blonde poker forum

Anyone know of a website where I can watch the Ashes?

I've done a quick Google search, & come up with www.streamingfootball.co.uk, has anyone used this?

Thanks,

Tonji.

As Russell Crowe says, "You are in for so much pain" :) Australia are going to take back the Ashes at a canter.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm

 ;hattip;

As for a link to watch it, no idea mate.

PM Nemesis, if he still lurks he'll sort it for ya.

footballstreaming.info/

This was the site Nemesis told me to check out for all footie related stuff, so hopefully you should be able to find something on there, or via there.

Good luck !

Isn't he a flippiling kiwi anyway? Jumping on the bandwagon thats what I say!

I think I'll listen to the wireless, that is until England look like they can compete in this series. I'm not hopeful for the first test. Still looking forward to this. CMON THE POMS

You're welcome

10 mins till the 1st ball, getting all tingly now. Can't wait.

lol first ball bowled to second slip

looks like it could be a loooooooooooong day for Englands bowlers.

How crap are we playing tonite?  Need to sort this out quickly or the ashes might be over already.

Were only an hour and a bit it in. Loooong way to go, lets not start getting down on them yet.

Freddie gets the break though, come on England, lets get Ponting early...

Freddie is fired up now, another wicket before lunch would be interesting...

Great wicket although Hayden is a plodder anyway.  Langer would be a real prize.   Quite enjoying it so far.  The sunny weather helps, it looks lovely there at the moment :D

Only watching till lunch (2am isn't it?) Need to sleep!

edit: would also be sweet to get Ponting out, that would make me chuckle, especially if he went out for less than 10

oops, he's on 8 now :(

its not looking hopeful, Harmison seems totally lost. Ahhh well things can only get better  :)

please remember this is the 1st day of a possible 25!!!!!!!!!

Hardly the end of the series, or the match after 1 day toiling in the field

I'm just gonna remember what happened at Lords last time before we came back to win. The Gabba is probably the aussies most successful ground, and as they were batting first were always going to be difficult to beat. Come on England!

Don't forget its a batters wicket, scores are likely to be high.  They have to bowl us out twice.

That is really not going to be a problem for them on Warne's favourite aussie test ground!

All depends on how long we can make them bat (if at all) in their second innings

So much pain

The problem is for England to win the ashes they need their strongest side out and for the vast majority of them to be on form.  They are already missing Vaughan, Tres and S.Jones and they then leave out Read and Panesar.  The batting lineup is inexperienced but potentialy very capable but its the bowling attack that just isn't good enough imo.  Freddie is different class but apart from him its looking pretty bleak, at least if Monty was in there you would have the hope that he could produce something special, you know Giles can't do that.  But like the man said its day 1 of 25 so heres hoping things pick up.

Bit of a depressing day yesterday. For all the build up only to see Harmy bowl like a bag of tosh. I think we have to try and get them all out for under 500 and hopefully Harmy starts firing again. In terms of batting i see Ian Bell's innings being the most important for us. With him being promoted to number 3 the pressure on him will be immense. If he stays in and hangs around it will make it easier for Pieterson/Flintoff against the older ball if not i could easily see them skittling through us.

In terms of Gilo playing hes the best left arm finger spinner the world has ever seen! As they say its all about the gilo!

Spot on about Bell.  Technically he is the best batsman we have, I have doubts about his mental strength though.  We will definetly find out in this series if he is made of the right stiff.

As a Scotsman I know sod all about cricket, But England at 30-1 in a 2 horse race has got to be worth £20. (I know a draw is a possibility!) England could come out and score 600 when they bat right!

well like I say worth £20

There is no way we could have picked Monty... look at our batting! I dont understand on what basis Jones comes back in for Reid?

I'm going to watch a couple of hours tonight, hopefully see Harmo bowl like he can

I believe Jones was picked because on overseas tours it is the job of the Coach and to a lesser extent captain who chooses the side. I think Graveney instigated putting Read in and Big Dunc has taken it in his hands to put in Jones. I personally believe this is the correct move although i know the vast majority differ in opinion. I dont care about the other ten players aslong as gilo is in the side.

hoggggggggggggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

im up an all watchin it....starting to a swing a bit now..come on harmy get it together!!!

Wouldnt mind seeing  a bit of KP throwing some twirlers down.

602-9 declared. Lets hope we dont lose a wicket before end of play. Was hoping to go to bed at tea but took down 5k guranteed on Party!

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx glenda on a hat trick

This is depressing, my lifestyle/job now allows me to watch every ball. Its like watching every ashes series i have seen (im only 27) rolled into one with the exception of last year.

Good luck to England, avoiding the follow on is job one.

I've punted a little on you just now, hope you put up a spirited performance for the first few wickets for your price to drop ;)

the one thing I have seen is how well peterson gets the ball to spin! give him the spinners role, chuck giles on the scrap-heap, and let panesar take a flyer.

