blonde poker forum

Ok I'm not arsed about the current ODI's really, but today spiked my interest.

I'm going to the first day of the Ashes at Trent Bridge and really can't wait, I didn't realise it was the first day when I booked it.

6 months of Ashes home and away, going to be epic imo  ;nemesis;

Thursday and Saturday at Trent bridge, Saturday at old Trafford are the days I will be attending. I know a certain a blonde who might have tickets for Durham that used to be mine!

Looking forward to giving the Aussies a thumping but I think it will be more competitive than most imagine.

Yeah, agree with that Mark.
England batting has been poor the last 12-18 months on the whole, needs improving as conditions will suit the Aussie seamers. Even though their spin options are poor, Englands batters always struggle against spin.

Think the Warner incident might result in him playing better. Was relishing him trying to take the attack on early as he doesn't have the techniques to play English conditions. With whats gone on he might batten the hatches a bit and thus not give his wicket away as much.

Saying all that couldn't think of anything better than England smashing the Aussies to pieces. As a kid all I ever saw was England getting thrashed...

Hope England win easily at home, because I might get a great price the Aussies later in the year.

Thursday Friday Trent bridge possibly Saturday! Absolutely buzzing hope we crush their souls

4-0 England! Trott to score 750 runs in the series!

I still have a spare ticket for Days 3 and 4 of the Durham test if anyone's interested (or two tickets).

I can't wait for it, 1st day of the 1st Test is on my Dad's birthday, love the Ashes.

Thursday Trent Bridge for me - super stoked already.

What date mate? I might be up for it  :)

Sun 11th and Mon 12th August.

11th can make but not 12th, would be nice to meet in person for sure too.  :)

Booked for 11th then ? Yeah will be good.

Edit- obv can't make it now as mentioned, but ty for the offer anyway, I'm sure you will have a great day.

 ;danafish;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23026163

Just announced on Sky Sports that Nick Compton isn't in the England side to play Essex in the warm-up match.
Joe Root is going to open.

Preferred Arthur in charge to be honest. Lehman will galvanise the team

 ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader; ;danafish; ;danafish; ;danafish; ;sexybanana; ;sexybanana; ;sexybanana;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23224877

(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b633/callumm18/null_zpsba2dda2e.jpg)

Last night my childhood hero came to my local. Have not stopped smiling since. What a man!!

So excited for this starting now, CMON ENGLAND!!!!!!!

Grrr wanted Bres to play, hope Fin bowls well though.

Come on the Yorkies!

Juggling TMS & the Ashes & the Tour de France, just brilliant. Fear my business is at risk  ;D

Session 1 I make that 60/40 England.

Enjoying Strauss' commentary a lot.

On they other hand the Vaughan advert "Australia had the momentum, Harmison...." is already starting to grate.

Sighs at all but Root just giving there wickets away.

Massive pressure on this partnership, Bell's got to step up.

Sounds like some expansive strokeplay from england with so many runs coming from boundaries and four wickets.

Four players got in and got out. Won't win test matches doing that.

#digin

win the toss and bat, should be taking no risks for a day and a half otherwise you might as well as let Anderson bowl on a cloudy mornign and wil it that way

ned to bat long enough for the pitch to wear to open the cracks up, get varialbe bounce, spin

thats why Cook flailing, Trott expansively driving and pietersen edging a wide one are so damaging

disappointing really.

the Siddle ball to Root was brilliant. No blame there.

Yeah, I thought Root looked good, very promising.

Yet another batsman gets in and then out.

And well done Prior. Sigh.  Pure stupidity given the situation.

Siddle has bowled well, but we've thrown the toss away with loose batting

Watson and Clarke won't give it awaylike we have.

No, but Broad and Anderson are better swing bowlers if they get their line and length right.

Not expected to be a cloud in the Sky tomorrow

Marv ::)

*packs hat and suncream*

Sky with a capital "S"; product placement gone mad.

Going to be tough to enforce the follow on unless we add a few more with this last wicket

:D

Nice!

Shockingly poor display from England.  Hope Aussies put on 600 now so they actually focus on playing diligently in the other 4 tests.  Really hope they don't get away with this slipshod performance by the Aussies collapsing as well.

If I was Aus I wouldn't be trying to take the final wicket tonight.  Could easily find themselves 3 down by the close.

England have been complacent. Aussie seam bowling strongest part of their team though.

Given the conditions and what the Aussies did, fully expect Australia to be something like 88-5 at close.

England gave away a lot of wickets in the top order.  Appreciate England bowling attack is an upgrade, but if they bat sensibly no reason why they can't get off 60-1 or something?

Cowan won't be around the Test team set up for long with shot decisions like that.

I thought you told me that it was traditional for the second test of an Ashes series to be at Lords contrary to my long-held belief that it was always the first.

Michael Holding just referred to seventeen wickets falling on the first day of the first Ashes test of the 2005 series which was at Lords.

Have you been pulling my leg Tighty?

2005 first Test was at Lords I was there

Tradition, going back half a century, for a five test series (against whichever country) is the second match is at Lords


notable games include Massie's 8-34 in 72, Botham getting a duck in his last game as captain in 81. Second tests at Lords...


Nowadays the ECB requires all Test eligible counties (bar Middlesex) to bid by tender for the right to host a Test. Hence Durham outbid a skint Yorkshire for an Ashes test this year for example...but the second test is reserved for Lords

Here

http://stats.thecricketer.com/Grounds/596_t.html

77 and 05 first Ashes tests at Lords, 2nd Tests apart from that

You must have read my mind as I was thinking back to an Ashes game that I was taken to in 1964 as a reward for caddying every Saturday for Norman Isow who owned the Soho restaurant located almost opposite Raymond's Review Bar.

I can remember looking forward to watching one of my heroes "Lord" Ted Dexter and the legendary Colin Cowdray bat but they both failed to make much impression. According to the card in that link Dexter opened and Ken Barrington batted at three although I remember it the other way around.

It was a fair while back though...

Would quite like to pick Tightys brain here a bit.  When a team gets an unexpectedly low score as England did today how much of that would you typically put down to the pitch and how much is the team and the way they play.  It strikes me from a betting perspective that it is almost always the case that the market overreacts and makes the bowling team too short ie. overestimates the team factor and underestimates the pitch/conditions factor and that teams that get out for fairly low scores and generally decent value.  of course this also swims against the tide of punters on exchanges desperately trying to dump their positions on those teams.   Am I missing something?

I just posted elsewhere

"today was the worst standard of batting in 35 years of watching Test Matches"

some of it was nerves

some of it was technique

some of it I think is progressive, scoring rates rise as batsmen are attuned to one day cricket, but they play more shots. more shots=more wickets and also means more results

I reckon of the 14 wickets to go today only Root, Clarke and Rogers (unlucky) can say they were got out by great bowling/poor decisions

In terms of in play, betting markets always over-react to the most recent event

Australia go odds on at 4.30pm today, England are odds on an hour later. In practice this is a 50-50 match here, especially if England are a bowler down.

5 day tests ebb and flow and I reckon (from modest personal experience) that being contrarian at most points (going against the money) is the way to go as long as the sides are reasonably matched. These sides are reasonably matched enough because Australia have a very competitive seam attack, and a bad top six

To be fair, not sure we can criticise the bowlers' shot selection, Root as you mentioned got a good delivery, and although Bairstow's dismissal didn't look great, it's understandable that he's looking to play shots when England were 7 down. No excuses for the rest of the batsmen though. Very poor batting nonetheless, and frustrating that all of the top 6 got to double figures and nobody got to 50.

First impressions of Ashton Agar? Think it's very harsh on Nathan Lyon but I like what I've seen from Agar so far. I'm quite excited to see how he performs in the 2nd innings.

Swann pops one straight to cover, Broad hits one straight in the air etc etc

Apply yourself, occupy the crease and don't give your wicket away. Quite pathetic to watch

Only Finn and Anderson are forgiven crap dismissals really on account of tailendedness


Agar is a ridiculous selection really. Lok at a transcript of Lehman's press release to explain why they selected him. they issued a press release to explain it lol

"because they have eight right handers" ok then.

Could well be a good one in due course but patently not ready to be thrown in at 19.

 

 >:(

Meh most of it was standard, even 'bad' play is standard sometimes.

Was at the game today, can't write too much as I'm at the bottom end of 10+ pints, but it was a great days cricket  ;D

Might post a few pics depending on how i feel shortly.....

"Swann pops one straight to cover, Broad hits one straight in the air etc etc
Apply yourself, occupy the crease and don't give your wicket away. Quite pathetic to watch"

Bit harsh to critisize the tail Tighty?  I have plenty of issues with Cook, Bell, Pieterson, Prior and Trott giving their wickets away, but once that has happened I'd rather the tail play to their batting strengths.  In the case of Broad and Swann that is hitting quick runs?   I'd rather Broad had a smash and got 20 than sat in the crease for 90 mins before being bowled for 10.

In this instance I disagree

Broad and Swann are quite capable of occupying the crease, which is what the situation demanded

When you win the toss on what you know is a wearing pitch you need to take time out of the game so that you bowl when that pitch is wearing

While I agree that the shots played by some of the top six were the main fault, Broad and Swann are all rounders and it was vital for the tail to wag yesterday.

Being Devil's advocate, if the forecast of no cloud cover today is correct, it was a potential strategy to get quick runs in session 3 yesterday once the top order had messed up and get a look at the Aussie under cloud cover before the close?  I doubt this was a planned strategy, but in the end it got them back in the game. Aussies starting their innings this morning would look bleak if the forecast is correct?

Yes but that wasn't the plan

The other plan, the correct plan, was to bat out the day blocking and then rebuild this morning and try to bat for as long as possible so Swann is in the game by the time Australia bat

Going to be tough going for England today with a half fit Broad and no cloud cover (cue collapse)

The Aussie tail outbatting England's is quite possible and will confirm my fears and criticism's late order of England yesterday

If anyone needs a stream today

google "cricfree tv" it seems to be a constant live stream of all SS and Eurosport channels.

Checking the internet logs at work today it seems 30+ people used it all day yesterday. 

Australian batting really is weak.

To be fair not many play Anderson and Swann well in english conditions

great stuff from anderson

two world class bowlers

when its overcast anderson swings it

when its dry he reverses it. he shouldn't be reversing it 25 overs into an innings on the second day!

top stuff

good luck playing some of this

great stuff

tremendous, world class bowling.

How must you be feeling if you have bought day 5 tickets to one of the other tests?

Two excellent bowling attacks but a succession of panicky shots and poor decision making is leading to tiny scores.

Nothing in the pitch to suggest 18 wickets for < 350

No big sweat you get your money back, I've got day five tickets to this game and another.

Horrible news for Trent Bridge

they paid a fortune to get the first test in a blind tender process, outbid Edgbaston and paid top whack

Have to refund for any day not paid or fully rained off (rain is insured)

get great weather and then...Ouch.

Great to watch today, really enjoying this.

The most pleasant of pleasant mornings.

wow that was close, great work by prior as people already calling for the catch

TMS commentator: Lovely conditions for batting this morning...

Boycott: Only if you can bat


lol

copyright

This is getting a bit annoying

Agar might bat at 3 next innings (I jest, 9 at least)

Looks a decent and organised batsman

I was reading Cricinfos piece on him this morning which seemed to suggest he was a capable batsman. It's as if the Australian coaching team were unaware of his batting capabilities.

career average of 30 I see

Certainly not a number 11 on his natural eye and technique. which begs the question why he is batting there!

