***Official*** NatWest Series/Challenge

[Pedro Delgado]

Anyway, tips for tonight? I'm interested in seeing how England go if they have to bat first, since they haven't done so against Australia in a long time, and they seem to prefer to chase.

Anyway, picking an Australian win.

Sticking your neck out there Faaip

Clarke in for Watson, Vaughan returns in place of Solanki and Dazzler back for the Littlewoods Underwear Model.

Aus win toss and elect to bat. Ohhhhh dear. Ahem, sticking my neck out, I'll go for an Aus win.

 

[King_Ponting]

Australia win, but a close win, less than 25 runs or less than 4 wickets

 

[Scaly piscine]

Fairly meaningless game with the final coming up, but it'd be nice to see the taff bowl straight among some interesting little skirmishes.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Horrible first over from Goughie, 14 conceded including 4 overthrows from Pietersen.

 

[wpdavid]

It looks like Gilchrist & Hayden have decided to make a few points of their own, judging by Gough's first over. Shades of 2001, when, after being more circumspect for the first couple of games, the Aus batters really took the mick in the 3rd one and set up a psychological advantge that they took into the tests and never relinquished.

 

[Pratters]

Fairly meaningless game with the final coming up, but it'd be nice to see the taff bowl straight among some interesting little skirmishes.

This game, even the finals are all build up to the Ashes really. So all the psychological points which can be gained are up for grabs.

So not entirely meaningless.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Gilchrist for a hundred today - hopefully I'll jinx him again, but I've got a feeling this time.....

 

[Pratters]

Gilchrist for a hundred today - hopefully I'll jinx him again, but I've got a feeling this time.....

Almost did with that magnificent delivery bowled by Jones.

 

[Pratters]

Already some psychological ploys being applied with around the wicket bowling for Gilchrist and the offside fielding for Hayden near the pitch.

Making the batsmen think differently, make them do things out of routine.

 

[Pratters]

Jones did deserve that wicket of Gilly.

England playing to a plan and keeping Australia in the ropes with good deliveries.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Gilchrist for a hundred today - hopefully I'll jinx him again, but I've got a feeling this time.....

Good call.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Gilchrist for a hundred today - hopefully I'll jinx him again, but I've got a feeling this time.....

Another successful jinxing!! Gilchrist c Jones b Jones 19!

Ponting for a hundred too........

 

[Scaly piscine]

Another successful jinxing!! Gilchrist c Jones b Jones 19!

Ponting for a hundred too........

Along the same lines, Gooch to not get shot/maimed/run over by a bus.

 

[Pratters]

England bowlers have done this catch and throw before also I think.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

 

[Barney Rubble]

Hayden and Jones going at it after Jones hits Hayden in the chest with an unnecessary return throw - bloody hell, if those two get into a fight there will be carnage.

Next ball from Jones to Hayden is a high-speed bouncer is my thinking.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Along the same lines, Gooch to not get shot/maimed/run over by a bus.

Haha

Shane Warne to not suffer from a disease which makes his fingers drop off between now and July 21......

 

[Pratters]

It was funny yo see Flintoff come in the middle.

Also, Ponting is uncharecteristically calm.

 

[wpdavid]

England bowlers have done this catch and throw before also I think.

Really? When was that?

 

[Pedro Delgado]

He certainly calmed down when he saw Fred walking toward him though.