England v Aussies Ashes Series

**Treadstone** · 18-07-2013 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Doddie

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I think the problem is when some idiot starts talking about cricket as if it were somehow different from (and morally superior to) any other sport. It isn't and never has been. There's always an edge in the Ashes - the stories of Aussie sledging of English batsmen, and English batsmen getting them back, are legion.

Snooker and golf like to pretend this is the case as well. Two sports where you put on shoes to play.

**--------** · 18-07-2013 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

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Snooker and golf like to pretend this is the case as well. Two sports where you put on shoes to play.

Actually, I'd say it's the poseurs who try to keep those pretensions going.

If cricket were genuinely gentlemanly, it would be rather tedious - after you, Claude, no, after you Cecil - but it's the bite that makes it fun. I mean, cricket involves fast bowlers launching a solid, very hard projectile at a batsman's soft and tender body at something between 75 and 100 mph. I mean, that hurts.

I agree totally about golf and snooker and I could also add fencing, of which many years ago I was a moderately accomplished practitioner.

Many people assume that it's all about skill and good fellowship - you know, your opponent drops his sword, so you step back and allow him to retrieve it..

Bull****. If your opponent drops his sword, you skewer him.

There IS a code - you don'd cheat like Onishenko did in the 76 Olympics without being hammered big time, but it's a combat sport and there's absolutely no need to be silly and lose unnecessarily ....

However, to get back to the point of the thread, this Test's nicely poised now. I still think England will win it.

And as for Broad, there's something about him I just don't quite like - he reminds me of Damien in "Drop The Dead Donkey".

Damien:

Stuart Broad:

(Or maybe it's the other way round ....)

**Treadstone** · 18-07-2013 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Doddie

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And as for Broad, there's something about him I just don't quite like - he reminds me of Damien in "Drop The Dead Donkey".

Never taken to Broad myself.

**--------** · 18-07-2013 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

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Never taken to Broad myself.

I didn't see the incident when he stood his ground, but I have a feeling he would have made it rather obvious he was 'at it'.

On the other hand, I have a huge regard for Anderson.

I was also rather taken with the discussion between Strauss and (I think) Hussein when Strauss was adamant that he would have taken Steve Smith off and asked for the new ball.

Nice call, Andrew - Smith takes another two cheap wickets, takes the gloss of what had up till then been a good day for England, and leaves everything nicely balanced.

There's mileage in this series yet, I think.

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 10:02 AM

Bresnan out first ball of the day 289-8

***Off the bar*** · 19-07-2013 10:24 AM

313/9 Anderson out, Swann coming in unusually far down the order! These two need to smash 30-40 to get England to a respectable total.

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 10:55 AM

361 All Out

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 12:05 PM

Watson lbw 30 Bresnan final delivery of the session, 42-1 @ Lunch

***Off the bar*** · 19-07-2013 12:05 PM

42/1 Watson gone lbw to Bresnan, another shocking review from the Aussies

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 01:04 PM

Rogers lbw Swann 15, 53-2

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 01:06 PM

Hughes gone for 1, 53-3

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 01:07 PM

Reviews all over the place today!

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 01:28 PM

Khawaja out for 14, 69-4.

***Off the bar*** · 19-07-2013 02:03 PM

Smith gone for 2 86-5 and as I write Clarke gone! 90-6 can they avoid the follow on? would you inforce if they don't make it?

**Treadstone** · 19-07-2013 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by hoxtonhibby

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Smith gone for 2 86-5 and as I write Clarke gone! 90-6 can they avoid the follow on? would you inforce if they don't make it?

Cook nearly got the declaration wrong against NZ, bit of a safety first captain though that could be as he is in the infancy of his leadership. He'd rather have the decision made for him but either way this test looks Englands all the way.

***Off the bar*** · 19-07-2013 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

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Cook nearly got the declaration wrong against NZ, bit of a safety first captain though that could be as he is in the infancy of his leadership. He'd rather have the decision made for him but either way this test looks Englands all the way.

96/7 now, Aussie's falling apart for what its worth I would'nt enforce follow on, it's mucking hot here in London and I'd make them field for a day and a half and leave them 2 days to survive chasing an impossible 450-500

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 03:08 PM

Nipped to McDonalds with my wee nephew for an hour, looks like i'm missing all the fun!

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 03:13 PM

Siddle gone for 2, 104-8

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 03:18 PM

Haddin out for 7, 104-9

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 03:51 PM

Aussies 128 All Out! 5 wickets for Swanny

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 04:46 PM

Cook drags the ball onto the stumps, out for 8, 22-1

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 04:55 PM

Trott drags on too, out for a duck 22-2

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 19-07-2013 06:29 PM

England 31-3 @ close of play.

**Zazu62** · 20-07-2013 09:27 AM

Can't see anything other than an English victory ... Australia were rank rotten with the bat yesterday like

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 20-07-2013 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Hiberniankb

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Can't see anything other than an English victory ... Australia were rank rotten with the bat yesterday like

Very much so. England are effectively 303-3, even if they only score another 100 runs it'll be game over.

**--------** · 20-07-2013 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Hiberniankb

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Can't see anything other than an English victory ... Australia were rank rotten with the bat yesterday like

Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

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Very much so. England are effectively 303-3, even if they only score another 100 runs it'll be game over.

Game's over now barring weather and I don't think that'll save them, and I can see Botham's prediction for this series coming true - this Australian team's the poorest I can remember - they have an awful lot of work to do to be even half-ready for the return series in the winter.