[Archived] The Ashes

[RibbleValleyRover]

A question for the Aussie's. How come nothing has been done about Johnson's action? Surely they have footage of him bowling both this series and the SA series and can see a difference with the height of his arm.

Surely they had time to do some nets in the morning or after a day's play to rectify this.

[Iceman]

Poor decision to bat again by England. They could easily be rolled over for 150, giving the Aussies enough time to go for the win.

A question for the Aussie's. How come nothing has been done about Johnson's action? Surely they have footage of him bowling both this series and the SA series and can see a difference with the height of his arm.

Surely they had time to do some nets in the morning or after a day's play to rectify this.

Lasith Malinga is even worse. Dont tell me he has a slinging action, when clearly he throws

[Tom]

I can't play cricket but even I could keep my wicket intact with this Aussie bowling

[pg]

Poor decision to bat again by England. They could easily be rolled over for 150, giving the Aussies enough time to go for the win.

Not on that pitch they won't, especially the way the Aussies are bowling.

With rain forecast for day 4 and 5 they have no option. Smash 200-odd and then declare, and send Australia back in with a lead of about 450.

England to win by about 150 runs I reckon. Australia will deservedly lose the match on the back of their bowling performance on the 1st morning.

Question is...do you drop Johnson and Siddle and bring in Clarke and Lee?

[nowthen]

Decision to bat again would probably have been based around the overhead conditions being batting friendly. Don't know how much rain is forecast for tomorrow and Monday but if it is it could be overcast and help our bowlers. Besides we got 360 odd on day one so if we score as quickly we'll have plenty of runs and time to have good go at the Aussies.

[T4E]

Two quick wickets after lunch have made it interesting again.

I guess we're looking to limp to a lead of 400+ plus by stumps to leave us two days at them. Seems fair enough.

[stuwilky]

Two quick wickets after lunch have made it interesting again.

I guess we're looking to limp to a lead of 400+ plus by stumps to leave us two days at them. Seems fair enough.

If we set them 400 we will lose.

[pg]

If we set them 400 we will lose.

Possible, but unlikely.

However, if you bat too long and set them 500 you may not win.

[tcj_jones]

I wouldn't feel at all comfortable giving the Aussies two days to get 400, no matter what the conditions. Hopefully we can get a bigger lead than that by the close of play today.

[T4E]

Hence 400 plus. We'll probably amble towards 400 and then if there's time left today put the foot down.

[Hughesy]

394 lead now with 6 wickets still to go - we should start playing aggresive now until the end of play and then possibly declare at the end of today (aslong as we are over 450 clear).

[cn_barlow]

I agree with Bumble....

Hell for leather for the next 10-15 overs then make the Aussies bat a few overs tonight!

[Perth_Rover]

Prior is he out? direct hit

he is

[Hughesy]

500 lead is up - still 5 wickets remain - I think just to be sure England should bat to a lead of at least 550 or 600

[T4E]

520 is more than enough, they wont chase that down, infact they wont even try. The only remaining thing for England is to take 10 wickets, which we must start on first thing tomorrow.

[stuwilky]

Start the day batting tomorrow, play a T20 style innings for 3 or 4 overs. Then get 170 or so overs to have a pop at em.

[1864roverite]

520 is more than enough, they wont chase that down, infact they wont even try. The only remaining thing for England is to take 10 wickets, which we must start on first thing tomorrow.

I wouldnt be too sure about that.

Ponting has a point to prove, bad umpiring decisions and the sportmanship issue in the first test will see him seething enough and wanting to ram it down our throats.

He has the batting line up to cruise at 4 or 5 an over and if the wicket flattens out they can easily break the chase down record.

England need a good walloping 40 minute cameo tomorrow morning from FF leaving a chase down target of around 580, that should see them safe, grab a couple of early wickets and it could well be in the bag.

I fly to Lanzarote mid afternoon so will miss it all. Hope that when I land at the hotel the victory is in the bag and we are 1-0 up. Would be a nice start to my holidays.

[ffan]

Get 40 or so runs as quickly as possible to take England to 550+ and have a bowl then. I can see a winner in this game.

[broadsword]

An unbelievable decision.

A recipe for an Aussie win.

Nonsense.

[neekoy]

Poor decision by Strauss, even if Australia did take a lead the way England has batted chasing 250 or 300 wouldn't have been out of the question with two days left.

I know there is heaps of time left in the game but I always like it when a captain leaves a bit in the match. Cashing 500 with two days yeh probably leaving 650 will ensure England don't lose but Australia will probably bat safely for a draw.

[SouthAussieRover]

Nonsense.

They may be thinking back to Adelaide in the last Ashes and the lead that evaporated.

Plus recent Australian teams have often gone for the pscychologically massive lead which the opposition have no hope of achieving in their second innings.

[pg]

England have declared and the Aussies will bat once the covers come off...smart move.

[T4E]

Phew, thats a relief. In theory its out of Aus reach already, but in my opinion taking it up to a lead of 600 or so would have only led to two days of blocking out and the opportunity to get one back from Cardiff. This way Aus may have a slight feeling that its doable, which will lead to more offensive play and hopefully wickets.

Personally think Strauss has played this the right way.

[pg]

Katich was dismissed on a no-ball...wait for the analysis.

[SouthAussieRover]

Katich was dismissed on a no-ball...wait for the analysis.

Analysis or not he's gone.