The Ashes

[Righteo]

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......

Worth mentioning that the English team has had a huge SA presence for a long time, not that I think that's a genuine reason for any perceived bias.

 

[Allikat]

I love cricket. This wicket's changed up a lot since the first over where they were all rolling to a stop. Is Root even old enough to tie his own shoelaces yet?

 

[Righteo]

Pesky partnership this, hopefully Gaz can break it. As much of a little shit Root is he definitely has backbone along with huge talent, good pantomime villain. Broad is of similar quality. Anderson is just a soft downhill skier worthy of no respect.

 

[Taylor]

It wouldn't be test cricket without Haddin dropping a sitter that goes on to cost a lot.

 

[Spirit Level]

That Haddin drop is still annoying me

 

[Taylor]

They need a root... dismissal.

Hmm. Might be outside leg..

 

[free at last]

$hit,we need a wicket.....Jonno is bowling dumb now to Ballance IMO.
The Aussies need to get Ballance driving then bowl the odd rib tickler.

 

[36Crazyfists]

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

Still seeing them like beach balls! Ffs Haddin..

 

[poshman]

Costly partnership.. Not looking even likely at the minute

 

[Spirit Level]

Missing Ryan Harris badly

 

[Righteo]

Starc with two big wickets in quick succession and the balance shifts slightly, gotta love the ebbs and flows of Test cricket.

 

[Grape Bear]

Just woke up.... Haddin!

 

[Freoforever86]

Starc is still an incredibly average test bowler.
Bowls a cracker maybe once an over and the rest is just slop.
Haddin catches that ball and we probably bowl them out for 250ish at absolute best. Chasing 400+ is a bad start, hopefully their bowlers struggle too

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Worse Root I've woken up to in years

 

[free at last]

Just woke up to see the test evenly poised.The second new ball is only 8 overs old so hopefully we can bowl the poms out for not much more the 400 runs.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

One day in and I've heard probably 100 Root puns

Inb4 'that's a lot of Roots'

 

[Lost_Deputy]

One day in and I've heard probably 100 Root puns

Inb4 'that's a lot of Roots'

Such a classy word. Think everyone is just happy to have it back in circulation.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Such a classy word think everyone is just happy to have it back in circulation.

Yep, we all need a Root in our lives every now and then

 

[Nothing]

One day in and I've heard probably 100 Root puns

Inb4 'that's a lot of Roots'

So you're saying they are the Root of all evil.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Well he's definitely upRooted KP as my most hated Pommy player

 

[Steinfreo]

Did Haddin uproot our ashes chances?

 

[TheMcManusNose]

Starc is still an incredibly average test bowler.
Bowls a cracker maybe once an over and the rest is just slop.

Yep. He is.

The character of the game is very much different to ODI cricket, you must be able to hold tight lines and build pressure. Bowling to plans - which we had, but the execution let us down. Starc has immense wicket taking potential, but is too wayward at this stage to be a really good test bowler, you know he's going to bowl you a four ball an over. It's compounded for us in that Johnson is also in the team (and Harris is gone, although I would have bet Starc wouldn't have been in the team if he was) - which is why Watto was selected, given Mitch Marsh has never been an economical bowler.

That said, this pitch is disgusting. Balls keeping low with regularity on day 1? If it is sunny tomorrow and hardens up, we have no excuse for not making 500+.

 

[Steinfreo]

Yep. He is.

The character of the game is very much different to ODI cricket, you must be able to hold tight lines and build pressure. Bowling to plans - which we had, but the execution let us down. Starc has immense wicket taking potential, but is too wayward at this stage to be a really good test bowler, you know he's going to bowl you a four ball an over. It's compounded for us in that Johnson is also in the team (and Harris is gone, although I would have bet Starc wouldn't have been in the team if he was) - which is why Watto was selected, given Mitch Marsh has never been an economical bowler.

That said, this pitch is disgusting. Balls keeping low with regularity on day 1? If it is sunny tomorrow and hardens up, we have no excuse for not making 500+.

Johnson or Starc not Johnson and Starc would be great. saying Starc is incredibly average is pretty harsh, you danced around the real issue of this test until your very last sentence. Winning the toss was a must and we didnt so its really a draw or bust on this pitch I think. Move on to the next test. Johnson and Starc both got it to swing a bit so I think it bodes well for the series.

Doesnt Hazelwood look so much like Stuart Clark.

 

[Taylor]

I thought we would have them bent over and getting ready to beg for mercy until Haddin dropped it.

The ball was turning a bit on day one, bouncing weirdly at the start.

We only need to bat the once. We can win this, 600 runs for us and then try and bowl them out for 250 on day five.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

Starc is incredibly average is pretty harsh, you danced around the real issue of this test until your very last sentence.

No it isn't. He was simply far too wayward. The pitch was dangerous early on and we didn't capitalise due to loose bowling.