Was the stumping out? Only on test match special here

Yes

Line belongs to the umpire, and it was out

Very surprised he got benefit of the doubt

Could be argued that Mr Marais Erasmus is having quote a last wicket stand

Absolute filth from Finn. Half trackers, half volleys. Yuk

Assuming Broad is injured for Lords we might see two changes in the attack

OK, given him his 50, time to get this last wicket now please.

I saw this coming, so I put £100 quid on Ashton Agar to top score for Australia in the first innings of the season about a week ago

What price was he to be top run scorer in the 1st innings before play began?

At a guess 66s

100-1

Now 11/10

sigh - this is painful

Dear England's top six,

Stop reading this and watch what those fellas are doing in the middle. Go on. Do it now. Yes, NOW!

Many thanks,

Tal.

He is a lucky boy, 7 wickets in 94 overs in county games this season for near on 40 ave a wicket..

The stumping, at the time probably seen a minor thing, could now have a huge impact on the whole series...

I had a bet on Over 227.5 runs Aus before play this morning at 10/11

Quite remarkable luck for me, but unhappy to win, with one more run

p.s Henley batted him at 3 in his games in May in the Home Counties League

He scored 4 runs in 3 games!


this is roy of the rovers stuff

Wtf, I go out for an hour   >:(

Quality bok attempt...and yet also seems to deserve one of these:

 ;bigadz;

Yeah I just looked all that up! He scored all 4 of his runs in one innings at number 7! Could he get a ton? I can't see him scoring many more after lunch, but I didn't really see this in the first place

can he bowl too?

Wasn't given a lot of overs.  Guess he'll get a few more in the 2nd innings now his confidence is likely up?  Would love to see him go from patently not worth his place to man of the match.

Not me, and hopefully genuine, from twitter

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BO5MVdJCYAAvhgQ.jpg:large)

Sold the Aussie runs at 188 when they were 115-7, was umming and aaahing about closing the bet for a 50 point profit when they were 119-9 as I was off out. Left it checked back and decided to get out for a 2 point profit.

I swear the amount of records that get broken when I have a spread bet is ridiculous!

gone thru the dislike stage and now willing the kid on!

Right England need to bat 5 sessions here

200 won't be easy to chase on days 4-5 as the cracks widen

Dig in, apply yourselves and bat time, tyvm

England's job is to just survive the day with only one wicket or none lost imo. Doubt the strike rate is going above 10 here, this will be a poor watch now.

No sure why they need to go so slow?  Surely batting conditions are going to only get worse, and they have to put runs on the board at some point.  I think they'll pick the rate up in the final session today and try and at get a few runs ahead by the close with perhaps one wicket down.

Runs on the board rather than worry about how quick they get them. More than 3 days left, that is shit loads of time.

oh no.

Poor umpiring

Fks sake  >:(

Can someone explain to me how that didn't stay with the onfield decision?  Seems to be doubt about whether there was a nick, and onfield umpire felt there was?

Especially if side on hotspot isn't working?

Onfield decisions are only relevant when it involved the predictive element of hawkeye, I believe.

But since hotspot wasn't working on the side camera, isn't it just one guy reviewing a replay and guessing if there is a nick verses the on field umpire? Doesn't there need to be a scientific basis to over-rule rather than naked eye?

The front hotspot was working and if there was a nick it appeared as if it would have shown on it. Think the inside of the bat became exposed as he lifted the bat.

I don't think there was an edge there, but a deceiving camera angle. Would be a shame if Trott felt a feather tho.

strauss' tone is not for commentary

I originally thought it was his accent, but its not, its his tone

Scores to date (both teams & innings) please?

England: 215 & 53-2 (26.4 overs)
Australia: 280 (64.5 overs)
Venue: Nottingham

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23261769

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/engine/match/566932.html

Thank you Mr Mere.

Sounds like quite a game.

I look forward to watching every ball from Sunday onwards.

What price Big Adz?

Thought Agar came across really well in interview after, seems a real nice lad

Yeah, I thought this as well - he just has a quite abrasive voice.

Awesome day, obv. Carnage early on was fun, the Aussie blitz was fun as well - was actually a bit gutted yer man didn't get his ton. Last session was zzzzzzzzz but that wasn't a problem as we were all well into 'drinking in the sunshine' mode by then.

I was delighted to see KP play a team innings and really dig in.

I think it bodes well for the series.

I was in Walsall all day yesterday but managed to watch all the cricket on my phone.  I don't think Agar's number 11 record will be beaten in my lifetime, absolutely brilliant.  

Marais Erasmus on the other hand has surely officiated in his last ever test match?  It's easy for an on field umpire to get a decision wrong, often many in one game.  It's also easy for us to sit here and criticise, but for the 3rd umpire to get two black and white decisions wrong is laughable and he should never be allowed to umpire at this level again.  My nan with her cataract could see Agar didn't have anything behind the line when the bails were in the air and as for Trott... hahaha! Really?  The first time I saw the replay (on a phone!!!) I could see the ball deviating as it passed the bat.  It's not hard, all you have to do is watch the ball.  I sat there wondering why we were watching numerous replays when it was quite clearly not out.  Aleem Dar's reaction summed it up - he could see from the big screen Trott had hit it but had been told by this plonker to overturn his perfectly correct decision.  

Oh well, it evened the game up I suppose.  Should be a great day...

My nan with her cataract could see Agar didn't have anything behind the line when the bails were in the air

Your identity has been revealed, Mr Boycott!


When asked about Trott's wicket yesterday on TMS by Blowers, he replied "He had 4½ inches to hit it with, so she blooming well SHOULD have hit it!"

He also mischievously sought to convince Aggers to find Sir Ian Botham at tea to ask him whether he still fancied 10-0.

Love him or loathe him, he is wonderful for TMS.

Evens both teams at the moment in the betting

very interesting match

England go favorites if we can set 200+ I reckon

I was thinking about this, I reckon maybe 230 would be the 50/50 target.  

You can watch for 15 minutes, see the ball do nothing and think 280 would be par with a patient run chase.  Then you see the ball reverse swinging, batsmen struggling to time the ball and not getting value for shots and think it's more like 200.

Great game!

I think swanny will be crucial in the 4th innings

Think we need Bell to get a 100, gettttttt.

I think Aussies will struggle to chase much above 200.

Doesn't need that many

Aussies can't get 200 on this slow spinning track. Don't think so anyway. Until the new ball, was a real struggle to score

I was thinking 250.

Prior such a loose cannon, could get 50 off 40 balls, or be out next ball, fun to watch though.

250 lead England very heavy favs imo.

Right then. One tenth of the way through the Ashes.

You're more optimistic than me!  England 208-5 and haven't batted brilliantly - could be only 3 down (in 90 overs) if you think Trott wasn't out and Root's decision probably would have been overturned if he referred it.  

Australia have bowled well, seems to have turned into a pitch where both wickets and runs are hard to come by.  Still think a lead of ~230 is par

Stuart Broad  ;carlocitrone;

If I was playing for England, having seen the 2 howlers against us yesterday, I'm not walking!  Australia have wasted 3 reviews this innings (they got 1 back because of the Trott shocker) so can't complain.

What comes around goes around, great bit of luck for England!

What was the second one mate? Saw the trott one...

Lovely to see Bell producing when England really need it. Gets a lot of (what my one eye thinks is unmerited) criticism for being a fair weather scorer but this is a steely innings.

Agar was stumped very early in his innings - it was close, one camera angle was inconclusive but there was another that was conclusive.  Australia went on to score around 150 more after that!

(https://twitter.com/NeilMCarter/status/355288863956156416/photo/1)

As I mentioned before, even if you don't consider the bails broken there (which to me they are) then he is still not behind the line on the next frame in which they definitely are!

Maybe can't be considered a "shocker" like Trott's as the Umpire obviously decided he couldn't be sure but it's definitely the wrong decision which cost England a lot of runs

Picture fail - https://twitter.com/NeilMCarter/status/355288863956156416/photo/1

There you go Mr gherkin.



(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/NEW%20ALBUM/Agar_zpsb9894b32.jpg) (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/tikay2/media/NEW%20ALBUM/Agar_zpsb9894b32.jpg.html)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxzdo8FfrW0

Belly's gonna get ya!

Was there yesterday atmosphere was lacking both days I was there Aussies making a good effort. Really think we miss billy and his trumpet to coordinate the crowds songs! Miss step in my eyes to ban his trumpet!

Anyway we batted so well yesterday looks really tough out there, they won't chase this but we should just keep batting. If we get the opportunity I would declare halfway through the afternoon session. Obviously this is an ideal world because more than likely we will be bowling before lunch. But the opportunity to put another 20/40 overs into the Aussies will be priceless later in the series!

Great innings from belly and broad yesterday.

Broad should not have walked, no chance. Good luck changing his mind on that it is not cheating not to walk the umpires are there to give the decisions not the batsmen. When this is getting compared to a fields men dropping a catch that's a different kettle of fish. The fielder claims the catch or in some cases will be asked by the batsmen did you catch it where he will say yes or no. Broad does not get asked at any point did he hit it, it's his choice to walk or not. Simples. Loved his poker face though!

Am there again today, could only get a single ticket for myself, but better than nothing I guess  ;djinn;

Lad just posted this next door regarding Broad's  non dismissal...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01cnth3

Boycott loves it :D

So, we know Cook and Flower like to be cautious and make sure they don't lose.

England now lead by 286 at 11.30. This is a wicket that England should fancy their bowlers will take ten wickets on and the Aussies won't fancy trying to bat it out for a draw.

If we assume 340 for lunch and then having a slap, could be 400 by 3pm easily, either declaring or all out. Would we not be very disappointed to see England batting until tea?

Seems to be no need to give the Aussies a chance to save the game.

England need to think like the great chess master, Akiba Rubenstein: don't give your opponent a sniff; it's so much harder for them to fight if they have nothing to fight for.

not a chance in hell of a declaration tal and no need for one imo

there attack look tired to me and swann and fresh english attack will be different on this pitch

There is 0% chance we lose because they chase 430 and that's where we will be by tea.

There is maybe a 5% chance they bat four sessions and save the game.

i very much doubt we will bat to tea though

Well, quite. By definition, you only declare if you aren't getting bowled out :)

it was unlikely anyway with 4 wickets left this morning?

England 1.33 as i type which looks about right to me

Interesting, as Sky had them at 2/7 this morning before play began.

So, let me rephrase: if we are broadly in agreement that 300 is too much for this batting lineup to chase against our bowlers on this wicket, why don't we have a slap for an hour, either get out and set 330 or take our pads off during lunch having set 350?

Not going to be far of setting them 330 at this rate anyway

I am a massive fan of Flower so will trust his judgement on this one

To be fair, the circumstances of the match so far have meant we are ahead of schedule. We more commonly find ourselves in this position about 2.30/3pm.

What a pressure knock from Bell that was. Should be a match-winning performance.

As it is, looks like Australia will have a tricky half hour before lunch.

LETS DO THIS!

I thought that innings showed why sometimes it is an advantage to have a so called "defensive" coach and mindset in the field

As Glen Mcgrath has described better than i ever could on tms Bell got a lot of runs in areas were Clarke did not react by placing a fielder there

Time for wickets!

Aussies now fans to win test, need a breakthrough, soon!

I've not been watching diligently but is Swann not spinning the ball as much as in the first innings?
The "rev-ometer" was in the red in the first innings but not now.

