[jawfin]

As this thing is more for the Commonwealth I figured there's enough here to warrant this post. How good was the first game??!?

For a quick fill-in, The Ashes are a fiercely combated cricket game between us Aussie convicts and the country of our queen. Over 100 years ago, the Australian cricket team toured the motherland and beat the poms at their own game (hehe) and one English wag burnt a bail from that game to signify the death of English cricket. Since when we've played for the right to have possession of this symbol, an irony itself that England played so hard to keep the proof their cricket is dead by winning... >.<

As it is the Brits currently have The Ashes in possession (as indicated by Melissa's signature). Its fierce, for instance need i open old wounds with a comment like *cough*bodyline*cough*. The first of 5 test matches (that being a 5 day game in itself) has just finished. It ended in a draw, which is a plus for England in that if the series is drawn they retain the Ashes.

Anyhoo, this game just gone was brilliant. Both teams played both abhorrently and awesomely - genuine skill and a few records broken. I'm not bias and celebrate the skill of both teams, I have feet in both camps, and not really in either - I just love the game.

My final thought is though that the English should of batted out the whole of the 5th day. A draw was on the cards from the start of the day, so playing it through would of demoralized the Australian team further, give the Australian selectors less to work with, tired out the Australian fielders especially the bowlers even more, and broke a few more English records. By not declaring also would of been such a huge insult and enraged the Australians that they would play angry next game and no doubt stuff up - which of course is my thought behind this strategy - focusing on the next game. But, I suppose, that's just not cricket!

[Melissa]

I am a big cricket fan, don't know many other people who are, my family certainly ain't.

I must admit after 260, I thought we were a gonner. Four years ago I'd have expected to wake up today or yesterday to find Australia knocking off a short total.

But what happened to the pitch ?? 517-1 is insane! Cook has struggled for about 18 moths to get a decent score and he gets a double ton..

I think England will benefit more from that result than Australia, especially since it looked liked Aus for the taking.. Must be very frustrating for the bowlers to bowl for 2 days with only 1 wicket.

Reminds me of Cardiff last year where Australia should have won 1st test but somehow, Monty and Anderson manage to survive for a whole hour.

Still we shall see, I do not think it is going to be easy. I think both sides match quite evenly and if there is one thing you can say about Australia is they never give up.. Pakistan, NZ, West Indies and even England are guilty for rolling over and collapsing but it is rare that you ever take a match win against Aus without a fight.

I worry more about our bowling than our batting though, if our batting is bad, it is bad.. but our bowlers like Anderson replies heavily on swing, and if you are looking at Broad well he is tall and gets a good pace but he often goes a bit mental with the accuracy. Swann however is our key man.

[Chantelle]

I dont get this sport much at all, my bf watches it though.

But how can a side get 260 out then 517 without blinking.. ? I thought it was supposed to be good to start and tricky at the end..

but surely if you can get 517 on the last day it is not a competitive game? especially if one side never even batted second??

As I say I am a bit naive and don't understand it, I don't have patience for it lol

Don't Australia always win?

[MasterM]

oh haha is this the thing they made fun of in the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy series? i dont watch cricket...i prefer american sports

[Melissa]

Believe it or not it is probably one of the top 3 or 4 sports in the world, The sub continent go crazy for it. But I can see why it is not most peoples cup of tea. A lot of English can't stand it too lol

As to answer my elder sibling well i was a weird one, the sun came out and baked the pitch just making it too good for batting, Australia were at one point potentially in danger of collapsing to a lower score of 140-5 at one point but then came the good batting conditions and bowlers never stood a chance.

A few years ago England toured WI's and out of the 4 or 5 games there only one pitch produced a result.. that is when it gets poor.


US version of Cricket is baseball.

Yeah not the biggest fan of US sports me, they don't seem to do to well outside US.. I don't mind baseball or basket ball

But for me the NFL I just cannot stomach, its like diet rugby but with a 5 minute break every 20 seconds. Now before you jump on me for that it that because of commercials (which ruin it) or is it because some of the big guys up front (blockers or whatever you call them) are unfit and need a rest?

