The Convicts Return

[jim mk2]

Poor decision by Bowden: Giles took a big stride and was clearly not out. Why is an Antipodean umpiring anyway ? they're all thick as thieves (literally in most cases).

[Mattyblue]

You see it does all even itself out over a test. And people think that is just an empty cliche!

[Flopsy]

Poor decision by Bowden: Giles took a big stride and was clearly not out. Why is an Antipodean umpiring anyway ? they're all thick as thieves (literally in most cases).

345744[/snapback]

Come on Dawks have some more Cod Liver Oil and cool down. Your being very boring and boorish at the moment

[brfcshabba]

Could do with early wickets to get rid of the openers after lunch

[Flopsy]

King of Spain to get a fistfull of wickets

[Flopsy]

after lulling Langer into a false sense of security by letting him get 2 6's in two balls

[SouthAussieRover]

The King of Spain is getting the treatment from Langer.

[Flopsy]

they've changed the Kings bowling end now

Watch out the Wheeliebin will strike soon

Also how mature is Hayden playing now

[Cocker]

Bring it on

[SouthAussieRover]

England need to bring on a couple more substitute fielders.

Hoggard is developing butter fingers.

[Flopsy]

Bravo Langer brilliant start

Collingwood looking quite dangerous.

Weathers probably going to stop play at about 4pm, hopefully Hoggy will get some swing after the break.

And I seem to have upset someone. Sorry

[Lee]

Me confused, Australia have chosen to take the light and have come off!

Fair enough if it rains, but to accept the offer to come off because of the poor light conditions is bizarre in the extreme.

Australia need as long at the crease as possible surely?

[Flopsy]

well they can make the time up in the next 3 days weather permitting, also the overcast is likely to mean that Colingwood and Hoggy could be swinging it right angles.

Big girls blouses anyway

[Lee]

but thats the point, weather permitting it isn't raining yet, but its on the way, surely the Australia should have "made hay whilst the sun shines" if you know what I mean.

Update, its now raining, the 'big' covers have come on, can't see there being any further play today if its the same weather that has been up here for the last 24 hours!

[Rovers_4_life]

Good because unless it rains for along time in the last 3 days i can't see us avoiding defeat.

[Lee]

maybe I should stop posting updates, covers are on, covers are off, covers are back on.

Edited September 9, 2005 by Lee

[brfcshabba]

Could do with early wickets to get rid of the openers after the bad light

[philipl]

Great decision by the Australian batsmen to take the light- as an Englishmen, I warmly appreciate their decision to halt a partnership gathering a dangerous momentum.

[Ozz]

Don`t worry boys. I`m preparing a "George Davis is innocent" situation as we speak if it looks like getting tight for the lads. Just been to B+Q for me spade. I like to call a spade a spade. Unless it`s a shovel. Then I make it drum for M People.

[philipl]

Hold on there Ozzie, the weather forecast for tomorrow has worsened according to the BBC.

I know the ECB scheduling of this Ashes Test series could not conceivably have been kinder to the visitors but it could be this mid-September final Test at the Oval was a master-stroke after all.

Still, perhaps a maximum of two and a half days for the Australians to overhaul a 260 deficit, build a lead and dismiss England is just about doable if they dominate every remaining session.

Edited September 9, 2005 by philipl

[den]

I've got a torch Ozz.

[philipl]

Woke up to the sound of a thunder storm.

"Great"

Then I remembered I was in Malta and not at home close to the Oval!

Never mind the weather, England are realistically just one really good session (5 wickets or batting through a session without losing a wicket) away from regaining the Ashes.

Remarkable lack of antipodean posts this morning.

PS I was very heartened by the Guardian take on the Australians accepting the offer of bad light: "It shows there are two very nervous teams out there."

Edited September 10, 2005 by philipl

[Manchester Blue]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and if we had known the light wouldn't lift in the afternoon then Matty Hayden and myself may have thought differently about taking the light offer from the umpires.

That is the quote from Langer off the BBC. Shows he knows thye've dropped a clanger in coming off. He's right in the sense they didn't know the weather wouldn't come good again. However at this stage of the game it was a big gamble and one they can't afford. Shows how nervous they are I suppose.

[den]

Umpires looking at 10:15. It's dry at the moment and there shouldn't be much of a delay.

Good news?

[Shaddy]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and if we had known the light wouldn't lift in the afternoon then Matty Hayden and myself may have thought differently about taking the light offer from the umpires. 

That is the quote from Langer off the BBC.  Shows he knows thye've dropped a clanger in coming off.  He's right in the sense they didn't know the weather wouldn't come good again.  However at this stage of the game it was a big gamble and one they can't afford.  Shows how nervous they are I suppose.

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And it's these sorts of errors in judgement all along the serious that have compounded the problems for Australia (aside from England's strong performances). You just can't afford to make them in such a competitive series.

Rodney Marsh on TMS was critical of Australia's failure to bowl out their overs in the first innings, and I place that alongside the decision to take the light yesterday, and the commonly acknowledged, monumental blunder to send England in to bat at Edgbaston, as decisions going against all common sense. btw, Marsh is very likeable, and I can't help but like him too... however, I don't place too much stock in what he says. He says a lot but sometimes too much, bordering on whinging and sometimes he just obviously takes the opposite view deliberately. I agree with him on the above point though.

I console myself by turning to the positives... they have been outplayed for most of the series, but have yet to be on the receiving end of an almost deserved mauling. As for taking the light, the upsetting thing is that it was an error in judgement... but in reality, the cost may have been the runs achieved in a handful of overs... and all this can be made irrelevant if Langer and Hayden come out and keep their partnership intact for a good portion of the first session.

Edited September 10, 2005 by Shaddy