No he's not

Pitch has gone a bit dead too.

FUKN BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Sky keep calling it the Rev Counter, which just sounds like something out of the Reformation.

One of the fun aspects of this series is that there are only 8 umpires currently on the ICC elite panel

4 are British or Australian so can't officiate in this series

the other 4 are the three having stinkers in this match, Dar, Dharmasena, Erasmus and the fourth is Hill from New Zealand

Adds quite a random element to predicting results here

Five complete shockers in this game, two of them by the third umpire!

Why can't one English umpire be on the field? That was always the case historically, wasn't it?

Until about a decade ago when the bias of a lot of the home umpires in the Asian series 9Indian and esp Pakistani umps were notorious homers pre DRS/TV Technology)meant the ICC went to two neutral umpires, from whence never to return

Probelm for this series is the standard of umpiring around the world is quite varialbe, and the standard of English umps is very high

Makes you wonder whether the Australian Cricket Board might agree to better umpires, given the failsafe fallback of DRS

1111111111, get in Joe Root.

Always rely on Jimmyyyyyy, oioiiii.

Lets crush them.

What an unbelievable ball from Swann, GTFI.

So dangerous when he gets his length right. Hopefully the catalyst for the summer.

Aussies are 5.2 on BF

haddin has made a century in the opening ashes test the last 2 times. Agar can play and Aussie tail is better than ours. Worth a tickle?

Interesting, for me it depends on england in the first 5 overs. If the aussies can get through that then i would expect them to come in to at least 4 on BF. If Jimmy swings it and swanny spins it with pressure around the bat i dont think they have a chance.

The big swing came with the new ball on Friday will be interesting to see what england to. To take it or not to take it!

Phew!

Why is Finn in the team and who does he displace? Bresnan?

Yes. I like Finn, but he's liable to struggle with consistency of line and length when he isn't on form. England have under-bowled him, though.


When do we start sweating? Another 20?

We're going to lose this coz of Finn, he can't bowl another ball surely, FDDGJJNKPKNKLFDDDUKGKB

Sweating already here tbh with all these 4s

Where's Freddie when you need him?

I feel sick and it has nothing to do with the amount of beer I have drunk at Trent bridge this week. The number of significant last wicket stands against England in the last few years has to point to a weakness.

Shades of edgbaston with Brett lee, insert Trent bridge and brad haddin.

no anderson.....

cmon broadyyy

Hope so!

GG us there, won't be seen in this Ashes series again surely.

Not sure I could survive it going as close.

This is so painful to watch

This is sport at its best! Fine margins being contested by great rivals.

Yup, tremendous to watch. Proper cricket, real drama. Wonderful.

Has to be good for the game, too.

We have FOUR MORE of these to come, as well.

"The Australian crowd offering broad some advice"

Great commentary

However it goes, it's been an absolutely wonderful test, certainly a classic.

Not much better in Sport then an Ashes Test when it's like this.

I hope Anderson's not done his groin bowling those thirteen straight overs.

If he has he'll be out of the Lords test for sure.

Gower said they were told it was cramp.

Haha, how else was it going to finish!?

10 wickets for Anderson in the match as well.

;tightend;

OH MY GOD

A terrible but perhaps fitting way to end

He should have walked... ;)

It was always going to be Anderson wasn't it, unbelievable game.

Wiiiiii, brilliant test match. Very reminiscent of 2005.

Great game wd both teams

test cricket at its best, 5 days of delight.. roll on the 2nd test.

Spot on, was there also  ;danafish;

Amazing sporting drama.  Great stuff!

And a word for the aussies for showing such grit and backbone - bodes well for a cracking series even if they are ultimately outclassed.

Whinging Aussies, who'd have thunk.....  ;D

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/theashes/10179549/Ashes-2013-Aleem-Dar-feels-the-wrath-of-Australian-newspapers-after-controversial-Test-defeat-to-England.html

Errrrr.....what??!

The power of positive thought.

Its OK we have got Jimmy.
In Jimmy we trust.
etc etc

I'm wondering whether it's time to have Compton back at top of the order and move Root down to replace Bairstow.  Compton isn't my favourite player but he does occupy the crease with then the new ball is around which is an under-rated job.

@RichieBenaud_ 
 
"England have won the toss and elected to collapse."

O dear what a difference a wicket makes! If bell dissent get out they are taking the new ball now! Instead he's bowling full tosses for wickets!!

the england collapse has really came back over the last year or so.

looking great for swanny though!!!

Incred partnership here, they loving it.

Knocking them about.  The fact that Broad's involved will really get under their skin as well :D

Nice insta bok.

Oh well, a 48-run partnership in the end.  Hasn't done England's score any harm at all.

361 gives our bowlers something to aim for.

The Australian use of the drs is comedy at its best. Watson arrogance is quite breathtaking in particular.

So Jimmy Anderson is human afterall, sighs at that but oioiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. If we get Clarke early we could get them all today.

Oh haha, knew Jimmy would never drop it :P

Does Watson have a brain?  He's effectively cost Rodgers his wicket as Rodgers didn't want to risk losing the last review.  Didn't bother Hughes though!

Surely this can only mean Clarke will now get a stinker of an LBW decision :)

We're making short work of the Aussie Tail. Just need to take this momentum now we're getting towards the Aussie Batsmen.

:)

BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Love it!

They'll get themselves out... ;gobsmacked;

turns out we are actually quite good at this game

the negativity across twitter yesterday astounded me

a proven team proven at recovering bad positions

...and Australia are pretty awful.

correct

not englands fault though

just think it is a lot easier for a lot of sports watchers to have a negative attitude to english sport

we are and have been a very good side

Agree.  Head and shoulders above the Aussies, and we should enjoy it.  They would be if the roles were reversed.

It's beyond a joke how stupid people are with that sort of thing.

No sportsmen is ever allowed to have a bad day, jokers.

Follow on for Rubs or do the sensible thing and bat them into the ground?

Bat bat bat bat bat bat bat bat bat

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

bat is a 1.08 shot if it comes to that

david gower not happy with the fielding.....


oh dear

Was kinda hoping they would enforce the follow on so I could watch the Open golf on Sunday without having to split my attentions but think it is a million to one.

good point had not considered that

bat it is

Would a more aggressive captain bowl again ?

Psychologically I like bowling again.

LAG

a half decent second innings should dispirit the aussies even more

even a disaster will be enough

i struggle to see how it is negative

For the first test I wasn't sure about ndrew Strauss as a commentator but think he is really starting to do well.  Possibly his voice just took a bit of getting used to?

They really are falling apart prior would have snaffled that catch easy from root there! Hope he punishes them with 100 now!

agreed

think he is well within himself at present more to come

Gary Neville of cricket?

Worst case scenarios for 4th innings:

Follow on enforced: England need 150 to win

Not enforced: Australia need 380 to win

Which is better for England?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Not enforcing the follow on (in this instance with the time left in the game)

Don't want to bat last under almost any circumstances

England have already got enough with Swann on a 4th innings pitch against these batsmen

even with that start they have enough

a no brainer of all no brainer decisions

when even Botham a man who never ever suggests not enforcing the follow on then there is little debate

If England win this Test, it will be the 1st time since 1935 they've won a Test after being 3 down for 30 or less in both innings.

I don't think it's negative.

But, both teams know the state of the pitch, so by enforcing the follow on we are basically saying we think our bowling attack is that much better than your batting team that we are that certain we will bowl them for under 250. They Aussie team would surely be absolute crushed mentally if we bowled them out in this manner and won by an innings+.

Very high risk, probably too high, but if you pull it off you have such a huge edge for not just this Ashes series but also down under. It feels like the sort of thing Australia would've done to us when they were much better than England.

Is the Trumpeter not allowed in any grounds ?

Lords and Trent Bridge banned Billy*, he is going to be allowed in the 3 grounds hosting the final 3 tests.

*Billy and I are on first name terms after a 5 minute conversation in New Zealand

Should have had 30 mins at the Aussies today imo.

Tremendous from Joe Root, superb!

wonder what Compton thinking lol...

The question will be who comes in if KP is injured (as is being suggested) as Morgan isn't ready and Bopara is carrying a knock.

Taylor?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BPnmi5PCIAAmxYB.jpg:large)

Keeps getting worse for Australia, they've lost their best batsman to injury.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/current/story/654271.html

An injury that could in a small or possibly a big way be connected to making the Aussies bowl again

The German national team reckons it could beat Australia.

For some reason, I have a feeling that some of them weren't actually born in Germany.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/theashes/10198644/Ashes-2013-Germany-say-they-could-beat-Australia-after-seeing-England-win-at-Lords.html

Taylor in the runs guesting for Sussex, nailed on for a batting place if KP fails to recover

Is it just me that doesn't really want to win The Ashes like this ?

We've been terrible with bat and ball, I'd rather play, if they bowl us out which looks very likely fair enough, we get them at Durham and do it properly.

Yes it would be such a shame to retain the Ashes like this, winning two out of three tests.

Not.

had a little sweat on my 2/1 draw, you got to love Manchester rain )

LOL

Not saying we don't deserve it, but the grounds been less than half full all day, The Ashes is huge and just seems a bit of a lame way to win it relying on the weather. I'd rather we won it solely on merit, which I'm sure we would.

It's a shame it's raining.  Our chance to go 3-0 up in the series has gone ;)

The fact there isn't one post itt and we've won The Ashes kind of sums up my point!

Because we have not won the ashes, merely retained them.

we honestly arnt a good team and havnt been for 3 years, and south africa are the only other mediocre team around and they beat us.

thank god Australia are completely shite.

Dunno man, I think we are a decent enough team but are quite up and down. I think our bowling is pretty good and a match for anyone, its our batting that is inconsistent.

That broad delivery for the first dismissal was a beauty

i meant our batting yeah. we cant score 250 against this aussie attack, imagine if we were against mcgrath, warne and gillespie? donald and pollock? etc etc


bowling attack is very good though.

With todays play getting stopped for bad light it got me thinking.
Did tests in England not used to start at 10.30am?
If this was the case then why the move to 11?
Something tells me it's so their would be no dew in the outfield?

They always used to start at 11 then, when Channel 4 started covering it, they moved the start time to 10:30 so that the day's play would be over before Hollyoaks.

(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o541/tikay2/NEW%20ALBUM/Specsavers-ashes-post_zps8d01e3c7.jpg) (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/tikay2/media/NEW%20ALBUM/Specsavers-ashes-post_zps8d01e3c7.jpg.html)

This is getting interesting, very interesting.

Broad is having one of those spells, which makes you realise why we constantly pick him.

Just when you think you are over Stuart Broad, and the Nicor-Broadette patches have worked, he comes up with his one spell/match of the series to stay in the team for another year!

agreed when broad gets going he is unplayable

Bresnan played a massive role in this as well kept in fairly tight in the dry spell

What a cracking half hour of cricket!

That didn't look out in real time or on replay...  Oh well, we'll take it!!

I don't like that aspect of DRS. Happy with it to reverse howlers but don't think Australia should lose a review for something just clipping like that, just to use the Haddin wicket as an example

This is why test match cricket is the dogs bollocks such a good hour.

100% agree, love t20 action but for drama and skill its test match all the way for me..

bad beat for me though went to make tea and put my daughters to bed and missed 5 wickets.

I missed 7 wickets on the commute home from work.

lol, always someone worse off. I got sky sports app on my note 2 for bus, baring the non signal north Leeds passing harewood i am fine.

