" The Gentlemen V The Convicts "

[Mr Moore]

Well chaps, its that time of year yet again where warrior men from all over these ancient lands of Albion sit back on there sofa, switch there phone off and begin sharpening there swords and fixing there groin sheilds.

Yes you have guessed it, THE ASHES.

I cannot wait to get into em.
Lets crack some Aussie heads with those ever dependable bouncers and soften a few cons up with the olde short pitch raspers in the ribbs, come on !

I hope theres a few on here who take interest, and to those who don't, your missing out on one of the worlds greatest spectacles.

Let battle commence
A very un-PC " The Gentlemen V The Convicts "

[celsis]

Isn't it a bit strange that "England" are playing cricket in "Wales?"

[nicwing]

It is a bit strange, I have heard of Wales and I believe we also play them at the game with odd shape balls but I am not sure where it is or more importantly perhaps Why?

Anyway back to the main event, this is the moment, before anything has got going, when we English feel we can beat anyone!

But lets be realistic, they have no spinner to talk of (their main man can't even get into his states second team during a flu epedemic), their main attack fast bowler Lee has just been ruled out for the first two tests (shame I hear you cry) and their new opener got bowled out for next to nowt by Harmison last week (twice).

So bring on the diggers, lets pray that Flintoff stays fit and can do a Botham

Bring on the chin music and let the games begin!

(and if Chico can understand a word of that I will be amazed)

[Deano]

Don't really like cricket, but the ashes is always one I keep an eye on. Looking forward to it. Unless we lose, then I definitely hate cricket.

[nicwing]

Deano, that sounds like a Welsh name to me!

Come on man, stand up and be counted (I can hear Land of Hope & Glory playing as I write), get off the fence!

[Mr Moore]

[QUOTE=nicwing;22047 [
Anyway back to the main event, this is the moment, before anything has got going, when we English feel we can beat anyone!


[/QUOTE]
lol

Cant understand why Lords is not the venue of first test.

[nicwing]

You and about 150 million others my chum!

[sturge]

Lets hope we can win something this summer what with losing the Lions tour and Murray not winning Wimbledon already!

[Stogiedog]

I don't really do cricket but, perhaps the first test is in Cardiff because they paid £3million to host it................ Perhaps cricket has succumbed to commercialism.... Howzat:tongue:

[Mr Omneo]

cricket...it's a bit like rounders, right?! :confused:










:biggrin1:

[cohibaIV]

The Ashes WILL be coming HOME....:41:

[nicwing]

I don't really do cricket but, perhaps the first test is in Cardiff because they paid £3million to host it................ Perhaps cricket has succumbed to commercialism.... Howzat:tongue:


Perhaps, perbloodyhaps, 20/20, playing in pyjamas, flood light...floodlights and headquarters, perhaps....:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[PoohBore]

Strange game, why would a bloke want to polish a ball on his own balls ?

[nicwing]

Strange game, why would a bloke want to polish a ball on his own balls ?

Don't knock it till you have tried it.

By the way I expect a full page from Roboooosto on this specific point!

[Mr Moore]

cricket...it's a bit like rounders, right?! :confused:










:biggrin1:

No, I'd say its more like life and death............

[Boss Hog]

Not really my cup of tea, I'll stick to making my own ashes.

[Mr Moore]

Why has that lovely lady just sang the Welsh national anthem, now I'm confused.

[celsis]

Why has that lovely lady just sang the Welsh national anthem, now I'm confused.

Coz they're in Wales????

[Mr Moore]

Yes your spot on the money there Celsis, thats well observed by your good self, pat on the back old chap.
England V Australia.
Of course they should have the Welsh anthem, that makes a lot of sense I suppose.
I suppose the ECB make a lot of sense too.

