too early for an ashes thread??

CAPSLOCK · Post by **CAPSLOCK** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:02 am

Bedtime

Someone turn out the lights

Roll on Adelaide

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:36 am

I knew I shouldn't have mentioned my misgivings. Pietersen and Jones gone.

As CAPS said, Adelaide here we come.

Nozza · Post by **Nozza** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:50 am

It'll be worth staying up for Harmisons mental batting. Almost as insane as his bowling!

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:42 am

Dujon wrote:A good fight back regardless of the end result. At least it shows that England can bat when they put their collective minds to it (watch, now I've said that they'll fall in a heap this morning).

I promise here and now not to try pondering on the course of any other test match in this series. Sorry everyone.

Enzo Gambaro · Post by **Enzo Gambaro** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:12 am

Why?????? What idiotic part of me remained optimistic during the last couple of days of this test? Why, when I'm the ultimate pessimist when it comes to football, did a crazy part of me continue to stay up in the ridiculous belief that we could still take something out of a game that was lost after two sessions on the first afternoon?????

Did some sado-masochistic part of me long to see the smug, evil face of Glenn McGrath in the after-match celebrations, prompting me to throw my remote control at the TV in disgust?

If Monty doesn't play next week, they deserve everything they get.

communistworkethic · Post by **communistworkethic** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:27 am

Enzo Gambaro wrote:
If Monty doesn't play next week, they deserve everything they get.

I know we are desperate but is shipping over a librarian from Canada really the solution??

Dr.Karl · Post by **Dr.Karl** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:13 pm

If Duncan Fletcher wanted a stronger lower order why not play Mahmood instead of Anderson? Its debatable whether Anderson is a better bowler than him but Mahmood is certainly a better batsmen, then you'd have room for Panesar instead of Giles.

Fact is, you need 20 wickets to win a test match, not a handy 20 from the number 8!

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:40 pm

communistworkethic wrote:
Enzo Gambaro wrote:
If Monty doesn't play next week, they deserve everything they get.
I know we are desperate but is shipping over a librarian from Canada really the solution??

I might have outscored Freddie in the first innings - might have - but probably not

David Lee's Hair · Post by **David Lee's Hair** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:24 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 190344.stm

So the aussies are going for one spinner. Should we go for two?

Over the summer, i felt that in the bowling department we where pretty good, and the batting was letting us down, but with Harmison shopwing no confidence what so ever, should he be dropped, and should be playing 2 spinners? Or should we risk Harimson and perhaps drop Anderson?

http://home.skysports.com/ashes/article ... +will+play

edit ; well this answers my own question then!

Little Green Man · Post by **Little Green Man** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:16 pm

Unchanged team for the Second Test.

cowdrill · Post by **cowdrill** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:22 pm

good grief...

is Glen Mcgrath playing do we know?

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:04 am

It would appear so, Cowdrill.

England win toss and elect to bat.

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:13 am

We decided to turn up this time then.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 157281.stm

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:37 am

Mmmm...

But that Paul Collingwood just aint good enough for this level of creeckeeeet, eh Geoffrey??

David Lee's Hair · Post by **David Lee's Hair** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:39 am

More like it from the boy's, must say its disappointing that the openers are still failing, and still no Monty, we could score 500 and still not win as we don't really have a chance of taking 20 wickets in the match with the current form we are showing!!

Watched a bit this morning and although they weren't taking any wickets Warne and more importantly - seeing Warne could get turn on an ice rink - Clarke were getting some turn! Monty should be in!!

Also this Stuart Clark looks like a real gem (as well as a bit like our own Simon Jones) - a bit of a young McGrath which is a worry

cowdrill · Post by **cowdrill** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:59 pm

im expecting the usual middle order collapse

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:08 pm

Come on - a bit of optimism, please.

Certainly it was a shaky start, but from my viewpoint the wickets that fell were due to batsman error (what the hell was Bell doing?) rather than bowler intrigue and tactics.

All the pundits are saying that the wicket is a batsman's paradise, and they could well be right as I didn't see a ball swing and only one or two get up unexpectedly during the time I was watching. Warne did though manage to get the ball working with his leggies but there was little evidence of any other of his tweaks doing much. Lee was wayward and somewhat expensive, which isn't all that unusual for him, but at least he did get Bell's wicket (for what that's worth) while Warne and McGrath, Australia's mainstay bowlers, finished with nothing although, to their credit, they were nice and tight.

If Pietersen and Collingwood can get their eye in this morning without any silly strokes then the Aussies could be in for a long day in the field. Of course, if they don't, heaven only knows what will transpire (Freddy's hardly been the run machine we'd thought he would be). I hope that I am wrong but I don't see Jones, Giles and 'the rest' doing anything special.

Some of Ponting's field placements yesterday were unusual. I don't think the Aussies missed out on wickets because of them but they looked incredibly defensive for a first day. I am not going to castigate him for those tactics though as I think he might have a little more experience of the Adelaide pitches than do I.

I am quite looking forward to today's play and intend to spend the odd hour or two watching the game unfold. It should be interesting.

chris · Post by **chris** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:38 am

Brilliant day.
310 for the fourth wicket - I actually have genuine hope this time of victory.
Good declaration choice with an Aussie wicket before the close as well.

communistworkethic · Post by **communistworkethic** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:05 am

Yes great batting, loads of runs but do we have the attack to actually take all 10 aussies wickets twice over? I'm concerned Freddy is our only real strike bowler.

officer_dibble · Post by **officer_dibble** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:35 am

Pride restored

Tonight is crucial though, attack attack attack!

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