In Cricket Ashes probably read a good book. In Rugby League Ashes joked with Aussie fans on the old Hill at the SCG as my husband jumped up and down, shouting in sheer delight as we beat them 2-1 over 40 years ago- the last time G.Britain/England won an Ashes series either home or away!
Does that mean I can ditch Bristol City and support someone who wins? I'm with you England (and Bristol City) til I die
I support South Africa in Rugby Union too having acquired South African citizenship before Australian citizenship.
Fantastic start to get rid of Smith and Johnson. I was hoping to keep them under 400. It could better then that.
Attritional cricket at the end from us but exactly what was needed in the circumstances. It was imperative we got through to the end with no more than 4 wickets down. Pietersen's ego gets in the way again I see and Cook should be appalled with his dismissal. He'd only cut the Mekon for 4 two deliveries previous to relieve a bit of pressure. He should have left anything else that far outside his off stump well alone. If( and it's a massive if) we can scramble another 150 runs we 're still in this test. A score if less than 330 and I reckon it's game over. Even that would be an ask but at least we're still in the game. In the previous two tests we've been dead and buried going into day 3.
Unfortunately, we can't afford to sit in and block everything away like Boycott would've done. A result is needed for confidence and to make it interesting. We need quick runs and to get them back into bat.
I'd be happy to plod along at a couple an over for the full day if it meant getting a lead. I'm not bothered how the runs come, be they quick or slow. Have you seen the cracks on the wicket? Batting on days 4 and 5 could be very tricky if the spinners get it right. I can still see a calamitous collapse tomorrow and us being 150+ behind before the second innings start.
If they get Bell, Prior & Stokes out reasonably early, we'll be **** creek without a paddle. Without these the rest just go at it as if they're in a 20/20 game & are easy pickings. We need the players to occupy the crease, but we need them to keep the scoreline ticking over. We can't just block the ball. It'll also take it out of the Aussies- Clarke & Harris have fitness problems, which could help us.
Terrible again. What makes this worse is we're playing against a very average side. At least 2006/07 we got battered by a legendary side who where fired up after losing the Ashes.
The end of the road is very close for a few of the old guard I think. Prior will be the first casualty and I wouldn't be shocked if Pietersen was binned off as well.
It won't be as easy as that, i'm afraid. England tried to bin Pietersen off before during the Saffas Test series, a few years a go, and the media kicked off.
They can kick off all they like but he's been out 4 out of 5 times in this series by being caught mid wicket/ mid on area, which was a deliberate plan by the Aussies. Poor application and poor discipline from Pietersen, time after time.
True, but that's the norm now. I think you have to give a big hand to the bowling side for having a plan and sticking to it. Most of the players go out to bat in 20/20 or ODI mode now. Pietersen is now different to the rule. If he had a little patience he could affect the match, but he goes for the glory shot every time. To be fair, it's not just him who does it. You could predict how certain players get out, like Watson getting out LBW every time in the last Aussie tour to England, in the summer.
The biggest problem is the way we play the game. It's okay on slow pitches. But put them anything with pace on or spin and they fall to bits. We need start playing a new exciting and attacking brand of cricket. I think we do need a clear out there are plenty good young players that just need a chance. IMO we need to get rid of Carberry, Pietersen, Anderson, Swann, Panesar and give players like Sam Robson, Gary Ballance and Steven Finn a good run. Within two years of 2006/07 Ashes Trescothick, Flintoff, Giles, Pluckett, Mehmood, Hoggard, Harrmison, Jones, Read and Joyce had all retired or been binned.
Agree with all of that. This tour was a bridge too far for a lot of our players and the end is nigh. They should be thanked and remembered for delivering the best era of English test cricket possibly in living memory, certainly in my 41 years, and not this tour. Time to look forward and move on.
