Ashes Thread

[Undertaker]

You know when things are going well (or badly wrong, depending on who's side you're supporting) when this happens ;-

Hussey - b Collingwood

[Patrick Bateman]

Jesus, they're truly hopeless. I thought they'd come back this Test because they can still tie the series, but they're completely shot.

[Undertaker]

The tail are actually half decent. Smith is never a better batsman than Johnson.

[Patrick Bateman]

Johnson would be the best player in the world if he could get his head right.

[Undertaker]

Good entertainment is this. The last few overs have been brilliant batting. Nothing you can do really when they swing the bat at a spinner but the previous ten or so overs, especially from Tremlett, was pretty poor bowling. Dunno if they are bowling to plans but i've never understood why bowlers don't bowl straight at a tail-enders' stumps . They will swing at most things and by bowling wide, you take away the chance of clean bowled or LBW. Dumb.

At least it's put a bit of interest back into the game. This looked like 3-1 two hours ago.

[gregf]

Please remember I am not a cricket expert. My eyesight was not up to it.

But as I see it, Australia has not been able to bat against swing bowling.
This was apparent in 2005 and the next one in UK (?)

Swing as I understand relys on breeze and so it is not a common skill in Aus but
is common in UK, due to weather conditions in both countries respectivly. So Aus
needs to do is develop skills batting against swing. ?

[Undertaker]

Englands bowlers have been deadly accurate and the Aussie batsman have no patience. They swing at stupid deliveries that need to be left alone but they get frustrated because England aren't giving much away. They even brought in Bresnan and Tremlett and they have both been as good as any other bowler.

When the Aussies bowl, they give England one or two deliveries to hit every over and they are patient enough to wait for them.

That's how it seems to me. I wouldn't worry about the Aussie batters too much. They have had a dreadful series though.

[gregf]

I tell you one thing for sure : the England fans here are having a great time.

The crowd was in fine voice today and at one point burst into
"Go West" or it may have been "1-0 to the Arsenal". It was hard to tell.

[Undertaker]

Can't see how it's possible for Australia to win this Test. England were pretty dominant again but to be fair, had their fair slice of luck. Dissapointed with Phil Hughes especially. That is just blatant cheating. How on earth did he think he would get away with it?

[Undertaker]

Michael Clarke has just said that they can win this Test if they can get a 200 run lead when they come into bat. Is he stoned?

[Fugitive1979]

Michael Clarke has just said that they can win this Test if they can get a 200 run lead when they come into bat. Is he stoned?

Either that, or someone's spiked his Gatorade.

[Fugitive1979]

Paul Collingwood has announced his retirement from Test-Cricket after this series. A genuine hard worker, in my opinion.

[Undertaker]

Paul Collingwood has announced his retirement from Test-Cricket after this series. A genuine hard worker, in my opinion.

Didn't know that. A sensible decision IMO. His game is perfect for the one dayers still. He's one of the best fielders i've ever seen. Eion Morgan will probably come in. Another good player and a fantastic fielder in his own right.

[Fugitive1979]

Paul Collingwood has announced his retirement from Test-Cricket after this series. A genuine hard worker, in my opinion.

Didn't know that. A sensible decision IMO. His game is perfect for the one dayers still. He's one of the best fielders i've ever seen. Eion Morgan will probably come in. Another good player and a fantastic fielder in his own right.

It's all over the BBC data feed. Eoin Morgan is the perfect replacement. According to reports, Collingwood was watching Morgan in the nets, and decided that the time had come to step aside. Collingwood will still play ODI and T20.


500's up. Prior just 5 runs short of becoming the 7th player in the England line-up with over 10,000 First Class runs.

[Undertaker]

lol @ that run out. You could say that was school boy stuff but that's harsh on the school boys.