[jawfin]

So, end on day 4 - I must admit I'm sad Pup got out with only 4 balls left to survive the day; I felt he earned to bat through! This'll make the 5th day an acid test for Australia though - having to replicate what England accomplished on the 5th day at the 'Gabba.

[Melissa]

So far neither brisbane or here look like 20 wicket pitches. Sure england have some kind of chance to go one up tomorrow . But australia are not producing good test pitches. We should have never got 514-1 last test. Only australias stupidity in the first innings could mean this goes to a result.

I hope for quality of competition between bat and ball the other pitches are 20 wicket s

[jawfin]

Yea, they treat the pitches too well >.<
They are supposed to breakdown on the fifth day, that's the whole point of taking the enormous risk of batting first on a brand new pitch against a well rested bowling attack with a spanking new ball on day one!

This testmatch has been the reversal of the first match, where a draw would be considered an Australian victory even though it goes to advantage England further. Still, should make for exciting watching, one hopes; the loss of Clarkey guaranteed that!

[MasterM]

just wait untill the next superbowl or world series...ill get my revenge then XD

[jawfin]

/amblock MasterM

Well the 5th day, what a fizzle LOL. Australia collapsed like a house of cards, but without internal structural support that a card house has >.<

So if I'm reading this right now, Australia has to win at least 2 of the next 3 tests and at least draw the third, as they can't afford to lose again.

[Melissa]

Bad Luck Australia , I do think there is more to come from you this series..

I was wrong, the pitch did indeed fall away, Swann was got nearly 45 degree turn on his final wicket. Unlike Brisbane which was the reverse of a test pitch, tricky day one, still a bit tricky day 2 and the sun baked it for a great batsman paradise 3-5.

But here it was conventional 1-3 good batting, got a bit tricky on day for and not easy on day 5 at all.. What can you say though, Australia batted badly, bowled without control and fieled badly.. England the reverse.
So it is 1-0 and Australia will be hurting because to lose by an innings is a thrashing especially at home.

HOWEVER... one thing Australia can take out of it is , England did play very well and they played poorly so the only way is up and as a follower of English Cricket over the years I can assure you that a full scale England collapse and implosion is never an innings away.

And i NEVER ever write Australia off, whilst win lose or draw this series, this is probably the weakest Australian side since I was born they have just come of the back of a vintage generation. I do think the Australians have it in them to fight back.

In England last year Australia dominated the first test but we held off to a draw and won at Lords convincingly, then at Edgbaston Australia were under pressure again but this time they batted out a draw..

then at Hedingly Australia won convincingly..

The Pendulum can swing many times in a 5 test series which is why I believe the Ashes is the best cricket tournament we ever see. That is why these 2 test series in India just don't cut it.. a 5 test series can tell a story.

[MasterM]

so did you guys see that the boston red sox have signed adrian gonzalez? this will really help them with offense and defense and now that theyve moved kevin youkilis back to third they dont need adrian beltre (D: i liked beltre) so hes been released. They also signed carl crawford who is one of the best outfielders in the game to play left field so big defensive bonus there. I really hate that victor martinez was released, and now they got some guy from the rangers who is ok defensively. with the other greats on the team like Drew, Ellisbury, Ortiz, Beckett, Papelbon, Buckholz, Pedroia and Varitek back and healthy the red sox are going to be serious contenders this year!

[jawfin]

so did you guys see that the boston red sox have signed adrian gonzalez? this will really help them with offense and defense and now that theyve moved kevin youkilis back to third they dont need adrian beltre (D: i liked beltre) so hes been released. They also signed carl crawford who is one of the best outfielders in the game to play left field so big defensive bonus there. I really hate that victor martinez was released, and now they got some guy from the rangers who is ok defensively. with the other greats on the team like Drew, Ellisbury, Ortiz, Beckett, Papelbon, Buckholz, Pedroia and Varitek back and healthy the red sox are going to be serious contenders this year!

http://www.knights-reborn.org/forum/vie ... php?t=5725

[Melissa]

so did you guys see that the boston red sox have signed adrian gonzalez? this will really help them with offense and defense and now that theyve moved kevin youkilis back to third they dont need adrian beltre (D: i liked beltre) so hes been released. They also signed carl crawford who is one of the best outfielders in the game to play left field so big defensive bonus there. I really hate that victor martinez was released, and now they got some guy from the rangers who is ok defensively. with the other greats on the team like Drew, Ellisbury, Ortiz, Beckett, Papelbon, Buckholz, Pedroia and Varitek back and healthy the red sox are going to be serious contenders this year!

Serious suggestion for NFL fans

Why don't they do away with the armour and just stick to light padding under shirt?

People complain of carear threatening tackles in the game and the danger..
Get rid of the helmet and someone would think twice about trying to smash into someone with their head. and lets face it, its all a bit hairy fairy anyway.

