The Ashes Thread

[younggun]

So, we kick off again tonight...

Let's hope:

Monty in.

McGrath out (injury).

Harmison has to play IMO, got to get him bowling. If he starts performing we stand a reasonable chance.

[schedboy]

The only way is up!
Finger crossed for tonight!

[duncan74]

We need to win the toss. Crucial.

[rofster]

The last News item on cric Info about McGrath reads:

"It is only a blister and you'd pretty much have to amputate his foot to keep him out of this game," insisted Ricky Ponting

As much as I reckon Monty should be in, I also think that due to our poor upper order batting performance The King Of Spain will again ggrace us with his precense...

g/l Engerland, show some Lions spirit this time! (and save me all teh pi$$ taking emails from my Aussie mates!!)

[doug]

duncan74 said:

We need to win the toss. Crucial.

The toss is the only thing England is likely to win...

[younggun]

doug said:

The toss is the only thing England is likely to win...

Let's not be defeatist just yet. We're still the second best team in the world and we're going to start playing well sooner or later.

[iainm]

2005
- lost first test convincingly (if with more bite than last week)
- mcgrath injured before 2nd test
- rest is history

come on monty, show off your fielding prowess...err...your mastery of spin.

[hammer]

Best chance is if McGrath is injured.
Also need to pick Monty. We need to attack and try and take wickets.

[hammer]

Best chance is if McGrath is injured.
Also need to pick Monty. We need to attack and try and take wickets.

[lewistri]

I believe Monty should be picked, but then the fact that he used to go to the same school i got to might have influenced that. But did Gilo not have one of the best figures for the last test? Then Monty should be in, take out Jimmy and attack them with another spinner. Montys got variation aswell.

[duncan74]

I don't think Giles had very good figures at all:

First innings:
25-2-91-1
Second innings:
5-0-22-0

He was only worsened by Harmison.

[slacko]

Promising start!

We won the crucial toss and recovered well from a shakey start. Despite Pieterson trying to give his wicket away in the final over, we're looking not too bad.

Fingers crossed that we avoid the usual collapse, put up a big total then actually do something we failed to do in the first test - bowl them out!

[ray]

although petersion almost lost it second ball from the end

[slacko]

Thank christ Pietersen top-edged it in McGrath's direction! A younger, quicker fielder would have had it no problem.

[ray]

yep why can't all the aussies be 36 with a dodgy leg

[robertrabbit]

But why oh why is Monty not playing ? Why is it only Fletcher cannot see the obvious ? Who was the only bowler getting it to do anything - Warne. If we left Jimmy out we would still have 3 strike bowlers - same as the Aussies - but 2 quality spinners, not a part timer like Clarke. Is this because they have no confidence in Harmison so want Jimmy as back up ? I just wish someone would tell us the truth rather than trying to play the same team that beat them in 2005.

[bainsy]

cant believe they left monty out again though

[slacko]

Must admit I'm surprised they've gone with the same attack as the first test. To win a test you have to bowl the opposition out twice ... I just can't see us doing it with the attack we've got.

Monty would be a useful addition, especially on Day 5 when this pitch tends to turn.

[schedboy]

Had a sleepless night worrying about a repeat of the first test...
Well chuffed that we've kick this one off to a better start!

[younggun]

Just watched the whole recording back. A much better performance. Warne looked royally pissed off. Colly played great.

Massive mistake leaving out the Montster though.

[trex]

Anyone remember when Colly was a proper all rounder? He has fair transformed his batting in a couple of years hasn't he?

[duncan74]

I'm a big Colly fan. Level headed, the perfect foil to Pietersen at the other end and best fielder in the world.

[duncan74]

I should say the second best fielder in the world. The best being Gary Pratt. Long will that great moment live in my memory.

[wiganer]

duncan74 said:

I should say the second best fielder in the world. The best being Gary Pratt. Long will that great moment live in my memory.

oooh thanks for that Dunc....the look on Pontings face as he hurled abuse at Fletcher was just quality......thought we were superb today, Colly is a great player with a great attitude and KP is the business and Flintoff is Flintoff...pure quality.

[flyingelephant]

Time to party. The England team had a good day at cricket! Lets hopr they can hold it together.

[iainm]

not quite time to party yet. we can only retain the ashes if we win at least one test, possibly more. to do that we need to take 20 wickets in a test. not looking likely so far, but at least we've shown them we can be their equals. i think the team will take great heart. i can't remember the exact pattern last time round, but didn't we lose the first, draw the second and win the 3rd...

[flyingelephant]

Not such a hot day down under. Letting the the blighters fight back a bit. Can we bag a win or is the most likely outcome a draw...

[wiganer]

we need 5 quick wickets and get em in again with Freddie and a revived Harmy firing in.........not much chance I reckon, but you never know.

Memorable innings from Collingwood, but what a player Ponting is isnt he with another ton.....quality all round.

is anyone else finding the "barmy army" a bit tedious now and bordering on yobbish ?

[younggun]

Get them out quick for sure wiganer but I'd bat again and smash it around for half a day. Tomorrow (tonight) is supposed to be very hot - which will make that pitch deteriorate. Then they can try and survive on the final day.

[wiganer]

mmm good point, there has been no real heat there yet and hence the pitch has remained in a good state.......if we can get a lead of 150 from first inns and then smack a quick 250, I dont think we will lose. Whether we can take 10 aussie wickets, well that is another story.