The Ashes Thread.

[Necron99]

Are you making any collector card sets this ashes Necron?
Crackers the last set, weren't they

Maybe call it the "Crying Game" this year...

[Bettyboo]

Just a modern day Australian, Bob...

It's gonna be hard to find the silver lining on this summer of Australian sporting misery...

[cyrille]

Sounds like it will be slow and low at Cardiff, which should suit England. Aussies best bowler in English conditions is back home...this could be a lot closer than some people seem to think.

[baldrick]

the curator is queer

The chat last week was England could play two tweakers in the Ashes opener, which starts on Wednesday in Cardiff.
Having inspected the pitch, Michael Clarke is not sure Australia will play one.
Spin-friendly Sophia Gardens was considered a surprise choice for the first Test when the fixtures were announced last year.
The venue has certainly stunned the Australian camp, which had previously been spruiking Nathan Lyon's potential to unsettle England's many left-handed batsmen.


"It's got a lot of grass on it. It's surprising how much grass is on it," Clarke said of the strip that will decide who takes the early advantage in the five-Test series.
"The selectors - I think they'll contemplate playing four fast bowlers if the wicket stays like that.
"As much as I always love having a spinner in the team, you've got to pick the best XI for the conditions."


Clarke added he would have no hesitation in sending the opposition in on day one of an Ashes, a tactic that famously backfired in 2002 for Nasser Hussain at the Gabba.
"If the wicket's how it is today and you win the toss, you'd definitely bowl first. I think both teams would do that," he said.
The reality is the pitch is likely to look a lot different on Wednesday at 8:00pm (AEST), when Australia starts its campaign to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2001.
However, rain and overcast conditions might limit what the curator can achieve before day one.


"It'll come down to what England are after - if they want grass cut off, I'm sure they'll cut it off," Clarke said.
"If they're worried about spin bowling, they'll leave more grass on it.
"I don't really care, to be honest.
"If we can adapt and play our best cricket, I'm confident of success."
For all the recent conjecture about Australia's XI for the first Test, it looks to be fairly settled.
Selectors are expected to bank on Shane Watson's experience and control with the ball ahead of younger all-rounder Mitch Marsh's power batting and bowling ability.

Chris Rogers is set to return from concussion and open alongside David Warner, replacing Shaun Marsh in the team.
Lyon is likely to play, although Peter Siddle is adding to the case for a four-prong pace attack.
"Sidds was unplayable in the nets ... and he was probably the pick of the bowlers in the last tour game," Clarke said.
England captain Alastair Cook did not comment on his side's spin selection showdown between Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, but agreed Cardiff could potentially be a paceman's paradise.
"The grass on English wickets can keep the pace and bounce in it more than you see abroad," Cook said.
Both Clarke and Cook downplayed the importance of past series and were not ready to look further ahead than this week.
"Beating teams in their own backyard is always the toughest part of our game and I'm sure this series will be no different," Clarke said of Australia's 14-year wait for Ashes success in England.

http://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2015-07-0...s-test/6602300

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

Lazy taffys are going to effect the crown at Cardiff it seems..
Thousands of Ashes spectators could be hit by rail strike affecting Cardiff | Sport | The Guardian

[Bobcock]

First test series in England since 2001..... Christ the way they talk you'd think they haven't lost there since'k before The Don.....

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

[quote=baldrick;3053878]the curator is queer

The chat last week was England could play two tweakers

You are thinking of 'twinks' aren't you baldrick ??

The curator is a twat though. The grass that was on the pitch a couple of days ago has all been chopped off. No matter - Watch the Lyon roar!!

[bobo746]

I see the poms on here are whinging already,bring on the tests.

[Bobcock]

why does that make him a twat....

Lyon..... oh come on....claiming your quicks are good is obviously acceptable.... but now you are trumping up Lyon as your saviour???? on a pitch that you yourself told us was 'a road' just a few days ago?

What he get against a second string Essex team??? 1-200??

[cyrille]

Nathan Lyon - one for two hundred vs Essex

Mitchell Jonson's bowling average in tests in the UK is 38.

Interesting facts.

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

Lyon is far better than any of your spinners. Do you actually have any??

Cyrille - you know Mitchell Johnson was bowling poorly in Australia too before Lillee installed the turbo charges don't you? - of course you do .. so your stats mean diddly...

Current time 05:28 local, 04:28 GMT | Match begins in: 5:32

[Bobcock]

Stats always mean diddly when they don't suit Wally......

[cyrille]

The stats of how someone has done previously in England mean something in all cases. That Michael Clarke is looking at the possibility of a fourth consecutive loss on an ashes tour does not 'mean diddly' either.

And can someone please try and tell bobo the chimp that it's a decent idea to at least suggest some link between what he posts and...well, anything really.

[Bobcock]

who's bobo?

[cyrille]

Post 208

[Bobcock]

Oh that clown.... insignificunt

[Bobcock]

It's raining in Cardiff....my brother just told me

[Bettyboo]

45 minutes away, put the Convicts in and have 3 down for 50 before lunch.

[Bobcock]

I'm watching on ILikeHD+ excellent reception, never ever had it working this well before.

[Bobcock]

Looks sunny enough as they have the toss.... England win the toss and bat!!!!

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

England won the toss and elected to bat

Match begins in: 0:25

[harrybarracuda]

What is with all this poncy shite, they did it in the rugby too.

[Bettyboo]

The Welsh like to sing 'Arry, let them have a bit of fun.

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

FFS, get on with it!

Tell the choir to fuck off plz - must be some of Alastair's bum buddies...

[Wally Dorian Raffles]

From cricinfo: I can confirm we don't have cricket yet. But what we do have is some singing and some large flags being carried onto the outfield. "Start delayed due to opening ceremony"