The Ashes Thread!

[jofillips]

from what I hear it was clear out but Broad didn't do the right thing (?) and walk...

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by jofillips

from what I hear it was clear out but Broad didn't do the right thing (?) and walk...

That's what I hear too. The only Aussie who walked regularly was Adam Gilchrist, others have when it was blatant, but most stood their ground too. Ian Chappell was famous for his quote "Batsmen bat, bowlers bowl, fielders field, umpires umpire" or, in other words, it's not up to the batsman to give himself out. He never walked, but to be fair, he also never stood there when given out.

Personally I think DRS should be out of the player's hands - review any close call appeal automatically the same as referring a run-out or stumping to the 3rd umpire. Make it a decision on the field to refer by the umpire, then it is either not out, out, or field umpires call

[carom]

Ok, I should say that I don't fully understand cricket, but I am truly trying to make an effort to get it. I have been bringing a couple beers to the park and watching amateurs play to try and understand it. One of the things that threw me off at first is the guy out there with a lab coat. A coworker explained that this is the referee/umpire? I think I am going to need a good long day at the pub when a test is on and find someone to explain everything to me. I am also hoping to get to some sort of proper live match at some point in time.

Anyway, I came in here to post this article. I am sorry that it is not wholly ashes related, but I can't think of a better place to post it. It cracks me up, the highlights:

Candace Sutton, a News Limited columnist, warned that British pride is "swelling to dangerous proportions".

...

Sutton provided a list of 10 ways for Australians to "take the swagger out of their [the Britons'] stride", including the weather, the beaches, the food and beer. She also noted that Australia's economy was in stronger shape and that Britain was a "nation divided".

"They may come together to rejoice their victories and in times of great celebration, like the birth of a royal grandchild, but British people make a national sport out of hating each other," she wrote. "The north and the south of England hate each other, the Scottish hate the English, the Welsh hate the English, the English hate everyone, and everyone hates the Welsh."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ians-warn.html

[GirlySports]

last innings. Australia require another 200 runs with 8 wickets remaining

This could get very close, odds are about 50/50 now.

[jofillips]

so just 4 wickets for england to grab tomorrow with 137 runs needed for Australia to win. Odds must be in englands favour now, chasing high totals is notoriously hard in second innings test cricket.
Great 1st Test!!

carom - cricket is full of weird rules and names, just don't be overwhelmed and it does makes sense! The Indian Premier 20/20 league (on sportsnet) is good for a simple introduction to how it works - test cricket is a tactical marathon at times
oh and add most british peoples disdain (hate is too strong a word) for London to that list, plus the rural/urban divide

[Da_Chief]

What a brutal way to lose it. Helluva tense battle. This series will be a lot tighter then people expected.

[Imported_Aussie]

That was more than painful...watching on a small screen I couldn't see the hotspot on review. The worst thing is that it was such a half hearted appeal that they were never convincing the on field umpire. When I was growing up, it was always benefit of the doubt to the batsman, but DRS changes all of that

[GirlySports]

yeah DRS is so weird. For LBWs it's so difficult to overturn the decision but for edges even a faint non-conclusive knick can be overturned.

Still a great match, It seemed Australia won it about 5 times but England always pegged them back.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Still a great match, It seemed Australia won it about 5 times but England always pegged them back.

I'd say exactly this but reverse Australia and England.

[GirlySports]

Thats also true.

[NBC]

What an absolute caning today. Australia have capitulated in the meekest of fashions. All out for 128. England to bat again and not enforce the follow on, 233 runs ahead. They'll want to bat all day tomorrow and then have 2 days to bowl Oz out. They'll likely not need it. This Australia side has real problems. They have away so many cheap wickets. Sort of reminds me of England in the 90s.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by NBC

What an absolute caning today. Australia have capitulated in the meekest of fashions. All out for 128. England to bat again and not enforce the follow on, 233 runs ahead. They'll want to bat all day tomorrow and then have 2 days to bowl Oz out. They'll likely not need it. This Australia side has real problems. They have away so many cheap wickets. Sort of reminds me of England in the 90s.

This Australian team has 1 world class player - Clarke. To perform well, he needs to have a good game and have a couple of guys step up to support him. If he falls, the team capitulates around him.
Siddle is an honest, hardworking guy, but he is best as the 3rd seamer on a good team, not a guy you want as your #1. Harris is too injury prone, but otherwise would be good. Watson is good when he is on, but can be a selfish player. Haddin will always be a handy lower order batsmen, but you cannot rely on him for runs as the team did for so long with Gilchrist. No real spinner, and a lot of inexperience all around. When they all play well, I believe they can beat England, but when they slip, they look like a second rate team.
England is much more settled and consistent. They play like a team, the kind of cohesive unit like the Aussie teams under Taylor and Waugh.

[jofillips]

holy moly, looking like rout here.
Love seeing swann in his element, if only I could spin a ball like him!

[carom]

Just had a pint of this at my local, pretty good I must say.

[NBC]

England retain the Ashes with a draw today in rainy Manchester. Hopefully there will be five full days of cricket available in Durham.

[Da_Chief]

Clarke is pissed. Ausies probably had them today.

[NBC]

Clarke should be mad at himself and the rest of the squad for capitulating so meekly in the first two tests. No one can blame the weather, the umpires, DRS or anything other than the Australian team's poor showing in Nottingham and Lord's.

This makes it 4 of the last 5 Ashes series that England have won.

[jofillips]

well the rain saved that test from an aussie win!
4 out of 5??
I remember the days of boon and border for Australia utterly annihilating the England team home and away!

[Imported_Aussie]

Rain saved England there for sure - that test exposed some fragility - hopefully Australia can bounce back and take it to 2-2!

The Ashes were lost at Lords though. The first test was close enough, the second was a disgrace.

[GirlySports]

Australia should have won the first test, wasted a 150+ run 11th wicket stand.