The umpire made the call. Umpires call is about respecting the umpires call just as players were expected to do before drs. It was out with or without drs. Drs is there to overturn howlers and it wasn't overturned because it wasn't a howler.

Sandy

Yes but you didn't read the point I am making

Not that it shouldn't be out, but on the really close ones (ie its umpires call not three reds) the team making the review shouldn't lose one of two reviews on it

Bollocks! can't believe I missed all this today!

Why not ? Because it's close ? Not exactly a challenge to a howler if it's borderline more a fingers crossed exercise.

Sandy

what a turnaround excellent win!

eg its just clipping leg stump. if given not out it stays not out. umpire lifts finger, challenge, stays out. Don't beleive its right to penalise the challenging team in addition to the wicket

LOL - the smartass running my stream (in work) firstly immediately started playing the Barmy Army song when we won and now has graphics of...well...see for yourself:

(http://i.imgur.com/0UtwNDS.jpg)

DRS is for howlers. You challenge a marginal decision you deserve to lose one if you're wrong. You take the risk you pay the penalty.

Sandy

I fkn love Mondays off. What a day!

Gave up on 13th at noon today due to our 3 ball running out of Thatchers and cricket looking tasty.

Lunch followed by all that juicy ashes in the pub.

One of us lumped on England after the Clarke ball and that made for a great afternoon. What a ball from Broad that was.

I was at Lords for the Monday v SA last year which was a superb day out too. Mondays are fun days.

Re today's debate, if it's Umpire's call, the referring team shouldn't lose a review.

In tennis, a player can challenge out of hope or for a breather and can get lucky because it's 1mm on the line. The decision is it's either in our out and the challenges follow.

In cricket, the review process is to stop the bad decisions, in contrast to the Hawkeye in tennis or football. So, if it's clipping leg, that's one the umpires shouldn't really give, so it's right that the review doesn't overturn the on-field decision. But a reviewing bowler can feel hard done by if he's asking for a referral, is told the ball was hitting the stumps and loses a review.

It needs tweaking.

I agree with this - the DRS is supposed to be when you are sure the umpire has it wrong. If it's umpire's call then, by definition, it's not definite.

this is my point.

I do accept that many players on both teams challenge when they shouldn't, sometimes because of the importance of the wicket/player to the match situation

Umpire's call doesn't mean it's hitting. It means that some of the projected paths of the ball would hit the stumps, some of the paths won't.

I thought it was if its marginal, like half a balls width, they stick with on field umpires decision. Whether out or not out?

Some very good original decisions in that session too I thought.

My view is that DRS is for howlers, far too often teams make tactical reviews hoping to get lucky. Umpires call is there as hawkeye is only a prediction of the future path the ball takes.
If you risk a review that's the chance you take imo.


On another point, how much is DRS changing scores in the game? Far more decisions are now being given out where previously the batsman would still be in. Spinners and lbw in particular!

I think DRS is ok, sure its not perfect and will get better, but the bottom line is there are more correct decisions being made than before. I quite like the drama of it also.

This is huge for crowd participation in test matches. Dull afternoon then suddenly big appeal and ump gives it not out even if it stays not out this lifts the crowd massively and much more than if it was say big appeal then given not out then next ball bowled straight away

Shamelessly stolen from Facebook:

If you rearrange "Shane Watson", you get "Want no Ashes".

Jonny Bairstow dropped, weird one that...see no benefit in this.

A) just trying out 5 bowlers/2nd spinner in a dead rubber

b) He didn't take his chance to prove himself this summer, so he didn't cement his place in a way that say Root did

c) there is a definite technical fault of playing across the line which he needs to eradicate before being a true test match batsman

30 ave. can only go one way, let him play out the series and work on his technique before the next ashes.

This series he averages more then Trott, Cook, prior,  and only 5 less then Pietersen and 8 less then root. Not sure he deserved being dropped when he is still learning and the others would be considered the finished articles so to speak. How many times has he come in with top end failed? wonder how its effected his performances...just hope he comes back stronger for it.

I know Root got a 180 or whatever it was, but his other innings have been dreadful.  Scores painfully slowly and then gets out in single figures.

Guess a big ton like that cements your place for a year or so though.  Unless you are Compton.

not strictly true, his 30 average could stay there or go down

He was the new kid on the block and didn't cement his place

He'll go to Australia in November, they will go back to 6 batsmen and he will have to make runs that series or that will be that

Obviously if the Ashes were still at stake they wouldn't have changed the balance of the side

No point displaying so much Yorkshire bias that it blinds you to the facts sir! He just hasn't been good enough this summer, neither have several others but they have 5000-8000 test match runs at 45 to fall back on....

I 100% agree i am biased but it was this comment that made me think..

 Michael Vaughan, Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"How many times has Phillip Hughes been dropped by Australia now? Jonny Bairstow has now been dropped by England three times, and it becomes more and more difficult for these young players when the selectors don't have confidence in them."

exactly it buys him time to develop. He's been the chosen one for 2-3 years now because his technique is superb. Bairstow's isn't yet

Bairstow is and never will be a test batsmen. If he improves his keeping significantly he would be ok at 7 as can score quickly, however his technique is terrible and falls over his legs to anything straight- basically when you come in at 6 for England the idea is in 2 years you are at 4/5. If Bairstow is a test number 4 then im a premier league centre midfielder

Because they aren't sure he is the real deal. Compton's innings at Headingley told them he wasn't the real deal

Root is, clearly


By and large under Flower England have not chopped and changed. the fact they do with Bairstow a bit shows he is on borrowed time unless he produces soon. Still had the first four ashes tests though.

Yeah its good to hear other peoples view on Bairstow, still youngish and time to improve his technique. Wish he could play for Yorkshire in the final 4-5 games in the championship!

I think Root will be feeling a bit of pressure to have a decent match in this one though.  People moaned that Cook and Compton were too pedestrian, but Root is being just as negative recently, and he's not even building up scores after being 1 from 30 balls.

Using the eye test I just don't think Baristow is good enough at test level, simple as that. Would much rather see James Taylor get a prolonged spell in the side.

Agreed - I think Taylor deserves a run in the team. 

Really stupid bringing the randoms in, we need to kick Australia while they are down. This is only going to allow them to get some confidence going into the next series.

Its for the future. Woakes is in cos he can hold a bat and we are worried about future spin prospects with Monty just not up to scratch/having a breakdown.

11/2 England feels huge. Seems like a freeroll for early morning wickets as the price can't move too far in the morning. If England don't take (enough) wickets then what price would we expect them at lunch? 7 s?

both looked like rabbit in the headlights. Least play tremlet so see if fit and back to his best. Look at all the papers today all saying wtf, Bob willis was equally baffled on Sky last night. it goes against everything flower has done before.

anyone see the masterclass this morning?

hilarious

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BSQ46uECAAArDSp.jpg:large)

I know the thinking but I think its entirely wrong. What would the Oz team of 10-20 years ago done to us? Rubbed our faces in the dirt you can be sure of that.

The series down under will be a lot closer, and the last thing we need is the Aussies gaining a bit of confidence before that.

The Aussies lost a bunch of dead rubbers to us in their dominant era.

Between 89 and 03, England won 7 tests all but one of them edgbaston 97 was a dead rubber. That is a lot of games the Aussies basically took their foot off the pedal.

Tighty that masterclass moment was hilarious, but overall they have been very informative .

Good decision not to play Chris Tremlett 33-5-96-8 vs Durham.

England are so negative.

they are by nature a negative side for a while now

but if they had gone out last night and today playing all kinds of shots and been 220/7 at tea they would have been getting even more grief for that

Just. Keep. Batting.

It's not a bad wicket and we can be in good shape come Lunch on Sunday, assuming tomorrow's overs are restricted. Then, we can be in a position where we can't lose the test, which would be horribly deflating for the Aussies.

We are a long way from that, but digging in for a bit isn't a problem, as lo g s we remain disciplined. Put away the bad balls but don't go wafting outside off.

It's not just the batting.  It's also slowing the game down in the field.   Cook is a horrible captain imo.

Horrible is harsh. He's too cautious but he's got a fragile batting lineup, made mostly of plodders and an attacking bowling lineup who might go for a few if it's not doing anything. When firing, it's an excellent side and if both sets are firing, it's as good as any team in the world, but it isn't quite happening with the bat right now.

dont think cook is a good captain seems to depend on instruction from flower alot

slowing the over rates down and losing overs out of the day pisses me off now

they should be punished with runs for the oppostion 10 runs per over down on what it should be at the end of the innings

should have to make up any overs lost from previous days out of the lunch breaks in there own time

Can't agree.  Clarke has a fragile batting line up.  Cook has a line up full of 40+ averages over extended samples.

Only one of whom has been in any form all series

the slow, low,dry pitches haven't helped either batting side but especially those players out of form as its so difficult to time your way back into form.

this pitch, if it were in sri lanka, would be criticised as killing test cricket. its lifeless

Only England's eccentric team selection allowed Watson to get a flyer and let Australia get a reasonable total quickly

Wouldn't have got 492 that quick if tremlett or bresnan was the third seamer, or panesar on form the second spinner

But as I say, it's not just the batting - the over-rate is what gets me more. 

easily solved if they get fined runs onto the opposition total if overs are below say 15 an hour. Up to the ICC

Yes please!

The more i watch  the more im sure England will win in the winter

the faster pitches are talior made for our batsman and after batting on these slow dry things all summer they will be in heaven.

as said this is backed up by the averages (cook averages 12 or so more away from home)

Runs fine should be percentage based, tho.

this could be fun!! this is probably englands best start to an innings this series? wonder if they'll realise its due to being more aggro?

What a joke!

This is an absolute disaster for world cricket right here!

Sad Day for test Cricket.

May I be the first to congratulate Kerrigan on his forthcoming MBE.

Those Aussie antics at the end will be cannon-fodder for England over there. Not that it's needed of course.

moronic boos for Michael Clarke who gave that crowd entertainment!!!

Atherton trying to educate a dumb mob there

Not Clarke's fault, not the umpires fault

Hopefully the ICC will put a common sense over-rider into the regs when games are close to a conclusion to give a full house the conclusion they deseve at £100 a ticket!

And well done Lord Garr for criticising the baying mob.

Load of effing horse poop, it should be down to the batsman if they stay on or not.

i think the rules for the umpire deciding when to go off and not the players is correct, and i think the umpires got it right

what does need to be looked at though is the constant time wasting by players, slow over rates. possibly too long for lunch. stating the days cricket too late in the day. the list goes on.

THIS. The current method, although it could probably still be improved, is far better than offering light to the batsmen.

County sides are supposed to bowl 16 overs an hour. Granted, Jack Shantry bowling 68mph with the keeper up to the stumps is going to take less time to bowl an over than someone with a longer run up, but there's no reason why an international side shouldn't be able to bowl 15 overs an hour.

Any Predictions on what the 1st Test Match Squad is going to be for over there?

Can see the batting staying very similar.

Really looking forward to watching Cook/Root opening the batting out there i really think it will suit both there games and i will be looking with keen interest to see what Root's prices are to be top run scorer for England/ The series. Think this may be his tour!

I can't see it being much different barring injuries of course. England under Flower have consistently picked the same players especially the batsman.

Cook (c)
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Taylor
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

The only real sticking points are who bats at 6 and the third seamer especially in Aussie conditions.

This is almost as good as the original!


