The Ashes.

[Scouse Patriot]

Sorry to intrude on your forum gentlemen Anyways will any of you guys be watching the series?

 

[reflexblue]

Sorry to intrude on your forum gentlemen Anyways will any of you guys be watching the series?

I guess not.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

I guess not.

Its cricket my friend, the game that makes baseball look exciting right? . The Ashes are contested in a test series (five games) between England and Australia, probrably the hottest rivalry in the sport. I always look forward to watching these games, it's just a little dissapionting alot of the world class Australian players have hung them up because I enjoyed watching them play.

Adam Gilchrist, I was told is a Liverpool supporter so he's alright by me. Being a red clearly enhances his legend status.

 

[reflexblue]

Its cricket my friend, the game that makes baseball look exciting right? . The Ashes are contested in a test series (five games) between England and Australia, probrably the hottest rivalry in the sport. I always look forward to watching these games, it's just a little dissapionting alot of the world class Australian players have hung them up because I enjoyed watching them play.

Adam Gilchrist, I was told is a Liverpool supporter so he's alright by me. Being a red clearly enhances his legend status.

Im' sorry Scouse i don't even watch baseball very much, thanks for the heads up though.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Don't worry, Scouser -- if they whitewash us, we'll hear about it!

Its cricket my friend, the game that makes baseball look exciting right? . The Ashes are contested in a test series (five games) between England and Australia, probrably the hottest rivalry in the sport. I always look forward to watching these games, it's just a little dissapionting alot of the world class Australian players have hung them up because I enjoyed watching them play.

Adam Gilchrist, I was told is a Liverpool supporter so he's alright by me. Being a red clearly enhances his legend status.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Im' sorry Scouse i don't even watch baseball very much, thanks for the heads up though.

No probs rb.

Don't worry, Scouser -- if they whitewash us, we'll hear about it!

Yeah probrably, they did last time in 06/07 so I'm hoping we'll win win this one. The 2005 series produced some fantastic games.

 

[Mike the Brit]

No probs rb.



Yeah probrably, they did last time in 06/07 so I'm hoping we'll win win this one. The 2005 series produced some fantastic games.

2005 was probably the most exciting cricket I've ever seen. I'm kind of out of touch now, spending most of my time in the U.S. and Germany, but it seems that some of the stars have gone. Ah well, time for some new ones ...

 

[Scouse Patriot]

2005 was probably the most exciting cricket I've ever seen. I'm kind of out of touch now, spending most of my time in the U.S. and Germany, but it seems that some of the stars have gone. Ah well, time for some new ones ...

I remember being at the golf club for one game in '05 and instead of playing golf most were in the bar watching the game. Sticks out because the place was pretty empty for that reason.

Alot of stars from previous series' have gone Mike, we haven't been hit as hard as the Aussies though but like you say, time for new names to step up. England have been terrible for inconsistancy, especially in their batting and it's something to improve on if we're to do anything this summer.

 

[ausbacker]

It's a good few weeks of sport coming up. Le Tour and the Ashes. 1 series win in the past 20 years Scouse, and even that was lucky.

I can't see the Poms getting close to Australia. The only definitive weakness we have is with spin. Hauritz is terrible and I hope to god he doesn't get a cap. I'd much prefer Marcus North. Johnson, Siddle, McDonald, Clark, Lee etc will be to strong for your batting line up.

4-1 or so Australia's favour.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

It's a good few weeks of sport coming up. Le Tour and the Ashes. 1 series win in the past 20 years Scouse, and even that was lucky.

I can't see the Poms getting close to Australia. The only definitive weakness we have is with spin. Hauritz is terrible and I hope to god he doesn't get a cap. I'd much prefer Marcus North. Johnson, Siddle, McDonald, Clark, Lee etc will be to strong for your batting line up.

4-1 or so Australia's favour.

Lucky my arse It'll be interesting to see just were both teams are at this time around as both teams certainly don't know. By the looks of things you lot are more interested in getting it to reverse swing rather than worring about the spin options. If we can be consistant in batting, get in, bat out and bring the ferocity we've seen in recent times from our bowlers aswell as utilise our better spin options it'll be alot closer than that. I don't think it will be a series of high class cricket though, I think there will be alot of tense games.

Out of national pride I'll tell you we're going to win but in reality that very much depends on what England turn up.

 

[ausbacker]

Lucky my arse It'll be interesting to see just were both teams are at this time around as both teams certainly don't know. By the looks of things you lot are more interested in getting it to reverse swing rather than worring about the spin options. If we can be consistant in batting, get in, bat out and bring the ferocity we've seen in recent times from our bowlers aswell as utilise our better spin options it'll be alot closer than that. I don't think it will be a series of high class cricket though, I think there will be alot of tense games.

Out of national pride I'll tell you we're going to win but in reality that very much depends on what England turn up.

