Ashes 2015

[Baz]

Looks like the weather won't be great tommorrow, improving thereafter though.

BBC reckons it could be a bit dodgy on the weekend with some rain, at 3.5/1 for a draw ive decided to stick a bit on at that.

It's going to be a bit overcast today, deffo win the toss and bowl kind of day, even more so after the bit of rain last night. Can't wait for it to begin.

 

[Skinner]

No rain scheduled today, going by Met office

 

[Saddlerrad]

Lots of grass on the wicket but it looks slow and low.

 

[Saddlerrad]

ENG WIN TOSS and decide to bat first! Risky with the cloud cover, but balls to the wall.

ENG - Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Wood, Anderson.

AUS - Warner, Rogers, Smith, Clarke, Voges, Watson, Haddin, Johnson, Starc, Hazelwood, Lyon.


Wow, that Aussie batting line up is incredibly long. Right down to Johnson are capable of big scores at a quick rate.

 

[JJH]

Toss won, good start.

 

[Skinner]

I'm terrified of Warner and Starc

 

[SpireiteDan]

Go well guys!

It's a big ask for us, but the thought of this massively dislikable Aussie team smugly celebrating at the end of the series..............uurrrggghhh.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Drizzle delaying the start.

 

[SeasideKurt]

Wouldn't it be lovely if we had 0 down by Lunch? Be nice.

 

[hodge]

By the looks I'd have definitely had a bowl, its just grey over top, let Broad and Anderson rip into to them.

Is this stuff really all needed given its already a delayed start?

 

[hodge]

ooo I think the new International Cricket Captain has just been released as well

 

[Saddlerrad]

Jesus christ, get on with it.

 

[hodge]

They didn't show the Root/Warner handshake

 

[Saddlerrad]

Blimey, 2 absolute grubbers in the first over...

 

[hodge]

Good choice Cook.....

 

[Saddlerrad]

In fairness it looked flat.

Lyth out, caught at gully by Hazelwood.

7-1.

 

[Skinner]

Bollocks

 

[Aber gas]

Fucks sake

 

[hodge]

Please don't let this turn out to be like Nasser's toss, I get the impression Cook chose to bat so he could try and lead from the front. But its thick cloud over Cardiff for the first session at least, points to bowl first even just from how much its swinging let alone what the pitch is doing.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Oh.

Big 100 coming up from Gary.............maybe.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Oh.

Big 100 coming up from Gary.............maybe.

Will we be able to bat out 3 days in order for him to get it though? Hmmm.

Johnson is just bowling every single ball right at the stumps to Ballance. Really testing him out.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Johnson bowl him at some point.

 

[4froale]

recovery is on but we've got to be looking at 330ish minimum to defend on this pitch

 

[Saddlerrad]

Bringing Lyon on against this pair is a good idea IMO. Good move from Clarke. The rumour is that England want to attack him, but both these batsmen aren't attacking naturally and will know if they do go after him and get out, Bell and Root are exposed with the ball still fresh and overcast skies.

Good captaincy.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Cook out trying to cut Lyon.

42-2.

Bell and Ballance at the crease. Big hour before dinner. Need to keep both these in.

 

[SeasideKurt]

Bell needs an innings here. Well, actually both of them do.

 

[Saddlerrad]

43-3, Bell out LBW.

Great ball from Starc.

Huge collapse underway.

 

[4froale]

Yep huge innings needed from Bell or Balance here, another quick wicket would mean a nightmare start.

 

[4froale]

^^ spoke to soon. Long summer ahead me thinks.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Crumbling.. Root inside on his first ball...dropped second by Haddin.

 

[Luke_1884]

Well that's all my excitement and optimism out the window already...

Come on Rooty.