The Ashes are comming. (Cricket)

[Ian Gentles]

Australia dosent seem confident, England got a strong side, let battle commence. Its total war!

[David Graham]

After our disasterous tour of India, and our recent losses to Sri Lanka, we are certainly not confident. However, all is not lost; playing our old (likable) foes in test cricket usually brings out the best in us. So, as you say Ian,...... let the battle begin!

[Roland Hearn]

7 days until we hear that wonderful sound of leather on willow - can't wait. I'll be there Friday. A group of guys from the depot are going around to Allan Border Oval to watch the State match tomorrow, between shifts - just to get our lungs working. While the Aussies are playing below their best at the moment there is nothing like looking into the eyes of a pome to get you motivated.

[David Graham]

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...... Oi, Oi, Oi...........

Just practicing my "warcry"....... I'll be sounding it somewhere from a couch on the Gold Coast where we're going on our anniversery.

[Kevin Rector]

So that game goes on for like 6 years right?

[Ian Gentles]

Its a simple case of Rule Britania ;)

[Roland Hearn]

Scores around the country today suggest it is going to be a great first game. Watson, Johnson and Hussey striking form. Bell hit a century in the warm up game. I can't wait. I only hope that the rain that is around this weekend will be gone by next.

[David Graham]

Yeah, Mitchell Johnson is turning out to be quite a useful "Allrounder"......... I'd feel a bit more comfortable if our openning batsmen struck some form though.

[Roland Hearn]

I think Watson's form as an openner has been awesome. His last four innings average 67.7, Kattich on the other hand has always been a Clayton's test batsmen in my opinion - the batsmen you have when you don't have a batsmen - his last four have averaged 27. He has had some good innings across the years for sure but he has never, IMHO, looked like a test batsmen.

[Roland Hearn]

Just three more sleeps folks - bring it on.

[Ian Gentles]

England are playing well, on top form. However expect Australia to play with heart on fron of home crowds. I think this series will be close.

[Kevin Rector]

I think that Watson with his sixteen jiggers will snogger the whiz better than most. Of course considering how well England has fazzled recently I'll be interested to see if Australia can dongy down on their shammy wham.

Only time will tell I guess.

:)

Can you tell I don't know anything about Cricket?

[Ian Gentles]

The day has arrived, let battle commence. May we see real nail biting cricket, may we rejoice in the great games greatest series.

[Roland Hearn]

Day 1 done and dusted. England made the right choice to bat first and it looked like it would pay off, until Siddel had an amazing bowling spell. First hat-trick in an Ashes match in 16 years. That turned the day from being a 50/50 call to putting Australia in front - but then there is 4 days to go. If Australia has a good day with the bat tomorrow, and I will be there cheering, it will set the summer up nicely.

[Ian Gentles]

Siddel was quite astonishing, what a bowling performance, even the English are singing his praise here, well what else could they do? lol. First day gone England are dissapointed, but tommorrows another day, lets all watch and enjoy.

[Roland Hearn]

Sitting at the cricket, lunch on day two Aussies on top. You beauty - you should be here Ian

[Roland Hearn]

Turned out to be a fairly slow day, scoring why but a fascinating classic test struggle. The bowling was very tight and revealed that we still have middle order weakness that may be our undoing if they don't get it fixed. Hussey will close in on a well deserved ton tomorrow morning.

[Ian Gentles]

Yea tight game, but Australia looking good, pity about the rain.

[Roland Hearn]

A record 300 run stand has put Australia well on top. England has got a lot of work to salvage this one.

[Ian Gentles]

England still think it can be done, its all good stuff.

[David Graham]

Okay, my tip is for a draw..............
Great bowling effort by Siddle; Hussey and Haddon batted well to put the Aussies in a winning position, and yet, Ashes Cricket is all about grit, determination and passion, and haven't the English top order batsmen played well. We're into day five and expecting an English declaration some time after lunch with 200+ runs on the board with a deteriorating wicket.......... England could bowl Australia out, but I doubt it. Likewise Australia could treat it like a one day match and go for the runs..... but that is doubtful also. I think a draw is the likely outcome, with possibly 5 Australian wickets down at stumps.

[Ian Gentles]

Its a draw England batted well, some great cricket we are enjoing. Just a question for Australians, on the last day it is noticable that few Australians were in the ground, this seems weird to me during an Ashes test? Is there a reason for this?

[David Graham]

I agree Ian, the last day crowd was disappointing. SOme had to work of course (like me) but I suspect most people thought that the test would end in a draw and therefore lost interest......... how sad.

[Roland Hearn]

Being the last day and it being a working day and given that so many people had obviously taken time off for Thursday and or Friday I suspect that the highly likely people decided not to pay the $50 and watch it on tv. I'm not sure what the final count was but it must have been well over 120,000 - you would need a 6 day test to get that number in the UK. I suspect Melbourne will have close to 250 000 for the game at the MCG. The line of the day was the Pommie spectator that commented that he thought it must have been fancy dress day and all teh aussies had come dressed as chairs.

All that aside - what a great scrapping game of cricket. A fantastic start to the summer. You wouldn't want all the matches like this but this game suggests it will be a lot more even than last time in Australia.

[Ian Gentles]

Role on this next test, go England go! :)

[Ian Gentles]

Englad started second series in good form, actualy very good form. Australian friends, will England win series? This is a weak Australin team.

[David Graham]

We are "weak" in the bowling department I think, at least not as strong as we once were with McGrath & Warnie..........
However, all is not lost. I remember many years ago when Australia toured South Africa after Graham McKenzie retired; our bowlers were hit all around the various ovals by a strong South African batting line up........ however, it caused the selectors to choose try new bowlers, and from that we got what was argueably the best fast bowling combination ever....... Dennis Lilley and Geof Thompson.

But never fear Ian, we haven't given up hope yet; we want those ashes back, and the team will fight hard to get them. As the Americans say: "It's not over until the fat lady sings", and she hasn't even started warming up yet! :ihe_cowboy:

Go Aussies!

[Ian Gentles]

This test England looking strong, maybe the fat lady is at least clearing her throat? lol

[Roland Hearn]

This test England looking strong, maybe the fat lady is at least clearing her throat? lol

Aghh the joy of cricket. Australia batted way bellow their best on the first day and have been guilty of some terrible fielding efforts. That says to me Ponting's main duty is to rebuild morale. Our bowlers look ordinary in comparison to the English efforts but I think that may be an illusion created by the 'road' they are playing on, and the dismal Australian efforts in the first innings. Australia should have scored 500+ and therein lies the problem. There is a great chance for an English victory here but that is a long way from the end of the summer. Character is what is being tested in this game for the Australians. Remember Siddle got a hat-trick in the first test, Bollinger is a good bowler and Harris can really make things happen; Xavier Doughty is the only one with a huge question mark over his head - I think that has been one of the dumbest selections of the series. He has hardly ever bowled in a shield game and when he has he has not done well. I can only imagine there was an agenda in his selection. Don't be surprised if this game turns out to be a draw. Certainly England is in the best seat for a win but it will all depend on how much guts Ponting, Clarke and Katich can show after their first innings demise. A strong second innings and a crumbling wicket may even turn this game around - stranger things have happened. No the fat lady can have a seat, and probably a glass of water, this summer is a long way from over.