England vs Australia (Cricket)

[dozer]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/live/cricket/32809230

The Australian national anthem isn't the Neighbours theme tune? Blimey. You learn something new every day

[dtaai-maai]

Anyone watching the 1st Ashes Test match in Cardiff?
Cracking stuff. End of day 3, England finish their 2nd innings with a lead of 411, so the Aussies need 412 to win with 2 days to play.
The weather looks good, so there'll definitely be a result.
A big ask for the Aussies in the 4th innings and on a roughed up wicket, but I'm sure England would have liked to have batted tomorrow morning and extended that lead to nearer 500.

[Zidane]

Its been pretty riveting stuff.After England were 43-3 on the first morning and Root was dropped second ball,I cant quite believe what has been happening !
But rain is forecast for tomorrow in Cardiff,I'm afraid,so today is crucial for both sides.

Question for you.....Would you drop one of Bell or Ballance or would you keep an unchanged team ?

[pharvey]

Anyone watching the 1st Ashes Test match in Cardiff?

Despite it being played just down the road in Cardiff (much to the dismay of Geoffrey Boycott and the English Cricket fraternity), I've not been watching, but have kept up with the play - as said, seems surprisingly exciting!!

But rain is forecast for tomorrow in Cardiff,I'm afraid,so today is crucial for both sides.?

Rain is pretty much always forecast in Wales , but the latest seems to put it at probable showers in the morning, but good chance of being OK in the afternoon. Typical Welsh weather forecast, 50/50 !!

[dtaai-maai]

Question for you.....Would you drop one of Bell or Ballance or would you keep an unchanged team ?

Not at this stage, certainly not Bell, who scored a good 60 yesterday.
I'm with Holding who said something during the commentary about players being dropped far too easily for a run of bad form. Bad form often equates to bad luck anyway. One player misses the ball by a millimeter (or gets dropped second ball!) and goes on to make a ton, the next gets an edge and trudges back for an early tea.
To my mind, someone who needlessly throws away his wicket by playing a rash shot is doing his team more of a disservice, even if he has scored 40 or 50 runs, than a player who is out to a good ball.

Despite it being played just down the road in Cardiff (much to the dismay of Geoffrey Boycott and the English Cricket fraternity), I've not been watching, but have kept up with the play - as said, seems surprisingly exciting!!

Not sure why they'd be dismayed, as the team represents England and Wales, as far as I'm aware, and is picked by the England and Wales Cricket Board (known, of course, as the ECB, not the EWCB...).

Boycott is a grouchy old git who played for himself, not his team and epitomises all the very worst characteristics of (some ) Yorkshiremen. You can picture him up to his wellied knees in pig shit growling "Get off mah land". I'm sure I remember him once saying that nobody not born in Yorkshire should play for Yorkshire, and he probably believes nobody not born in Yorkshire should play for England either.
I'll take the likes of Trueman, Gough or Bairstow over Boycott any time.


EDIT: COME ON ENGLAND!! (and Wales...)

[arcadianagain]

Until recently, (to me recently could be in the last 20 years or so) there was a rule that only Yorkshire-born players were eligible to play.

[pharvey]

There's actually been a few bitchy comments made against the Test being played in Cardiff - but more for my personal enjoyment, some great banter in the Welsh press...

Comments have included: -

Cardiff is not a home ground.... (Ouch - it is England & Wales isn't it?) - that said, couldn't comment on how many Welsh players are in the side!!
Cardiff is certainly not part of the cricket fraternity.... (not quite "Headers" I guess)
Cardiff is difficult to get to.... (it can be when you're pi$$ed or your sheep's got a puncture)
Cardiff has unreliable weather (my favourite!!)
Why was the Welsh National Anthem played as well as those of England and Australia... (ahem, say no more)
The pitch, or is it the out-field (not the wicket) is too "slow"
The ground is too small..... (I can understand, but imagine the banter!)

As for "Geoff", a dour Yorkshireman indeed - but an absolute hero to my Grandfather (dull Yorkshire pillock, God rest his soul).....

[pharvey]

Until recently, (to me recently could be in the last 20 years or so) there was a rule that only Yorkshire-born players were eligible to play.

Certainly remember that rule for Yorkshire county cricket..

Years back there was also a rule for London Welsh RFC, in that you had to be Welsh to play for them - hence the name "The Exiles".. (back in the day of Gerald Davies, Merv The Swerve and J.P.R.)

[arcadianagain]

Until recently, (to me recently could be in the last 20 years or so) there was a rule that only Yorkshire-born players were eligible to play.

Certainly remember that rule for Yorkshire county cricket..

Years back there was also a rule for London Welsh RFC, in that you had to be Welsh to play for them - hence the name "The Exiles".. (back in the day of Gerald Davies, Merv The Swerve and J.P.R.)

Same for London Irish and London Scottish.

[lindosfan1]

What does it matter we thrashed them

[dtaai-maai]

And then they thrashed us. Awful, awful stuff.

[pharvey]

Mullered.... absolutely mullered..

[Zidane]

4th Test at Trent Bridge.....

Australia 60 all out in 18.5 overs ! top score was extras with 14.....Broad 8-15
England 274-4....Root 124* Bairstow 74.

Maybe England will declare on their overnight score then bowl the Aussies out before lunch,to win by an innings on day 2.

[Dannie Boy]

Its a nice thought, but I would imagine that they'll try to add at least another hundred to their overnight score and then set about taking the Ossies to the cleaners, just in case there is a bit more spine to their second innings.

[dtaai-maai]

Yes, it was a fabulous day's cricket for England, particularly for Broad.

This is the weirdest test series I've ever seen. From the sublime to the ridiculous and back to the sublime again, and all at Benny Hill show speed. I hope no one has bought tickets for all the final days, because they're going to be very disappointed.
Geoffrey Boycott must be turning in his grave. Except he's not dead yet...