[Mr Moore]

We love you England.
Fantastic performance from the worlds greatest tail end, no surrender.
Big shout to Monty and Jimmy, never lose hope.
Im going out to get pissed, I suggets you all do likewise.
England forever.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Fantastic example of digging in on a WWI scale from Anderson and Monty. Collingwood deserves the plaudits though, good score in the first inning and a massive effort in the second - 74 of a few million deliveries it seemed (Geoff Boycott must have been loving it!).

[Kdot]

C'mon the Aussies

[Deano]

Damn scots!

[HabanoSy]

Lucky escape today...

Bring on Lords, and then the Aussies can really show us how its done...!!!!!!

Stumps for now, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

Fantastic example of digging in on a WWI scale from Anderson and Monty. Collingwood deserves the plaudits though, good score in the first inning and a massive effort in the second - 74 of a few million deliveries it seemed (Geoff Boycott must have been loving it!).

lol. Yes, fully agree mate.
I dont know about you, but I do worry a bit that we have a slightly over aggresive middle order, bar Collingwood of course.

You just know you cannot rely on Bopora, Flintoff, KP and Prior to sit it out.
They will always look to score runs, EVEN when its not runs we need.

The tail wagged, thats the main thing.

[Kdot]

Damn scots!

LOL, I'm allowed to complain about u English folk when it comes to sports as our national teams are so crap. Did you know that Scotland have a Cricket team, i've met a few of them at the pub, guess thats them training...

[Mr Moore]

I think the sweaty socks have had a cricket team for years.

[Simon-JG-hr]

You can't put anything past the sweaties anymore, they've even got a tennis player...

Before:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UMCNltgrs1U&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UMCNltgrs1U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

After:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7983446.stm

[Mr Moore]

Brilliant !

[Kdot]

LOL, Andy Murrays got nothing on him.

[HabanoSy]

Great clip...!!!

[HabanoSy]

Well, second test at Lords starts today boys - lets hope its better than the first...!!!

Heres hoping, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

...off to a good start

C'mon England bat throughout the day without loss...

Fingers crossed, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Got to be careful not to jinx it...

But...

Already forced the spinner in, must be careful... Personally I'd like to see Mitchell Johnson bowl a bit more... :biggrin1:

[HabanoSy]

England 126 - 0 (lunch)

Morning session Englands I think...

More of the same please, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

Got to be careful not to jinx it...

But...

Already forced the spinner in, must be careful... Personally I'd like to see Mitchell Johnson bowl a bit more... :biggrin1:
Its the beginning and end of our middle order that I worry about, Cook and Strauss have laid some great foundations, lets just hope Bopsy and KP dont give it away to cheaply.
I'm bieng negative of course as every England fan is well entitled to be.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Ravi goes quickly with a straight-one. Shame, he was making good contact. :(

Century for Strauss and 255-2 at the tea break. :smile:

[Boss Hog]

This is better commentry than the radio!!

[HabanoSy]

Bloody hell...

Good old England - throwing it away again, or am I being harsh...!?!

Dejected, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

What did I say about the middle order eh, I have not been able to watch it properly today, so I cant really give in-put on the Aussie bowling or tad AGGRESIVE middle order.

[Simon-JG-hr]

am I being harsh...!?!Not in the slightest. Normally I'll jump to the batting side's (semi-)defence, but to collapse like that when neither the pitch nor the bowlers were offering much by way of a challenge was truly awful.

[Mr Moore]

Well theres always Swann to come in still, I've really enjoyed watching Swanny bat.

Lets hope the weather dont ruin today, I really want to watch a full day today.

[Simon-JG-hr]

:(

[Simon-JG-hr]

Thank heavens for Jimmy Anderson - coming through again!

[HabanoSy]

Thank heavens for Jimmy Anderson - coming through again!

Yep, a sterling effort...

All out!!! HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Come on Jimmy! Great early wicket too! :cowboyic9:

[HabanoSy]

Yes c'mon England

4 - 1 - Phil Hughes 'OUT'

Ponting next...!!!