He started out as a spinner before developing his batting believe it or not.

hmmmm......its difficult to find any optimism for England at the moment. A return of Vaughan, is needed, I think his captaincy has been greatly missed since his injury problems.

can I delete this thread yet?

completely embarrassing

I notice that the collective brains of our genetic scientists are wasting their time on things like finding cures for diseases whilst they neglect our most pressing concern - cloning an all-Flintoff English bowling attack.

 rotflmfao rotflmfao still waiting for some aussie blondes to give us some stick, but there dont seem to be any!!

tanks gone for the emotional hedge. If Australia win, as a scot he can be happy england lost, and if england win, he can be consoled with a few quid in his back pocket.

Genius move

delete it now please :(

Keep it!

Great stuff from Collingwood and Pieterson - slightly undone with the loss of Flintoff to an aweful shot, sure he wouldnt need me to tell him that.... 5 wickets left. If it rains we only need to hold out for 4 hours... one wicket an hour!

I root for England at the cricket, always have done.

I want a draw, to haunt Ponting throughout the rest of the series. The cheeky chappie can kick himself for not enforcing the follow on.

it could have got interesting had Collingwood and Pieterson still been togerther at the end.

At least we made a fight of it yesterday, bloody typical that its the first day i missed of this test due to getting a wee bit drunk yesterday. I reckon we need it to rain for a least half of the day for us to get the draw, but it would serve Ponting right.

Can anyone do the rain dance?  I've topped up on my lay of Australia (only a few pence but it makes a difference at those odds).

Come on the rain, I hope thunderstorms come or we hang in there.  Was a good showing yesterday.  I was a bit worried after the first wicket went pretty quickly but the rest of the boys held in a bit. 

Oh man, KP out first over today :(

Delete now, it's all over bar the rain.


(http://www.treehugger.com/files/th_images/raindance.jpg)

I think someone said this earlier but with Tresco, Vaughn, Read, Jones and Panesaar we'd have a side to match them. The decision to drop Panesaar for Giles is awful. Giles can make 20 odd runs and field better - and what? Has he ever actually turned the ball? Might as well be bowling 50 MPH seem deliveries! He's only there coz he's Vaughno's best mate.

I agree with Bell being technically our best batsmen but I'm just not sure he has the gritty Thorpe style staying power needed. (Although in Pakistan he proved me wrong)

So I would drop Bell and play (if everyone was fit and available):

Tresco
Strauss
Vaughn
Colly
KP
Freddie
Read
Shaggy
Harmy
Jones
Turbanator

I'd expect to see Monty back in the side for the next test.  Not sure about Bell.

Your list is good, trouble is, they're not all fit so who ya going to play Mr Baron?

Jones in at 10 ?

I give up picking and order with the tail end.

All I know is Hoggard is quite useful and Panesaar isn't.

Cook
Strauss
Bell (till Vaughn is fit in the later tests)
Collingwood
KP
Freddy
Read
Shaggy
Harmy
Anderson
Panesaar

Shame about Tresco.

I don't like the idea of two spinners at all.

Ah Simon Jones,  I was thinking Geraint Jones!  I see you've dropped him for Chris Read

Quite agree with the spinners, 1 is enough.

I think Anderson out for Monty will be the change for the next test. Thats not to say there should be more! Brittle Batting and soft bowling attack, I dont think there is anything in the squad to firm either of them up

On some of the pitches over there I think dropping a seamer is suicide.

The seamers were utterly useless (Flintoff aside) so might as well play two spinners, especially in Adelaide.  I get the feeling we are going to struggle to take 20wickets in any test with our bowling attack as it is.  Harmy is all over the place, Hoggy can't swing the kookaburra and Anderson not good enough.

In Adelaide, slow wicket, both teams will play two spinners.

In Sydney, where it spins, the same

In Perth..fast, bouncy, four seamers

Jury out on Melbourne

Panesar for Anderson or Harmison if brave

win toss, bat put up a total and try to put their batsmen under pressure


Problem is I can't see us taking 20 wickets a match.

Going to be a long winter


Pr

Anderson got better throughout each innings - but it'd be a brave choice to drop Harmison.

lets face it one isn't quite good enough..one four ball an over and Harmy is out of technique and form

In an ideal world you'd play neither. Stuart Broad is the best of the lot, sat in the development squad in Perth!


Anderson and Hoggard are English condition bowlers, need big seams, not Kookaburra balls, and cloud cover. Both they are not going to get.

Lets not break Broad so early. Facing that batting line up on their turf first up could set him back a couple of years. Trying to bowl harmison back into form must be the way to go.

I think the only change we will see is Monty in for probably Anderson, though depending on the state of the wickets in later tests he should replace giles in Perth for example.

I personally favour Read behind the stumps, tho Jones was certainly no where near our worst player in Brisbane.
 

I think Harmy needs another go, its a big risk, but if he just happens to find some form there hope England can take 20 wickets. Bring in Monty, who I think can put some pressure on the Aussies & unnerve them a bit. All is not lost.......not just yet  :D

Fletcher has said Harmison wont be dropped.

