The Ashes

[joeSoap]

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)


1037: WICKET England 325-8 (Jones 25)
After confidently cutting his first ball away to the boundary for four, Jones has his off-stump removed with Lee's next ball.

1035 Brett Lee starts proceedings from the other end, and Giles takes a nervy single off his first ball to move onto seven.

1033 Giles plays and misses at McGrath's second ball and ducks under a bouncer, before flicking the last ball of the over away for a single on the leg side to keep the strike.

1030 Glenn McGrath bounds in to bowl the first ball of the day to Ashley Giles.

[OwlsFan]

301-7, got to hand it to Aussies heart, but I think the draw will ensue and a new era of cricket dominance will follow. That Flintoff is magic. As for Warne, never to be seen again, awesome.

If Australia can knock them over quickly and put up 500 in their innings (big ask I know) we could see a tied series as I'm not sure (other than perhaps Vaughan and Strauss) England have the players to occupy the crease for a draw.

Rain might be England's best friend. But it's impossible to predict this series. Great sport. Great entertainment.

[Macy]

Still even enough considering how on top the england attack has been. However, I still think Collingwood is a defensive pick rather than having the balls to go for another strike bowler.

[Clifford]

Ashley Giles hit a vital 32 as England boosted their first innings total to 373 on day two of the fifth Test.

The home side were in trouble at 325-8 after Brett Lee bowled Geraint Jones for 25 with the ninth ball of the day.

But Giles put on 20 for the eighth wicket with Matthew Hoggard - who faced 36 balls to make two - and 28 with Steve Harmison, who made 20 not out.

Aussie spinner Shane Warne dismissed Giles lbw to finish with 6-122 after a marathon 37.2 overs.

[Jerry The Saint]

Anyone looking at the Guardian site -

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/overbyover/story/0,16077,1556045,00.html

Up-to-the-minute commentary on clouds! Top notch stuff, very entertaining (and no, I'm not being sarcastic).


"I can report that the view from the 24th floor in the City of London this afternoon is glorious: thick, black cloud and lightning rolling over south London... enough to bring a tear to the eye"

:D

[Schumi]

http://raindancefortheashes.co.uk/

[joeSoap]

89-3 in their second innings..McGrath took 2 wickets in 2 balls earlier this morning....might give the aussies a little squeak.

[Clifford]

Freddie gone c&b now, it is surely beyond the majestic McGrath and Warne even now? If they had batting support this series would have been Oz's ages ago.

126-5

[OwlsFan]

England need another 100 to make the game save. All to play for still.

[Dodge]

Freddie gone c&b now, it is surely beyond the majestic McGrath and Warne even now? If they had batting support this series would have been Oz's ages ago.

Tailenders have been magnificent. Apart from this test hayden and Langer just haven't performed consistently enough.

If they're bowled out with 4 hours to play the Aussies will win. It'll be like 20/20!

[joeSoap]

Thousands upon thousands of Englishmen paying £60 a head and praying to see no more play and for it to bucket down with rain....quickly

[joeSoap]

140-5....could be another nail;biting day.

[Macy]

Freddie gone c&b now, it is surely beyond the majestic McGrath and Warne even now? If they had batting support this series would have been Oz's ages ago.

126-5
You could say the same for England though too to a certain extent. The England attack has been excellent...

[Macy]

Collingwood gone - might as well have picked Anderson for the sum total of 17 runs... :rolleyes:

186-6 btw

[Dodge]

And to think some didn't want Pietersen picked....

"only a one dayer..."

[joeSoap]

And to think some didn't want Pietersen picked....

"only a one dayer..."
Well in fairness, this is the first bit of good play out of him in a long long long time.

[Dodge]

He's been Englands best batter... Him and Flintoff perfect "impact" batters

[Macy]

221-7 at tea - lead of 227

Pietersen just got his century.

Going to be close, but the most important thing it'll still be on when I get home...

[Dodge]

Think its too far for the aussies at this stage

[Macy]

Probably, but if they finish off sharpish then it'll be around 230ish in 40 overs. Doable....

[razor]

258-7 now, 264 ahead. Pietersen on 131, never one to tempt fate but it is looking good for England now and to be honest they deserve the victory.

[Clifford]

Well done England, thoroughly deserved for the work done over the last 2 seasons. The foresight to stick with this bunch of lads is coming to fruition now in spades for them.


258/7 even if Oz get a hat trick, they need about 8 an over which is impossible with the Eng attack in such good form.

[Wiseguy]

Looking like England have it won and deservedly so.I didn't think they would do it but they have and it now shows how far they have come in recent years.

[sullanefc]

All over England have one it thanks to 158 from Pieterson.

[OwlsFan]

I really enjoyed the series but this open top bus ride for just beating one country a third of its size in population is a bit over the top. If Warne had held the catch, it might have been sack cloth and (no) ashes.