Re: Cricket
 

265 for 7 - just need to get Ponting out !!!!

Re: Cricket
 

Forget Ponting - just need Warne, Lee & McGrath ;)

Re: Cricket
 

true - but ponting would just demoralise the remainder completely ....

Re: Cricket
 

Bowlers are tired so it a draw or a win for Australia.

Re: Cricket
 

Aaarrrghhh - sooo close :(

Re: Cricket
 

It is not sufficient for the Australians not to reach the target as a game of cricket requires two innings for each side (ignoring, for the moment, the "follow on" rule).

This means that, to win, England would have to dismiss all the Australian batsmen and, for the Australians to win, they would have to achieve the total England have set for them.

If neither of these happen then the game is a draw as happened today.

The "follow on" can be enforced when the team that bats second has not managed to get a score at least 200 runs below the team that went first (in a five day game), in which case they can be made to bat again.

As to today's game...!!!

Damn, that was seriously stressful, but it, regrettably proves that whilst England are a lot better than they have been in recent years, they're *still* not quite good enough.

Australia once again demonstrated that they have the ability to bat practically right down the order wheras England have demonstrated that they can't quite keep it together when it gets to the crunch, with dropped catches and wayward bowling :(
__________________

The thing was, "leg theory" wasn't something new, IIRC it had been around for some years already, but it was the first time it had really come to international prominence.

Re: Cricket
 

What he said^^^^^ explained so eloquently. :tu: :D

Re: Cricket
 

Yeah it was those Australian pussies who moaned loudly about it. I mean, really, what's a few cracked skulls between colonial friends. ;).

Re: Cricket
 

England have one the toss and are going to bat, with McGrath out and newboy Tait in the side :) Let's hope Tres & Strauss can profit from facing Tait and Kasprowiz.

Re: Cricket
 

Good start, Strauss a little unlucky but over 100 for 1st wicket is nice.:D

Re: Cricket
 

England 477 ao. Quick tea then knock over three or four before the close, that will do nicely.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Way hey 21 for 2. :D :D

[Edit} make that 22 for 3

Re: Cricket
 

99 for 5 :D goodnight Aussies.

Re: Cricket
 

Fantastic, England team without doubt are the quality team. A very enjoyable day's play. Looks as if the Aussies are in pieces.

;)

Re: Cricket
 

guys just retuened an hour ago from trent beidge having watched it..
Im pleased with g.jones/flintoff...especially flintoff as he should now is no longer known as a slogger but a batsman.

Re: Cricket
 

Aussies following on and 14-0 at the moment as they go off for lunch, 245 behind. Good work England

Re: Cricket
 

Just get hayden out 1st thing after lunch and we're rollin.

I take my hat off to brett lee though.
We r doing well, especially with Harmison out of form.

Re: Cricket
 

Don't forget your News of the world tomorrow, great test matches of the past DVD.

Re: Cricket
 

BUGGER! Sat here with a freeview connection on my PC but the live coverage is available on filmfour :(

Re: Cricket
 

There is coverage on Ch4 but it interrupted by racing from time to time.

Re: Cricket
 

I know. Scarlet invader 25-1 and i couldn't give a monkeys :(
__________________

PMSOL! NTL broadband handicap. How i wish beaver patrol would have won followed closely by marijuana ;)

Re: Cricket
 

What a shame :D

Re: Cricket
 

At least with Sky sports they won't suddenly shift the game to Film 4, frankly Channel 4 deserve a kick for treating viewers in this way.



:Yikes:
__________________

I'll give it a mis, as N.O.W. is near porno waste paper anyway, not worth it, DVD or no DVD!


:shocked:

Re: Cricket
 

11 to win atm acording to the BBC site.

Re: Cricket
 

10 now, going to the wire. :Yikes:

Re: Cricket
 

10 to win, 7 wickets down & Warne & Lee bowling out of their skins - it is a bit tense ;)

Re: Cricket
 

Cricket I'd rather watch paint dry under water without SCUBA gear:disturbd:

Re: Cricket
 

2 to win .......
__________________

and it's a winner :)

:cleader: :cleader:

Re: Cricket
 

yay - 2:1 up in the series - we are still in with a chance of the Ashes, well done to Australia for making such a fight of it :tu:

Re: Cricket
 

Absolutely terrific win, Hoggie & Giles saved our day.

Clearly the last & 5th test at the Oval is going to be thrilling.


