Amazulu

Exactly, the pitch can work for either team, although winning the toss helps. Australia need to stop this ridiculous idea that they can win without a specialised spinner because they can't. I think some selectors need retiring. In a way, it's a reflection of the fact that Australia are now an average test team. Warne was always selected - even when the pitch did not suit him, he was that good and also had a good influence on the team.

Australia are too old, have a poor captain, management and selection team and have lost their spark.

The times they are a changing......

Swerv-o

Do you think this could be the last gasp for Ponting? He's definitely a fine batsman, but is he getting a bit tired as captain now?


S

Amazulu

I think so. He is just going through the motions now. Michael Clarke is a little prick, but he is young(ish) and deserves a go.

Burbage

Three of the four innings of the match made nearly 350, so the wicket wasn't really an issue. If all the innings had made no more than 200 then there might be a case against the wicket.

Australia lost because of the bowling of Stuart Broad on the second day. Pure and simple. It was a match winning performance, and he rightly got the MOM award.

fraser

Yep the only thing wrong with the wicket is the Aussies let it get into their mind that plus Broads spell = defeat.

Catch

My brother was watching the game over in the UK when Mitchel johnson was "sledging " Flintoff,laughed my bollocks off when they lost

spilko

The pitch was definitely set up to get a result but so it should be. Who wanted a drawn Ashes??? As for England banking it all on winning the toss???? Both teams scored higher in the 2nd innings than the first so, it actually wasn't a great assistance winning the toss, apart from putting the doubt in Aussie minds.

But 1200 runs scored in less than 4 days shows it wasn't a bad pitch..

Amazulu

Australia's domination of world test cricket ended on friday afternoon. Actually, when I think about it, it ended in Perth last December.

The Aussie Ashes side of 06/07 was their peak. Any Aussies that thought that they could lose so many great (some of the greatest) players and still be the best were kidding themselves.

moneypenny20

No idea which news channel was just on (was listening but not watching) but they did two long reports, talking to Brits and Aussies and giving a fair report. You guys definitely live in a different Australia to me. I also heard them saying that Ponting was probably due some grief and was it time he went? - let's hope so.

Swerv-o

Sounds like the show I watched on Nine this morning. I thought it was pretty balanced myself.


S

Broad Shoulders

Can't see it happening to be honest. The only way it will happen is by him retiring all together, which would be his choice, not the selectors. He is still the best batsman in the world and Aus, for as long as I can recall have not removed the captaincy from a player without removing him from the squad.

At the end of the day his captaincy did not lose him the series (unlike in 05). They were just outmuscled at the moments that counted, England stood up, Aus didn't. Winning at Headingly was the worst thing to happen to Aus. Had they drawn that one, you can be sure they would have really smacked England in the final test. They sat back in their usual arrogant way and believed that by just turning up it would be won, just like in 05.

I doubt it will happen, but Aussie cricket fans and the media in particular really need to change their arrogant attitude towards the rest of the world. There seems to be this belief that Aus have this god-given right to win all matches in which they play in. For a while they had the players to vindicate that belief. But they don't anymore, and they have to rid themselves of that and pay more respect to other teams. That also means looking at themselves when they lose rather than blaming it on dirty tactics as they have done in all the recent series losses.

It's only going to get harder for them too, as all those teams that have suffered at their hands over the last 20 years will be regalling in the opportunity to kick them while they are down.

I can't wait! It might instill a little humility in them

moneypenny20

One of the British supporters interviewed on the channel something news I saw said something along the lines of 'it's even sweeter because it's always you guys that win everything'. So it's not just some Aussies who think they have a god given right to win stuff.

Broad Shoulders

The funny thing is, that is just a hangover. It hasn't really been the case for a long time. We've seen the Aussies slide back down the order at the Olympics, Rugby Union, Tennis, Cricket and even Rugby League!

But people still have long memories. In a way, Aus have become the new England. The team everybody loves/wants to beat, a victim of their own previous successes.

Officer Dibble

Dont get carried away - its only one win.

Like the rugby and the football, probably be another decade before it happens again.

Love the fact that they keep referring to the amount of Saffas in the England team. Whats that about?

Broad Shoulders

I'm referring to their status. They are now 4th in the rankings, a long way off that top spot just like all the other sports they used to top the tables in. I can't see them regaining it for a long time to come now. Fortunately for them they have some relatively easy opposition in WI and Pakistan at home. However it would take India and SA to slip up to regain that position.