THE ASHES

[Ciderhead]

Still had a chance at 310-7 when I woke up this morning but that 8th wicket partnership's taken the game away again. Now they're taking the piss a bit

Lyon will get plenty out of this pitch.

Ooh declared. Just in time for us to face the new ball under the lights. Lovely stuff

 

[lordofthepies]

Pathetic decision to bat first. Root is either an idiot or listening to advice from idiots. Or, more likely, both.

We're going to get rolled over here. Series over.

 

[blademan89]

Pathetic decision to bat first. Root is either an idiot or listening to advice from idiots. Or, more likely, both.

We're going to get rolled over here. Series over.

You'd guess it's not just down to him, surely they all have a discussion about it before the toss, massive error though staring 5-0 in the face, however we got 500 odd declared in 06 was it and lost in adelaide so still hope

 

[Ciderhead]

Pathetic decision to bat first. Root is either an idiot or listening to advice from idiots. Or, more likely, both.

We're going to get rolled over here. Series over.

Worry when he said at the toss it was the aggressive option, it's like being seen to be attacking and showing 'intent' has clouded our judgement

 

[Super_horns]

Won't be getting much out of this test - be lucky to escape with a draw.

Can we avoid an innings defeat?

 

[lordofthepies]

Can we avoid an innings defeat?

Yeah, if they decide not to enforce the follow-on for some reason.

 

[Super_horns]

Or the rain prevents gets in the way...

 

[Krazy8]

You'd guess it's not just down to him, surely they all have a discussion about it before the toss, massive error though staring 5-0 in the face, however we got 500 odd declared in 06 was it and lost in adelaide so still hope

Yeah not really sure why the captain always gets blamed for the decision, it’s not as if he walks out then makes the decision on the spot. Chances are we’d be in this pickle if we’d batted first anyway.

 

[Luke_1884]

Won't be getting much out of this test - be lucky to escape with a draw.

Can we avoid an innings defeat?

Unless KP ditches the mic, dons his whites and puts in a performance like he did here in 2010.. probably not.

 

[blademan89]

Yeah not really sure why the captain always gets blamed for the decision, it’s not as if he walks out then makes the decision on the spot. Chances are we’d be in this pickle if we’d batted first anyway.

Struggling big time with the bowling though arent we. Instead of stokes and wood for example following broad and Jimmy we've got fuck all and moeen is bowling piss poor too. The worst thing is this is probably the worst Aussie side in my lifetime.

 

[Krazy8]

Struggling big time with the bowling though arent we. Instead of stokes and wood for example following broad and Jimmy we've got fuck all and moeen is bowling piss poor too. The worst thing is this is probably the worst Aussie side in my lifetime.

Yeah in 2010-11 we had Finn, Bresnan, Tremlett and Swann all in-form. So far all the Aussies have had to do is see off Jimmy and Broad and they’re pretty much set.

 

[blademan89]

Play abandoned, big bonus for us that were still in this game

 

[Soup Ladle]

I think we’ve got a great ODI and t20 set up but our test team is rank bad, and there’s nowt really coming through to change that in the next few years. Looking at this series, which we’ll lose, got NZ away after, Pakistan and India at home after, think we may lose at least 2/3 of those. Dark times in the longer form, no wonder I’m starting to pay more interest to the one day stuff. Would never have said that a few years ago.

 

[Ciderhead]

I think we’ve got a great ODI and t20 set up but our test team is rank bad, and there’s nowt really coming through to change that in the next few years. Looking at this series, which we’ll lose, got NZ away after, Pakistan and India at home after, think we may lose at least 2/3 of those. Dark times in the longer form, no wonder I’m starting to pay more interest to the one day stuff. Would never have said that a few years ago.

Nah we're a match for anyone at home and NZ conditions will suit us better. Won in SA not too long ago. We just haven't got the bowling attack for Australia or the subcontinent

 

[Ciderhead]

Struggling big time with the bowling though arent we. Instead of stokes and wood for example following broad and Jimmy we've got fuck all and moeen is bowling piss poor too. The worst thing is this is probably the worst Aussie side in my lifetime.

Disagree with the last bit. It's far from one of the great Aussie teams but they're much better than they were in 2010/11, stronger bowling attack and Smith and Warner are a cut above any batsman they had back then, bearing in mind Ponting was way past his best

 

[blademan89]

Disagree with the last bit. It's far from one of the great Aussie teams but they're much better than they were in 2010/11, stronger bowling attack and Smith and Warner are a cut above any batsman they had back then, bearing in mind Ponting was way past his best

Clarke, hussey were outstanding weren't they?

 

[Ciderhead]

Clarke, hussey were outstanding weren't they?

Hussey was good but I wouldn't say as good, somehow managed to completely forget about Clarke though I'll give you that one.

But watching the re-run of the Adelaide Test during the rain break, they had a bowling attack of Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Bollinger and Hauritz.

 

[Aber gas]

Nah we're a match for anyone at home and NZ conditions will suit us better. Won in SA not too long ago. We just haven't got the bowling attack for Australia or the subcontinent

It doesn’t help that we haven’t got our strongest attack out there. We’re missing Wood cos he’s made of glass, Stokes through legal issues, Plunkett and Leach through pig headed stupidity.
Anderson, Broad, Wood, Plunkett, Stokes, Leach.... sighs

 

[blademan89]

Hussey was good but I wouldn't say as good, somehow managed to completely forget about Clarke though I'll give you that one.

But watching the re-run of the Adelaide Test during the rain break, they had a bowling attack of Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Bollinger and Hauritz.

I think hussey was there top scorer that series the scenes when we got him out on the 5th day in Adelaide were like a last minute cup final winner, 8k in the ground of which 95% were English, one of the best days I've experienced in sport that day.

 

[Bobbin']

The 2013 Australian ashes side was pretty naff aswell.

 

[Ciderhead]

I think hussey was there top scorer that series the scenes when we got him out on the 5th day in Adelaide were like a last minute cup final winner, 8k in the ground of which 95% were English, one of the best days I've experienced in sport that day.

He always seemed to turn up against us didn't he. What I would give to have been over there for that tour...my uncle was at the MCG on Boxing Day, probably the best single day of cricket in my lifetime

 

[lordofthepies]

Well, this is going more or less exactly as we expected. *sigh*

On another note, this is absolutely ridiculous:

 

[Super_horns]

Trying to protect themselves from breathing in the smog around?

Probably hanging around longer than our batsmen...

 

[lordofthepies]

Trying to protect themselves from breathing in the smog around?

Yes. They were down to 10 fielders at one point because so many of their players were sick due to the pollution.

 

[blademan89]

Piss poor effort england

 

[Ciderhead]

Surprised they didn't put us back in and go for the kill, game would be nearly over by now

 

[Aber gas]

Smith gone

 

[Ciderhead]

Surprised they didn't put us back in and go for the kill, game would be nearly over by now

And now..... surely we couldn't, could we?

 

[Luke_1884]

A couple more early wickets tomorrow will do nicely.

If our batsman can get their head out of their arses and play a bit of cricket, who knows. The smallest window of opportunity has presented itself after a diabolical first few sessions.

 

[blademan89]

A couple more early wickets tomorrow will do nicely.

If our batsman can get their head out of their arses and play a bit of cricket, who knows. The smallest window of opportunity has presented itself after a diabolical first few sessions.

We will probably get them then let the tail get another 100 odd, to be honest I can't see us winning even if they only add another 20 runs and I certainly don't think we've got it in us to bat out a draw but I hope they prove me wrong