The Ashes: 1st Test, Trent Bridge

First topic message reminder :

England:
Alastair Cook*, Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow,
Matt Prior†, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson

Australia:
Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke*, Steve Smith, Phil Hughes,
Brad Haddin†, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Ashton Agar

How are the conditions looking? Overcast?

well I know here inside the m25 . It is one of the best days ever. Its going to be 30 plus later on

mystiroakey wrote:I kind of hope there is alot for the bowlers and they get us out quiick. ironically if it looks flat and we get to 350 they may have more of a chance

I think a lot depends on that weather. if it changes this afternoon it could be fun for Jimmy.

kingraf wrote:How are the conditions looking? Overcast?

perfect sun.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

kingraf wrote:How are the conditions looking? Overcast?

perfect sun.

Good.
Bell and Broad can put on another 100 then.

Interesting that Lehmann has said Agar is bowling differently due to a cut on his spinning finger.

We could see an entirely different bowler in the next test.

So then saffas and indians.. Are you jealous of the history, competition and rivalry of the ashes?

I've never seen a rugby player telling the ref, "whistle sir, I definitely passed that ball forward, so I don't want that try to count." If the umpires are going to give one team a game winning advantage (Agar stumping), then why should England give them another one? Well played Broady.

I haven't read the comments above so I presume the Broad incident has been mentioned ad naseum, apologies if I'm dragging this out.

Just wanted to say I think the Aussies have dealt with it with real class, it's been a credit to them. The story should be - a really really great game, with neither team whingeing about the umpire just voicing natural annoyance (although I think the Aussies have done a little better than us on this). Instead, Agnew, who I cannot stand, has done his 'Guardian of the Spirit of the Game' BS, with a small collection of non-playing journos trying to whip this into a frenzy.

I cannot see any bad blood between the teams, and to Agnew's 'This can taint a player's reputation for years'...only if you and your media idiots continually bring it up. We'd all have liked to have seen him walk, he understandably didn't, that's it.

Sorry if this has been done to death, this is more of an anti-Agnew rant! I'm done  

great edge- we luv them at this point- and it takes broad to 50!

50 for Broad.

He batted, and batted properly like an actual batsman. Really very impressed with his attitude in this innings. 

Ton up for Bell!

What an innings, the first century of the Ashes series. In the context of the game, runs hard to come by, a very small lead on the board, this has been a sensational hand by Ian Bell. He dug in, with dogged determination, and didn't come unstuck. It could very well be a match-winning knock. 

50 for Broad and a ton for Bell  

Just when we need bell to perform he does. The irony of bell is that he is a test player not IMO a perfect ODI one. So I am very much a supporter of him in this format even though his average has been below par recently.

The most important 100 Bell has ever scored?

Fantastic knock under some pretty severe pressure.

Great 50 for Broad...lucky...but them's the breaks.

If England can bat the session here, time may well become a problem for Australia as run-scoring is difficult on such a slow pitch.

Broad seems even more determined by the fact he has had the breaks. THAT is the sign of a winner.. good on him. I think we will see broad with a better batting approach in future games. About time as well. He has that talent

I love michael Cclarke as a skipper, but he can go absolutely brain deadd at times.. Easily 50 runs that shouldnt have been in the 3rd man region

Anyone know the general odds on a draw/england win? I may need to recoup money lost on bettiing on an Aussie win.

Hard to believe I know, but there's meant to be cloud cover and a small chance of rain later on in the evening session in Nottingham. Advantage England.

The draw was about 10 last night- about 8 at the moment.(was 500/1 at one point this game)

You wont get better than 1/4 for an England win at the moment.

Already 20 more runs this morning. 300 will be a big psychological boost/pain

So Aussie odds on favourites when you add the agar factor into the equation?

The best ever just waiting to pounce.  Kid could get the runs on his own.

It's nice to think that Anderson, Finn and Swann have had their feet up since Thursday afternoon!

350 up for England. Australia will now need a record 4th innings score at Trent Bridge to win.

Thanks Mystir - i suppose I'll ride it out, and hope this bogans get some wind in their sails

I'm still with KP fan here that you need 350 to take any sort of comfort. You're up against a Team that can put on a ton in no time for the last wicket after all. Give that world class side time and they will bat you out of it,

if you are a betfair user graf- my suggestion would be to back the draw at 9.6- so thats 8.6/1 then lay 40 of at 3.5/1- to get your money back. however if wickets start falling this wont happen.

but i would personally take that risk.. because all that is needed is aus to start of ok in there innings or england to just bat out a session or two. Which i think they can- basically hardly any wickets to fall

I am ok because i took england at 3(2/1) allready layed at 1.24- so i am in profit whatever happens.

btw the draw has allready gone from 9.6 to 8.2 since i made that comment!!

trebellbobaggins wrote:I'm still with KP fan here that you need 350 to take any sort of comfort.  You're up against a Team that can put on a ton in no time for the last wicket after all.  Give that world class side time and they will bat you out of it,

Not on this pitch they won't (provided England bowl tight and field well).

