The Ashes 2015

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I predict a load of people demanding we declare from around 5pm tonight onwards

Surprised it hasn't started already tbh. Sack Cook!

 

[agricola]

This must be the worst day in Australian test cricket for years - not for anything bad happening, more because of all the mistakes going on.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Root and Bell both got 60 off 89 deliveries

 

[butchersapron]

God, warner is such a dick.

 

[JTG]

Australia still just about in this

 

[butchersapron]

I'd love 420 now.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Looks like the batsmen are declaring on Cook's behalf

 

[Santino]

Century on debut for Wood.

 

[BandWagon]

Stupid shot by Ali. Wood needed a partner.

 

[Mogden]

Geoffrey his usual self on TMS with words to the effect of they need 412 but they've got a cat in hell's chance.

Looking forward to this run chase. BBC Sport app is quite handy if you've no access to TMS. It sends text like alerts for wickets.

 

[BandWagon]

It looks really tough. England should win this, but knowing England....

 

[Dan U]

And the forecast rain on Sunday might scupper things

 

[Santino]

And the forecast rain on Sunday might scupper things

Bowl them out tomorrow, no worries.

 

[BandWagon]

Bowl them out tomorrow, no worries.

Please, please... If Oz save the match or even win it, Engalnd won't recover. I want to enjoy the series.

 

[butchersapron]

Geoffrey his usual self on TMS with words to the effect of they need 412 but they've got a cat in hell's chance.

Looking forward to this run chase. BBC Sport app is quite handy if you've no access to TMS. It sends text like alerts for wickets.

It sometimes sends them before wickets.

 

[Santino]

Please, please... If Oz save the match or even win it, Engalnd won't recover. I want to enjoy the series.

They've come back from worse to win series.

 

[butchersapron]

Whoever wins this first test, it's series over.

 

[BandWagon]

They've come back from worse to win series.

But it's a young side who need the confidence. I think it's important to win this one.

 

[BandWagon]

Whoever wins this first test, it's series over.

I agree this match is important.

 

[Santino]

England usually drop the first Test just for fun. Make the series interesting.

 

[BandWagon]

England usually drop the first Test just for fun. Make the series interesting.

 

[Santino]

Or like 2006, when they pissed about for two days and then scored 500 runs for one wicket.

 

[JTG]

Or like 2006, when they pissed about for two days and then scored 500 runs for one wicket.

2010. There was no Ashes series in 2006

 

[Santino]

Oh yeah.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm not happy with today. England lost their heads, I thought. I'm fine with Broad getting caught on the boundary. He should play like that, as should Wood. Sometimes it will come off, others not. They're bowlers, it's ok.

But Moeen threw it away and in the penultimate over. He should surely have been looking to tomorrow. Bell threw it away. He was arrogant enough to think he could tell what the bowler would do, pre-empted and made a mess of it. That's odi thinking, not test thinking. Disrespecting Johnson and so gifting him his first wicket.

Australia stand a chance here. And they should not have been given that chance. They should have been demoralised and chasing 500+ in a hopeless cause.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Please, please... If Oz save the match or even win it, Engalnd won't recover. I want to enjoy the series.

Don't agree. If aus save this for a draw now, it will only be because it has rained. That's fine, really. Lucky boys - move on.

If they win it from here, I agree that it's a massive blow. It's a fuck-up by England.

 

[butchersapron]

That's wasn't foot on the neck.

 

[Santino]

England have set Australia over 400 to win in the first Test of an Ashes series. Let's have some perspective.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

England have set Australia over 400 to win in the first Test of an Ashes series. Let's have some perspective.

Yes. At the start of the match, I'd have taken that. But at lunch time today. At tea time today. No. That's not what they should have been set. In the end, England were a bit fortunate not to be bowled out for 250 or less. They played as if there were demons in the pitch so they had to slog away. But there weren't and they didn't.

Numbers 9, 10, and 11 are excused. Not their job. But numbers 4 to 8 did not do their jobs well. They didn't set about their jobs well. It could have been worse. But it should have been better. When Stokes got away with that lbw, Aus were on the point of wilting.

 

[butchersapron]

England have set Australia over 400 to win in the first Test of an Ashes series. Let's have some perspective.

You're right - i'm more than happy. And more than happy with 'the unit' - bowlers esp. Understanding of what's required etc. Another 70 for half an hour tmw morning would have been nice.