LBW!?!, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Get off...!!!

10 - 2 - Hughes, Ponting 'OUT'

Hussey next...

Yeh, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Great stuff - the borderline LBW didn't matter after all.

Bring it on Jimmy - this year's Flintoff? (Well, Flintoff's not this year's Flintoff... :rolleyes:)

[Mr Moore]

Here comes the bleeding rain.
Roll;eyes.

[Mr Moore]

On the plus side, if its only a shower the Aussies have to come back out and get there eye in again, would like to see Flintoff with Anderson open the bowling after rain delay, Freddie is always worth a few overs of a new spell in my opinion.

[HabanoSy]

C'mon England

Got to enforce the follow-on now...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

What a fantastic afternoon/evening. Jimmy Anderson is in one hell of a rich vein of form - just got to hope it continues for another three and a half tests. :pray:

[HabanoSy]

...Are we going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (again) or can we get those last 5 wickets...?

Nervous, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

Amazing. :smile:

[HabanoSy]

Well done England, well done Freddy

Gentlemen 1, Convicts 0

Edgbastons up next, can we push on from this great victory, first time we've beaten the convicts at Lords since 1934...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[bnelly]

Good to see Flintoff on-song- sad it'll be his last test at Lords :(

[Simon-JG-hr]

Great result! :smile: Just a little annoyed that I missed almost all of the last two days. :(

Not that we need one, but a great excuse to light up a celebratory cigar! I haven't had one for nearly a month... I need an good excuse.

[Mr Moore]

Im currently trying to get tickets for Edgbaston, dont really want to pay £150 plus, I might have got a result though so fingers crossed.

Big shout to Swanny as well, played a blinder today !

[Simon-JG-hr]

After a shaky evening session yesterday... this morning England have played a text-book session. Twice they've litterally taken-one taken-two. Keep them falling, get the new batter... Get another new batter.

Australia 202-7

Awesome stuff from Onions and Anderson. :thumb:

[nicwing]

Keep the diggers down, now a good long bat for us and who knows, looks like there will only be 3 days play so could be good.
N

[Mr Moore]

I dont think i have ever seen a ball swing so much.

[Simon-JG-hr]

When Onions and Anderson were going at it I almost couldn't believe it. It was like watching Hoggard with the new ball in 2005 - the left-handers just couldn't cope. This time around it's the righties that are completely flumuxed. :thumb:
:georgecross

[Simon-JG-hr]

About 115 overs left before close of play tomorrow, day 5.

First innings just come to a close with England 113 runs ahead. Great bowling from Anderson and Onions the other morning - as I said at the time, text book stuff! Bell made the most of his return to the team, notching a half-century against the Aussies, and Broad just finished the show with a good innings.

Fingers well and truly crossed. If Anderson et al make inroads in the couple of hours that are left today, then I can see a slight chance of taking the match.

[HabanoSy]

It's got a draw written all over it now I think Simon...!?!

Lets hope for some inspired bowling again, and maybe we can just nick it...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Yep, a draw is definitely most likely. If we can get them three down by the time bad light stops play (almost inevitable we won't get all the overs in today), then there's a decent sniff. Otherwise, we'll have that draw. Still 1-0 up if that's the case.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Absolute bloody beauty from Swann. Ponting walks back to the pavillion with stumps all over the square. :biggrin1:

Following on from Onions' tasty (no pun intended) dismissal of Katich and the Aussies are two down already.

Come on guys, let's have some more. :thumb:

[HabanoSy]

All set-up for a cracking last days play of cricket, early wickets in the morning session is the key I reckon...

C'mon boys, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Not a good start to the 1st day of the 4th Test chaps (No Flintoff)...

England 16 for 2

Strauss (4) and Bopara (1) already out...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[nicwing]

You sound quite triumphant Sy, you got some Australian in ya?

Cooke owes us a few, let's see what he is made of.

