Ashes: First Test

First topic message reminder :

It's weird...no thread on T1 yet
Ashton Agar will play is the breaking news.

Prior you ...................................

ffs Prior

Oh that's just a silly shot again

I don't think 300 would be too bad for England, and we're certainly still on for that. Siddle's bowled well today, although Trott can consider himself unlucky - he looked set to bat all day. Australia are taking an attacking approach, thus far it's certainly paying off.

Oops, now Prior's gone. He needed to bat, not attack. Poor shot in the circumstances. Five for Siddle! Memories of Brisbane 2010 abound.

All up to Bairstow now.

blimey. I go away and come back and Bell is the next to fluff it.

we have so few batsmen in any sort of form.

5 for Siddle and prior fluffs it too.

And that is that really. Aussie stuff England on day one and tell us all the plonkers who said England could whitewash them need to learn some respect.

The pitch looks a 400 pitch for a good side. Already the marker is set.. Aussie have this match if they want it.

Saw this coming.

and I turn on again this happens.

pathetic day from England and well played aussie and world class siddle.

Wow That the man..Siddle you are making the day off for the Favorites.

Broad has a goodish test average for a no.8- I hope he plays a bit today. WE NEED IT.

Well it seems we shall continue to start series's slowly!!

Just think if Siddle is getting the ball to do funny things, what will Jimmy be able to do?!  

Swann's in form with the bat at least!!

Pathetic.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Wow That the man..Siddle you are making the day off for the Favorites.

his team are the favourites.

has nobody been watching this poor England team bat for the last couple of years?

Duty281 wrote:I don't think 300 would be too bad for England, and we're certainly still on for that. Siddle's bowled well today, although Trott can consider himself unlucky - he looked set to bat all day. Australia are taking an attacking approach, thus far it's certainly paying off.

Oops, now Prior's gone. He needed to bat, not attack. Poor shot in the circumstances. Five for Siddle! Memories of Brisbane 2010 abound.

All up to Bairstow now.

nince Jinx. on for 200 and a 200 deficit at least.

Nasser is superb on the analysis.

Five
Five
Five
Five
Five

Never loved a bogan more than I do now!!

Shall we just wait to judge the pitch until both sides have batted on it? Or is that too old-fashioned?

Not good when your 4 best batsmen (Cook, KP, Trott and Prior) get themselves out playing silly/poor shots.

Hopefully the tail will wag a bit

Poor shot from Bell, nibbling at one he didn't have to play at to start with and then following it. Nice enough ball, but a top batsman should see that off comfortably either by leaving it, or playing down the line. Bell's poor form continues, and I'm sure calls for his head will get more frequent and loud, but really what are the alternatives? Bairstow is also just finding his way, and Root at the top of the order is new - how many new guys do you want to fit in?

Always tough for prior coming in with 10-15 minutes to go until tea - looked like he went slightly half-heartedly because of the situation, had he really gone for it as he should have (it was there to be hit and in his zone) he'd probably have been ok. Sharp catch from Hughes. A typical case of playing the situation and not the ball.

not sure it's time to write off England just yet - I imagine their bowling will keep them in the hunt whatever they get in the first innings, particularly against this brittle Aussie line-up. However today should be a bit of humble pie for some of the more optimistic (deluded?) commentators on air and on these boards - this is not the worse Aussie side of all time/the last 30 years, they have some good players; they haven't even bowled all that well today (apart from Siddle and Pattinson who have done well).

kingraf wrote:Five
Five
Five
Five
Five

Never loved a bogan more than I do now!!

an aussie loving saffer?

Duty281 wrote:Shall we just wait to judge the pitch until both sides have batted on it? Or is that too old-fashioned?

But how would we villify England prematurely then?

It's been an averaging batting performance, but if we can get up to 250 then at least the game is still on if we bowl well.

Ian Bell  consistent bottler

JDizzle wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Shall we just wait to judge the pitch until both sides have batted on it? Or is that too old-fashioned?

But how would we villify England prematurely then?

It's been an averaging batting performance, but if we can get up to 250 then at least the game is still on if we bowl well.

Broad bowls well here. Anderson will swing it around corners. The pitch will take spin later on in the game, bringing Swann into the equation. Finn will bustle in with his express pace and chip in. England will be fine, might need another 115 runs though.

Looking on for 100 below par.

Looked a pitch that could help Swann on day 3 or 4 but might not even bloody get there.

Australia 8 overs behind the correct rate.  

England still favs for the win IMO.

the good thing is that we will get a result here. A draw is off the cards

trebellbobaggins wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Wow That the man..Siddle you are making the day off for the Favorites.

his team are the favourites.

has nobody been watching this poor England team bat for the last couple of years?