He's also hinted at an unchanged team for the second test. SIGH!

Sigh just about sums it up


Interestingly it is the coldest november in Adelaide for yonks, top 24c..this could favour our seamers if its cloudy, as long as they land it on the pitch of course

Clutching at straws?

England are going down mate, payback time for last years fluke!

Fluke is a bit strong.

With 11 fit players England's test side cant beat anyone.

Fluke? Winning a 5 match test series is rarely a fluke and the 2005 ashes were dominated by England, if it weren't for the weather England may have won the series 4-1, they were ahead in both the drawn matches.

I am not clutching at any straws. I accept we are the worse team. It will be nice for our bowlers to have more "english" conditions though, it may be an equaliser

Please note another loss...I am out in Ausralia at the moment nd yo uwould not believe the &%$@ I am getting. Seriously, 75% of shops I go in want to talk about the cricket.
Last year, I believed we could win all five tests, this time,  really cant see where a win will come from. Hopefully I can get some tickets still for the Sydney test! Eternal optimist...

Oops, unchanged line up for 2nd test.... no Monty :(

all hope evaporates  :( seems a negative move

I am pretty sure that this is the most boring sport(sic)  to watch but hell comon auz do the limeys.  ;goodvevil;

Yep they've gone for a match-saver in Giles as opposed to a pontential match-winner in Monty.

At least we won the toss which makes me wish even more that Monty was playing....

Yep , good toss to win, gotta make sure we rack a few runs up and put the convicts under a bit of pressure.

new plan if we lose this  test match

1) build a 30ft high wall around Australia
2) fill it with water

Ffs what the hell is going how on earth can we not play Monty. This is a joke.

Not yet it's not, they may do ok. I'm going to be positive for as long as possible.

A good enough day for England .... 266-3

steady morning session tomorrow, then throw the bat at it in the afternoon and then the hard work will start, trying to bowl the convicts out twice on a good wicket ;)

Simply the fact he cant bat and we already have 3 in there who can't either - oh and the fielding!

266 Runs in a day, jeez how boring must that have been before Peterson starting batting.

It's a good start though, I think the key thing is that we are still batting!

its a slow wicket with long straight boundaries.

its a slow outfield.

Aussies bowled very well to a plan. Warne was turning it square on the first morning

I find the Panesar decision baffling, unless of course the pitch gets variable bounce and Anderson swings it. Lets settle for baffling then

We need 450+ and then to bowl our socks off.

Agreed

I don't remember it being an excellent performance, more that Australia were off form. One Ashes win in 20 odd years and the Pommes were going berzerk. All it did was awake the Aussies. 5-0 this time round, unless England can muster up a draw.

So many of the shots that would make it to the boundary on any other ground pulled up short, this is a really slow outfield.

As someone who once watched Engalnd score 161/1 on the first day of a Durban test in 44 degree heat, I'm delighted with how we did today.

The Ashes have finally started!

Nonsense, England played very well in the last Ashes series.   By a similar argument, Australia only won the last test because England were so awful.

Total rubbish.....

You were lucky to only lose 2-1 and were outplayed on most days of the series. Fair enough you guys have been the better team over many years, but give credit where credit is due or you'll be put down as another aussie who is a bad loser.

The fact that Monty is a worse batsman than Hoggy, Anderson and Harmison is a complete fallacy, i will bet money with anyone that his test avg will be better than any of these players at the end of their careers. It is a known fact that people who coached Monty as a kid felt he had talent as a batsman, he isn't as good as Giles with the bat  i accept that. His fielding is poor but not picking someone cos they are a poor fielder is a joke.

We are 1-0 down in this series, we are not going to win test by having someone who score an extra 10 runs down the order. We are going to win tests by having someone who takes wicket and allow us to bowl the aussies out twice.

I know sport is a matter of opinions but i just think not picking Monty is pig headed selection policy which is plain wrong.

End of rant.

I listened to the coverage on 5 live extra last night and heard Boycott and another talking about the Monty/Giles thing,  it was suggested that during practice bowling, monty was bowling flat and too fast for any spin to take effect, you have to remember that these wickets are totally different from english wickets and Giles was and is bowling better than monty in the nets, that coupled with his better batting skills was given as the reason for the selection.

he's no Aussie......

Could have fooled me...

C'mon Crickets a great sport for the Scots... we don't play it, we just get to laugh when England lose, but we don't care when they win ;)

Bllks.

Panesar is the best spin bowler in the country. Do you really see Giles bowling out Australia on any pitch?

The best optionfor this test was to include Panesar at the expense of Anderson.

Giles is a better batsman than Panesar and we already have a long tail, but Panesar is by far the the superior bowler and should be picked, even it means dropping a seamer, picking another batsman and getting Coliingwood and Pietersen to bowl a few overs.