;)

Re: Cricket
 

just a question what are the ashes

i dont mean the comp but the actual ashes please :confused:

Re: Cricket
 

wikipedia is the source of all things good... :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes

Re: Cricket
 

the ashes are the cricket stumps from some England Aussie game years ago

Re: Cricket
 

urn said to contain the burnt bails from a game played in 1882 at The Oval.

thank you :D

Re: Cricket
 

The remains of the wickets from the 1st test match between Aus and England, they were burnt after the match i believe.

Re: Cricket
 

good game good game! cut it a bit too close for my liking though! found a nice little link.
http://www.viralbank.com/popeye.wmv

a fair comparison?

Re: Cricket
 

:monkey: Not strictly true. it is rumoured that burnt bails are in the urn but it has never been confirmed.
http://www.abcofcricket.com/A_Legend.../the_birth.htm

After that mock obituary appeared in the Times some ladies allegedly burnt bails and placed them in a small urn which was presented to the England captain, I think his name was the Hon.Hugo Bligh a relation of the infamous Captain Bligh of the Bounty.

Re: Cricket
 

Roll on the 8th September.

Re: Cricket
 

correction, it was the Honourable Ivor Bligh, captain of England

Re: Cricket
 

oh i hope the weather doesn't prevent a decent game

the Oval will suit Brett Lee, Shane Warne - and McGrath if he can return - game on ;)

Re: Cricket
 

? ? ? i dont get it... anybody care to explain?

Re: Cricket
 

Freddie is well known for drinking Red Bull, he says it gives him added strength.

and Popeye , well anyone of a certain age will know what his spinach does for him.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Ashley Giles contributed a good column in The Guardian today illustrating the tension in the team as Shane Warne was getting wickets. Gilo's description of his innings with Hoggie is marvellous: :Yikes:

Then came the chip to midwicket


:)

Re: Cricket
 

This bit says it all.

to damn right fans aswell.

Re: Cricket
 

I really hope that simon jones is ready for the oval

as you noticed we struggled without him when bowling out the aussies 2nd time at trent bridge.

We gotta play well at the oval..plat pitch but a bit of swing for hoggard, but they have mcgrath back..eeekk!!!!

Re: Cricket
 

Agreed, ;) a lot of attention gets focused on Freddie of course he is a marvellous cricketer, but then the rest of the team is equally deserving, all of the batsmen can get over a hundred, Strauss on a good day, Trescothick, Vaughan, Pieterson a least five could achieve centuries plus. The bowlers have good and bad days but they each have in the past performed well: Giles, Simon Jones, Hoggard, Freddie, Harmison they can get wickets. The Australians have been lucky so far as the last Test might see them really getting thrashed. ;)

The Aussies are short of quality bowlers, Shane Warne is the best, our guys must hang in there, not be sloggers, be careful and wear the bowlers down with a long innings.

:)

Re: Cricket
 

It will be an interesting 5th test. I do think some papers are being a bit hasty. Beware of the wounded animal as they say.

Re: Cricket
 

very true and jones does have 9 days to recover...

i also hope they dont change the team....dont change a winning team i say..
they have developed team spirit..even though our wikie may miss a few chances, he is worth it for the runs he scores. the other wikie we have, chris read might be better behind the stumps but in front of them he isnt much cop.

Ian bell is unlucky he is a good batsman, he is just inexperienced, so ge often goes for shots before he is "in" or focused.

Re: Cricket
 

I agree with going for the team spirit & hope Jones will be fit - another thing about Ian Bell is that he is is one of the best close fielders I have seen for ages :)

Re: Cricket
 

Just to add my comments:

Firstly *blimey* was that an absolutely nail biter or what...?! :Yikes:

Secondly, however, even if (and hopefully we will!) we win the Ashes, I think what this series has demonstrated is that the England team *still* don't hold up well under pressure.

Consider:

1) Australia need to bat out the day and not lose all their wickets - They do so with dogged determination despite some very hostile treatment.

2) England need just over a hundred runs to win, they've got 10 wickets in hand, plenty of time and what happens? They fall to pieces and, frankly, barely scrape home.

The Aussies simply *DO NOT QUIT*, they will fight tooth and nail for every run, every wicket and take every chance open to them, but the English go to pieces.

IMO (and speaking *as* an Englishman!) for sheer determination, the Australians deserve to keep the Ashes.

Re: Cricket
 

But we've clearly got the better team, which should count for something. The Aussies, technically speaking, are outgunned with bat and ball. A few more catches on our side and we'd have the urn in the bag. Sometimes you really miss Graham Thorpe.

