View Full Version : The Official Ashes Thread
Popsi
21-07-2005, 09:21 PM
SO its the first day of the Ashes today - the 5 game series between England and the Aussies in cricket for those who don't know. All the pundits are saying that its the closet one in years as Australia are on the way down and England are on the up.
Todays scores showed just how close the teams are with Australia all out for 190odd and England currently at 92-7 i believe. So it should be an exciting test, on what appears to be a bowlers wicket currently.
So questions/comments?:xyx
Popsi
21-07-2005, 09:28 PM
I by the way have voted for England, I just cant help it, ill always vote for anyone above the Aussies!
And i think they're coming good at the right time.
Very odd day of cricket today, 17 wickets falling in one day at this level is just unheard off.
As it's so close i'll go for a tied series.
I like sitting on the fence.
Chris2K
21-07-2005, 09:36 PM
Australia. Sorry guys, but they're too good, and once their batsmen get into form they'll be unstoppable. Again.
Popsi
21-07-2005, 09:38 PM
Very odd day of cricket today, 17 wickets falling in one day at this level is just unheard off.
As it's so close i'll go for a tied series.
I like sitting on the fence.
I was gonna put tied series as an option on the poll but i didnt think it could happen. i just figured theyd find a winner somehow, not quite sure how they'd manage it though!
Evil Gringo
21-07-2005, 09:40 PM
I think the main problem with England today... and something they'll have to work on as the series goes by and in fact this match... and the problem is? Glenn McGrath and how they play him...
Granted sometimes he is unplayable but Boycott said it best. Today they had the Aussies on the backfoot and its something I think we'll see alot this summer. But instead of playing in slowly we tried to stamp our authority on the bowlers and get an early piece of momentum... We lost 5 wickets for 28 runs...
Boycott was right. Block him, avoid him and pick at him and then when he is tired take advantage of Gillispie's suspect fitness and form and Lee's inconsistancy... Only Warne can really apart from Glenn offer a constant threat and I have to say that the English batsman these days can play spin far better then previous lineups...
If we get a bit soilder in our batting and more sensible in our approach to McGrath then we can bring home the Ashes.. Although tomorrow morning and Pieterson's tenure at the wicket may be the decider.
Chris2K
21-07-2005, 10:17 PM
I was gonna put tied series as an option on the poll but i didnt think it could happen. i just figured theyd find a winner somehow, not quite sure how they'd manage it though!
Australia win 2, England win 2, 1 draw
England 1, Australia 1, 3 draws
5 draws
:P
If it's a tied series do the Aussies retain?
Jimmy Redman
22-07-2005, 04:02 AM
If it's a tied series do the Aussies retain?
Yep :D
And although I got quite a fright from our batting last night, waking up to hear that England are 7-92 made me feel much better...
I still think we are going to be too good. England have improved beyond thinking though.
About the play that I saw (I went to bed after Gilchrist got out), I thought Hoggard bowled badly, going down leg a lot. Harmison was brilliant. Langer was going alright until that stupid shot. Funny how Harmison was hitting everybody in sight.
Christof
22-07-2005, 07:21 AM
Mcgrath has just found his ideal wicket, I am still hoping young KP will hit another 50 runs so that we end up about 40 or so behind them, but in a low scoring game that is still a lot of runs.
Overall as much as I want to, I can't see England winning the ashes, 2006-7 will be our time though.
Well after yesterday afternoon i think can be happy finishing just 35 runs behind. Austarlia have a small advantage now, but i think they will try and steady their ship now making a decent total that England will have difficulity making.
Still a wide open test match.
If the likes of Flintoff can build some runs on the next innings then i think we are definitelt still in it. From the way they have played so far the Aussies are definitely beatable.
Evil Gringo
22-07-2005, 02:20 PM
Well Flintoff has cracked Hayden and Ponting's partnership... He has bowled Hayden for 34...
The Aussies are 96 for 2 with Langer getting run out this morning by Piertersen on 18 and now Freddy getting a break through...
Thats a lead of 131... Not bad.. a few quick wickets in their middle order and we could be cooking with gas!
Evil Gringo
22-07-2005, 02:42 PM
Pointing is gone... Caught of the bowling of Hoggard for 42... Australia are now 110 for 3 off nearly 31 overs...
With permission I'd like to use this also as a Ashes news thread as well... If not I can open a new one... Opinions people?
Yeah the ashes is proving to be fairly popular on here, maybe Redman could get some of her chums to make a guest apperance on here.
Popsi
22-07-2005, 02:53 PM
Use this thread for anything to do with the ashes, i started it so that we could all talk about it somewhere.
Evil Gringo
22-07-2005, 02:56 PM
Fair enough.... Clarke has come in and it seems he and Martyn have started to gel as the runs are coming again...
They are now sitting on 126 for 3 with Clarke on 17 and Martyn on 15...
The fall of wicket order is... 1-18 (Langer), 2-54 (Hayden), 3-100 (Ponting).
Popsi, can you alter the name of the thread to "The Offcial Ashes Thread"?
Popsi
22-07-2005, 03:02 PM
Good suggestion, Done!
Chris2K
22-07-2005, 03:40 PM
Poor Keppy. Hopefully his runs will overshadow his catching.
Evil Gringo
22-07-2005, 04:56 PM
Well the Aussies are now on 247 for 3 with Clarke building up to 87 and Martyn supporting him and now reaching 61...
That means they have a lead of 282... Bugger
Things have just taken a upturn for us pommes.
Evil Gringo
22-07-2005, 05:53 PM
275 for 6 now... The Aussies have lost Clarke for 91, Martyn for 65 and Gilchrist for 10...
They have Kaitch in for 9 and Warne for 1....
Jimmy Redman
23-07-2005, 04:42 AM
I'd be more comfortable with a bigger lead than 300-odd. Is Katich still in? If so, hopefully they can get it up to about 350.
Was impressed by England getting so close. And man, is that Pietersen kid going places. He is very good.
Ponting has had, from memory, 1 good innings since he became captain. Its depressing to watch. And its not like lucky catches and freaky run outs etc., he is genuinely struggling.
At least Clarke got a decent score. I was worrying about him too.
Yeah the ashes is proving to be fairly popular on here, maybe Redman could get some of her chums to make a guest apperance on here.
Sorry if I'm being slow, but huh?
Popsi
23-07-2005, 11:52 AM
I think he meant other australians that you may know who could come and talk about it here.
Or thats how i read it anyway.
He could be deluded and think that *** you're australian you know the cricket team, but i highly doubt he's that daft! :xyx
Jimmy Redman
23-07-2005, 12:38 PM
I was thinking that too for a minute!
But to be perfectly honest with you, absolutely none, and I mean none, of my friends take the slightest interest in cricket. Cricket isnt the most popular sport these days, especially with females. Im trying, but I cant think of one friend I have that enjoys cricket. Seriously.
How are we going anyway? I forgot it was on tonight :eek
At the start i thought England had a great chance of winning the Ashes this year, and in a way i still think we can. I just couldnt beleive that we started so well then fell so quickly when batting. I havent been able to see much due to the holiday, but now i am back i hope i can catch a decent veiwing of us re-taking the initiative in the series.
Jimmy Redman
23-07-2005, 01:36 PM
Just checked the score, in between my brother's hold on the tele. Brilliant! You bloody ripper! I was worried this morning, when we were only 300-odd in front. But now, lead of 420-odd, brilliant!
England will have a tough time trying to chase that.
GLENN MCGRATH IS A LEGEND IN EVERYWAY POSSIBLE.
Evil Gringo
24-07-2005, 02:55 PM
At the moment the score stands at... England 156-5 with G.Jones and Pietersen at the crease... Pietersen has 42 and Jones is on 6...
