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The Ashes

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Goodness Gracious Meme

01:27 / 20.08.05

Reckon it'll be Tait. (and I feel bad for neglecting this thread, have been spending hours watching the matches but having no time to report back)

Actually, I think I side with CJ on this, in that whatever the build-up has been, I reckon this England team are bloody pleased to be this much in it at this stage, and are going to chuck what's left of their 'facing Australia' diffidence and really hammer it.

This does depend hugely of course on the continued strength of the England attack(who thought I'd be typing that?) and the maintenance of the batting pressure, but I really think if England can keep up the pressure, the Aussies will find it hard.

Goodness Gracious Meme

01:28 / 20.08.05

Do agree with Loomis, that I'm surprised not to see Darren Lehmann not given a chance to punish the potential nervousness of the England bowlers.

10:36 / 21.08.05

The Aussies are looking very good against Northants at the moment. Centuries for Hayden and Clarke. Could be a timely return to form just when we need it.

Makes me wonder if we would have performed better in the tests if we had had a few first class warm up matches rather than such a large number of ODIs. They really need to have a look at the scheduling and keep the tests as a priority. At this rate the next ashes tour will have three tests, fifteen ODIs and a ten match Twenty20 tournament.

11:06 / 22.08.05

Tait has shaded the Northants beauty contest against Kasprowicz with 2 wickets and a retired hurt to 1 wicket, but he had to leave the field with a bizarre (but not too serious) knee injury. I suspect he'll get the nod. He may be expensive, but Kasprowicz was hardly frugal at Edgbaston.

Loomis, they were talking about the itinerary for past tours on Test Match Special during the last test. Obviously without the pyjama stuff the tourist would take on most of the counties in 3 day games, which would seem to be far better preparation for test matches. Most alarming thing for me about the Northants game was Hayden finding some form - obviously his fishing trip helped him.

Goodness Gracious Meme - we have missed you. How's that anyone-but-England streak you were talking about?

09:06 / 24.08.05

Well, Tait is in. I think it's a positive decision, and obviously I hope it doesn't bite us in the arse.

I hope that the story about McGrath is just a windup to unsettle the opposition. I wonder who they would play if he is out. I assume Kasper but you never know.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

10:45 / 24.08.05

Weather's not looking good for the next few days, any loss of time increases the chances of at the very least a draw for the Aussies so they keep the Ashes by default... Grrr!

11:32 / 24.08.05

I don't think any Australian wants to retain the Ashes via a drawn series. 3-1 all the way ...

13:58 / 24.08.05

This post takes us off 111 posts, so Umpire Shepherd can stop hopping around.

I don't think any Australian wants to retain the Ashes via a drawn series.

But it's interesting that some of them are admitting that this is a possibility though.

Looking forward to seeing Tait bowl. He was apparently pretty lively in the nets yesterday, hitting Langer in the arm and the balls. On the McGrath injury - who knows what's going on, we'll just have to wait until tomorrow moring. If he is injured then it will be Kasprowicz I'm sure. He and Tait were selected against Northants to see which of the 2 would play at Trent Bridge, and I think that shows where Gillespie is in the pecking order at the moment.

God, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

14:20 / 24.08.05

haha ... I was going to make a comment on the 111 but was concerned that it would be too sad. Glad it wasn't just me!

This really is the best thread ever.

Yeah, can't wait till tomorrow. There was a funny article by Athers in the torygraph the other day about what's going on in the minds of the two captains. I bet Punter is praying to be able to bat first. Australia really need to get back to their traditional style of play by batting first, setting a good total and putting the pressure on the opposition. Especially since that would allow Warne to bowl last.

I must say the roles have been totally reversed. Australia riddled with injuries, getting snarky in the press (Warne vs Trent Bridge curator), worrying over selections, while England cruise through with the same lineup.

It's absolutely essential that Australia play themselves back into form. And I know I keep saying this, but it really won't take much. If we can bat first and one of our openers gets a century, it could all steamroll from there. I am something of an eternal optimist though.

00:04 / 25.08.05

oooh, it's getting close. am heading off over to an old mate's place for a bbq steak, big red and other imbibements to natter about life the universe and everything, especially winning the ashes by thumping england at the bridge.

can anyone tell me who trent was?

looking forward to tait bowling and wouldn't be surprised to see us give england the crease. clarke and hayden back among the runs, the punter finding self-belief and warney fired up and ready to rumble - even gilly is optimistic of a return to form. look out england! i am predicting a rout.

(or i could be getting the psychic messages mixed and it was a trout, probably smoked served with a bernaise and salad and a glass of chilled semillon. but no, i am pretty sure it is a rout)

07:48 / 25.08.05

McGrath is out again!! Why lord why?

I think Kasper has been putting something in his food.

08:20 / 25.08.05

Trent is a river, astrojax. An ex-girlfriend's dim brother once took part in a pub quiz where one of the questions was "What sport is played at Trent Bridge?" His answer was pooh sticks.

McGrath out again?! FACT!: Apparently Australia wins 66% of games that he plays and 46% of those he doesn't.

I'm having a bummer of a day at work so won't be able to watch or listen to much of today's play. That's one of the great things about a test match though, you can leave it for hours and then pick it up later and find that the complexion of the game has changed. Off to catch the 1st 15 minutes and then it's cricket cold turkey for a while.