Well England surely are the favorites. And Even now they can bounce back. And referring this team poor just out of my mind. Remember the 2009 series where England bounce back after a pathetic batting in the first test.

Long way to go everyone... long way to go.

Good session for Australia obviously. Still think they will want more out of Starc (who has been a bit floaty) and Agar (who has bowled too many loose balls).

England will want as many as they can get, but conditions are good for seam bowling. Over to Anderson?

Siddle can do no wrong today  

He has bowled well (apart from that first spell) , but even his bad balls are taking wickets !

Not very impressed with the rest of the Australian attack (Pattinson ok I guess ) but it hasn't mattered as England have just kept getting out to Siddle...no solid partnerships to test the inexperienced Australian bowlers' patience.
Adds up to what is looking like a pretty ordinary score.

But we haven't seen Australia bat yet...I will hold the obituaries  

275 should be the target.

( I have gone from 550 to 400 to 300 to 275!!)

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Wow That the man..Siddle you are making the day off for the Favorites.

his team are the favourites.

has nobody been watching this poor England team bat for the last couple of years?

Well England surely are the favorites. And Even now they can bounce back. And referring this team poor just out of my mind. Remember the 2009 series where England bounce back after a pathetic batting in the first test.  

They did but that was a better side in better form overall.

mystiroakey wrote:275 should be the target.

( I have gone from 550 to 400 to 300 to 275!!)

realism sets in. Sadly it isn't a shock after many dodgy innings.

I hope our bowlers show more bottle than our so called Batsman, remind me again what KP has done to earn a starting spot this year?

Anyway- Massive positive in a way!

Siddle playing a blinder- Aus on the UP..

This is surely what we want. Easy wins are boring..

Scrumpy wrote:I hope our bowlers show more bottle than our so called Batsman, remind me again what KP has done to earn a starting spot this year?

Watch out, the knee-jerkers have arrived.

mystiroakey wrote:Anyway- Massive positive in a way!

Siddle playing a blinder- Aus on the UP..

This is surely what we want. Easy wins are boring..

yep. it was only ever going to be thus.

the press just talk Love sacks.

Scrumpy wrote:I hope our bowlers show more bottle than our so called Batsman, remind me again what KP has done to earn a starting spot this year?

Averaged close to 50 in test cricket? Scored match-winning runs in India and a good innings in New Zealand? Scored a stupidly quick however many it was in his first game back for Surrey?

I know it's unfashionable to pick your best batsman these days, but still...

trebellbobaggins wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:Wow That the man..Siddle you are making the day off for the Favorites.

his team are the favourites.

has nobody been watching this poor England team bat for the last couple of years?

Well England surely are the favorites. And Even now they can bounce back. And referring this team poor just out of my mind. Remember the 2009 series where England bounce back after a pathetic batting in the first test.  

They did but that was a better side in better form overall.

Well I will be happy watching Aussies regaining Ashes, but still too early to say that.

If they regained it - All i can say is it wouldnt be for long

If England want to get anything out of this game, Bairstow needs to push past 50, Broad needs a good 25-30, and Swann and Anderson need to contribute too. If England get to 275, that's bare minimum.

275 Will be a fighting score, and as the time will pass with less cloud in the sky, the hot sun will tear apart the pitch and swann will do his job well.

England need to bat the session. Key word there:

Bat.

Am I the only one who has doubts about Swann's ability to bowl long sessions, coming off injuries and being 'older' than ever before?

England in a batting crisis? Ian Bell not up to scratch. Sound the siren folks.........

Oh Ravi Bopara, Oh Ravi Bopara.

On TMS at lunchtime they were playing clips about various people praising the two captains. I have to say, Ravi came across as petty, jealous, and not at all praising. He also seemed quite bitter about the 'pressure' put on players at England level, as if it's other people's fault he's muffed his England chances so many times.

Erm if broad has meant those two shots - then fair play. If he fluked them safe- CALM YOURSELF DOWN!

Azzy Mahmood wrote:Am I the only one who has doubts about Swann's ability to bowl long sessions, coming off injuries and being 'older' than ever before?

Handled NZ pretty well , Az ...I reckon he'll be fine. They were wise to not take chances with him in the CT .

230-250 is what Aus have to be aiming for. We
Are
Reclaiming
The
Glory!

Don't think Broad will last long.

Got to let Broad play his shots , roakey...he is not renowned as a defensive batsman.
Yes he may get out , but on the other hand a bit of aggression might just put some pressure back on these bowlers...Siddle can't bowl at both ends...

Another four , and the 200 up  

I expected the 200 up for the loss of 2/3 wickets, but the way England have batted, I'm just glad we got there at all!

Broad looking like he's got an early dinner booked somewhere and he wants to make a quick 50 so he can dash off.

36 boundaries already! There has to be a right balance from Clarke, and he's leant too far to the attacking side.