* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *

[Srixon]

Unbelievable. Such a soft wicket to concede. Need at least a 250 lead and that’s what we can hope for at this rate.

 

[Srixon]

Surely some of these balls from Mitchell are wide’s? how the hell are we suppose to reach those balls.

 

[Srixon]

 

[Srixon]

I'm calling it a night there. I have got another all-nighter planned for tomorrow and I don't think I can hack three in a row. Although I'd say Australia have had the best of today's two sessions to have us 304-5, it's at least a couple of wickets short of what they really needed. I just hope we can bat out the day, as then we're looking set for a lead of at least 300, maybe 350.

Agree, night Badger, I'll stay till the close

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Morning, nice to get up and see a ton for Trott and Matty into the 40's, 100 odd partnership and leading by 290, would have settled for this after the 1st hour

 

[Adopted Brightonian]

Damn, I wish I'd stayed in Melbourne just a couple of days longer.

Screw christmas, I'd kill to be watching this.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

50 up for Matt

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

444-5 at the close, England lead by 346.
Trott 141 no, Prior 75 no.
Good to see the Aussies congratulating Trotty at the close of play

 

[Beach Hut]

Going very nicely for us now, should be a handsome win

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Great to see Prior having a storming game. 6 catches and 75 no.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Got up at about 2.30am to watch the rest of the day - and well rewarded. Trott looks unflappable and Matt has stepped up like the fighter he is.

As predicted, we'll push on tomorrow and maybe declare between lunch and tea with a lead of 450 and half the test match left to get them out and retain the Ashes.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Ponting has been fined 40% of his match fee for the outburst against the umpires. I was rather hoping for a ban, although his lame batting and poor captaincy so far in the series may yet give him a rest for the last Test anyway.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Ponting's outburst was nothing short of a disgrace. Unbelievable. The Aussie media have just been given even more rope in which to hang him by

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Ponting's outburst was nothing short of a disgrace. Unbelievable. The Aussie media have just been given even more rope in which to hang him by

Plenty of the Australian media have gone right after him for this one (admittedly this wouldn't be the case if he was captaining a successful side).

Ian Chappell has said he should be suspended

 

[Beach Hut]

Ponting lost it big time, silly billy he will be in serious trouble.

Still it at least shows how much this shamble of a convict team upsets him, what a shame

 

[Statto]

Allways had my doubts about Ponting as a captain, I guess now those doubts are increasing. He allways seems to crack under pressure. He made an outburst in the 2005 Ashes at trent bridge regarding our sub fielders, He made another outburst about umpires on a recent tour to India when they struggled, and now this (think there may have been an incident against Pakistan to). He only looked a good captain before because he had so much tlaent at his disposal, the likes of Warne , Mcgrath and lee with the ball and Langer Hayden and Gilchrist with the bat (and gloves). I suspect he may be playing his last test for Australia.

focusing on the fine performance by us, I think we should bat tilll lunch then declare. Trott and Prior may aswell go for it. Nothing to lose.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

If you google "Ricky Ponting umpire outburst", there are plenty of examples aside from today.