The Ashes

[Lim till i die]

Was thinking of getting in Sky Sports for this but first I've two questions....

1. What ungodly hours of the morning would play be taking place in?

2. Am I guarenteed that the Aussies will destroy them?

[Sheridan]

Midnight - 6 a.m., I'd imagine.

I doubt the Aussies are potent enough to destroy them anymore. Australia will win though, probably 2-1 or 3-1.

[Lim till i die]

Midnight - 6 a.m., I'd imagine.

I doubt the Aussies are potent enough to destroy them anymore. Australia will win though, probably 2-1 or 3-1.

Good stuff

I thought this would be one of those zero reply threads

But what can I say - I ENJOY CRICKET

[Sheridan]

No shame in that, it's the true hallmark of a discerning palate.

England not going too well in the tour matches, although they've staged something of a revival on day two against New South Wales. Pietersen and Flintoff looking ominous. Bowlers got spanked around on day one, though.

[Lim till i die]

No shame in that, it's the true hallmark of a discerning palate.

England not going too well in the tour matches, although they've staged something of a revival on day two against New South Wales. Pietersen and Flintoff looking ominous. Bowlers got spanked around on day one, though.

Is Glenn McGrath still knocking around for the Aussies or did he retire

As you can probably tell I'm not that regular a viewer

[Sheridan]

Yeah, he's playing for New South Wales in the current tour match actually, 1-41 off 11 overs yesterday, good figures. He's been out of the game tending to his cancer-stricken wife more or less since the last iteration of the Ashes. Getting on a bit and lacking pace, but still as insistently accurate as ever.

[Lim till i die]

Yeah, he's playing for New South Wales in the current tour match actually, 1-41 off 11 overs yesterday, good figures. He's been out of the game tending to his cancer-stricken wife more or less since the last iteration of the Ashes. Getting on a bit and lacking pace, but still as insistently accurate as ever.

Good figures indeed

Between himself Warne and bugger whats the other guys name, you know blonde chap aswell, really good fast bowler they should have England in trouble.

Flintoff isn't fully fit and Pietersen is a spoofer of the highest order. Harmison is a good bowler but I don't think the likes of Panesar are up to the same standard tbh

Feel free to shoot me down with your superior knowledge

[Sheridan]

Good figures indeed

Between himself Warne and bugger whats the other guys name, you know blonde chap aswell, really good fast bowler

Brett Lee.

Flintoff isn't fully fit and Pietersen is a spoofer of the highest order. Harmison is a good bowler but I don't think the likes of Panesar are up to the same standard tbh

Feel free to shoot me down with your superior knowledge

Nah, I'd agree with most of that. Flintoff has bowled economically and batted well on the tour thus far, mind. And Pietersen is the most objectionable knob-end ever to wield a bat, but he can certainly wield it to good effect. Harmison's in poor form, if the Aussies can score heavily off himself and Hoggard early in the innings they may be able to establish the platform they were missing in 2005, then consolidate against Flintoff and get stuck into Anderson, Panesar and/or Giles. Bear in mind that the ball isn't going to reverse swing quite so extravagantly under Australian conditions, and even if it did, England's best exponent of the art (Simon Jones, who was difference between the teams last time) will be watching at home.

The most crucial selection call in the Aussie line-up will be the fourth bowler. Gillespie and Kasprowicz provided England with too many opportunities for respite last time out. Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken are all possibilities for the first Test, alongside or in contention with the all-rounder Shane Watson.

[Lim till i die]

Brett Lee.

That's the guy

Obtained near hero status with me during the last ashes due to his hilarious nastiness. You could just tell by the look of him that he was saying all sorts of mean things to the English batsmen

Agree that Gillespie is a cart-horse of the highest order, I can just remember him getting knocked for boundaries all over the place while looking pretty gormless

Besides I take it the conditions will be a lot more suited for batsmen than they were in England

[osarusan]

Besides I take it the conditions will be a lot more suited for batsmen than they were in England

Definitely.

Last time in England the wickets were set up for pace rather than spin (Warne vs Ashley Giles!!) but the Aussies will allow Warne every opportunity this time.
Last time the Aussie bowling was solid, just the batting collapsed. If Ponting hadnt decided to bowl on the first morning of the second test (apparently Warne had to be restrained from assaulting him when he announced the decision), they may well have won it all.

That said, if the English bowlers can get reverse swing going, they will cause havoc.

[Sheridan]

Marcus Trescothick has returned to Blighty after a recurrence of his unspecified "stress-related" illness. Trinners' Ed Joyce could well replace him, in the squad if not the team.

[OwlsFan]

I play cricket and love watching it.

Strangely, the England cricket team is the only national English team I support. I don't like the Aussies and their arrogance and I hope England win

However, I expect the Australians to do them over with Warne and McGrath being the key players as ever.

[Sheridan]

As predicted, Ed Joyce has been elevated to the Ashes squad in place of Marcus Trescothick. He may yet become Bray's first Test cricketer.

[sonofstan]

He hasn't reckoned on the presence of his nemesis and namesake, the poster known as Wexford Bohs, now in Sydney and just waiting for the opportunity to renew their acquaintance begun so brightly in Stormont this summer; watch out for a tricolour with 'Judas' on it is all i can say.....

[Stuttgart88]

I play cricket and love watching it.

Strangely, the England cricket team is the only national English team I support. I don't like the Aussies and their arrogance and I hope England win

However, I expect the Australians to do them over with Warne and McGrath being the key players as ever.

I used to play & enjoy watching a certain level of cricket. The last Ashes series was among the most exciting sport I've ever seen, esp the Sunday morning of the Edgbaston test with Brett Lee nearly snatching victory against all the odds. Riveting stuff.

I was up for the Aussies though & will be again but Ed Joyce's inclusion changes things! If, as I expect, England go behind early I'll probably want them to stay in touch to keep things interesting.

[shakermaker1982]

I work in a cricket obsessed office - my workplace looks out at Trent Bridge so I've started to develop a semi interest..... even with Joyce its gonna be hard to root for em.

[WeAreRovers]

As predicted, Ed Joyce has been elevated to the Ashes squad in place of Marcus Trescothick. He may yet become Bray's first Test cricketer.

Fair play to Joyce, hope he gets to do more than carry the drinks on. Ireland for the Ashes.

KOH

[osarusan]

How exactly is Joyce qualified to play..........English grandfather?

Oh how the tables have turned.

[Sheridan]

He served a four-year residency period. No problem with that, should be the same in football.

[osarusan]

He served a four-year residency period. No problem with that, should be the same in football.

From a country which as a matter of course exports all its best players (cue insults from "real" EL fans who realize the El is not only the highest form of football, but also of life itself on this planet), I'm not sure I agree.