*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[Woodster]

Can't quite believe we had Hauritz & Clarke in tandem in the second session of day one. I've promised myself I'll ration my references to 2005, but jeez, talk about after the lord mayor's show.

Yes a pretty tame period of play, England rightly opting to milk them for three or four singles an over, while attempting to pounce on the loose one, while neither really looked like finding the breakthrough. They bowled a tight enough line, but not at all threatening.

 

[Furball]

Can't quite believe we had Hauritz & Clarke in tandem in the second session of day one. I've promised myself I'll ration my references to 2005, but jeez, talk about after the lord mayor's show.

Taff crowd not exactly bouncing off the rafters either; probably wondering why the ball's small and round and the goal posts are so tiny, tbh.

I'd have done it, Pietersen and Collingwood weren't perfectly set and Pietersen's gotten himself out to joke spinners in the past with massive brain farts.

Was a gamble that almost paid off with Clark almost bowling Pietersen. Had that ball been 2 inches to the left, we'd be calling Ponting a tactical genius.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Is it just me or do others think that having the first Ashes test in Cardiff is a bit like playing the Boxing Day test in Launceston - just desnt seem to have the same feel to it

Yeah, quite agree. I know it's actually a relatively new development that the first test was always at HQ, but the atmosphere was always ****-on, even if we inevitably lose.

Mind you yer Welsh actually have played union tests in London (saw them destroyed by Lomu and co at Wembley in 1997, if memory serves), so nothing's sacred in sport where there's a quid in it.

 

[pup11]

Hauritz looks an infinitely better bowler when he flights the ball. Give it some air, son! Forget the runs, time for a wicket.

KP seems determines to slap Hauritz into the legside and Horrie seems determined to help him by bowling darts. Why?

What you are saying is true, but I don't think Ponting is too keen to let him attack, judging by all the protection he has for him in the deep, he has probably just been asked to keep the runs down and just consider any wicket that comes his way as a bonus.

 

[BoyBrumby]

A chorus of "There's only one Glenn McGrath" followed by "You're not Glenn McGrath" after Siddle spears one down leg. Life in the crowd, if not originality.

&, Is it me, or has Hilfy maybe taken a liking to our English pies? Looks somewhat burlier than when I saw him in SA.

 

[superkingdave]

Collingwood so boring they have taken to showing pictures of Martin from Coronation Street in the crowd

 

[four_or_six]

I'm suprised Katich didn't get a go instead of Clarke. He might bowl some pies, but he's the Aussie spinner I'm most worried about because of his ability to take wickets.

 

[Jono]

What a ball from Hilfy! Good yorker. No wicket though

 

[superkingdave]

Ooh er...that looked very close...or indeed plumb

 

[King Pietersen]

Kevin Pietersen you lucky boy. Got away with that one.

 

[pup11]

Hilfy needs to bowl a lot more of those incoming balls (to the right handers), to make his natural outswinger a lot more effective and dangerous.

Anyways Australia are just letting this game drift here, and soon they could find themselves behind the 8-ball in this game, they need a good spell from one of the quicks here.

EDIT:Why the hell didn't Hilfenhaus made a more convincing appeal there, KP was gone for all money there.

 

[grecian]

Plumb for me, fairly terrible decision, has to be said.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's a ****in' shocker right there.

 

[Jono]

Worst appeal ever from Hilfy. Cost himself a test wicket.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'm suprised Katich didn't get a go instead of Clarke. He might bowl some pies, but he's the Aussie spinner I'm most worried about because of his ability to take wickets.

Think there's a perception (and there's some truth in it) that KP has issues with pish SLA filth (Yuvi, essentially), although Vettori and Benn have got him a few times each too.

Was stone dead there however. Ump musta thought he'd got some bat on it.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Kevin Pietersen you lucky boy. Got away with that one.

No ****, it doesn't get anymore plumb then that.

 

[steds]

Tried to boycott this game, but I just can't. Expect I'll probably fall asleep at some point though, the way it's been going.

 

[oitoitoi]

If I was an aussie supporter I'd be seriously pissed off, these English boys have been lucky all day.

 

[Daryl Harper]

Doctrove, a poor umpire.

 

[wpdavid]

Think there's a perception (and there's some truth in it) that KP has issues with pish SLA filth (Yuvi, essentially), although Vettori and Benn have got him a few times each too.

Was stone dead there however. Ump musta thought he'd got some bat on it.

Didn't it go to hand though?