'I met a traveller from a sunburnt land,
Who said: "Three vast and splayed-out stumps of stone
Stand in the outback. Near them, on the sand
Half sunk, a green cap lies, whose faded crest
And baggy form and air of ocker scorn
Tell that its wearer well those features loved
Which now lie beaten, stamped on; lifeless things
That now the world treats with complacent ease
And centred middle stump these words appear:
“My name is Aussie Manliness, scourge of Poms
Look on my bat, ye bowlers, and despair.”
No bails atop remain; round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, the tinnies rust
And dreams of once-held ashes turn to dust'

Oh, and I will be attending the one day international between Ireland and England next Tuesday. It's being played in my home town of Malahide, about 8 miles outside of Dublin. I saw Andy Goram play for Scotland there against Ireland many moons ago.
10,000 tickets on sale I believe. The local village will be mobbed!
I shall try and get a picture of me and a heavy roller, just for Tighty :)

England players issue Oval apology

28 August 2013 Updated 08:28

The England team have apologised for their "inappropriate" behaviour in the aftermath of their Ashes triumph, after reports claimed some players urinated on the pitch at The Oval that evening.

The final Test finished as a draw as England wrapped up a 3-0 series win.

"We got carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series and accept some of our behaviour was inappropriate," a statement read.
"If that has caused any offence to anyone, we apologise."

Does the England cricket team have a bladder problem?

What I find particularly mortifying is that the statement - which I can only assume went through some press person - says "if that has caused any offence", as though it might have, but it might be that everyone's ok with it.

Whoever has done it should be taken off the Ashes tour. Don't care who they are. There cannot be any place for that sort of behaviour, let alone on the blooming pitch!

lol, that's actually quite funny, would have been better if it was at Lords!

No different than when Freddie had a piss in the Downing street garden really lol.

Perhaps it is just me who thinks public urination is abhorrent.

Perhaps I should learn to grow up and accept that lads will be lads. It's just a release for them, isn't it? There will always have been incidents like these after all, won't there?

Maybe my view that doing it on a pitch has the symbolic significance of disrespecting the game itself is antiquated.

We should recognise this is probably their way of showing support to Monty, who's had a tough time. Team unity should be applauded, after all.

Yes, we should be proud of our lads. Good on them, say I! In fact, I'm going to take a steaming dump on my boss's desk right now. I'll prepare an apology in case anyone might misunderstand (bloody liberals ::) ) and get offended.

I'd probably best stop posting about this. I suspect I'm rather annoyed about it!

Tal are you 80 years old?

It really isn't important. They were drunk, in high spirits, semi behind closed doors.....

A far cry from the antics of Flintoff, Botham, Warne and many others over the years

I can't believe there is such a hoohah about it

lol Tal, whilst its not the most mature thing to do, I don't think its a particularly heinous crime either. Not sure I agree with slinging them out of the team!

It's just classless though isn't it?  This England team are really unlikeable - a far cry from Vaughan's team.

this england team seem to spend a lot of time on the lash - the root n warner dust up, ashes retained, series won then again for the end of the series.

I dnot have a problem with it at all.

Maybe because ive played on many cricket/rugby pitches where people are happy to piss and be sick on the pitch! tend not to have a problem with it!

Bit of a bump but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZOjHxYIF7h4

Can't get it to embed.

Remember it well, skived off a lecture at uni (this wasn't a rarity) to watch it in the pub.

Sigh at today's decision to increase the amount of appeals per team. The Aussies over appeal as it is

Basically mean Aussies will waste there first two as usual then get another bite at the cherry after 80 overs.

It's such a bad decision to up the reviews. Two is fine it's meant to overhaul the howlers not the marginal decisions which is what is going to keep happening!

should have left it at 2 but on lbws if your referral was correct but it was umpire decision you should not lose your referral

This all starts again on Thursday with a tour match v WA. Cannot wait, late nights tension and a Christmas with the ashes. I just love Christmas Day on ashes winters. After a long day of drinking/ eating me and my dad sit down fire lit with the cricket on inevitable we will fall asleep on the sofa but I am so looking forward to this!

Just testing out my little den on the American Footy tonight. Perfect.

My lovely wife has made me an Ashes corner at the back of the house with a couple of old leather wingback chairs coffee table the lot! LCD panel on the wall. Dog basket.

And I always thought she liked watching cricket in bed.

I quite fancy having a punt too. Can anyone recommend a market on bet fair to mess about with? Like hour by hour, not just taking a position on the match? We always watch the first session at a mates place after the pub on the first day. Can't wait.

First innings series supremacy on the spreads is a good one, as it gives you a position for the first half of each match.  You've sold one team runs and bought the other one.  Small stakes though as can be hundreds of runs either way if one team has a nightmare.

Aus batting still looks weak to me unless the batsmen have captured form since the last series (I hear Warner has).   Assume pitches will be quicker to neutralise Swann, but that is going to help Andersen, Tremlett and Broad.  Hard to see past an England win - surprised the odds are so close.

Hard fast pitches will help Ryan Harris, Johnson, Siddle too

Expecting a very close series indeed, Aussie top six looks a lot more solid than it did this summer with Warner back in form, Clarke fit, Bailey's temperament

Possibly a couple of high scoring draws too

Thanks. I will have a little study on that.

Greg James ashes radio show on i player is pretty good. Swanny is a pretty funny after a slow start. They mentioned these electrical storms forecast for days 3,4 and 5.

Do we have bad weather for the first test?  I haven't been keeping up to date with the build up.

Yeh bad weather across Australia including Brisbane I have heard!

Aussies look stronger in the batting with Clarke now fit. The fast pitches will not suit Jimmy as much as our green strips do.
Though I don't think they will improve the Aussie bowling much either, their bowlers are also suited to English conditions.

What the Aussies have underestimated is the English batting line up. Ours were awful in the main and cannot score as poorly as they did in the summer

24 hours to go - my last bedtime without Aggers and Boycott for a few days.

Excited.

Kid at Christmas I love these winters! It makes Christmas extra special!

Come on the boys!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/24961171

Just out of interest, (sorry if already mentioned here), what is usually the best way to book and go out to watch a test?

Is it best to book a package from say Thomas Cook Sport, or just do it all separately?  This is something I'd love to do in a few years time.

I hear there could be some storms on day 2/3.

I did the nz tour earlier in the year. I did it totally independently just booked hotels and tickets in advance. This really wasn't an issue on that tour as only one day sold out but getting the pick of the hotels especially in smaller cities was an issue.

I found people doing the tour to be really friendly and quickly had people to have a drink/ go out for a meal with. In fact I now have more cricket friends back home now to go to tests etc due to the nz tour.

7 hours...

Just had an email from Sky :

Ashes Price Boost & £50 Free!

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Fill yours boots if u can.

5 live build up coverage starts in 10 mins.... Freds Ashes Roadshow from Hampstead CC

Confirmed excited, let's do this, again  ;D

Prior and Tremlett in, according to Cricinfo

Faulkner the man to miss out in baggy green.

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01368/ashes_1368135c.jpg)

Let's go jimmy.

And did those feet.....

BOOM!

Good for Fred as well!

Had a kip as I knew I would not be able to stay awake until midnight, clock set for 11.45, but set it for am by accident doh!. Instantaneously wake up at 11.59pm and saw the first ball, that's pretty sick natural instincts! lol

Lolz.

Broad you absolute beauty, get them all.

Would be good for those who are on him!

FAF.....bet Lehman and the press wish they hadn't started on him now  ;woohoo;

Good to see one of my Aussie mates on tilt already   rotflmfao

'Nothings changed. ******* useless. Spending time advertising the Commonwealth Bank and KFC at photo-shoots rather than in the nets practicing. I hope England beat them 5-0'

Haha. I'm late to the fray today but pretty sharp start by England - love seeing the Aussie sunshine when it's miserable over here

How on earth did England plan to cope if they didn't skittle the Aussies. 2 days worth of bowling would shatter the players surely?!?!

I always find the athleticism and stamina of the bowlers quite amazing when they have to bowl for 2 days on a flat wicket in serious heat. Knackering but they do it quite often on overseas tours

Great 1st day for England only minus points are haddin and Johnson getting runs,knock the last two wickets off and pile on the runs :)

My sick natural instincts we're scuppered by a huge bender Tuesday/weds.

Never saw a ball. Doh!

Also laid England pretty heavy at work so this may affect my enjoyment of this series now. If I start saying things like fair dinkum or arvo you will know why. Fkn punters piss me off sometimes.

Why are there 2 Ashes series within 3-4 months I always thought they were 18 and 30 months apart?

I take it the next series won't be for another 3 and a half years?

They wanted to change the year cycle so it does not clash with the World Cup, the last couple of world cups they have had ashes series immediately before which did not help preparation for them for either side.

We play again here in 2015. Lots of bs about cycles and international calendar, the truth is ££££££.

Did that just happen?  They lost 5/6 wickets for 10 runs on a docile pitch?  Embarrassing.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0cb16dc56f30f810a94e4eb541eeaf63_zpsdce9f145.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0cb16dc56f30f810a94e4eb541eeaf63_zpsdce9f145.jpg.html)

Its not a docile pitch ie dead, lifeless

Its a good batting pitch but it is quick and does have bounce. It is the bounce that is the problem, allied to the short pitched bowling which we failed to counter

Preparing fast bouncy pitches was clearly Australia's best chance

Perhaps docile is the wrong word.  I meant a pitch which is "true". 

correct

Not much good if your batsmen can't play the short ball though

It does look like we've completely forgotten how to bat on a pitch with a bit of bounce.

The Perth test could be messy if we don't sort our shit out.

What do we think Aussie tactics are from here?

Bat all day tomorrow and try to get 500 ahead and have 2 days at England?  Clarke seems fairly agressive, but he needs to bear in mind that this pitch played like a road last Ashes tour in days 4 & 5?

Getting my rain dance on.

Precipitation Skank ftw

Couldn't believe it when I saw the score this morning thought we would bat much better in aus obviously I was wrong

yeh....watched last night till lunch, then turn on the telly this morning and just stared at the sky banner for ages totally confused ...lol

how many times have i done that in the past.

Litterally went into last night thinking ive backed the draw so im happy if its that. And if nto england will win. Now im thinking ffs. Tonight better be better. Or it best rain from like lunch onwards!

so many batsmen out of nick

its the one problem of having a settled team as we have over the last 4 years, theres very little competition for places because you dont want to throw somebody in at the deepend. trott, cook, prior massively out of nick, roots initial great start seems to have stallen and he doesnt look like he could buy a knock. KP doesnt fill me with 100% confidence but you know hes going to play atleast a couple of good innings in a 5 match series. Carberry basically made his debut this test match. Its an incredibly week batting line up currently.

On the plus side, we all know what can happen if they do find some form, and its devastating. This could just be the wake up call that they needed, amazing how balls being aimed at your neck can increase concetration.

If anything, its made the series a lot more interesting for the neutral now!!

Trying to think of positives  ;carlocitrone;

Our top order simply can't keep failing, they will click at some point. They all average well into the 40's and Carberry looks have a level head.

Ryan Harris will break down at some point, he always does.

Mitchell Johnson is really inconsistent, that's it now he's had his bink lol

We have a good and pretty consistent bowling unit.

One of the great selling points of the series is neither team can play well for five tests.

And for tests, I suspect you could substitute days.