Good move to include Harmy though, need some one to deliver a little 'chin music'

Pip pip!

[HabanoSy]

You sound quite triumphant Sy, you got some Australian in ya?

:mad: Wash your mouth out Mr Wing! :mad:

Certainly no convict in me...!?!

More flabberghasted I think, I'd just turned the radio on and we were already two down...!!! :eek:

Now say sorry like you know you should...!!!

Fuming :wink:, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Another one gone... :(

Bell (8)

England 39 - 3

Deep sigh, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

OMG! :eek:

Collingwood out (0)

England 42 - 4

!!!!!!!!!!!!, HabanoSy

[nicwing]

OMG! :eek:

Collingwood out (0)

England 42 - 4

!!!!!!!!!!!!, HabanoSy

Oh bugger, I can't even watch we are so crap.

Sorrysynodigger!

[HabanoSy]

SHIT...

Another one gone...!?!

Cook (30)

England 63 - 5

Still 10 minutes till lunch...!!! :eek:

Apology accepted nic :wink:, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Another one gone right on the stroke of lunch...

Broad (3)

England 72 - 6

Fukin hell, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

15 minutes after lunch, and another ones gone...

Swann (0)

England 92 - 7

Bowling soon, HabanoSy

[nicwing]

and we chose to bat !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HabanoSy]

lol...!!!

Yes...

I don't know, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Harrmison gone (0)

England 98 - 8

????, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Freakin el!!!

Anderson gone (1)

England 102 - 9

You gotta larf, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Onions gone (0)

All OUT for 102

LOL!!!, HabanoSy

[HabanoSy]

Good start to the bowling...

Katich (0)

Oz 14 - 1

Ssscchhwing, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

I was disappointed this morning as I left the house with David Gower and co. rinigng in my ears. 'Sounds like it'll be a cracker,' I thought to myself, 'decent wicket, decent weather and England to bat first.'

It was, I thought, a terrible shame to be working today. Then I wandered out to the warehouse in the afternoon and heard the radio - England all out for 102! :eek: I'm glad I was earning money rather than watching the cricket - and it's not often I say that... :rolleyes:

[HabanoSy]

Shocking Simon, it really was...

Disenchanted, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Maybe they're just setting us up for an ultra-dramatic Ashes win at the Oval again? :pray:

[HabanoSy]

Maybe they're just setting us up for an ultra-dramatic Ashes win at the Oval again? :pray:

I do hope so...!?!

Uncertain, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

One things for sure, its not going to be a bloody drawn 4th test.

[Mr Moore]

Key or Trott as no3 for final test, tough one, but I think I would go for the big man !

[HabanoSy]

Well the 5th Test is well and truly underway...

Can England do it...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Mr Moore]

Not a bad start to be fair. Strauss out to a no ball, but there you go, cant complain too much.

[Simon-JG-hr]

250ish for 5... Not great on an oval strip. Should be looking for about 450 in the first innings...

Fingers crossed that our bowlers deliver the goods.

[Simon-JG-hr]

(In Victor Meldrew voice): "I don't believe it!"

Broad is bowling well. That's rather ununsual in the last year... Not a bad time to step up mind... Would still have preferred Panesar given how much the pitch is turning already.

Chasing 332, the Aussies are now 85-2. Looking like this could be interesting if the pitch continues to turn and produce uneven bounce.

[Simon-JG-hr]

93-4. Stuart Broad having a humdinger of a few overs.

I take it all back... :redface:

:georgecross Keep it up... please...

[Simon-JG-hr]

Now it's Swann bolstering his figures with two swift wickets!

Australia 109-6. Need another 23 to avoid the follow-on. ;) :lol: Not gonna happen though, even if we did finish them off in time (not likely), you'd have to be an idiot to want to bat last on this pitch!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Actually, reading that back again, you can never be too sure what Strauss is going to do... :eek:

[HabanoSy]

Getting 'VERY' interesting now...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[nicwing]

What a wonderful Saturday.