England started bright with Trescothick getting 44 and Strauss getting 37 before they fell to Warne and Lee... Vaughan went for 4 however, Bell for 8 and Flintoff for 3 as Lee and Warne took out Englands middle order...
Warne is on 3-46 and Lee on 2-58 at the close of play yesterday... Today their has been no play as it is pouring down with rain and looks to be the same all today and for quite alot of tomorrow...
A draw seems likely... England still need 264 to win...
Chris2K
24-07-2005, 05:02 PM
HA! So much for the draw.
Still, Keppy rules. We've learned that.
Evil Gringo
24-07-2005, 05:05 PM
Play started again at 3:45pm and Pietersen remained in...
Unfortunately G.Jones was removed quickly and then Giles, Hoggard, Harmison and Simon Jones where removed for ducks and Pietersen was left in at 64...
England all out for 180, Australia win by 239 runs.... Bugger.
Bit of an ass whooping in this first test, after such a promising start we let it all go to the dogs. I am extremely dissapointed, however, its now down to the team to get together, regroup, and come back to really show the aussies what we are made of.
Dissapointing display from England, we are better than that. Seemed like a nervous display to me, Pietersen aside, the batting just wasn't good at all. Vaughan, Flintoff and Bell all getting very low scores. Can't understand why it was Pietersen or Thorpe, i'd like to have seen Pietersen and Thorpe in the team and Ian Bell left out.
The dropped catches were dissapointing aswell, as much praise as KP deserves for his batting the fact still remains that he could have wiped 70 runs off Australias 2nd innings with a straight forward catch.
Anyway, onto the next test, improvement needed.
Christof
24-07-2005, 10:57 PM
I must say that spending the day at Lords really was fun today.
Sitting undercover for 5 hours of rain to be followed by wickets falling quicker than the rain! Nice that only Pietersen scored a run off the bat! In fact apart from his heroics the only other highlight was the following chant at Gillespie
(to the tune of Where's Your Mumma Gone?)
WHERES YOUR CARAVAN, WHERES YOUR CARAVAN?
Evil Gringo
05-08-2005, 01:16 PM
Well as you all probably know the 2nd test is under way...
Ysterday saw England play at near one bay batting pace as the Aussie attack minus the magic of Glenn McGarth where annilated...
England got a magnificent 407 off 79.2 overs with Banger getting 90 off 102 balls, Kev got 71 off 76 and Freddy got 68 off 62 although Bell and Jones misfired with the bat again...
Australia are now 118 for 3 at lunch with Hayden out for a duck on his first ball off Hoggard and Pointing out for 61 off Giles after coming in and threatening to kill the attack... Langer is still in doing a holding role and is on 21 and Clarke is on 10 off 6 balls... Martyn was out for 20 however after being run out by El Captain Vaughan...
Evil Gringo
05-08-2005, 02:36 PM
Clarke has fallen for 40 off the bowling of Giles...
Langer is still in on 61...
Australia are on 194-4...
GO ENGLAND!
Popsi
05-08-2005, 02:39 PM
Yay going pretty well so far guys, though Jones has been a bit expensive in some of his overs. This defensive field pattern that Vaughns playing may take a while but it seems to be paying off! Come on England!
Evil Gringo
05-08-2005, 03:01 PM
Kaitch is gone for just 4 as Freddy finally gets a wicket... Langer is still in on 66 and Gilchrist is at the crease with him...
If they get rid of him quick then the Aussies might just be in a spot of bother...
Christof
05-08-2005, 03:33 PM
It's so great to be listening to the cricket at work! GET IN!
Even better is waking up in the mornings watching the highlights for breakfast
Popsi
05-08-2005, 05:18 PM
YESSSSS the Aussies are all out for 308! fantastic bowling by the boys, didnt half get some swing with that old ball! Lets hope they can capitalise on this momentum in their next innings!
Christof
05-08-2005, 07:31 PM
Can't wait to watch the highlights and then devote my weekend to watching it
What a second day! Well done to all the england boys, getting them all out for 308 was a very good achievement. Losing another wicket though early on might not be too good a sign, however there is still a way to go, fingers crossed that the lads can keep it together tomorrow!
Christof
06-08-2005, 09:05 PM
What a third day. At lunch I was seriously tempted to email the ECB to complain that England save their worst performances for the weekend! But by the end of the day (what a slower ball) I can't believe just how close England are to saving the series!
Chris2K
07-08-2005, 12:13 PM
Holy sh*t.
Holy sh*t.
My sentiments exactly! How close do we want to leave it? Two runs for crying out loud, just two runs. I could not believe that we were ready to throw it all away as the Aussies got closer and closer. But Harminson and Flintoff bowled superbly to give us a much needed victory!
Wow!
Really was head in your hands stuff this morning, but it does not matter how you beat the Aussies as long as yo beat the Aussies!
Christof
08-08-2005, 08:48 PM
Brett Lee is injured - Rah!
Chris2K
08-08-2005, 09:19 PM
Brett Lee is injured - Rah!
Now, now Mr. Holt, we shouldn't take pleasure in someone else's pain. It's not the English thing to do.
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !
EEE-ZEH! EEE-ZEH! EEE-ZEH!
*Ahem*.
Christof
08-08-2005, 10:17 PM
That said the Australian line up for Old Trafford is looking slightly weak. Especially if they drop a batsmen to accomodate Stuart MacGill as a second spinner
Possible Line Up:
Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, Watson, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, MacGill
With Lee's injury the chances of Shane Watson (currently @ Hampshire) getting a call up have greatly increased seeing as it wouldn't weaken their batting as much as bringing in Shaun Tait would.
Jaymzy
09-08-2005, 05:53 PM
Stewart Clarke has been called into the Australian Squad from Middlesex I believe.
Going by the results of the last test, Brett Lee being out will weaken our batting more since the English bowlers had more trouble getting him out than some of our topline batsmen.
Well, Edgbaston, the "cricket ground on a postage stamp" has always been a happy hunting ground for England, its the only ground they have a superior record vs Australia in recent times.
Now there's talk that the pitch at Old Trafford is going to be doctored to nullify Shane Warne. I thought that only happened on the Sub-Continent and Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Old Trafford is known for "home town refereeing/umpiring decisions but hopefully that won't cross over to cricket.....
Well fortune seems to be favouring England at the moment with McGrath out and now Lee in doubt. England will certainly want to take advantage of their good luck because if they should happen to lose the Ashes now then all their good work will come undone.
I'm saddened though that some people in England think its funny when people go down injured. The crowd reaction when Glenn McGrath was carried off the ground after spraining his ankle must be highly embarrassing to self-respecting English folk. After all isn't England the home of sportsmanship, gentlemen and etiquette??? As a son of English parents, that was how I was brought up.....
Christof
09-08-2005, 07:22 PM
Old Trafford is known for "home town refereeing/umpiring decisions but hopefully that won't cross over to cricket.....
With neutral umpires that would be difficult in every sense
I'm saddened though that some people in England think its funny when people go down injured. The crowd reaction when Glenn McGrath was carried off the ground after spraining his ankle must be highly embarrassing to self-respecting English folk. After all isn't England the home of sportsmanship, gentlemen and etiquette??? As a son of English parents, that was how I was brought up.....
Maybe we should be sporting, but we're always too nice to the Aussies (hence Lords being an ACB home ground). Also every ashes series in my memory England have suffered many injuries at crucial stages when the opposition would go through a series unscathed.
Jaymzy
09-08-2005, 07:47 PM
With neutral umpires that would be difficult in every sense.
Soccer referees are also supposed to be neutral.
