The Ashes 2015

[redsquirrel]

Where were England's last world-class spinners (Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar) produced? Northants. Where was England's captain produced? Essex. Where was England's wicketkeeper (Buttler) produced? Somerset. Three non-Test hosting counties that, if city cricket is introduced, will face an uncertain future. By contrast, make a list of all the recent Test players produced by Nottinghamshire. It is hard to avoid the impression that the wrong people may be making decisions in English cricket at present.

Teams currently play 16 four-day first-class matches in a Championship season. While ESPNcricinfo has previously understood that number would be reduced to 12 matches a county, Harrison's words suggest that number could instead be 14. The mechanism for achieving such a reduction has not yet been agreed but one method currently under discussion involves two divisions split into eight (Division one) and 10 (Division two) with all teams playing each other home and away in the top division and a less symmetrical arrangement in the lower one.

Fucking dicks, ECB's chief exec/prick Harrison also defended the stitch up by India, England and Australia.

 

[Dan U]

On my way to The Oval!

 

[Teaboy]

On my way to The Oval!

If you see Oz bowl give Lyon some stick, you'll get a reaction which is always fun. Don't bother with Siddle he just laughs and smiles his way through the game, definitely up there with Brett Lee as Aussie cricketer I'd most like to have a pint with.

 

[Dan U]

If you see Oz bowl give Lyon some stick, you'll get a reaction which is always fun. Don't bother with Siddle he just laughs and smiles his way through the game, definitely up there with Brett Lee as Aussie cricketer I'd most like to have a pint with.

I'm going with my aussie father in law who is on a tour thing from Oz, am sat in a block of aussie fans all wearing the same t shirts and hats I think.

I'll be the one in the 2010 England ashes tour shirt I got at the MCG when we bowled them for 98

Re brett Lee I saw a tour match at Canterbury a few series ago and he took some abuse from the fans and took it really well and gave a bit back.

 

[Spymaster]

Dave Lloyd's London geography needs a brush up. Reckons you can walk to The Oval along The Embankment.

 

[ffsear]

Backed the draw at 2.25 - hoping it pisses down sunday and monday

 

[kabbes]

Backed the draw at 2.25 - hoping it pisses down sunday and monday

This is the most English thing anybody has ever posted.

 

[Dan U]

Pretty subdued in the ground. Think it could be a long day. Last time I was here I saw SA bat all day, am back tomorrow so should see us bat then at least..

 

[Dan U]

This man needs a bowl

 

[Dan U]

Good little session after drinks.

 

[Dan U]

Fucks sake cook

 

[Dan U]

We are in a bit of trouble here. Won the war but losing this battle

 

[JimW]

And then some! Tumbling.

 

[Lord Camomile]

The famous British sense of humour once again. "Hey Aus, remember when you did this and it mattered?"

 

[Lord Camomile]

Well, this is as spectacular as it is wholly unsurprising.

 

[Dan U]

It's disappointing tbh. It's a good batting wicket and if we really aspire to be top dogs we should be straining to make it 4-1

 

[Santino]

Sack Cook

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Buttler surely needs questioning doesn't he? His batting's been really shit for a while now.

 

[Dan U]

On my way back for what I think could be a difficult day. Calls for beer in the sunshine

 

[Idaho]

We are just setting up the drama. We'll put on 50, skittle them for 60 and then each batsmen will declare after an exhibition style century replete with trick shots and showboating, comfortably overhauling the deficit.

 

[Lord Camomile]

An email to the BBC's live text:

There's so much negativity. We've won the Ashes and all people can do is moan. So what we've had two bad games they've had three. That's all that counts.

Because that's what sport is all about, hoping the other team has more bad days than you.

Ahhhh, British sport

 

[Lord Camomile]

We are just setting up the drama. We'll put on 50, skittle them for 60 and then each batsmen will declare after an exhibition style century replete with trick shots and showboating, comfortably overhauling the deficit.

It almost makes you feel sorry for the Aus knowing what's in store for them.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Didn't even make it to 150. Less than a third of the Aus innings

Here comes the follow on. You'd hope this would be a chance for England's top order to redeem themselves, but if it were you've got to think they're unlikely to take it...

 

[Idaho]

Lyth: ton or bust?

 

[Dan U]

Lyth: ton or bust?

It's the only thing that will save him I think.

Aussies I am sat with are happy campers today.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

An email to the BBC's live text:

Because that's what sport is all about, hoping the other team has more bad days than you.

Ahhhh, British sport

Yeah we won the ashes largely because Australia didn't turn up fully. I'm more concerned about the fact we chucked away a series in the west Indies, kind of chucked one away against the kiwis, regularly collapsed in those series and this one, we can't find a partner for cook, the top order in general is wobbly and our middle order is badly inconsistent. The only batsmen I think are any good consistently are Root and Moen. The bowling I have no concerns over really.

Anyway yay we won the ashes!

 

[redsquirrel]

Yeah we won the ashes largely because Australia didn't turn up fully.

While I don't especially rate this England team I don't think the Australian one is much better. The overall quality of play by both sides this summer has been pretty average, Australia haven't been able to play the moving ball or to bowl the right length consistently when the ball has been doing, England's bowling lacks penetration if they don't have a decent amount of seam or swing movement and haven't been able to bat under pressure.

Clearly both teams can do somethings right and there have been individual moments of brilliance but compared with say 2005 or 2010-11 the quality of play has been clearly poorer.

 

[DrRingDing]

Yep, should have gone with my 11 with Ali opening and Rashid coming in at 8.

Baldy bollocks cannot cut it.

Might get through the first hour. The evening session could be tricky. Monday is a total washout

 

[DrRingDing]

Let's see what M Johnson can do 3rd day in the field on the trot.