That's the line every media outlet is perpetuating, but the truth is we're not in as bad a state of decline as everyone seems to think. We should have won the first test in India, but for some extremely poor captaincy (persisting with spin because the wicket was supposed to turn rather than going for the kill with the quicks) we would have won comfortably. That test was loss and a 2-0 loss looks a lot worse than it actually was.
If you've seen cricket for the last 12 months, you'd know they're a very good unit.
Erm, it was only Ian Healy and Ian Chappell saying this (both absolute feckwits, btw). Michael Slater thought they were both bonkers for even suggesting it.The ozzie commentators crack me up, telling Bell he should give his wicket away as not to waste runs in a meaningless match! yes of course scoring 200 or whatever he goes on to score is a total waste of time and dosnt help the team or player himself confidence wise a jot....never mind its the ENTIRE POINT of the match for Englands batsmen to find some form and confidence ya know what these pre matches are all about and why England purposely selected their top 7 batters in the first place.....
Basically they cant get Bell out a player they've mocked as not very good in the past so turn what has been a fabulous innings into a negative in true ozzie style.
Wankers, hope we thrash this lot and shut the feckers up, no wonder they are worried given the shite they've produced in the last 6 months.
You're trolling.
Ian Chappell's very good.
Not at all. If England hadn't seriously declined a clean sweep against this Aussie side would be a sure thing. And nobody thinks that is possible.
What exactly have England seriously declined from?
They're finally building up to something, which is more than what can be said for them in the past 2 decades.
I think Xavier Dohertys selection was very much aimed at getting at Pietersen and trying to keep him down, the Ozzies fear Pietersen because theyve witnessed first hand what he can do to any attack even in their conditions, they dont have a Warne this time round and Pietersens clearly borderline incompetent against left arm spin (it doesn't even have to be good left arm spin either) for whatever reason hence the selection, i think its a message to him as much as anything, how a man of his ability still hasn't fathomed out how to bat against even dobbers merely because they lob it down southpaw i really don't know.
????????????? You obviously haven't seen much of England lately, their bowling/fielding in particular is miles better than anything I have seen from England in my life time. And England have tailenders who can seriously bat which Ive never seen before either.
BBC Sport - Cricket - Ashes: England beat Australia A in final warm-up
My Cricket predictions in the last two months have been way off the mark though, won't be surprised to see the same for these ones.
Is my prediction.
I know mate - i just fancy him too.
Not much of a claim.
From the last Ashes. Obvioulsy.What exactly have England seriously declined from?
It's not like we just lost Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Gilchrist and Langer all in one go, and it's not like we just broke up a team like the Windies in the 80s either.
With Siddle & Johnson in the Australian attack, England should be getting 500+ quite comfortably, short, wide rubbish is there stock bowl. Absolute joke that Siddle is there in front of Bollinger.
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