[MasterM]

diet rugby lol...the blockers as you say (which are really called linemen) are supposed to be the biggest guys out there and most of that is muscle not fat

[nanana]

lemme just slide past ya here.
I too enjoy cricket

[Melissa]

lol well they just look very big but I suppose they are similar to props in Rugby

Anyway Jawfin come on admit it, your leaning to the Australian side?? Nobody from around that way using "Poms" is givingus support surley

What's Fridays Pitch like? I heard a rumour its a bit of a road and 20 wickets are difficult to come by??

Gabba was a bit like Lords, can be tricky on day one but a flat track day 5..

But I agree for me and many of us, Ashes means far more than any 50 or 20 over world cup.

[Lothar]

Ehem, Being a tighthead prop / second row for Bryncochs youth i highly disagree

[Melissa]

I thought props were supposed to be the strongest players on a rugby team? No doubt the modern game requires more dynamic players but they still have larger shaped guys.

I dunno Chantelles boyfriend who occasionally posted here he plays but he is a fly half.. I dunno he and she are rugby fans I not so much but occasionally watch it when he has it on around his house.

[MasterM]

the only experience i have with rugby is watching it once in ireland cause nothing else was on lol. i seem to remember some guys ear almost being torn off but maybe im wrong about that...

[Melissa]

Hmm, wouldn't have thought so. It can be very physical game but nothing like that.

[Lothar]

Yes melissa props are some of the strongest players on the team ( gloat gloat) But as evidence i suppose i could try to find you some video footage of me taking on a potential ruck and sending it flying backwards alone :-p Was quite amusing actually however ... pretty violent so beware, And by the way masterm isn't wrong, rugby can be a extremly violent game in what you DONT see, I've been stamped cut bitten punched kicked slamed and even had a good few bone related injurys in rugby, The physical side is pretty aggresive, O also had my head pile drived into the ground lol - Not as fun as it looks! Do not try at home kids! * Looks at aj * I'm serious! ( ) Anyway lets get back to the topic of cricket please

[Melissa]

Yes as I say Chantelles bf my bro in law plays it, it is a tough and rough game but ripping ears off is one thing

He always describes it to me there is a certain level of gentleman's code of do's and dont's.

Anyway with regards to the cricket I tried engaging Jawfin about it but he neigh seems bothered.

Although he thinks there is a lot of skill on both sides of this ashes series which I am not sure about.. This isn't the best English side we have some poor form in areas and it is definitely not the best of Aussie sides.

His toe is certainly in the Australian camp, I know it!

[Lothar]

Has nothing to do with him being australian does it?

At the end of the day about i'd say 70% of the time your going to root for your homeland regardless of the sport, I support wales in many sports but frankly i think we are very crap at the moment ( Especially in rugby! ) Although then again... it was the all blacks .. Moving on, At the end of the day jon is a very busy man and most likely just has not found the time to reply yet.

[Melissa]

Well he said he has feet in both camps

I think I remember somewhere one of his parents or maybe both were English.

Btw English cricket team is also Wales. They are English and Wales Cricket board. In 2005 Ashes we Had Simon Jones fast bowler who plays(ed) for Glamorgan

[Lothar]

then by all means... Go England!

[jawfin]

Sorry, didn't mean to forsake my own thread - I certainly plan to keep it flowing, especially as game 2 starts in an hour

As Melissa said, its not so much a toe in Australia's camp, its just that as I am living here I am far more acquainted with the Australian players - if I go to watch a Twenty20 or a what you would call a county game (currently here called the Ryobi cup - how I hate the commercialism) its all going to be Australian players.

So, having said that, Australia have lost a decent bowling attack, pretty much the reason why England could play all day on a 5th day wicket and not lose a wicket. Without Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Glen McGrath Australia is no longer has the unbalanced dominance that it did - thus making for all these good games recently. Really looking forwards to today's too!!

