Jason Gillespie

5-0 beckons

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:52:30 -0800

Lucky I am getting up to Sydney tomorrow as opposed to my original plan of Saturday. To my English friends, I am sorry but it will be all over sometime tomorrow after lunch. Australia will win this much anticipated series 5-0. First ball tomorrow, England will begin at basically 5-12 with Pieterson in and Chris Read to follow as the only recognised batsmen left.

Panesar, as night watchman, could possibly hang around for 20 minutes in the morning. ...

A fascinating day's play

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:41:30 -0800

It was an interesting day's play. England really needed to get through the new ball in the morning but were simply outclassed by the Aussie pace attack. I have mentioned a few times in past blogs that discipline and patience will bring rewards and the Aussies were certainly rewarded for this in the 1st session. A special mention to Gilly for taking five catches in an innings. This is a great achievement that probably does not get the accolades that a century or five wickets receives. ...

Today's first session will be pivotal

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:43:53 -0800

Honours even at the end of day one for mine. There was a bit of nibble off the wicket for the Aussie quicks early, and Strauss and Cook negotiated this tough period well.

Australia was rewarded for the umpteenth time this series for disciplined line-and-length bowling. The key to batting success in international cricket is making the fast bowlers come back for their second, third and fourth spells without breakthroughs. ...

Goodbye to three mates

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:20:47 -0800

Everyone in Australia will be hoping for a fond farewell for some of the greatest players to represent Australia. There will not be any issues there. England has been outclassed in every discipline in the game this series and I cannot see how that will change this Test.

I thought I would share a short story on each of the lads who are retiring after this game, just for something different.

I will start with Glenn. ...

What a fitting farewell for Warney

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:40:12 -0800

The juggernaut that is Australia keeps on chugging along. It was Australia's 10th win in a row in 2006 and it was clinical, professional and completely world class.

England had no answers. They were very much in the game when they had the Aussies 5-84, but the Hayden-Symonds partnership really did deflate them. From that moment, it was all over.

Brett Lee has been coming under fire for his lack of wickets. I have felt the criticism was not been justified. ...

Queenslanders run riot in Melbourne

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:05:53 -0800

My apologies for not getting my article out after day one, I was having computer troubles. Since I am not technology savvy I was having a bit of trouble.

What a fantastic partnership between Hayden and Symonds! It began with Australia under immense pressure at 5/84. They played with maturity and decisive shot selection on a wicket that has offered the bowlers just enough to trouble the batters if they pitch it in the right areas.

A word about the two stars. ...

These 'dead rubbers' are very much alive

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 23:40:32 -0800

What an amazing final two Test matches these will be. Yes, the Ashes have been won by Australia but with the retirement of two of the greatest players the game of cricket has EVER seen, these remaining matches take on much more significance than being merely "dead rubbers".

Warney and Pigeon have been the greatest double act in Test cricket history. ...

Ashes come home!

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:21:37 -0800

The Ashes are back where they belong. Three-nil after three Tests is a complete drubbing. Seeing Australia's domination so far in this series, it's hard to see how England can regroup and win a match. The Aussie boys can take a lot of pride out of their performance.

The batsmen have been getting through the tough periods and then cashing in on tired bowling with the older ball. The bowlers have relied on the tried and tested method of good old line and length. ...

Gilly steals the show!

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 23:08:30 -0800

Gilly, what a knock! Not sure if anyone will see cleaner hitting than that. I've been very privileged to witness some of his innings in the past, and for sheer timing, his hundred today is right up there. The way he took to Panesar was phenomenal.

His hundred somewhat overshadowed the contributions of the other century makers, Hussey and Clarke. They both played beautifully but their hundreds may become "Arthur Morris" innings. ...

Australia with their noses in front

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 02:25:35 -0800

It would be very interesting to chat with Kevin Pietersen and ask him what his thought process was when he was batting today.He was playing the Australian bowlers pretty comfortably out there.

What my guess would be is that he thought that the best way to keep the scorebord moving is to upset the bowlers line and length. Australia's bowlers are very good at 'strangling' the opposition batsmen by patient accurate bowling. ...