Batting has been a bit dicey all the way through this match. Even the Aussies looked nervous, Smith, Hughes and Agar aside.

Also, fantastic knock that it was, we don't yet know if Agar's score was a fluke, one-off wonder or whatever. Batting 11 with no pressure on him, he had licence to go on the attack.

Wonder if they'll risk moving him up the order, where he may have to deal with the pressure of saving an innings?

mystiroakey wrote:So then saffas and indians.. Are you jealous of the history, competition and rivalry of the ashes?

Well we are not jealous of history, competition or the rivalry, we too enjoy this great tournament. I don't know what made you say so?

Wolfe - if they dont move him to at least 8th in the order I feel for the aussie mentality. No pressure or not- he showed he has shots and skillz. it wasnt just a 20/20 slog

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:So then saffas and indians.. Are you jealous of the history, competition and rivalry of the ashes?

Well we are not jealous of history, competition or the rivalry, we too enjoy this great tournament. I don't know what made you say so?

 well because you dont have the same type of match up. This is the pinnacle event for us aussies or english. even if other teams are ranked higher - this is what we ultimaetly care about in cricket. This is our pinnacle event

Broad has gone

well played though

Broad's gone now with the lead up to 291.

A sterling effort.  

His highest Test score for near-enough 2 years.

Time for Swann, can England add another 30+?

I turn it on for the first time in a day and we lose a wicket.

I am a bloody Jonah.

That sky is getting cancelled seriously.

Anyway, England well behind the 350 lead they needed to challenge Aussie and likely to be out it no time now so with time in the game I'd say its very likely Aussies game.

As for broad,  he produced his best in ages at a crucial time for England.  Well done.

draws back up to 10 with that wicket-

mystiroakey wrote:Wolfe - if they dont move him to at least 8th in the order I feel for the aussie mentality. No pressure or not- he showed he has shots and skillz. it wasnt just a 20/20 slog

Oh, I agree...he is a quality batsman.

Trouble is he's young and playing in his first Test/Ashes match.

Its one thing to let your talent flow when there is no pressure/expectations, but another entirely when people suddenly start expecting you to deliver.


And as I write this Broad is gone for 65, caught behind...and this time he walks! Good knock that has helped England to a very decent lead.

That seems to be such a weakness in all left handers. Trescothick, Strauss and Cook all struggle with playing away from their bodies.

Good innings though, 300 will be difficult to chase on this wicket if England bowl well.

dyrewolfe wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Wolfe - if they dont move him to at least 8th in the order I feel for the aussie mentality. No pressure or not- he showed he has shots and skillz. it wasnt just a 20/20 slog

Oh, I agree...he is a quality batsman.

Trouble is he's young and playing in his first Test/Ashes match.

Its one thing to let your talent flow when there is no pressure/expectations, but another entirely when people suddenly start expecting you to deliver.


And as I write this Broad is gone for 65, caught behind...and this time he walks! Good knock that has helped England to a very decent lead.

 I agree the pressure will now be on him. However they have to try him out IMO. if they bat him last again he may not even get a delivery

Broad really changed the game...hats off to you man.

They were showing all the mess in this pitch suggesting there is tons here for Swann. 350 would have been a heck of a challenge even for the world class Aussies.

Why is agar getting nothing? I see Henley player saying he was a great spinner but it doesn't look it, he looks a bowling batsman.

I think Swany has to slog- Its the only way he can play effectively enough

trebellbobaggins wrote:They were showing all the mess in this pitch suggesting there is tons here for Swann.  350 would have been a heck of a challenge even for the world class Aussies.

Why is agar getting nothing?  I see Henley player saying he was a great spinner but it doesn't look it,  he looks a bowling batsman.

 Well i have doubts about him but it may just be his injured finger

So seriously, what would be a par lead here?

350 or more?

par lead historically is about 230 i would say trebbs.

300 could be more than enough if England bowl well.

trebellbobaggins wrote:So seriously, what would be a par lead here?

350 or more?

Against Australia's brittle top order, facing the guile of Swann, the swing of Anderson, and the express pace of Finn, I would estimate about 180 would have made it 50/50.

KP_fan wrote:if it's less than 300......Aus will win easily
if it's more than 350.....Eng will surely win

in between is 50-50
remember Broad may not bowl or at best roll his arm

Looking back at this... Easy win still on for Aussie then.

Duty281 wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:So seriously, what would be a par lead here?

350 or more?

Against Australia's brittle top order, facing the guile of Swann, the swing of Anderson, and the express pace of Finn, I would estimate about 180 would have made it 50/50.

One word.

Agar.

Morning all .

Lively enough first forty minutes. Bell's century , Broad's fifty , Broad out , and the usually rational Holding making a total goose of himself calling for ICC action against Broad for not walking !!

Wonderful partnership that...should prove a match winner. Though the pitch is still playing well enough generally so Australia are not out of it yet.
Of course they still have three wickets to take before they think about the task their batsmen face.

Weather set fair ?