The Ashes

[Da_Chief]

First test about to get underway, English won the toss and will bat first. Sounds like a good batting surface.

Australia: SM Katich, SR Watson, RT Ponting*, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, MJ North, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, XJ Doherty, PM Siddle, BW Hilfenhaus

Couple surprises, Siddle beats out Bollinger and Doherty is the latest Ausie spin option as they keep trying to replace Shane Warne.
Clarke healthy enough to stay in there.
North gets another shot at it.

England: AJ Strauss*, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior†, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn

No surprises from the English, although Cook will likely get a short leash as will Finn.

Those interested can follow it on cricinfo.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashe...ch/428749.html

[burn_baby_burn]

Is this on Bell Express view? For some reason I'm kinda excited, or at least curious about this. Maybe its the fond memories of sitting in the pub in the Gambier hotel in Mt. Gambier, South Australia with a VB stubbie in my hand, watching the cricket.

[GirlySports]

It on SHAW if you buy CricketPlus I think.

Strauss falls in the first over. England are now 11/1 after 5 overs.

Live play-by-play here

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashe...ch/428749.html

[Da_Chief]

Spinner on now. Trott falls at 29 after getting a start. Now 67 for 2. Cook although is digging in.

[Da_Chief]

First big mistake in the series. Doherty fails to grab a chance off of Cook. Cook was at 26 when he was dropped, lets see how costly this proves.

BTW, Punter used up his review and was turned down by the third umpire. He has 1 left in these innings now.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

First big mistake in the series. Doherty fails to grab a chance off of Cook. Cook was at 26 when he was dropped, lets see how costly this proves.

BTW, Punter used up his review and was turned down by the third umpire. He has 1 left in these innings now.

ya, England have tacked on about 30 since the drop.. major mistake.

[GirlySports]

Two quick wickets (Pietersen and Collingwood) and Australia are back in control.

A couple of more wicket before tea (9:40pm) and England will wobble.

[Da_Chief]

The next breakthrough is important. Bell has the ability to build partnerships and Cook is the settled batsman. Getting one of them and the Aussies won't take long to clean up the tail.

Btw earlier I mentioned no surprises from England, I totally forgot about Eoin Morgan. I'm very surprised they left him out. IMO Trott should've sat in favor of Morgan.

[Da_Chief]

Although not allowed to post online links for hockey I dont think it'll matter much for cricket as it is hard enough to get it out here in Canada.

couple links
www.cricpk.com
www.webcric.com

[Da_Chief]

Punter using his 2nd(last) review now. Could be huge, trying to get rid of Bell.


And denied! Aussies have lost both their reviews now.

[GirlySports]

Aussies just ahead at tea I think. England are 172/4

I predict something around 270/7 at the end of the day and that would favour the Aussies.

[Da_Chief]

Siddle has a hat-trick on his birthday and 6 wickets on the day. Haddin just spilled catach which would've given him 7 on the day. The man is on fire. English 234 for 8.

[Mad Mel]

I have to ride by the Gabba in an hour to get to the g/f's house. Traffic will suck. F cricket.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by mad mel

i have to ride by the gabba in an hour to get to the g/f's house. Traffic will suck. F cricket.

f u

[Mad Mel]

haha, cricket fans are passionate, I'll give them that. We've got quite a few souls missing from the office today.

[NBC]

In the immortal words of Henry Blofeld, "Calypso Callapso!"

Same old England, same old result.

[GirlySports]

wow, didn't think the English tail would fall that easily this time around.
63 runs for the last 6 wickets.. pretty pitiful.

England has to return the favour and get 7 or 8 wickets today or else they'll lose by an innings!

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

wow, didn't think the English tail would fall that easily this time around.
63 runs for the last 6 wickets.. pretty pitiful.

England has to return the favour and get 7 or 8 wickets today or else they'll lose by an innings!

Nah it was foreseeable, English batting lineup isn't as strong as it seems. Credit to Bell and Cook for making something of this score.

After watching Aussie innings(few overs), the English are in trouble. Swann's their best bowler and Katich really went after him, if they show controlled agression against him then it could be a big total(i'd say 150+ run lead). English won't lose by an inning though.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Nah it was foreseeable, English batting lineup isn't as strong as it seems. Credit to Bell and Cook for making something of this score.

After watching Aussie innings(few overs), the English are in trouble. Swann's their best bowler and Katich really went after him, if they show controlled agression against him then it could be a big total(i'd say 150+ run lead). English won't lose by an inning though.

I thought the English tail was stronger. Didn't Prior/Broad recently put up some world record 8th wicket stand against Pakistan?

Of course that was Pakistan and with them, aynything is possible.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I thought the English tail was stronger. Didn't Prior/Broad recently put up some world record 8th wicket stand against Pakistan?

Of course that was Pakistan and with them, aynything is possible.

That happens once in awhile, as good as Pakistan is whipping off the top order for some reason they have trouble cleaning up the tail.

The whole spot fixing saga came out right after that stand as well, so who knows. That could've been part of it as well.

Overall in their tail Swann and Broad can bat given a good batting pitch. Finn, Anderson are nothing to write about and Prior is decent. So decent tail but nothing great.