Ashes

[damoyorkie]

God bless Ricky P.

Not overly blessed in the good looks stakes (unless you like the depressed chimp look), but just able to endure and endure. His talent for batting is matched with his talent for telling things like they are. He is just a proper bloke's bloke, the antidote to the fancy dans (naming no-names or two initials).

[Lol-x]

I didn't watch any of this game as the TdF was keeping me busy.

But when the English Captain sends the Physiotherapist onto the field to waste time, and then proudly says after the game 'we got a draw'............well that just ain't cricket to me.

It's not in the spirit of the game and it reminds me of that unfortunate occasion when the Australian Captain (many years ago) ordered the last ball to be bowled underarm along the ground, thus preventing a true ending on the merits of each team.

England didn't loose, Australia didn't win, but the sport and its fans lost just a little bit of what they went to see, a game played out in good spirit and on the merits of each team playing in that manner towards the other.

Whatever happened to "It don't matter whether you win or loose but it's how you play the game."

[esm]

wasnt the outcome i was hoping for.... hopefully we will get a "decent" result for test 2. go Ricky!

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Jim,

Congratulations on your "A draw is as good as a win".
My take, on Saturday Oz time, was for a draw. I was just surprised that the English batsmen couldn't even play 'dead ball' for a day as they couldn't win the game.
Ponting IMO should have declared earlier as this might have encouraged the English to play and after all he still had an innings up his sleeve.
TG for the English weather and a 5 day test.
I hope you have better luck next test and let's make it a game this time.

I was let down by the physio on the field and this reminded me of the last series here when we kept swapping with our 12th man to eat up time and rest our bowlers.
Not good for the game.
Glad to see the boys stuck it out but shocked that it was down to our last batsman again to stay in...the bigger names really need to learn how to play test cricket and forget the one day or Twenty Twenty mentality.

Ponting should have declared earlier as you say Eddie, given England something to swing for, get them mopped up earlier in the day and then just get in and get the last few runs before 6.40pm. That said, he has got your boys playing like worldbeaters. The wins in South Africa have obviously spurred them on and they will now be up for the fight.

Hopefully our lot will now have something to build on and show a bit of fight and pride.

Roll on Thursday!

J

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

Shame about sending the Physio in so late in the innings, it's not what you'd expect from an England captain. And thank goodness for Colly, Monty and the Lancashire lad Jimmy.

Ponting deserved the Man of the Match award and I hope the home press don't get on his case too much. At the time of the declaration I'm sure 90% of people would have agreed with it. It's only when hindsight sets in that you get the dissenters.

Strange I know, but I find myself in complete agreement with the man from Lancashire.

Well said sir.

[ratae1950]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

I didn't watch any of this game as the TdF was keeping me busy.

But when the English Captain sends the Physiotherapist onto the field to waste time, and then proudly says after the game 'we got a draw'............well that just ain't cricket to me.

It's not in the spirit of the game and it reminds me of that unfortunate occasion when the Australian Captain (many years ago) ordered the last ball to be bowled underarm along the ground, thus preventing a true ending on the merits of each team.

England didn't loose, Australia didn't win, but the sport and its fans lost just a little bit of what they went to see, a game played out in good spirit and on the merits of each team playing in that manner towards the other.

Whatever happened to "It don't matter whether you win or loose but it's how you play the game."

Injustice?? It may not be cricket but us Limeys have also suffered in the past,pip pip... The World laughs when we winge about it.
Don't worry, I sense Aussie revenge will be coming soon.

[Lol-x]

I'm not really wingeing about it, just saying that was a disappointing aspect. In the end it probably didn't make any difference to the result, who knows.

I wouldn't really care who ever wins, just as long as they played in the spirit of the game.

I'm glad I didn't watch the game in many respects especially when you watch a game for 5 days and you get a draw

[jdc]

The draw was the exciting part of it because it was so unexpected. The events in the last overs caused controversy and acres of media coverage. Nothing like a bit of tension and controversy to build on the already keen sporting rivalry between Australia and England.

