*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[Richard]

Thank &%$£ - two rank normal deliveries to start with, left outside off, then a harmless leading-edge. All we need now is a couple more of those and one nice knock down to fine-leg for a single and bingo, opening over that no-one can go on about for long.

Johnson's seam position still in need of fixing.

 

[Craig]

So both English openers have now scored in this series.

 

[Top_Cat]

Go Hilfy, I'm backing ya boy. Good line and length so far. Just a little more on the seam and you'll go well, son.

 

[Craig]

1st boundary of The Ashes, but geez this outfield is slow.

 

[Smudge]

Hmmm, lacking for atmosphere in Taff-land for mine. Crowd very quiet aside from the occasional roar.

 

[superkingdave]

Decided to get back on MSN for the first time in about 5 years...is there a group convo going on?

 

[Jono]

May be an obvious statement, but way too legside so far.

 

[inbox24]

Hilfy getting some swing, good to see.

 

[social]

If eng dont make at least 500 on this pitch and against this attack, it'll be a failure

 

[Richard]

So both English openers have now scored in this series.

Small steps. Both openers off-the-mark, opening over from both bowlers survived, first boundary to Strauss... no wickets yet. No real danger of one either.

In other news, worst possible time for the forum to go down\slow.

 

[social]

May be an obvious statement, but way too legside so far.

Both have bowled utter crap which is hardly a surprise as they did it in the leadup matches as well

 

[Richard]

Decided to get back on MSN for the first time in about 5 years...is there a group convo going on?

Pretty sure I have a convo archive from early-2005 featuring you, Neil and Pratyush TBH.

 

[NUFAN]

Strauss to get out for 14. c Haddin b Hilfenhaus is my guess.

 

[alternative]

Massive boundaries there.

 

[Craig]

at Holding's thoughs of Twitter.

 

[Richard]

Massive boundaries there.

Square, yeah. Much, much shorter straight, if we ever get any shot going there.

 

[andmark]

I'm on Bumble's twitter now, he hasn't said anything since 21 minutes a go complimenting Katherine Jenkins.

 

[Top_Cat]

Hilf and Johnson still searching for the right length on this deck one feels. Looking under-done.

EDIT: Pitch looks like it's holding up a bit up at the batsmen. Don't think we'll see many straight 4's. Aussies would be well-served by keeping it well up.

 

[pup11]

Some of the deliveries from Johnson and Hilfy haven't really carried that well to the keeper , and something like that this early in the game doesn't speak highly of the pitch, can see it getting slower and lower as the game progresses, making stroke-play that much difficult.

 

[Richard]

Hilf and Johnson still searching for the right length on this deck one feels. Looking under-done.

Cue tired but inevitable cliches about the fact that there isn't sufficient tour-game time.