The Ashes Thread

[SUFC_Al]

Well played Straussy :clap:

Shame to end up 6 down after such a good start

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Too much ODI and Twenty20 in their diets, I'm afraid. They appear to have forgotten that, in Test cricket, you don't have to **** everything out of the park but that, instead, you should be trying to build an innings. Really disappointed with KP; as for Ravi, I fear for him.

His current stutter could, potentially, pave the way back for Bell (*) who is pretty near the top of the County averages this season with 699 runs @ 58.25. Of potential England players, only Banger, Ramprakash, Blackwell and Hildreth are ahead of him (with Banger a mile in front of the others already) - with one or two interesting names just behind him (Carberry, Afzaal and - unexpectedly - Jamie Dalrymple).

That said, if you were being harsh, you'd knock off a few runs from Banger & Hildreth, and Dalrymple, for playing on the car-parks that are Taunton and Sophia Gardens...
If we presume that Ramps's Test career is done, that leaves Bell & Ravi fending off Blackwell, Carberry and Afzaal. I actually think Blackwell is more talented than his paunch lets on - if he shifts the weight at Durham, I see him as a very serious contender for Test consideration (bearing in mind his decent ODI pedigree). I'd also like to think that Afzaal may yet work his way back into the selectors' thoughts - and Carberry warrants further consideration, albeit as a specialist opener.

Right now, though, it's a straight Bell v. Bopara scrap for the no. 3 slot. I reckon Ravi will get until the end of the next Test. If he doesn't post a big score - 70+ in his next three innings - I have a nasty feeling he may be dropped for Bell.

Time for Ravi to really step up to the plate (*).

Matt

(*Because, lest there be any doubt, I don't see Bell's return to the side as a positive development. Like Hick & Ramps, I simply don't see him as possessing sufficient grit to be a Test cricketer. He may be more naturally talented and have better technique than, say, Paul Collingwood - but you'd pick Colly in your side ahead of Bell 10 times out of 10, because Colly - quite simply - has it in spades. I happen to think that Ravi also has the temperament for Test cricket - but that he's let the Aussies get to him. He needs to focus on his technique, pick the right shots, and let his talent & guts do the talking.)

I think Bell has also got half of his runs this season at Taunton.

Neither Bell nor Bopara are test number threes in my book, but Bopara is unproven, whilst Bell has only proven that he isn't up to it.

Warne has it in big time for Bopara, which is also a massive positive in my eyes.

Anyway to drop a batsman after just three tests would be utterly moronic. I really hope England have moved on from the days of knee-jerk selections. How many people would have dropped Cook before today, on the basis of one bad test?

England have picked their best players, and barring any collapses in form, they should stick with their best players. The only decisions are tactical, whether to go with their best spinners or their best pace bowlers, who tend to be far more successful.

Well played Straussy :clap:

Shame to end up 6 down after such a good start

England have completely thrown away the iniatiative. Australia were really poor, yet I'd say honours were even. England seem able to throw away a game in a session, but lack the players - Capey (and potentially Prior) aside - to change it in a session.

Anyway, well done Cook and Strauss. The skipper rode his luck (especially when dropped by the keeper off a no-ball), but he's put the runs on the board. He needs to go on and make it a double ton, and we need another Swann cameo - his batting is far more valuable than his bowling.

 

[EastStandBlue]

English Sport. Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of victory since 1966.


Not that I'd say this a defeat, not by any stretch of the imagination, but to transcend from such a dominant position to an average score against a decidingly average attack doesn't bode well for the test and the series. Hell, even Johnson finished with 2 wickets.

I think Hauritz dislocated his finger rather than breaking it, which is a bit of a shame as it would've ruled him out for the series more than likely, blunting their attack somewhat. I expect he might miss tomorrow, which looks to be rained off anyway, but could well be back bowling on Saturday.

In a summer rammed full of ODI's and Twenty20's, Pietersen has obviously forgotten how to play Test cricket and isn't content without slogging his bat at anything that comes his way... it was the slightest of edges to get him, but he's been caught by the same delivery now 3 times this summer.

I do feel for Bopara. It's obvious he has a degree of talent with the bat, and when it goes his way he's capable of notching a century quite easily. He looked a bag of nerves during his first innings in Cardiff, was dismissed by an iffy decision in his second and was back to the nerves today. Needs to find some confidence, or he could end up the same way as Bell.

 

[EastStandBlue]

This morning couldn't have gone any better... For the convicts that is.

 

[Pubey]

the upside is that the swing from that must have given anderson a stiffy!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Skittles...

 

[SARF]

beer adverts at lords yesterday....
.
we are english we brew beer..... aussies serve it
.
we have beer in our veins .. you have lemon juice on your hair
.
and my fave.. we are english, we have history... you have previous

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Beyond belief. The match should have been out of sight for Australia by now. Apart from Cook and Strauss........what do they think they're in......a twenty/twenty game?
Totally indisciplined performance and don't let's have that crap from Pieterson about,'that's the way I play'..........with captaincy comes resposibility. I did have this theory that Pieterson was a plant from South Africa.......with the mission of killing off the England side............but there again did they need to go to that much trouble?
Only consolation is that the Aussies must be quaking in their boots at the thought of facing the England attack, following their performance in Wales
ONE DISGUSTED BEAR!

 

[number11]

Highest opening partnership for England against Australia at Lords. Highest last wicket partnership for England against Australia at Lords..... = A score less than we got at Cardiff. Australians bowled poorly but they again get us out. Now lets watch the Aussies bat for 2 days and put us under pressure again.

Sorry Colly, but you were the most culpable in this innings. 3 down, part time spin on before the new ball, and his wicket started a collapse of 6 for 78.

Very disappointed.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

425 all out. On the downside, it would have been nice to have posted 450.

On the upside, the ball will be moving like a banana today - it'll be the most seamer-friendly conditions of the summer so far. Lots of cloud, wind and humidity, with rain not far away.

If Anderson & Onions have got any chance to cause damage to the Ozzie top order, it's today.

Matt

 

[Pubey]

yahoo, breakthrough!

Hughes out for 4, aussies 4/1

 

[blues_r_best]

Go on Jimmy!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Yes Jimmy!

Now, if we can get Ponting out before they reach 50, we have a chance...

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

On the upside, the ball will be moving like a banana today - it'll be the most seamer-friendly conditions of the summer so far. Lots of cloud, wind and humidity, with rain not far away.

If Anderson & Onions have got any chance to cause damage to the Ozzie top order, it's today.

Matt

Well, I know I wasn't sticking my neck out too far with this particular prediction, but lovely to see Jimmy striking so soon...

4/1 - get in.

Matt

 

[canveyshrimper]

Pretty disappointing effort by England with the bat Strauss & Cook apart, after that start par should have been at least 500.

Hopefully we will bowl better than we did at Cardiff, and maybe the overhead conditions will help. Good to see Flintoff get the new ball.

 

[EastStandBlue]

GOT HIM!!

Big, Big Wicket...

 

[blues_r_best]

Jimmy again!

 

[BrettieAngell]

yes, see ya ponting!!!

 

[canveyshrimper]

That was pretty ordinary. ;)

 

[Bluesmanager]

Same old Ponting...




Always moaning.


To be fair, he didn't hit it with the bat, but then, if he didn't hit it with the bat it was a plumb LBW.