[Archived] The Ashes

[DeadlyDirk]

I'm still so nervous watching this, missed the wickets after working till nearly 4am last night.

Great start but we can't rest, still 8 wickets to get, if it was 120-9 I'd be fairly confident but still a lot of cricket to be played.

Don't think even we can mess this up now but as I said last night the key wickets will be Katich, Ponting and Clarke, 1 down, 2 to go.

[T4E]

Great start but we can't rest

I will not cease from mental fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem

In England's green and pleasant land

[adopted scouser]

I'm watching 'em get thumped in High Definition.

The weirdest thing, the engineer came to the flat yesterday to install; he was a scouser so I asked him "red or blue ?"

"Blackburn Rovers" came back the reply "Jack Walker Upper season ticket holder"

Bloody hell eh ? If you post on here stick your hand up mate !

[SouthAussieRover]

Hussey's retired

The retired one is going well.

[Guest Kamy100]

Good session for England, all about patience, got to keep bowling in the right areas and the wickets will come. I don't know why but have a feeling that Harmison could get some wickets this afternoon.

[Iceman]

Good contest this. 2 early wickets,but Punter and Mr Cricket fighting back. Im glad Left Winger hasnt posted yet lol

[Flopsy]

Sir Shane's carrying out excellent coaching class on Sky at the mo

[pg]

Best captain Australia never had.

[Flopsy]

Why he's not coaching at CA's academy is baffling

[DeadlyDirk]

Freddie you legend!!!!

GONE

GONE

GONE

[BuckyRover]

That was brilliant

Im enjoying it now!

[DeadlyDirk]

If you can't bowl them out let's just get them all run out boys,

Pretty shocking after how well Australia have battled, full credit to them for that, that they now start getting silly run outs.

And as I've been banging on about the key wickets of Ponting, Katich and Clarke I'm glad to see them all gone.

Game over now, England surely can't do anything but win now and bring home the ashes, happy days!!

[BuckyRover]

Im enjoying it now! Wickets are like buses!!

[pg]

And Clarke too.

Good...I need some sleep.

Funny thing is..I didn't mind losing in 2005. It was a great series played in a great spirit and England were deserving winners with a great bowling attack.

This time..our batsman have scored more runs and our bowlers have taken more wickets... but we've lost the series.

Something ain't right...and Ponting has lost 3 of his last 5 series as captain.

[DeadlyDirk]

And Clarke too.

Good...I need some sleep.

Funny thing is..I didn't mind losing in 2005. It was a great series played in a great spirit and England were deserving winners with a great bowling attack.

This time..our batsman have scored more runs and our bowlers have taken more wickets... but we've lost the series.

Something ain't right...and Ponting has lost 3 of his last 4 series as captain.

Stats are nice but don't mean a lot most of the time.

One example is Flintoff who has undoubtedly been a fantastic test cricketer for what he has given England in all departments be it batting, bowling, catching, run outs , prescence, character - I could go on, but look at his test stats and they are not overly impressive.

You can head all the stat charts in the world but the only one that matters is the score.

Not counting my chickens just yet but the shells are starting to crack!

[RibbleValleyRover]

Talk about self destruction... I'd be livid if i was an Aussie.

[pg]

What the 'stats' show is that Australia is having trouble closing out games and getting the results.

Problems with team selection and with on-field strategy IMO.

[brfcshabba]

Prior has definitely improved as a wicket keeper.

[DeadlyDirk]

Prior has definitely improved as a wicket keeper.

He's looking like the best all round wicket keeper we've had since Stewart over the course of this series, runs with the bat and can't think of too many chances he's put down. Certainly not easy one anyway, perhaps there was one in the series, seems to be a vague memory of one in my head. Could have been a one dayer or another series though.

[1864roverite]

The last hour has seen England tire in the field. I am not too sure about whether dropping catches is going to cost us the Ashes.

Collingwood dropped a dolly whilst Onions missed a sitter.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Haddin gone.

[1864roverite]

Quickly followed by mummy's boy, 3 wickets required

[DeadlyDirk]

Edge drops short.

I have put a tenner down on the Aussies at 11/2.

Talk about throwing your money away

[cn174]

Come on!! Nearly there...

[DeadlyDirk]

Come on boys, let's finish it with a hat trick!!

This is amazing stuff!