Cricket

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Can England wrap this up by 12:30. Us on the east coast want an early night.

Haddin falls for 7. Australia now 136-6.

 

[richw]

Australia have collapsed from 97-1 to 151-7.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

It's sad to see Johnson is our second highest scorer behind Warner.
And what do you know Watson goes LBW again. And of course it isn't a Shane Watson LBW if he doesn't review it.

 

[Busaholic]

It's sad to see Johnson is our second highest scorer behind Warner.
And what do you know Watson goes LBW again. And of course it isn't a Shane Watson LBW if he doesn't review it.

I hope England give due thanks to Essex for helping sucker Australia into playing Watson rather than Mitchell (Australian parents seem to have got stuck on that name!) Marsh. Lehmann had signalled before the Essex game that if Watson could bowl a few overs without being stretchered off, he'd play in the first test regardless of what M. Marsh did in the two warm-up games, which was to score a century in each. So while the Essex batsmen were making hay against the other Aussie bowlers, Watson was treated with exaggerated respect as though he was the Demon Spofforth.He still didn't take a wicket though!

Starc looking unlikely to play at Lords, so Australia have more than the one problem. Siddle brings control, rather like Merv Hughes did in the age of Thomson and Lillee, but a matchwinning performance? Highly unlikely.

It's been England that have changed wicketkeepers mid-series a few times in recent years, but, being an England supporter, I fervently hope they cling on to Haddin better than he can cling on to chances.

What has Voges brought to the party? A soft dismissal in the first innings (haven't seen how he got out second time round) and he's hardly the future, but I suppose recent runs at Lords for Middx might save him.

England can't be too complacent, though. A 60 from Bell to add to his first innings 1 is hardly conclusive evidence that he shouldn't be dropped : Ballance doesn't appear to have the technique for a no.3 against faster bowlers, but I would expect both to hang on for Lords. Bairstow should really come in, though, and has scored important test runs at Lords.

I wonder if McGrath is still predicting 5-0?! Maybe he is now.

 

[backontrack]

Hooray!

Great for us to completely hammer the Aussies, but I think that our second innings could have been better. By a long way. Our bowling attack isn't that good (although it's performed better than it used too), and we struggle to remove the tail-enders. Our batting could have been much better - Buttler got out stupidly in the second innings - and Ali is still a passenger.

 

[Spamcan81]

Ali scores 77 and you think he's a passenger? :roll:

 

[ainsworth74]

Where's DownSouth gone

 

[Busaholic]

Where's DownSouth gone

I think it's called purdah, in the trade.

I've been using my bone china Ashes 2005 mug for my tea since Wednesday and it seems to have done the trick.

 

[ainsworth74]

I've been using my bone china Ashes 2005 mug for my tea since Wednesday and it seems to have done the trick.

Well don't stop now man!!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Where's DownSouth gone

He has sent Pakenhamtrain in as an emergency replacement.

 

[ainsworth74]

He has sent Pakenhamtrain in as an emergency replacement.

You mean as his runner?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You mean as his runner?

I understand this to be the case. He is suffering from a torn superiority complex...

 

[muddythefish]

Here are some gem posts from Ned Kelly in the past 6 weeks or so

On the subject of a joint team:

Assuming all players fit, my joint XI at the moment would be

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Clarke
Root
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lyon
Harris
Anderson

If Ben Stokes can produce his best form more consistently he could be a viable replacement for Shane Watson, but at the moment I'd give that matchup to Watto and expect Mitchell Marsh to own that position in 2-3 years once Watto retires.
.

That's a 50-50 call for Cook at best. The consistency of Rogers is worth the six runs he gives to Cook on his career average.


Bye Bye Buttler to replace Haddin? You're having a laugh.


But if you've got Watson, Smith and Johnson you can afford to select Lyon as a specialist bowler and not an all-rounder. Lyon is good enough to hang around and hold up one end for the last batsman standing to keep making runs at the other, and that's all he needs to do.


Which English bowler would be superior in any conditions?

And after Australia beat the West Indies recently

The Windies have a good bunch of players who should be a very good squad in about 3-4 years time. It's one thing to accept the gift when an English team comes to you and says 'please beat us' but another to fight for the tough victories against quality teams that make you earn it.

And on the outcome of the Ashes series

I'm predicting that this series will be a 3-0 win to Australia - but that the next home series here will be England's great chance if some of their current younger players can make it through this one and out the other side as stronger players rather than scapegoats.

 

[Busaholic]

Here are some gem posts from Ned Kelly in the past 6 weeks or so

On the subject of a joint team:






And after Australia beat the West Indies recently

Guilty as charged - deportation to Australia the only effective punishment. Oh, seems we've tried that one already!

I do expect the Aussies to come back hard, though. The Australian cricket commentators were on their case 24 hours and more ago, and our journalists are pussy cats compared to them. Can't see Watson ever playing another test, and Lords could be Haddin's last unless he bucks up there.

 

[ainsworth74]

Indeed, I'm savouring today but there are still four Tests to go!

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Guilty as charged - deportation to Australia the only effective punishment. Oh, seems we've tried that one already!

I do expect the Aussies to come back hard, though. The Australian cricket commentators were on their case 24 hours and more ago, and our journalists are pussy cats compared to them. Can't see Watson ever playing another test, and Lords could be Haddin's last unless he bucks up there.

