creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Harry Genshaw]

I'm not really a big cricket fan but as an English man I do like to see us beat the Aussies.

Is it my lack of knowledge or do our media really talk us down? All I heard yesterday was we avoided the expected collapse and how good the Aussies were. We're a pretty decent side these days aren't we? This first test is already looking evenly balanced to me

[TANGODANCER]

I'm not really a big cricket fan but as an English man I do like to see us beat the Aussies.

Is it my lack of knowledge or do our media really talk us down? All I heard yesterday was we avoided the expected collapse and how good the Aussies were. We're a pretty decent side these days aren't we? This first test is already looking evenly balanced to me

Aye, and if/when we win, it'll be "Our Boys" and how they've supported us all along. Band waggon jumping hypoctrites...

[jimbo]

It'll be a funny series. Both sides are seriously flawed. Some great players up there with the greats of the game, but plenty of really mediocre ones as well.

I thought the media coverage was fair. England have a history of collapsing, and for the last 12 months numbers 2,3 and 5 have been walking wickets. This time all 3 reached 50, so well done to them.

[Prufrock]

Hello new ball! Just need Smith.

[TANGODANCER]

Worth keeping in mind that out of the 300 plus score for the Oz, 140 plus were from one man, Smith. Unless he or someone else, repeats that, we may well be in with a good shout.

[Prufrock]

Problem is he looks like he quite easily could. Think we've played pretty well so far, but I just can't see us getting Smith out 9 times.

Two far from great teams given past standards, bit a very even and watchable contest so far.

[Prufrock]

Ah smashing. That's more like it.

[TANGODANCER]

Ah smashing. That's more like it.

Not exactly my sentiment, but they certainly smashed us. Almost done and dusted.

[BWFC_Insane]

Our bowling attack does not look good for this series. You need some genuine pace and bounce in there and for me Broad isn't consistent enough and there are question marks nowadays about his pace. I struggle to see us bowling them out cheaply enough.

Clearly we went in with a batting line up with huge question marks over it and that is an issue.

But we had them first innings and couldn't quite get rid of Smith once he dug in and think that will be a recurring theme this series. They on the other hand have raw pace that isn't always going to work but they can bowl in spells and keep coming.

[Bruce Rioja]

Clearly we went in with a batting line up with huge question marks over it and that is an issue.

Indeed. But given that the Aussie summer won't swing the ball by a millimetre our batting line up are our only hope. I say hope, that'd require a competent innings from the hapless Cook. Maybe we just accept that we're getting our arses tanned this time out and concentrate on getting them back over here.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Has he even been charged yet?
If he's so clearly guilty why is it taking so long?

I asked that two months ago! I'm talking Stokes.
(not Bairstow. But I can't help but giggle. Let's hope that Vince, Cook, Stoneman, et. al. haven't blown an aggressive kiss at anybody.)

[TANGODANCER]

Battling up a massive hill already in Oz. We're 29-1 at stumps in reply to 400 plus something? declared.

[Prufrock]

Woke up, checked the score and thought "here we go again", but now looks like the Aussies want to let us have a go at it!

[TANGODANCER]

Well, at least Mr Smith won't be laughing too hard right now. We can still make a go of this....

[Prufrock]

Still looks a hell of a tall order but there's a chink of hope now. Getting rid of Smith twice for under 50 is a boost for the rest of the series, but no use if we're 2-0 down.

[TANGODANCER]

Still looks a hell of a tall order but there's a chink of hope now. Getting rid of Smith twice for under 50 is a boost for the rest of the series, but no use if we're 2-0 down.

Aye, and they can always point to Cooke if we get too cocky. Don't know what's happened to that chap right now. Ah well, time will no doubt tell..

[jimbo]

We've gone from about a 0% chance of winning, to about a 2% chance in that last hour! Something to cling to at least

[BWFC_Insane]

1) We bowled poorly first innings - at times without intensity.
2) We batted like morons in our first innings.

If you do that, you're almost certainly going to lose.

Can anyone see us getting close to 300 batting last?

[TANGODANCER]

1) We bowled poorly first innings - at times without intensity.
2) We batted like morons in our first innings.
If you do that, you're almost certainly going to lose.
Can anyone see us getting close to 300 batting last?

You really must be an absolutely superb sportsman in everything, Insaney. I'm betting you have a staggering amount of trophies locked away somewhere. I mean, in addition to being a superb footballer, cricketer, golfer, athlete and manager at all of them, to win the World Record for Fault-Finding Award 34 times, and be undisputed world champ at pessimistic moaning every single year, that's truly amazing...

[jimbo]

Not sure what Insane has said there that it's possible to disagree with!