shows i know nothing about cricket!!!, or the Aussie team itself. which part of the order is usually the best? I figured it was the top half, so once those wickets fell I figured that they would not reach the required run rate
There's a long batting tail (that can wag usually), so if the top order doesn't fire on any given day, then the bottom order SOMETIMES does. If the top order does fire, then the tail isn't needed, except for their bowling skills.
and its a draw the commentators were saying they need to cut the trophy in half with 10 overs left if the game ended in a draw
Why have they scrapped the rule about number of wickets lost? After last checking at about 40/5, it pretty much needed Collingwood and Jones to produce something special. Looks like they, with Giles and Gough certainly did. Wish they'd put this on terrestrial TV, and S4C (and if anyone can tell me how to pronouce the S4 - I can cope with the C) are shite at putting highlights on even later than Channel 4 .
they didn't scrap that rule - each one day competition has its own rules, this was a 3 way cup competition and whoever drew up the rules obviously specified that no reference would be made to number of wickets lost. if it was a world cup match, for instance, then we would have won.
So who actually wins the tournament now? Do we get it for a better first round record, Australia for a better record between the sides, or just shared?
The game might have ended a tie, but Australia will get a lot of confidence from their bowling performance, especially Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. The England top order were once again exposed for their technique and patience, something we'll try to exploit in the upcoming test matches. We just need Gillespie to bowl himself into a bit of form before the first test and we'll be right. Anyway, back to the Final... Hussey's innings was really good, rescuing our innings in the middle overs. I thought Symonds was unlucky to get out after doing all the hard work. We're still not quite firing at the top, with Ponting still to find his form. Martyn got a beauty and Clarke was unlucky.
well firstly the game probably turned on a stupid run-out when collingwood fell over, otherwise england looked like breezing home. on the bowling side of things, i expect england will be equally pleased with the corresponding surrender of the australian top order. if england's top order was impatient then what the hell were hayden and gilchrist? symonds couldnt bear not to score off six consecutive balls and played a very poor and impatient shot. ponting has been just as ineffective as vaughn. michael clarke was not "unlucky" he was completely unable to score runs, and was caught on his crease when he should have been forward, no way that wasn't out. as you say, hussey was the outstanding batsman on either side, but how you can conclude that australia must be smugly feeling "we've got them here" when both batting line ups essentially failed in a game that was dominated by four bowling displays: mcgrath, lee, harmison and flintoff, two on each side, well i really don't know where you get that conclusion from! ponting et al certainly didn't look to be particularly pleased with themselves at the end of the match, anyway...
Chewie, that just shows both teams' attitude towards winning. Ponting & AUS were p!ssed off that they didn't win the game, whereas Vaughan & England were delighted they drew (tied) it.
Both teams made a few extremely stupid mistakes. It was more a matter of both teams just managing not to lose than one failing to win.
Not that I'm Welsh or anything shocking like that but I'm from NW England originally and I used to be able to get S4C on my little portable TV. From what I can remember it's pronounced something like "ess-pedwar-ek".
I realized this is pretty late, but I got a bit tied up when Tour de France started and lost track of this. Still, I hope it is in time for those in the US. Video highlights: Australia beating Bangladesh: http://media01.news.com.au/foxsports/video/010705cricketWeb.asf The bizzare tied England - Australia final: http://media01.news.com.au/foxsports/video/030705cricketWeb.asf Hope there are few posters here who find these highlights valuable.