Cricket

[Busaholic]

If any player in the England side deserves to have a large ego, it is James Anderson. I have now lost count of the number of times that it was he who ripped through the top three/four of the opposition in Test Matches leaving lesser mortals to then bowl at the middle order.

Unlike Pietersen, he is very much an England-born player.

Of the hundreds of articles I've read about Anderson over the years, from a myriad of sources including Australian, Indian and West Indian, I've never seen one that described Jimmy as having anything other than a balanced take on life, unlike the prima donnas, not all of them batsmen or South African by birth, who are present in most modern cricket teams, with the honourable exception of NZ. Anderson has often been described as a modern-day Statham, whereas Broad might be likened more to Trueman i.e. thinking he's better than anyone else!

 

[muddythefish]

[*]James Anderson will probably make a mid-series announcement that he'll be retiring at the end of it, his ego makes even Kevin Pietersen look humble and he wouldn't stand the thought of going out in any circumstance other than with a huge farewell on home soil.
t.

Why do you get this rubbish from ? Anderson is aggressive on the field when he needs to be but is shy to the point of reticence off the field, is very reluctant to give interviews and does not like talking about himself or his achievements. And, unlike Pietersen, he doesn't make a fool of himself on the blasted ****ter as far as I know.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Twenty20 International

England 191-7 (20 overs) beat New Zealand 135 all out (16.2 overs)

In a packed and sun-drenched Old Trafford, England posted a good target of over nine runs an over, with Root making a good 68.

New Zealand, after their usual breezy start with Williamson making 57 had a dramatic collapse from 131-5 to 135 all out with Willey (3-22) and Wood (3-26) causing total havoc amongst the late order New Zealand batsmen.

 

[DownSouth]

Some changes to ODI50 rules have been approved by the ICC and will be taking effect in ODI cricket as of next weekend:

• No five over batting powerplay.
• Five fielders allowed outside the circle in the last ten overs.
• No compulsory close catching fielders in the opening powerplay, still only two allowed outside the circle.
• Free hit for all no balls (e.g. high full toss, third bouncer of the over, Finning the stumps, fielding violation) where it currently applies just to the foot fault rule.

I don't think it is going to make much change to the game, except perhaps a slight reduction in the average run rate across all matches. It certainly won't change the fact that ODI cricket is still a contest between bat and ball, and that the best way to win will still be to bowl out the opposition.

 

[Busaholic]

The Aussies have arrived and are just starting the third day of a proper, four day county match hosted by Kent, who, being good hosts, gave them first use of a blameless Canterbury wicket, and they duly made hay, all their batsmen scoring runs. Only Coles and Stevens of Kent's regular side were missing, in the case of Coles because of illness, which was a shame as he's been fulfilling a bit of his previous promise since rejoining Kent this season.
Although Rogers and Shaun Marsh posted a big hundred partnership, according to three of the four reports I read on the first day's play, Marsh was easily the more fluent, and made a chanceless century: Rogers made 84 but was badly dropped in the 20s and less so badly later on. Rogers is in trouble for attempting to sell on, through a company he set up, tickets for the Lords test allocated to him as a Middlesex player, wrapped into a 'hospitality package'. He is now apparently saying Middlesex were aware of what he was doing, so they are in the frame too. What the commentators do agree on is that only one of Marsh and Rogers can open with Warner, and at least one correspondent is of the opinion that Rogers has already played his last test.
When it was the Aussies turn to bowl, Johnson apparently gave it his all, and duly picked up three wickets for not too many. The Canterbury slope is the nearest replica to that at Lords which exists in first class cricket, so we were being extremely good hosts again, possibly too good! Rob Key, who's been round the block a few times, said he wasn't paid enough by Kent to have to face Johnson, so I think we can take it the pace is still there, even if down a fraction since eighteen months ago! Key made the remarks, incidentally, having made the same sort of score as Rogers, but against markedly better bowling.

