Jones and Jones
For a moment, I felt sorry for the Australians this afternoon. There is something sad about age catching up with top sportspeople. It's a reminder of mortality. "Time like an ever rolling stream bears all its sons away". And then I thought, "Bollocks". How arrogant were they for all those years? How much did they patronise the English teams put up to face them? How annoying are they when they go on about "executing their skills"? VERY. And how often did they say they wanted a real challenge? They don't really look up for it right at the moment. I'm sure that right now, they'd quite like to face a few pie throwers.
I think a draw is the most likely result tomorrow, but it's a reflection of how well England have been playing that I wouldn't be too bothered if they don't manage to force the win. Of course, the Australian batsmen may suddenly find form and manage a record winning total. The pitch does look as if it's playing quite easy, although that was when the Australians were bowling on it (ouch). Anyway, perhaps the most heartening aspect of England's performance is that everyone (nearly) is contributing. Strauss got runs today (when we would have been vulnerable if bowled out for less than 200), Bell was very gutsy in the first innings (even I felt the pressure when he spent so long stuck on 18), Ashley Giles' successes have been well documented, and finally Simon Jones' bowling was deservedly rewarded with a few wickets. I like the way he bowls now, at a full length, swinging it both ways at a good (if not express) pace. He's so much better a bowler than he was even 6 months ago. As for Hoggard, well, apparently it will swing at Trent Bridge.
So what about the other Jones? Chris Read's name has been mentioned, again and again and again. Good wicket keeper. Shit batsmen. He's not as a good a batsman as Ashley Giles. Do we really want Ashley Giles coming in at 7? If Jones is to be replaced then I think it would have to be with another genuine no.7. Prior is the leading candidate, I reckon, but apparently his keeping is worse than Geraint's. So, I say "stick with the Welshman from Papua New Guinea". Hoorah. The success of this side, and in particular the bowling unit, has been achieved by picking players and then sticking with them. It took Harmison, Flintoff and Simon Jones a number of tests each to become as good as they are now. GO Jones clearly has the batting talent. Jack Russell thinks he's a decent keeper. Alec Stewart started as a stopper and ended up as a decent gloveman. GO Jones will get there. And in the meantime, let's be thankful that the bowling attack is good enough for his mistakes not to have been too expensive. He caught that catch at Edgbaston when it mattered.
Anyway, didn't anyone notice Gilchrist miss 2 catches in the first innings and 2 stumpings today. Even good keepers miss chances (not that I'm suggesting Gilchrist is great with the gloves). Pressure does strange things and England are currently applying it, magnificently.
One of the ways in which they're doing so when bowling is by keeping very defensive fields. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that this is helping Harmison too much. It's encouraging him to bowl short, with the odd yorker, a la Flintoff, but the transformation in his performances first occurred when he started bowling a good, fullish length (ie not halfway down the track). He should be bringing people forward and having them caught in a packed slip cordon.
Anyway, I'm being picky. The defensive fields do exploit the principle Australian weakness, which is the urge to dominate. Vaughan is the new Brearley, or the new Nasser. Of course, it helps to be a captain with fairly decent bowlers.
I think a draw is the most likely result tomorrow, but it's a reflection of how well England have been playing that I wouldn't be too bothered if they don't manage to force the win. Of course, the Australian batsmen may suddenly find form and manage a record winning total. The pitch does look as if it's playing quite easy, although that was when the Australians were bowling on it (ouch). Anyway, perhaps the most heartening aspect of England's performance is that everyone (nearly) is contributing. Strauss got runs today (when we would have been vulnerable if bowled out for less than 200), Bell was very gutsy in the first innings (even I felt the pressure when he spent so long stuck on 18), Ashley Giles' successes have been well documented, and finally Simon Jones' bowling was deservedly rewarded with a few wickets. I like the way he bowls now, at a full length, swinging it both ways at a good (if not express) pace. He's so much better a bowler than he was even 6 months ago. As for Hoggard, well, apparently it will swing at Trent Bridge.
So what about the other Jones? Chris Read's name has been mentioned, again and again and again. Good wicket keeper. Shit batsmen. He's not as a good a batsman as Ashley Giles. Do we really want Ashley Giles coming in at 7? If Jones is to be replaced then I think it would have to be with another genuine no.7. Prior is the leading candidate, I reckon, but apparently his keeping is worse than Geraint's. So, I say "stick with the Welshman from Papua New Guinea". Hoorah. The success of this side, and in particular the bowling unit, has been achieved by picking players and then sticking with them. It took Harmison, Flintoff and Simon Jones a number of tests each to become as good as they are now. GO Jones clearly has the batting talent. Jack Russell thinks he's a decent keeper. Alec Stewart started as a stopper and ended up as a decent gloveman. GO Jones will get there. And in the meantime, let's be thankful that the bowling attack is good enough for his mistakes not to have been too expensive. He caught that catch at Edgbaston when it mattered.
Anyway, didn't anyone notice Gilchrist miss 2 catches in the first innings and 2 stumpings today. Even good keepers miss chances (not that I'm suggesting Gilchrist is great with the gloves). Pressure does strange things and England are currently applying it, magnificently.
One of the ways in which they're doing so when bowling is by keeping very defensive fields. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that this is helping Harmison too much. It's encouraging him to bowl short, with the odd yorker, a la Flintoff, but the transformation in his performances first occurred when he started bowling a good, fullish length (ie not halfway down the track). He should be bringing people forward and having them caught in a packed slip cordon.
Anyway, I'm being picky. The defensive fields do exploit the principle Australian weakness, which is the urge to dominate. Vaughan is the new Brearley, or the new Nasser. Of course, it helps to be a captain with fairly decent bowlers.
posted by djbrd at 9:17 pm
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