*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[fredfertang]

Done. TBH I don't really see why I should go to work tomorrow. Should be granted 8 weeks off on Ashes leave. If I was a woman and had just had a baby I'd get to spend time with my kid. So why don't I get to spend time with my Jimmy Anderson posters? Not fair, IMO

Much as I sympathise with your basic proposition there is a flaw in your logic - we have a specialist employment lawyer in our midst - he will be able to provide an explanation - though I doubt you'll find it satisfactory

 

[Redbacks]

lol @ T20 cricket step aside for the real stuff!

Well done to England, collingwood showed great determination. But still have to be impressed with Australia's performance, keep this type of performance up and I think we will do well

 

[GIMH]

And on the highlights I'm now watching, in strides Monty Panesar. England have to lose this, surely?

Yeah, Monty will surely get ran out or shovel his bat to make sure he middles one to slip

 

[GIMH]

Much as I sympathise with your basic proposition there is a flaw in your logic - we have a specialist employment lawyer in our midst - he will be able to provide an explanation - though I doubt you'll find it satisfactory

the only thing I find satisfactory on this fine evening is the scoreline of the Ashes, zero-zero. You'll find me in hangover corner in the morning, my friend.

 

[zaremba]

Lee and McGrath faced 24 balls to save the Crims at OT in '05; Jimmy and Monty faced 69.

GIMH I must admit to some trepidation in typing the name Jimmy and the number 69 in the same sentence for fear of what it will do to your blood pressure...

 

[GIMH]

Is it wrong that the last day of this Test has made me happier than absolutely anything else in the last, um, year or so?? Crazy but true, so happy right now

 

[GIMH]

Just one more drink, I promise

 

[fredfertang]

Just one more drink, I promise

that's two already - I'm counting

 

[zaremba]

Really horrible to think that the supporters in Cardiff thought that the game was over throughout the last 2 overs of batting, but defeat was still then not only possible but actually quite likely

 

[GIMH]

that's two already - I'm counting

Just don't tell my boss

Or my mates, whose vodka it is that I'm drinking

 

[zaremba]

So that's 5 Ashes Tests in a row that have had thrilling conclusions

 

[GIMH]

6 mate - don't forget Caddick's exciting win in the solitary Test of 02-03

 

[NUFAN]

Fantastic test match but obviously left a bit disappointed with Englands last wicket stand.

Ponting had a great game, but to bowl Marcus North at the death was a dire move, Hilfenhaus had to be given an opportunity to get the last wicket.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, Willis reckoned that 1 X Hilfenhuasasasa >>> 2 X North, hard to disagree really

 

[GIMH]

Right, really am going to bed this time. Night all. England 4 The Ashes, simple innit

 

[Matt79]

Thinking back to my posts at the close of Day 1, I'm still fairly disappointed (if that's the right word) with the Crim bowling attack. Their wickets came, in the 1st innings, courtesy of England's batsmen, and in the 3rd innings, courtesy of the runs put on the board by the Aussie batsmen.

Johnson will certainly bowl better later in the series but was generally pretty poor all match. The rest were competent (as you'd expect from an Aussie bowling attack) but by no means world-beaters.

In my view both sides are light in the bowling department. And so this series will all come down to the batsmen. England's batsmen have plenty of ability but need to learn from their mistakes and from what Collingwood did today.

Agree with this in part. Was a mixed bag, the Aussie attack. Hilfenhaus and Hauritz exceeded expectations and were big positives. Siddle and Johnson were disappointingly inconsistent in their lines. The upside is, that means we have plenty of room for improvement. Would back Mitch in particular to bowl better than he did here.

 

[Matt79]

Lol at Corrin in this thread. Mental note to fly over to Wirral and punch the **** while he's sleeping. And maybe remove anything he could fashion into a noose before Lords (or not)

 

[zaremba]

The upside is, that means we have plenty of room for improvement. Would back Mitch in particular to bowl better than he did here.

That's true. I think in fairness, dreadfully though England played until about lunchtime today, England ought to improve a fair amount too.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Agree with this in part. Was a mixed bag, the Aussie attack. Hilfenhaus and Hauritz exceeded expectations and were big positives. Siddle and Johnson were disappointingly inconsistent in their lines. The upside is, that means we have plenty of room for improvement. Would back Mitch in particular to bowl better than he did here.

Maybe a tad harsh on Siddle for mine. Bowled some excellent hostile stuff and definitely unsettled the lower-middle order. If one were to be hyper-critical he might've overdone it a tad, but him playing the enforcer allowed Hilfy to bowl line and length.

Johnson disappointing tho. Figures flatter him immensely. Way too wide for most of the afternoon and evening sessions.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, pretty sure the post count doubled in this thread today!!

All stayed relatively friendly as well

I haven't started yet.....