I suppose if you dont win anything yourself, its one of the few pleasures you get in life :P

You do play it, you're just not very good at it :D

http://www.cricketeurope4.net/SCOTLAND/home.shtml

Scotland have a national cricket side too

The first session tonight will be massive.  If England can get through it unscathed or with only one more man down then they should be in good shape but if the Aussies get a couple of quick wickets it could go pear shaped. I think it was a decent first day but its very much in the balance, we need 450+ on that pitch.  Oh and Monty should be playing.

Agreed. The first session will great to watch. I have a four pack of Grolsh chilling for the occaison!

I think we'll post a good score now, I'm not sure we can bowl the assuies out twice though. I'm on the fence as far as monty is concerned, but we need the other bowlers (esp Harmy) at their best to have a chance to win the game.

The average 1st inninngs on this wicket is 418!

You dont remember it? Maybe you watched a different series to everyone else then? Ponting himself admitted it was an excellent performance.

Its been interesting reading the Aussie newspapers during the tests

here's yesterdays http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/index/0,,5001505,00.html

A crucial day ahead. Pietersen double hundred  :) is due.

At 43/2 yesterday the whole series was in danger of turning into a huge embarassment. However, credit where credit's due, Bell and Collingwood came in under massive pressure to deliver, and that's exactly what they did. As for Pietersen, well he's just been different class. I'm watching this morning's play here in Sydney, and as I type Pietersen has completed his century.

England currently trading at 5.1 to win this test which I would say is decent value!

ooops! I just laid them at 5.4 for 200 bones... I dont think they can skittle the assies out for cheap, but the assies can skittle england out for cheap in the second innings.. and on this pitch the orstralians are almost certs to nail a big score. Is good viewing though.

Fascinating viewing at the moment. I'm no expert but I do think England have a chance here, these two look like they mean business and are piling on the runs now. England could well make 550+ here which is a big score to chase even for the Aussies.

Grosh report - I fell asleep shortly after opening the 4th can.

lol

I got a crate of stella from morrisons for a 10 spot.. watching cricket.. drinking beer, and occasonally playing a few hands of poker is great fun

200 partnership

;kneelsucker;

Is there any logical reason why Warne persisits in bowling round the wicket to Pietersen?

to frustrate him into making a silly mistake through lack of scoring

Another record broken -

(BBC)

 ;kneelsucker;

Well it sure as hell didn't work!

200 for Collingwood, SHIP IT! Did I say 550, i meant 750  ;yippee; ;sexybanana;

I reckon they will bat out the day and then we'll see some fireworks for an hour in the morning before putting the convicts in.

Colly just out for 206, top effort!

lol when i laid england, it was 5.4 for england, 5.4 aussie, and about 1.6 the draw.. now its 5.4 england/21 aussie/1.29 the draw. No faith in the bowlers

Collingwood haas played so well, you never feel like he is gonna get skittled

BOKKKK. The shame

great innings

Absolutely outstanding effort, particularly as England were in trouble at 43/2 when he came in.

 ;tightend;  - lol at that smiley being called 'tightend'.

Predictions for score at close of play today?

I'll go 581/7.

Off to watch the final session in a beachside pub in Sydney shortly  :cheers:, then tomorrow flying to Vegas for a couple of weeks - life could be worse!  ;dewi;

Wow nice score on the board. Pietersen and Freddie coming to the crease after tea could be exciting!

I went to high school in Oz so I class myself as part-Aussie - has that affect on you :)

We'll see what the score is at the end of the series, if you guys manage to lose by just 2-1 that'd be more impressive than your victory last year. I'm just being realistic, England get one result in 20+ years and they are suddenly the worlds best team, meeting the Queen etc.. they showed no respect to Australia after their win and will get crushed because of it.

Showed no respect ??   now you have just made it patently obvious that you dont have a clue what you are talking about .

Fantastic performance, today. We still need the bowlers to get stuck in, but Freddie looked like he's up for it (predict a 5 wicket haul for him).

Decider: You're more Aussie than you think  ;) If you cant see how Flintoff, Pieterson & Co have always respected the Aussies, check the interviews today.

That was just about a perfect days play.  Collingwood was superb and Pieterson is different gravy, and taking the wicket of Langer was a big boost as well.  Just need the bowlers to fire tonight and get Ponting out earlyish.

Warne owned!!
Never thought i'd see the day this living legend got hammered, his worst bowling figures EVER in an innings.................AAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't see how a 2-1 defeat can be more impressive than last year's series win.

We have a fighting chance of winning this Test (though a draw is most likely). We destroyed you in Sydney four years ago (when arguably your team was stronger than it is now). No reason why we can't do that again.

The Convicts should stick to egg chasing, though hang on, the last World Cup was held in Oz and who won that?

We never claimed to be the worlds best team and think you guys are big favourites for this series. All I was saying is don't be a bad loser and give England some respect where it is due, and it was due after last summer....

Good start!

Two more before lunch would be nice!

aye, not a bad start, come on lads

Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy.....

