The Ashes 2010/11

[mattie]

Yes I'm a liar, you got me. I wasnt trying to illustrate the pointlessness of speculation. Of course I was lying.

I query where you're going more than anything. You keep throwing in things about hypothetical situations, which I simply find confusing and (to be honest) a touch diversionary.

Sorry to bring up an old cricketing cliche, but look in the book. I spent years trying to justyfy why my team was in this postion or that position, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is whats in the book. The Aussies were 221 runs ahead after the 1st innings, that is utterley dominant regardless of how they got the runs.

Although I do admire your optomism and support for England and I really hope you're right, but I don't take as much heart from a game which the aussies let slip because (bizarrely given they are aussies) they seem to have forgotten how to win a game of Cricket.

I've posted plain fact, no hypothesis or speculation. Oz were 220-5 at the end of the third day's play (eta: apologies, 2nd). Simple statement of fact. That's 'in the book', as you put it.

That's not dominant. Far from it.

No idea where you think I lead the tub-thumping, but realise threads can assimilate many voices into one.

For what it's worth, Oz are significantly pensive to change at least one and maybe two bowlers. Of course, that's a reflection on their assessment of Johnson's woeful showing, but England should take heart from it - much like Oz did when Harmy struggled to land one on the cut strip.

 

[Teaboy]

Did you actually see any of the action?

Yes, quite a lot, I've got Sky and now, some weird sleeping patterns.

I just think the media / fan excitement has come from 2 things:

- This aussie team arnt as good as the other lot
- This England team has a backbone

The actual scorebook tells a different story, that it was a very equal game between two very well matched sides on a very dull pitch.

 

[mattie]

Yes, quite a lot, I've got Sky and now, some weird sleeping patterns.

I just think the media / fan excitement has come from 2 things:

- This aussie team arnt as good as the other lot
- This England team has a backbone

The actual scorebook tells a different story, that it was a very equal game between two very well matched sides on a very dull pitch.

Which I think most people would tend to agree with, but it's only one side who have dropped their main strike bowler.

 

[Teaboy]

Which I think most people would tend to agree with, but it's only one side who have dropped their main strike bowler.

He was awful though.

 

[mattie]

He was awful though.

Yep, woeful.

 

[Teaboy]

Ok, so given England done so well in the first test, what is everbody's prediction for the second test? An England win? Anyone putting money on it?

Draw for me, especially as theres some rain around. I think the aussies will win in Perth but England will take the last two tests and the series.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

With a full five days' play, I predict an England win.

 

[Streathamite]

Not at all, I'm suggesting it was a balanced game and am confused by all the reaction that would suggest England had won by a landslide.

we got a psychological victory, and if you can't win the test in question, that can be a really good fall-back prize when set within the context of the first test, on a bogey ground for England, of a five-test ashes series.
To put another way; the pressure on the aussies will be greater than on england

 

[Streathamite]

Ok, so given England done so well in the first test, what is everbody's prediction for the second test?

England if they win the toss and it doesn't piss it down

 

[Idaho]

I really can't predict. It's close, yet both sides are capable of collapse/breakthrough. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[embree]

Just to clear the South African thing up, Strauss and Prior are no more South African than Andrew Symonds is a Brummie.

Trott and Pietersen, however, are thoroughly South African.

Pietersen's half English

 

[Santino]

Cricket!

 

[gabi]

England should win this one but then they should've won the last one too. Bollinger's a good addition so could be a surprise.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Pietersen's half English

He grew up in SA and more importantly, he learned his cricket in SA. To me, you should, if you can, play for the place whose system you came through.

 

[gabi]

I agree. It must pain english fans to hear post match interviews from those two, likewise for rugby fans hearing Hartley and Hape. Makes a mockery of the international game, treating countries like clubs.

 

[Teaboy]

I agree. It must pain english fans to hear post match interviews from those two, likewise for rugby fans hearing Hartley and Hape. Makes a mockery of the international game, treating countries like clubs.

Ahem........

All Blacks.

 

[embree]

He grew up in SA and more importantly, he learned his cricket in SA. To me, you should, if you can, play for the place whose system you came through.

Hardly makes him 'thoroughly' South African

I'm eligible to represent countries other than England and would happily do so. I really struggle to care about the whole Pietersen thing

 

[Teaboy]

He grew up in SA and more importantly, he learned his cricket in SA. To me, you should, if you can, play for the place whose system you came through.

I actually have less of a problem with the likes of Pieterson and Trott who have left a country and set up home elsewhere, then the likes of Morgan and Nannes who seem to be able to switch between countries at the drop of a hat.

Actually where is Nannes? Is he injured or just not good enough?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Doesn't play 1st class cricket. He has a bad back.

Neither does Tait.

It is a very great shame that Australia's two fastest bowlers are unavailable for tests.

 

[Teaboy]

Doesn't play 1st class cricket. He has a bad back.

Neither does Tait.

It is a very great shame that Australia's two fastest bowlers are unavailable for tests.

So they're finished?

Tait always looked good value for plenty of runs, imagine facing a new ball attack of Tait and Johnson, you'd never know where the ball was going and neither would they.

edit, ah I think you mean they play one dayers and 20/20?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Tait can get it up to 95 mph on a good day. He'd be a very welcome addition to this series in my book.

But yes, as far as I know, both of them are pretty much 2020 specialists now.

 

[Teaboy]

Tait can get it up to 95 mph on a good day. He'd be a very welcome addition to this series in my book.

As an England fan who's seen Tait bowl, I agree, very welcome.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm an England fan, but I want England to be playing the very best teams possible, even if that means they're more likely to lose.

 

[Streathamite]

It is a very great shame that Australia's two fastest bowlers are unavailable for tests.

yup, I'm all disconsolate over it!

 

[Santino]

I was disconsolate when Glenn McGrath trod on that cricket ball lol

 

[Idaho]

England should win this one but then they should've won the last one too. Bollinger's a good addition so could be a surprise.

So they *should* win... he he he. So if they do win you predicted it and if they don't they are shit

 

[paulhackett]

Oh come on gabi - only a team with Warne and Murali in their prime could have got a result in 5 days on that wicket. They were happy because they got out of what seemed like a grim situation, and ended the match on a high, while the Aussies had 2 grim days of frustration. Drawn Test matches are all about winning the mind game, especially at the start of a series. It's important that we feel like we won, and that they feel like they didn't.

It would have been interesting to see a Waqar or a Wasim on that pitch.. or dare I say it Simon Jones? On that basis, is it just loose talk that Shahzad might come in for Finn for this Test?

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Aussies win toss and bat first.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

fuck yeeeeeeeeeeeees what a run out.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Ponting gone first ball!!!!!!!!!!! 0-2!!!!!!