The Ashes 2010

[superheavyrhun]

Couldn't find a thread on any other board about the Ashes, so I thought I'd kick one off, as we're just twenty minutes away from the start of the series, with Australia almost in disarray, and England (and Wales!) probably close to having the best preparation to an Ashes series in Australia in recent times.

I think I'll gamble on working tomorrow with 4 or 5 hours sleep, don't think I can risk less than that, so watch until the lunch break I think. Looking forward to it, hopeful, if not confident, and we've won the toss and England are batting first. If they collapse in the first hour, I may cancel my plans to stay up till lunch!

[superheavyrhun]

Nobody at all is watching the Ashes, not even any Ozzies want to take the piss a bit? Looks like England are likely to slide, possibly to an innings defeat, and will be playing catch up for the rest of the series. Gutted that the lbw of Hussey that got overturned, as it was a real game turner and properly pushed Australia into the ascendancy. Well, you can't call it just yet, if Strauss and Cook get in the groove we might battle our way back into it yet.

[ryanman]

Nobody at all is watching the Ashes, not even any Ozzies want to take the piss a bit? Looks like England are likely to slide, possibly to an innings defeat, and will be playing catch up for the rest of the series. Gutted that the lbw of Hussey that got overturned, as it was a real game turner and properly pushed Australia into the ascendancy. Well, you can't call it just yet, if Strauss and Cook get in the groove we might battle our way back into it yet.

I'm watching closely. I just don't like to comment too much while its happening. I am the kiss of death.

[Andre]

Who won?

I dont give a fuk who does.

I'll Play, but I cant sit and watch others playing it; like golf.

[superheavyrhun]

Who won?

I dont give a fuk who does.

I'll Play, but I cant sit and watch others playing it; like golf.

We're down to the fifth day of the first test (this goes on for about 6 weeks!) with England ahead by 88 with 1 wicket down in the second innings. I think this'll come home a draw, hopefully England declare about 300-350 ahead and have a go at rattling the Aussies out. However, I expect they'll go conservatively for the draw rather than an outside chance of a win, with an outside chance of a loss.

[Andre]

Who won?

I dont give a fuk who does.

I'll Play, but I cant sit and watch others playing it; like golf.

We're down to the fifth day of the first test (this goes on for about 6 weeks!) with England ahead by 88 with 1 wicket down in the second innings. I think this'll come home a draw, hopefully England declare about 300-350 ahead and have a go at rattling the Aussies out. However, I expect they'll go conservatively for the draw rather than an outside chance of a win, with an outside chance of a loss.

Shit eh, exciting stuff!

[Andre]

If adrenalin isnt drippin out of my nose I'm drop of to sleep.

[superheavyrhun]

If adrenalin isnt drippin out of my nose I'm drop of to sleep.

I did have to go to sleep in the end.... looks like there might be a few draws in this series, could be 1-0 either way!

[Memphis]

Top notch cricket all round, important for England to put Australia back in to bat, Cook and Trott could have carried on for as long as they wanted to but putting them back in showed that the recovery was complete. A world of difference between avoiding defeat and having a stab at winning, different mentality about this England team.

The batting of both sides looks strong in these conditions, the problem again in Adelaide will be taking 20 wickets.

Im hoping to be made redundant in the next week or two so I can watch it properly

[Gandalf]

I thought it was a fair enough test, but you hope for a more fun wicket than this in future tests. The bowling attack on both sides is less than enticing, so you need a fair wicket to spruce things up a bit. It was all about the batsmen in this except for England being a bit average in the first innings.

[superheavyrhun]

I thought it was a fair enough test, but you hope for a more fun wicket than this in future tests. The bowling attack on both sides is less than enticing, so you need a fair wicket to spruce things up a bit. It was all about the batsmen in this except for England being a bit average in the first innings.

Fair point, but I think the big-time bowlers aren't really in-form either, neither Swann nor Johnson really at their devastating best. A wicket with more in it, plus those two hitting a hot streak would make for a very interesting series!

[Memphis]

Great first day, we need to pick up with the bat where we left off and really put them under the cosh. If we can put 450 on the board their arseholes will be going.

Anyone know what Ponting was ranting about at the end?

[Gandalf]

Yep, really good day in the field. It's a decent batting surface, so the Aussies have messed up a bit there. If we can go in there with the right mindset and bat through the best part of two days the game could be ours. A bit of a big ask though, let's wait and see.

[superheavyrhun]

Now we're cooking....the neighbours must have thought we were killing the Christmas turkey for the first three overs last night, as each squawk got louder and more indistinct!

After the positive, but slightly dull, batfest of the first test, this has got my hopes up.

It did occur to me that the Aussies may have been given the wrong printing of the phrase, "If there's grass on the wicket, don't play cricket!"

[superheavyrhun]

Definitely looks like a batters wicket again at the second test, now KP has got into the three-figure action here! If we can bat out the day hopefully the wicket livens up tomorrow, and we can put some pressure on the Aussies.