Cant wait to back England after this test

Agreedd

So far it's broad 7 wickets and 30 runs and the rest of the team 4 wickets and 100 runs. Need someone else to do something.

not bad for thouse on broad top wicket taker...

but bad for thouse on the draw.

when they said there was drizzle in the air my desk nearly hit the roof. but not off yet!

Well if they can get clarke cheap I really fancy their middle order and tail.

This is why test cricket is just class.

Warner on 99.

Root bowling.

Who the hell watches ODI?

Cook double ton, 150 for Root, Broad hits winning runs with 1 wicket to spare.


LEGGOOOOOOOOO  ;D

Oioioiiii

Howard foster is being flown in as replacement umpire as we speak

forcast rain for the rest of the day.... Where is it. the draw is 10/1 on betfair so there must be some rain about as teams just dont bat out 2 days!

I'm singing in the rain! What a glorious feeling I'm happy today! Come on you storms!

(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b633/callumm18/2239AA5B-B0B7-49C2-9407-715A6D7FA2FD_zpswp7qr726.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/callumm18/media/2239AA5B-B0B7-49C2-9407-715A6D7FA2FD_zpswp7qr726.jpg.html)

Love the hail!

11/4 seems to be the best offer, after those 2 dismal batting displays dare we put our money where our mouth is?

Thats exactly when we should be putting our money down.

yes! England will come back strong espically with all the comments from the aussies cannot seem them taking that to well.

Really looking forward to test number 2,3,4,5 now even more!

Trott gone.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/25/jonathan-trott-leaves-england-ashes-tour

FFS!

Obviously sad for him and I hope he gets well back in the UK but this can't be anything but good for England. Trott has been a walking wicket for the last 12 months. So much about cricket is in the head and obviously he wasn't able to focus properly.

The timing is really bad for him - as much as the sport doesn't want people to think of it in that way, because the mental side of things is so crucial in batting, any problem like this is perceived as a flaw with his game, rather than separate from it. Coming after him having such an obvious brain fart in this Test, and him being 32, he's in danger of being written off (particularly if Bell settles in at 3 and Bairstow/Ballance do well at 5).

Great for tho use with bets on root .... ;)

Said to my mate last week I hope trott keeps failing so root gets moved up the order!

Wonder if there is any Aussies feeling slightly guilty today

England best priced 5/2 for next test valueeeeeeee

Interesting hearing Bumbles thoughts on the stuff he heard on the stump mic during this game by the Aussies, the stuff we don't get to hear but the commentators do.

What did he say ?

Don't think he specified, just said that the sledging had turned from funny to outright abusive and vulgar, singling our Mr Warner.

To be fair though Warner took so much flak in England, that we'd look like right babies if we didn't let him give some back on his home turf.

There was loads of chatter on the mic's and one of the commentators had it up really loud listening I guess bumble and then when the next commentator came in ( cannot remember who) he was like wow this is loud and lotsof chatter can somebody turn it down etc something like that !

I think we will come back strong but need to drop tremlett I think there batting is more fragile than ours despite our pathetic effort in last test

why?

Finn goes at over 4 an over and Rankin has no experience.

Tremlett played the role of third seamer well at Brisbane, went at 2.5 an over, took 4 wickets

After his injuries he is not going to blast teams out, and clearly we were outgunned by their pace, but will certainly help Cook maintain control on flat wickets


The possibility of Stokes at 6 as third seamer/batsman and Panesar as a second spinner and dropping Tremlett is a possibility for Adelaide and Sydney.

Will Root go to three to replace Trott?  Or will Bell be moved up do we think?

Root I would think

Could be either though

Number 6 is a tough call. Could be Bairstow but he struggled against the short stuff on our pitches, and would be tested again

No reason to drop Tremlett at all, did everything that was expected. Plus with games he will get quicker and has experience in Aus.
Anderson on the other hand does need to step up. He's the senior bowler and needs to perform.
It will never happen but I would drop Swann, he is completely ineffective and the Aus defo have his number, his batting doesn't keep him in either atm.

Bresnan will get rushed back as soon as he is fit, gives the batting depth and wont batter an eyelid at the sledging

Where 'have his number' means 'picking right-handed batsmen'.

Bresnan if fit?

That was a pretty big pasting. If they come back strong then fair play but I can't see it myself. I saw 4/6 Aussies to win series which seems pretty big and a good trading opportunity for big players as you will have plenty of chances to close a position.

Is that the "bounciest" track we just lost on? Terrible term I know. And we have a drop in pitch to come too. They will have choice of about 4 I expect. They are probably out measuring out 22 yards of airport runway now.

I grew up on Gower Smith and Lamb days where good fast bowling could wipe out great players. And we only have one great batsman who is a bit fidgety to start with. Too much pressure on Cook KP and Bell for me. Lump on. You need to check which test has the pitch that Johnson might not even play.

Good stuff though. I love all the sledging n bull too. This and Ryder Cup are my two favourite sports events by far. Come on England.

Perth is similar to Brisbane IIRC

What you doing commenting on sport? Thought you were into dancing and knitting and girls stuff lol  :kiss:

Everything in moderation, dahhhhling.

Bell has batted at 3 for Warwickshire for years (Trott used to open).  To not give him the number 3 slot would be pretty disheartening for him given the number of times he has made it clear he'd rather be batting up the order but he's "happy doing a job for the team" down the order.

Only problem I guess is if they want to keep the 2 youngsters apart and not have them at 5 and 6.  With Pieterson at 4 and Prior at 7 I don't see it being a problem.

I still believe we will win The Ashes.

Observation on the cricket spreads - I was expected Bell and Root to have decent boosts to their quotes due to them now batting one further up the order (at least) but this doesn't seem to have been reflected in the new prices.

Is this a rick, or do we think that they have had a boost, but it has been counteracted by the fact that the Aussie bowling looks a greater threat than anticicpated?

I would keep Bell at 5. Middle order will be too exposed otherwise for the newbies. Prior is currently a liability with the bat and can't be relied on to hang around

Shows how far we've fallen - we used to have an embarrassment of riches in batting, and it was a question of which decent player to leave out, now we're trying to hide kids where we think the Aussies won't see them.

My guess is root for 3 looks in good nick and bell will stay at 5 to protect whoever we bring in!

11/4 for England to win the next test, can't resist that.

Will a drop in pitch make it a higher chance of a draw? I'm guessing so  ;carlocitrone;

Can't help but think it would need to rain for at least a whole day for any of these tests to be drawn. Need both sides to bat long at least once and that's not something we see much of out of these two sides.

I've been really looking forward to this 2nd Test, doesn't get much better than a competitive Ashes series and I'm certain we'll give a good response to our pretty woeful 1st Test showing.

Lets do thissssssss!

OIOIOI! the only thing im not looking forward to is tonight im shattered and have to be up tomorrow. But will be fully involved thursday/friday/saturday/sunday.

So i hope we win the toss. Bat, BAT and BATTER them some more!

My business partner has lumped on this today despite me trying to put him off. I don't like the bet because it seems too dependent on the toss.

Anyway more sleepless nights to come. Can't wait to see the first session of this. Bring it on. I am off the booze till Sunday so expect sensible Gouty for a few days at least.

unfortunatly for your business partner im going to do the same. Apologies on my behlaf to him now for bokking his bet!

has to play if fit....Root to 3 and bairstow at 6 :) *whistles*

as with a lot of players in sport Bresnan missing has shown once again how good he can be

Cant wait of for a nap soon to be up ready for it

enjoy all

Well I've got a 100 quid on at 3/1, so lets hope we win the toss lol.

Talk that Stokes and Monty come in.

Lost toss shit

We played this sort of system at the Oval, but surely Stokes and Monty are better than Woakes and Kerrigan?

no fear of old mitchell rolling us on this batting track

He'll still be quick and nasty. We will have to bat well enough to see him out. It just won't be at the throat as often.

2 more before lunch pleaseeee

Monty deserved that one, think he's bowled really well.

Huge end to the session.

excellent days tough cricket

shame a couple went down late on but thats the way it goes.

Excellent rallying call from Cook when 150odd for 1

Not so sure the pitch is all that great though? Definitely not a featherbed

Well it took me until 10 mins ago to realise that unlike my dream had told me Australia had not been bowled out for 250 and we were not 51/1 to say I was disappointed is an understatement!

Watched most of it last night missd most of the wickets as is always the case! Don't think it was the worst day although we now have there two key men at the crease. Two early wickets is vital tomorrow as I'm lead to believe 2/3 will be the best two days to bat!

Think it's been a really good day for us apart from the dropped catches interesting team selection too

Really? I think we are even Stevens at best, runs on the board and all that...

Not saying we are ahead but I still think we've had a good day need a early breakthrough in the morning to get at the tail would like to get them out for 350

think in reality Australia are well ahead

They were as soon as they won the toss

pitch going to be nasty from tomorrow onwards. started too dry and will not last

Well I know nothing about these drop in pitches, but they were saying on sky they really don't break up too much at all.

they don't tend to, but the curator said this was ready to play on two days before the match, then post play Rogers was saying it was like a day three pitch on day one..puffs of dust, some turn etc

don't really fancy batting last on it

so think we need a first innings lead, and for that to be likely we need them out under 350

If the toss is so important in cricket why bother playing?

Cus its fun, don't you love busting AA with 78os sometimes?  :)

I think we should have a pole.

Which group of England supporters are more annoying?

A. Cricket
B. Rugby Union
C. Football

I think the Rugby twits win this, but only by a gnats chuff.

The Barmy Army are closing rapidly.

Please say your kidding Keith.

The drums at football are the worst

The barmy army are getting worse as they are eating infiltrated by more and more tareaways

And the crowd at the rugby nothing better!

Pivotal day in the series today  ;popcorn;

All three are terrible

Rugby the least terrible of the 3

Football the worst, with that bloody band. At least there is some wit in the cricket lot

Booing and jeering through the Haka is as pathetic as it is disrespectful.

And I can't think of any sporting song/chant more tedious than Swing Low.

footy by a mile, chav sport innit lol  ;whistle;

They don't even let the fans sit together ffs....

Having been on an England cricket tour and watched England play football away as well. It really isn't close, some of the football lot are geniune scum. While I don't really go in for the over patriotic flag waving stuff the Barmy army engage in, the vast majority of them are decent people who have absoutely zero interest in causing trouble unlike the football lot.

Lots of decent hard working people spend a great deal of their disposable income on following the England football team.

The majority are tarnished by a minority of utter dickheads.

Whereas no cricket or rugby fan is likely to be as offensive as these scumbags - as groups they are tiresome and dull.

this is painful right now and hard viewing!

Too many mistakes in the field, and they're running good, which they're probs due.

Feels like we're going to get another battering :(

FFS run bad or what poor stokes get your refing foot behind the line

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0cb16dc56f30f810a94e4eb541eeaf63_zpsdce9f145.jpg)

lets see how hard we make this pitch look when we bat

Pitch hasnt looked so dead this over

Lolz.

Huge 20 overs here.

unreal pace from mj

That was one thing that struck me in the Oz innings. They just seemed to have so much time against the seamers

Carberry struggling against Lyon who Sir Geoffrey calls a "non spinning spinner"

Another bad day at the office

Perth next too  :o

Let's hope we can snag a draw here.

Looks like we'll lose the Ashes in Perth to me

95mph Mitch on a fast one at the WACA downwind against this top six?

Ouch

I'm not a fan at all of criticising a team based on short term results but as a batting line up we've been poor for quite a while now, why do you think that is ?