Needless to say, the umpiring thus far has been ordinary at best, 2 prime examples being Pietersons dismissal in the 2nd Innings and Kasprowicz's as well.
Maybe we should be sporting, but we're always too nice to the Aussies (hence Lords being an ACB home ground). Also every ashes series in my memory England have suffered many injuries at crucial stages when the opposition would go through a series unscathed.
Hospitality is what's expected of all national touring sporting sides everywhere in the world in all sports. I love it when England tours Australia because the Barmy Army are the best supporters in the world. I have downed many a pint with the "Old Enemy" after a long day at the MCG.
Bad luck with injuries doesn't give anybody the right to cheer an injured champion like Glenn McGrath, nor a young player starting his career. If I saw Australian supporters taking glee in an Englishmans injury then I would certainly give them a piece of my mind.
I'm looking forward to the 3rd Test in a big way now. It will be enthralling to see if the Aussies can bounce back in the face of adversity.
MillionLiraMan
10-08-2005, 03:14 PM
Sky Sports News has footage of McGrath and Brett Lee bowling... today.
I was actually hoping England would win this one, then that maybe Brett Lee would be back for the Aussies to take the fourth test, then McGrath would come back for the final test and you'd get a decider between two full-strength teams.
Looks like if England are to win this specific test they'll have to do it with nine wickets per innings.
Vaughan against McGrath - hmm...
Vaughan against Brett Lee - rabbit in headlights.
I rest my case.
Sky Sports News has footage of McGrath and Brett Lee bowling... today.
I was actually hoping England would win this one, then that maybe Brett Lee would be back for the Aussies to take the fourth test, then McGrath would come back for the final test and you'd get a decider between two full-strength teams.
Looks like if England are to win this specific test they'll have to do it with nine wickets per innings.
Vaughan against McGrath - hmm...
Vaughan against Brett Lee - rabbit in headlights.
I rest my case.
I feel this could be a good time to congratulate the Scottish Cricket Team on winning the ICC Trophy in some old blokes back garden in Dublin!
Anyway, onto real Cricket, it is a shame when people are cheering other peoples misfortune. Glen McGrath certainly doesn't deserve it, the guys a legend. If he plays tomorrow then so be it, can't see him being as destructive as he was at Lords, a ground which has been very good to him down the years. As for Lee, although he's a great bowler he's not a match winner of McGraths standard.
The Lords test was a bit of a freak, England are a lot better than that, I don't think we were at our best at Edgbaston either. Strauss and Vaughan owe us a couple of good innings, as does Bell although I can't see that happening.
What we really need is one player who's willing to take his time and build a big innings, at Edgbaston it was all a bit smash and grab, although there were big scores, nobody really stayed in for any length of time.
It will hopefully be another great test match, and hopefully another win for England.
Christof
11-08-2005, 04:41 PM
Dear ACB
Please carry on picking Jason Gillespie. He is single handedly trying to help us regain the ashes.
Regards
A.Pom
Vaughan against McGrath - hmm...
Vaughan against Brett Lee - rabbit in headlights.
I rest my case.
Yes wholeheartdly agree with you on that one. :lol
Oh whats that, the first centuary of the series? Yorkshireman at Old Trafford figures.
Good day from England shame about the loss of a few wickets towards the end of the day. Good total behind England may enable Freddie to play a few shots in the morning.
MillionLiraMan
12-08-2005, 02:22 AM
Yes wholeheartedly agree with you on that one. :lol
Haha, touché! I am quite happy to eat humble pie here, since it makes for a better match. I was also pleased with the way that Vaughan was quick to praise Bell, during the innings when they were together as well it was good to see that before Vaughan went crazy at the end of his innings trying to do too much he spent much of his time seemingly reassuring Bell which was exactly what England needed, along with 166 runs of course. I think Bell has taken a real hammering this series basically because he's not Thorpe, but he did really well today. He was still getting slated a bit when he was getting to about thirty or so because of his slow run rate and tentative style but he didn't give his wicket away and steadily got to a half century. As they say in Blazing Saddles about authentic frontier gibberish, who can argue with that?
It was particularly impressive considering that Pietersen gave his wicket away after a pretty untidy sort of innings, showing that patience pays off and impatience and slogging at balls for shots that aren't on doesn't. Hoggard did his job, albeit only just, so even though he didn't add much it has at least saved Flintoff until tomorrow which was the objective.
Couldn't agree more about Jason Gillespie. The Aussies must be too attached to him to see it. Now that he doesn't have the pace he used to have he really needs to do something extra, a bit more intelligent with the ball, but just now he isn't, so if he doesn't improve this could be his last Ashes series. Warne and Lee still did not too badly today. Gilchrist needs a better day tomorrow. As for McGrath, clearly he's not fully fit, so anything they do get from him should be considered a bonus.
Evil Gringo
12-08-2005, 12:53 PM
Freddie and Jones got England away well today but both are now out on 46 and 42 respectively...
England 434 for 8 with Giles and Harmison in and Simon Jones to come...
Well done Vaughan and how good has Brett Lee's bowling been? Is he coming of age at last?
Evil Gringo
12-08-2005, 01:41 PM
Giles and Simon Jones where dismissed by Warne for ducks and Harmison was last in after adding another ten runs meaning England fell to 444 all out...
Not bad really, good work from Banger, Vaughan, Bell, Freddie and Jones... Shame Pietersen fell into Lee's trap of playing the pull shot as a few more runs from him would have been nice...
Lee finished on 4 for 100 off 27 overs with 6 maidens, McGrath 0 for 86 off 25, 6 maidens, Warne 4 for 99 off 33.2 overs with 5 maidens, Gillespie 1 for 114 of only 19 overs with only two maidens and Kaitch got one for 36 off 9 overs, one maiden...
I've got some humble pie to eat on the Ian Bell thing, his innings was exactly what we needed, as I said above we needed someone who just sticks around slowly building a good score, which he did so well done to him.
444 is a good score but was probably slightly dissapointing in the end, loads of rain is forecast in Manchester and the Aussies have got off to a decent start batting so I can see this one ending in a draw.
Well at what 115-4, I can't see it being a draw now, unless someone left in their batting, has an absolute stormer.
Christof
12-08-2005, 04:49 PM
Gilchrist has just been dropped at gully. Seems like it's still been a good day though. I just hope that drop isn't costly.
Christof
12-08-2005, 04:52 PM
Radio have just reported that Pietersen dropped Gilchrist again, twice in a over he's been dropped. Hmmmm
I cant see the Aussie's doing too well in this test, especially if our next innings at bat goes as well as yesterday and this morning. Our bowlers have done well, but our fielders need to sharpen up a bit if we are to dominate like we want to.
If we can get them to follow on, and I don't think we will now then we should win it. I'm still worried about the weather, rain is forecast tomorrow, be handy if we could have another go at them. Warne once again is their top batsman, if we can get him out early tomorrow it could get rather interesting.
We have to remember though, that the Aussie fielders were unlucky and dropped a couple too though. Vaughan was out had it not been a no ball, and McGrath missed a catch too, so the Aussie field, isn't doing great either.
*cougth cougth*
I feel a nasty cougth coming on
Oh whats that £10 a ticket at Old trafford tommorow, but i'm at work
*cougth cougth*
It will be tougth but i'm sure the English bowlers have it in them to claim the win.
Now wheres works phone number and the Bus timetable to Old trafford.
Evil Gringo
14-08-2005, 08:51 PM
The Aussie batting this series has been woeful...
Without Lee, Warne and McGrath's bowling and the first two's batting the Aussie's would have been worse off last test and annaliated in this one...
Come on England!