Mind you, I was wondering the other day which members of both squads have seen their reputation increase, and only came up with S. Jones, Flintoff and Lee. At best the others have either performed much as expected (Trescothick, Hoggard, Giles) or underperformed (Harmison, Bell and the entire Aussie upper batting order :) ).

Agree that S. Jones has gone from fourth bowler to key man - we all knew Flintoff had *it*, but Jones the Bowler is gonna be missed if he isn't fit.

Re: Cricket
 

the problem with chasing a low score as we did was that allthe batsmen thought-

"oh, its ok if i get out for a small no of runs, its such a low total someone else can score"

Yes i totally agree, Ian bell is a brave and excellent close fielder, and he also had two useful spells with the ball two!

Re: Cricket
 

You could be done for treason ya know :shocked:

Lets hope it rains for 2 weeks starting now :D

Re: Cricket
 

There is one team that has a recent history of struggling with a low score, last innings run chase, that team is................Australia:)

That said Graham mkaes some valid points.
England should have already won the Ashes, they should be 3-1 up by now but they could just as easily be 3-0 down.
England got well beaten at Lords,and there was no way they could lose the Old Trafford test but they should have won it. They almost lost both the two tests that they eventually did win, five days rain still represents their best chance.;)

Re: Cricket
 

Jim, what do you think about Pontings moan about England using top class 12th men ?

Are England employing the use of ungentlemanly conduct, or is he just whinging ?

Re: Cricket
 

He is whinging, but he has a valid point, or he would have if Dennis Lillee amongst others had not gone off for a towel down on numerous occasions towards the end of his career. At one time the opposition captain could object to the placing of a substitute fielder, but the rule was changed years ago, Engand are bending, but not breaking the rules, which I suppose you could construe as ungentlemanly conduct, but then so is sledging, and we all know who are the masters at that.:)

Re: Cricket
 

Quite - mouthing off at the balcony like that isn't particularly gentlemanly, if the lipreading I've seen is accurate.

England were in a pretty good position in that the sub who ran him out was on for someone with a genuine injury, and I'd like to see the Whinging Pont try and argue that Simon Jones should have been hobbling around the outfield instead of going for a scan (after the morning's session he should have been damn glad to see the back of him, I'd have thought).

Anyway, Clarke was absent for most of the last Test and I don't recall England complaining.

They call us Whinging Poms, but it's yet another sport we invented where for the real professionals you have to tip your hat to the Aussies.

Re: Cricket
 

quite funny tho...

for our replacement s.jones at the last test we called in the fielding coach!!!! lol

It was quite a laugh seeing all our quick bowlers going off on a rotation lol..

Re: Cricket
 

See reprot from Cricinfo;

Crickinfo

Ponting admits: "It's within the rules of the game" then goes on to say: "but it's just not within the spirit of the game, which is what we're all trying to uphold."

So he agrees it's within the rules, but it's nor in the spirit of the game; "Glenn McGrath, who had to sit out the match with an elbow injury, backed his captain. "The only time you should go off during a Test match is obviously if you need to go off for an injury or pop off for a quick toilet break. That's it. Test cricket to us is played by the guys who are in the team. If you are not fit enough or you are looking at ways to keep your players fresh, I think that's not quite in the spirit of the game. As a player myself, I'd keep playing. You would have to drag me off the field."

Ponting claims that as the Tests are in England, Vaughan can pull in the best talent from anywhere in he country he sees that as not in the spirit of the game.

He is a whinger for sure, he himself was reported to have abused the members on leaving the field he always complains, but maybe he has a point in regard to the spirit of the game and if that is so when it's Australia's turn in the years to come maybe they can do the same thing, maybe they have in the past?

In the end it's the umpires who have to monitor changes in the field via the team captains and it is they who need to interpret events.

Re: Cricket
 

good article here

on the subject.

This passage in particular.

'Ponting believes the game should be played by the men selected for the match. If one side uses home advantage to call up slick substitutes, that tilts the playing field in their favour. But home advantage has always been a factor in cricket, as in any sport. As former captain Steve Waugh said at the weekend, Australia have not been averse to using the odd supersub in their own back yard.'

Re: Cricket
 

Good find !!

The key paragraph in that report has to be this one for me..

__________________

So thats why he stayed there ;)

Good Ol' Geoff

Link

Re: Cricket
 

Well spotted, a very helpful article.



