Re: Cricket
 

Seeing that we were 45-2, 263-3 is not bad at all. I think if Pietersen and Collingwood concentrate tommorow and then if Flintoff gets a good score we will be in a strong position.:tu:

Apparently they didn't play Monty because in the practice nets Pietersen was easily hitting him about for a couple of hours, which may justify Fletcher's decision not to play him, although Pietersen if very good against spin bowlers.

Re: Cricket
 

Come on England, more of the same as yesterday please :tu:

Re: Cricket
 

According to FiveLive both Warne and McGrath are carrying injuries so hopefully, seeing as they only have four bowlers, we can get a big total. :)

Re: Cricket
 

:tu:

I hope that when I wake up tomorrow that England are still batting this innings :erm:

Re: Cricket
 

I don't, i hope we get a big total then have a bowl at them towards the end of the evening session, getting a couple of wickets in the proccess.;)

(that's me being very optimistic :disturbd: )

Re: Cricket
 

And not far out either

SECOND TEST, ADELAIDE, DAY TWO
England 551-6 dec v Australia 28-1

Good stuff !!

Re: Cricket
 

Nice start to the Aussie innings Langer gone for 4, hurts me to say it but Ponting does look in awesome form after the 1st Test. Get one of these 2 out (Ponting or Hayden) and it may start to rattle their cages oh for a Monty eh??

I can't see this obsession in knocking Paul Collingwood for the way he played. He's not a Pietersen or a Flintoff but 206 against Australia in Australia isn't the sign of a bad player if you ask me. So he's not flash so what? The media nitpicking isn't necessary

Selectors have a problem now when and if Michael Vaughan comes back as to who do they drop? Answers on a postcard please to D.Graveney c/o Lords Cricket Ground

Re: Cricket
 

Great start by England, hopefully we can get Ponting out early and not let him do what Collingwood did today.:tu:

Surely we cannot loose it from this position :disturbd:

Re: Cricket
 

So that's why my other half is in such a good mood?Mind he's back in bed for a 'rest'.;)

Re: Cricket
 

2 wickets this morning so far, better stuff by England, and good to see Harmison back to some kind of form, Australia are 65 - 3.

Just need to get Ponting & Hussey out cheaply :tu:

Re: Cricket
 

Ponting dropped on 35 by Giles :mad:

I can see that coming back to haunt us :disturbd:

Re: Cricket
 

Ponting and Hussey back in the hutch get one of these 2 out (Clarke or Gilchrist) and look out.

Aussie coach said we'll get 700 and bowl England out for 150ish......yeah right

Re: Cricket
 

It looks like a draw then.
At least the display in this test was a major improvement on the first.
The only downside in both tests has to be the batting display of Alistair Cooke, and the bowling performance of Harmison who has yet to take a wicket in either test, but he looks like he has regained some of his confidence :tu:

Now I have said that, England will collapse tomorrow morning and will be all out by lunch, leaving the Aussies just over two hundred to get in the afternoon :D

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:wtf: <----- Click

I don't believe it :mad:

Re: Cricket
 

I couldn't believe it this morning.
What were they doing!? :doh:
Esp KP giving away four overthrows towards the end!

Re: Cricket
 

FFS England :mad: :mad: :mad:

129??? on a wicket like that! i don't know why i bother following this team with shoddy performances like that :(

Re: Cricket
 

Not long to go until the third test starts at the Waca.
Once again i hope they pick Panesar over Giles but i think they will stay unchanged again. Also Engalnd have only won once in ten tests at the Waca so i have little hope for this one.:(

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I echo both your views. I'm not optimistic on either counts. :sleep:

Re: Cricket
 

Ditto :disturbd:

Re: Cricket
 

Anyone know if the England team for Perth has been announced yet?

Was just wondering if Monty has been given the nod..........I am not sure if the WACA is the right ground for him though.

Re: Cricket
 

surely its besides the point if its the 'right ground' for Monty or not - can't do any worse can he... England can't win it, and that's that. So let him have a shot. It's almost as bad as when England FC refused to let Theo have a go during the world cup... :rolleyes:

---------- Post added at 02:07 ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 ----------

YAY! :D they picked Monty finally!

Re: Cricket
 

Go Monty - 4 wickets and counting :D

Re: Cricket
 

I bet Fletcher is kicking himself for not picking him for the first two tests.
Well done Monty:D

Also good to see Harmison get a couple (especially Ponting for 2):)

5 For now for Panesar!:D

---------- Post added at 08:50 ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 ----------

244 All out :D

Great bowling from Monty and Harmison, great performance :)
Hopefully we can get a few runs now and get a good lead tommorow.

