He escaped after shouldering arms a couple of overs before when it flicked his pad. Then he goes and does it again!
Brilliant stuff it looks as though its buying money backing the ozzy's to retain ashes and a single bet each test on the draw could be in for a decent summer
RE: Let it rain........ Looking at the forecast for Cardiff there's a light shower predicted for the lunch interval!
This Pietersen stuff. He did exactly what you all wanted him to do. Batted like his teammates. Blocked, tip-tap, dib-dab. Would he have left a ball like that before all this criticism? Hell no. Darren Gough just said it on Talksport - pile all the pressure in the world onto your only good player and watch this turn into a 5-0.
Where have I defended him? I totally agree, it was a daft shot. My point is if he had been more positive (which is his natural game) he would not have left the ball alone. I think he is under pressure from somewhere (fans, media, captain, coach, dunno) to cut out the risky shots he plays, and the result is he gets out anyway. Just my opinion.
RE: Where have I defended him? In normal circumstances, he hits the ball. The criticism means he is determined not to get out by playing an airy shot - so he leaves it. He did what people wanted him to do - and yet he'll get all the blame again. Pile all the pressure in the World on him. Harmison in, Panesar out for a start, but more than that they've just got to knuckle down. If Collingwood manages to save this test, the Aussies'll feel like they've lost - not that I think he will.
Reckon we will need a blizzard to survive Agree about Harmison for Panesar, but on paper the team we had out should be able to compete better.
Personally I'd leave Broad out as well until he learns a bit of humility, he's been pretty inefectual here again and I thought it was piss poor the way he was going off at Monty for his fielding,for 2 reasons firstly Panesar was doing his best (they know he's slow in the field when they pick him) secondly his team mates did'nt have a go at him (Broad) for his piss poor fielding in the 20/20 and lastly to me its ltrying to deflect from the fact that it was his poor ball that was asking to be hit to start with.Its like footballers hitting **** passes and then blaming a team mate for not getting on the end of it and can damage team buildsing.
Judging on the one game, I agree But overall I think he is a decent player who has had a bad game, like some of the others. His batting is useful lower down. I agree with you about his attitude though. It is NEVER OK to moan at a team mate in any team sport if they are doing their best, and as you say everyone knows that Monty can't bat or field before they pick him.
RE: Personally I'd leave Broad out as well My team for the next game would be- Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Swann, Anderson, Harmison, Onions. Harmison offers something different on what will probably be a typical flat deck at Lords and at least Onions will offer some control which we didn't have in this game. Also he's a a similar bowler to McGrath (albeit nowhere near as good) and he bowls well with the slope at Lords. I'd drop a batsman but can't think of who to drop out firstly then who is good enough to replace them anyway.
RE: Judging on the one game, I agree yep dont doubt he's a talented lad but he's not been around long enough or done enough to come it with that kind of attitude,and thats the reason I would leave him out for a couple and hopefully put him back on the right trak.
RE: Personally I'd leave Broad out as well I wouldn't play cook, hasn't scored. but who can replace him?