The Ashes Series (Cricket: Australia Vs England)

I think this series is really going to come down to the bowlers. Both sides have pretty settled and reasonably in form batsmen, but aren't certain on their bowling line-ups.

Australia
McGrath
Lee
Warne
Watson?
Clark/Tait/Johnson

England
Harmison
Flintoff
Panesar/Giles
Hoggard
Mohammed/Anderson

I think whichever side can produce the most stable attack will win.

 

McGrath.

Well, now that we've sorted that out...




Seriously, though, yes, you're right in the fact that the bowlers will be a key. But they always are. Just like the batsmen and everything else. We really don't know who will fire on the day(s); it could be someone completely unexpected. Both sides have competent bowlers and the like - now it's just down to the team.

 

Dunno - Aussie don't hold the ashes, Thorpie's aboput to retire. The Wallabies got dicked by Ireland . The Kiwis are gonna retain the league tri-nations...

Australia's on a slippery downhill sporting slide, and failing to regain the ashes is just gonna be the icing on the cake.

 

McGrath hasn't bowled in a test for almost a year, and only really has been for the past month - he may be a bit out of form.

What do we think the first Test Teams will be? (Batting Order)

Australia
M. Hayden
J. Langer
R. Ponting
D. Martyn
M. Hussey
M. Clarke (I don't think Watson will pull up)
A. Gilchrist
S. Warne
B. Lee
S. Clark (If Watson doesn't play, they'll want someone who can bowl more overs than Tait or Johnson)
G. McGrath

Australia seems pretty settled, except for that final bowling spot, which is probably dependent on Watson's availability.

England
A. Strauss
A. Cook
I. Bell
P. Collingwood
K. Pieterson
A. Flintoff
G. Jones (They'll want the extra batting he brings, especially with a long tail.)
J. Anderson
M. Hoggard
S. Harmison
M. Panesar (Hopefully he'll get the edge over Giles - I want to see a left arm orthodox that spins the ball)

 

I'll be sitting in the Members Stand of Adelaide Oval for the last two days of the Adelaide Test...should be a close one. But I think the series will be a win to Australia.

I can just imagine the reaction if Tait is playing in the Adelaide Test.

 

Missed out on tickets to the Boxing Day Test

Hopefully I'll get to a couple of one-dayers, but it's not the same...

 

Sure isn't the same, the one-dayer is just a tad more exciting to watch.

 

Watson out, Clarke in. just up to the final bowling spot. i think they'll go with Johnson but i wouldn't be surprised if it's either of the other two.

 

Not long now, boys.

Coin toss in just over 8 hours.



Last I heard Tait was out, but Ponting wasn't revealing what bowler was in. I didn't scrutinise over anything though.

 

actually, i think it'll be Clark over Johnson.

hopefully, for England's sake, they go with Monty.

7 hours to go! i'm going to stay up for the first session and attempt to get up for some of the last, but i doubt i'll be able to do it.

 

They should, but I don't think they will.

 

2 hours to go!

 

Giles it is then.

EDIT:

lol

 

30 mins...

 

Same old same old

Update - Australia 0/51

 

1/79

Hayden - 21 c. Collingwood b. Flintoff

 

It was a good bowl. Moved just enough to get a nick off to second slip.

Langer is doing quite well though.


Edit: I must admit that this new hot spot camera is fine, fine work.

 

Langer's gone. Caught for 82.


2/141

 

Finally, a sport I can watch and post about at the same time

Australia is clearly on top, only Flintoff is causing much trouble. We certainly slowed down once Langer was out though.

 

We have slowed down, but even then, the run rate is still up and over four (4.23 to be exact). Which is certainly higher than what a lot of teams achieve.


Ponting has his half century.

 

Martyn gone, to Giles of all people.

Edit: And Hussey brings up the 200 with a nice four. 3/203.

 

I happened to catch Martyn's dismissal live on TV. The ball's bounce caused the catch.

Hussey's looking good. Hopefully Ponting can reach the ton unlike Langer.


3/231


Edit = typo

 

I think Billy Bowden just gave Tony Greig heart failure

 

Argh, I didn't catch that as I was here. Just read what happened though.

 

Ponting with a CENTURY!