The first Ashes Test

arnie sidebottom said:
Absolutely, England would have been 100+ up on the final day, Harmison and Flintoff charging in like men possessed on a wicket that's totally broken up.

This proves we've got them on the run.
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:lol:

Ponting's taking the piss. Who can blame him? They were saying on Sky this morning that the rumour is he's going to bat on until half an hour before lunch. That gives us half an hour and five sessions to survive (barring that elusive earthquake or GuvGaz phoning in a bomb threat). On a pitch that still isn't really doing very much. Bell batted for 4 hours on it so why can't the rest of them show a bit of guts and application, stop playing fecking stupid shots and make a fight of it. Alright, they'll probably still lose, but at the moment just taking it into day 5 will make Ponting look a bit of a plonker.
 
If we bat through and draw the Aussie media will slaughter Ponting. Batters will be in form with time in the middle, which will allow Read / Panesar in for the second test, attack, attack, attack - it'll be 2005 and a tickertape reception back in London all over again.

C'mon England!
 
arnie sidebottom said:
If we bat through and draw the Aussie media will slaughter Ponting. Batters will be in form with time in the middle, which will allow Read / Panesar in for the second test, attack, attack, attack - it'll be 2005 and a tickertape reception back in London all over again.

C'mon England!
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Now that's more like it!

So all we need to do is hold out for two days, take it one session at a time, no unnecessary risks. A draw from here will be as much of a win for us as it will be a blow for the Aussies.

Struass and Cook must turn up to the party this time, but we can do this.
 
malcolm31337 said:
A draw is now 12/1 on sky bet..and england winning is 200/1...we're fecked

If in some impossible way we draw this test, well win the ashes
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not without our pace bowlers finding some form we won't, Flintoff is obviously the exception but he can't bowl long spells, and I'd fancy facing anderson.

I say drop him and get mahood in for the 2nd test. Not sure about the spinners, Monty's a fine spinner, but the Aussies will target him in the field and with the ball, they'll go after him from the off when he's bowling and I'm not sure how he'll stand up to the pressure.
 
Mahmood is extremely inconsistant and that is the lat thing you want with the Aussie looking for revenge. Ponting and co will eat him alive.
 
I wouldnt go with Mahmood, so Plunket's the only other option.Reed should be back and Joyce should be given a chance. But we all know that 2nd test will see the same 11, they will only make changes when its to late
 
Spoony said:
But it's not going to happen.
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&
Plechazunga said:
Not a chance
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Well i still believe.

And furthermore you know, there is the possibility of some thunderstorms tomorrow. So maybe not even two whole days we need to hold out for.


As for the bowling situation, it is a shame that the first two tests are back to back, another warm up match wouldn't do us any harm.
 
Declaration. Langer 100 no. 648 to win. Get to it boys :wenger:
 
We're going to lose but lets hope we show a bit of bottle. Just a little bit. Please!
 
Ponting's stayed in the pavillion with back knack. That'll teach the cocky bastard.
 
McGrath off. Apparently he's got a heal injury. Aussies have 3 recognised bowlers now. Sadly one of them is Warne.
 
Talk about a head in your hands moment. :(

Strauss, jeez, twice he ahs been caught and twice the fault lies in no small way with him. He's gotta do better, either with shot selection or shot execution. Without Vaughn and Trescothick he's the senior batsman out there, we need him.

C'mon Cook!!!
 
Why are these feckers playing hooks and pulls. Play straight you fecking idiots. The runs don't fecking matter. Jesus H Christ!
 
Bell's gone now, debatable LBW call.

Ideally, we wouldn't want to lose more than another one, at the most two wickets today, we've got to make lunch with these two at least.
 
why has mcgrath only bowled 3 overs? give him the ball and get it over with. this match should finish today.

ponting's strained his back. the english should start praying that he misses the rest of the series. might atleast get a draw then.
 
mehro said:
why has mcgrath only bowled 3 overs? give him the ball and get it over with. this match should finish today.
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He went off for treatment on a heel injury before lunch. At least that's what Sky Sports heard.

EDIT: We've got our half century, well 56/2 now actually, we're on our way, 591 to go. ;)
 
mehro said:
is it serious? he's only just come back.
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They just aren't taking any risks. Warne will get the wickets easy with the kind of turn he's getting. Would have loved to see Monty bowl on this pitch.
 
And Collingwood's been caught
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after hitting a six. ;) :D
 
ManUinOz said:
There is talk of thundrstorms and rain tomoorow.
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They reckon it'll hit at around this time tomorrow, how long it may end up lasting and how heavy it will be only time will tell. And whether England is still alive and kicking come that time we can only hope. Must remain focused.
 
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