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>>> Just watched the highlights and good to see another Aussie win. Things
>>> really seem to have picked up since the Ashes. Yet again another
>>> touring sides comes to Oz and completely drowns. Injuries, poor form -
>>> call it whatever - they know they're not as good as us and they hide
>>> behind injuries and big talk. Graeme Smith is a complete joke. He's
>>> a big bloke who talks tough but apart from two double hundreds against
>>> the hapless poms - what else has he ever done? Aus is good but
>>> considering how well SA played at home against England 12 months ago,
>>> it's not that they're a bad side, they're just overawed by the greatness
>>> of the Aussie team.
>>> The main good thing for Australia is Symons - innocuous looking medium
>>> pacer but good enough for their middle order. Another big win for us
>>> coming up in Sydney.
>>> The only things to worry about from an Aussie viewpoint are:
>>> Gilly's lack of runs
>>> McGrath might have still picked up a few wickets but he looks tired to
>>> me - is it time for him to go? Either he has to improve for the next
>>> Ashes or we have to *** someone else - and fast. It was his absence
>>> that hurt us most in the Ashes I reckon.
>> SA came here with big talk - mostly to try and mentally prepare
>> themselves as well to try an capitalise on the Aussie ashes defeat.
>> It backfired.
>> Smith talks big and does little.
>> Has embarrassed himself and put more pressure on his players, esp the
>> younger and newer ones.
>> A leader leads!
>> Gilchrist will fire again, but also, I would not be at all suprised if he
>> calles it a day in 2006.
>> He just seesm to lack something. Not himself at all.
>> Mc Grath is nearing the end.
>> As for Sydney - overconfidence and complacency lost the Ashes.
> I disagree. It was excellent attacking cricket by England that lost us
> the ashes. Our team fought back every time it was behind. They certainly
> didn't look complacent to me.
I think we made several mistakes during the Ashes series.
All in all, I think we selected the wrong side before we even caught the
plane. Kasper and Dizzy looked past it last Oz summer - so the complacency
was more the selectors than the players / captain.
There's no doubt that overconfidence is what cost Hayden his series. Out
to Hoggard (who I'm sure he thought he could slaughter) cheaply at least
twice. Same thing with Hayden and Jones - after that argument in the ODI -
Hayden thought he could smash Jones around - but that wasn't smart.
Overconfidence also cost McGrath - he should never have played at Old
Trafford - but he thought 75% fit he could still demolish England. Indeed
he did get 5fer - but by that stage it was a wasted effort and he missed the
vital 4th test which caused us to go in with Tait - who should never have
made his debut in such a crunch game.
Overconfidence - Martyn - say no more.
Complacency was Ponting's downfall at the fateful Edgbaston toss. We've
just lost our number one fast bowler - but we'll still bowl.
Overall, I think we were sold down the river by the selectors. They've not
been thinking ahead bringing the young blokes on for some time (as we've got
Pidgeon and Warney) so we went there with a bunch of medium pacers and old
blokes. The younger faster poms beat us fair and square - but we'll fix
them up in 11 months time. I just think they're still some way away from
sorting the bowling out. Sure Watson's injured but to me it would make far
more sense for Gilly to go to 6 and play an extra bowler - one of the young
blokes than play Symonds who doesn't stand a chance on his bowling and his
batting is a bit hit and miss. Then again - how much longer will Gilly go
on? Everyone's saying Warne and MacGill will finish the poms - but how
good was MacGill last time he played them - got carted all over the SCG by
Vaughan and co.
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