Ashes 2010/11

[Somniloquism]

If they can get the ton and double ton respectively then put them in. But with the pitch as it is unless they slog at every ball for the win we will still struggle to get any out.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not sure, they are mentally falling apart. Their fielding is absolutely atrocious. I've seen this with England in the past, seemingly easy pitches can be tricky if your confidence is gone. I'm not saying we'd win, there wouldn't be enough time but we could inflict some more psychological scars come late afternoon.

[Dave Cooper please]

Cook's 200.

Not sure England should bother making the Aussies bat again, the damage has been done mentally already and it's back-to-back Tests, save the bowlers, or maybe just give them a trundle out  after tea.

[JUAN PABLO]

These aussies are poor..

[Dave Cooper please]

And Trott's century.
What fun!

[The Situation]

457-1... Is This Real Life? Gotta be breaking some records here.

[taylorsworkrate]

517 for 1 declared, a lead of 296, 

42 overs to bowl the Aussies out.  Unlikely but stranger things have happened. 

The Aussies look shot to pieces mentally, their body language has been atrocious and Ponting looks a haunted man.

Get a couple early and this could be on.

[beness]

Just seen my first Villa top of the day.

[beness]

5-1 Broad gets Katich.

[Dave Cooper please]

457-1... Is This Real Life? Gotta be breaking some records here.

Loads of them, including the highest stand by England in Australia and the highest ever score in Test cricket for the loss of just one wicket.

If we could just get Ratface out I'd be happy, but a draw at The Gabbatoir after being bowled out for 260 is just excellent.

[beness]

So Aussies finished on 107-1. Match drawn, great fight back, bet the Aussies are gutted.

[KevinGage]

Job done.

Bit concerning that Swann still looks ineffective.  They are clearly targeting him and so far the batsmen are on top.

Good test of character for him. He's met most of the challenges that have come his way so far in test cricket.

BTW, anyone else catch that anecdote Michael Holding offered re his temper tantrum down in NZ in 1980? I was half a sleep but I'm sure I heard him say something along the lines of "based on my kicking skills Aston Villa offered me a trial soon after."  I'm pretty certain no such trial ever took place so I don't know whether to be flattered that we were the first football team he could think of to mention or whether he was having a dig.

Then again, it could just be the mind playing tricks after a lack of sleep. That's happened before alright.

[Jonathan Collett]

This attendance thing is actually really poor. If this was in England even if we were under the cosh you'd still get a decent crowd on the 5th day, especially if there was probably going to be a full day's play.

7000 here today and virtually everybody English. saw quite a few Villa fans around the ground. Such a change from a couple of days ago. Aussies so arrogant; giving us grief on the bis from the ground, at the hotel and in the street. Today they are very quiet indeed and tv saying all the honours are England's and the Empire strikes back!

[OzVilla]

This attendance thing is actually really poor. If this was in England even if we were under the cosh you'd still get a decent crowd on the 5th day, especially if there was probably going to be a full day's play.

7000 here today and virtually everybody English. saw quite a few Villa fans around the ground. Such a change from a couple of days ago. Aussies so arrogant; giving us grief on the bis from the ground, at the hotel and in the street. Today they are very quiet indeed and tv saying all the honours are England's and the Empire strikes back!

That's why it's so wonderful to bring them down a peg or two. 

They most certainly don't like it up em.

[olaftab]

This is impressive.  There have been lot of  high scoring  cards in the history of test cricket but this one infers total humiliation! The only batsman they managed to get out was stumped. 
England 2nd innings
 AJ Strauss*  st †Haddin b North  110
 
 AN Cook  not out                         235
 
 IJL Trott  not out                         135
 
 Extras (b 17, lb 4, w 10, nb 6) 37     
       
 Total (1 wicket dec; 152 overs; 630 mins) 517