*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[Craig]

Simon Jones's missus looks alright.

 

[Richard]

Simon Jones's missus looks alright.

Presuming that was indeed who she was... and is that surprising?

 

[superkingdave]

Well we've passed 500 posts early in the first session.

Worried for Bops

 

[Son Of Coco]

The head and the jewels. I just hope this doesn't add up to a good score for Bopara.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Simon Jones's missus looks alright.

Dunno what she's doing with such a notorious swinger...

 

[inbox24]

No offence but the Jones wife looks a bit like MJ, especially the nose.

 

[King Pietersen]

Bumble's typical phrases coming out already. "solid action" "quick enough, around 86mph". I swear he died a few years back and Sky have just installed a David Lloyd soundboard. We'll almost certainly get "he's looks an organised player" when the Aussies are batting as well.

 

[Craig]

Bopara french cuts for four. Moral victory for Siddle.

 

[Craig]

Dunno what she's doing with such a notorious swinger...

 

[pup11]

Good hustle shown so far by Aussie quicks, been bowling good lines, bowling at decent pace and more importantly rushing the batsmen in their shots on a slowish pace.

 

[Burgey]

Sids decking it both ways a little here.

What's the story with this deck? Sometimes pitches speed up days 2 and 3 after being slow day one. Does this deck do that, or does it usually stay low and slow all through?

 

[social]

Personally think the lack of pace off the wicket is what's bringing the English batters undone against the short ones here. They seem to be waiting an age for the ball to get to them.

EDIT: That said, shocking back-foot play by Bopara so far. On Aussie pitches he'd be fine, playing very bat-forward right now. Big nick coming.

Bopara is very ordinary against the short ball - gets very square on and takes his eye off the ball

 

[tooextracool]

Siddle vs Pietersen looks to be an exciting prospect given the ultra-aggressive nature of both parties.

 

[Richard]

Sids decking it both ways a little here.

What's the story with this deck? Sometimes pitches speed up days 2 and 3 after being slow day one. Does this deck do that, or does it usually stay low and slow all through?

No guarantee of how it's going to play TBH. Not one of those decks. It can easily do different things on a game-by-game basis. Just have to wait and see.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

C'mon Siddle... hurry up and get one of these clowns out... they look clueless against you! I wanna see KP bat.

 

[NUFAN]

Cliche, Richard to comment on the no ball.

 

[inbox24]

I wanna see Panesar or Anderson batting soon.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Siddle vs Pietersen looks to be an exciting prospect given the ultra-aggressive nature of both parties.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to this too. Hopefully we get to see it sooner rather than later. Siddle bowling a good short ball at the moment.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I wanna see Panesar or Anderson batting soon.

 

[Richard]

Cliche, Richard to comment on the no ball.

Did think about it TBH but really CBA.

Think we need a dropped catches thread in due course.