Thoughts on Graham Gooch as batting coach ?

No particular thoughts on Gooch

Cook, Trott, Prior been out of form since May

Bell been excellent

Pieterson has his days

Root still learning

Cook is 28, Root 23? Them apart,  think the basic problem might be that a lot of the team at 32-33yo are getting slightly over the hill at the same time


If you take our Xi and look 2 years ahead...KP retires by then, Swann will be 35, Anderson 34

Cook?
Root - maybe the next captain
xxx (Ballance/James Taylor/Sibley etc)
xxx (Ballance/James Taylor/Sibley etc)
Bell
xxx (Stokes/Ballance/James Taylor/Sibley etc)
Keeper (Buttler?)
Broad
Spinner (Briggs etc)
xxx (Rankin, Mills,Meaker, Overton etc)
xxx ((Rankin, Mills,Meaker, Overton etc)

there is quite a rebuilding to do

"There's more brains in a chocolate mousse. I said to bat with care and attention, a bit of common sense. You're trying to make runs, but you're trying to bat through the day. If they don't bat well today, they can kiss the Ashes goodbye. That's as stupid a shot as you could ever see. Unbelievable."

Not even being from Yorkshire can save Joe Root from Sir Geoffrey's wrath.

Boycs is going bananas. Inferring Root should hang himself is a no no though.

"He could of caught it in his mouth" is a belter though.

Love TMS.

Carberry up to -70 now

Faced 80 balls, didn't play one confidently.

We are fooked, to many players way out of form.

I may be alone, but I think Joe Root is a ghastly batsman.   Scored his 180, but after that even in England opening scored with a strike rate of 20 and then got out in the twenties.  Today scored 15 off 80 balls before slogging the spinner up in the air.  Dreadful player imho, but I'm told his technique is textbook.  Simply don't see why this guy is the next big thing.

Ghastly and dreadful in the same way Kylie is ugly and Gareth Bale is short of pace.

This is like watching the ashes of my childhood, getting outclassed in every department. It wasn't like to be this anymore.

thought i was going mad but boycs really did say he should hang himself earlier

Yes we are being outclassed but that spell by MJ after lunch was unplayable

Geoffrey Boycott Ex-England batsman & Test Match Special summariser

"England can't win the Ashes, they are not playing well enough. History says you don't come from 2-0 down. There has to be some straight-talking.

"Bell must bat at three and someone needs to talk to Pietersen. He can't keep giving it away. Cook needs to get forward more and I don't think Stokes is good enough yet. Root needs to stop making mistakes, because what he did last year doesn't count.

"I'd play Monty instead of Swann. He doesn't seem to know what field to set. He's been a great performer, but we can't be sentimental.

"Matt Prior can't carry on this way, especially if he doesn't get any runs in the second innings. At the moment, we're in a state of flux, we're past our best."

 ;frustrated; ;frustrated; ;frustrated; ;grr; ;grr; ;grr; ;snoopy'sguns; ;snoopy'sguns; ;snoopy'sguns; ;izimbra; ;izimbra; ;izimbra;

I used to really dislike the punditry of Boycs and JP Mc Enroe.

Either they have improved or I have changed over the years. They are now head and shoulders above the rest.

Does anyone agree that todays play is still more interesting than any 20/20 or 1 dayer? Or am I a complete test match pervert?

C'mon let's show some spirit!

Declaration

A brave one, Eng need 531 in 180 overs

I've seen stranger things happen but not immediately sure what they would be

eng in from 66/1 to 14/1

Glad we've come out with a positive approach at least

Can't wait for Sir Geoff.

Think they have only declared as there are storms about

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsUx8CUtGVXgG0O_t4y1q9Nl7EiYzj1weVPjfQqzCi9EN5kaoN)

Mr Cook.

Well if KP chucks it away this tour is over.

Love Joe Root even though he's not quite there yet

hmm, seems to me this statement is from someone who has no idea about cricket, barring a wander down the local green with a red tennis ball and a woolworths bat!
Cooks out of nick, as is prior etc. KP is KP and wont change, and why should he? guys world class, ans will score runs. batted well today. bell is world class, and only 31, so a few more years at the level i think
just run into a pumped up aussie side, with a weapon that no many sides own, a guy bowling genuine raw pace. 89-90mph isnt overally fast at test level, but 92-93mph makes all the difference and will get wickets. people are so quick to jump on their backs, the top 6 that started at the gabba probably had 90 test hundreds between them? they are class, just the bad form has coincided with the aussies in top form.
bowlers wise, broad will be a feature for a good few years yet. jimmy and swanny have a couple of yhears left, fitness wise, and swann- form wise. 2 bad tests in aus and they are calling for his head, laughable really.
new guys coming through? that ive seen/ played with/against: sam robson, daniel bell-drummond, james vince, ballance etc look the next wave. they clearly dont rate taylor, and i can see why, if they had hed have had that no 6 locked up since colly called it a day. bowlers? rankin finn, mills, kerrigan etc
interesting to see how they approach the next tests, think the waca we might go ballance at 6, get rid of stokes, and bresnan and rankin/finn in for the spinners. then again we are always relectant not to play a twizzler. maybe stokes stays and ballance and rankin come in???
been a hard 2 tests to watch, after 2 years in aus at a cricket club, ive been getting a torrade of abuse, i guess im getting as good as i got after the last 3 series!!
UP THE POMS!

Good timing.

Lots of rain around in Adelaide draw is 10/1 and that's probably why! There's hope yet!

draw as low as 9/2

Rain dancing everyone  :)

Jonathan Agnew ‏@Aggerscricket 13m
Forecast basically damp early morning, drying up

sigh

Aussies might get lucky, leave with a draw...

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ba_bw0oIYAAm6lC.jpg:large)

Getting the rain dance out

I think if anyone wants to learn about trading events in running then these matches are superb for learning.

Some serious cash laying Aussies now.

Ashes Thread?

RIP

A cremation may be in order.

Quite happy to admit that my cricket knowledge isn't that extensive, but I'm just pointing out that (before 2 days ago)  Root always goes at snail pace and then gives it away.  I note that your reply doesn't actually mention anything about Root at all, other than I'm clueless for being critical?  I'm not sure why you think I'm having a go at the rest of the top order's pedigree as your reply seems to suggest.

Yup!

not too sure that going at a 'snails' pace is relevant in test cricket. you need your top order to aim to bat for 2 days really, then your setting up a match winning total for your side. id be interested to compare strike rates with root and other batters in the england/ aussie ad other test sides.be surprised if theres a vast difference. the kid is only 22, dropped into the deep end, and hes doing alright in his career so far. averaging 40 over 13 tests, including 2 ashes series and india away. hes got a long england career ahead, and not many people say otherwise. looks the goods to me.

I know most people really rate him, but I just find that he takes the impetus out of innings.  I know it's a 5 day game, but when we you have reasonably quick scorers at the top it sets the agenda and puts you on the front foot.  I thought that is why they dropped Compton because with Cook and Trott it was all too pedestrian? 

No Compton had technical flaws

Nothing wrong with pedestrian.

Much under-rated skill when you lose 21 wickets n 2 games caught on the leg side and four in one innings when you have to bat for 180 overs hooking to long leg.

Yeah, I've not understood all this fuss about scoring slowly - back in ye old days of black and white telly 190-3 at stumps on the first day was a perfectly fine day's batting.

Now, with better pitches and one-day experience, batsmen are able to up the rate when they need to, but they seem to have forgotten how to bat time and wait for bowlers to tire & balls to soften.

Whatever Compton's technical flaws were, did they need to play him in the England team to realise this?

If so that would suggest that their scouting (or whatever the cricket equivilant is) isn't up to it.  If they did know about it I would imagine the fact he scored slowly in international cricket was definitely an issue for the selectors.

Gonna be having a very big bet on England at 3/1 in the next test. Draw looks a complete non runner and people seem to forget things pretty quickly, especially the fact they are 0/2 on the toss so far

ha once again, the step up from county cricket to international/test cricket is ridiculous. you can have flaws playing county cricket, as the bowlers often arent good enough to expolit them on a regular basis. hence why test cricket is the pinnacle, as only the best shine through. same in any sports, the technical side is examined in most detail the higher you go. compton wasnt dropped for slow scoring, his technique was clearly questionable.

What were his technical deficiencies out of interest?

compton? seem to remember his front foot was going down the leg stump line, exposing his pegs. the kiwis expolited this in mainly the home series,getting him out bowled and lbw a fair amount. possibly slightly hard donw by, however think carberry is a better player

Taken from TMS...

"England in 2013: Won toss: P 6, W 5, L 0, D 1.  Lost toss: P 6: W 0, L 2, D 4"

Basically cricket is one big flip

Bump  ;cheerleader;

Didn't realize it was both Clarke and Cook's 100th game, bit of a coincidence.

Shame it starts at 2am, gonna struggle to see much of it  :(

Went to bed today at 4 got up at 9 nothing on tomorrow so will be watching through the night once I bust out this comp at 1:30!

Am by some miracle still awake, so will stay awake as long as it takes me to drink these 2 cans of K for Kunted lol, 8.4%  :o  ;D

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/9de8f5e48080f24985d13b16c45c77e6_zps2348e207.jpg)

Lost the flip again :(

Lost toss again. People will forget that massive factor when talking about this series when it finishes

Australia win toss and bat first

SIGH

Lets ruin them this morning common 60-4 at lunch one time!

This is so true. If our lot win the toss there is more chance of getting 5 days in.

FUKN BOOOMMMMMMMMMM

CMON ENGLAND

OOO JIMMY JIMMY common just 3 more this morning!

Blowers on TMS.

I knew I was missing something.

I'm missing a few wickets personally  >:(

YESSSSSS

Snap get Clarke out plz and let's get this done.

bressys gotn him

Well Henry got one. Does his voice not remind you of summer?

 ;cheerleader;

Got him, Swann 1st over strikes again.

1 more before lunch anyone ?

Aussies are batting like us now.

This is weird shit.

Even steven?  ;carlocitrone;

Big hour after lunch, feeling confident.

Should go to bed really, just a bit longer lol.......

Bigggggg wicket!

Huge wicket, well done Cook keeping Swann in.

Jesus, Haddin been very lucky three times in last five balls, hope it doesn't cost us much.

Andrew Samson - BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Australia's 6th and 7th wicket are averaging 91 in this series. England's 6th and 7th average 11.8

Think this is slipping away from England. Will be interesting to see if England's batsman can stay in and all look assured for a decent knock. Need them all to pull together and play clever shots. Otherwise, you really couldn't negate the chance that Johnson is going to bowl right through England's attack again, especially on such a pitch.

Damn, failed to capitalise a good situation again  :(

What are we doing FFS.

They always seem to do ok until I go to bed, then the next morning the wheels have come off  ;frustrated;

here we go again time for some people to put their hands up and be counted.

Bell needs to continue being class.
Stokes needs to show us what he is made of
Prior needs to keep "returning" to form after that last innings.

#rise

good work boys. This is painful again

GG The Ashes.

Bresnan has played some nice shots.

Pieterson = Aweful shot.
Stokes = leave the freakin Wide ones. 
Prior = Disgusting shot, more appropriate for 20/20 cricket. 
Broad = Done by pace.

We are clearly not good enough at present & for me an informTrott is a massive loss. 

I have ended up in random place.

How do I sync tms and sky sports?

Or is that impossible ?