There is some serious swing and turn getting into that pitch but and our bowlers can get some serious joy out of it tomorrow trust me...
2-1 going into the fourth hopefully and finally 18 years of hurt over.
I can still see this one ending in a draw, way its been going we'll piss through the upper and mid card and Fat Boy Spin will bat out the rest of the day and earn the draw. Having said that we'll probably have it won by lunch, should be a great day whatever, shame i'm working. I'll be glued to the radio commentary from 10:20.
Christof
15-08-2005, 07:05 PM
I can't sum up how gutted I am about England not quite making it 2-1. We have showed over the last 9 days of cricket that we are more than a match for the Aussies. This still could be our year.
Jaymzy
15-08-2005, 08:13 PM
Best drawn Test Match I've ever seen...........
Just got back from a bouncing Old Trafford.
The buzz around the ground for the last few overs after Ponting was caught was like nothing i've ever experienced at a sporting event of anytype. it would of been a shame for either team to lose such a fantastic test match.
It's advantage Australia now as they only require 1 test to retain, but as long as England don't lose the series i'll be happy.
My hope at the moment is that the Trent Bridge test also ends up as a draw seting up a decider at the Oval.
Glad to hear you got in, on telly (yes I skived off aswell) they kept saying 21,000 got in and 20,000 were turned away at the gate. What time did you have to start queing?
Got dropped off at 7am th queue was already huge, got in for about 9ish, my mum rang me to ask me if i'd been able to get in and was shocked to hear how many had been turned away.
Best value £10 i've ever spent!
Beer was expensive mind £3 for a cup that holds less than a pint, this is Manchester not London. :evil
Beer was expensive mind £3 for a cup that holds less than a pint, this is Manchester not London. :evil
I was gonna say that sounds quite reasonable to me.
Christof
15-08-2005, 10:14 PM
Tell you what, if the Oval test goes to a fifth day then I will be the most gutted man alive as I'll be on a training course I think so i won't be able to take a sickie.
MillionLiraMan
16-08-2005, 01:07 AM
I wasn't sure how to feel at the end of this, on the one hand I was gutted for the English team, especially since I think they really needed to win this match. You just sense that Australia, though they've been outmatched in the last two tests, won't always be the vulnerable side and so England have to win when they're on top whereas the Australians can just afford to get away with it a bit more so than the English team.
Part of me though was very pleased for the Australians, simply because for all that Vaughan's first innings performance was outstanding, the innings that Ponting put on today was absolutely first class and when he did get caught he just looked so absolutely gutted that only the most partizan of England fans couldn't feel so sorry for him. That part of me was pleased just for Ponting, because he really didn't deserve to lose.
For the most part though I think England really needed to win this so I was disappointed that they didn't as I think that would have been the best result for the series. It's still nicely poised if England can win or at least draw the next test but you just get the feeling that Australia aren't going to stand for this throughout the whole series and somehow will get back on top again for some periods of what there is still to play of this series.
Heroes:
Vaughan - I slated him before the match and although his second innings wasn't up to that much you can't really quibble when the guy makes 166 runs in his first innings. He seems to have the respect of everyone around him as captain but he looks a far more authoritative and commanding figure on the back of a 166 than he has been struggling for form and finding it difficult to get to double figures. Let's hope he keeps up this form.
Ponting - he saved Australia. Big time. Him and Warne, basically. If it weren't for those two they'd still have made a decent effort as there were other players who did reasonably for Australia but they'd surely have fallen short without Ponting. For all that Vaughan scored more I think Ponting's innings just meant slightly more as rather than trying to build a score under not as much pressure, Australia desperately needed someone to stay and protect their wicket and he did that for something like seven hours and fifty minutes of play. I don't know at exactly what time he came in and what time he was out but his second innings was an incredible effort.
Warne - the other Aussie hero, his failure to get a wicket in England's second innings wasn't that important as the scoring was always likely to end by a declaration anyway. He did okay in the first innings but it was with the bat that saw him at his best. While the likes of Katich, Gilchrist and Hayden owe Australia some better performances Warne has been smashing England all over the place. Although England did bowl him out twice this time he's been arguably Australia's most consistent batsman (though not the highest scoring of course) and had he not trodden on his own stumps at Edgbaston Australia might already have retained the Ashes by being two up with two to play.
Strauss - can't argue with any century against the Aussies. Not as spectacular as Vaughan's or Ponting's but probably more painful!
Bell - the way he played was exactly how the Aussies needed to play on the last day. He just stayed in and didn't get himself out, only attacking at a slow and comfortable rate when it was on to do it. To get over 50 on both innings was exactly what he needed to silence the talk of how he shouldn't be there instead of Thorpe in the first place.
Trescothick - people haven't really commented so much on him because of the other more spectacular batting but he did help, your top order batsman can't always make hundreds but when they finish up with a sixty-odd and a forty-odd there's no real reason to argue that they haven't kept up their part of the run scoring.
McGrath - fair few wickets second innings, shouldn't have played in the first place and didn't get out at the end. England still haven't got him out yet!
Lee - he's done really well again in this test and with McGrath injured and Gillespie bowling at a level the England batsmen can handle he's really had to step up his performances for the team to get anywhere - and he has.
Part of me though was very pleased for the Australians, simply because for all that Vaughan's first innings performance was outstanding, the innings that Ponting put on today was absolutely first class and when he did get caught he just looked so absolutely gutted that only the most partizan of England fans couldn't feel so sorry for him. That part of me was pleased just for Ponting, because he really didn't deserve to lose.
He did look absolutely gutted, I felt very sorry for him. The matches have been played in such great spirit with a lot of respect evident between both sets of players, that I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I was pleased that England had taken a step closer to the win, but on a personal level i felt sorry for Ponting.
Jaymzy
17-08-2005, 06:09 PM
The question I think now is, Who has the psychological edge going into the 4th Test?
It is not as cut and dried as it may seem........
For the English:- They managed to bowl Australia out in the 2nd Test and came damn close to it again in the 3rd. Their batting has been first rate for the last 2 Tests with most batsmen on the improve. Their fielding has improved marginally but have still managed to fluff a few catches as well, especially on crucial wickets. But all that said, they have had luck on their side in the form of injuries to key men on the Aussies side, namely McGrath, Lee and Clarke.....
For the Aussies:- Well they only lost the 2nd Test by a measly 2 runs from an incorrect umpiring decision at the death. They managed to bat out over a day to save the last test albeit by the skin of their teeth. The fact that McGrath managed to hold out the last 4 overs would be a massive psychological boost for them on the back of Pontings magnificent innings. To have the match out of their hands effectively from Day 2 and still not lose, yet allowing the Poms to get so close must have shattered Vaughan and his team. Test 4, after a 10 day break will see McGrath and Lee back to full fitness, Clarke should also be right and Kasprowicz will come in at the expense of the under-achieving Dizzy Gillespie. The Aussies have time to regroup and re-assess their position now.......
I call it as being slightly in favour of the Aussies due to past history and the wake-up call they have been given......
What are other peoples thoughts?????
MillionLiraMan
18-08-2005, 01:24 AM
I agree with you Jaymzy, although I think that the long gap between the tests means that the momentum carried from Old Trafford won't quite be the same as the impact of Edgbaston going into Old Trafford. The Aussies also know that they will retain the Ashes with just one more win, rather than being one win from losing them which ought to have been the case considering their position after Old Trafford had the weather been kinder. I just think they have more to offer now, since they haven't performed to their expected standards since Lord's, so I think they will feel pleased to have got away with their last two performances whereas England will feel that they've missed such a big chance from Old Trafford which could see them not quite so confident going into Trent Bridge.
