The cricket thread (incorporating the Ashes)

[Niall]

HOPE THE AUSSIES DECLARE NOW AND BOWL ENGLAND OUT QUICK

[moose]

HOPE THE AUSSIES DECLARE NOW AND BOWL ENGLAND OUT QUICK

I hope the Aussies get smashed, same as any other team that plays England at any sport.

[Niall]

HOPE THE AUSSIES DECLARE NOW AND BOWL ENGLAND OUT QUICK

I hope the Aussies get smashed, same as any other team that plays England at any sport.

well im not english so you'll have to excuse me. Should be exciting today though

[moose]

Thrilling, tense and exciting, England were dead and buried but some how managed to cling on (God knows how) Ponting must be furious with some of his bowlers and their poor display.
England must be thinking this is the great escape, but will have to really raise their game for the next test at Lords, i dont think they will be let off this easily next time.

[firehazard]

Thrilling, tense and exciting...

The last day reminded me why I love test cricket so much. And those last few overs were incredible. Felt like a victory from an England point of view. Maybe it will give them the boost they need for the rest of the series. And at least England can't lose 5-0 now. So that's an improvement from the last Ashes series.

England need all-round improvement. The top five batsman were woeful. But I suspect they'll still all be in the team for the next test. Not sure who the viable alternatives would be anyway. I'd have thought they don't need two spinners at Lord's, so one of them (probably Monty - despite his batting heroics, his bowling has gone downhill) should be replaced by a quickie. I'd like to see Harmison get a go, but it'll probably be Onions.

Australia's bowling simply lacked an edge. Life's just not the same for Ricky without McGrath and Warne to turn to. And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

[Niall]

Thrilling, tense and exciting...

The last day reminded me why I love test cricket so much. And those last few overs were incredible. Felt like a victory from an England point of view. Maybe it will give them the boost they need for the rest of the series. And at least England can't lose 5-0 now. So that's an improvement from the last Ashes series.

England need all-round improvement. The top five batsman were woeful. But I suspect they'll still all be in the team for the next test. Not sure who the viable alternatives would be anyway. I'd have thought they don't need two spinners at Lord's, so one of them (probably Monty - despite his batting heroics, his bowling has gone downhill) should be replaced by a quickie. I'd like to see Harmison get a go, but it'll probably be Onions.

Australia's bowling simply lacked an edge. Life's just not the same for Ricky without McGrath and Warne to turn to. And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

[firehazard]

... And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

Oh yes, towards the end some of the delaying tactics were, erm, maybe not exactly in the spirit of the game. But gamesmanship is not something that Australian teams down through the years have been exempt from. When they start to complain about others doing it, there's always a certain delicious irony, and it shows they've been rattled. Which is never a bad thing.

Ponting delayed his declaration too long in this match. He'll be fuming inwardly about that misjudgement more than anything else.

[soulfinger]

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

I know! It was bloody great. The Aussies are nor only bad losers, they are now bad drawers. Priceless!

[Niall]

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

I know! It was bloody great. The Aussies are nor only bad losers, they are now bad drawers. Priceless!

just a pity theyre such bloody good winners!!!!!

[Niall]

... And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

Oh yes, towards the end some of the delaying tactics were, erm, maybe not exactly in the spirit of the game. But gamesmanship is not something that Australian teams down through the years have been exempt from. When they start to complain about others doing it, there's always a certain delicious irony, and it shows they've been rattled. Which is never a bad thing.

Ponting delayed his declaration too long in this match. He'll be fuming inwardly about that misjudgement more than anything else.

ay, i was urging him to declare long before he did!!!!

[Welshie]

Had a great day in Cardiff on Friday, i feel my beloved Glamorgan put on a good show. Also worth noting that the place sold out of Brains Bitter smooth, which was a disappointment! Great escape by CBE&W.
Finally FH Essex pulled it round too.
Should be a good summer.
Cheers
Aled

[moose]

Thrilling, tense and exciting...

The last day reminded me why I love test cricket so much. And those last few overs were incredible. Felt like a victory from an England point of view. Maybe it will give them the boost they need for the rest of the series. And at least England can't lose 5-0 now. So that's an improvement from the last Ashes series.

England need all-round improvement. The top five batsman were woeful. But I suspect they'll still all be in the team for the next test. Not sure who the viable alternatives would be anyway. I'd have thought they don't need two spinners at Lord's, so one of them (probably Monty - despite his batting heroics, his bowling has gone downhill) should be replaced by a quickie. I'd like to see Harmison get a go, but it'll probably be Onions.

Australia's bowling simply lacked an edge. Life's just not the same for Ricky without McGrath and Warne to turn to. And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

It was class, they must have taken lessons from Ferguson, the Aussies whinging about gamesmanship, do me a favour

[firehazard]

Had a great day in Cardiff on Friday, i feel my beloved Glamorgan put on a good show. Also worth noting that the place sold out of Brains Bitter smooth, which was a disappointment! Great escape by CBE&W.
Finally FH Essex pulled it round too.

Beer running out at the cricket is a terrible disaster. Verging on the apocalyptic.

Yes, Essex too escaped with a draw they didn't really deserve. They are dispiritingly bad this year, though it hasn't helped losing so many players to international test, ODI and T20 squads. There's not a lot of encouragement to the counties to produce England players when it means your own county season suffers. Essex, to give them their due (and I, like many fans, have a lot of complaints about the management) have continued to do so. There'll be a lot of pressure for changes at Chelmsford next year.

That first test set the series up nicely. Though we could do without another round of questions about Flintoff's fitness...

[Niall]

Thrilling, tense and exciting...

The last day reminded me why I love test cricket so much. And those last few overs were incredible. Felt like a victory from an England point of view. Maybe it will give them the boost they need for the rest of the series. And at least England can't lose 5-0 now. So that's an improvement from the last Ashes series.

England need all-round improvement. The top five batsman were woeful. But I suspect they'll still all be in the team for the next test. Not sure who the viable alternatives would be anyway. I'd have thought they don't need two spinners at Lord's, so one of them (probably Monty - despite his batting heroics, his bowling has gone downhill) should be replaced by a quickie. I'd like to see Harmison get a go, but it'll probably be Onions.

Australia's bowling simply lacked an edge. Life's just not the same for Ricky without McGrath and Warne to turn to. And when an Australian captain starts muttering about not playing according to the spirit of the game, that's always a good sign.

why? i thought some of the english antics were disgraceful!!!!

It was class, they must have taken lessons from Ferguson, the Aussies whinging about gamesmanship, do me a favour

nice to know what you see as class

[moose]

nice to know what you see as class

Niall, you need to lighten up and take the chip off your shoulder regarding England.....