* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *

[vegster]

right, this is a good start... now lets knock a few more runs off and eat up this defecit..... Both these boys are capable of big scores and I'd like to see the Convicts chasing leather !

 

[Titanic]

A fair bit of playing and missing... which is fine as long as we keep missing!

 

[Bozza]

Not too many scares thus far and Hayden & Hussey showed that this is a good track when the ball loses the shine.

Betfair betting currently shows the draw not much longer than the Aussie win - a few more overs and the draw will be the favourite result.

 

[jakarta]

Not too many scares thus far and Hayden & Hussey showed that this is a good track when the ball loses the shine.

Betfair betting currently shows the draw not much longer than the Aussie win - a few more overs and the draw will be the favourite result.

Please don't say that when we are still 150 runs behind

Shirley we need to be ahead of the Convicts without any wickets down before we can even think of a Draw.....

 

[Bozza]

Please don't say that when we are still 150 runs behind

Shirley we need to be ahead of the Convicts without any wickets down before we can even think of a Draw.....

I'm only talking about the betting odds.

As I type...

Draw - evens
Au win - 6/5
Eng win - 20/1

 

[damo42]

Not too many scares thus far and Hayden & Hussey showed that this is a good track when the ball loses the shine.

Betfair betting currently shows the draw not much longer than the Aussie win - a few more overs and the draw will be the favourite result.

Haiden and Hussey......Hayden retired in 2009

 

[Titanic]

Oops... Johnson drops Strauss at mid off. Hopefully they will regret that one big time!

122-0 Strauss 72 Cook 46

 

[jakarta]

Oh Dear - Johnson drops one....

 

[Bozza]

I'm turning into bed - great session thus far from the lefties.

Odds right now...

Draw - 1/2
Au win - 5/2
Eng win - 14/1

(At the start of play Au were 2/5)

 

[Everest]

Cook goes to 51

134-0 (87 behind)

 

[Titanic]

England 135-0 at lunch.

That's a great session for England... Strauss 79* and Cook 51* have added 116 to the overnight total in 31 overs, and reduced the deficit to 86.

1 session down... 3 to go.

 

[westy1983]

I was going to got to bed but after start that I will probably stay up til 5am. Don't want to jinx it but if I can get to then and entertain real prospects of a draw I will be half happy. Plus there is some snow forecast in 45 minutes time!

 

[jakarta]

Well played Mr Strauss, I'm starting to think we can save this!

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Well this was a very pleasent surprise coming back from the pub! I can actually enjoy watching this now!

 

[jevs]

Shhhhhhh Strauss and Cook are playing a blinder though

 

[Jesus Gul]

The aussie commentators aren't too chirpy this morning. Come on Cook. Get the ton.

 

[vegster]

right, this is a good start... now lets knock a few more runs off and eat up this defecit..... Both these boys are capable of big scores and I'd like to see the Convicts chasing leather !

The power of positive thought ?

Well, I think we have a sniff of mugging them in their own back yard.. a quick 150 more in the morning and The Convicts may have a tricky 5TH day afternoon !

 

[User removed 4]

Haiden and Hussey......Hayden retired in 2009

Do you mean haddin and hussey ?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

A great days work from the England batsmen. This test should now be a draw and move on for the Perth game.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I think England would have grabbed a draw from this game if offered it on Wednesday. Graveyard for away teams.

Trott says there is still work to do - which is correct. A classic England collapse (with remaining wickets going for say 100 more) would leave Australia in with a good shout. For me, bat this out and move on. Keep the Aussies in the field for two full days (and an hour) and give their supporters time to get on the backs of the bowlers and getting at Ponting. Then take that to the second test and win.