***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[Adamc]

How long has it been since Aus lost to a 1st class team?

They were beaten by Middlesex in a one-dayer on the 2001 tour.
EDIT: and they tied with Northants in the very next game...
And they lost a 3-day game to Hampshire after being bowled out for 97.

 

[King_Ponting]

well this ones gonna go down to the wire........... hopefully

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watson back on. Here's hoping the guy has a better time of it.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Watson back - hmmmm.....

 

[andyc]

ponting should bring back lee and/or kasper. obviously the only chance for australia to win the match now is to bowl them all out, or at least take quite a few wickets. he should stop messing around with watson and bring back the real bowlers

 

[King_Ponting]

Watson WTF? Ponting what are u doing.........?????????

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

ponting should bring back lee and/or kasper. obviously the only chance for australia to win the match now is to bowl them all out, or at least take quite a few wickets. he should stop messing around with watson and bring back the real bowlers

I disagree. Ponting's primary concern should be getting some good play in for his important players, not winning against Somerset...

Bringing Watson back on gives him a chance to show something, it's a good move.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Somerset's top 4 are all left-handers - could that indicate a weakness in the Aussies, maybe? Usually, one would assume not, but perhaps times are changing.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice first over back for Watson. 3 runs.

 

[Adamc]

McGrath bowling out his ten. 89 off 97 needed, a couple of tight overs will put the pressure back on Somerset.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

And then McGrath goes for 2 and gets rid of Francis! This is looking a bit better, but unfortunately that's it for McGrath.

10-0-49-2. Nice figures in a game like this.

 

[Barney Rubble]

It's the wickets in hand that are the key - if they were 4 down right now, it would be a real tight one, but I still make Somerset the favourites as they have capable batsmen to come, right down to no8. Not good batsmen all, but capable batsmen, who can score quickly, and in the case of Parsons and Wood are quite experienced.

 

[Adamc]

Nice way to finish his spell, too.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Somerset's top 4 are all left-handers - could that indicate a weakness in the Aussies, maybe? Usually, one would assume not, but perhaps times are changing.

Might be overanalysing there. You've had two world class batsman take the Aussies downtown, and two lefties come in after them who haven't made a big score yet.

 

[andyc]

god i love mcgrath

he really turned his figures around

 

[Adamc]

And then McGrath goes for 2! This is looking a bit better, but unfortunately that's it for McGrath.

10-0-49-1. Nice figures in a game like this.

McGrath got another wicket off the last ball of his spell, didn't he?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Might be overanalysing there. You've had two world class batsman take the Aussies downtown, and two lefties come in after them who haven't made a big score yet.

Yeah, true - although if Blackwell goes on to finish out the game, it will give Marcus Trescothick a little bit of heart I would think.

Edit: And Graham Thorpe - maybe even Simon Jones the way they were bowling earlier!

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

McGrath got another wicket off the last ball of his spell, didn't he?

Yeah, edited.

Missed the last ball.

 

[aussie]

Smith & Jayasuriya are giving the Aussies a good challenge going into thier weekend clashes

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Looks like another nice over from Watson... 3 off 5 so far. Equation back to 86 off 91. Blackwell is surely the key wicket.