Off Topic The Official Ashes 2013 Thread

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Speaking of all things juiced up, anyone watching any of the athletics? This world championships just seems to have slipped under the radar.

Sumptuous drive from Bell. His runs are coming when we need them these days. Can KP resist smashing Lyon into Lumley Castle?
 
Eng 161-4 (lead by 129)

I wonder how much the direction of this Test match rests on the shoulders of Ian Bell? If he were to fall soon, Australia would be favourites. As I type that, an inside edge off Bird runs between Bell's legs, the batsman definitely defeated. 22 overs remain in the day, but they must be bowled by 1830.
 
Eng 170-4 (lead by 138)

Jonny Bairstow decides the best way to take England to a winning total is to attack, twice charging to belt Lyon down the ground for four. Bairstow was very tentative in the first innings, so playing his natural game is probably the way to go. Shane Watson, meanwhile, has right hip and groin pain, which almost sounds like he's in labour. Not that I know what being in labour feels like.
 
Geoffrey Boycott, Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special.

"I'm not sure that - although it's an interesting Test match - the public want such a low-scoring match. They say it's a bit slow and would like to see a few more shots. It is a lovely ground but maybe they need to give some more consideration to the pitch in the future."

Of course Boycs was well known for his cavalier style of batting.
 
Bat long England. I have a grand grinding plan now. We tire out their front liners. They have no Watto to turn to so Clarke and Smith have to chip in. Clarkes back goes and Smith freakishly gets his hand broken from the Burnley Lara smashing one back at him. Their batting is line up is left in tatters and we roll them for 9 runs 2nd innings chasing 252 runs.
 
Norma Snockers said:
Bat long England. I have a grand grinding plan now. We tire out their front liners. They have no Watto to turn to so Clarke and Smith have to chip in. Clarkes back goes and Smith freakishly gets his hand broken from the Burnley Lara smashing one back at him. Their batting is line up is left in tatters and we roll them for 9 runs 2nd innings chasing 252 runs.
Click to expand...

Sounds good.
 
Eng 175-4 (lead by 143)

Slowly slowly catchy monkey for England. Bairstow's early fireworks back in the box, for now, Bell denied an on-side boundary by the sliding Ryan Harris.
 
Eng 186-4 (Bell 75*, Bairstow 18*)

Jonny Bairstow breaks the shackles, playing a lovely cover drive then hooking Harris, both for fours. Michael Clarke has seen enough. He marches from slip and order men this way and that. The result is a man sent back on the hook, with Harris coming around the wicket. Bairstow, a man with previous against the short ball, can expect some chin music and rides a vicious bumper well.
 
I had a good section of them away to my right on Friday. They were in full voice. There were some excellent pint snakes. Hardly surprising, there would have been a late day flurry from our section. I drank my fair share but did not take part in the late day downing sessions which resulted in a Wayne Rooney lookalike being ejected. I thought Durham were incredibly well organised, did the club proud. Getting a drink compared to Headingly was about 10 times as quick. Had some great craic with a few Aussies in the concourse, whole atmosphere around the day was positive. Obviouslt the cricket went a bit awry but otherwise a cracking day.

We went and watched Divo do a few throw downs to Matthew Wade in the nets. Steward was not stuffy at all when we asked to get closer for a good look. Wade was good craic. A few of the lads were calling out shots for him to play. He was concentrating hard but did take time out to smash a hook straight at us and had a little chuckle to himself.
 
Eng 194-4 (lead by 162)

This is proper Test cricket, an excellent contest between bat and ball. Ryan Harris continues around the wicket to Bairstow, banging some leather-sniffers into the middle of the wicket. A short leg and men on the hook - leg theory. Bairstow is looking to ride the bumpers, but then comes forward for a beautiful straight drive when Harris goes full. It's almost reminiscent of Allan Donald v Mike Atherton in 1998. Almost.
 
Eng 199-4 (lead by 167)

Now it's Ian Bell's turn to face the chin music of the Ryan Harris orchestra. Ducking and weaving the short stuff, he creams a half-volley between mid off and extra cover, holding the pose to give the photographers a good look. Harris's response? An absolute snorter, homing in on Bell's bonce. Bell is jumping, throwing his head back, taking the ball on the glove and eventually ending sitting on the crease. Big smile on his face, very good cricket.

By the way all of these comments are coming from the BBC Sports page.
 
Eng 210-4 (Bell 89*, Bairstow 28*)

If you were to build a batsman taking only stroke from players around the world, Ian Bell's late cut would be a candidate. Time and again he leans back, angling his bat, using the pace of the ball to guide through third man. That's just what he does to the returning Jackson Bird, moving four closer to a third century of a stellar series.

Bell deserves a century for this knock.
 
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