I was born in Australia, both my parents, and all relatives alive and dead are English (except my own siblings).

Last time I went to 3 days of a test match my cousin was over (English of course) and so I hung with the barmy army Some of their chants are too funny!! -and the Australian's were just boring.

[jawfin]

LOL

1st Over
Over 0.1: Anderson to Watson, no run, the first ball is right on line, and defended into the off side
Over 0.2: Anderson to Watson, no run, defends, full and straight pushes back to the bowler
Over 0.3: Anderson to Watson, no run, down the leg side this time, well wide of the pads
Over 0.4: Anderson to Watson, no run, OUT, plays to the leg side, tears off for a single - Trott moves quickly from square leg and hits the strikers end stumps and Katich is run out with out facing a ball!!! Aust one for none - what a start for England
Over 0.5: Anderson to Ponting, no run, OUT, comes forward and edges to second slip and Swann takes the catch - unbelievable - Australia 2/0!!!
Over 0.6: Anderson to Clarke, one run, works off his pads behind square leg and Australia are off the mark!

.
.

3rd Over
Over 2.1: Anderson to Clarke, no run, OUT, pushes at one outside off, edging to Swann and Australia are 3/2 -- goodness me what a start to this Test Match

3 for 2 runs, should make 10 at that rate, wtg!

http://livescores.cricket.com.au/summary_2497_2.html

[MasterM]

i didnt understand any of that but...hooray?

[Melissa]

When i woke this morning it was 190-5 . I seen hussey was approaching a ton so I thought it was going to be similar to Australias innings at Gabba. Breaking those partnerships is key. I watched a few overs and seen Swanns wickets before I went to work.

Still its a flat pitch, after winning the toss I bet Pontuing was livid with a run out.. a Run out on a very flat batting pitch in the first over of a test is unforgivable.. then he edges to second slip.

Runs are on the board and there has been some recovery but as it stands 245/9 I think is at least 155 under par. EDIT ALL OUT

But your score is only as good as the pitch and the other team that bats on it

Regardless its a good batting pitch..


Australia do miss Warne mcGrath and Brett lee.. true class bowlers in teh history of the game (IMHO Warne is better than Mularithian), That said i still think we'd have survived the last match (maybe not 9 wickets) but the pitch was just too easy on day 5


Australia should be thankful to Hussey who really saved their ass, but 1 over for England and bring on day 2. Can Australia bounce back, they never give up..

[MasterM]

*throws up hands in despair* still no idea what is going on so ill probably just stop commenting here

[jawfin]

Aye, Mr Cricket (Hussey) as he's known over here is the bomb - but how good is Haddin playing? but Australia will never have the likes of Gilchrist again - he is incomparable

Day 2 starts in less than 2 hours! Ironic how day 1 was pretty much the completely reversal of the day 1 in the previous match - a whole innings in less than a day >.<

[Chantelle]

don't worry masterM i struggle too. Cricket is far more technical than it seems.


I think in baseball terms if you can compare.. basically Australia are all out in 1st innings well below par score. England could in theory press home a big advantage here but I think the general feeling is England being England they will either do well or just collaspe and implode.

However how on earth do people bare that Ricky Ponting.. I only ever see him being a graceless git. moaning and such.

[Melissa]

Not sure how you'd compare to baseball analogy but Australia are in bug big trouble here. England will look at bat most if not all day 3 and put them to the sword..

Australia will need to do what England did at Brisbane to save them going 1-0 down here to a draw. I cant see Aus getting a 1-0 lead here, but this is test cricket.. a few quick wickets tomorrow and the game changes shape. It is why it is by far the best form of cricket

and Yes Ponting is a complete w****er, I have a lot of respect for greats like Warne etc, even some have huge Egos like Pietersen McGrath but Ponting is a moaning vile snake.