 

[DownSouth]

Nice spin there, keep trying and you could be the next in line to be tried out as a Swann replacement!

Mind if I provide some more balanced translations?

The Aussies have arrived and are just starting the third day of a proper, four day county match hosted by Kent, who, being good hosts, gave them first use of a blameless Canterbury wicket,

Translation: as in all practice matches these days - including those when England are touring - the toss was a mere formality and the touring side given what they paid for.

Rogers is in trouble for attempting to sell on, through a company he set up, tickets for the Lords test allocated to him as a Middlesex player, wrapped into a 'hospitality package'. He is now apparently saying Middlesex were aware of what he was doing, so they are in the frame too.

Translation: The MCC, being exceptionally poor hosts, is engaging in gamesmanship on behalf of the ECB by throwing Rogers to the tame home media for doing what he wants with an allocation of tickets he has secured, which at any other venue in the world would be encouraged for the business it would bring to local companies for the included hospitality.

The first English player which tries the same thing with their ticket allocation during the next Ashes series (which, due to the use of higher grade stadia, will be much more generous than the allocations given to touring players by English venues) can expect to wear some retribution on their nation's behalf.

The Canterbury slope is the nearest replica to that at Lords which exists in first class cricket,

Translation: Canterbury is, like Lord's, a sub-standard ground which would not be approved for professional cricket if it were a new ground instead of an old one backed by the stuffy old ties in the pavilion. It's not rated for international cricket for a very good reason.

... so we were being extremely good hosts again, possibly too good!

But not good enough hosts to stop a ground invader before he was able to set up a tent in the middle of the outfield, enter said tent, strip to his underwear and emerge from the tent! The response from the ground security team looked so pathetic that you'd almost think it was a WWE-style scripted part of the day's entertainment.

Although Rogers and Shaun Marsh posted a big hundred partnership, according to three of the four reports I read on the first day's play, Marsh was easily the more fluent, and made a chanceless century: Rogers made 84 but was badly dropped in the 20s and less so badly later on. ... What the commentators do agree on is that only one of Marsh and Rogers can open with Warner, and at least one correspondent is of the opinion that Rogers has already played his last test.

Spin and counter-spin aside, this is one of the three questions for the Australian selectors. They will be well aware of Marsh's history of scoring plenty of runs when there's no pressure (e.g. a practice match, or a bilateral ODI series) but being very inconsistent in national colours (19, 13*, 11 and 69 in the Frank Worrell Trophy this month against bowlers of roughly the same calibre as England, and only twice scoring consecutive scores over 50 in 25 innings), against the consistent record of Rogers stepping up when opening for Australia - he's currently on a run of six consecutive Test fifties.

I expect Rogers to play in Cardiff unless the second practice match shows up a dramatic difference.

Rob Key, who's been round the block a few times, said he wasn't paid enough by Kent to have to face Johnson, so I think we can take it the pace is still there, even if down a fraction since eighteen months ago!

I think you mean that Johnson's bounce is down a bit, not his pace which was regularly over 150 km/h during the World Cup and will surely go there again once the Tests start.

This is the second selection question for Australia, because Johnson is also improving his variations - see this miracle off-cutter at the MCG - and potentially has enough in the arsenal to win a spot even on grounds where the ECB orders up a pitch to counter him - which will of course mean favouring at least one of Starc, Harris and Hazlewood instead.

I wonder whether Australia may even go for five bowlers (all four of the different pace bowlers plus Lyon) at a couple of grounds, because the batting of all five combined is good enough that we don't need an all-rounder. It may come down to whether the conditions (i.e. a greentop) will suit the selection of Shane Watson as a bowling all-rounder.

I don't expect Siddle to ever be selected ahead of any of those four again, he's only there as cover for injuries.

 

[Busaholic]

Nice spin there, keep trying and you could be the next in line to be tried out as a Swann replacement!

Mind if I provide some more balanced translations?

