The Ashes Thread.

[Bettyboo]

This is a good watch:



The match was pretty even, but every marginal call went England's way, so we ended up running away with it - beautiful... The salty tears from Checka afterwards were fantastic.

&, yes, I know I'm only putting this stuff up because we're getting no cricket glory. I felt that in this very even Ashes series that the first match was vital, with the Convicts having won it in the way they did they'll win the series.

[Saint Willy]

I had a bottle of malt riding on this game, bloody rain is going to ruin it.

[David48atTD]

I had Australia or Draw ... so happy with either result.

Was only paying something like $1.24 ... but was fairly confident at the time.


What surprised me was the odds for a draw.

AFTER the first day was lost, the draw was about $1.80.

I didn't want to take that because I already had exposure to the match.

[NamPikToot]

Draw is still 1.53 which seems good if Eng don't get many out before lunch.

[Saint Willy]

Play has started, poms in a good position.

[Bettyboo]

Meh... The partnership is building, we need some wickets quickish...

[Bettyboo]

[Loy Toy]

Body line bowling all over again.

Archer trying to kill Smith.

[NamPikToot]

Well that's one way to get Smith out - hope he's OK tho

[NamPikToot]

Body line bowling all over again.

Archer trying to kill Smith.

Cummins was playing chin music yesterday so don't make out we're the villains.

[Loy Toy]

so don't make out we're the villains.

Are you from Barbados?

[NamPikToot]

Are you from Barbados?

great to see the Windies back to their hostile best. Great cricket even though its likely to be a draw. Interestingly, this is the first TM where we could see 12 batsmen on a card. Leach going great.

[NamPikToot]

weird, Smith out walks but reviews too - plumb lbw. some idiots booing but lots cheering him - another great knock.

[Saint Willy]

Aussies one wicket left, still trail by 12

[Saint Willy]

Aussies out for 250 Trial by 8

[NamPikToot]

All out, commanding lead and i foresee a sesh of chin music. play it like a T20 and Archer the ozzies tomoz.

[Bettyboo]

Smith should be rested for the rest of the match (maybe longer), that was a really hurtful contact - his team doctor should never have let him back on the pitch.

You see the ball at 1:40

[Saint Willy]

Same type of ball that did in Phil Hughes. At the break they were speaking with someone from the MCC who said they might make the neck protectors mandatory (Steve wasnt wearing any)

[NamPikToot]

jeeeeez 9 for 2 - first baller for loot

[Saint Willy]

Cummins on a hatrick....

Roy and Root rooted.

[NamPikToot]

Roots first primary in test cricket

[NamPikToot]

Jeeeez Eng trying to up the rate to make a game of it but 4 down - great pitch and nothing certain yet.

[David48atTD]

Look who's back from the hospital...




News from the Australian dressing room: Steve Smith has not broken his arm

[David48atTD]

IT'S RAINING! That will be stumps!

Well that brings things to an end! The heavens have opened at Lord's, so that bookends a chaotic day four.
It will be remembered for Steve Smith's bravery, injuries and swashbuckling hitting, but a finely poised contest may have just pushed its way towards draw territory in London.

England is 4-96, a lead of 104, and will probably do enough for a draw if they can scramble a lead around the 200 mark.


As for Smith, what more can you say? It was sheer drama to start with, what with Jofra Archer bowling pure fire in a lightning-quick spell of bowling.

The bouncer that hurt Smith's arm (later confirmed as not fractured), and then the bumper that got Smith below the jaw, causing all sorts of genuine concern for the batsman.

He got up, left the field as a retired-hurt on the scoreboard, then came back to play some outrageous shots and then get out for 92.

It was ... quite something.

[Bettyboo]

I think we tried the right way, if we'd been 130 or so for 2 then we could have got maybe 250+ and maybe bowled them out. Now, looking like a draw unless we have another collapse and get bowled out for 160/170.