The Ashes 2009

Stev_o

Another LBW

Royal Seahawk

Disgraceful decision.

f1dan

Joke of a decision

Fratton Fred

it was bad, when the luck goes against you, it really goes against you.

Trojan

Those poor humble Australians...

DJ Dodgy

That's it. 160 all done.

mike65

HA!

Guardian commentary

So Australia have lost ten wickets for 87 runs in 20 overs. Excuse me, I'm just going to type that out again. Australia have lost ten wickets for 87 runs in 20 overs. And England lead by 172.

Neil3030

Where's Blowers? He hasn't been on TMS today or yesterday...

copacetic

england need to just throw the bat at it now and try to get a half decent total, if they get 350 agg they should be in good shape.

copacetic

f1dan wrote: »

It's used to describe a delivery that's so good it's almost unplayable.

Dunno where it comes from

I like to think it comes from the fact that jaffa cakes are tasty, and a jaffa is a tasty delivery! Better than the other idea that it comes from the hebrew for beautiful anyway!

Beasty

This is supposed to be the best wicket for batting in England, and we have already seen 23 wickets fall in less than 2 days cricket. In the old days, Oval tests went on for 6 days, and even then they often did not produce a positive result. It looks like the groundsman has deliberately prepared a "result" pitch (which would be what England wanted), but has clearly overcooked it.

Fortunately England won the toss and have been able to make best use of it. Shame for those who paid for tickets on the 4th or 5th days in the hope they would see the climax to an epic Ashes series!

Beasty

142/3 and the lead is now well over 300. Strauss and Trott have put on over 100 together. Australia's only hope now is the weather, but given the forecast I don't think this will rescue them.

AnimalRights

We always knew Aussies were tough but wow at that!
Prior struck the ball and Ponting in a silly type position hit full whack in the mouth and yet he just continued, ouch!

mike65

Lunch score card

1. England first innings: 332 all out (90.5 overs)
2. Australia first innings: 160 all out (52.5 overs)
3. England second innings: 157 for 4 (55 overs)

England lead by 329 runs, will they plug on till all out or look to declare on say a 400 lead if they get the chance?

SIDESHOW BOBs

Strauss has to stop kicking himself for getting out , he has a tricky decision now cuecumber or tuna ! Will england swing the bat at anything now and throw caution to the wind , possible declaration with a 400 lead and leave themselves two full days for the ten aussie wickets required for the precious urn .
or will he go for chicken salad

mmmmmmm:D:D:D

mike65

Freddie could enjoy his last hurrah quite a bit if there is absolutely no pressure.

AnimalRights

England were always far more of a negative team then the Aussies in the past b4 but they really need to attack here because they obviously have to get 10 aussie wickets to claim the Ashes, they should throw the bat now.

SIDESHOW BOBs

let the mid order / tail get in some 20/20 odi batting practice , a couple of swift fiftys then full steam ahead englanf ftw , 7/2 this time yesterday what a time to pile on

SIDESHOW BOBs

cricket bashing type fookers should be shown pontings jaw cracking stop and then told to STFU

pet hate of mine , also the notion that test matches are boring odi 20/20 have the excitement exclusive

apologies rant over:p

mike65

Flintoff out 22 from 18.

England 200/6

Royal Seahawk

Why did England declare?
Surely the more runs they have the better?

f1dan

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

Why did England declare?
Surely the more runs they have the better?

They're so far ahead the score doesn't really matter. They're giving themselves the most amount of time to get the 10 wickets they need

Beasty

f1dan wrote: »

They're so far ahead the score doesn't really matter. They're giving themselves the most amount of time to get the 10 wickets they need

Also means they get three goes with fresh bowlers if needed - this evening, tomorrow and Monday mornings

Beasty

Jonathan Trott - another English cricketing hero, following in the footsteps of Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Basil D'Oliveira, Tony Greig, Mike Denness, Allan Lamb, Robin Smith, Graeme Hick, Andy Caddick, Nasser Hussein, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ed Joyce...At least Beefy was born in England:)

mike65

So long as they declare for England

giddyup

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

Why did England declare?
Surely the more runs they have the better?