Translation: as in all practice matches these days - including those when England are touring - the toss was a mere formality and the touring side given what they paid for.

Translation: The MCC, being exceptionally poor hosts, is engaging in gamesmanship on behalf of the ECB by throwing Rogers to the tame home media for doing what he wants with an allocation of tickets he has secured, which at any other venue in the world would be encouraged for the business it would bring to local companies for the included hospitality.

The first English player which tries the same thing with their ticket allocation during the next Ashes series (which, due to the use of higher grade stadia, will be much more generous than the allocations given to touring players by English venues) can expect to wear some retribution on their nation's behalf.

Translation: Canterbury is, like Lord's, a sub-standard ground which would not be approved for professional cricket if it were a new ground instead of an old one backed by the stuffy old ties in the pavilion. It's not rated for international cricket for a very good reason.


But not good enough hosts to stop a ground invader before he was able to set up a tent in the middle of the outfield, enter said tent, strip to his underwear and emerge from the tent! The response from the ground security team looked so pathetic that you'd almost think it was a WWE-style scripted part of the day's entertainment.


Spin and counter-spin aside, this is one of the three questions for the Australian selectors. They will be well aware of Marsh's history of scoring plenty of runs when there's no pressure (e.g. a practice match, or a bilateral ODI series) but being very inconsistent in national colours (19, 13*, 11 and 69 in the Frank Worrell Trophy this month against bowlers of roughly the same calibre as England, and only twice scoring consecutive scores over 50 in 25 innings), against the consistent record of Rogers stepping up when opening for Australia - he's currently on a run of six consecutive Test fifties.

I expect Rogers to play in Cardiff unless the second practice match shows up a dramatic difference.

I think you mean that Johnson's bounce is down a bit, not his pace which was regularly over 150 km/h during the World Cup and will surely go there again once the Tests start.

This is the second selection question for Australia, because Johnson is also improving his variations - see this miracle off-cutter at the MCG - and potentially has enough in the arsenal to win a spot even on grounds where the ECB orders up a pitch to counter him - which will of course mean favouring at least one of Starc, Harris and Hazlewood instead.

I wonder whether Australia may even go for five bowlers (all four of the different pace bowlers plus Lyon) at a couple of grounds, because the batting of all five combined is good enough that we don't need an all-rounder. It may come down to whether the conditions (i.e. a greentop) will suit the selection of Shane Watson as a bowling all-rounder.

I don't expect Siddle to ever be selected ahead of any of those four again, he's only there as cover for injuries.

It's always good to get an Australian translation of the English language. The Australian Museum is a must for visitors to Australia's capital city, not to mention the Australian Library's reading room.

Actually it's Middlesex who are in trouble with the MCC with the selling-on of tickets: all those allocated to Middlesex have been stopped, with a demand for them to account for what's happened to every one of them, so it's certainly possible that England and ex-England players may be prevented from using them; the difference seems to be that none of them, to the best of my knowledge, has set up a company for the express purpose of circumventing the regulations, but perhaps Rogers in mitigation could say he didn't have the regulations explained to him in Australian English.

Funny that so many players from all countries want to get their names on the honours board at Lords: maybe any Australian getting a five-for or a century there in future should be given the option of having it transferred to a ground of their choosing Down South instead.

Of course Kent shouldn't stick with a ground that's been around since the start of organised cricket : far better to get one near the junction of the M2/M25 in a concrete bowl surrounded by all the corporate rip-off merchants.A drop-in wicket would complete the picture nicely.

As Johnson's pace was not officially measured yesterday, I'm only quoting the Australian journalist who thought it was down a bit, or is that a conspiracy as well? Actually he said the bounce was still there.

Nice to see the gloves off.

 

[Cletus]

DownSouth
If you think that Canterbury is sub-standard, you probably don't like the fact the lime tree is often inside the boundary ropes then?

 

[Busaholic]

DownSouth
If you think that Canterbury is sub-standard, you probably don't like the fact the lime tree is often inside the boundary ropes then?