;)

Re: Cricket
 

Apparently, two tickets for the Oval have been sold on E Bay for over £1200 :Yikes:

A few people are doing a 'Wimbledon' one developer who has a recently finished block of eight apartments is renting them out for the week of the 5th test. The one with the best view was offered at £20,000 for a week and has already attracted a bid of £23,000 .

Re: Cricket
 

sounds like that lager advert :)

Re: Cricket
 

To be honest, rather than pay £1.200 for tickets for one day, £20,000 over the full five days is a bargain, apparently the balcony can fit 20 people in comfort, split 20 ways over 5 days, £200 per person per day, well worth it.:D

Re: Cricket
 

I think he's thinking "damn, why didn't *we* do that...?!"

The 12th man isn't just a dogsbody for bringing on drinks or new gloves and bats etc, he has to be able to step in for virtually any fielding position and do that job as well as whoever's off the field.
__________________

Except that I don't think we *do* have the better team and the Aussies can bat virtually all the way down the order, not to mention fielding one of (if not the) greatest spinners of all time and several other highly competant bowlers.

Re: Cricket
 

I think you are correct to counsel caution, Graham, given decent weather, whoever gets to bat first on a traditionally flat and hard wicket, will have a distinct advantage, for a start.

- but later when it starts to wear, Warne may be able to work his magic...

- and we still don't know if McGrath will be fit.....

Re: Cricket
 

Well we know who the presures on and it's not Vaughan. :D

Re: Cricket
 

thats true, Roy, but we are in danger of underestimating them - they can still retain the Ashes with a win. No-one wants them to go away without that jar, more than me, believe me - but they won't give it away without a fight ;)

Re: Cricket
 

They can't bat at the top of it, though, which is one thing. If Brett Lee and Shane Warne are regularly among your top scorers you are in trouble.

The team is more than just the members of it (and several of those are among the best ever, when on form). It's the spirit of the Australian team that looks a lot weaker than ours - Ponting's whinges are, IMHO, the public tip of a bit of internecine warfare - apparently him and Warne aren't getting on, amongst others.

It's certainly not in the bag yet, but the Australian batting has got to be about 100% better if they're going to get scores in the 400s as England now do regularly. All those guys with batting averages in the 40s-50s who are going for 20-30 at the moment need to start scoring if they're to have a chance. And if it all goes titsup we bring Hoggard on to block everything and get the crowd to do a rain dance :)

Re: Cricket
 

exactly,

taking an example-Hayden.
His batting is a joke. we always get him out for <20

Re: Cricket
 

True, but there again, we've seen Trescothick and Strauss going for low scores too at times and Vaughn's been a bit ropey at times.

I don't care what they do off the pitch, it's what's on the pitch that matters and there the Aussies have the advantage.

Yes, England have had some good scores, but they've also had some abysmal ones and they can't afford those.

Were we talking about Australia or England...?!

Re: Cricket
 

Australia - their average upper order man has been making about 20 runs lower than usual, which counts for something.

Trescothick's done fine, Strauss and Vaughan both have Ashes centuries (and some single-figure nightmares) to their name, which only Ponting has in the Aussie batting order this series. Add in Flintoff's 102 and England have three out of four centuries.

England players have made 15 50s, Australia have made 10.

Englands batting top seven have all got at least one fifty and most of them have two or more (only Strauss and Jones have a single big score). Hayden hasn't got one, neither has Gilchrist, Martyn's got just one...

England have scored 400+ in an innings three times, Australia none (although they've got some very high second innings scores).

Re: Cricket
 

Just received the lunch menu from the Oval.

























Drinks

Bitter Or Selection of Australian Whines.


:D

Re: Cricket
 

I am trying to google references to the oval wicket

- my memory says flat/hard for 2 days starts to wear on the 3rd day and is vulnerable to intelligent spin bowling, from then on....

If it is more a seamers, than a swingers, wicket for those first 2 days - who could replace Jones, for example ??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cric...nd/4201682.stm

my choice would be Caddick, for the experience...

Re: Cricket
 

It looks like those poor Aussie bowlers got a bit of a thrashing today by Essex - BBC :)

They seemed to have a pretty strong side, the Aussies, but you don't know how much to belive scores like these on warm up matches, but looks promising for England. :)

Re: Cricket
 

yeh who do u think should replace jones?

personally i either think caddick or darrren gough.

Or maybe tremlett, judging on his good perfomance in the C&G final today

Re: Cricket
 

I would say Collingwood personally, mainly because he adds depth to the batting line up and is also a good bowler.

Seeing that England only need to get a draw, an extra batsman may not be such a bad idea. He also played well in some of the one day Internationals against the Aussies.

