The Convicts Return

[dave birch]

Den, if OT wasn't a turner, why did they take on Muralitheran as an overseas player? He's got bagfuls at OT. If it is a turner, then two spinners could wreak havoc. If Warnie is turning them at right angles, then McGill will be able to bring them back 135degrees.

Scotty, the toss has a big big bearing on the result. To my mind Ponting made a mistake at Edgbaston (with that huge advantage of hindsight). He was let down by a few of the upper order batsmen (himself included) and that, ultimately lost them the match.

[Howard Gayle RulesOK]

I was at the test on saturday. One of the best sporting accasions ive been to. The atmosphere rivalled any footie match ive been to and both teams went at it hammer and tongs. The aussie fans were great fun and Justin Langer was the epitomy of a good sport when getting some good natured banter from the crowd. And to top it off, we won.

Super fred everyone. Make sure he knows it when he gets to his home ground.

[pg]

Even I've started singing the Barmy Army song.... its just so catchy

[den]

Englands' view of the Old Trafford pitch, from the Lancashire website

[SouthAussieRover]

Maybe England if have a great bowling attack but...

If OT does turn out to be a turner how adept would England be at facing a twin leg spin attack.

Australia are very experienced at facing spinners in such conditions.

England are not.

[Simon Says]

Equally Don If OT turns out to be the dust bowl that many are predicting means the bowl will rough up very quickly. This will then aid reverse swing.

How will the Aussies face up to Flintoff and Jones bowling at 90mph with the bowl swinging in late?

Should be interesting!

[jim mk2]

Excellent ploy by England to give the convicts a glimpse of victory and then snatch it away from them. No doubt Vaughan planned it all along.

Very funny to see the faces of Kasprowicz and Lee at the end. Most amusing television moment since the head rock cruncher handed over the rugby World Cup to England.

[Scotty]

Pietersen, Flintoff and Harmison would walk into the Australian side on the basis of the Ashes so far

337503[/snapback]

I think if you did a combined team on what we've seen so far it'd be:

Langer

Trescothick

Vaughan © (less runs than Ponting but a better captain imo)

Martyn

Pietersen

Flintoff

Gilchrist

Warne

Lee

Harmison

McGrath

Not a bad team really!

[Scotty]

Or maybe you'd only need 4 bowlers in which case you could replace Lee with Clarke.

[Howard Gayle RulesOK]

I think if you did a combined team on what we've seen so far it'd be:

Langer

Trescothick

Vaughan © (less runs than Ponting but a better captain imo)

Martyn

Pietersen

Flintoff

Gilchrist

Warne

Lee

Harmison

McGrath

Not a bad team really!

337641[/snapback]

id go with that. Wouldn't have thought you'd have a case for 5 english players at the beginning of the series.

Hopefully the entire series will go to the wire and with a bit of luck, we'll sneak it. It's been good so far. Enjoy the OT test whoever goes.

[Flopsy]

Id play strauss instead of Clarke as he wouldnt be facing McGrath or Warne would he?

[Timmy]

that be one impressive bowling attack-who would be the new ball attack?

lee & harmy?

[Rovers_4_life]

Sky sports are reporting that Brett Lee has been sent to hospital with a knee infection

He's got to be a doubt for Old Trafford

[Timmy]

Sky sports are reporting that Brett Lee has been sent to hospital with a knee infection

He's got to be a doubt for Old Trafford

337676[/snapback]

reported on bbc website as well.

don't mean ill on the chap, who played well yesterday but it would be another bit of luck for england.

[jim mk2]

Oh dear.

Nothing trivial for Lee one hopes.

These Australian chaps aren't very durable are they ?

[Flopsy]

eh the amount of nast balls Lee got on Sunday - you cant blame him for being a little tender

and Mr D, Shut up please. It'll be a hollow victory if we beat them with two of their three best players out, wont it?

[jim mk2]

. It'll be a hollow victory if we beat them with two of their three best players out, wont it?

337703[/snapback]

No.

[MIROVER]

No.

337705[/snapback]

Agreed you can only play and beat whats put in front of you. If Lee is out and england go on to win the ashes the record books will not show that the australia had a wretched run of luck with injuries these things happen that is sport. Any sport not just cricket is littered with if onlys .... Lets just be happy with our victory and not sour it by saying it wouldn't have happened if McGrath was playing.

[Eddie]

eh the amount of nast balls Lee got on Sunday - you cant blame him for being a little tender

and Mr D, Shut up please. It'll be a hollow victory if we beat them with two of their three best players out, wont it?

337703[/snapback]

Add to that the fact that in past ashes series we've been plagued by injuries, never heard the aussies calling it a hollow victory. Let's not be too english.

[Bing]

Absolutely right. In the last series down under, England went in without Gough, Thorpe and Flintoff. Then we lost Simon Jones on the first morning.

[S15]

Lets not forget Brett Lee is a total tw*t.

[Manchester Blue]

I think Brett Lee has a great attitude. Just gets on with his game and doesn't bother with all the nonsense that some get up to. He doesn't come across badly at all for me.

[bellamy11]

I think Brett Lee has a great attitude.  Just gets on with his game and doesn't bother with all the nonsense that some get up to.  He doesn't come across badly at all for me.

337729[/snapback]

I agree. Always seems to have a smile on his face which is good to see. I remember seeing him in a bit of banter with the England fans the other day and you could tell Atherton and Slater were pissing themselves laughing in the commentary box.

[Tris]

I was lucky enough to be at Edgbaston on Sunday morning, and having had time to reflect I am in no doubt that the experience was right up there in my best experiences of live sport.

I wasn't at Anfield in 1995. I've experienced (live) brilliant highs and shattering lows with Rovers - eg beating Newcastle to get into the UEFA in ?97, Burnley away in 2000, Worthington Cup, etc. Relegation v United. Right up there on the rollercoaster is the Charlton game when Friedel scored in injury time to grab a point only for it to be ripped away again.

Seen some ups and down with England too - was at Wembley in 1996 when German penalties extended the "30 years of hurt" for at least another 2 ... of course now it's 40 years of hurt.

Edgbaston yesterday morning looked like a waste of time and money. 40 flippin quid for 2 wickets and no refund!!!! Disgrace, ECB. Worse than Rovers.

I won't go through the range of emotions because every cricket fan knows exactly what they were. Just to say that there in the ground on a Sunday morning (so no beer!) ... 22,000 people lived for every delivery, every moment, every movement.

By the time the run chase was down to 9, I was wishing we'd only seen 2 balls. I'd have paid another 40 quid for it to be won in the next 2 balls. But it dragged on and on. The afternoon garden party was gonna be a dirge - a burial ceremony for the "best England team in since 1981" ... Flintoff's heroics were going to be worth nothing ... by the time 279 came up the feeling of desolation was palpable and almost frightening in the usually bouncing Eric Hollies stand.

Harmison steamed in again, and time stopped. You can never see the ball anyway, so it had probably gone to the boundary, but I could see the orange gloves of Geraint Jones up in the air and the slips were up too. Focus on Bowden, focus on Billy Bowden.

The roar had already gone up to our right, but as his finger went up the entire ground erupted in noise and emotion and relief. Sunday morning, the bars had been shut - this was no alcohol-fuelled reaction - this was raw passion and the sharing of an unforgettable moment in sport.

I watched the TV coverage again tonight and the spine tingled again. That moment will never leave the "highlights box" in my memory. Bring on Thursday at Old Trafford, Lancashire's hero is ready for his own stage there.

[Nate]

Not durable jim? Hmm bit like Simon Jones a couple of years ago?

Edited August 9, 2005 by DownUnderRover