The Ashes - 2010/11

[dellzeqq]

245 all out and England 1 without loss at close of play.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Excellent, just heard it on the radio - England 1 without loss, good solid start.

 

[ianrauk]

just checked the news. Bloody Excellent stuff..

Ponting out for a duck is a glorious bonus too

 

[darkstar]

Who cares about the world cup bid, after that performance? Amazing.

 

[mr Mag00]

quite

 

[rich p]

You presumably didn't get to be rich just by luck.

It was sheer luck Adrian; mater and pater originally wanted to call me Vince

 

[Aperitif]

Con Vince is a word that springs to mind...

There is a nice photo of the scoreboard in the Guardian photoshoot from the ground. Could be another 'Pontings' that goes into administration.

 

[Dayvo]

Bloody hell! Australia are all at sea and in a real mess!

Ponting and Harris get first-ballers, and Katich run out without facing; sounds like village cricket!

It'll be interesting to see how England apply themselves: with caution and build a total slowly (which is fine as they have loads of time) or taking the attack to Australia and demoralise them further!

A lot can happen, but if England can have a 1st innings lead in excess of 150-200, then they should be home and dry!

But, there's a lot of unexpected things still happen!

The statisticians are having a field day, and the series is only 6 days old!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What do you think Dayvo, do you rec this is pretty much how England and Australia are for this series?​

​

Let's not get too cocky and bugger it up but the teams are starting to shape up up pretty much as the pundits said before the series started.​

 

[darkstar]

This is by far the best chance England have had to win the ashes in Australia for a very long time.

 

[ianrauk]

Anderson has got to be feeling well chuffed, what with this ground being his worse nightmare in '06

 

[Dayvo]

What do you think Dayvo, do you rec this is pretty much how England and Australia are for this series?​

​

Let's not get too cocky and bugger it up but the teams are starting to shape up up pretty much as the pundits said before the series started.​

I do indeed, 3BM! It could swing back and forth, although the momentum is with England at the moment. A bit like the England series victory in 2005 where the Test matches were very evenly contested and Australia, with a bit of luck, could have won the series.

I agree that England shouldn't become cocky, as that breeds complacency, and consequently defeat, as the Aussies will never give in until the last ball has been bowled.

But it is looking good, at the mo!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I do indeed, 3BM! It could swing back and forth, although the momentum is with England at the moment. A bit like the England series victory in 2005 where the Test matches were very evenly contested and Australia, with a bit of luck, could have won the series.

I agree that England shouldn't become cocky, as that breeds complacency, and consequently defeat, as the Aussies will never give in until the last ball has been bowled.

But it is looking good, at the mo!

I keep on having to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming this England performance. They've shown resilience, good preparation, confidence, a certain degree of ruthlessness - that's not what I've come to expect from an England team over the last 30-odd years. They almost look too professional to allow complacency to set in - because if they lose a few quick wickets, they've already demonstrated that they can steady the ship. Almost unheard of. I think I'm going to be up very late tonight.

 

[darkstar]

Retain, not win. Unless of course your "a very long time" referred to the future.

OK if you want to look into specifics. Although I see it as a competition every time, we should WIN this series not DRAW it.

 

[dellzeqq]

I keep on having to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming this England performance.

Keep pinching! Australia have been COOKED.

It took a Cook to discover the place, and another to Cook to recapture it for civilisation! 279-2, 30 runs ahead already, Cook unbeaten on 119, which means he's scored 340 runs without getting out, and, apparently, without offering a chance.

Australia must be pretty demoralised.

from the ever-excellent Guardian blog

Australia look desperately tired. "I am here in Sydney, watching on TV and following OBO," says Kate. "I am nursing a catastrophic hangover from a work party last night. Woke up with all my clothes and contacts still in just in time to see Strauss go. I have been here ever since and I have only left the couch for painkillers and two hours' sleep at the lunch break. Cook is a handsome devil!"
http://www.guardian....ia-england-live

Cricket statisticians (ooohhhh, yes) will know that if Cook scores another 400 or so this month he will break the record for Test runs scored before his 26th birthday that is currently held by.......Sachin Tendulkar.

Apparently Trott had three let-offs. Pietersen hasn't been troubled. I'm off to plant a Union Jack on top of the highest building in Southfields.