It started with the whole family (excluding me) heading to the hairdressers, so I popped into Cafe Nero and had a bucket of coffee with the sports section of the Daily Telegraph, lapping up the reports of Broads destruction of the diggers.

One line really struck me, Derek Pringle described Friday as a "Major mugging in Lambeth"

[Mr Moore]

Hmmmm, I just dont want to start counting unhatched eggs.
It must be noted how many runs we scored today on this so-called sticky wicket, and taking into account Broad, Freddie and Swann most probably got the nod to go out and play shots and try to see through Trotts century whilst pushing the runs through, all to have an hour or so at the Aussies at the end of the day.

Take note, they also scored well in that short time period on this so called sticky wicket and more worryingly we failed to take a wicket.
The wicket is key for tommorrow me thinks.
Lets hope it becomes a tad more sticky, Im beginning to wonder what exactly is a par score on a 4th/5th day wicket at the Oval.

Ponting is one tough bastard and so is this Aussie team, expect no quarter to be given, I dont think this is going to be plain sailing.

[Simon-JG-hr]

What a great series, really topsy-turvey throughout.

The Aussies start well at Cardiff and should have won. Heroics from the least likely with the bat hold on just long enough for the draw.

Then we move on to Lords. England haven't won their against the Aussies for what seems like millenia, yet somehow they bounce back from a poor showing in Cardiff to upset the applecart.

Moving on... England should have taken a 2-0 lead at Edgbaston, however, a combination of losing half of the match to rain, and some heroics from the Aussie middle-order saw that opportunity fall by the way-side.

Headingly was a pitch with a match in the balance. England imploded. Aussie rout.

Who'd have thought it would have boiled down to four days on a cracking strip, in cracking weather at The Oval. As one of the Aussie commentators on TMS mentioned: "At last a pitch where we're seeing a true battle between bat and ball!" Nothing like those vile, flat as a pancake, non-spinning, draw creating pitches in the WIndies.

Flintoff also made quite a sentient point (odd, I know). He mused before the last test that a victory this year would mean more than in 2005. In 2005, he said, and I agree, England were almost expected to win. They'd been on a tear since Vaughan had taken over as captain, beating every team in the world quite handsomely. This time around though... It's a shambles. A middle-order that is about as consistent as lumpy custard, three coaches in a little over two years and as many captains in 18 months. In all honesty, he suggested, it would be a miracle if they were to win...

I'm on hols at the moment, but the first couple of days were built around fitting in the cricket. Very well worth it, and thankfully the lads wrapped it up with a day to spare, so I didn't lose another day of holiday... :reface: :lol:

I think... one thing summed up this series for me. England's bowlers were able to do the text book 'take one, take two' on so many occassions. Had they got stalled between wickets, it could have been a very different result, but they frequently made new batsmen work to get in. Unlike during most of the last couple of years.

Good stuff guys, and it was wonderful entertainment at times.

:georgecross

[HabanoSy]

Yep

Great Ashes series...

Made all the better (obviously) by an England win, terrific...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[nicwing]

Not sure if you saw this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8218358.stm

Make sure you send this to every digger you know!

[moidoid]

I still can't quite believe that we actually pulled it off instead of reverting to type and imploding.

I managed to get tickets to the last day at Lords and saw Freddie's awesome blast - the atmosphere was electric. The fact that we went on to win the Ashes means that the memory of winning at Lords will be all the more special.

Well done the England boys!!! :rock::clap2::clap2::clap2::cheer2::cheer2:

[nicwing]

At last, we've beaten the diggers at the one day form of 'the summer game'.

After playing them in warmer parts of the country we had to keep moving them further towards the Arctic cirle until it was so cold they couldn't fuction, and them we stuffed them.

6 - 1 for the series. But I bet the crowd were singing (as they did at the Rose bowl) "where's your ashes gone"