The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread

Decisions have to favour the batsman if the third Umpire is unsure.

 

Now we're gonna have to put up with the Aussies saying we're a bunch of cheats for the next couple of years...

 

I've always thought of the Aussies to be a pretty fair bunch when it comes to sport. Yes there's the Broad incident, which some may class as cheating (I don't), but I can't see many Aussies blaming Bell there. That wasn't his fault in the slightest. The umpires gave it not out.

 

The Aussies may say luck hasn't favoured them (but remember we had a couple of dodgy decisions as well), but tbf the players have never complained. The Australians never criticised Broad because they wouldn't have walked either. We are not responsible for the umpiring decisions either. It will be Joe Kangaroo on the street who will complain, just as it is Sun readers over here.

 

I think the players will take it on the chin and won't be bearing a grudge against us (Definitely against the Umpires, however!), but I've already seen even before this incident too many phrases/words from Aussie fans like 'Home-umpiring' 'Bias' 'Conspiracy' etc. etc.

 

Yes, the standard of umpiring in this series hasn't been great. Unfortunately however, removing Billy Bowden and Asad Rauf from the elite panel of umpires (I disagreed with removing Bowden, agreed with removing Rauf) has left the ICC with just four non-English and non-Aussie umpires. And all four, on a rotation basis, are involved in this series.

 

I would never accuse either Aussie or England Umpires of bias...that is one thing I am certain of.

 

As I said, it's the fans that moan...just as over here.

 

Session has turned out exactly as I hoped. Settle back in for 20 mins or so after Tea, and then have a dart. Let Prior, Broad and Swann all play some shots. And these two can get a move on when they want to, too.

 

How many runs have we got?

 

I concur, let Root get a deserved century and then move through the gears, everyone from here on out can keep the score ticking very nicely. I fear however that in reality we will be same old conservative England and slowly bat out until before lunch tomorrow... A chance for you to break free from the shackles of negative England traditions and prove that you can turn us into a dominant force, Mr. Cook!

I was looking forward to Bumble's feelings on this and he is not disappointing.

 

There will still be a doubt in Cook's mind that the Aussies might just pull a great innings out of the bag as there are still 2 days to go. He won't want to give them a sniff, so I cannot see an early declaration.

 

I said yesterday before the close of play that I could potentially see us batting until lunch on day four, such has the game moved on at a pace so much. And to be honest, I wouldn't have any problems with Cook doing that. I personally wouldn't go that way, because we have the talent and skill to get that 500 lead tonight, and having two or three or four overs at the Aussies tonight could leave them with all sorts of problems to think about when they go to sleep tonight. But if Cook does want to go that way (ie lunch tomorrow), then fine. I'm very confident that we're going to win either way.

 

Completely agree with Nasser and Atherton there.

 

Of course, to bat through would be a very legitimate and safe way to do it, and whilst I would be a little disappointed I would be fine and would still back us to win very comfortably. But given the talent that we now have and the fact that we have been very good for a few years now with us and the Saffers breaking away from the rest of the pack, it would be nice for us to get a bit of a dominant edge to our game and really put our foot on the throat of weaker opposition as strong teams of the past have done. But I suppose it's just not the English way. Then again it's not the English way to be this good in the first place.

 

Root!! Super stuff.

 

Well done, Joe. Looks ten years younger than his actual 22 years.

 

Great for Root to have a strong knock in such circumstances early in his opening career to give him that confidence boost, not sure he really needed it that badly but if he had of got through the series without a century then questions would start to be asked. Doing it in the second test at Lords t'boot, perfect!

 

Now attack!
Smash some runs and put them in before the close

 

Also Brendy, I've just remembered our little discussion on Bell pre-Ashes... I told you he was in great form...!