Off Topic The Official Ashes 2013 Thread

Did you see the Warne masterclass today? One of the best bits of TV cricket knowledge pieces I've ever seen. The bloke really is a genius. See Scotty Borthwick tweeted how good it was. If he can put it all together there is still a chance with England for him in the future. His batting has improved out of sight.

Gritty from Rogers today. To smile and get through Broady's magic spell was excellent. No one backed Broad up today. I was hoping KP, Root and Belly would get a bowl in the end. That's when you know the frontliners are not delivering!

 

Always liked Warne, a class act.

Good partnership by Rogers and Watson. They didn't exactly set the world on fire but it was a very gritty effort from both of them.

 

Awesome bowler, Borthwick should appreciate, he'll never be that good, don't think he has the application or quality to play for England only taken 1 Championship wicket at Chester le Street this year.

Broad bowled brillantly, Anderson looks off the boil, England should have had Onions in as a 5th bowler, Durham's 5th bowler Stokes has been very successful there this year.

 

Anderson isn't off the boil, he's just not as suited to Chester le street as other places. He bowled decently, better in fact than Broad at the beginning of the innings. Broad just has these games, usually one a series, where he gets a wicket (most often the batsman playing a terrible shot, when he sees yet another **** delivery come down the track, but fluffs his lines) and then gets on a roll. Otherwise he's utter crap and bowls short and wide all day long. Glenn McGrath my knackers!

The only bowler, out of the four, who was actually properly off their game was bloody Swann. Newcastle fan or not he needs a slap every now and again. He didn't look interested all day, and where's the f***ing variation?! Lyon took 4 wickets on this bloody pitch, but Swann was useless.

Onions not starting this test can only be initiated by flipping Joe Kinnear. What a f***ing oversight that is.

Cook is an irritating captain as well. So orthodox I actually had a nap in the middle of the days play. Close catchers til they get to about 20, then it's "spread out lads" and the attacking stops. BORRRRRIIIIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

 

JK has a lot to answer to.

 

Jimmy was serving up runs bowling too leg side to Rogers for fun. Way below his best. Then you have Swanns new delivery - the full bunger. Bresnan is ill suited to the wicket but will toil away all day. The lack of patience from the bowlers was very frustrating. Jimmy seemed unable to show the patience to stick just outside off stump and wait for mistakes. I can understand the odd straight ball to Watson to test that technical fault but he bowled a few too many. He was just poor to Rogers full stop. He looked pissed off with himself to be fair and had a number of skyward stares. Hopefully he can back Broady up today. Broad loves these seaming English wickets.

We need to concede less than a 50 run lead. Otherwise the pressure on the batting will tell. I hope Trott goes back to boring the pants off everyone and ignores all the chat about scoring more quickly and digging trenches. Screw it, stick to what you do best.

 

I'll have you know that JK masterminded our victories in the first two tests and then made it rain when we were struggling in the third. So I'd take back that remark if I were you, before JK strikes you down with a click of his fingers.

 

Need early wickets today or we could struggle to save this Test.

 

Couldn't disagree more. He had Rodgers playing, missing edging and looking like a Rabbit in headlights for the first spell, but unluckily didn't pick up the wicket. Broad bowled utter consummate s*** til he got the first wicket and started pitching it up a bit more.

 

He did bowl well in his first spell. The problem is you have to bowl more than one spell. That is exactly the point I was making, he lacked patience and served up leg side ball after leg side ball in his spells after he wasn't rewarded, and Rogers just lapped up the easy runs. That's unlike Jimmy, he is normally very consistent. It was like watching the old jimmy. He is allowed to have a poor spell (he was average at OT).

Broad took a while to get himself sorted but he bowled very well yesterday overall. Unfortunately he was not supported.

 

Well Rodgers has gone now... Great work by Prior!

 

Hell of a call by Prior aswell as the catch. I saw the bat hit the pad and thought this was another comical review.

 

Basically just look at Broad, ask him if he'd review, then do the opposite!

 

I don't even know why they ask the bowlers, Swann and Broad basically think every ball is out. Even if they've been hit for 4

Trott took the biscuit yesterday "its definitely pitched in line" as hawk eye shows it to be only 6 inches outside leg

 

What's 6" among friends?

 

9 down. 20 runs is ok. Need to get this last one quickly. Doesn't look to be doing much, Aussies have given it away a little.

 

Haven't got the fight in them of old.

 

Got an old cricket book here with photo's of the England Team going to Oz by sea.

All the players out on the deck playing games together and seemingly enjoying it immensely. Freddie Trueman era.

 

Is Tony Hill rally an elite umpire? He doesn't seem to get much right to be honest.

 

As much as I don't rate Hill, it was a little disrespectful to leave him standing in the middle with his finger up