Ashes 2013/14

[paul_e]

I find the reluctance to bowl at the stumps to the tail moronic.  We do it all the time and just keep nibbling outside off, the issue is, an 11 is either going to swing at it and flash one away or completely miss it.  Lyon today was a great example, especially with the new ball he was backing off and swinging from the hip at everything but missing by a foot, bowl those at the top of off-stump and they'd never have got 40 this morning.

[dave.woodhall]

With the usual caveat of knowing less than nowt about cricket, is this game not the equivalent of that time Manchester United had won the league with three games to spare so David Beckham went on holiday early?

[paul_e]

With the usual caveat of knowing less than nowt about cricket, is this game not the equivalent of that time Manchester United had won the league with three games to spare so David Beckham went on holiday early?

Not really, on the back of losing 4 ashes series they'd love to win 5-0, I don't in the slightest think that they've taken the foot of the pedal, the ky is we've got a pitch offering a little bit of lateral movement and suddenly Jimmy has joined the tour.

[dave.woodhall]

With the usual caveat of knowing less than nowt about cricket, is this game not the equivalent of that time Manchester United had won the league with three games to spare so David Beckham went on holiday early?

Not really, on the back of losing 4 ashes series they'd love to win 5-0, I don't in the slightest think that they've taken the foot of the pedal, the ky is we've got a pitch offering a little bit of lateral movement and suddenly Jimmy has joined the tour.

Okay, er, yes, I agree. I think...er...what number does Geoff Boycott play?

[paul_e]

I know Carberry is very slow here but that's ok so long as Cook keeps going for it at the other end, we really need Cook to stay around for a while though.  I trust Carberry to step it up soon, he's not the type of player to score this slowly for such a long time.

[paul_e]

I'm hoping the scoring from this morning is tactical where Cook has decided to target Harris.  If we can score big runs from him (and he is the sensible choice, Siddle and Watson are steady line and length bowlers who don't give much away) it puts pressure on Clarke to give Johnson more overs.  If we get after Lyon as well I'll be sure that they've eventually come up with a plan on how to reduce the threat from Johnson, probably as a result of seeing Johnson struggle when Watson wasn't bowling the older ball on day 1.

I'll take what is effectively 104 for 0 at this point, we need to bat out the day and get that lead up around 250 then see how things look tomorrow, Cook owes a big innings after a very poor series and hopefully will provide one here.

[Bald Eagle]

A great platform for the likes of Petersen, Bell and Stokes. Time to rub their noses in it for a change.

[OzVilla]

Root stupid run out, Bell unbelievably casual looking shot and England contrive to fuck things  up for themselves on at least the 5th time on this tour.

It's hard enough against Australia without gifting them wickets like that.

[paul_e]

Really disappointing session, great deliveries to get Cook and Carberry and then Root and Bell just gave their wickets away.  I'm rather upset that the first day I've stayed up to watch after lunch was set up so nicely only for that pair to contrive to put us in such a shitty position again.

We really need this pair to make a stand, they've started well but to give the bowlers something they need to be there at the end of the day really.

[OzVilla]

How the fuck have we allowed Nathan Lyon to take 5 wickets here. Cook and Pietersen aside this has been an appalling batting performance.

YET AGAIN the bowlers must be totally pissed off with this shite game after game.

[Bald Eagle]

Completely gutless display. Sums the whole tour up. WANKERS.

[OzVilla]

I know he's a Villa fan but Ian Bell - I think that was the worst of the lot and he had some stiff competition.

Probably the most disappointing day of the tour considering the situation at the start. 

[eastie]

Dreadful day - poor bowling to begin and then having made a decent start we contrived to collapse - cook and kp apart it was poor stuff - again the tail goes for 4 wickets for 5 runs and leaving the Aussies chasing 231 to win they have made a comfortable 30-0 start - looking very much like 4-0

The Aussies have lost the last 3 ashes series and are determined to whitewash is here - they may well do so, too.

[taylorsworkrate]

Thank FUCK I went to sleep at lunch.

I think if I had watched that utter joke of a display then my rather expensive tv would now be smashed to pieces.

In a way I'm glad. This England team don't deserve anything other than 5-0 humiliation.

Wake me up when some of the cretins are gone.

[Villan For Life]

Normal service has been resumed.....

Gutless wankers