Of course, for all the talk of momentum, it really depends on the first couple of days. As we saw from Lord's to Edgbaston, performances can change very quickly.
I think that playing at Lord's and not playing at Headingley, as many people have said, could impact upon England's chances.
SamStowell
18-08-2005, 07:24 PM
England all the way.
Christof
24-08-2005, 08:06 AM
Australia take a gamble.......
Paceman Shaun Tait will make his Test debut for Australia in Thursday's fourth Ashes encounter at Trent Bridge.
The 22-year-old got the nod ahead of Glamorgan's Michael Kasprowicz as the tourists look for an alternative to the out-of-form Jason Gillespie.
Tait becomes the first Australian bowler to make his debut in an Ashes match since Matt Nicholson in 1998-99.
Kasprowicz could still feature for the Aussies if fast bowler Glenn McGrath fails to shake off an elbow injury.
McGrath, who missed the second Test with an ankle injury, complained of soreness in his right elbow during Tuesday's practice at Trent Bridge and has already had a scan.
Meanwhile, Australia captain Ricky Ponting, whose side are all square at 1-1 in the five-Test series, is relishing the chance to unleash Tait against England.
"We have all been pretty excited by the prospect of him playing at some stage of this Ashes tour after what he did in Australia last year"
Australia captain Ricky Ponting
Ponting said: "He knows we want him and need him to run in, bowl fast and try to get wickets for us. That is the way he will be used in this Test match.
"He might not have the best control in the world but when he gets it right he has that ability to be very dangerous.
"Looking at the conditions here the ball should swing around a bit which will make it even more difficult to combat him.
"Dizzy (Gillespie) has gone for a few anyway, he has not been at his best and able to contain batsmen for periods of time so if you add that up Tait might go for a few runs but he has that wicket-taking ability.
"If we set the right sort of fields to him at different stages and use him and Brett Lee in shorter bursts in the next two games I think we will be able to cope."
Tait had an unsuccessful spell with Durham last summer and was released after two matches.
But he had a superb season back in Brisbane, and Ponting is certain he will have an impact at Trent Bridge.
"We have all been pretty excited by the prospect of him playing at some stage of this Ashes tour after what he did in Australia last year," he added.
"He has produced some good pace in the nets and has been some hard work for all of us over the last couple of months.
"Shaun is a young bloke who is dying to get out and have a crack at cricket at the highest level.
"He is someone with a unique sort of action and that out-and-out striking ability which is very exciting for all of his team-mates to be standing in the slips or in the field when he is running in to bowl."
Jaymzy
24-08-2005, 08:14 PM
Exactly what I was hoping for, I hope Tait has a good debut, he is very raw but so talented. He took 63 wickets at about 17 apiece last season in the Pura Cup (Australias Domestic Competition), not bad for his first full season.......
Christof
24-08-2005, 08:18 PM
Well he is definately a fire cracker.
2 games for Durham last year, 18 overs, 176 runs, 0 wickets
Pura Cup, 65 wickets @ 20
2 Northants batsmen bleeding as a result of facing him this weekend, Langer hit in the nets.
The fact that he doesn't know where he's putting it makes him dangerous for both batsmen and his captain alike.
Jaymzy
25-08-2005, 06:12 PM
2 fantastic wickets for Tait so far, his first made Trescothick look amateur.
Shame McGrath missed out through injury, as good as Kaspa can be, he's no Pigeon McGrath that's for sure......
And Ponting getting Vaughan's wicket, would have loved to have seen the odds for that to happen!!!!
Christof
25-08-2005, 06:37 PM
Having got that wicket I would say that Australia actually have the advantage going into day 2. England are now reliant upon Flintoff, Pietersen and Jones to get them to at least 450.
MillionLiraMan
26-08-2005, 02:39 AM
It was looking like England would dominate the day's play again but Australia I think have the advantage now because as has been said, if they can even get two out of the three of Flintoff, Pietersen and Geraint Jones reasonably inexpensively there really aren't any partnerships for England, plus their tail doesn't have the capacity, so far at least from what we've seen, to stand up to the Australia attack as the Aussie tail has stood up to the England bowling.
England should still try to aim for around something like 375-400, but I can't see them getting much more than about 350 or so.
Christof
26-08-2005, 02:46 PM
Well after losing Pietersen early I think England have done well, much better than expected. TMS have summed it up perfectly, Australia are now looking like England of old Ashes series.
Evil Gringo
26-08-2005, 02:54 PM
Excellant little innings from Pieterson, a welcome mini-return after his cheap dismissals in the past two innings of the last test...
Freddie once again showing why he is a true man of the series and year contender with another fantastic batting display and Jones looking great as well...
So long as Giles and co defend well and rotate the strike in a good way England could reach 500, put the Aussies in an cause hell...
But in the short term... come on Jonesy! Get that 100!
Evil Gringo
26-08-2005, 03:00 PM
Of course no sooner then I type that do Giles and Jones get out... Jones c&b by Kasprowicz at 85 and Giles lbw by Warne on 15...
I will not type about the match until the end of the 5th day now... I am truely a curse!
Christof
26-08-2005, 04:12 PM
477, I would have taken that at the start of the day. Now we need a good bowling performance and them 4 down by close hopefully.
This is making really good viewing the Aussies now 22-3
Well the Austarlia finished the day 99-5, there will be some Aussies waking up in disbelief in a few hours.
Christof
26-08-2005, 06:49 PM
All I can say is Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Evil Gringo
26-08-2005, 06:54 PM
I think the English performance some how manafed to make me perform a Rumba...
I can't dance though...
Yes we played that well...
I know its a bit early... but I think the Ashes might be coming back home people...
Tempting fate there Gringo, even if we win this one we still have to avoid defeat in the next.
The Aussies have really struggled with our pace attack all the way through the series, it doesn't seem like they have the answer at the moment and times running out for them to find it.
Christof
26-08-2005, 07:15 PM
At the same time though they are also struggling for cohesion as a bowling unit. The one thing the Aussies lack is a bowling all rounder. So will they play 5 bowlers at The Oval, bringing MacGill in and go for the throat with two leggies. Or will they bring MacGill in place of a pacman - Kasprowicz perhaps and call up Shane Watson who is in great form for Hampshire.
At the moment the onus is on the Aussies to show why they should retain the Ashes.
Aussie whingers a-plenty at the BBC TMS forums, moaning about the dismissals of Ponting and Martyn.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbtms/F2208935?thread=893418&skip=0&show=20
Popsi
26-08-2005, 08:21 PM
Its always the way when a team who have been on top for so long are being outplayed by a team that no-one realistically thought would win. Happened when Wales beat England in the six nations, people always have to have a whinge over stuff they don't percieve to be fair.
Bloody good days cricket i say, decisions go both ways, Pontin and Martyn may not have been out, but neither was Bell in the other test.
Its always the way when a team who have been on top for so long are being outplayed by a team that no-one realistically thought would win. Happened when Wales beat England in the six nations, people always have to have a whinge over stuff they don't percieve to be fair.
Bloody good days cricket i say, decisions go both ways, Pontin and Martyn may not have been out, but neither was Bell in the other test.
I felt we had a realistic chance of winning coming into this series.
Aussie whingers a-plenty at the BBC TMS forums, moaning about the dismissals of Ponting and Martyn.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbtms/F2208935?thread=893418&skip=0&show=20
Well technically they were'nt out, but the umpires can't see something so fine, i mean it took about 30 minutes fot the tv cameras to prove that Ponting hit the ball before it hit his pad.
So Australia quit your whinging, your starting to sound like the English.
Popsi
26-08-2005, 09:48 PM
I felt we had a realistic chance of winning coming into this series.
