ray
Politico
Posts: 225 
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 13:11:58 GMT
On Harmy, I don’t remember the ball you mean. The only ball remember if his apart from the ‘06 slip ball is the time he hit Punter and put that little scar on his cheek you can see today whenever he’s on camera.
All bitterness at his sledge of Smith aside, I think he could have been one of the best you ever had, but just wasn’t.
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Post by giraffe72 on Sept 12, 2019 13:18:02 GMT
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. We’ve got 7 of the top 10 run scorers (last I checked) and have the much (much)better bowling attack. We’ve got depth in all departments, I don’t think you have. If you remove Smith, someone else fills his place, so you can’t assume that guy (Burns, Patterson, Kawaja?) makes none. Also 3-1 😘 Imagine how many were going to make on that track if you don’t bat till tea tomorrow. I think it was a good decision sending you in. We need 20 wickets for the win and it’s only going to help a bit today, then be turning square and up n down on days 4 & 5, and if we play it right they’re all going to be times you’re batting. Time will tell. Reminds me of that Bill Hicks joke. "Iraq has the 4th biggest army in the world!" "Yeah maybe, but after the first 3 there's a REAL big drop off! The Harry Krishnas have the 5th biggest army and they've already got our airports..." Smith is number one and has more than DOUBLE what the second highest scorer (Burns) has. And he's only played 3 and a half games. No Smith, no Ashes. |
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Post by giraffe72 on Sept 12, 2019 13:22:00 GMT
Slight correction, Stokes is 2nd and has just over half what Smith has in 3 more innings. There are also 5 England batters in the top 10, including 4 of the top 6.
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Post by LKeet6 on Sept 12, 2019 13:26:33 GMT
He had an incredible amount of potential. He was tall, quick and did a bit with it, but he will always be remembered for his ball to second slip. Missed out on this one! Nope, he will always be remembered for his brilliant slow ball at the end of a day's play in 05 to bowl Michael Clarke (I think). And for numerous devastating spells in a very good career. Not one of the true greats but one of my favourites of all time. That one horrific ball certainly does not define his career. Cheating does, however. Unfortunately. And going back to something else you said in this thread, the brilliance of Smith has been the only difference between these sides. Look at what's happened. Edgbaston, he scores 144 out of 284 in the first to dig you out of a hole, then another ton in the second to give you the advantage. No Smith, 1-0 England. Lords, he gets knocked out of the game but still contributed enough that the weather meant England didn't have time to win. Headingley he's out, England win. Old Trafford he scores an unbelievable double hundred coming in at 28-2, takes the game away and then steadies the ship again in the second when England have made in roads and are sniffing another miracle. Not to say Cummins and Hazlewood haven't been good because they have, as has Labiashane, but sorry Ray, no Smith = England win the Ashes. Simple as that. But you might not win the series. Very odd decision to put England in this morning and you've got the dropsies! 😂
Great post. Don't necessarily 100% agree, but great post.
I think Australia have the edge on bowling too. Our best 2 haven't quite been as consistent (broad needs to go at lefties, but as Aus have so many, that's not a huge issue!) and they've had a 3rd step up more often.
Also don't necessarily agree we win without smith, but you made your case well, would've been VERY interesting with a good but not great batsman in his place...
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Post by LKeet6 on Sept 12, 2019 13:29:48 GMT
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Post by giraffe72 on Sept 12, 2019 13:43:52 GMT
Ha, I'd just sourced this one youtu.be/KsWT87mBosgray might have erased it from his memory but it's clear as a bell in mine! |
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 14:01:16 GMT
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 14:06:16 GMT
I’m not going to win the no Smith no Ashes argument because we’re both guessing essentially - and you have the numbers lol. I could even choose to bang on about it in my normal Ray fashion, but I like you guys, so I’ll just leave it 😉
I think this thing is going to be a road apart from the first 10 overs of day 2 & 3. Even 400 isn’t going to be enough in the first dig here. You need someone to go big and set 500 or so.
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Post by giraffe72 on Sept 12, 2019 14:18:49 GMT
I’m not going to win the no Smith no Ashes argument because we’re both guessing essentially - and you have the numbers lol. I could even choose to bang on about it in my normal Ray fashion, but I like you guys, so I’ll just leave it 😉 I think this thing is going to be a road apart from the first 10 overs of day 2 & 3. Even 400 isn’t going to be enough in the first dig here. You need someone to go big and set 500 or so. Yes, never let facts get in the way of a good theory! 😉 Smith is on another planet to the rest of them, including his team mates. And to be fair I've really enjoyed watching him, he's just that good. It's an individual and unique talent, I swear he's got Tourettes? Still don't understand you putting us in. You say about giving you the best chance to take 20 wickets but you don't have to win this game to win the series. Bat first, put a big score on, series done by close of play tomorrow. This is inviting pressure and gifting England their chance to level it up. Dropping Root 3 times only adds to it! At least it will keep this interesting, I applaud the terrible decision! |
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 14:28:03 GMT
McGrath said it’s not a fitting result without a win here. It would undo Stokes’ heroics as far as the result goes. I agree with Pidge.
If you make a heap, we get to shut up shop for 1.5 in innings if we struggle early. It increases our chances of a win by taking advantage of the pitch when its good to bowl on (now and days 4 & 5), doesnt hurt our chances at a draw and almost eliminates a loss without 2 big collapses, AND you doing well with the weakest part of your side against the strongest part of ours right now.
Again, time will tell but it’s what i’d have done. Nice to see Mitch Marsh swinging it in the high 80’s. Now if he can just make a few...
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 14:39:02 GMT
A typical pitch here in WA. Looks like a seamers paradise but very tennis ball-ish bounce if you dropped short. Slower than the pitches in Victoria and Queensland than I played on, but better carry. That ground is bigger than the MCG, probably holds 10,000 in the stadium and will never host a fist class game. CountryAFL footy is huge here so they get great cricket grounds.
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 15:06:43 GMT
2 wickets in this session and I think we win the day. None and you do.
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Post by stokie1947 on Sept 12, 2019 15:29:59 GMT
500 Ray fecking hell be lucky get that in 3 innings with our batting of late  |
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Post by stokie1947 on Sept 12, 2019 16:19:50 GMT
woeful absolutely bloody woeful
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ray
Politico
Posts: 225
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Post by ray on Sept 12, 2019 16:43:53 GMT
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