Match Thread: 1st Ashes Test

[Akib]

England got very lucky today..... And the forcast is rain tommorow... first time I have seen this happen.

[Rob]

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. The forecast says that it should be fairly OK tomorrow so hopefully we get some play in.

England deserve to lose this match, Australia deserve to win it and so they should. For England to get away with certain defeat would be an unfair result and personally I would much rather England lost for this reason, and because if they did get a draw this board would fill up with 'lucky England' taunts.

[Rob]

Covers off, inspection at 3.15pm, expected 4pm start presuming no rain.

Good, England have to fight.

[Rob]

I can't believe Jones did that.

How can you get caught at mid on when the teams in this position!!! And Giles was useless.

For god sake, sorry effort.

Ah well, its raining again

[Rob]

Well we lost as expected. Sorry capitulation this morning.

Deserved Australian victory. I am off to drown my sorrows.

Pietersen is already our best batsman after one match.

[Tintin]

End of another dream. Wait for another two years and hope Warne and McGrath would retire by then.

Edited on, July 24, 2005, 3:51 PM GMT, by Tintin.

[sunnyctg]

eng lost.. feeling bad for peterson ..he was playing good... and ...one other thing...shane warne n mcgrath's bowling was superb...

[Rob]

Australia were awesome, yes.

But England lost by more runs than what they bowled Australia out for in the first innings!!

Absolutely shocking, appalling, shameful, embarrasing, atrocious, pathetic and darn right tame capitulation.

[Tintin]

>> But England lost by more runs than what they bowled Australia out for in the first innings!!

In simple terms, if you consider only the Australian second innings, it is an innings victory for Australia.

[Rob]

We has a good morning on the first day. But since the tea break on day 1 the England team lost the plot and we completely fell apart, we helped Australia.

It was bloody ****.

[Beamer]

I still think there is room for Thorpe along with Pietersen and Flintoff in this line up. Giles is just there for the mere formality of the inclusion of a spinner. He is not gonna bother any Aussie batsman. The English Middle order is brittle and too inexperienced for these Aussies. They will continue to struggle with the bat. Its not too late. Against Warne, the likes of Bell looked clueless. You need a Thorpe in the middle to counter his threat.

Pietersen is for real. England need Flintoff to rise with the bat.

[Rob]

I agree with you all about Giles now. He is a waste of time against this mighty Australia team, with bat and ball.

We should bring in an extra batsman because unless our batting improves then we are buggered completely in this series.

Sorry about how angry I may seem, I am angry. Pissed off at how we fell apart today, I was hoping for at least one hour of resistance.

[Beamer]

Also, the catching played a huge part in the Defeat. You can't drop seven catches against such quality. Is it a mental thing? The English body language left a lot to be desired. I felt sorry for Simon Jones. He went unrewarded. The sort of catches that were spilled by GO and KP must be avoided if England want to fight back into this series. They have the bowlers to do it. Just need help from the fielders and the batsmen.

[Rob]

The catching was a bloody joke. I am a big fan of GoJo but hee needs to pull a finger out and take the catches, he is the worse keeper in the world at the moment, and what the hell was he doing with his batting? We are trying to save a test match you bloody fool, he got caught at mid on pulling!!!!

Also, Vaughan the batsman. Good captain but a complete liability with the bat. Scratches out a few good innings here and there but is generally poor. He got his off stump knocked out twice in the match and he is a number 3. Pathetic.

[Tintin]

If Bell is dropped, who is there to replace him ? Will Robert Key make yet another comeback ?

[Rob]

Robert Key isn't good enough. Ed JOyce is a very good player but we don't want another debutant.

Collingwood maybe.

England are doomed!

[Beamer]

I think Vaughn should come at no.4 and Bell at no.3. Bell looks more compact against pace than Vaughn who has been playing down the wrong line. I agree that your no.3 shouldn't get bowled twice in a match. Coming at no.3 might also help Bell from facing Warne right away. He needs to spend some time before Warne comes in. It all depends on the openers, though they had a great start in the second innings.

[Beamer]

Collingwood can replace Giles. It will strengthen the batting a lot.

[Rob]

And would strengthen the fielding as well.

He only has a first class average of 32, but made 190 the other day and is becoming a very fine cricketer. In any case, he would make more runs than Giles.

[Flipper]

All those hypes….ah…..I was kind of getting tired! Anyways, things proceeded as expected.

S Katich once again makes his place solid in the line up. So impressive…….!
Gillespie showed some signs of coming back to forms, but still not good enough!

England team showed an improved fight. They will be a much better side in the coming years. KP is simply outstanding. Freddie’s bowling is brilliant at times; grabbing Gilly both times was smart bowling. G JO is proving that he is a liability! Collingwood is a bright player, and should replace Giles without any doubt. Bell seems clueless, and if he fails in the next couple of matches, Thrope should be brought back. I think after this series, Vaughan’s place in the team will be under threat!

[Xavier]

A severe defeat for England, collapsing from 80/1 to 180/10...! And considering that Pietersen scored 64 this doesn't prove good about English batting!

And against such terrific australian bowling there does not seem to be big improvement margin for England...

so two questions about test cricket rules:

1 - Could England change two players for next test?
I mean: Thorpe for Bell and Collingwood for Giles to have a more solid batting order?

2 - How could that be possible for Ed Joyce to play test cricket for England just few days after qualifying Ireland for next world cup? It doesn't seem fair...

[Rob]

Thorpes retired and said there is no way he will change his mind!! Stop suggesting him. Giles should be dropped.

The rule about Ed Joyce is a farce, to be able to play for two countries in your career. Just silly.

[Spitfire_x86]

Thorpe won't come back, and Bell deserves more chance.

But I would seriously consider replacing Giles with Collingwood.

[Spitfire_x86]

Originally posted by Rob
I am a big fan of GoJo but he needs to pull a finger out and take the catches, he is the worse keeper in the world at the moment, and what the hell was he doing with his batting? We are trying to save a test match you bloody fool, he got caught at mid on pulling!!!!

I think he took some batting lessons from Habibul Bashar

[Huda]

Originally posted by Rob
I agree with you all about Giles now. He is a waste of time against this mighty Australia team, with bat and ball.

We should bring in an extra batsman because unless our batting improves then we are buggered completely in this series.

Sorry about how angry I may seem, I am angry. Pissed off at how we fell apart today, I was hoping for at least one hour of resistance.

i agree. i think england should bring in an extra basmen, that is a part time bowler, ideally spin, i cant think of any at the mo, except ian blackwell and paul collingwood and rob key/solanki/fulton/prior(wicket keeper) cant fill this position.

i wud bring in collingwood and give him a chance

Edited on, July 24, 2005, 8:19 PM GMT, by Huda.