Ashes 2013/14

[paul_e]

Disappointing to let them off the hook somewhat from 132-6  but still England's day - we need to wrap them up earl tomorrow for around 300 and then post a decent 450+ score .

The Aussies seem to often get a big partnership in the tail end with haddin playing well - really important we don't allow them to build another one - if I was a betting man I'd still go the draw but that will do us fine.

Well done broady - star man !

Looking at the pitch we will have expected a couple of big stands, it really isn't a 273-8 on the first day pitch, they should be very upset with themselves and it's definitely our day.  A good quick start tomorrow and we could be in control of the match by this time tomorrow.

[PaulWinch again]

Well I got up just in time to see Broady bowl Johnson, great performance by Stuart. If you'd offered me 273-8 when the Aussies put themselves into bat I would have been delighted, pitch looks good for batting. Obviously a bit annoying they've recovered from 130-6 but If we can get them out for around 300 and then bat well we've got a great chance. Excellent day from England and sounds like Cook was pretty proactive.

[Dr Butler]

I watched the first hour and thought that it was a good toss to win, the pitch is flat and should probably be best for batting on day two/three and as said earlier, this time tomorrow we could be well in control.

[PaulWinch again]

Hopefully we'll knock them over for just under 300 and that'd be a good psychologicial blow.

[PaulWinch again]

Aussie can definitely still win if we bat poorly, but it's time our batting line up clicked and it's vital that we finish them off quick in the morning.

[PaulWinch again]

Tremlett has also settled into a different role, he's playing as a containing bowler and he did a very good job. He's helping maintain the pressure.

[paul_e]

Tremlett has also settled into a different role, he's playing as a containing bowler and he did a very good job. He's helping maintain the pressure.

Agreed, he's doing the Bresnan job of occupying one end and building pressure at the other.  I never expected him to be used that way but it's working well, and means his lower pace isn't such an issue.  Broad is our strike bowler in bouncy conditions (as I said yesterday) but Jimmy and Tremlett have backed him up excellently today.  Swann hasn't had a great day but there's no shame in that, there can't be many pitches worse for a spinner than day 1 at the Gabba.

[OzVilla]

Just got back in from the Gabba. Pitch is flat as you saw once the ball went soft but we stuck to our plans and they managed to get themselves out due to some good bowling and poor shots.

There again tomorrow and Saturday so hoping to see England bat long. Weather is for chance of storms late in the day which is fairly standard fair for this part of the world at this time of year.

Still need to bat well though. If we do we can win this one inside 4 days. If we don't it's anybodys.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I reckon we'll be slow to start this series.

Good call! D'oh.

[PaulWinch again]

I see the Brisbane Courier is still refusing to name or put Broad's picture in their 'paper' referring to him as '27 year old medium pace bowler'. Well I'll ignore the hypocrisy of Australians getting upset with someone not walking, but all this childish, disrespectful stuff will just fire up Broady more. They're idiots.

[PaulWinch again]

I just pray when I get up tomorrow morning that Australia aren't batting, because if they are it's all gone wrong.

[eastie]

I just pray when I get up tomorrow morning that Australia aren't batting, because if they are it's all gone wrong.

Long as you get up after 1am you will be ok

[paul_e]

I see the Brisbane Courier is still refusing to name or put Broad's picture in their 'paper' referring to him as '27 year old medium pace bowler'. Well I'll ignore the hypocrisy of Australians getting upset with someone not walking, but all this childish, disrespectful stuff will just fire up Broady more. They're idiots.

What makes me laugh about this is that there were 2-3 aussies who clipped it and refused to walk in the same series, the whole thing was them clutching at straws trying to  take a moral victory because they know they were totally outclassed by a largely underperforming England side.

If you look at pretty much any Ashes series you'l find both sides standing their ground from nicks, claiming 50/50 catches and LBWs, etc.  It's all part of the game now, it sums up where they are currently that they won't let this one go 6months later.

[eastie]

Clarke was caught last time we played in Australia with a huge deflection off the bat that cookie caught  off kp- Clarke stood his ground and the DRS showed he got lots of bat on it - he was given out but we didn't make a huge fuss about him cheating.

[john e]

Australia underestimate this England side,
 they think they only have to up it a notch and they will be on level footing,
 which they wont as the England side are similar to the Aussies of a few years ago, in that they have been around a long time playing well and are experienced in winning test matches

 Vaughan, Strauss and now Cook its a very strong line of leadership
over here in the summer our top order batsmen did not perform and we still won 3 nill, I cant see that happening again down under and expect them to get plenty of runs,
 which will mean Australia will have to find something I don't think they have, they just think they have
of course I might be wrong and like a few others already have with their predictions might be eating a bit of humble pie come tomorow morning