Ashes: First Test

First topic message reminder :

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

England will be batting again by teatime tomorrow!  

A mixed bag. Some very good deliveries, some loose deliveries and some wayward shots

Certainly it's been tricky but neither team has covered themselves in glory

Yeah bres is an ODI bowler- We need the strike of finn in test

Two lefties at the crease = Perfect chance for Swann

Only one at the moment though.

yep get SWANN in your right duty

Might have to get Swann in if Broad's still off the field.

agent Smiths boy having a go now.

smith isnt a lefty though is he!!

I TAKE THAT back

Interesting to see Smith at five , shielding Hughes from the still new ball...

Has a player ever been given more "assistance" in realizing his talent , than Hughes ? He was protected from South Africa last year , and now pushed right down the order ...despite his experience as an opener ? Odd.

mystiroakey wrote:smith isnt a lefty though is he!!

I TAKE THAT back

I thought Hughes was in!  

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I dont think we faced a very good bowling attack, I think the Aussies faced a very poorly performing Englande side. Siddle did well, I think I am going to have to rate him now but I was never a fan. 

Time for Jimmy to save the day!

You don't think your words are bit unfair to the hard work done by Aussies bowlers. Before the start of the series Each one of us were considering England favorites. Either it was batting or bowling they were considered superior. Cook Kp Trott Bell Prior all were rated high. Even during the loss in the CT final one of the member here rated their team high above all in test and now you are telling batting line up is not good.

Aussies bowlers faced one of the best batting lineup and wrapped them up to a low total.

I didnt say they faced a poor side but a poorly performing one. I think England threw away wickets and played far worse than the bowling put the pressure on them to play. Siddle bowled well, but no i wasnt watching them thinking "thats an attack to scare me for 5 tests." They didnt bowl "very good" as in it wasnt wow, it was just alright. Hope that clarifies my point

that wasnt a nick

I thought that was an edge! Close, close.

Still no Broad. How long can Cook bowl these two ?

Is that an edge ? No...another good ball though. This is a big game for Smith ; he has a chance to make his mark if he can survive in this cauldron.

To be honest I think this is a classic case where australia have shot them self in the foot by doing so well in getting us out so quick..

If they had teed up tommorow it may have been very different.

and i think we will get another couple tonight as well

agent smith taking command.

This kid Steven Smith has really improved over the last 12 months.

Used be look like a walking wicket.

Ed Cowan on the other hand looks less Test standard by every innings. Poor old Khawaja must be gutted.

aus should have played warner in place of Cowan.....but it seems Khwaja is next in line if one of the gus fials

Smith the classic bit player that england have tried and failed with on more occasions than I have had hot dinners.

Oh well I may be wrong.. But. I dunno I might not

Couple more tonight would be lovely , roakey  

Rogers seems quite composed now. ..though he is beaten as I type that !

And now he just evades the slips with an edged boundary ! Tough out there...

What a pity no third seamer to keep this pressure on : hope Broad can bowl tomorrow

KP_fan wrote:aus should have played warner in place of Cowan.....but it seems Khwaja is next in line if one of the gus fials

Warner's been banished on to the Australian A team tour to South Africa, so I doubt he'll be selected until T4 or T5.

At least one more wicket tonight would be lovely.

It is a selectorial debacle to play half fit Broad.
Flower's obsession for Broad, Bresnan and Bopara defies rationale

mystiroakey wrote:Smith the classic bit player that england have tried and failed with on more occasions than I have had hot dinners.

Oh well I may be wrong.. But. I dunno I might not

I would've agreed with you prior to the 2 Tests he played in India.

His technique is 100 times better. He can actually block now.

He's still a kid, 23. He'll improve under Boof.

KP_fan wrote:It is a selectorial debacle to play half fit Broad.
Flower's obsession for Broad, Bresnan and Bopara defies rationale

He got injured whilst batting.  

Onions would've been a real handful on this deck.

so broads cameo may have done more harm than good

Gerry SA wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Smith the classic bit player that england have tried and failed with on more occasions than I have had hot dinners.

Oh well I may be wrong.. But. I dunno I might not

I would've agreed with you prior to the 2 Tests he played in India.

His technique is 100 times better. He can actually block now.

He's still a kid, 23. He'll improve under Boof.

I have said a few times on this board...Smith is the most talented Aussie...one with X-factor and might be Australia's biggest star in this series

watson is the talent in the aus team. The freddie flintoff for Aus

alfie wrote:The Indian posters on here all seem a little obsessed by Finn versus Bresnan...
But in fact it is a false issue.  In my opinion , Bresnan is mainly in the squad as cover for Broad (and he may well be needed !)

If England don't want Finn at any time it will be because Tremlett is back in town.  But I expect Finn to be a fixture , at least in Test Matches now.

Alfie, Indian posters? Well, I must say that is a very interesting way of presentation to say the least? And false issue? Perhaps you should take a look at the cricinfo preview for this game. They had listed Bresnan as England's probable 3rd seamer over Finn, and even on these boards, many were saying perhaps it won't be a bad idea to have Bresnan playing the first test ahead of Finn. So I must say there is nothing particularly Indian about this issue, its an issue of cricketing debate. I have strong views on it, KPF also seems have to have his take on the issue where we are in agreement in certain aspects of the issue. We have our differences, KPF doesn't seem to rate Bresnan too much. I am not quite on the same page. I agree that he could be a decent option as first reserve, in fact I would have him playing if Finn or Broad become unavailable at some point. If its Anderson I would give first consideration to Onions, otherwise Bresnan.

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:It is a selectorial debacle to play half fit Broad.
Flower's obsession for Broad, Bresnan and Bopara defies rationale

He got injured whilst batting.  

even sitting million miles away we all know he had injury issues in CT
and then in the practise game agfainst Essesx.

Little detail like that won't stop KP_f in his relentless campaign to denigrate Flower , Giles and any other England official  

These two starting to tire. Might have to alternate Swann and Root.

erm deffo time to get swann on- it needs to be mixed up. this smith lad is taking it to us

30 minutes to prise out at least one more wicket.

Sorry , msp , I didn't mean to put you in a basket with KP_f...

Just found it amusing that in a few posts three chaps , all I think Indian fans , weighed in quite strongly re the Finn/Bresnan issue. I know it is just coincidence , and no offense intended I assure you.

I think we actually hold similar views on their respective merits for Test cricket , though we differ a bit on the ODIs  

come on get swanny on!!

Finn isnt affective at the moment.

YESSSSSSS

Wicket

JIMMY

He doesnt like it!

And another one for England. Or is it? Review!.

Jimmy I love you,
Jimmy I do,
When we're apart,
My heart beats only for you!

4 down Australia!

GOT HIM!!

alfie wrote:Little detail FACTS like that won't stop KP_f in his relentless campaign to denigrate critically analyse Flower , Giles and any other England official no other offical charged here  

amended to reality

Umpire's call and he has to go.

Average decision if you ask me.

Brushing the outside of leg pole

Its out its out simple as that

So would 5 down, if we get another, make it England's day?

Rogers gone ! Review ...but out !

Close , but umpires call is out still. It looked a good shout to be honest.

Four down...and Hughes has to come out now and face the music.

mystiroakey wrote:Its out its out simple as that

Never said it wasn't

Just an average decision IMO

Hughes just has to start slogging. Not good enough to hang around, if he could somehow manage to score a quickish 40-50, it could mean something.