I did actually (and still do to avoid dissapointment) not believe we could cut through their batting line up.... hoping they continue to prove me wrong! One more in the next hour and we're laughing (particularly if his name is Ricky)

Cmon the Poms.... aussies starting to crack!!!!!

erm... at least we know monty wouldnt of held it either... that could be huge - Pointing dropped on 35.

It was the turning point I think.  Can't see anything other than a draw now unless pitch deteriorates very quickly.

Oh dear.

Strauss was unlucky but what was that all about  ;popcorn; >:?

Sandy

Finally, a boundry this session.

Hope it helps settle the partnership, 4 quick wickets made things a little two interesting. They really need the lower order to do it's thing. (Some kak to watch, defensive batting)

A nice dull draw please cricket gods.

Starting to get scary!

However if they get us out with 220 to chase I think it could go either way depending on time and how well England bowl.

oh dear england all out for 123, leaving the aussies 167 to chase in 38 overs, a very achievable total.

This is it....we lose this test from such a dominant position the ashes are lost.....

....where's mike atherton to bat out the day when u need him :(

If they can't defend 168 in 37 overs then they don't have much hope. Over 4.5 runs an over in test conditions is tough if the bowlers bowl defensive. On this pitch with a slow outfield it should be impossible.

Sandy

Well i have to say we have made a right arse of this today. In some ways it has been a good thing its made for an exciting days cricket.

England need a wicket every 3.75 overs and pull off a huge upset. :)

Well they're easily achieving the run rate at the mo, but 2 wickets down for 33. Very exciting stuff!

quality shit! closed the old  poker down an all! And why is ashley giles even playin, the most useless cricketer ever, id rather have peiterson throwin in some twirlers.

I want to see 4 wickets and 60 runs in the next 10 overs

Then we'll have some excitement. (I don't ask much)

Very doubtful england can defend the run rate here so they'll need to bowl the aussies out i think......

pleeeease,  if there are cricket gods, just this once (till the next test) let us get the aussies out cheap. Go on.

australia do have a habit for making a complete pigs ear of small targets....theres always harmy to finally get his arse into gear!

getting exiting

England are gonna get blinded out at this rate.

Gotta start getting their chips in the middle and ship some slips and close fielders in.....

Very top heavy structure in this comp, gotta gamble.

typical england fuck up, ive never known a nation fuck up as much as england in different sports

Yeh, they're taking the piss now

This is going to be the most unlikely win I've seen since india followed on against the aussies and won the match.

I feel sick and thoroughly pwned.

Poor selection policy is haunting them now.

However at 2 down they didn't pressure the aussies with close fielders to stop the easy runs. Bad captaincy on top of bad luck (ponting lbw).

Sandy

don't speak too soon another couple of wickets and who knows....

The way Hussey is playing it'll be a miracle.

Sandy

come on fredddy

c'mon

4 overthrows LMFAO

WTF is all that about.

lol 13 to win from 6 overs :(

 ;iagree;

what is giles doin the guys a fckin joke...hes got a load of rough to aim  and hes throwing right down the middle! anyone see a 5 0 thrashing??
giles and anderson out....monty and saj mahmood in.

:(

Damn the Aussies just wont play out a comfortable draw, & England are just incapable of applying any pressure at the correct stages of the match. Seems like Warne was the difference in this Test, he's still world class. Its looking depressing for the rest of the series  :(

i would respectfully suggest that England are missing having a real captain out there on the pitch. Someone who can dig in and lead by example when the pressure is on.

Not too sure about that really. All I know is that this has pretty much buggered up any chance of this being an entertaining ashes.

Agreed, Vaughan was great in the last Ashes series. Freddie is not really a Captain.

Bad selections in this series, wonder what Monty thinks about being the best in the world (or near enough) and then not even getting in the team becasue an old geezer whos been out for a year gets the nod infront of you..

The interview with Duncan Fletcher really pissed me off.

"Giles was picked so that we can bat down to number 8" on the day that he scores 0!

Giles isn't the reason we lost, we lost because all of our batting order collapsed like something that collapses really easily.  Can't blame the bowlers, all we had to do was get to around 240 or so and not get out.

Aussies bowled superbly but Strauss (horrific umpires decision, one of those things) and Collingwood apart the batsmen caused their own downfall.


Worst of the lot was Geraint Jones, picked for his batting, swatting a ball he could hardly reach straight to gully two overs after lunch. Complete tosser!


We at least set a record last night, the highest ever first innings score then to lose a test match. See! we are good at something!!!


I am fed up of picking bits and pieces cricketers to make up for lack of confidence in others, and because they might bat a bit better or field a bit better. We need to take 20 wickets. They got the runs to win far too easily because Giles was incapable of applying pressure. 


pick read not jones

pick monty (and tell him to bowl slower) not giles




Anyway, rant completed, Warne was fantastic and Brett lee finally showed up. Just that England froze like rabbits in the headlights and bottled it when all they needed to do was block all day

My point is if your team can 'bat down to number 8' then you shouldn't be seeing collapses of this nature and yet this is the second time this series its happened.  

