Picking the seam - All things Cricket

[Karl Lijnders]

Cannot beleive Panicstan right now. They have not even made one solitary move on AUS this morning. We will most likely go into lunch with a lead of 165. Siddell on his highest test match score!!

[Blackee]

Well I'll be!!!
The Aussies have somehow pulled this one from the fire.
Chasing 176 to win, the Pakis crumble to 139 all out.
Love to know how much the Pakis had on the Aussies to win!!! :lol:

[samueliza]

I dont really follow the cricket heaps- footy is more my go, but the Aussies were $9 to win this morning. Thats incredible in a 2 horse race! I find the aussies a little arrogant to be honest, so i was hoping for the pakis to win to make it (the series)a bit more exciting. I suppose they did well though. Trent Croad retiring today has saddened me a bit, but thats for another day.

[Blackee]

The 3rd and final test between Australia and Pakistan begins today at Hobart. Much of the week has surrounded the position of Pakistan keeper Kamran Akmal who dropped the 2nd test on four occassions. kamran stuck to his guns until yesterday, when he voted along with the selection panel to be replaced by Sarfraz Ahmed. Other changes for the tourists are young left arm quick Mohammed Aamer in for Mohammed Sami, whilst Khurram Manzoor and Shoaib Malik replace Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq.

For the Aussies, Simon Katich returns after an elbow injury. He replaces his NSW teammate Phil Hughes. Marcus North survives, however another couple of failures with the bat will put his place in the tour to NZ in jeopardy.

Australia has won the toss and have elected to bat. Should be terrific batting conditions. In terms of a result, the weather will play a very big part.

Hobart Forecast
Issued at 5:26 am EDT on Thursday 14 January 2010

Forecast for Thursday :
Fine and partly cloudy with light, mainly northwest winds and an afternoon sea breeze.
Precis Fine. Max 22

Friday Fine. Min 12 Max 26
Saturday Late showers. Min 15 Max 23
Sunday Showers. Min 13 Max 18
Monday A few showers. Min 11 Max 20
Tuesday Shower or two. Min 13 Max 22
Wednesday A few showers. Min 13 Max 23

[Blackee]

They say catches win matches!!!! Dropping Ricky Ponting when on 0 has cost Pakistan a heap. 180 runs in fact, and he's still going!!!
Ponting and Clarke now share a 322 run unbroken partnership at lunch on Day 2, being 3/393. Clarke has notched up his highest test score, currently 153n.o.

I expect a declaration before tea, with Australia close to 500, unless Pakistan stick to their putrid, defensive bowling.

[Blackee]

Australia' best 4th wicket partnership is 388 between Ponsford and Bradman in 1934. You'd remember that wouldn't you Karl??

[Blackee]

Clarke goes out shouldering arms to Kaneria for 166.
Despite the great scoreline, pressure still on Marcus North. Another low score will turn the bunsen burner up.

[Karl Lijnders]

Ponting to 205no.

Wez, I hadn't developed eyelids!!! Neither has my folks!!!

[Blackee]

hahaha Karl!! Just having a dig at ya!!

Well there can only be one winner. The Pakis have fallen apart from the seams again. This time it was shocking running between wickets that saw the demise of Youssef and Umar Akmal. They were not to blame, as Salman Butt displayed selfishness of the highest order.

At stumps, the tourists are 4/94, only 425 behind the Aussies first innings total of 8/519d. Congratulations to Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke on their record breaking partnership of 352.

I expect the Aussies to enforce the follow-on given the chance of rain/showers/storms this afternoon and on Sunday/Monday.

[Blackee]

A polished performance by the Aussies, beating Pakistan by 231 runs. The result was never in doubt after Shane Watson knocked over Youssef and Akmal. The threat of rain on Day 5 was just that, with Siddle and Hauritz doing a fine job with the ball. Not surprising, Ricky Ponting was named Man of the Match, whilst Shane Watson was named Man of the series.

That concludes the test series. The one day series commences this Friday night.

[Dc449]

I really like the make up of our side, Have to remember Hilfenhaus, Man of the Match at Brisbane and hasn't been able to get over that injury, I read in the paper he will struggle to make the NZ series.

[Blackee]

Great effort by the Bushrangers last night, defeating QLD by 6 wickets to reach the KFC Big Bash (20/20) final. This is the 5th consecutive year that the Vics have made the final which is a terrific effort. They meet the SA Redback on Saturday night at the Adelaide Oval. The match is live on Fox Sports from 1830 EDST.

Not only that, but they also go to India for the Champions League tournament.

Good luck lads!!!

[Blackee]

Superb win by the Aussies last night.
Great innings by the "Bear", Cameron White who posted his first ODI century on home soil.
His 3 consecutive sixes off Shahid Afridi were nothing less than bludgeoning.
Chasing 274 at night at the Gabba, against a swinging ball is a great effort.

Match 2 is tomorrow at the SCG, in cooler conditions that Sydneysiders are experiencing today.

[Dc449]

Great game by the Aussies... BTW Vics bet Adelaide in the Big Bash final

[Blackee]

Indeed DC. Fantastic result for the Bushrangers. 4 20/20 titles in 5 years. Batting first in 20/20 is a huge advantage, especially in a final.
Superb knocks by Finch (early)and Blizzard (late) ensured a tough run chase for the Redbacks. Dirky Nannes then produced the most economical spell in 20/20 history with 1/8 off 4. Andrew McDonald and James Pattinson chimed in with 3 poles to seal a famous victory given the boys were missing White, Siddle & McKay.

[Dc449]

Great win by the aussies, just too good, absolute domination. Watson man of the match. Love him or hate him, you gotta love his cricketing ability. Also i am impressed with White, i watched him in India and was impressed and looks to be getting things right. I still think he can become a strong part of the test team in the future.

[Blackee]

DC, it was one of the most impressive performances with the ball I have seen for a while. The first 20 overs were splendid. Bollinger, Siddle & McKay all bowled at a great length. Pakistan don't respect Hauritz, but he still gets wickets.

Next match is tomorrow, Australia Day in Adelaide.

[droughtbreaker]

I'm pretty sure, off the top of my head and also looking some of it up, that Australia has only lost 3 out of the last 23 games they have played, test and one dayers (I'm not including 20/20 games). That came after just losing a very tight ashes series, beating South Africa in South Africa and narrowly losing against SAf at home.

Not bad for a team that's supposed to be on the way out.

[Blackee]

Interesting stat there Andrew. The one day squad seems to have a hell of a lot more flexibility than the Test team. Guys like Voges, Hopes, Hilfy and Mitchell Johnson give the side plenty of options based on the conditions etc. I am thinking that Hauritz is a weak link. I reckon we play Dave Hussey as he is a handy off spinner and as we knock, can bat and field. The selectors are also dying to get Steve Smith from NSW in. I think he will get a crack against the West Indies.

[droughtbreaker]

Yet another easy victory to Australia. There is an enormous amount of depth in the one day side, i agree 100% with that. It is easy to see why we are the number one ranked side in ODI, we seem to have an awfully large number of players who specialise in that form of the game, a lot of all rounder types and excellent fielders.