I hoped they would win but i didnt think realistically they would, and neither did a lot of people i think. very glad to see that currently im being proved wrong!
This is just getting better and better.
Australia 163-8
And best of all Warne out first ball!
Australia forced into the follow on for the first time since 1988.
After being bowled out for 218.
Evil Gringo
27-08-2005, 12:24 PM
I make up and the first thing my mortal eyes see on the T.V. is a Simon Jones destruction of Warne and Kaitch...
Not a bad start to the day...
Well it's swinging, its over cast and their confiedence is at an all time low probably... If we get at them and keep the ball doing what it did yesterday then the most I reckon we'll have to chase is about 100...
Then it's 2-1, The Oval and a chance to bring the little urn home!
Jimmy Redman
28-08-2005, 08:19 AM
S***~!
Thats all I got...
I can see why you would say that! We have had a couple of lucky wickets today, but we (well Jones) have let a couple of wickets go astray to counter it. Australia need to be on fire when it comes to bowling if they want this test, but i think our lads might just have this one sewn up :xyx
Evil Gringo
28-08-2005, 10:06 PM
I have been offline watching the cricket and football all day... But now I am here to party! Ladies and gentleman we have the ashes so close to our grasp, so close to our hands...
We are so close to victory.
I have to say once again I feel sorry for Brett Lee and Shane Warne. Those guys have nearly killed themshelves this tour with effort to try and keep the Austrailan's in the series with both their bowling and batting. Lee's performance alone in our second innings was awesome... But alas, we got there...
The fact is the Aussie's don't have the form, confidence or players they once had... In the good old days you used to have Langer, Taylor, Hayden, Ponting, Waugh, Waugh, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillispie, MacGill and McGrath...
But now the Waugh twins and Taylor have gone who have they been replaced with? Clarke who is still a bit inexperianced, Kaitch who is patchy and can't read a ball and Martyn who is a reasonable one day all-rounder but not good enough for test cricket.
Granted, Lee's a bowling is getting better and he has come of age for me in this series and Warne is still a fantastic player but the fact is the rest of the golden age players are losing their touch.
Langer is constantly exposed at bat and pad... Hayden's footwork and footplant is suspect, Ponting can't play through the off side with conviction early in his tenure at the crease, Martyn is easy to fool and work, Clarke and Kaitch chase balls they don't need to and Gilchrist has lost the great batting form that made him one of the most dangerous batters in the world...
Even the bowling attack apart from Lee and Warne has lost it's edge as well...
Plus couple the fact most of the team won't be around in a years team near enough and Aussie cricket has a problem... Only Lee and Clarke will be around for the future really... Scary ain't it?
But at the moment English cricket is thriving... Long may it continue and lets hope the Ashe's come home next week.
Christof
03-09-2005, 07:50 PM
The Australian's plans to have an easy two day warm up have been totally thwarted by the newly crowned Totesport D1 Champion's Essex. I was in Chelmy earlier myself and joked to Paula that she could go home and that I would get a tout ticket to get in to the County Ground.
Damn I wish i had done. Essex have made 502-4 today from 105 overs in a match that was meant to be a warm up for the Aussies ahead of the final Ashes Test. It was also a chance for Stuart MacGill to stake his claim for a place in the final XI. Neither proved to be the case as Essex, Alistair Cook (playing for England within 3 years mark my words) scroed 214 from 238 balls as Essex battered the Australian bowling attack, MacGill himself returning figures of 24-0-128-0.
So what should the Aussies do? Seriously? Call for Shane Watson, he played decently today for Hampshire, he actually has some form and has been playing regular cricket. What else? Well first task would be to ensure they don't get beaten by Essex, with McGrath still not a certainty for Thursday the AUssies need to preserve whatever is left of their morale.
Christof
03-09-2005, 08:05 PM
Just been reading baggygreen.au (Cricket Australia's site) and thought this picture for Matthew Hayden in the field was appropriate
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/53100/53146.jpg
Mr Hayden, penny for your thoughts?
Christof
07-09-2005, 04:51 PM
McGrath is playing in what could be his Ashes swansong, Warne is playing in his last test in England. England have still to decide on Anderson or Collingwood.
Going to be an intriguing few days to say the least
Erm England lost the Football.
Bugger
5th Test starts tommorow!
YAY!
Please don't balls it up.
British Airways are planning to sell tickets to Australia for the amount the convicts rack up in the first innings. For example if the aussies are bowled out for 150, flights to Sydney will be £150. if they reach 500, flights will be £500.
however, the amount of runs England rack up in their first innings is vital too, as this is the amount of tickets BA will release.
so if the aussies only rack up 150 runs, but england only rack up 149, there will only be 149 tickets released at £150.
If you have family down under, keep your eyes peeled for a number to ring the moment the last man goes in the first innings, as you may grab yourself the bargain of a lifetime. if you're lucky.
Proudy
08-09-2005, 02:40 PM
At this very moment England 185-4, shame we lost 3 wickets before dinner!!!
Mr. Perfect
08-09-2005, 02:58 PM
England are going to win, come hell or high water we WILL win!
Proudy
08-09-2005, 03:03 PM
I hope so mate!!!
Well at the moment we are 274-5, could be doing a lot worse, but we could also be doing a lot better. Heres hoping we get a good set of runs from our later batters.
And just for the record i would like to clarify my status as it concerns a statement from another thread. I am a person who has jumped on the Cricket bandwagon, and i am not afraid to admit it. I used to think that Cricket was the most tedious sport ever created, and i would gleefully admit it. However after the hype over the Ashes i decided to give it another try with the first test, and since then i have found a new interest in the sport. It probably is because we are winning, but i am actually enjoying it, and i am just jumping on the bandwagon, but at least i am admitting it.
Hhhmm near 300-7, its quite good, but doubts as to where its good enough. Certainly gonna be another close one I think.
Jaymzy
08-09-2005, 07:36 PM
Englands 2 wins came in close matches that they nearly choked out a loss at the death.
7-319 could end up substantial or may only be competitive.
Either way, the first day has set up what should be a cracker of a Test.....
C'mon Aussie C'mon!!!
Let's prove we are still the undisputed Champions of International Cricket!!!
Prove you are still the undisputed Champions of International Cricket by drawing a series with England? Figure that one out. :P
The Aussies probably got the better of us today by a whisker, hopefully we can bat for a while in the morning, maybe add 40 or 50 more runs so we've got a decent total to defend. It's still all in the balance, I can see it going down to the wire again.
LiveStrong
08-09-2005, 09:00 PM
probably will be a rain effected tie... we did well today with strauss proving to be the hero along with freddy flintoff
Chris2K
08-09-2005, 09:06 PM
Most of the Aussie batsmen are in form now thanks to the genius idea of giving them a game at Chelmsford on a bat friendly pitch against insipid bowlers three days before the final test.
Might be a false sense of security though, and maybe our bowling attack might catch them off guard. One can hope.
Have to say I do have a bad feeling about this test.
Chris2K
08-09-2005, 11:21 PM
The poor England team are under so much pressure it's insane.
What IDIOT decided to book the Open Bus Tour and celebrations BEFORE THE SERIES WAS OVER?
Christof
09-09-2005, 01:15 PM
I have a feeling the nation, desperate to not care about the inadequacies of the footy team have placed too much pressure on the lads.
Yeah I've just got a bad feeling, that the press and everyone have done their usual job, of building it up so much, that its just played straight into the hands of the Aussies.
We can hope though, and it still makes for some damn interesting cricket.
112-0, I'm not liking this at all.
I have a bad feeling about this too but it's not all doom and gloom, if theres much more rain about tomorrow then the pressure will be turned firmly onto the Aussies. I'd have taken a draw before the series started but it will be dissapointing having got so close. If we din't get them this time, we'll do it 2 years time.
