The Ashes 2010

[RandBlade]

The Ashes start in Australia in 9 hours

I can't wait, England haven't won the Ashes down-under in 24 years but currently hold them having won for the second time in a row on home soil. Based on history Australia are the firm favourites, not only was 24 years ago the last time we won the series it was even the last time we won a live match (all victories since on Aussie soil have been after Australia had already retained the urn). However based on current form, it is not my usual over-optimism to say England are in with the best chance for decades. Our team has been performing really well recently, while Australia's form has become quite dire - but they always lift their socks for this.

Can't wait.

[Lor]

England always seem to go into the Ashes 'Down Under' on a high, but are soon brought back down to earth during the first innings of the first test match.

[Ominous Gamer]

There is a sport where people compete over an urn?

[Crowheart]

Heh.^
Think it's Cricket.

[earthJoker]

Cricket is not a sport, it's a soporific.

[RandBlade]

There is a sport where people compete over an urn?

Indeed, 6" urn, though the original urn being well over a hundred years old is so fragile it's in a museum, so the prize is a replica.

Started from a joke. First time Australia beat England at England the Sporting Times printed a mock obituary "RIP English Cricket ... The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". 2 years later the English captain of the cricket team said of his tour down-under that it was to "regain the Ashes" and the urn was presented to him while there.

One of if not the oldest running international sporting competitions in tye world.

[']['ear]

Cricket is not a sport, it's a soporific.

[termite]

The Australian Test team is in disarray, if ever the old enemy was in a position to dominate then this is it.

Too many older players hanging on to past glory, too many inexperienced players and none of the in-between variety.

Strauss out for a duck on the 3rd ball - caught Hussey, bowled Hilfenhaus...

[RandBlade]

82-2 going into lunch, its a bit difficult to say now who's got the advantage.

Aussie fielder dropped a catch on his test debut - ouch. Never seen the review system being used before in a Test match, interesting to see the review that went against the Australians ... Hawkeye* showed the ball hitting the outside edge of the leg stump, so the reviewer said "umpire's decision". Great, get a review with all the IT and the response is "I can't tell", go with whatever you originally thought . Fairest way to look at it I suppose when its that sort of narrow nick.

* Whatever the equivalent Channel 9 are using.

[termite]

Siddle took a Hat-trick! I was out in the car listening on the radio and he took the hat-trick wicket while I was at a traffic light, there were people sitting in cars on both sides of the intersection celebrating for Siddle.
England all out for 260 was a good result for the Aussies, now we just need to post a decent 1st innings score!

[RandBlade]

This is my first Test I've seen with the review system, I like the concept and always liked the umpires referring run out's to Third Umpire, however I think the system as it is now benefits the batting team - whoever that is. Having said that, I think it's still better Ryan any alternatives.

Both fielding teams in the first innings ran out of reviews I believe and in the second, Australia already has lost one. Since the batsman already gets the benefit of the doubt, and they only lose 10 wickets in an innings the limit of 2 doesn't really affect the batsmen too badly.

Of the 10 wickets to fall in an innings, most are generally catches and those are normally clear cut. Bowled out are clear cut and stumped/ran out will almost never be reviewed meaning that there's only perhaps a couple of egregious catches or LBW appeals to worry about. Plus the batsman knows better than anyone if there's a thin edge etc

A bowling team make far more than 10 appeals in the match.

[RandBlade]

Without wanting to jynx it at all, because Australia must remain firm favourites for this Test, this "morning" session was the most enjoyable of the three so far. I kind of don't want to go to bed now, but 40 minutes for "lunch" starting at 2am is getting a bit late.

[termite]

Its about even Randy, but you never know when it comes to the Ashes do you?

I miss Warney.

[RandBlade]

I don't, LOL!

Wow, what a day day 4 was. What a shame the Test is only 5 days long, would love this one to continent for a sixth now.

