Two Winters and One Summer of English Cricket and Continued Adventures

[Logie66]

Tail could be more fragile, but hopefully the top order will get the runs required.

Hmmm, top order fails, tempted fate with that comment !!!

[duke3016]

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[Logie66]

After the debacle of the last test and the constant debate of who we should pick for the last test, surprised they weren"t even trying to suggest we should give Botham and co another go the England selectors went for stability and made one change.  Another Saffer though !!

Good toss to win as batting first is the only way to win the Ashes.

Disappointing first day performance after the good start and it looks like England have some up short gain.

Then a shower of rain and Strauss throws the ball at Broad and says you have a go.

CRASH BANG WALLOP and Swann joins in !! Now 121-7

We"re back in the game and in with a shout for the Ashes !!!! Come on England  

[Mikeyboy9361]

More than a shout! I honestly can"t see the Aussies chasing any more than 200 max 4th dig! The wicket is a raging bunsen, and also going through the top off the quicks, batting is a nightmare, lets pray for a couple of dry days and we"ll be parading through London again!!  

[Honeybadg]

I found the press reporting bizarre last night. (England Crumble!?!)

On a crumbling wicket (after about 6 overs) ... 300-8 was fine and dandy ...

I have tickets for Monday ... but I might not need them!

Lumped into England at 5/2 overnight ... now 1/3 ... DING DING.

Swann will slay them in the second Innings ...

L

[Logie66]

Have to say the Aussies made a big mistake not picking a specialist spinner   North has been bowling ok, but he"s not Hauritz.

Strauss leading from the front, I"m impressed with Trott, looks a confident guy.  Also after being one of the saviours in Cardiff I think the last 3 tests have exposed Collingwood, could be the end of the line for him in the test side.

Don"t think you"ll need your tickets for Monday Louis !

[Honeybadg]

Have to say the Aussies made a big mistake not picking a specialist spinner   North has been bowling ok, but he"s not Hauritz.

Strauss leading from the front, I"m impressed with Trott, looks a confident guy.  Also after being one of the saviours in Cardiff I think the last 3 tests have exposed Collingwood, could be the end of the line for him in the test side.

Don"t think you"ll need your tickets for Monday Louis !

It would suit me really well if game over before Monday - assuming England win.

Very impressed with Strauss in this match (and his captaincy)

Trott - spot on.

First few overs I thought Swann might struggle with the pressure of the situation but he started putting the ball on the spot.

Winning the toss pretty massive.

Make it to 300 ahead and should be okay.

L

[Logie66]

Going to be an interesting day today, wicket has got easier and the only bowler who seems to go through the top is Broad.  History on England"s side, although the Aussie line up is strong, need to see at least a couple of wickets in the morning session to settle the nerves.

Noticable yesterday that once England"s batsmen got in they found it relatively easy, everyone then concerned that the wicket might not deliver the bad balls everyone was hoping for.

If it doesn"t go well I"m sure they"ll be criticising Strauss for his early declaration  

[Logie66]

Awesome day in front of the TV watching and hoping, key run out by Freddie and then the team all contributed.

Great feeling to see us win the Ashes on home soil again, going to have to make the next series in Oz !!!

Just read my prediction for the series and it was a good call   next stop South Africa !!

It"s going to be a close series and the first test could be key in deciding the series winner, not always important as don"t forget the Aussies won the first test in 2005.  I do feel though that the batting line-up and bowling attack that England have could swing it our way with a narrow victory of 2-1 again.

[AMRN]

Wow, just so freaking wow! Feels good to be English today. They have been awesome!!

[duke3016]

Good to see as a Nation the English are a confident bunch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8217701.stm

[Mikeyboy9361]

We played some good cricket in patches throughout the series, and won the key sessions, that was the reason we won the Ashes. The Aussies were better than were expected, but lost the series when not selecting Hauritz, what a howler! Stuart Broad is already a better batsman than Freddie, and taken more 5 fers ( I think ), and if we need another all rounder Adil Rashid is in the wings, if we had picked him at the Oval it would have been over much sooner. Great to stick it up the Aussies, but the South Africans will be a different ball game, bring it on.

[bigredders]

We played some good cricket in patches throughout the series, and won the key sessions, that was the reason we won the Ashes. The Aussies were better than were expected, but lost the series when not selecting Hauritz, what a howler! Stuart Broad is already a better batsman than Freddie, and taken more 5 fers ( I think ), and if we need another all rounder Adil Rashid is in the wings, if we had picked him at the Oval it would have been over much sooner. Great to stick it up the Aussies, but the South Africans will be a different ball game, bring it on.

agree totally, mr rashid needs to be considered more...panesar has just not get better, in fact he has regressed. His record in the championship this year speaks for itself. The aussies obviously didn"t fancy hauritz otherwise he would have played.
well done england, now for the real test in 18 months time!

bring it on!

[Logie66]

We played some good cricket in patches throughout the series, and won the key sessions, that was the reason we won the Ashes. The Aussies were better than were expected, but lost the series when not selecting Hauritz, what a howler! Stuart Broad is already a better batsman than Freddie, and taken more 5 fers ( I think ), and if we need another all rounder Adil Rashid is in the wings, if we had picked him at the Oval it would have been over much sooner. Great to stick it up the Aussies, but the South Africans will be a different ball game, bring it on.

agree totally, mr rashid needs to be considered more...panesar has just not get better, in fact he has regressed. His record in the championship this year speaks for itself. The aussies obviously didn"t fancy hauritz otherwise he would have played.
well done england, now for the real test in 18 months time!

bring it on!

Good points about Broad, I was one who was doubting whether he was the right bowling option, but he delivered.  A lot of all rounders in the side now, Broad, Swann has shown his potential with the bat and had a great average for this series.  The bowling and batting options are getting better.

Agree with comments about Rashid, he has great potential and hopefully this will be brought to the table when he steps up to the full England side.  The only stumbling block for him could be the strategy and tactics, not many sides play two spinners unless touring the sub-continent, may need to get ahead of Swann, but has the potential to do this.

Panesar while being a cult hero with the fans has gone backwards and unless he brings something to his game his international test future may be in the balance.

South Africa will be a different ball game, but don"t forget this Aussie side beat them on home soil after losing at home.  If England perform to their full potential it could be a hell of a series, looking forward to it.

[Logie66]

Been fairly quiet for me since the summer, have only been playing the league games online and Bolton.  Bolton was an awesome weekend, helped by the fact that one of my mates joined me, he enjoyed the APAT experience so much that I think he will be looking to play a lot more next year.

So eight weeks and counting until the flight to Joburg and then onto Durban for the Boxing day test.  Have been thinking how I can step up from the tales of the West Indies and my mate and me are going to have a Video camera for this one.

Not sure how easy its going to be, but hopefully some daily diary of sorts and a bit of action if possible.