I have an i pad and a non sky+ box.

111-0

I can't get the pictures to match Boycs and blowers here.

Boycott "we are victims of our own success" wtf?

Strauss is correct on Sky.

Australia have played hard and well.

Once again I should be in Bed.......lol

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/crack_zps6d661970.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/crack_zps6d661970.jpg.html)

You still had hope Woodsey ?

Anderson smashed for a record equalling 28 in an over then Cook bowled 1st ball just about sums it up.

No lol, crashed for a bit and thought I'd take a look when waking for a piss

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/0cb16dc56f30f810a94e4eb541eeaf63_zpsdce9f145.jpg) (http://s444.photobucket.com/user/Andr4w/media/0cb16dc56f30f810a94e4eb541eeaf63_zpsdce9f145.jpg.html)

Stuart Broad "will bat if required"

The ECB should have made that announcement about a few of our players

Australia 1.1 on betfair really?

Surely its like 1.02 chance i just dont think its possible we win this?!

any miracles kicking about like

I'll take one in Detroit if they're floating about...

Ive sent picken over for Run good purposes!

Why has there been so many empty seats pretty much every day of every test in this series ?

Highly likely they're going to win The Ashes for the 1st time in 7 years, ticket is $15 and the grounds half empty ?

Confused!

Probably literally the only good thing to come out of the series, well done Stokes.

Come on stokes keep it going!

Unwilling to allow myself to believe :)

Swanns retired from Cricket???
Whats going on here?

Wow!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25481772

Obviously been told that Monty's getting a spin at Melbourne and can't be arsed with fighting for his place.

Bit stupid based on one tour FFS!

Not good having the injuries he had and surgery's know doubt took its tole.

There must be a huge behind the scenes story to this English touring side. It's a fkn joke.

Never have I seen such a sorry state of professional sportsmen and so called management. These Aussies will want to totally cream us 5 zip remember.

It's just all shitty Sky Sports filthy money killing another sport really when you think about it. Imagine playing the Ryder Cup 3 months after you just won it?

But I for one will be waking from a slumber on the sofa or bed on Christmas Night to listen to the Boxing Day test first session from that massive ground. I hope we win the toss and walk out, heads held high, and come back in at lunch 68-1.

A little surprised with swanns retirement although he has been struggling with his elbow for a few years wouldn't be surprised to see him rocking up at the ipl this year

Always seems gutless to retire mid series, quite a shame really

hmmm i just think something a little more is going on behind the scenes

Agnew reported that Swann was told he would be dropped for Melbourne (and Prior) and decided to call it a day/leave on his own terms before he was publically dropped

This.

There is something wrong about all of this especially on top of the performances this series. Not a happy camp at the moment.

Wouldn't be surprise to see others chuck the towel in at the end of the series. Pietersen, Anderson come to mind.

Yes, I agree with that.

OK, the going is tough right now, but at least see the Tour out, like a real Pro.

Do England get to replace him in the squad?

Picked him on reputation rather than form for far too long.
He's done nothing with bat or ball and has obv decided he wants to get pissed at Xmas. Disgraceful

A friend of mine text me to say he's flying out tomorrow for the last two tests.

I assume just to watch.

If they select an a Eastbourne lad of Sri Lankan origin who's only played local club cricket, you heard it here first.

Didn't the Aussies do that? (Agar) rotflmfao

Good point. I'll be popping to ladbrokes on the way to work in the morning...

Two given up and three passengers who they won't play (Finn, Rankin & Tremlett) means the squad is down to thirteen viable players. That includes Ballance, who hasn't been picked at all so far. Bairstow is an alternative for Prior and won't be played at the same time, so that really means twelve options available.

Treating Prior/Bairstow as one, the twelve options include Ballance, Bresnan and Panasar, so two of those have to play. Stokes obviously keeps his place and there is no choice other than to press on with Pietersen, Anderson, Root, etc.

Will England even be able to field a team for the Fifth Test if anyone else decides they have had enough?

Vaughan on Bairstow before the series started - "Jonny Bairstow will be fine batting at number seven but I would worry immensely if he has to keep in a Test match. I wouldn't put him in the top five keepers in England."

Problem is bairstow isn't the 2nd best keeper batsman in England and was only back up keeper as emergency I think the selectors expected priors form to pick up which it hasn't and they don't have the confidence in bairstows keeping to throw him in

Jos Buttler is in Aus, having been signed on a two game contract for the big bash. He is a future fixture as England's keeper in my opinion so why not make the future the present. An immense talent.

Swann

"Some in the dressing room have got their heads up their backsides"

Nothing like a nice departing comment to keep morale up as you Swann off back home!

Almost certainly talking about Cook and KP I think.

Claiming on twitter he wasn't referring it the England team, rounding on Michael Vaughan and Derek Pringles for stirring things up now.

Time to get the popcorn out as there is going to be some fallout from this.

KP for sure.  I was thinking Broad more likely than Cook.  Maybe Prior?

It was definitely implied that it's more than 1 person and I doubt very much it's Anderson, Bell, Bresnan, Finn or Trott as they seem genuinely humble people (compared to the rest)

I'm sure we'll find out in the not too distant future!

Good fkn riddance imo. Too many players on this tour simply haven't shown the bottle for the fight, can't say the same for the Aussies, who frankly we have made to look far better than they are.

Flowers and co fked up not picking a 2nd wickie with Prior so out of form.

When you got a rookie 22yr old leading the way its time to start again.

Not Sky Sports fault - the authorities scheduled a ODI world cup for the next australian summer when the Ashes shoud have taken place.

A little Christmas wish to win the toss, bat , and then bat bat bat........

Hmmm. I would like to have been at that meeting. There were other options available but like most sports they said "ok. How do we get as much as possible out of this"?

They could of played over here again. Then again, who am I to talk. I only got Sky in the first place for this Boxing Day test years ago. Hehe.

What time does it begin, Nick? Sky Sports begin coverage @ 10.30pm, but I don't want to watch 2 hours of build-up blather.

2330 gmt.

Pity this is a dead rubber, as the Boxing Day test match especially an ashes one is one of the great events of the sporting calendar.

Amen to that, always a major event, but a tad hollow this year. Will still watch though, if England can restore some pride & dignity, it'll be worth watching. A lot of reputations need restoring.

Looking forward to this tonight. Will be interesting to see how the England team react to Swann's retirement. Rumours are Bairstow plays instead of Prior.

England can't play as bad as they have for the whole tour, well you'd hope not.

Would be nice for Cook to win the toss and not chase the game.

Positives so far have been Carberry and Stokes. Would love Finn to get a bowl, real wicket taking bowler. I know he goes for a bit, but he's a threat and gets that extra bounce.

Come on boys a bit of pride!

can we win the toss please?

Clarke's pretty good at calling heads/tails

as far as im aware we call he flips. Away team always calls i think.

anyway he gave us a bat anyway.

A sign of how badly we are batting: Clarke puts us in at the MCG.

Yea I meant hes good at winning toss, worded it badly

England should have a good chance here. Australia have only won three of their last twelve Tests.

We can still win this on away goals right? Only need a win in Sydney or here.

Australia go above us in the world rankings if they win 5-0

Interesting Clarke chose to put us in, hopefully we get a score. Decent start, root looks iffy though

Clarke has done England a favour. The last Test was the first time ever that a Test team has been set a target of over 500 for the fourth innings three matches in a row. By choosing to bowl, he has ensured it can't happen for a fourth time.

Dunno what others think, but even out of form, prior would've been one of the last people if have dropped from the England side. Everyone is out form bar bell, and he's been an awesome
Performer over the years. Also seemed to be at least showing signs of improvement with the bat.

I thought it was nice to see prior stay with the squad, shows a bit of commitment and not judt straight home to the family at christmas with "stress". Prior will be back, I hope!

That pietersen shot sums it all up, irresponsible poor batting throughout the tour. Slogging across the line with broad test average in the mid 20s down the other end, well played.

That was one of the most ridiculous things ive ever seen. Brett Lee vs Piers Morgan, thought Brett might take a yard of pace off and pitch it up. [ ] That happened

He basically just bowls at his head incredible thought after 2 bouncers Morgan would be like I'm having none of this!

Quite a sight watching him try to evade the ball. Keep your eye on the ball, Piers!

This is some of the most dense cricket I have ever seen from an England team. The players all need a break in my opinion. They all look shot mentally. I'd give them all a complete break and pick a completely different ODI XI.

Well this is just the most amazing game ever.

Piers. Get yer bat back out son.

Astonishing how that Team has completely fallen apart, & so very quickly. World beaters in the Summer, & a laughing stock now.

This has to be a case of lack of mental fortitude under pressure, surely? Good players don't collectively become bad players overnight, do they?

I would think leadership (off-field) might be the issue, too.

Time for a complete clear out, perhaps. 

Correct Camel. The whole tour has been a joke.

How Cook can say he is the man to be Capt. after his shot in the 2nd innings of 2nd test is beyond me. That was the dressing room gone in 1 shot.

Still gonna watch the last one though.

They haven't become bad overnight though, has been evident for several series now. Got hammered in UAE. Got outplayed in New Zealand. Got lucky with the weather against a poor Aussie team in the summer, that and Bell saving England.

Management team is poor. Why the hell no cover for Prior on tour when he had been out of form all summer. Why take Ballance then not play him when he has been scoring runs and none of the test team have.

Why take 3 big quicks and not play any of them, when Broad apart the bowlers have been awful

Cook is a poor captain and it has been shown in this series.

Sad thing is the Aussie team isn't even good. The two best test teams by far are South Africa and India.

England need to bite the bullet and start rebuilding asap. The current team have got too comfortable
 

The England batting has been an embarrassment all series.  Has there been a single good collective innings from 8 attempts?   How many times have we lost a cluster of wickets for a handful of runs? 

Anyone up?

Blowers is on.

brad haddin

how?

He has been superb.

This bowling is pretty ordinary from our lot though.

Quite worried about a very low score for us here if two of Cook/KP/Bell get out cheaply!

Sigh at another promising start turning into another joke of a day.
WTF? were England selectors thinking picking Rankin when they knew he had an injury. As for the spinner selection the less said the better.

Aussie bowlers look like they will skittle England

rumours are that its just cramp

not sure whats worse though, selecting someone with an injury when you have 2 other perfectly fine 7ft clones. Or being so unfit you pick up cramp bowling 7 overs of average medium pace.

im expecting borthwick to have a batting average of about 44, because surely they couldnt have picked him for his bowling.

One time. Can Cook and Bell just bat allll day long. Please cricket gods.

Yours Sincerely Callum.

Odds of this game finishing today, all over the place and pitch doing plenty?

Reminds me of Boycott's comment near the end of the 4th Test, when there was still no sign of Cook allowing Panesar to bowl - "What's Monty playing for? Is he playing for his fielding?"

Hopefully the Aussies enforce the follow on and then put England out of their misery

The obvious error this series was changing Cook from being chief ball shiner. We used to get 500 and bowl well then.

This is feeling worse than 2006/7 for me and i never thought it would be that bad again

wtf, honestly  :'(

Obv going to be a lot of changes before the summer series kicks in and as the county season starts different names will be shouted for.

As we stand this is my starting xi for 1st test of the summer

Hales
Cook
Bell
Pieterson
Root
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Borthwick
Tremlett
Anderson

Even the bats have given up, gg

Hales?! He doesn't even get in the Notts County Championship team any more. Averaged 12 last year before being dropped.