From the point of view of the series as a whole an Australian victory would have really upped the ante.Still great entertainment listening in but it basically means England win the next test and it's over as a contest. I was wanting a 5th test decider,may still happen I suppose.
True. Its a bit like winning 5-0 in the FA Cup Final; its great that you've won but you don't get that same elation at the final whistle as you do when there is one goal in it, especially if the winner is scored in injury time.
Not sure what you mean there, this was hardly a hammering. It was very close and either side could have won so it was superb to do it. The two sides are a lot more evenly matched than at first assumed so I think the series will be close. Big relief to win this one.
Yes, and I don't see why just because we won this it will mean we whitewash the series. It's going to be close throughout, there is still a good chance it'll go to the fifth as decider.
Might not be, but I think what he was saying is if we were to lose the first that it would make an overall victory all the more sweeter having been behind Personally, I'd rather win the series 5-0
O.K,If Australia had won this test it would of made the whole series alot more exciting with England being 1) playing at home 2)arguably the better Test side and 3)Being current holders and only needing the draw to retain.But they would be one down with four to play, hence.............game on!! Now that England have one in the bag,if they win the next Test it's over as a contest because the Aussies ain't gonna win the last three on the bounce from two down. I must explain I am very much into Test cricket (more so than other form's of the game),and have no allegiance to either side.
Disagree about not wanting a 5-0 whitewash. For me every test match is a contest in its own right. To win any test match,more so an ashes test, is an acheivement in itself. Also just think back 10 years or so ago when we were getting trounced by the Aussies and our one consolation was we might win a dead rubber. So I'm quite happy to win 5-0 and then go over there and win 5-0 again. Nothing in cricket gives me satisfaction as beating the Aussies because no matter how bad they are they always give 100% and you really have to battle to win. It's a bit like Andy Murray winning 3-0 last week..looks like an easy game but it could have been so different,he just won the big points. And that's what england did here,the difference between the teams was we had two match winners in bell and Anderson. It was very tense today and that's what you get with test match cricket that you will find in no other form of the game.
If Australia's top 6 decide to actually get some runs it could be a tight series. Their 10th wicket partnerships put on 220 in the 2 innings. They have batting all down so we're going to need to score big runs in order to win games as can't them not getting 300 too many times.
