Whatever Broad had for breakfast today he needs to be having that the rest of the Summer, what superb bowling.

What an absolute spanking the convicts got today I was out all day with the kids but just had a feeling I should record the Ch5 highlights tonight and not check the score all day and so glad I did, best hour of TV for ages

 

Totally.

I actually spent all day watching it!

I got a bit twitchy when they were 97-1 with Warner still in.... Then Cook brought on Ali for that over before lunch.

The rest is history.

Fantastic!

 

Absolutely awesome day in Cardiff yesterday. So lucky as that is only the second day of Ashes cricket I have ever been to.

Atmosphere was unbelievable. I was right next to the 'Aussie Corner' and boy did they get some abuse

It's all gone quiet over there....

And yes Broad was superb, and Ali/Cook/Root/Anderson - take your pick!

 

As with the New Zealand game.. Whilst we played some pretty good stuff, Australia was equally pretty poor..
As we played in the first test should now be an absolute minimum of how we now play.. Because as true as I'm sitting here writing this Australia will NOT be as poor again!

I fear moores really held this team back, you can see that just from the captain. He made some really smart choices.. Choices that can't really be taught.

Most of the credit has to goto the assistant farbrace.

Anyway let's hope they can play better in the second test and that Johnson has another mare with the ball AND bat.

Good luck England

 

What's also 'encouraging' is that the currently in-form Cook didn't really feature with the bat (32 agg.) and the (nearly always in-form) Anderson with the ball (3 wkts agg.)... And we still won by a significant margin.


But yeah, of course, a wounded Aussie side is a dangerous Aussie side..............

 

2nd Test

After the excitement of the 1st test we are back at the home of Cricket and have lost the toss.

The spirit we showed in the last game seemed to have come across from the ODI's and is an encouraging sign that the change in management style is taking effect.

Lets see how we got on, a 2-0 lead would be incredible.

In so far as fielding first goes, the signs are hopeful Take a look at this

 

I hate slow flat pitches with a passion, has draw written all over it unless we collapse. How a pitch that gives nothing for bowlers is considered a good pitch goes completely against my thinking. Who wants to watch a draw for 5 days? I want the batsmen to have to work for their runs like the 1st test.

 

already set to be aussy win or a draw

 

Chillax dudes, it's only the first day

 

Totally. Give me a Cardiff like pitch any day. Okay, that wicket was slightly in favour of the bowlers, but that's how I want it to be. It's what is known as a 'sporty wicket' i.e. still good enough to be able to score runs on, if your technique is sound.


Come their turn, I bet England bloody collapse, though!

 

Some quality batting though......

 

On a dead pitch I don't count it as impressive, just mundane and does test cricket no favours in my opinion. That's not to say the centuries made so far aren't quality they are because the concentration was there to not make any mistakes, but the batsmen haven't been tested when the ball is just coming straight onto the bat. The ball was literally doing nothing all day, nothing in the pitch for hitting the seam and the conditions didn't allow for swing and no spin. About the worst pitch for me that could possibly be produced. But then when I played at school and in my 20s I was a seam bowler so I am a bit biased, I want to see wickets.

As Joz said the one in Cardiff was a belter and is what I call a good pitch and any decent scores made on that pitch is what I consider quality batting. You make 100+ on a pitch where the ball is seaming all over the place then you have given an impressive innings.

I'll be interested to see what speed Johnson makes on this pitch because when there is no movement the only factor that gets wickets is beating the batsmen for pace, something none of our bowlers are fast enough to do. We need to produce more Darren Goughs!

 

...Or Devon Malcolm or Greg Thomas (remember him?!).

But sans their consistent waywardness, obviously.

 

Met Devon Malcolm on Wednesday at a Lashings match. Big lad! Lol

 

Has the pitch turned a little or are the Aussies slacking off a bit, impressive run rate though, fancy they'll declare at 600

 

FFS!!

Only the 2nd ball of the Inns... Lythe with a waft outside off. 0-1

The inevitability of it all!

 

Christ, I thought Cook had gone then, too!

 

Well, the euphoria of Cardiff hasn't lasted long.

 

32/4

Where's the face palm smiley !!

 

aussy win then

 

: f a c e p a l m : (without the spaces)

 

oh jeez

 

Well I take back my words for Smith's innings, was superb even for a flat dead pitch Fantastic concentration and discipline for a double hundred.

As for our batting all I can do is They really are pathetic. 1-1 and 3 to play.

 

is it too hot , too cold ,too dry , too wet , leaves on the line ...???

Thank goodness we can rely on footballers

 

Johnson's bowling proves my point, sheer pace makes all the difference on a flat wicket and it's something England have lacked for a long time. Until that's rectified we will always struggle to bowl sides out on 'good' pitches. Bret Lee was a good example for the Aussies, didn't matter how flat the pitch was he would trouble the best batsmen just through pace.

I want to know why Lords have produced a pitch that favoured the Ausies? The pitches at home should be prepared to assist our bowlers not nullify them, especially Anderson. They need to have a bit of grass on them.

I think it's only England outside of the sub continent teams who don't have a true quick in our pace attack. Even New Zealand have faster bowlers than us now.

 

I know there was a lot of discussion on how good the pitch was at Cardiff.I know there is nothing illegal with preparing it to suit yourselves

I'm just in a bit of a quandry about that one though....

 

As Captain Darling might say:

"Bugger."

 

Johnson killing us again. 2013/14 all over again.

They're all over us like the proverbial cheap suit.

Basuras.

 

Who wants to issue the last rites?

 

What an embarrassment!