Re: Cricket
 

1855: England 49-2....... hmmm can see where this is going...

Re: Cricket
 

Oooooo Warne droppin collingwood, that could be a big mistake. The selctors will be in for a torrid time now with Monty doing brilliantly so far. Wouldnt it be ironic if he manages to score double figures too!

And we will see how good or bad the aussies first innings score of 244 was by about lunchtime tomorrow I think.

Re: Cricket
 

I don't see why, the match at the Gaba was a batsman's pitch, there was no point even playing one spinner in that match, as it offers very little for them, although interestingly it is the pitch that Warne has taken most wickets on

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[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Cricket
 

If Monty can get a five for on a first day pitch, god help us on the last day against Warnie, assuming it ever gets that far.

Jim.

Re: Cricket
 

Good news, Warne only picked up one wicket.........
Bad newws 215 all out.........

Looks like 244 was quite a good score on this pitch......

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I enjoyed the innings though. Entertaining for once - it was more like one day stylee. :tu: Monty rules! :D

Re: Cricket
 

More of the same from England :(
Although Panesar deserves some credit for the wickets taken

http://www.waca.com.au/images/webcam/snap_c1.jpg

Re: Cricket
 

England seem to only play well for one innings and then do badly for the others at the moment. When we bowled the Aussies out on the first day it reminded me of the last Ashes in England but then when we batted it was nothing like how we batted back then, they all seemed to be trying to score really quickly for some reason and that ended with everyone being caught out and then we bowled terribly for the Aussies second innings. No batsman has shown any consistancy apart from Pietersen, each bowler has shown quality but there has been no consistancy aswell and compared to Australia who have played well throughout the three tests. I think it will be 3-0 by the end of the day tommorow and the ashes going back to Australia unfortunately :(

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After a good fight back, England are starting to lose wickets in the final overs of the fourth days play, 2 overs to go :disturbd: 261 for 5

Re: Cricket
 

Have faith,;) heavy rain forecast for Monday.:)

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The origin of "The Ashes"


Looks like you were right Jim & Gazzae

I just saw it as I was browsing the Lords site, so thought I would post it here

Oh, and thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow in Western Australia. But if it doesn't rain, hopefully, Pieterson and Flintoff will get 150 each by tea tomorrow to make this series much more interesting for the last two tests to attain a draw at least. It is the only way we can retain The Ashes.

Re: Cricket
 

So much for a long tail :( Maybe they'll bring back Reid for the final two? How about we clone Cook, KP & Monty :D

Re: Cricket
 

You know that post was over a year ago, what a diligent little researcher you are :D

Re: Cricket
 

You seem full of yourself today, now I wonder why that might be ;)

Re: Cricket
 

As England have pressed the self destruct button after all the hype regarding the "stolen" bowling plans from their dressing room for this test, (talk about divert the attention away for what we are actually here for)

I just noticed this on the BBC Live Commentary.........from an England Fan in Reading

:rofl:

Excellent !!!!!

Re: Cricket
 

Hopefully England can restore a little piece of self respect by avoiding a 5 - 0 whitewash.

The Final game of this Ashes series begins tonight.............Play starts 23:30 GMT

BBC Sport

Re: Cricket
 

I don't think this series has been a good advert for cricket, 'self respect' may be redefined by a draw, or even a win, but the average result says it has been too one sided........

Re: Cricket
 

Whoops, The game begins tonight :blush:

Anyway.....

I get this feeling if we are batting first, then, when I get up tomorrow we will be bowling :dozey:

And if we are bowling first, Australia will be something like 320 for 1 :(

This has been an awful series for England, who imo were unprepared, poorly coached, and are of the mindset that "Isn't it great to miss an English winter". Well, that's how it seems to me anyway

Time for major changes methinks, perhaps we should employ an Aussie coach :Yikes:

---------- Post added at 22:39 ---------- Previous post was at 22:38 ----------

Spot on Gaz.........see above ^

Re: Cricket
 

What like Troy Cooley ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Why not !!!!!!

He left in Dec 2005, I seem to remember we won the ashes that year.

