Who says cricket's boring?

I don't get the cricket thing, I think I miss Indian blood.....

Up and down day to start the Ashes yesterday. Seemed like Australia in particular very inconsistent, some great balls amongst a fair bit of dross. I guess they will get better, and also have juicier surfaces at other venues.

I hope overnight someone has left a tape recorder in the bedroom of Broad and co just repeating 'pitch it up' in a loop all night or they will get some tap when they bowl!

bruce

Already a bit of ebb and flow in this test.  On Day 1 England initially struggling and then ending their innings with a very respectable 430.  Today I rather feared the Aussies were going to sweep past England's total when they reached 200 with only 3 wickets down, but then at 264 for 5 at the close you'd have to say England are edging it (no pun intended!)

Mike 

Should have added Moeen has made a good start to this Test having scored 77 and today taking the wickets of the dangerous Smith and the Clark. Hope this gives him the confidence to really strut his stuff through the rest of the series.   

Looked like a very disciplined performance, I also noticed that Cook seemed a bit more imaginative as captain and the plans seemed thought out etc. Belter of a catch too, on the sort of up and down wicket that makes 'keeping and slip catching horrible.

A crucial day today I reckon, if we built a lead this could be a tricky 4th/5th day wicket for the Aussies. I suspect it will be a draw though as the weather forecast for Sunday is patchy.

I have tickets for Edgbaston too.

Bruce

Just to answer the question: Who says cricket is boring?

2. Cricket ... 2.5 Billion ... Asia, Australia, UK

The other 4.5 billion inhabitants of planet Earth say it's boring  

Think it's going to be hard drag myself away from the TV on Saturday.  With over 400 to get the history of Test cricket would strongly favour an England victory, but this is the Ashes. And the Aussies are damned good and very tenacious.  Day 4 should be fascinating.

...or the radio. Will cricket ever hit the heights of 2005 without being free-to-air again? I surely miss it.

I have that nagging doubt but surely Australia will need luck and bad weather to save this. England again played with skill and exuberance yesterday (and some luck I think). Johnson 2 for 180 in the match. The left armers have also created a bit of rough for 'The Beard That's Feared' outside off against the Rt handed bats which I think may be crucial.

Going to be good.

Bruce

Well although England's opening spell of bowling was good I thought the morning's session belonged to Australia........until the last over before lunch when Moeen snaffled the aggressive Warner.  Rather evens things up. Felt Ben Stokes looked a bit impotent though. 

Chipping away at them now!

122 for 6

Amazing that Anderson remains wicketless, given the way he's bowling today. Aussies will do really well to take this to Day 5 what with their batsmen regularly playing and missing.  Thought they'd be digging in and waiting for the bowlers to tire but they seemingly can't help but have a swish.  They must know the target is well beyond them now?  

Johnson gone (after a great knock) and Aussies now 9 down.  Nearly there, and another 30mins to take if needed. 

You beauty!!!!!  One up in the series. 169 run victory. Who would have believed it?    

Australia will have to pick Johnson for Lords as a batsman. Goodbye leg-before-Watson?

Great team performance. 

Roll on Thursday at Lords.

bruce

Or overestimated!

Well done England. Now please do it again! Those horrible arrogant Australians deserve a good drubbing. They were unnecessarily very mean to us in the World Cup final, where we were comprehensively outplayed, so b$&@)r the Anzac spirit and go England!

Hope not, I enjoy a good hokey-cokey!

A good toss to win this morning and the Aussies have taken advantage in the morning session with a high scoring rate.  Only wicket lost was a give-away and the batsman look comfortable.  104 for 1 at lunch and we could be looking at a big score.

I used to used to play cricket at school when I was a very young boy, later on it was all football and tennis.  Scores relating to football, rugby, tennis and even snooker  seem self evident to me, but when I see scores for cricket it appears complete mystery as to what they mean.  What is considered a good score in cricket?  What is a draw in cricket ?  Apart from England and Commonwealth countries are there any other countries known to play cricket?   

337 for 1 at the close and hardly a chance all day.  With fine weather predicted for Friday I can see the Aussies targeting 600+ .  A draw looks a good result for England at this point.  

Just to confirm, cricket is boring. I don't understand why so many people are getting excited about it....., but perhaps it's just me....

Thought the Dutch were one of the few countries outside the British commonwealth to 'get' cricket, Bert?

A game played for 5 days where the most likely outcome is a draw. What's not to like

You're so wrong, Bert

Just because letour is very colourful with spectacular action, skill, team tactics, beautiful mountain views, fantastic state of the art bicycles and easy to understand points and classifications - it doesn't mean cricket is dull and boring. What i particularly like about cricket is the poker dot jersey award for bowling uphill the quickest, and the amazing motorcycle camera shots that clearly show the superb skill and sense of balance all those highly trained men have for standing motionless for hours in white trousers.

And i won't mention the people who enjoy watching the grass grow it's the ultimate hoot.

You have to admit the TDF is rubbish if you like watching the grass grow,

cycle sport has a lot to learn about grass, oh yes!

[....although perhaps not so much about over drugs but i won't mention that either]  

Anyway, must get back to the [yawn!] cricket  

Debzzz