[Andad]

156-0 at 4 an over. Now your cooking.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by directioneng

156-0 at 4 an over. Now your cooking.

yeah but being England that can change

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by directioneng

156-0 at 4 an over. Now your cooking.

Shush...you're gonna jinx us!!!!!!!!!!

Looking at Cardiff, batting (although a problem) is not something we should be worried about...our bowling attack was woeful...hopefully Lords will hold a bit of magic for us!!!

J

[Andad]

425 is not too bad but doesn't reflect the excellent start. Last wicket partnership was good (a record) as I didn't see you breaking 380.
Oops 4 - 1 is not a good start.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by directioneng

425 is not too bad but doesn't reflect the excellent start. Last wicket partnership was good (a record) as I didn't see you breaking 380.
Oops 4 - 1 is not a good start.

10-2 Ponting out

[jdc]

148-7 we are doing quite well

[ratae1950]

Come on our Aussie friends, post pictures of yourselves/friends doing a rain dance.

[Jimbits76]

I think they should enforce the follow on tomorrow...the conditions are in our favour right now and Sunday looks a lot brighter.

Get em in again and get the ball at em.

I was swearing last night about the fall of cheap wickets but if we'd have batted today and the got the Aussies in tomorrow, we wouldn't have bowled em so cheaply.

I noticed last night the best odds were for a drawn series...bet they changed this afternoon!



J

[limenko]

Not a fan of follow ons since 2001 when Steve Waugh enforced it at Eden Gardens in 2001 when we lost. I think you should back your batsman and have a go at us in the second innings with all you have.

Those first 2 and a half sessions on the first day were rubbish from us. Apart from Hilfy all the bowlers were bowling meat pies, itwas akin to park cricket and after that we deserve to lose this test.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by limenko

Not a fan of follow ons since 2001 when Steve Waugh enforced it at Eden Gardens in 2001 when we lost. I think you should back your batsman and have a go at us in the second innings with all you have.

Those first 2 and a half sessions on the first day were rubbish from us. Apart from Hilfy all the bowlers were bowling meat pies, itwas akin to park cricket and after that we deserve to lose this test.

lets hope so

[swatty]

Originally Posted by ratae1950

Come on our Aussie friends, post pictures of yourselves/friends doing a rain dance.

We dont have to do a rain dance . It doesn't go for more than 2 days without rain in England does it

[jdc]

Originally Posted by swatty

We dont have to do a rain dance . It doesn't go for more than 2 days without rain in England does it

famous last words

[Andad]

Originally Posted by jdc

10-2 Ponting out

I was asleep when that happened but we will still win this easily.

Well, we won't actually win but we could get a draw which is the same as a win, isn't it?

[jdc]

Originally Posted by directioneng

I was asleep when that happened but we will still win this easily.

Well, we won't actually win but we could get a draw which is the same as a win, isn't it?

whistling in the dark

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by directioneng

I was asleep when that happened but we will still win this easily.

Well, we won't actually win but we could get a draw which is the same as a win, isn't it?

If they turn this around and get a draw then yes...it's as good as a win.

J

[daveathall]

I think we should have enforced the follow on, IMHO the weather and the Austrailian batsmen will conspire to make this a draw now.

[ratae1950]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I think we should have enforced the follow on, IMHO the weather and the Austrailian batsmen will conspire to make this a draw now.

That would be kharma....... I hope you are wrong.

[jdc]

boy are we making hard work of this, crawling along at a snails pace

[jdc]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I think we should have enforced the follow on, IMHO the weather and the Austrailian batsmen will conspire to make this a draw now.

I don't know when the sun is out this pitch is pretty easy to play, i think the idea of getting the runs in good conditions is not a bad one. Trouble is KP was not aggressive enough in getting runs quickly. Prior is now addressing this. Over cast conditions predicted for tomorrow

[daveathall]

Looks like I was wrong, the Aussies wont go cheaply though.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Looks like I was wrong, the Aussies wont go cheaply though.

agree, where are all our Aussie friends?

[swatty]

Originally Posted by jdc

agree, where are all our Aussie friends?

I'm here, another exciting finish coming up