Source

Re: Cricket
 

He left because the ECB 'hesitated' in offering him a new deal, I read a Guardian sports writers blog quite a while ago that was quite scathing in criticism, that he was allowed to leave, I had a look for it for you, without luck

Re: Cricket
 

Whitewash not far away now.

Hey, why is the cricket team called England? Surely it would better known as the "Pre-1922 British Empire", seeing as how they have players from India, Ireland and Rhodesia?

Re: Cricket
 

Because it's based in England and represents the people of England and Wales, it makes no difference to me where the players come from as long as the eligibility requirements have been met

ps 234-4 isn't a bad start imo

Re: Cricket
 

Wouldn't it be more competitive if they just dissolved the England team, and had a World XI play Australia?

And while they're at it, only a World XV should be allowed to play the All-Blacks.

Re: Cricket
 

It all seems a bit of a forlorn gesture now as England try and restore a little piece of pride, but what the heck.....
After the first day of the final test in this Ashes series in Sydney.......

Let's hope they can restore some pride with a respectable first innings total, lets say 500? haha.....then bowl the aussies out for about 180 :D, well I can only dream I suppose.
I am of the assumption that England were ill prepared for this series to retain The Ashes. Cooley's exit didn't help matters, no doubt that would be the fault of the "Old School Tie Brigade" sitting in the "Long Room" with a sherry or two. :rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

England did actually beat them in 2005 2-1 and when McGrath and Warne retire after this test is should get a little bit more competitive.... hopefully :disturbd:

They did actually do that a couple of years ago i think and the World XI still lost, probably because they didn't have much time to practice together.

Link They lost 3-0 :rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

There was also a one off test that Australia won.

The only World XI players to do any good were Flintoff, Pietersen and Harmison as they came into this series straight after the 2005 Ashes win.

The other World XI players were coming in after their close seasons.

Re: Cricket
 

I was going to stay up and listen to TMS for a couple of hours, alas, it would seem I might be in bed prior to midnight .... FIFTH TEST, SYDNEY, DAY FOUR - England 291 and 122-8 v Australia 393

Australia are a fantastic cricketing side without a doubt.

Re: Cricket
 

Well just on my way to work and the not unexpected whitewash has happened. Australia are one of the best sides I've had the pleasure of watching for a few years and compare well to the Windies sides of the 80's with Sir Viv in his prime.

England? what can you say? nothing really and are there any better players out there to take their places. I don't think so Vaughan,Jones and co will come back but the big mistake I think was making Flintoff captain.

Strauss made a good job of it during the summer and must have felt a bit miffed to see it given to Flintoff. I think Strauss would have stood up to Fletcher a bit more in team selection as regards Monty over Giles and Read over Jones. Read can't be blamed too much having no practice before hand and then be expected to save the day in the Fourth test

I think they rested on their laurels a bit after 2005 which tends to be a British trait for some reason e.g. Wales after the 1987 rugby world cup,England after winning it in 2003. I think losing Troy Cooley was a bigger blow than Fletcher would admit to and just down to the fact he wanted a 2 year deal rather than a one year he was being offered

Re: Cricket
 

I think that late 70's early 80's Windies side would trounce todays Aussie side with plenty left over in the tank.
To see an opening pair of Desmond Haynes & Gordon Greenidge was enough to make any opposing side gulp with fear, then if you get lucky and get one of them out, Viv Richards makes his way to the wicket, only to be followed by Clive Lloyd.....dear oh dear, how I would love to see the likes of those players again.

For me the Flintoff captaincy resembles the Botham captaincy, both good cricketers, but are just not up for the job...get Vaughn back !!!

Agreed :tu:

Re: Cricket
 

See they all make out Warne is the greatest player ever but Gary Sobers was and always will be the greatest for me as he could bat and bowl and not just offspin he could bowl leggies and medium pace


Warne is the greatest bowler ever and has been a pleasure to watch the infamous "Gatting" ball as one example but greatest cricketer it's Sobers every time for me

Re: Cricket
 

I agree and if their batting line up wasn't enough you had bowlers like Marshall and Holding trying to take your head off, quite fearsome

---------- Post added at 15:20 ---------- Previous post was at 14:47 ----------

Not only could he bat and bowl with the best of them, he was also a great fielder, a true all rounder in every sense :tu:, although if I had to choose a favourite I think I'd go with Richard Hadlee and that's not to say I think he is better, it's just that I saw more of him

Re: Cricket
 

Vaughn has regained the captaincy for the one day matches for the England side on tour......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/6236559.stm

I am not sure if he will pull them round after such a devastating "Ashes" whitewash, but I think it is time for the England squad to try and regain some semblance of pride.