[RandBlade]

Fell asleep on the couch yesterday watching the cricket, parked up again today with my Laptop and a duvet, ready to stay up all night if I can. Have to do a lot of paperwork on Monday's, my logic is that if I can work on my Laptop while watching the Cricket, then I can have my monday finished by the time the cricket does - and I get to watch it

Not sure how England should best face today. Starting day 5 with 9 wickets remaining and a net 88 run lead. After just 21 wickets falling in days 1-4, just 1 yesterday, the idea of 19 wickets falling in today's 90 overs seems very slim. Chances are, barring an England collapse, we're likely facing a draw.

There's a large part of me as a fan, that would like to see the two teams view this as an ODI. Bat to lunch, swing the bat after that then attempt to bowl over Australia. Both teams unfortunately are going to be I suspect more concerned with not losing than pushing OTT for the victory.

[RandBlade]

LOL, Sir Ian Botham is playing a game of "spot the Aussie" in the crowd. Admittedly its a Monday, but besides the Barmy Army, it seems that the Gabba is really empty.

[RandBlade]

1/6 hours down England are 370-1 in the third innings, 149 ahead. More dropped catches from Australia whose morale seems to have taken a really big hit. Funny thing is that if we had ended the first innings level and England were now 149-1 then I don't think Australia would be too upset but the nature of this third innings seems to be bothering them.

Shouldn't really given how well Haddin and Hussey did. Apart from England's awful day 1, this has been a batsman's pitch and even on day 1 we elected to bat expecting it to be a good pitch.

[RandBlade]

You here termite?

Brilliant morning session, at lunch Cook's got his double-ton and Trott rounds up the top 3 all getting centuries in the same innings.

This is heading to a draw and at this rate England can just bat this out. After day 3, before day 4, I would have settled for the draw but now however unlikely it is I wish they'd push for more now. The players have got their scores to be proud of and celebrate, now enjoy their lunch and come out swinging the bat. Declare setting Australia a target they can (narrowly) achieve, say about 300 and go for it. Game on. Problem is if it came close to us bowling them out, chances are they'll be offered the light before the end of scheduled play.

[RandBlade]

517-1 Dec
Cook 235*

Cook and Trott breaking tons of records, many of which have stood before WWII except for the record Test partnership at the Gabba which stood for ... 2 days. I bet Hussey and Haddin didn't expect their record partnership to last such a short time. Only 39 overs remaining now though following the declaration, I think we'll be bowling just to get the psychological edge for the next Test, I can't see us winning with such a short time.

[termite]

Match drawn, not very impressed with the pitch...

[RandBlade]

And apparently Adelaide on Friday is not going to be much better ... not good.

[termite]

Not good for us, we actually have to win the ashes, your mob can play for a draw in every match and retain the ashes.

[RandBlade]

True.

LOL

[RandBlade]

Wow! Unless the timezones different I just turned it on thinking nothing much will have happened 20 minutes in and Australia are down 3 wickets with just 11 runs on the board. What's happened? We might actually get a result this match afterall.

[RandBlade]

Shouldn't have stayed up all night with work til late on Friday, but fascinating day 1. Aus all out 245. Guess we now have 2 overs to face.

[Lor]

True.

LOL

So she says ".. This is not the account of the cricket match. Check profiles before you send mentions, it's incredibly annoying and rude", yet goes on to sell t-shirts. Not really that upset are you love? Idiot.

[RandBlade]

I'm so angry! No, wait, I can cash in on this! God bless America!

[RandBlade]

England 317-2 . 72 run lead with still 8 wickets remaining, given Cook was not out last time he's now spent a record 1022 minutes at the crease without loss of wicket.

[termite]

Yep, it is all going pretty much as I expected - relying on too few at the batting crease and then lacking the firepower in a pedestrian bowling attack. The only real surprise is the shoddy fielding from Australia.

Credit where it is due, England has a supreme batting order and a varied bowling line up that should see them dominate not just this series but for years to come.

[RandBlade]

As much as there's been a few batting collapses by Australia, there is some strength up top still. The problem is your bowling attack it seems. This tail seems very weak and didn't "wag", reminded me of a 90's English tail, but at this rate while I don't want to jynx it, it seems hard to imagine them taking 20 wickets in a match. I don't understand why Hauritz isn't playing, he's the one player who really seemed to cause us the most trouble last year at home.

Still, early days yet.