Well 250-1 at the mo, I think all we can hope for is a draw. I knew as soon as the press started hyping it up ridiculously, that things would get bad.
Can never rule the Aussies out.
The thing is what do Australia do?
They've more or less lost today and are still over 100 runs behind England, to win the test match they have to at least get england all out in there 2nd innings.
Do they keep on batting tommorow making England chase a total. Or do they declare early maybe even behind Englands total and try and get England all out Quickly, leaving them with a managable total to chase.
All very intresting indeed.
I reckon the latter personally.
Seems the likeliest possible option for victory.
But certainly its a lot of mind games, and with questionable weather too, who knows which way its gonna swing.
Its gonna be damn close either way though.
Declaring early would be the right option for the Aussies, as they will no doubt pull out all the stops to bowl us out like they did in the first innings, if not for less. Then that would give them time to knock out the runs and take the lead. However i am hoping that England can pull something together, as we really need to pull our fingers out of our arses and get going. Allowing these Australian runs to pile up is killing us.
Christof
10-09-2005, 10:57 PM
The thing is, they aren't piling them up, they are accumulating them slowly in a very un-Australian way. I think the Aussies need to change their game plan and bat for less time tomorrow in an attempt to knock England over and set themselves a target. With the weather mis-behaving they can ill afford for at 5pm on Monday England to accept a bad light offer and take the ashes.
Popsi
11-09-2005, 11:36 AM
This is such a weird situation, because the Aussies are getting runs so slowly. So whilst it seems bad for england that they're getting towards the target, its not actually bad as they're taking so long to do so. If they ewre scoring quicker it would be worse as it would mean they could get a good target and declare earlier - so in theory possibly giving them the chance to bowl out england. Basically if England cant get the Aussies out quickly today then they just need to hope they score slowly, as then its less time for England to have to bat.
I don't want it to be a draw but at the moment that looks like how its going, unless things change big style and quickly.
If it is a draw though, then surely the Aussies are to blame just as much as the weather, thus its a fair result?
Popsi
11-09-2005, 12:32 PM
Thats true, and im not blaming slow play or whatever for a draw, its just *** i don't want to see a draw! But to be fair if thats what happens, who cares, England will have the ashes!
Mr. Perfect
11-09-2005, 12:50 PM
when England blow/catch or get someone out via LBW, does anyone else shout HOWS THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT, or is it just me?
363/8
This is sounding better.
Popsi
11-09-2005, 01:34 PM
I cant believe this, the wickets are dropping like flies!
I think this could be the turning point!
Or ive just jinxed it!
Mr. Perfect
11-09-2005, 01:35 PM
I cant believe this, the wickets are dropping like flies!
I think this could be the turning point!
Or ive just jinxed it!
we've been getting wickets every 5 minutes or so, this is great!
Well who would of thought it.
We've managed to get them all out still 6 behind.
Popsi
11-09-2005, 01:53 PM
Well bloody hell! I cant believe they're all out!
So what do england do now, play for the draw? Or aim for a target and declare? Being as they still have another day to bowl the aussies if they need to?
Could be an exciting afternoon!
Mr. Perfect
11-09-2005, 02:02 PM
i love watching England bowl is so fun, especially Flitntoff, he's bloody good! but i dont like it when the Aussies bowl because its so tense!
I don't think we'll be seeing England declare. If they are offred the light they will take it.
I guess that Englands plan will be to keep the run rate steady and and frustrate the Austarlian bowlers. No big risks needed.
Whomever thought that having a test match in the middle of September!
Let me shake there hand.
EEK!
We definately wont see England declare, why would we need to? We don't have to win the match and therefore don't have to leave any time to get the Aussies all out. Plenty of whinging Aussies again on 5 Live yesterday afternoon about how the Britis weather is gonna win us the Ashes. How quickly they forget Old Trafford where the weather saved their asses.
This September test raised eyebrows when it was announced, the ECB have tried to squeeze every bit of revenue out of the Aussies being here this summer, with 2 one day series on top of the test series. I remember looking at it a while ago thinking how it will be difficult to get a result in this final test, which is proving to be right.
LiveStrong
11-09-2005, 03:39 PM
this is worrying with straus out quickly.....
i suggest next year the ashes is in december
To be fair, its just as much the Aussies fault, as it is the weather. I mean the Aussies excepted bad light when they were batting, and no-one was in uproar, yet when England do, its now apparantly being unfair, and un-sporting.
The Aussies lost 8 men, for around 90 runs, they've had their chances, and they didn't take it.
If the game ends in a draw, its through just as much good play, as it is being the weather affecting BOTH sides.
Just sour grapes from the Aussies.
Well after watching todays play, i was shocked to see how well we were bowling. After getting just two wickets over the previous two days, we go and get 8 in fairly quick succession. A great bit of bowling from Hoggard and Flintoff, and that has turned things around. With us losing a wicket so early my confidence then began to waine slightly, however thanks to the weather it looks increasingly possible that we could be having a draw. Thats great news, normally its us praying for no rain and great weather, but this time just when we need it the clouds come over and help us out. The Ashes are so close you could smell them.
Mr. Perfect
11-09-2005, 06:16 PM
damn umpires, it annoying when they call bad light, gets right on my nerves!
Mr. Perfect
11-09-2005, 06:47 PM
why not?
Seeing The aussies lord it over us for almost 20 years, shane warne giving the middle finger gesture to the cameras whilst Dancing witha cricket stump.
The Australians Claiming that it could be 5-0 whitewash after the first test.
Celebraing clinching a draw after the Old trafford test which England would of probably won if not for the weather.
If Australia retain the Ashes tommorow then England don't deserve it. But If England can claim the draw the test seried and regain the ashes then in my opinon they will totally deserve it. No matter at all the weather situation.
All I can say is IF England do win the ashes, I hope the history books recognises it, as being cause of being the better side, and not just because of the weather.
Evil Gringo
11-09-2005, 10:44 PM
The fact is without Brett Lee and Shane Warne then Austraila would have already lost the Ashes...
We have troubled them in every test after Lords with great bowling, fielding (well apart from a dropped Freddie one today and old KP) and batting in places...
Everyone in our team has at some time contributed to making this a succesfull series... Ok so Freddie will get the most press but the fact is Ian Bell's gritty back to back 50's at Edgebaston, G.Jones catches when it mattered and runs when needed, Strauss and Banger laying a soild foundation more often then not and great fielding and Simon Jone, Hoggard and Harmison's bowling have all put us here...
The Aussie's on the other hand have required Lee and Warne to try and pull them out the fire time and time again... Only one inning's from Ponting, Langer and Hayden has been a great contribution as far as the rest of the team goes after the Lords test...
But regardless of the weather England have been better in this test (so far), and in every other bar Lords in the the first. We have out bowled, batted or out gritted them and in most cases our tatics as well have been brilleiant...
I really hope the Ashes come back to England tomorrow... because we deserve it.
Chris2K
12-09-2005, 07:13 PM
I do believe I'm ecstatic.
Popsi
12-09-2005, 07:24 PM
Frickin brilliant! A huge well done to the boys as it was a fantastic series throughout!
LiveStrong
12-09-2005, 07:39 PM
we deserved it.. Freddy Flintoff was fantastic.. KP was there when we needed him...
the whole team did well and deserve it.. nice to see Warny got the ovation he deserved though
Well i am over the moon for all the players and every single cricket fan. I may have jumped on the bandwagon during the ashes this year, but i must say even i am extremely chuffed that we have stuck one to the Aussies and reclaimed the Ashes for the first time in nearly twenty years. Well done guys!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!! Fantastic stuff, after 16 years the Ashes are finally home, and isn't it well deserved. A fantastic series, all credit to the Aussies, this is what it's all about, two great teams, great sportsmanship, great competition and an England win at the end, doesn't get much better than this.