Commonwealth Bank Series
January
12 ODI v Australia, Melbourne (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
16 ODI v New Zealand, Hobart
Play starts 2300 GMT (15 Jan)
19 ODI v Australia, Brisbane (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
23 ODI v New Zealand, Adelaide (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
26 ODI v Australia, Adelaide (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
30 ODI v New Zealand, Perth (d/n)
Play starts 0530 GMT
February
2 ODI v Australia, Sydney (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
6 ODI v New Zealand, Brisbane (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
9 1st final, Melbourne (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
11 2nd final, Sydney (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT
13 3rd final (if needed), Brisbane (d/n)
Play starts 0315 GMT

Link

---------- Post added at 00:23 ---------- Previous post was at 00:02 ----------

Also Roberts and Joel Garner :disturbd:

Garner at 6ft 8ins was also awesome, imagine fending off deliveries coming at you from a height of (at the point of delivery) 3 to 3.5 metres at fast pace :disturbd: and a bouncer at that.........

Wiki

Re: Cricket
 

New brand of Aussie paint.:(

Re: Cricket
 

And now to make matters worse, KP's going home with a broken rib :( None of the replacements mentioned are going to step into his shoes.

Re: Cricket
 

At least it's not just us getting a good thrashing from the Aussies - Link

The games between England and New Zealand should be good, as we will actually have a chance of winning :)

Re: Cricket
 

:Yikes: England actually win a game - Link

Flintoff seemed to be very lucky when he was caught out but it was given as a no ball, but thats the first bit of luck we have had on the whole tour so i think we deserved it. :)

Re: Cricket
 

Hopefully a platform for better things ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Latest in the one day match....

England all out 155 :disturbd:

Australia 48 for 4 after 13 overs :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/6274103.stm

Re: Cricket
 

England batted poorly which is what let them down as the bowling was very good. I'm glad they gave Loye a chance and he did well.

After watching the replay i still think Hussey should have been given out and he should have walked imo. It probably would have changed the game and given England a very good chance of winning.

Link

I thought in cricket that was seen as bad sportsmanship?

Re: Cricket
 

It is, the times are changing though, what a pity :(

Re: Cricket
 

We were just talking about this. Can you always tell if you've knicked the ball tho? A few times when playing cricket, the bowler and fielders have appealed for a caught behind. I've not walked because I genuinely was not sure if I had edged it or not so have waited for the umpire to say yes. Im not saying Hussey didnt know he knicked it, but couldnt we have the 3rd umpire consulted for this, as they do when a catch is in doubt?

Re: Cricket
 

3rd umpire can currently only be used when the on field umpires are unsighted or are unsure in respect of catches carrying, or bump balls.

AIUI, the umpire can hear the stump mic through his earpiece so should be able to tell if the player has nicked the ball.

Re: Cricket
 

I agree, but Hussey is saying that he never walks, even when he knows he edged it. So basically he hopes the umpire makes a mistake which in my opinion is cheating, he knows he's out but tries to hide it and hopes the umpire makes the wrong decision. Paul Collingwood did the right thing in the match today when he walked before the umpire gave him out when he edged the ball and thats how it should be. I think that most of the time cricketers know when they have edged a shot and reading between the lines of Hussey's interview he knew he edged it, therefore in my opinion cheated.

I don't think that video replays always give a definitive answer for edges because sometimes things such as the batsman hitting his pad or the ground can make noises at the same time the ball passes the bat therefore it's difficult to tell if there's a small edge. It's probably better for the umpire to make the decision.

Re: Cricket
 

Sad to have to say it but you are wrong. There is nothing at all in the rules of cricket that says "you must walk" so Hussey was guilty of bad sportsmanship and nothing more. Cheating is breaking the rules, something he did not do. Lets be honest, this is just straw clutching, we are crap ATM and did not deserve to win, simple as that.:(

Jim.

Re: Cricket
 

I don't think I'd ever walk, based on the argument that Hussey used. Sometimes you're given out when you know you're not. Balances out I say.

Re: Cricket
 

If I know I am out, I will walk ;) :D

Re: Cricket
 

When some one advocates 'walking', I use the reverse argument.

"If the umpire gives a batsman out, caught behind, but the batsman knows he hasn't nicked it, would he be right to stand his ground?"