09:35 / 25.08.05

My already dodgy productivity drops hugely on test days. I personally prefer the Guardian Over-by-Over for keeping up with the scores. Where, Loomis, they've been discussing the scottish antipathy towards the cricket.
I see England won the toss and aren't doing too badly so far. I'm hoping the weather stays good so that we get a proper contest.

09:48 / 25.08.05

Yeah same here re productivity. I have the cricinfo over by over and am also listening with one earphone BBC five live via the net. I'm lucky that my boss doesn't mind.

Without McGrath we really needed to win the toss and bat. Seems that we're bowling pretty decently but nothing groundbreaking yet.

re Scotland, there is one Scottish guy at work who keeps coming in to discuss it with me. He really wants to see England lose. No surprise there then.

11:19 / 25.08.05

England were scoring almost 5 an over but the fuckin rain!
I hope this doesn't swing Australia's way because of rain. And when I say Australia's way I mean a draw ; )

23:30 / 25.08.05

honours pretty even day one. about two sessions played, four good wickets, a couple hundred runs, a few spilled chances (and a bowled on a no-ball, again!). if australia can get the next six wickets for a hundred or so runs, they can then go out and bat for a couple days, get four and a half, five hundred and put a lot of pressure on the english bats to make a good start twice in one test.

looks another enthralling encounter.

11:45 / 26.08.05

400/5. This is brutal. Sounds like a good batting pitch so hopefully Australia will also be able to get a good first innings total but they really need a breakthrough before England run away with this one.

13:18 / 26.08.05

Not so brutal any more, eh? Still not a bad total though. Should make for an interesting weekend...

13:45 / 26.08.05

477 all out. Finally.

Well it's a good total but like I said, Australia should be able to match it on a decent pitch, although their recent batting performances suggest otherwise. I seem to remember saying something similar at about this point in the previous test ...

14:50 / 26.08.05

it's a good total but the tail end collapsed a little too easily for my liking. Still it should be a good game, and England just got their first wicket, which is hopeful.

15:04 / 26.08.05

ooh, and two more wickets. Australia will have to a lot better if they want to match 477.

16:52 / 26.08.05

99/5

Michael Clarke unbeaten in his 20s I think, with Gilchrist to bat tomorrow. Warne, Lee, Kasper, Tait to come.

Gentleman...I smell followon (or I pray for one) because weather.com reveals that Nottingham will have scattered showers on Day 5 of the test. I don't want another draw.

23:27 / 26.08.05

hmmph, we're right stuffed now, innit.

shall we get the pitch ready for the oval now? we need mcgrath and someone who can bat. anyone?

Our Lady Has Left the Building

06:21 / 27.08.05

Hmmm, could everyone that was rubbing their chaos wands to ensure good weather for the Brighton meet last weekend do a bit more buffing for the cricket?

The Independent seem to have decided that England have won the Ashes already but I won't be able to start considering it possible until it's in English hands. (Another reason to doubt the Indy is their faulty maths, but anyway). There's a long way to go yet, and a lot of weather too.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

09:36 / 27.08.05

Mind you... 163 for 8...

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

11:02 / 27.08.05

Quick question- I've got Test Match Special on the radio (by accident)- why is Hugh Cornwell on it? I knew I didn't know much about cricket, but I seem to be missing something fundamental.

12:09 / 27.08.05

Well, england has forced the follow-on

13:18 / 27.08.05

Langer and Ponting are looking pretty good out there. If only it was the first innings!

I wonder if that's the last we'll see of Hayden. Another good start that he was unable to turn into a score.

One good thing about the follow on is that we won't have to bat last. If we're able to dig in and at least set England some sort of total to chase, maybe Warne will be able to work some magic on an old pitch.

In denial? Who, me?

15:24 / 27.08.05

It's funny how many English people have suddenly developed an interest in cricket since the second test...

15:43 / 27.08.05

193/4
Clarke and Katich are playing reasonably well. Perhaps the follow-on wasn't the best of ideas. It's no use to enforce the followon if your bowlers aren't up to it. Still, we have another fifteen or so overs left for the day.

It's been a long summer. I'm already looking forward to the Pakistan tour. I'm not sure which team I'll support come November.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

10:10 / 28.08.05

Well, I've always had a certain interest in cricket, but look at the similar momentary interest in running with Paula and Kelly... I was thinking of starting a thread on this if we win the Ashes...

So the Aussies have caught up for the loss of only four wickets, two hours play and England haven't got a wicket yet, it could still all go horribly wrong.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

10:21 / 28.08.05

Yes, Clarke's gone!

10:40 / 28.08.05

Well Australia are doing very well, considering the situation. Great to see them toughing it out and playing test match cricket. Whatever the end result, at least they're getting some dignity back.

But I am ever the optimist and will be glued to the screen to see what happens next. With a bit of luck we should be able to put on a lead of 100 or so; any more than that would be some sort of miracle, but possible nonetheless.

I think any (admittedly tiny) prospect of an Aussie win would have to be predicated on a crumbling pitch, but it still looks fairly docile so I don't think the England batsmen will have too much to worry about.

Like the rest of Australia I'm praying for Gilchrist to return to form in the next half hour. He was looking pretty good in the first innings until being caught by what was probably the catch of the series.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

11:08 / 28.08.05

Warney's doing adverts for the Advanced Hair Studio... poor bastard. Couldn't he get a L'Oreal deal? Geoffrey Boycott's probably got that one, 'L'Oreal, Because I'm convinced that I'm worth it'.

11:08 / 28.08.05

So, just to check - Australia need to bowl england all out for a win right? What happens if they fail to do this? what are the prospects for a draw?

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