Warnie, Lee and Kasper did brilliantly at the end. Some very poor bowling from the poms to the tail. You really have to question the potency of a bowling attack when the tail is able to wag the much. A few lucky escapes but generally the tailenders didn't look too worried or intimidated by the English bowling.
Ponting would have to be kicking himself and regretting his decision to bowl first. I don't understand his thinking behind his decision. McGrath was a late withdrawal so thats instantly a big loss, making Warne the greatest weapon in the attack. Why would you choose to bowl first when a spinner is your best weapon? Common sense should tell you that it would be of greater advantage to have Warne bowling later in the Test to get the best out of the pitch. Also electing to bowl somewhat takes some of the pressure off the Poms when our bowling attack isn't as strong as it could be due to the loss of McGrath. I would think it would have been much smarter to bat first and amass a large total and giving the bowlers something to work with and mentally crush the Poms that way.
Punter's field settings too were a bit poor in my opinion. Watching the game on tv ponting had fieldsmen virtually fielding behind each other, covering the same lines. Its a silly mistake that you'd expect to be made in poor grade club cricket but not by the best team in the world. Maybe Ponting doesn't rate the poms as much as he should and hasn't given them the respect he should. His field placings improved in the 2nd innings when he found the right mix of attack and run saving. For example having a couple of men in the deep to discourage Pieterson and Flintoff from playing their favourite shots. This then means they have to play shots they aren't as comfortable with and the wicket is gained that way. Sometimes patience is a virtue and all out attack is not warrented. I guess its something Ponting will learn the longer he is captain, its something Steve Waugh had down pat, its not always about obvious attack, sometimes subtle patience and strategy is needed.
Was a great match and definately makes the series more interesting now. Hopefully McGrath will be back for 3rd Test but it seems unlikely.
I must say I feel really sorry for Kasper, he looked absolutely gutted when he got out. That must be one of the worst feelings in the world. He would be thinking along the lines of "I just lost the match".
Beech out