Other thing between downs why dont they say 20 seconds to restart, it would give the game some momentum and pressure and intensity... thats the word intensity.. they play for 10 seconds and stop for 3 mins with commercials in..

Do get quite a few NFL fans over here but majority of people think its kinda a non sport.. like a half sport ruined by commercials and money..




Anyway on to the cricket..

Broad is injured for the rest of the series which is a big blow.. in a mid week game none of our other squad seamers are looking much cop which is a big worry for us.. Even strauss took a wicket .. I think Bresnan will get in though. But I am now a bit worried about our attack Good news for Australia that.. the pendulum could be coming back your way.

[jawfin]

I really do want to see Australia win the next one to keep the competition alive for the rest of the series.

[Melissa]

Yeah as much as Id obviously like us to wrap it up. THese series are much better when they go to the wire

Whats the next pitch like

Its in perth isn't it?

[MasterM]

red sox are baseball not football

[Melissa]

okay my bad Ill let baseball off! THat at least seems like a respectable sport like most of your sports.. Just your football and WWE I dont get

However on your Baseball team Rodsocks... All your players sound either Mexican or Eastern European



Don't Worry though about 3 of the English Cricket team were born in South Africa, we are terrible poachers

[MasterM]

um well yeah actually a lot of major leauge baseball players are from latin america mainly because theyre more athletic

[Melissa]

Curator is attempting to get a result on this pitch and leaving a bit of green.

This pitch favours seam and bounce rather than spin which is what Australia want.

England have only ever won once on this pitch in 11 attempts

The Bookies have Australia slight favourites for this over England but Draw still the favourite outcome.

[Melissa]

Australia on the ropes here But I don't think they are quite in trouble yet

The pitch is green and as I say for a result.. Wait until England bat then see how good / bad their total will end up..

I still think Australia will win this test

[Melissa]

Tomorrow is I think Could well be the most important day of this entire series

The pitch is still green so its still advantage to the bowlers
If Australia bend their backs put the balls in the right places early doors they could cease control of this match and then push out a lead forcing England to defend on a declining and tricky pitch..
If England push ahead with a lead and manage to get some runs ahead.. Australia may be staring down the barrel a bit.
Tomorrow is Australia’s chance to get back into the match and the entire series.

[jawfin]

I missed the first day - work was too busy!

And yet another whole innings collapses on the first day. England was wise to bowl first. I hate to make a call so early in the game, but based on comparing this to the 2 previous tests, how could they lose?

[Melissa]

Well I called Australia to win this test yesterday even mid through their innings.. And I think I am on to a correct result there.

THink will all test pitches wait till both sides bat first. This was green yesterday morning and still is now and obviously hard to bat on. In Fact Johnsons burst at the end is whats really helped Australias score because I think we wont get to 200.

The Australian ball is swinging now, ours didnt swing. So maybe we will see some swing.


Got to say though poor pitch again.. you could win this by end of day 3..

[Melissa]

I seen read we were 73/0 then 95/5.. So a proper collapes..

We have to bat last on this spicy pitch with more than likely a bit 1st innings defecit..

I cannot see us getting anywhere near a win here.. This is Australia's for the taking, honestly , shoudl be easy from here.

[jawfin]

Yup Melissa you called it! I guess it'll all be down to day 3 to see the real tell - its still half way through day 2. And as I write this M. Johnson just knocked C. Tremlett off-stump out of the ground!


Edit: All out! and a sixfer for Mitch

[Melissa]

And just short of 200... I should have gone to the bookies!!!

Day one good day for England Day 2 much better for Australia

Cannot see even any chance of any result other than Australian win here.. a few lucky wickets and a bit of sunshine maybe .. but thats streching it a bit.. this isnt a pitch where your gonna get 300 runs on

Pendulum back in Australia.. so we head to Christmas with a series on our hands!!

[Melissa]

Odd after day one a lot of people saying Aussies were finished

I have always tooted Australias ability to fight out of situations and here they are 391 run chase for England

FAir play to Australia.. England have no chance

Most ppl I speak to think we have no chance although some people think we do, which I think is laughable.. 100 runs less and maybe just maybe a sniff but 391... never!!

Good game to Australia.. thats why we love the Ashes..!!

[jawfin]

As I'm watching it now, 1 for 33 and chasing 391 Australia has to win out here. This will make the next couple of tests worth watching!!

[Melissa]

You'd liek to think so but It wont last all that long I suspect.. maybe equal our first innings.

We lost both openers and well we need to bat like its the 3rd innings not 4th

Truth be told, we just are not that good, especially with broad injured we have a long tail. The question is are Australia as bad? Yes in truth I think they are.. maybe worse.. but given this is Australia it makes it kind of equal.

I wouldnt expect either of these sides to chase down 391

I wouldnt have expected either side from 2005 Ashes which (despite I know we won) was a cracking series between the two best sides in the world and a Vintage Australian side.

Yep sadly dont expect to be watching any cricket this time tomorrow it will be over by then