The Ashes Test Series

[MrPlum]

The Aussies played much better this match and deserved to win. Would have made the rest of the series more gripping. The third umpire has played a controversial part in these games and the poor quality of decisions has arguably affected the final outcome. It may be better than the old method but it's still not the finished article.

[TakeitToTheMax]

Q. What do you call an Aussie with a bottle of champagne?
A: A waiter.

Q: What do you call a world-class Australian cricketer?
A: Retired.

Q: What do you call an Australian who can hold a catch?
A: A fisherman.

Q: Why can no-one drink wine in Australia at the moment?
A: They haven't got any openers.

Q: What is the difference between Cinderella and the Aussies?
A: Cinderella knew when to leave the ball.

Q: What does an Australian batsman who is playing in The Ashes have in common with Michael Jackson?
A: They both wore gloves for no apparent reason.

Q: Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone on the Australian cricket team?
A: The woman who irons their cricket whites.

Q: What's the height of optimism?
A: An Aussie batsman putting on sunscreen.

Q: What do you call a cricket field full of Australians?
A: A vacant lot.

Q: What's the difference between an Aussie batsman and a Formula 1 car?
A: None! If you blink you'll miss them both

Q: What's the difference between Michael Clarke and a Funeral Director?
A: A Funeral Director doesn't keep losing the ashes.

The Australian bobsleigh team have asked the Aussie cricket team for a meeting

- they want to ask their advice about going downhill fast.

[MrPlum]

Hell's bells, Jeeves. I left the match with the Aussies cruising and awoke to see they had collapsed. 3-0 to England. Goes some way to heal the wounds the Aussies inflicted on us in the 90's.

[Zidane]

Stuart Broad 6-20 in 45 balls destroyed the Aussies.
Both sides batting are so brittle its almost impossible to predict what will happen.
So 3-0 up and on to the last test at The Oval.....a chance to "rest" a few players.....Pietersen,Prior and Anderson at the very least...move Joe Root down to 5 or 6 which is his better position,at the moment.

[dtaai-maai]

^^Likewise. Went to bed before tea feeling rather pessimistic and woke up to a nice surprise! Sorry to have missed the best part of the day's play.

[dtaai-maai]

Both sides batting are so brittle its almost impossible to predict what will happen.
So 3-0 up and on to the last test at The Oval.....a chance to "rest" a few players.....Pietersen,Prior and Anderson at the very least...move Joe Root down to 5 or 6 which is his better position,at the moment.

I agree that the reason we are winning the series so comfortably is not so much a reflection of how good we are, but of how bad the Aussies have become. I'm not sure about Anderson, I think he's entitled to a sub-par game or two, but agree with the others. Perhaps Trott too. And if Cook weren't the skipper, I'd suggest he take a game or two off as well! Perhaps he should anyway...

I don't follow the county game at all these days. Do we have much strength in depth?

[Zidane]

I dont think that the County scene is overblessed with talent,at the moment.Root scored 180 in the second innings of the second test but in his other 6 innings has accumulated just 80 runs,which includes a not out. !
Maybe give Compton another stab at opening and drop Root down to 5 or 6.Prior has been a revelation in the last couple of years but his batting,including against New Zealand,has been poor this summer......just 129 runs from 11 innings which includes 2 not outs.We need a decent reserve keeper for the tour of Australia this winter,possibly Foster.
Anderson is still our star bowler but is looking very tired,so maybe give Tremlett or Onions a game.
Other options are opening batsman,Carberry,middle order batsman,Taylor and off spinner,Tredwell.
At 3-0 up you would think it would be an ideal opportunity to freshen up the squad and have a look at a new face or two but dont bank on it happening.

[Dannie Boy]

I dont think that the County scene is overblessed with talent,at the moment.Root scored 180 in the second innings of the second test but in his other 6 innings has accumulated just 80 runs,which includes a not out. !
Maybe give Compton another stab at opening and drop Root down to 5 or 6.Prior has been a revelation in the last couple of years but his batting,including against New Zealand,has been poor this summer......just 129 runs from 11 innings which includes 2 not outs.We need a decent reserve keeper for the tour of Australia this winter,possibly Foster.
Anderson is still our star bowler but is looking very tired,so maybe give Tremlett or Onions a game.
Other options are opening batsman,Carberry,middle order batsman,Taylor and off spinner,Tredwell.
At 3-0 up you would think it would be an ideal opportunity to freshen up the squad and have a look at a new face or two but dont bank on it happening.

No, I think the chance of winning 4 tests will override that (very good) suggestion and they will stick with the majority/all of the current squad.

[PET]

Were any of you able to watch the Ashes through Cricfree yesterday ? AVAST was blocking me saying '' Malicious URL Blocked''

Any alternatives, or perhaps get rid of Avast?

[MrPlum]

Stayed up to watch an exciting finish and England make history, only to be disappointed at the end. Can't see how the bad light laws can be changed, even though they spoilt a grand finale. If the fielding side cannot see the ball or the batsmen are facing 90 mph bouncers, what else could the umpires do?

A comment from the BBC site...

'The ICC will need to look at this finish. Surely its unacceptable.
With floodlights on it's just simply not dangerous, more difficult, but not dangerous. We all drive cars in the dark at 70 MPH with just cats eyes and no streetlights. If that's OK we can finish the last 4 overs of a test under floodlights.'

[PET]

Stayed up to watch an exciting finish and England make history, only to be disappointed at the end. Can't see how the bad light laws can be changed, even though they spoilt a grand finale. If the fielding side cannot see the ball or the batsmen are facing 90 mph bouncers, what else could the umpires do?

A comment from the BBC site...

'The ICC will need to look at this finish. Surely its unacceptable.
With floodlights on it's just simply not dangerous, more difficult, but not dangerous. We all drive cars in the dark at 70 MPH with just cats eyes and no streetlights. If that's OK we can finish the last 4 overs of a test under floodlights.'

Can you paste the web site you watched it on please? I have been unable to clear the ads on any of the cricfree streaming sites since last Thursday.

[MrPlum]

Can you paste the web site you watched it on please? I have been unable to clear the ads on any of the cricfree streaming sites since last Thursday.

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?mat ... art=sports

[richard]

So cricket is now going the same as yobball

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23861041

Only a matter of time I suppose

[Dannie Boy]

So cricket is now going the same as yobball

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23861041

Only a matter of time I suppose

So much for it being known as "The Gentlemans Game".

[dtaai-maai]

So cricket is now going the same as yobball

Yes, getting pissed after a victory is indeed shameful. The likes of Botham and Flintoff should be hung from the nearest lamppost.

I thought you used to play rugby, richard? Maybe they're a bit more prissy in Yorkshire.