Not the world-famous one now, unfortunately, but a modern substitute that has a lot of growing to do.

In the match, Rogers was given a second chance to open to further his cause as it was obviously felt S. Marsh didn't need it. Harris did well too on the third day, but apparently he may not be risked until the third test as his staying power isn't guaranteed. Voges seems certain for those tests if Lehmann's hints have not been misinterpreted or spun by this speaker of the English language.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder why Australia felt the need to set Kent a target of 550 to win before they declared their second innings?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

I wonder why Australia felt the need to set Kent a target of 550 to win before they declared their second innings?

Perhaps they weren't confident in their bowling attack?

 

[Busaholic]

Perhaps they weren't confident in their bowling attack?

If Kent had had more time they might have got there. Look at Harris's bowling figures and also the 'mystery spinner' Ahmed, especially fasttracked for Australian citizenship on account of his marvellous and irreplaceable skills. Certainly a lot of spin there.

 

[ainsworth74]

Looks like we're finally going to take the plunge into Day/Night Test cricket:

New Zealand Cricket has agreed to play a day-night Test against Australia as part of a deal that will resume regular cricket between the two neighbours after a gap of four years and provide a significant financial leg-up for New Zealand.

The inaugural, experimental day-night Test will be played at Adelaide Oval with a pink Kookaburra ball in the third match of the series between Australia and New Zealand, between November 27 and December 1.

The match will go ahead much to the delight of the CA chief executive James Sutherland, who has championed the concept for more than seven years. It will also be a source of rich dividends for the host broadcaster Channel Nine, whose chief executive David Gyngell expects television ratings and by extension advertising revenues far in excess of those offered for standard Test match days.

However the views of the players can best be summed up as a combination of nervousness, apprehension and scepticism. While most agree the concept is great in theory, there is far less certainty about details such as the pink ball and its behaviour, the adjustment from day to night, and the effects the concept will have upon a format all players rate highly as the fairest and truest test of prowess with bat or ball.

Source

The Day/Night Champion County game played out in Dubai seems to have been pretty successful so it's good to the logical next step. But, I suspect, the proof of this experiment will be in the execution.

 

[muddythefish]

Translation: Canterbury is, like Lord's, a sub-standard ground which would not be approved for professional cricket if it were a new ground instead of an old one backed by the stuffy old ties in the pavilion. It's not rated for international cricket for a very good reason.

.

Translation: Australians, having only concrete soulless caverns for grounds, are envious of the history of Lord's, the fact it is the HQ of world cricket and that England regularly beat them at their "national" game which in England, is seen by the majority as an amusing summer pastime to while away the long hot days between the sport that really matters - association football (the world game)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Although it pains me greatly as a Lancashire supporter to say anything nice about those White Rose pretenders from "t' other side of Pennines", even I must give credit where it is due.

In the County Championship match played at Durham, Yorkshire had struggled to reach 191-6, then an unbeaten stand of 366 by Barirstow 219 not out (1 x 6 / 31 x 4) and Bresnan 169 not out (27 x 4) saw Yorkshire declare at a very high score of 557-6.

 

[backontrack]

Although it pains me greatly as a Lancashire supporter to say anything nice about those White Rose pretenders from "t' other side of Pennines", even I must give credit where it is due.

We're the only team in the First Division to be yet unbeaten this season (Glamorgan manage it also in the Second Division).

Lancastrians generally just pain me greatly.

