* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *

[OzMike]

I can see them going for this, on a free flowing pitch they will back themselves to do it.
Can't fault their playing spirit and never say die attitude, shame it isn't the same in FA Cup football eh!

 

[Mendoza]

Yes yes yes a heroic draw!!!


For a pitch with massive cracks from day 3, we've seen an impressive TWO wickets

 

[Art Vs Science]

Just awoken to see we have drawn first test. Great comeback me thinks.

 

[Gwylan]

Yes yes yes a heroic draw!!!


For a pitch with massive cracks from day 3, we've seen an impressive TWO wickets

All the talk before the patch was that this was definitely a result wicket - it turned out to be flatter than Lahore. It was a great result by England but let's have a more even contest between bat and ball at Adelaide.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Need runs in the first innigs.
Need Swann to find his mojo.
Shame we let Ponting get a score second time round.
But overall, the Aussies not happy at all.

Can't wait for Thursday.

 

[Jesus Gul]

Peter 'hat-trick' Siddle didn't even get MOM. Well done Cooky

 

[BensGrandad]

Suprised we put them into bat a 2nd time and give them time at the wicket. Thought we would have done better to have retired one of the batsmen and then let one of th low scorers like Prior have some time in the middle as there seemed very little chance of forcing a win. Easy to be wise in hindsight.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

A bit of unnecessary panic by the media after our first innings. We already knew the Aus bowling attack was not up to its usual standard, and without the hat-trick for Sidle, the result could have been very different. I predicted a 3-1 win to us at the start, and I'll stick to that .... for now.

 

[Gwylan]

Interesting changes to the Aussie team for the next test. Former Sussex man, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger added to the squad. Harris must play if he's fit as he's useful, Johnson must be worried. No replacement for Pup though, his back must be on the mend.

England, of course, have team that's set in stone. Barring injuries, this will be the team for the series, apart from the SGC where they may play Monty instead of a seamer.

 

[BensGrandad]

Darren Gough reckons we should play with a 5th bowler as we have the batsmen + Prior and Broad to get the runs but we need to be able to bowl them out twice and we wont do that with just 4 bowlers

 

[tonymgc]

f*** me, I aint the only one watching in Littlehampton then! I am probably only one in Gloucester road area though

5 minutes round the corner, Linden Road.

 

[Gwylan]

Darren Gough reckons we should play with a 5th bowler as we have the batsmen + Prior and Broad to get the runs but we need to be able to bowl them out twice and we wont do that with just 4 bowlers

But which batsman are you going to drop? Collingwood, I suppose, is the only choice but he's the best fielder and a real sticker if the stroke makers fail. I'm not wholly convinced of Prior as a number 6 and certainly not convinced about Broad as a 7

 

[8ace]

Mitchell "Going to knock Strauss's head off" Johnson finished with 0 for 170 (following his 0-66 in the first innings). Is there anything more pleasurable than a mouthy Aussie getting humiliated?

EDIT: I was confused by the announcement on TMS - Johnson got 0-170 in the match, not innings.

Still, he also got a 0 and dropped a catch - great effort

One Mitchell Johnson, there's only one Mitchell Johnson!

 

[8ace]

Interesting changes to the Aussie team for the next test. Former Sussex man, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger added to the squad. Harris must play if he's fit as he's useful, Johnson must be worried. No replacement for Pup though, his back must be on the mend.

England, of course, have team that's set in stone. Barring injuries, this will be the team for the series, apart from the SGC where they may play Monty instead of a seamer.

Hopefully they are in the squad as cover for Siddel and they will still play Johnson and Hilfenhaus. Apparently Rolf Harris had a bit of a reaction to his injury in his comeback game, would they risk him on the best batting track in the country?

 

[Mellotron]

The great thing about this 1st Test is it shows there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to fear from their bowling "attack".

Compare it to Lee, Warne and McGrath. Ridiculous.

 

[simmo]

One Mitchell Johnson, there's only one Mitchell Johnson!

I heard the Barmy Army singing that tooSometimes his bowling was bordering on the embarassing (for him). Haddin probably saved him from going for about 20 wides down the leg side. Long may it continue.

 

[8ace]

I heard the Barmy Army singing that tooSometimes his bowling was bordering on the embarassing (for him). Haddin probably saved him from going for about 20 wides down the leg side. Long may it continue.

My favourite today, was the circus music accompanied by juggling actions when Punter dropped a catch

 

[KZNSeagull]

Darren Gough reckons we should play with a 5th bowler as we have the batsmen + Prior and Broad to get the runs but we need to be able to bowl them out twice and we wont do that with just 4 bowlers

I would only do that if we go 1-0 down in the series. They are at home. The pressure is on them to beat us and win back the Ashes. Whilst not ideal, cos we want to win obviously, 5 draws means we retain the Ashes. I personally would not change a thing unless we have to.