However, his tone and his refusal to admit they got it wrong suggests that we will continue to pick an ineffective bowler ahead of a better one on the basis of his batting ability when its quite obvious (to seemingly everyone but the selectors) that our current bowling attack will struggle to bowl the Aussies out twice.

I agree, they obviously have an inherent lack of confidence in the top 7 so sacrifice a wicket taking bowling option, to pick Giles at 8 who is good for 20 runs an innings tops, with a 50 once every 30 or so innings


The cost of the lack of wicket taking potential is not worth the benefit of Giles' runs is it?


Same for Jones at 7, does he really in the heat of battle guarantee you a load more runs than Read, who is a capable enough batsman? Of course not, and Jones will spill the odd chance that Read doesn't.

Again you sacrifice wicket taking potential for a few more runs. Maybe a few more runs!

Fletcher has, lets face it, two big blind spots in not picking Read and Panesar.

The whole of English cricket has the wrong mentality for Australia.

I also think that Strauss was the right captain for this tour, think he's got a great cricket brain as showed in the summer.

You need to Bowl them out twice, with Anderson, Harmison & Giles that aint ever gonna happen..EVER.

Picking Giles ahead of Panesar wasn't the reason we lost, but it was the reason we had no chance of winning...

Playing both at the expense of Anderson was another valid option.

When did Monty become the be all and end all. I would still say he's pretty unprove tbh.

The whole turning point of the match was the Pointing dropped catch by Giles (the fact that it was Giles is irrelevant)

Missing Michael Vaugh and Simon Jones on last years success. Take pointing and Lee from Austrailia and they would struggle more too.

Fact is they are better than us and we nered to perform above our level and they below for us to beat them.

I think it's very relevant. He's in the team for his batting and fielding coz he's certainly not a better bowler. Yet he didn't bat or field well. How relevant can dropping Ponting be?

Gower said somthing brilliant last night:

In his last 216 runs Ashley Giles has taken 2 wickets where as Panesaar has taken 8. (It may not have been 8 it was late and I was tired but it was a shite sight more than 2!)

Not one single selection policy really dictates why we lost but it seems strange you dont pick people in form and fit.

I was saying irrelevant because it could have happened to any of the fielders in that position (Peterson, Bell, Cook) plus the fact that there is no chance monty would have got to it.

In this test thought I Giles batted well in the first innings - scored at a similar rate to Flintoff at the end of the innings. show me a batsman that played well in the second (apart from Strauss).

We would be far more embarrased by leaving Cook (not in form), Strauss (not in form, looked okay today), Bell (okay), Peterson (good but hit or miss), Collingwood (good), Flintoff (okay), Jones (waste of time) - It is frail and we cant afford to keep losing the last 4 wicket for 20 odd.

I see what you're saying Rooky but I dont see anything Giles is offering the team at the minute.

After a fantastic summer, Monty offers wickets at least.

Also Monty is younger, would it not make more sense to give him some experience down under?

How much longer will Giles be around?

This si the biggest series for England. Its what you blood young players for, not when you do it.

They're 2-0 down. Not much to lose and what they currently have isn't working...

He and Cook were blooded all last summer. Not as if he hasn't played test cricket is it?

The Cook situation shows why Monty hasn't been picked. He has scored heavy against lesser opposition, however the Aussies are a different prospect. They have his number and he knows it. I feel it would of been the same with Monty. There isn't a lot of difference between him and Giles in bowling terms, but Giles is a superior batsmen and fielder (despite the dropped catch).

Look at the problem areas:
Giles has a better average this series than most of England's batsmen.
Jones is a poor selection, both his keeping and batting.
Harmison has 'lost' it.
Flintoff is poor with the bat, has been for quite a while, and doesn't justify being picked for his batting.
Strauss was the best candidate for skipper.

The biggest problem is that their players are better than ours...

This is incorrect. The openers have struggled but the next three have very decent averages and big scores

lol....not incorrect Giles is 4th in the England averages.
Flintoff, Cook, Strauss, Jones all below him!!

I'd say there was a huge difference

there are 5 specialist batsmen in the england team and he is below 3 of them

flintoff is an allrounder, jones a wicket keeper


3 of out 5 specialist batsmen are above giles

Love

Mr Pedantic

lolololol
I'd use wickie and jones very loosely in the same sentence.
Giles is neither a batsmen or an all rounder, yet still outscores most the team. If you cant put runs on the board you wont win test matches. England aren't good enough to consistently get runs.
Then, the bowling just hasn't been good enough.
Personally I would have liked to see Monty play, but for people to believe he's the answer, or that he is way better than Giles, is just delusional.

Quicker Vaughan gets fit the better, but England will still win only 1 of last 3 tests at best

So what is this average Giles has? Is it one that will turn a test match? Doubtful. Wickets will though.

Comparing his stats to Monty's will also show you he IS the inferior bowler to Monty.

