*Official* Ashes Series Thread

[age_master]

yeah but they've been saying that the whole summer

 

[warrioryohannan]

Well noone takes their statements seriously!

Meanwhile Aus have won the toss and are batting, Aus must be looking for a 500+ total!

 

[TendulkarMark2]

Australia are close to 200 with both openers near their respective tons!! Contrary to Naseer Hussain's statement, English pride is being badly dented in this test match.I don't think Aussies will have to bat twice and i think England might lose this test match by an inning

 

[anzac]

yet another 350+ in a day display from the Aussie batsmen. With 7 wickets in hand we can expect to see a lot more of the same tomorrow. With only 4 specialist bowlers & no part timer England are short of bowling options & a 500 - 600 total is very likely. Then watch out for the fireworks from McGrath, Lee, Gillespie & MacGill!!!!!

Already it looks like the foundations for yet another innings plus win margin and another sub 5 day match. The main interest now will lie with how much Langer & Waugh will score, and will Tugger make any announcement???? Somehow I believe he will be backing his ability to pull his future test career out of the bag in these last 2 tests in this series.

Langer has at last posted a big score after having been unable to convert his good starts, and also did a good job of holding the innings together until forming the current partnership with the Captain. Steve has looked good so far & is on his way to his best score since his century in the 3rd test v Pakistan, but I wonder if it will all be in vain & too little too late?????

:ticking:

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I would have liked to see Irani in there.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I've just watched the highlights, and all I can say is that some of the shots the Aussies were playing, especially the cover drives, were fantastic.

Hayden was at his disdainful best with some of the flicks over mid-on from outside off stump and Steve Waugh was as good as I've seen him.

Caddick and Harmison need to stop bowling so damn short, Dawson was unlucky not to get that caught behind but otherwise was outclassed by some glorious strokeplay. White again was probably the pick, he's really impressed me on this tour, and the fifth bowler.. oh wait, we didn't pick one.. :rolleyes:

Now it's resting on the batting to try and salvage a draw from here, horrible to say that after just one day but I can't see anything else coming. Here's hoping for a repeat of Kolkata...

 

[Anil]

Now it's resting on the batting to try and salvage a draw from here, horrible to say that after just one day but I can't see anything else coming. Here's hoping for a repeat of Kolkata... [/B]

Extremely doubtful, to say the least(I mean, a repeat of Kolkata). A draw is still a theoretical possibility.

 

[chris.hinton]

england will get a draw from this

 

[Neil Pickup]

england will get a draw from this

And what makes you so convinced about that then?

 

[wahindiawah]

england will get a draw from this

English batsmen will have to face McGrath,Lee,Jason and McGill, i don't think England can get away with a draw, a defeat is most likely!

 

[cozmiccoyoete]

england will get a draw from this

Hope is a good thing, lets hope England can for once get away with a draw!

And where is M Hoggard?? the mighty English bowler could have made all the difference had he played in this test match.

 

[wahindiawah]

Its 445-4 at lunch.

England bowlers have been pasted in this match, from where the hell did they get this Dawson fellow???:!(

 

[nehrafan]

Its 445-4 at lunch.

England bowlers have been pasted in this match, from where the hell did they get this Dawson fellow???:!(

As if this was the only match in which the bowlers got hammered:rolleyes: .
Langer gets a double ton, Love is on 25 , Australia are near 500.Maybe Australia should bat on to 700-750 runs!

 

[TendulkarMark2]

Aus declared at 551-6 after Langar departed at his personal score of 250 , while LOVE remianed N.O at 62! In reply England lost Vaughan early.

Can England save this test match? or is it going to be another case of thrashing??

 

[marc71178]

Hope is a good thing, lets hope England can for once get away with a draw!

And where is M Hoggard?? the mighty English bowler could have made all the difference had he played in this test match.

Matthew Hoggard is in Hospital - yet another injury to add to the growing line.

 

[chris.hinton]

Rubbish! they where spineless and then did not fight, Dawson i think is a Sack of crap ok he got 2 wickets but they where the batsman getting themselves out more then him bowling a great ball

Caddick Failed White and Harmison did ok

England should play this test for Zimbabwe in April

M.Trescothick
M.Vaughan
R.Key
N.Hussain
A.Stewart
C.White
J.Foster
S.Harminson
J.Anderson
C.Tremelett
M.Panesar

Also Have Bell,Troughton,Muchall, in the squad as well

 

[Paid The Umpire]

The way Australia batted has proved that they are going to win the World Cup...

Honestly, how is anyone going to match them when they score 6dec. - 551... in under five sessions. This was un-heard of!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

England should play this test for Zimbabwe in April

M.Trescothick
M.Vaughan
R.Key
N.Hussain
A.Stewart
C.White
J.Foster
S.Harminson
J.Anderson
C.Tremelett
M.Panesar

Also Have Bell,Troughton,Muchall, in the squad as well

If I were Zimbabwe I would be offended. There are 6 players with almost no England experience put together.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

S.Harminson
J.Anderson
C.Tremelett
M.Panesar

No starting leggie?

 

[marc71178]

FWIW I would be looking at this side:

Trescothick
Vaughan
Butcher
Hussain
Key/Bell
Flintoff
Read
Giles
Harmison
Anderson
Hoggard

Only adding in a couple of new players, but retaining some experience in there (which is crucial)