What will happen Watto will be given another game much to everyone's displeasure and score a 100 which will keep him in the side for another 5 games.

 

[Greenback]

I had a brilliant couple of days watching the game. Great result, but I expect the Aussies to come back at England hard in the next Test.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

I had a brilliant couple of days watching the game. Great result, but I expect the Aussies to come back at England hard in the next Test.

Yes, I'm sure you did! Sophia Gardens is a lovely ground (can't bring myself to call it Swalec Stadium) and it was great to hear the pundits praise Cardiff and Wales for the wonderful reception that they all received. I know that the Welsh Government did come under some criticism for funding Test Cricket in Cardiff but I'm sure that it has paid off.
As for the game, amongst all that has been said, I was pleasantly surprised that the England bowlers bowled with such discipline, some thing that has been lacking in the past. Listening to Broad talking about that last night did make me wonder why it has taken so long for the penny to drop, hope they keep it up.
I expect Australia to return to their nasty sledging ways at Lords to try and unsettle England, the pathetic attempt by Warner and Lyon to unsettle Stokes was so amateurish and more akin to a couple of schoolboys rather than International cricketers.

On a railway note, It was a long day from Bangor, catching the WAG express at 06h01...but that was more than compensated by the comfortable and relaxing train - and an excellent breakfast. The Marches line has to be one of the most scenic on a beautiful summer's morning. We got back to Bangor at around 22h30, having just caught an unadvertised connection at Crewe, otherwise it would have been an hour later. Great day out and a great result at the end of it all.

 

[Bald Rick]

I had a brilliant couple of days watching the game. Great result, but I expect the Aussies to come back at England hard in the next Test.

+1

Lovely ground, lovely atmosphere, great cricket. Chef's catch was incredible. And the crowd singing to the Australians, to the tune of Yellow Submarine "your next Queen is Camilla Parker-Bowles" was genius.

Only disappointment was the beer, the only decent stuff on offer was VB and Tooheys New, which was rather ironic.

On a train note, I have never seen an FGW London so overloaded as the 0745 ex Paddington yesterday. Some standing at origin, it left about 100 people behind at Parkway, and there were about 40-50 people standing in each coach.

 

[Cletus]

Kent have qualified for the T20 quarter finals and with a home draw after beating Gloucestershire today, in addition their win in front of the Sky Sports cameras Friday.

 

[DarloRich]

I had a brilliant couple of days watching the game. Great result, but I expect the Aussies to come back at England hard in the next Test.

A fantastic result that really surprised me!

Lords will ( or at least usually does) suit the Aussies and i think they will win there. We may have just made them angry............

 

[Greenback]

I think England has pulled the kangaroo's tail. The Aussies are going to come back strongly I reckon. Shane Watson could be dropped, and maybe Mitchell Stark won't be fit, but the other nine will definitely have a point to make.

 

[muddythefish]

+1

Lovely ground, lovely atmosphere, great cricket. Chef's catch was incredible. And the crowd singing to the Australians, to the tune of Yellow Submarine "your next Queen is Camilla Parker-Bowles" was genius.

Only disappointment was the beer, the only decent stuff on offer was VB and Tooheys New, which was rather ironic.

On a train note, I have never seen an FGW London so overloaded as the 0745 ex Paddington yesterday. Some standing at origin, it left about 100 people behind at Parkway, and there were about 40-50 people standing in each coach.

British sense of humour - subtle and witty, brilliant !

FGW presumably never thought to lay on extra trains then.

Agree with those who say the Australians will revert to type at Lord's - expect the usual snarling, abuse and general nastiness to start.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

A fantastic result that really surprised me!

Lords will ( or at least usually does) suit the Aussies and i think they will win there. We may have just made them angry............

If they prepare a nice juicy bouncy wicket there will be carnage.

 

[DarloRich]

If they prepare a nice juicy bouncy wicket there will be carnage.

Lords are a law unto themselves. The pitches there often suit Australia

 

[ainsworth74]

Though lets not forget that the last two outings at Lords were not happy ones for the Australians. It has been good to them in the past but I'm still quietly confident

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Though lets not forget that the last two outings at Lords were not happy ones for the Australians. It has been good to them in the past but I'm still quietly confident

I was very impressed with the Durham lad Mark Wood....you really do seem to produce some excellent fast bowlers up there! I hope no-one tinkers with his unusual run up, I suppose with Otis Gibson back in the fold that won't happen (was Gibson with Durham when Wood was a developing bowler? If so, that is an advantage!)

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Apprantly Geoff Marsh is on his way to England.

Lords are a law unto themselves. The pitches there often suit Australia

Would explain why they put the ground on an angle.
I do wonder how Lords would handle Bay 13 and thier antics.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Apprantly Geoff Marsh is on his way to England..

Goodness....he's nearly as old as me! It is becoming a real 'Dad's Army' team now!

 

[Bald Rick]

I do wonder how Lords would handle Bay 13 and thier antics.

In the 2009 Ashes, self and 3 friends gave Mitchell Johnson a load of stick between his bowling overs when he fielded at long leg / deep extra cover. There was a LOT of tutting.

However by the end of the day when he couldn't bowl straight and was being smacked all around the ground, the crowd rather enjoyed it.