The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread

Am at work later, so will miss the most important day of this match. We have the time to put on a decent lead, but only time will tell. You would think a lead of 300+ should do it, but the Aussies will also have time (weather permitting) to get the runs. Our batting line up is better overall than theirs and that may be the difference.

 

Hi Fran. Think the wicket will deteriorate a bit more so Swann will be very hard to play. I'm out today as well. Typical!

 

I thought the wicket would deteriorate as well, but is it? The runs are increasing with each innings...hope that trend doesn't carry on for the Aussies. May be some rain...not enough to truly interrupt the match, but may be enough to alter playing conditions.

 

Would be a real shame if the weather spoilt this test as well. Lyon got some big movement late yesterday so confident Swann can even more.

 

Bell's stumps have been completely rearranged by Harris. 251/6.

 

And it's a golden duck for Prior! ****.

 

The Bell wicket had an up-side because it shot along the ground. Prior not so much...

 

I was up the Rose Bowl yesterday (cracking result by the way) and i bumped into Ashley Giles. We had a very brief chat and he said he was there to watch Carberry, Briggs and Dawson, Carbs didnt cover himself in glory but Giles knows just how good he is at this moment in time.

 

Great innings from Bresnan. Wicket looks to be a bit of a bastard now.

 

Think BBC live text has ****ed up. DROPPED CATCH - Eng 3138-9 (lead by 286) that's a **** load of runs.

 

Which is rather handy now we need to bowl them out

 

Aussies having a bit of luck , though umpire was wrong last time .

 

39-0 .

 

Bring on Swann for Anderson.

 

Slightly worrying that Vic Marks says most wickets have fallen to the new ball , they are looking OK at the moment ( the Aussie pair ) .

 

60-0

 

Here's Swann.

 

Hit for 6 .

 

Warner mullers him for 6. Great.

 

Intensity seeping out of England as the Aussies seem to have negotiated the new ball whilst riding their luck, our boys seem to be licking their wounds and feeling a bit sorry for themselves with a lot of close-calls not going their way. Chin up boys, really need a bit of magic from most probably Swann.