless you're Georgie Best.

[Berni]

[Pokster]

I would have thought that as a Doctor you should be able to understand the health benefits of being teatotal... especially as the drinking did him no good in the past.