Re: Cricket
 

Have you never heard of the phrase 'it's not cricket', he should have walked, end of, having said that though WG Grace never walked and if it was good enough for the great man, then who knows? I'd have walked though ;)

'WG bullied umpires unmercifully and never believed he was out unless the bowler made the middle stump turn a somersault'

Re: Cricket
 

Farcical England march on :rolleyes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...rd/default.stm

Re: Cricket
 

[QUOTE=yesman;34206596]Farcical England march on :rolleyes:

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, I know Australia are a good team but... words fail me.

DW

Re: Cricket
 

They really don't like Fridays :( (or Tuesdays :( ).

At this rate they'll be out for under 100 next week.

Of course it'll all be different in the Carib ;)

Re: Cricket
 

I don't think they like any days, especially in Australia.

If they cannot bat for 50 overs when they are batting first, which they haven't in the past few games, they don't deserve to win, that's the one thing they must do if they want to stand any chance of reaching the super 8's in the Caribbean. Hopefully it's just a loss of confidence playing against the worlds best so many times in a short period and that they can regain the confidence and put a respectful performance in at the World cup.

Re: Cricket
 

England have beaten Australia :Yikes:

By 92 runs :Yikes:

I'm speechless :rofl:

Link

Re: Cricket
 

I was able to watch the end at work.
Great stuff, for a change :D

Re: Cricket
 

too little too late!!!!

Re: Cricket
 

We are in the final then

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/6281543.stm

Re: Cricket
 

I wonder what the betting odds are on an England win?

Maybe the bookies have paid out on an Aussie victory already :)

I suppose we are in with a shout though, which will probably be "catch it" as another aussie boundary goes sailing by. :rolleyes:

Re: Cricket
 

Ye of little faith.

Colly did us proud today, with a little help from McGrath :D Glad I'm not invited to his party tonight - 0 runs, 0 wickets and a dropped catch - what a birthday ;)

Even if we lose the other two, at least we've restored some pride over the last three matches. :)

Re: Cricket
 

You forgot the ball, thrown in to the bowlers end that hit him on the head, now that was funny.:D

Jim.

Re: Cricket
 

Which is likely ;)

Re: Cricket
 

SECOND ONE-DAY SERIES FINAL, SYDNEY:

England 246 - 8 (50 Overs)

Australia 40 - 4 after 7 Overs

What's going on :)

Re: Cricket
 

63 - 5 now :)

It's a plan by England - Make everyone think your rubbish, lose game after game, then play properly for the last few games, get in the final and win ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Rain is imminent though :( so it may go to the third match. If rain does stop the play I think it goes to the third match

Re: Cricket
 

Good grief :cleader: :cleader: :cleader:

Re: Cricket
 

england win!!!:) india lose!!!:(

bah... oh well:o:

Re: Cricket
 

Never mind, maybe you will do better in the World Cup?

Re: Cricket
 

You know we were 200-1 to win this competition about a week ago :Yikes:

Re: Cricket
 

Dang - could have made some money there :(

Winning the one days at least restores some pride, but we shouldn't get to carried away yet over the World Cup.
Liked the tabloid back page which said 'my trophy's bigger than yours' (comparing the Ashes urn with the CB trophy) :D

Re: Cricket
 

Well, I knew the Aussies were bad losers, but really ! :erm:

Ricky Ponting, and three team mates, anyone. ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Shame they didn't have their bats with them :disturbd:

He had been in the hotel bar toasting England's Commonwealth Bank Series triumph with batsman Andrew Strauss, coaching staff members Matthew Maynard, Kevin Shine and Mark Garaway and head of security Reg Dickason.

Good to see security was doing their job :erm:

Re: Cricket
 

The World Cup squad

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/6357695.stm

Re: Cricket
 

I would have had Loye in instead of Bopara, but otherwise it was what i expected. I just hope Vaughn manages to get a run of games and not get injured each time he plays as what seems to be happening all the time at the moment.

Re: Cricket
 

Yes his record with both bat and ball is 'ordinary' to say the least

Re: Cricket
 

Well, I never would have believed it :erm:

Link

Well done to the "Blackcaps"

Latest ODI rankings Notice Englands position :disturbd:

Re: Cricket
 

I've watched a bit of South Africa's latest one day series against Pakistan and they do look very good at the moment and probably deserve to be top with Australia's poor form of late.

It's interesting to see that the rankings are very close between 3rd and 8th position, should make for a very good World cup next month.