The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread

Can't let the Aussies get more then 200.

 

I reckon the Aussies will set a target of 350 in about 100 overs...giving them about 10 overs at England tonight (weather permitting)....will England be tempted to 'go for it' tomorrow?

 

They might declare at 200 anyway

 

Oh hello Smith whacks Bresnan for 6.

 

They are actually 277 for 4...doesn't sound that frightening, does it?

 

Whoops! Big mix up there.

 

And rain stops play at OT. Shame.

 

Yes. A terrible shame.

 

We have recently said that if we're still in promotion race come the end of this month (yeah right will we be!), then we'd seriously consider bringing someone in for September.

So someone at short notice, who we would have faith in to walk straight into the team and have an impact in September? My suggestion is to give you the aforementioned Imran Tahir (SA's t20 series vs SL ends after the match currently taking place).

But yes, signing one over the winter is massively important. And one who we know will actually turn up this time, rather than going for a big name who then later has to pull out because of their international commitments.

 

Jimmy finally has a wicket on his homeground. 152/6 now.

 

The bowlers are doing well as regards wickets, but the run rate is still too high. Our best bet was to make them crawl to their target for declaration and reduce the time available for them to bowl us out. I think they will declare at 350ish and put us back in tonight.

 

Off due to bad light.

 

And Clarke is not happy. Declaration coming up I think.

 

Didn't realise that they didn't have to ask the batsmen...purely an Umpires decision. Australia arguing, whilst our players scuttled off like crabs on a beach.

 

Same, would give us a total we can get. But I can see Cook going defensive again.

 

Australia have been positive up till now. I reckon they will give us a chance if it also gives them a chance as we keep the Ashes if there's a draw.

 

He should open with Prior and Broad and see what happens!

 

I'd say it's probably been about two years now since they took the decision away from the batsmen, and made it solely down to the umpires.

 

KP opened against SA last year on the final day. We quickly shut up shop once he got though, as I recall.

 

Really...I could have sworn I've seen it offered to the batsmen more recently than that.