England set off to Australia to retain Ashes tonight.

OK Mark - I consider that a bet. If England win, it'll be a pint on me!

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
OK Mark - I consider that a bet. If England win, it'll be a pint on me!

Jon

You're on. But being a typical pessimist you're just after a safety net.

If England win, you're happy. If they lose you can say, "Just as I thought."

Me. I'm fronting-up with some ridiculously over optimistic bravado!

Mark

Yep, you have me sussed. In my defence, I'm just taking after my dad

quote:

I'm fronting-up with some ridiculously over optimistic bravado!

I'm up for that! Both sides have excellent players, should be close but no reason to be pessimistic.

The 1990s. Now there was a time to be pessimistic!

Steve.

I'm looking forward to it too, especially as I now have time to watch some of it.

I see Michael Vaughan has lobbed in Brisvegas. The poms would have much more chance with him on the field, even as a non-playing skipper on crutches.

quote:

As I said, Jon, dad's army!

They are NOT DAD'S ARMY!*

Steve

* So says that old timer Glenn McGrath

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:

quote:

As I said, Jon, dad's army!

They are NOT DAD'S ARMY!*

Steve

* So says that old timer Glenn McGrath

You may be right Steve, but I didn't realise that McGrath was this old!

Mark

Not long to go, now!

Bring it on!! There's a simple way to win - bowl line and length, no silly shots, and take all your catches - dead easy! I'm now sat patiently in front of the TV, curbing my wine intake, for a fantastic night's viewing. Or at least the first hour anyway.

Anyone watching the game?

Yep, poms copping a fearful thrashing so far.

Good morning Bazz, I couldn't imagine McGrath and Lee bowling this badly.

Good toss to win, but the bowlers aren't doing themselves any favours.

quote:

Originally posted by bazz:
Good toss to win, but the bowlers aren't doing themselves any favours.

That 1st delivery (Harmison?) from the 1st over was shocking. I think we're fooked.

Harmison was taken off after just 2 overs of his opening spell and has bowled just 12 overs all day. He was not even given the new ball for the closing overs.

Australia clearly targetted him from the off (I had the woeful experience of listening to the first hour or so of play) but he appears to have been utterly overwhelmed. What on earth will England do with him now?

We rattled Ponting last time, as a player and as a captain. He is now very much holding the whip hand.

Bruce (on his second cup of coffee already)

Stumps, day 1, Australia 3/346.

Glad you Aussies haven't twigged that England have pulled a masterstroke by deploying (clearly successfully) "Opening Day Strategy 2(a)" - lull the opposition into a false sense of security...

Obviously, it was a batting wicket today!

We all know that the English bowlers can get Ponting out for fun, if even he can score a faultless 100 on the pitch then it must be a batters paradise!

This test has got draw written all over it. I hope..

An amazing performance to take 3 wickets on that pitch, looked like you could bat through the entire 5 days on it - I hope England can.

I bet nobody expected our tactic of bowling directly to second slip - the idea being to slowly but surely lure the batsman across and then .....

quote:

I bet nobody expected our tactic of bowling directly to second slip - the idea being to slowly but surely lure the batsman across and then .....

You're dead right ROTF, it was too subtle for me, but I do recall that England bowled Hayden behind his legs in the last series and deliberately targeted this area. Harmy wasn't given the credit he deserved for a fine first delivery..

Hell I even support the Aussies on this one

Good start to the pommy champions eh

Pete

Off again soon for day two and, now we have the Aussies on the run, we should be able to finish them off over the next couple of days. Then, if we can knock up a couple of hundred in reply and they send us in for the follow-on, it should put them under real pressure to bowl us out on the last day.

It's looking good so far.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Off again soon for day two and, now we have the Aussies on the run, we should be able to finish them off over the next couple of days. Then, if we can knock up a couple of hundred in reply and they send us in for the follow-on, it should put them under real pressure to bowl us out on the last day.

It's looking good so far.

Mark

Mark, would we really be writing the Aussies off if England had amassed this first day total on a 'batter's paradise'? I doubt it.

Mark

PS You're dead right, lol!

Tish and pish gentlemen, what pessimism. We are a fine batting side, Australia have just 4 bowlers and they shall wilt in the heat.

(Current score 48 for 3)