Yeah her neighbour put it in mate, I cut down down a bloody massive fig tree for him so we got the price cheaper! It's got 2 breakfast bars
All set mate! Who knows what's going to happen, up and down series so as pops said last nite we're due a win now
I did, and I also said we`re going to break the pattern. We seem equally capable of running riot with your batting as we are capable of collapsing our own. Anything could happen
I chose to to erase that part of our conversation mate It'll be interesting no doubt.. I'd rather be 2-1 at this stage so you poms are in prime position
A decent article from Mike Gatting. ASHES EXCLUSIVE: England need to cope without leader Anderson, says Gatting Yahoo expert and former England skipper Mike Gatting says Alastair Cook's side must have the belief to make do without their talismanic strike bowler please log in to view this image 4 hours ago England at Edgbaston but their challenge now is to break the run of failing to win two Tests in a row - and what better incentive than doing so to win back the Ashes. The eight-wicket win against Australia extended the hosts’ record of winning and then losing to seven matches. In my Yahoo column ahead of the third Test, I asked for the basics to be done better and they did so by bowling as a unit and by holding their catches - two areas that have led to the inconsistency, so they must maintain that level. My only major worry going into the Test is the absence of Jimmy Anderson, given he has been such an outstanding bowler. They’ve lost the leader of their pack - but they must not think that they can’t win because he’s not there. New Zealand and Broad and Ali in the first innings at Edgbaston and then Root and Bell did so in the second. We need to be able to do it with different compositions of pairing if we are to look more solid. I also think credit has to go to the selectors. They’ve done well to keep Adam Lyth in the side - there is clearly something there but he does need to find some runs. With an ageing side, Australia undoubtedly have more long-term selection issues than England once they get beyond this series but even now they are probably going to have to make changes. The top four of the batting will stay the same but then they maybe need to look at Shaun Marsh for Adam Voges. In the bowling line up Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood didn’t bowl anywhere near as well as they did at Lord’s. Starc was wayward, Hazlewood seemed to lack a little bit of something - it wouldn’t surprise me if Pat Cummins comes in at Trent Bridge. Nathan Lyon at least bowled well for them. I just think they need some fresh blood to give the engine room a boost. The Australians will fight and come back at us - they’re never down and out - but they do have it all to do to resurrect this because if they lose this one then they’ve lost the Ashes. And then comes Michael Clarke. He is under huge pressure as captain and to score runs. After such an embarrassing defeat this is where ruthlessness comes in for England. They need to make it hard for him to get off the mark and need to keep him scratching around out there - or just get him out quickly. It will certainly be Clarke’s last Ashes in the UK but England need to do what the Aussies traditionally have done so well: get their foot on his throat and keep it there - then this may well be the last series that we see him pull on the Baggy Green cap as skipper.
Fair article mate, he hit the nail on the head with the last two paragraphs... If you guys slaughter our captain again it'll have a bounce on effect on the team..
A chance of rain today fellas? I think their maybe a few runs scored on this pitch! Winning the toss is crucial IMO, A special shout out and RIP to Phillip Hughes!! In 2013 he broke the record for the highest 10th wicket partnership with Ashton Agar on this very Ground!
It's very green and was overcast earlier - going to swing - bowlers pitch I think. Good shout on Philip Hughes - I'd completely forgotten about that! As for the Gatting article - int he three innings up to the last test, Anderson looked like He'd struggle to get me out - OK I averaged around 25 but that was in a second team locally where the quicks bowled at around 55 mph!) He had a great test (help a lot by your lads inability to play a moving ball) but he was rather rubbish up to then!
Shaun Marsh in for Mitchell Marsh.. Not surprised by that tbh.. Shaun brings a bit of depth to our batting obviously as we have struggled for runs so far.. The wicket looks good, plenty of grass on it and Alistair Cook winning the toss and electing to bowl is the right decision IMO based on he wants to go for the kill.. Mark 'chubby' wood in for jimmy, good record at Trent bridge and they say he'll be match fit.. Special note to Mike Atherton asking Michael Clarke the hard questions.. Has pup got the fire in his belly? Special note volume 2 David Lloyd, I just love the bloke! Hope to have a beer with him one day
Bumble is a legend - I met him at Edgbaston on my 36th birthday (4 years ago next Wednesday) - just bumped into him as he'd finished for the day - spent about 15 minutes talking to him which seemed like 30 seconds!! Offered him a beer at the pub we were all going to locally but he said he couldn't as he had to prepare for the next day (it was day 3 of England v India - bit of rain and bad light but I had a cracking day - only time I've been to Edgbaston so far!) Cracking birthday present from the old man!!
Good on ya mate! That would've been class I'll tell you what Bumble is very much respected over here.. Great cricketer and a top analyst.. Not only that, he's a bloody funny bloke