Evil Gringo
12-09-2005, 07:44 PM
As a fan of the English team and cricket in general for the past 12 years this is the biggest and hugest moment of my supporting life...
Out of all the great highs I've seen from the win in the Windies and Pakistan, from Goughie taking a hatrick down under and Corky doing the same against the Windies in 1995 getting Lara for a golden duck... From Atherton in South Africa standing up to Allan Dolland...
This is the greatest moment and series I have ever had the pleasure to see....
Freddie, KP, Hoggard, Simon Jones, Strauss, Banger, Vaughan, Bell, Gerant Jones, Harmison, Giles, Collingwood all of you who played what ever part, never gave up and played the series of your lives... All I can say is F**KING THANK YOU!
And to the Aussies... we beat you fair and square, we fought you tooth and nail as you did to us... Thank you for being a fantastic foe and a team worthy of defeating... Shane Warne, I salute you and your bowling and your sportsmanship...
What a game, what a series, what a F**KING RESULT!
MillionLiraMan
13-09-2005, 12:29 AM
I've enjoyed watching, purely as a neutral, although I skipped all the post-match news channel coverage of 'What was better, man walking on the moon or England's cricketers?'. I think Warne should have been man of the series. I think that would have been even better sportsmanship from the sponsors (not that the players haven't been great overall in this series), but the fans would have wanted an England guy and they did win so that's fair enough. Kevin Pietersen must be gay though. I mean it doesn't matter, but come on guys, he must be! The tank tops, the hair, the 's' pronunciation, surely that makes you gay, more than fancying blokes! :P Anyway, shame for Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, they deserved to go out on a high while I felt sorry for Brett Lee as well, but England were better at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge, the Australian team were better at Lords, while they were about even at both Edgbaston and The Oval, so even though the results didn't always reflect the performances at each ground, the end result was pretty much the right one.
OMG aparently the parade was packed even more than the rugby world cup 2003-that was a classic!I've only been 'into' cricket the past 3years but this year it was really good! Freddie the star of this year obviously was a total favourite and KP, did England proud(even though he's south african) really proud yesterday!Oh and i LOVE his hair!
Evil Gringo
13-09-2005, 05:45 PM
KP = New camp national hero...
I don't care if he is camp though, or gay or anything... The man can play cricket in an exciting and thrilling way and get results...
Good enough for me...
As for Warne being man if the series ahead of Freddie? There is a case but I'd say the two where very even and only Freddie's bigger contribution with the bat and the fact he was on the winning side meant he got the nod...
And I'm still buzzing... lets hope the hangers on stay on and help fund cricket and keep our re-growth going forward...
LiveStrong
13-09-2005, 06:24 PM
at the moment cricket is bigger than football IMO.. sure it will only be for a week but our national football team can't even beat Nothern Isreland and has no respect with a foreign coach...
the cricket team just beat the number one team in the world.. have a great coach and good team spirit
Jaymzy
14-09-2005, 06:39 PM
Well as an Aussie let me just say that losing the Series has come as a bit of a shock. I would never have foreseen proven champions have such an ordinary series. By this I mean Matty Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damian Martyn (who admittedly copped some very ordinary decisions) and Jason Gillespie.
You can only play as well as the opposing side allows you to play and the English bowlers certainly did just that. Flintoff was superb, Jones was a surprise packet for us down under, Hoggard was honest and battled brilliantly and Harmison, who I expected to be the dominant one, contributed exceptionally well.
The Aussie bowlers were like chalk and cheese. Shane Warne IS the greatest bowler to have ever played the game :worship . To take 40 wickets on pitches that were deliberately curated to nullify his spin is an extraordinary effort. He was very unlucky not to have won man of the series, and that is not to take anything away from Flintoff who was just as good. :xyx
Glenn McGrath was awesome as usual and the biggest "What If" question revolves around that damn ball that he trod on and sprained his ankle. History will show that in that Test, England cracked 400 on the opening day due to inept bowling by Gillespie and Kasprowicz. Him missing the 4th Test was also shattering to the Aussies hopes, he would have a difference regardless.
Pieterson was a revelation at Test level and the selectors have certainly vindicated themselves by leaving Graeme Thorpe out of the side. The scary part is that he will only get better over the next few years with more experience and fine tuning of his skills.
One aspect of the Series that was overall terrible was the fielding of both sides. What if (I said it again) Warney had have held on to that catch in slips and dismissed Pieterson for a mere 15?? I can't blame Warney for us not winning Test 5 and thus retaining the Ashes but dropped catches lose matches and that proves it.
Overall, the Series was the most enthralling I've ever watched, I can't say enjoyable because the Aussies were beaten. Full credit and congratulations to Enlgand though, they were better at everything and deserved to win the Series. :xyx
I look forward to next summer here in Australia where I'll be at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG with 100,000 people barracking my Aussie heart out. I look forward to drinking after day's play with the Barmy Army at one of many English themed Pubs here in greater Melbourne. :drinky
Enjoy the next 18 months England, *** the Aussies are down but certainly not out and we WILL regain the Ashes...... :P
Mermaidman
19-09-2005, 11:59 AM
Well as an Aussie let me just say that losing the Series has come as a bit of a shock. I would never have foreseen proven champions have such an ordinary series. By this I mean Matty Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damian Martyn (who admittedly copped some very ordinary decisions) and Jason Gillespie.
You can only play as well as the opposing side allows you to play and the English bowlers certainly did just that. Flintoff was superb, Jones was a surprise packet for us down under, Hoggard was honest and battled brilliantly and Harmison, who I expected to be the dominant one, contributed exceptionally well.
The Aussie bowlers were like chalk and cheese. Shane Warne IS the greatest bowler to have ever played the game :worship . To take 40 wickets on pitches that were deliberately curated to nullify his spin is an extraordinary effort. He was very unlucky not to have won man of the series, and that is not to take anything away from Flintoff who was just as good. :xyx
Glenn McGrath was awesome as usual and the biggest "What If" question revolves around that damn ball that he trod on and sprained his ankle. History will show that in that Test, England cracked 400 on the opening day due to inept bowling by Gillespie and Kasprowicz. Him missing the 4th Test was also shattering to the Aussies hopes, he would have a difference regardless.
Pieterson was a revelation at Test level and the selectors have certainly vindicated themselves by leaving Graeme Thorpe out of the side. The scary part is that he will only get better over the next few years with more experience and fine tuning of his skills.
One aspect of the Series that was overall terrible was the fielding of both sides. What if (I said it again) Warney had have held on to that catch in slips and dismissed Pieterson for a mere 15?? I can't blame Warney for us not winning Test 5 and thus retaining the Ashes but dropped catches lose matches and that proves it.
Overall, the Series was the most enthralling I've ever watched, I can't say enjoyable because the Aussies were beaten. Full credit and congratulations to Enlgand though, they were better at everything and deserved to win the Series. :xyx
I look forward to next summer here in Australia where I'll be at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG with 100,000 people barracking my Aussie heart out. I look forward to drinking after day's play with the Barmy Army at one of many English themed Pubs here in greater Melbourne. :drinky
Enjoy the next 18 months England, *** the Aussies are down but certainly not out and we WILL regain the Ashes...... :P
yeah we will enjoy it :P
and IMO Shane Warne is my personal Hero
Well its been a long time going, but now this thread is closed and being moved into the HOF. Thanks for the contributions all!
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