 

[Busaholic]

I realise county cricket records are not very interesting to many on here, even those viewing this thread, but I'd just like to comment on the Bairstow/Bresnan partnership of 366 unbroken for the seventh wicket.
It broke the 7th wicket record for any county side, which previously had stood at 344 by Sussex against Essex at Leyton in 1902, one Ranjitsinji being one half of the batting pair. The previous Yorkshire record was just 264, made at Dewsbury in 1919, the great Wilfred Rhodes being one half of that (never realised Yorks had even played at Dewsbury)
It's Yorkshire's fifth largest ever partnership, but the highest for any other than the 1st wicket, the highest ever being that iconic 555 made by Holmes and Sutcliffe, also at Leyton - what was there about that Essex outground?!
The previous highest non-1st wicket partnership for Yorks was 358 made by DARREN LEHMANN and Michael Lumb in 2006. Wonder whatever became of the former?!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

After two days of very hot weather at Old Trafford, today is more cloudy and cooler, after the lightening storms of late last night.

Northants, building on their first innings lead, declared at 283-9 setting Lancashire 414 to win. All progressed as expected with Horton and Brown putting together 130 for the opening partnership, but as the early afternoon gloom (in more ways than one..) darkened, 130-1 soon became 185-6 after 57 overs of the innings....:roll:

 

[Cletus]

There was an exciting finish to the televised T20 game last night Azhar Mahmood needed a six to win the game, which he duly hit!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Further to my earlier posting, Lancashire, after two days of heatwave weather at Old Trafford, were on 206-7, having been 130-0 at one stage, almost at the half-way point to the required target of 414, when the more normal British summer weather intervened and the combination of bad light an then rain saw the match abandoned as a draw.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

We're the only team in the First Division to be yet unbeaten this season (Glamorgan manage it also in the Second Division).

After yesterday's match results:-

In Division 1, Yorkshire are top, winning 5 of the 8 matches played and are 11 points clear of the club in second place.

In Division 2, Lancashire are top, winning 6 of the 10 matches played and are 17 points clear of the club in second place.

 

[backontrack]

Hmm, looks to be a good rivalry.

 

[Busaholic]

There was an exciting finish to the televised T20 game last night Azhar Mahmood needed a six to win the game, which he duly hit!

And not for the first time! He's only involved in 20/20 these days, at his advanced age. I wish Kent could once again afford him, but Surrey are the ones with the deepest pockets.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ryan Harris has announced his immediate retirement from all cricket as his leg injury wasn't going to improve, meaning England's chances in the forthcoming Ashes have improved considerably, to the extent I now predict 3-2 to England. His tour replacement, Pat Cummins, played one test for AUS in SA in 2011, picking up seven wickets, but has been injured ever since, so his chances of making it thro 5 matches bunched closely together must be nearly zero. Peter Siddle is almost certain to play in the first test, and maybe the second as well.

Meanwhile, in other bad news for AUS they continue to struggle against 2nd div Essex, their bowling especially so. Mitchell Starc's first ball of the tour did a Harmison-Brisbane and it didn't improve much: if byes were given against the bowler rather than the keeper, his economy rate would worsen by 100% and Lyon was given a bashing, even though Essex were missing a batsman. Watson had economical figures: I suspect ENG want AUS lured into playing him rather than Mitchell Marsh at Cardiff. The latter certainly doesn't deserve to be in the team for his bowling, but his batting in these two matches has been superior to Watto's, especially in the latest. If Rogers makes the team at Cardiff it'll be despite his current batting performances, and Shaun Marsh should be entitled to call 'foul'. Luckily for AUS Warner's batting average continues to be far in excess of his IQ.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Hope this does not upset anyone, but I noticed in recent pictures of the Aussie team, their kit/whites/proper cricket sweaters looked much smarter than ours which seemed to be cheap looking fleecy type tank tops. I wonder why they chose that strip?

 

[Busaholic]

Not much sign of Ashes fever here - I guess a combination of the result last time and the third home series against AUS in five years has dulled any thrill that it's about to happen once again. I just hope we can get a close, nailbiting game at Cardiff for the first test on Wednesday, preferably with the outcome of that game at Trent Bridge in 2013 rather than the hanging on by the skin of our teeth for the draw in Cardiff in 2010!

