*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Smitteh.

(sualk)

 

[Andre]

Bopara lookng like he has the ability to bat ugly without throwing his wicket away. Sign of a potentially very good Test cricketer.

KP might slash at Johnson here.

 

[Craig]

Why do some English fans have to cross dress? Probably Welsh anyway.

 

[four_or_six]

Well, finally out of my meeting. Not great that we've lost two wickets, but not a disaster either. Have the commentators mentioned what kind of figure they think is a decent score?

I was very surprised to see Hilfenhaus instead of Clark, I thought with Lee out the Aussies would want some experience in their attack. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[King Pietersen]

KP's blatently going to run Bopara out now that he's starting to tick.

 

[Richard]

Bopara and Johnson putting in real curate's-egg performances this session. And Pietersen doing his usual job of taking-on fielders and beating them when he has precious little right to do.

 

[pup11]

What was that Siddle?

His nips are upright, so obviously he is a bit too excited playing his first Ashes test...

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Nothing better than the camera focusing on Chimpy after England hit a boundary. Should do it more often IMO.

 

[Richard]

Why do some English fans have to cross dress? Probably Welsh anyway.

Been a fashion at cricket for at least 12-13 years TBH.

 

[GIMH]

It's a shame that Ravi will have to play himself in all over again, let's hope he settles quicker after lunch (if he's still there, obv)

 

[Richard]

I was very surprised to see Hilfenhaus instead of Clark, I thought with Lee out the Aussies would want some experience in their attack. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

Hilfenhaus so far much the best of the bowlers. Sometimes even the crass errors pay dividends.

(Unless obviously Clark truly was obviously below the required fitness)

 

[Richard]

Chimpy

Hilfenhaus?

 

[Craig]

Been a fashion at cricket for at least 12-13 years TBH.

Hey if some people are into that, who am I to judge?

 

[Burgey]

Been a fashion at English cricket for at least 12-13 years TBH.

Fixed.

Pietersen like a cat on a hot tin roof here. IMO this means either:
- gets out quickly; or
- scores a fast ton.

Johnson switches back to the end where he's had no rhythm, having taken a wicket at t'other end. Oh well.

 

[GIMH]

Hilfenhaus?

Ponting...

 

[pup11]

Bopara lookng like he has the ability to bat ugly without throwing his wicket away. Sign of a potentially very good Test cricketer.

KP might slash at Johnson here.

I won't exactly call it ability, he is just lucky to be still out there, on any other day he might got out a few times by now.

 

[Richard]

5 no-balls already and still 10 minutes to go until the end of the opening session.

If every Test were to go to five full days that'd make a projected no-ball total of 375, which would comfortably outdo the 222 bowled in 2005.

 

[Richard]

Pietersen like a cat on a hot tin roof here. IMO this means either:
- gets out quickly; or
- scores a fast ton.

Bopara finally gooonnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeee. Bopara and Johnson's curate's-egg of a session finishes off just like that.

 

[GIMH]

 

[wpdavid]

****e dismissal by all accounts. England as good as ever at donating their wickets.