The fact giles has a better crap average that other batsmen who have been batting poorly and also have a crap avegare means nothing when it comes to changing a match.

Lower order batsmen must be valued by their partnerships rather than their individual average.

True but you must also take 20wickets to win a test match

And runs saved by better bowling/getting people out spend the same as runs scored with a bat...

Nail. Head. Hit.

Panesar, Giles, Read and Jones all played in the same match this weekend...

Jones lasted 1 ball whilst Read hit a useful 59, Giles 4, Panesar didn't get to bat.

Giles' figures of 8-0-33-0 to Panesar's 25-6-69-1.

I've also read reports that Panesar was utilised around the bat (leg slip and somewhere else) and his confidence, and fielding, was much improved.

3rd Test just started - Aussie's won toss and batting first.

Panesar and Mahmood in for Giles and Anderson.

Monty gets his 4th wicket.

Selectors should run for cover me thinks.

Sandy

As a member of the Monty appreciation society, can i be the first to say I told you so. Just taken the 5th as i speak.

Wonder why fletcher thought picking Giles over Monty was a good idea, you dont get wickets you can never win.  Glad he shoved that decision right up flethers ass today with a 5fer.

Sounds like it's been a great day so far :)

Is it being streamed on the net anywhere does anyone know?

England 37-2 - Cook out for 15, Bell just gone 2nd ball.

Well in the balance. I would have lumped on Austrailia as their innings finished.

LMFAO ... just watching a news item on the cricket .... I swear this was what was said...


"Then england lost another wicket, the Bell end came quicker than everyone had hoped"


Ive just spat coffee all down my top !!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'm deleighted for Monty and must applaud Harmison on his return to form. He appears to have worked phenomenally hard to get there, and thats terrific for him

Shame this wasn't the team picked for the 1st test


We need a good first innings lead, don't fancy chasing much at all versus Warne in the foruth innings on a pitch already taking spin.

At the moment, I fancy Australia to win a close one as I don't see us getting that lead

Finally, how much more interesting is it to watch a test played on a pitch that gives bowlers a chance too...the pitch in Adelaide made for very slow cricket, enlivened only by England's last day collapse.

Wow. It's worth underlining what an exceptional performance that was by monty. Warne, who's regarded as the best spinner to have played the game has a career best of 4-88 at the WACA.

For Monty to eclipse that in his first ashes test is amazing.

Crongrats to GBH too for coming good and showing the talent that helped win us the ashes last time. I think england have already given themselves too difficult a task to retain the ashes, but credit where credit's due, that was an excellent bowling performance and they definitely have a shot at this test match.


lool. Hopefully this will go down as one of the classic cricket quotes along with the legendary "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willy"

I remember Brian Johnson cracking up in uncontrollable laughter on Test Match Special

Audio link on this page http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/test_match_special/905293.stm

Classic Radio.

sigh


If I ever meet Geraint Jones (especially, though it applies to several others), I hope I will have the maturity not to kick him very hard where it hurts

It's all a bit disappointing again isn't it.  Whilst we've played very well at times, again, we've lost wickets cheaply and can't bat a session out.   Taking a wicket with the first ball of the 2nd Aussie innings should have been a great start for us, but nothing now for the rest of the day and now all Ponting and Co have to do is dig deep and the Ashes are theirs. 

Who said Monty can't bat?

Duncan "I'm very stubborn and hate admitting I'm wrong" Fletcher

Abandon all hope  :) :) :) :) :)

que (soundtrack) The Doors

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end .......

Good of England to let Gilchrist have an attempt of the quickest century ever.

Anyone know the quickest on record?

was it Afridi in something like 36.. or was that a one dayer...

viv richards i believe

56, Gilchrist was one ball short.....

For some reason I was thinking Jaysuryia but I think that was a one dayer.

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/FASTEST_TEST_100S_50S.html

from the footnote:
"NJ Astle's second hundred in his 222 took 39 balls."

That is quick!

good start so far ;popcorn;

That was close!

yeah a  gnat's cock away

All over now, only a matter of time before freddies luck ran out

sob sob

Another heroic performance from Geraint Jones.

Another bad performance.   Last 4 wickets falling for 14 runs.

Not good.  I bet the Aussies are loving it.

Well, I think congratulations are in order for Australia.

15 days to win back the ashes, 3-0 up already. England have to hope that Australia start experimenting with their lineup or they are in for a whitewash.

 ;bat; ;yippee;

don't really think England will care that much anymore.   

having watched them in the first 3 games they didnt appear to care to start with...............

I think they tried as hard as they could really, they are just up against a great team with home advantage.

I feel a bit sorry for all those who have spent fortunes arranging trips to Sydney and Melbourne now only to see dead tests.


Just a bit sorry mind, they are still going to have a good holiday!

That's true, it's a bit of an expense, but I'm sure they will have fun while they are out there anyway.

