The Ashes thread

Reasonable start by England, recovering well after an early set back. The run out was a disappointment as was the loss of Root.

Tomorrow could be interesting with Malan and Ali facing the new ball, never been massively convinced by Malan but if Vince can get runs than hopefully he can hang around. Lyon who is no Muralitharan seems to be getting loads of turn. Nicely balanced.

In the balance. Aussies will come at England hard tomorrow morning,350 needed to make the match really competitive although their batting is as much an unknown as ours. Could well be a very even series, both sides are much of a muchness with proven class in a few positions being levelled up by question marks about the rest of the team.

Such a pity that only a fraction of people that’d like to see it, actually will. It was bad enough going to Sky, but a Third World broadcaster getting the rights limits the audience a whole lot further.

I think Australia have sounded a bit desperate with all the Mitchell Johnson talk over the last few weeks. They have had a potentially excellent bowling attack for a long time but there is a lot of nonsense being spoken about Starc and Cummins. I think Lyon might actually be the biggest threat because he is definitely under rated. I think the Aussie batting line up is pretty poor and it wasn’t that long ago they were getting skittled regularly for under 100.

I also think Bayliss will come under pressure if we don’t see some progress from the Test side soon. The ODI side looks great but the Test team is going backwards IMHO.

Czarcasm wrote:

Such a pity that only a fraction of people that’d like to see it, actually will. It was bad enough going to Sky, but a Third World broadcaster getting the rights limits the audience a whole lot further.

I do find it quite amusing that sky have lost out to bt, although I have a modicum of sympathy for the poor saps shelling out the best part of a oner a month for a slowly dying platform. It's all out there gratis if you look hard enough.

Les Miserable wrote:

Czarcasm wrote:

Such a pity that only a fraction of people that’d like to see it, actually will. It was bad enough going to Sky, but a Third World broadcaster getting the rights limits the audience a whole lot further.

I do find it quite amusing that sky have lost out to bt, although I have a modicum of sympathy for the poor saps shelling out the best part of a oner a month for a slowly dying platform. It's all out there gratis if you look hard enough.

But getting harder to find as time goes on. Google are a sell out as are Apple and the rest of them, same as Ginsberg and co in the sixties. A mate of mine is investing albeit modestly in a startup which is Internet for the people kind of thing, can't remember the name but it was described as Internet for everyone without the control of anybody, no ip tracking, no data harvesting, no snooping, sort of thing that Nool has nightmares about, it sounded good I'll try and get the name and give more detail.

Les Miserable wrote:

Czarcasm wrote:

Such a pity that only a fraction of people that’d like to see it, actually will. It was bad enough going to Sky, but a Third World broadcaster getting the rights limits the audience a whole lot further.

I do find it quite amusing that sky have lost out to bt, although I have a modicum of sympathy for the poor saps shelling out the best part of a oner a month for a slowly dying platform. It's all out there gratis if you look hard enough.

they didt lose out to BT Sport like that in fairness. BT Sport have a deal with Australia cricket to broadcast all their home tests which includes the ashes rights on oz soil. Sky will host the next Ashes based here as they have a deal for all of England's games including home where bt sport dont obviously alot ca happen till then.

still thanks to kodi boxes and live internet streams most people watching the game are getting for free regardless of who has the rights or not.

Still too close to call, England lose their tail cheaply but make inroads into the Aussie top order. Smith and Marsh have settled a few nerves however. I can't help thinking that big moments decide ashes and Vinces run for a single that wasn't there is going to be one of those and that England should have scored more than 300 on what is about as far removed from a Gabba surface as is possible.

Get angry Ben out there fast. He could be our new Botham, who used to scare the shit out of the Aussies lol

Tringreen wrote:

Get angry Ben out there fast. He could be our new Botham, who used to scare the shit out of the Aussies lol

Differences back then were that there weren't CCTV cameras all over the place and nobody gave a shit if Beefy had a bit of a ruck, in fact it probably increased his esteem with the public. In one of his autobiographies he tells the tale of how, in Bombay I think, he was grabbed by the testicles by an Indian with clearly erotic intentions who said "oh I love you Mr Iron Bottom", whereupon Beefy felled him with a right cross accompanied by the raucous laughter and cheering of a group of Indian fans and police. Imagine the reaction now-racist, homophobic, etc, he wouldn't last 5 minutes today.

Anyway, the test is in the balance. Need to get rid of Smith early tomorrow or it could be trouble-the man is a big score merchant and could take things away from England. Predictably even contest so far between two average teams-generally mediocre sides with a smattering of top players in the line ups.

This is ridiculous! You could get a fag paper between them too too close to call. Cooks failed again so a captains innings is desperately needed from Root.

I know his stats say otherwise but I've never been 'confident' that Cook will score runs when really needed. Felt the same way about Bell.

