The Ashes

[Dayvo]

And as I posted the above, lightweight batsman Bairstow is out.

 

[yello]

Agreed Dayvo. Some folk saying a lead of 250 would be enough but I reckon the Aussies would fancy getting that. I don't think England should be looking at the score but on staying in.

I don't really understand what's happened to England. People were talking of a white wash after the 1st 2 tests but the Aussies are, imo, showing themselves to be the better side at the moment. They certainly seem more motivated.

 

[Durian]

Not quite a 300 lead but that could be enough with the pitch behaving as it is.

 

[yello]

It's going to be an interesting session. The pitch does appear to be deteriorating (I'm not watching, only reading comments) so I think that's going to be the important factor. If the Aussies can get a solid start then I reckon they'll fancy their chances.

 

[thom]

Odd stat about the proportion of wickets falling in the first session being nearly half.
Before the 5 this morning, it was 9 out of 25, which is near enough 1/3 (so uniformly distributed), now it is 14 out of 30, so nearly 1/2 !
The new ball took the wickets this morning really and that is how it has been in general, so I think the correlation of sessions to wickets is misleading - it is all about the new ball and it is important that amidst any rain delays that England take their chances with it.

 

[yello]

Kennedy Southwold....

...or maybe Kennedy Walberswick, if you're going to be picky.

(from bbc text commentary - your West Indian cricketer name is the US president on the year of your birth and the last British seaside town you visited)

 

[Durian]

Eisenhower Morecambe.

Eric's brother.

And as for the game, we need a wicket fast.

 

[yello]

or rain

the Aussies fancy this and they're going for it

 

[Beebo]

Ford Whitstable.

Sounds like a crap car they made in the 1980's a bit like the Ford Orion

 

[Dayvo]

60 for no wicket after 15 overs is a clear indication (so far) that Australia are strolling it. Apart from the anhilation in the 2nd Test, they have been the better side.

Cook needs to juggle his bowlers around and set challenging field placings.

Other than that, it's not looking good for the boys in white England.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

These would be the boys from England who have already retained the Ashes?

 

[yello]

I can see the Aussies winning this. They're treating it like limited overs... which it is.

 

[brodiej]

I still cant see them scoring 300 - only 10 teams have ever won scoring 300 in the 4th innings and their batting is the sort that tends to collapse once a few get out

WI cricket name : Johnson Bracklesham (useful medium pacer and middle order batsman from the late 70s)

 

[AndyRM]

Are quite a few of them not from South Africa?

Australia haven't showed up until this Test. England fully deserve the series. It will be interesting to see how it goes down under.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'd still rate England as the 2nd best test playing team after South Africa, but they seem to be struggling to get that competitive edge now that they've retained the Ashes and they're playing in a county ground atmosphere. They need a taste of blood to shake them back to life.