An article in a Sunday paper revealed that Steve Smith, rated the no. 1 batsman in the world, could have represented England instead if so minded. His mother is from West Malling, Kent, and Smith played for Kent Seconds primarily as a legspin bowler who could bat a bit! The only wicket he took that is mentioned in the article was 'st Billings b Smith'
the Billings being Sam of England one-day team. He then went on to play for Surrey Seconds and he had a Surrey contract delivered to his abode for him to sign, but he'd left to return to Sydney earlier in the day.

The Middlesex Chief Exec Vinny Codrington has resigned after 18 years (a long time in sport) following the revelation of Chris Rogers abusing his position by reselling free test tickets given to him as a Middlesex player at vast profit as part of a 'package'.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Not much sign of Ashes fever here - I guess a combination of the result last time and the third home series against AUS in five years has dulled any thrill that it's about to happen once again. I just hope we can get a close, nailbiting game at Cardiff for the first test on Wednesday, preferably with the outcome of that game at Trent Bridge in 2013 rather than the hanging on by the skin of our teeth for the draw in Cardiff in 2010!.

Well, I'm off to Cardiff for the second days play (had a great day there in 2009). I do wonder tho' why I'm trekking all the way to Cardiff (by train)...it's quicker to get to the London tests from Bangor, and it would mean that I wouldn't have to get up quite so early! Still, Cardiff is a pleasant ground and it is good to see the Ashes in Wales!
Ashes fever? It's hard to read some of the inane comments from the Australian players in the press...Mitchell Starc today ''We will definitely be coming hard at all their batsmen, especially the tail...we have got to get through the top order first and foremost...' etc etc

I do remember that, prior to the 2009 test in Cardiff, there was some spin by the Australian camp suggesting that the Welsh fans might support them. Ha Ha as it turned out! (unsurprisingly). The only flashpoint (of sorts) occurred when some England fans started singing 'Swing Low sweet Chariot' (an England anthem from another sport, so I gather). This was roundly booed and they desisted. We sat with some great Australian fans, though...good banter all day!

 

[Busaholic]

Well, I'm off to Cardiff for the second days play (had a great day there in 2009). I do wonder tho' why I'm trekking all the way to Cardiff (by train)...it's quicker to get to the London tests from Bangor, and it would mean that I wouldn't have to get up quite so early! Still, Cardiff is a pleasant ground and it is good to see the Ashes in Wales!
Ashes fever? It's hard to read some of the inane comments from the Australian players in the press...Mitchell Starc today ''We will definitely be coming hard at all their batsmen, especially the tail...we have got to get through the top order first and foremost...' etc etc

I do remember that, prior to the 2009 test in Cardiff, there was some spin by the Australian camp suggesting that the Welsh fans might support them. Ha Ha as it turned out! (unsurprisingly). The only flashpoint (of sorts) occurred when some England fans started singing 'Swing Low sweet Chariot' (an England anthem from another sport, so I gather). This was roundly booed and they desisted. We sat with some great Australian fans, though...good banter all day!

Know what you mean about getting there. Easier for me to get to Lords from Penzance than to Cardiff, by train. A nice ferry from St Ives into Cardiff Docks would suit!

Swing Low is the deathliest dirge known to man: I do once remember it being 'sung' on a rather boring Saturday afternoon's play at Lords when India scraped together about 40 runs without losing a wicket.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Looks like we're finally going to take the plunge into Day/Night Test cricket:



Source

The Day/Night Champion County game played out in Dubai seems to have been pretty successful so it's good to the logical next step. But, I suspect, the proof of this experiment will be in the execution.

Channel 9 will be rubbing thier hands with glee. It's basically another WACA test for them. Crowds should be interesting. Given Days 1-2-3 are mostly non working days(Day 1 will get those leaving work to the ground to see the last two sessions) should be a money spinner for them.
I would guess they will be going for a 2/2:30PM Start time for a 9:30ish finish.

 

[DownSouth]

England fans could have big problems approaching in about 22 years or so, Michael and Kyly Clarke announced last night they are expecting their first child.