I have a horrible feeling that when I wake up tomorrow morning it will be all over and we will be 1-0 down. Hopefully a bit of sensible batting might see us post a reasonable score but I don’t see it.

Frank Bullitt wrote:

I have a horrible feeling that when I wake up tomorrow morning it will be all over and we will be 1-0 down. Hopefully a bit of sensible batting might see us post a reasonable score but I don’t see it.

Ditto. Much depends on Root, who was sconed by Starc in what could be a precursor to a more concerted assault when the matches move to grounds with faster pitches-Bairstow and Ali could well receive the same treatment. Those two wickets down swung the balance very much in their favour IMHO and would be very surprised If they are set more than 200 to win but we shall see.

The one thing that might go in our favour is if the Aussies try too hard first thing and blow themselves out, as well as softening the ball too much. If we can survive the inevitable onslaught we could make hay in the afternoon. The Aussies have to be careful they don’t give away too many runs trying to knock us over as Smith apart their batting line up isn’t too clever.

Frank Bullitt wrote:

I have a horrible feeling that when I wake up tomorrow morning it will be all over and we will be 1-0 down. Hopefully a bit of sensible batting might see us post a reasonable score but I don’t see it.

Inevitable

10 wicket dicking does not augur well. Lots of "take the positives" crap coming out but truth is that England have a pop gun attack for those conditions and will only take wickets in helpful circumstances. Batting very fallible too, far too many county class rather than test players in the team. Australia far from a great side but should have enough to steamroller the series now-I fear the worst.

Greenskin wrote:

10 wicket dicking does not augur well. Lots of "take the positives" crap coming out but truth is that England have a pop gun attack for those conditions and will only take wickets in helpful circumstances. Batting very fallible too, far too many county class rather than test players in the team. Australia far from a great side but should have enough to steamroller the series now-I fear the worst.

The worrying thing is that this un-Gabba like wicket is probably as helpful as it gets. They'll probably declare on 600 at Adelaide and Perth is going to be a living hell for our out of touch batsmen. Our bowlers like you say aren't up to this task, Anderson as fine a bowler as he is struggles with the conidtions and the ball, ditto with Broad and Ball looks hopelessly out of his depth. Batting wise the problem positions still look like problem positions, cook and Root haven't contributed.

I fear another whitewash.

The second test is now the main focus, as England try to level the series. The weather conditions and pitch at Adelaide will suit England more than at the Gabba, so they say.

On the radio last night Tuffers was saying that he has seen a weakness in the Australian side and that if England can get Smith out early doors, the Aussies could or would likely fall apart not long after ?.

Still some way to go yet and it looks set to be an interesting series, with England winning it, hopefully.

The Barmy Army were in tip-top form during the first test, geddon.

Day nighter starts in a few hours time, should catch a decent bit of play tomorrow. Don't like the way that England have been dripping this week about being bullied or Smith laughing his arse off about Bairstow's head butt-par for the course in Australia and Anderson is a fecking fine one to talk about sledging. Live by the sword, die by the sword and I hope the wimpish whingeing is not a symptom of a deeper malaise within the camp.

2nd Test

Eng win toss

Overton makes his debut. He should have played in the first test. England won the toss but will bowl.

Not a bad scalp for Overton’s first Test wicket.

Homeslice wrote:

Not a bad scalp for Overton’s first Test wicket.

Oddly enough, been getting some treatment in the last couple of weeks from a chiropractor in Plymouth who played Devon u-16 cricket with the Overton brothers,said they were a complete pair of tossers and not nice people to know. Wouldn't doubt it, knew a bloke in Tavistock a few years ago who played some matches for Somerset seconds, he spoke the same way about some of the people on the staff at the time. Not necessarily pleasant people who get to the top and they aren't always what they seem in interviews and the like. Still hope he gets wickets and runs though, looks to have a bit of ticker about him on the field.

Greenskin wrote:

Homeslice wrote:

Not a bad scalp for Overton’s first Test wicket.

Oddly enough, been getting some treatment in the last couple of weeks from a chiropractor in Plymouth who played Devon u-16 cricket with the Overton brothers,said they were a complete pair of tossers and not nice people to know. Wouldn't doubt it, knew a bloke in Tavistock a few years ago who played some matches for Somerset seconds, he spoke the same way about some of the people on the staff at the time. Not necessarily pleasant people who get to the top and they aren't always what they seem in interviews and the like. Still hope he gets wickets and runs though, looks to have a bit of ticker about him on the field.

Topically, I had the misfortune to be in the company of Jonathan Woodgate a few years ago in Spain when he was at Madrid. A bigger bellend you honestly couldn't wish to meet. But I digress.

I think generally that just mirrors real life Skinny, whether you're a top cricketer or footballer or plumber or doctor. There'll undoubtedly be a higher degree of 'ruthless streak' in top sportsmen, but pluck a random dozen of each of those (or any) professions, and you'll no doubt have some good eggs, but also a fair percentage of dickhead.