England will continue to try as hard as they can, perhaps they can pull something back to give them hope for the future. It won't be easy in future tests if Australia do manage a 5-0 defeat.

think my bet of 3-1 in the series is looking good....the last one is always a fix if the series is already won....

agreed, we usually win the dead one at the end

I feel 4-1 is pretty likely

Some people on 5 Live yesterday were saying they were going to cancel their trips because of it.

I'd still go

To be honest i'd still be backing 5-0, the aussies would love nothing more than to whitewash england in the ashes and to be honest i cant see where an england victory is going to come from even if the aussies take their foot off the gas.

Agreed, sad but true. Even their wicket keeper is batting brilliantly. ;)

Great start yesterday, another collapse today :(

Piss poor

Last six wickets fall for 57 in 24 overs ... wankers !

some of the shots they have played to get out in that innings are increible, they look more like one day chase shots than 5 day test first innings shots.

Having watched them every ball in the first 5 games......... the true british mentality towards success and failure shines thru,just 15 months ago people jumped on the bandwagon of success and they enjoyed it,now a few of these people  post unknowledgable uncontructive shit because the team have been stuffed.What people like matt should realise is that the 2005 ashes victory was a fluke and just because the manger caused a stink by picking the wrong spinner in the first 2 tests in oz if he had'nt it would not have changed the results anyway.
Just because the far better team have won why do people start saying the English players dont care?it really pisses me off to see and hear such crap,Decider youve hit the nail on the head and i could'nt agree more with your concise analysis.

You had a bet Ed ??  ;)

Some of the play from the England side has been appauling though!   I don't thing it's just because we're all miserable old buggers who don't like losing (although it doesn't help)  Some of the shots the batsmen have been going out to are laughable.  It pains me to say it but KP, who is one of our better and more exciting players has been out 3 or 4 times playing shots he shouldn't have been playing.

For years, people took the mick out of Geoff Boycott for his 'make sure you don't get out' mentality, especially when the Australians were caning everyone at more than four an over. This is exactly what we needed during this series.

At times the England players have looked like they were trying to dust the ball instead of hit it in the middle of the bat.

I had a bet at the start of the series 5-0, let them continue to play bad for atleast a few more days pleaseeeeeeeee.

i see the thrashing is continuing at pace :/

looks like Warney wants that century and is going all out to get it!

I for one would love to see Warne make his 100 here. I know he is on the other team but hey, you have to acknowledge brilliance.

Brilliant trash talk too, he's just told Collingwood he should be ashamed he accepted an MBE for scoring 7 runs in the Ashes win.

well i would just like to say that i hope england get atleast a draw

as i dont want people thinking 5 nil is something so easy to achieve


it took me minutes of practise to beat tikay 5 nil

lol Shane Warne was the highest run  scorer for the Aussies, 71!  Damn we are poor at cricket. 

Then another batting collapse,

Just don't turn out for the last day guys, get on a plane home in the middle of the night

Is Monty in as a night watchman?  :dontask:

There was always little hope in the series, and without Vaughan (probably the 2nd best captain in the world) a fit Trescothick and the best bowler from the last ashes (Jones) it was going to be ugly.

England knew that the tail was weak and for me it is the difference between the two tails that has been a deciding factor. We never got enough runs to create pressure, its far easier to take 20 wickets when you are able to apply pressure.

yes

So, Can we bowl the Aussies out for 20?

Wonder if the Aussies will send Warne out to bat with Langer, with McGrath at 3.

That would be fun.  Hope so.  Taking the piss abit though :D

lol...the draw is still on !!!!....1000/1 on betfair....dont all rush

I think I'll give the draw a miss ta :)

Hilarious thing just happened in the South Africa v India match .

India began their 2nd innings and lost 2 wickets in the first three overs, when the second batsmen was out at 6 for 2 no  batsman appeared. Apparently the batting team have three minutes to get the next batsman to the crease, it seemed that Tendulkar who should have been in next was was not able to appear at that moment and realising that the next man in could be given out(timed out)they toyed with putting in a bowler instead.

After the third umpire had chatted to the umpire via radio a proper batsman did appear almost 5 minutes after the last one was out and apparently the rule is if South Africa had appealed to the umpire he would have had the option to give the new man out, timed out to wicket.

I have never seen that or heard of that form of dismissal before.

Fair play to South Africa for not appealing tho.

Apparently, 4 players have been given out 'timed out' before but it has never happened in a test match.

I feel the South Africans really let us all down in this position. Where has all the contoversy gone in sport

What was he doing to take five minutes?! I think that and handling the bowl are the two rarest, though obstructing the field is up there too. about 10 or 11 ways to get out I think.

It's a classic sports trivia question - name all the different ways of being given out in cricket.

Everyone gets bowled, caught, lbw, run out and stumped. Those who know their stuff also quickly come up with hit wicket and handling the ball. Obstructing the field is known by very few and people think you're lying when you eventually tell them about timed out.

And retired-out too, which has only happened twice in test history (both in the same match...)

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