You can't tell me the "gloved out" of Kasprowicz by Flintoff was out. Replies have clearly showed daylight between the ball and his glove, but it's in the record books so you can have it.

Australia mentally has it over the Poms. It seems whatever squad we send, it wouldn't matter. I rate the South Africans the best side in the world atm, and we comprehensively destroyed them on the last South African tour.

It should be an interesting match up.. that's for sure.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

You can't tell me the "gloved out" of Kasprowicz by Flintoff was out. Replies have clearly showed daylight between the ball and his glove, but it's in the record books so you can have it.

Australia mentally has it over the Poms. It seems whatever squad we send, it wouldn't matter. I rate the South Africans the best side in the world atm, and we comprehensively destroyed them on the last South African tour.

It should be an interesting match up.. that's for sure.

You mean the one from Harmison the win the 2nd test? It took a frame by frame slow mo (which I can't find anywhere for some reason) to make a conclusion and even now it's still causes debate. I personally thought it hit the handle of the bat at first...

Big news for you is Lee is out of the first test and almost certainly out the second. Lee ruled out Brett was on fire in the last warm up game.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Mmm, well, I've been out all day but the headline on the BBC says "England's last-wicket pair defy Australia for 40 minutes as England clinch a famous draw in the First Ashes Test". "Clinching a draw" = "hanging on by their fingernails".

I think we all know who played the better cricket from first ball to last in that Test (and they were without Brett Lee). If England don't raise their game this is going to be a long, hard summer.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Celebrating drawing a test we should have been beaten in is slightly pathetic. Also wasn't impressed by the time wasting antics coming from England, sending the twelth man out and then the physio only for the physio to do nothing and run right back in. Jimmy and Monty did really well for tails but it's hardly anything to be pleased about, hanging on for dear life and treating it like a victory. The attitude from the England camp needs to change big time.

My concerns pre game were perfecly highlighted, England cannot bat for sh!t. Cook was pathetic, Strauss equaly so. Bopara was scared sh!tless and looked out of his depth at three, infact out of his depth totaly. Pietersen was his usual wild self, something you can do without in a test match and Flintoff looked rusty as hell with a bat. Only man who can come of out this game with his head held high is Collingwood who was as reliable as ever, special mention to Swann who also chipped in with scores that the openers couldn't even make. England batsmen need a gigantic f'king slap and a massive wake up call if we are to even come close this series because thats the real problem. Strauss is meant to be the captain and spends more time back in the pavillion while Ricky Ponting stays at the the crease till he wants to give someone else a chance, making well into the hundreds in the process. Strauss's captaincy IMO leaves alot to be desired.

Bowling attacking is very mixed with Flintoff the only man who looked like taking wickets. I'd definatley look at droppng Broad and bringing Harmison's recent form back in. Sidebottoms lacked a bit of form recently but his attitude might have been usefull in trying to break that Aussie batting order also.

Alot to think about for England this week and quite a few of those "batsmen" have to take a serious look in the mirror and start showing they are worthy of the responsibilty they have as top order batsmen. Quite frankly they were pathetic, special mention to Cook who looked amatuer, uninterested then went and had a laugh in the stands. Amatuer is his best description after that game.

 

[ausbacker]

I was disappointed with Ponting's captaincy on the last day, especially with 11 overs to take 1 wicket odd. The general musings are, Steve Waugh leaves his captaincy skills for dead, although Ponting is the better player.

Bitterly disappointed that England were allowed to escape with the draw and the Tour is in a rest day today! Whatever am I to do tonight?

 

[Mike the Brit]

Didn't see the time wasting stuff, but have to agree. In fact, your whole post is spot on, IMHO.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Freddie takes five

This time Englands openers produce fine performances (in the first innings anyway) and the middle order collapses. Highlight for the Aussies was Clarke's batting performance to keep Australia in with a glimmer of making the total but eventualy played all around Swann's good performances thoughout the games so far.

Bowling attack really shined in this game admittedly on what turned out to be a wicket for the bowlers after the first day. Alot to forget for Ponting and his team but theres still along way to go in this series and Lee should be back for the third test..

 

[Mike the Brit]

Great result for England. The message so far: neither of these sides is great. Australia lack bowling penetration; England's middle order batting is weak. But they're well matched -- Australia slightly the stronger but England with their noses in front. On to Edgbaston!

 

[ausbacker]

Great result for England. The message so far: neither of these sides is great. Australia lack bowling penetration; England's middle order batting is weak. But they're well matched -- Australia slightly the stronger but England with their noses in front. On to Edgbaston!

Isn't that the truth. I know Ponting doesn't appear to have the bowling cattle atm, but his decision making is and has been suspect for some time.

He doesn't have the bail out twins in McGrath and Warne now.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Isn't that the truth. I know Ponting doesn't appear to have the bowling cattle atm, but his decision making is and has been suspect for some time.

He doesn't have the bail out twins in McGrath and Warne now.

Do you have particular examples in mind?