I think Gough and Caddick are a bit old know and will find it tough playing at the intensity the other matches were played at. I think Tremlett is too inexperianced at such a high level and may find it difficult under the huge pressure of the match next week.

Re: Cricket
 

2 wickets for 48 runs against lower order batsmen throwing the bat is a bit different from a test match, even against this current Aussie sides batting.
"You got to know when to hold em"................I would go for Collinwood, he would also be more likely to pouch the dollies that KP keeps dropping.:)


With apologies to Kenny Rogers.;)

Re: Cricket
 

Anderson & Collingwood in. :tu:

Re: Cricket
 

Good decision by the selectors :tu:

I think Tremlett would have been too inexperianced for such a huge game and i am sure that Collingwood will play if Jones is injured, which hopefully will not be the case. :)

Re: Cricket
 

yeh

if collingwood plays, we will just play for a draw prob as he can bat for a day or so lol

Re: Cricket
 

I don't disagree with the selection, but heaven forbid we will 'play for a draw' - we have to play to win, in my opinion. The Aussies can still beat us, especially if our approach is negative ;)

Re: Cricket
 

thats what i think..

but in my experience england always plays better with 5 good bowlers..
although lol, ian bell aint bad lol.
Yeh i reckon we should take anderson if jones is unfit.
Mcgrath is fit though, damn it lol

Re: Cricket
 

Just heard on the news that about 1500 people have puchased tickets for the game at The Oval via the internet, they will be refused entry.
They did say why, but my phone went so I missed it.
I hope you are not one of them

Simon Jones Is Not Playing At The Oval
 

"England's Simon Jones will miss the final Ashes Test after failing a fitness check on an injured right ankle which had developed a bony growth. England's Simon Jones will miss the final Ashes Test after failing a fitness check on an injured right ankle which had developed a bony growth. England's Simon Jones will miss the final Ashes Test after failing a fitness check on an injured right ankle which had developed a bony growth."

What a shame

Re: Cricket
 

In that case, imo, it has to be Collingwood.

The match will almost certainly be rain affected (Fri & Sat BBC forecast shows 'heavy showers') and Australia will want to bat for 500+ and bowl England out twice to win. With an extra batsman we will hopefully be able to bat for at least a day in our first innings and frustrate the Aussies.

Re: Cricket
 

Not long to go now.........
Winning the toss is going to be vital for either side come Thursday morning, if the Aussies get to bat first, England will have their work cut out imo, the Aussies have to win, so if they bat first, obviously a big score will be thier main aim.

Warne has already said that he will not feature in another Ashes series which I think is in 2009, so he will want to leave his mark at the Oval.

This is the biggest sporting event that has happened in this country for some time.

I am starting to get the jitters already.

Come on England !!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't give us another nailbiter please, I don't think I could stand it.

Re: Cricket
 

I have a bet with a mate.
Does anyone know what the ashes are?

Re: Cricket
 

England lost to the Aussies in 1892, a newpaper printed an obituary for English cricket. The next time England played Australia they won, the Aussies presented them a small trophy containing the Ashes of a burnt bail.

Re: Cricket
 

What the hell have you bet.

Actually, scratch that - what the hell did you think they were?

Re: Cricket
 

I thought I read in The Sun it was a ball. Looks like I lost the bet......:(

Bail Ball

You can see where I went wrong.
Gentleman bet lucky.

Re: Cricket
 

Ah well, I hope you haven't lost a lot.

Anyway, if you ever need to know again, just remember that it's a lot more polite to scratch your bails in public :D

Re: Cricket
 

Some people say it was a ball others say it was a veil.

Re: Cricket
 

:rofl:
__________________

So it could have been a ball? No one knows?

Re: Cricket
 

Yep it could be.

Or a Veil..

Re: Cricket
 

According to Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashes_series - the urn contains the bails of the infamous defeat in 1882.

However - the prize is actually a waterford Crystal trophy, and the Urn itself is in the museum at lords, and has been for some time..

So depending on the wording of your bet - you may have a get-out clause, as the prize is neither ball nor bails, but a crystal trophy.

Re: Cricket
 

The post from gazzae is as near to the truth as possible, no one has actually had the remains examined but they are very unlikely to be the bails from the Oval match that England lost in 1882.

Re: Cricket
 

Good Luck England !!!!!!!

Re: Cricket
 

Collinwood in, right decision, now win the toss Mikey.
__________________

The Gods are with us, England win the toss, and will bat. :)