The Ashes

[Spirit Level]

Good start.

**** me it swings a mile up there

 

[estibador]

Ballance has boots made of concrete if those clips from the NZ series are anything to go by.

 

[Righteo]

Adam Lyth is apparently 27 years old. I think the Poms have taken a page from the Pakistani record keepers. Dude looks 50.

 

[Grape Bear]

What does Mitch Marsh have to do? Bat 300?

 

[36Crazyfists]

If our lads can swing the ball like they have so far I fear what Jimmy Anderson can do to us! Bloke is the king of swing bowling. We never have been particularly good at playing a swinging ball.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

GEM

Well done. Thanks; been looking everywhere.

 

[Cobbler]

What does Mitch Marsh have to do? Bat 300?

Play for NSW!

 

[Fred Ziffel]

If our lads can swing the ball like they have so far I fear what Jimmy Anderson can do to us! Bloke is the king of swing bowling. We never have been particularly good at playing a swinging ball.

The conditions we're bowling in now suit swing; let's hope the afternoon session when we are batting will be sunny.

 

[36Crazyfists]

The conditions we're bowling in now suit swing; let's hope the afternoon session when we are batting will be sunny.

I like your confidence. Although Cook is looking good for his standard 50 off 160 balls.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

I like your confidence. Although Cook is looking good for his standard 50 off 160 balls.

So much for that.

 

[Righteo]

That was very, very poor Alistair. Great move from Clarke though to bring Gaz on so early.

 

[36Crazyfists]

So much for that.

Yeah, look..

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Getting a lot of turn here ; He could have a big day.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Strewth that was close to unplayable : Well, for a Pom at least.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

joe root not good enough to miss that one.
two in a row; Rooty is a spud.

 

[36Crazyfists]

Good to see Starc really improve his test match bowling. Probably the best one day bowler in the world but always struggled with the red ball.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

This is outstanding bowling.

I reckon Clarke would have elected to bowl if he won the toss.

 

[36Crazyfists]

joe root not good enough to miss that one.
two in a row; Rooty is a spud.

Old Rooty seeing them like beach balls now!

 

[estibador]

Old Rooty seeing them like beach balls now!

Starc has given him a few juicy ones to help him get his eye in.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Old Rooty seeing them like beach balls now!

Yep, he's getting on top especially now with a wet ball.

 

[36Crazyfists]

Yep, he's getting on top especially now with a wet ball.

And Haddin dropped him in his first over. Hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.

 

[Frank J Moose]

Haddon should have gone three series ago. Hasn't scored a run and dropped a few.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Now Mitch is mixing it up with Half volleys and then too short. Best ball was around the wicket.
Root has steadied them.

 

[youmewe]

And Haddin dropped him in his first over. Hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.

Flashback to Lord's 2013 (England 2nd innings)...

3.3

Watson to Root, FOUR, edged and it's gone between Clarke and Haddin! Lovely catchable height as Root tried to force it off the back foot, should have been Clarke's, I think, but he seemed spooked by Haddin's movement and didn't move his hands. Not the friendliest look between the pair afterward.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/engine/match/566933.html?innings=1;view=commentary

Root on 8 at the time - went on to make 180.

 

[Persoog]

Umpires are: Erasmus and Dharmasena.

Don't trust 'em.

Erasmus is that roly poly South African who wasn't good enough to play Test Cricket. Inferior South African who will obviously have a bias against elite Aussie players.
.

Interesting given that the Afrikaaners hate the Poms with an enormous passion - and Erasmus isn't exactly an English name. Anyway far less room for bias in cricket umpiring these days with DRS......