Get them in for 20 overs and try to take a wicket or two before the end of the day. Aussies have been fielding all day so won't be as fresh as they will be on Sunday morning. They were already on a world record chase so surprised he did not declare a little earlier.

Off topic but... Go Hawks by the way.....kicked the Broncos arses tonight.

Beasty

171-2 at lunch - overall a good session for England, with Swann and Broad picking up a wicket apiece

Stev_o

Ponting ran out. England will be glad as that partnership was building up steam.

Stev_o

Second run out! Absolutely incredible!

mike65

Clarke 0 run out Strauss (65th over: Australia 217-4 (Hussey 51 need 546 to win

Stev_o

Wicket number 5 extremely close call.

mike65

Aussies collapsing in a dusty heap.

dfx-

Haddin and Johnson go in quick succession to finish it off. 326-5 to 328-7. Hussey has finally turned up though..

445279.ie

343-9 Harmison on a hat trick

edit: uh, he didn't get it

Stev_o

And it's all over Hussey put on a brave display but it was bound to fall eventually, congratulations England.

Dozen Wicked Words

Well done England, great series. Fair play to Ponting and the Aussies, the wholes series was played in great spirit on the whole.

f1dan

Well done to England. Let's hope they're still a bit hungover on Thursday:p

John mac

f1dan wrote: »

Well done to England. Let's hope they're still a bit hungover on Thursday:p

they will be :D:D:D

remember the Windies?

Marshy

Marshy wrote: »

Its a very close series to call but I give England the edge based on Australia's lack of variety bowling wise. There's talk of them not even bothering with Hauritz for the 1st Test and if that's the case all they'll have are quicks and part-time spinners.

Think of how important Warne was for them in 2005 (40 wickets) and that was even in a losing cause. If the pitches are flat turners as most of them will likely be I find it hard to see the Australian attack picking up 20 wickets.

Good call from me. :P

Pity I didn't put my money where my mouth was.

DJ Dodgy

Marshy wrote: »

Good call from me. :P

Pity I didn't put my money where my mouth was.

Just back Ireland on Thursday instead and you'll make up for it.

Washout

Stev_o wrote: »

Ponting ran out. England will be glad as that partnership was building up steam.

till this happened i honestly felt they had a chance.

subfreq

More gutted this time than I was in 2005. I felt then we were beaten by a better side and much better cricket was played all round.

We played our worst day of cricket in four years on probably the most important day in that same period of time. To get knocked over for 160 was really awful. Broad bowled well but as a team we panicked.

Fair play to Strauss. He thoroughly deserves the plaudits and with Trott in the mix I think England could really strengthen their test setup. I think question marks will be asked of Collingwood now.

It's going to be a long 18 months...

Fratton Fred

subfreq wrote: »

More gutted this time than I was in 2005. I felt then we were beaten by a better side and much better cricket was played all round.

We played our worst day of cricket in four years on probably the most important day in that same period of time. To get knocked over for 160 was really awful. Broad bowled well but as a team we panicked.

I'd agree with that. Panic is not usually a term associated with Australian cricket

subfreq wrote: »

Fair play to Strauss. He thoroughly deserves the plaudits and with Trott in the mix I think England could really strengthen their test setup. I think question marks will be asked of Collingwood now.

It's going to be a long 18 months...

18 months until you give us another 5-0 whitewash

legend73

Not enough guts and determination - when the boys sit back and reflect they'll say I didn't bleed green and gold. Tear up some contracts - inject some youngblood.

Dozen Wicked Words

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I'd agree with that. Panic is not usually a term associated with Australian cricket



18 months until you give us another 5-0 whitewash

England won't get beaten 5 - 0 next tour, it was a poor team in transition and with poor leadership from King Fred that was whitewashed (including a ridiculous display in Adelaide)

Australia are only the 4th best team in the world, I have more fear of a whitewash for England in South Africa. England will have to play a lot better against the Saffers to have any chance of picking up a win in that series.