That's nothing compared to the implications of the upcoming wedding of the ODI World #1 bowler Mitchell Starc - his fiance is the Southern Stars wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy (niece of Ian Healy).

Looks like we're finally going to take the plunge into Day/Night Test cricket:



Source

The Day/Night Champion County game played out in Dubai seems to have been pretty successful so it's good to the logical next step. But, I suspect, the proof of this experiment will be in the execution.

The project in Australia with the pink Kookaburra ball does not have any relation to the England/Dubai project, and it is also further advanced with day/night Sheffield Shield matches having been played for full competition points for a few seasons now and club cricket leagues using the pink ball for weekday evening T20 games in the summer.

Hopefully this first Test under lights will motivate the ECB to advance their project with the pink Dukes ball a bit more and introduce it into regular competition. It would be good for cricket if kids can get down to the ground after school to see part of a first class match.

There have been a number of test runs for the TV broadcasters (including the use of DRS) with the pink Kookaburra, where local A Grade cricketers would 'play' with a handful of pink balls at different wear stages for a short time before a D/N ODI, during the innings break, and after the match. MS Dhoni joined some local cricketers for the trial after the ODI was finished at one of the ti-series matches at the MCG earlier this year, although slightly peculiar was that he was doing so as the bowler - that bouncer was pretty good. He is also known to trade places and roll his arm over to the local net bowlers for a bit of fun at the end of a net session.

Channel 9 will be rubbing thier hands with glee. It's basically another WACA test for them. Crowds should be interesting. Given Days 1-2-3 are mostly non working days(Day 1 will get those leaving work to the ground to see the last two sessions) should be a money spinner for them.
I would guess they will be going for a 2/2:30PM Start time for a 9:30ish finish.

And more importantly, this first D/N Test against NZ is still very much the final trial rather than the full deal. The real intent will be to play at least two Tests under lights in each of the following three summers, when the touring teams will be from countries where the time zones will work well for their TV audience back home.

I think Adelaide has been chosen very deliberately, of the big six grounds it is one of the best performers in crowd attendance and there won't be any appetite to mess with the Boxing Day Test or the New Year Test when the BBL plays at night during those Tests.

2016-17 has a total of seven Tests, four against South Africa and three against Pakistan, with three Tests under lights possible.
2017-18 is the next home Ashes series with five Tests, playing Brisbane and Adelaide under lights should work well.
2018-19 has six Tests, four against India and two against Sri Lanka, with three Tests under lights being a fair ambition.

It will be a slight inconvenience for the fans watching at home in New Zealand (play will finish at 12:30am their time, compared to 9:00pm for a normal Adelaide Test) but the small size of the NZ TV market is one of the reasons that CA has been working towards using the 2015-16 summer for the trial run. The NZ players will be given a D/N tour match with the pink ball before the series starts.

The match times will be:
Session 1 - 2:30-4:30
Tea - 4:30-4:50
Session 2 - 4:50-6:50
Dinner - 6:50-7:30
Session 3 - 7:30-9:30 with play available to 10:00 to account for delays.

Not much sign of Ashes fever here - I guess a combination of the result last time and the third home series against AUS in five years has dulled any thrill that it's about to happen once again.

The pricing out of the Average Joe from seeing any of it would have to be a factor as well.

The small grounds (more England fans can attend away Ashes matches than home matches!) cause ticket prices to be inflated, and watching it on TV is hardly affordable either as it is only on Sky.

It's no surprise that the number of people playing cricket is dropping in England now that the Sky deal is a few years in. I'm sure that the ECB's next TV deal for home matches will either exclude subscription TV completely or require a low-cost option for internet viewing on computers, iOS and Android devices.

 

[Clip]

Not exactly a good start for us

 

[Cletus]

Win the toss and as I type 47-3 not good.

Unless Bell scores big in the 2nd innings I think he should probably lose his place in the team.