The 1st Test

[kookabat]

Ahhhhh, cricket in the middle of the night!!

(and Tour de France on the other channel. I get very little sleep at this time of the year...)

[east_sider]

And that's tea. Looks like rain is our best hope now, although any cake left out might get a bit soggy.

[scuderia]

Batting well, and it shows what we could have done if England had applied itself.
Shall keep an eye on things while I am working this weekend.

Scud

[Paul Incognito]

The biggest shcok is in the women's match. Aussies 28/5, then go on to get 309, now England 59/4. A draw retains the Ashes in this match though.

As for the men....well the rain came much later than expected, let's hope it lingers much longer than expected too. Like through to Monday.

[nimbusj15]

CaroleP bulid an ark

[Rob S]

I am watching this online - Matt Prior has just played such an irresponsible shot but got away with it, has he looked at the score? These guys are embarrassing are they really the best 11 in the country?

What a load of rubbish.

Rob S

[Paul Incognito]

I am watching this online - Matt Prior has just played such an irresponsible shot but got away with it, has he looked at the score? These guys are embarrassing are they really the best 11 in the country?

What a load of rubbish.

Rob S

It's vital to keep the score plodding along, so they have to play shots, which is tough with such an aggressive field and unpredictable wicket. I'm also following online, as well as watching on Sky and I don't understand why people are predicting doom and gloom for the entire series. At no point have the Aussies looked anything special, they're in the position they're in because of a terrible performance from England (primarily with the bat, but also with the ball). Not saying that we'll definitely come back in the series, but a below par performance is much easier to turn round than simply being outclassed.

[Rob S]

Why are they saying England need to win 2 of the next 4 tests to win the Ashes? Surely if it's a draw then they need to win 2 provided the others are draws? If Australia win then England need to win 3 don't they?

Rob S

[Paul Incognito]

Why are they saying England need to win 2 of the next 4 tests to win the Ashes? Surely if it's a draw then they need to win 2 provided the others are draws? If Australia win then England need to win 3 don't they?

Rob S

This is the First Test, ie, it's all square at the moment. If Australia win, then they will lead 1-0, needing England to win 2 and draw 2 to lead 2-1. If it's a draw, then they will still be all square and England will only need to win one more than the Aussies - so win 1 draw 3.

I'm hating this England performance now. A lose is a lose. As I said before, I've seen enough to know that there isn't a lot of difference in skill between the teams, so happy that (theoretically at least) we can turn this around. But the way we're going now, I'm going to be left annoyed that if only one other batsman managed to launch a rear guard action, we'd have drawn this. And likewise, if only the rain we were promised yesterday had turned up at 12pm, not 4pm.

[Rob S]

That's what I thought, a bit of an odd way of stating it though, if (or when) England lose they need to win 2 provided the other results go their way, they didn't say that.

Not sure I agree with you about the Aussies not looking special - they do against this lot and that's what counts.

I think I would drop Pietersen and replace Strauss - ineffective, the body language when they were fielding yesterday was dreadful (mind you can you blame them!). Would also get rid of Monty.

Rob S

[Paul Incognito]

Well technically they're correct. Chances are there will be at least one draw and we won 2005 2-1 (also losing the first test).

We'll have to agree to disagree. As one of the commentators said, the Aussies have been disciplined, but they've not been spectacular - most of the England wickets have been given away by poor shots rather than by excellent bowling. Discipline is a state of mind rather than skill, so if England had possessed the same discipline as the Aussies the game would have been given up as a draw by now.

Interesting comment about KP. I'm falling into the same category although I'd see how he reacts to this defeat. He definitely has the skill and if he suddenly clicks (which he can), then he could win us a test match. Strauss - He's not in the same class as Vaugh or Hussain as far as captaincy goes, but don't know who else could do the job. Rob Key always gets names as an excellent captain, but he isn't quite good enough with the bat I think (and I'm a Kent man!). As for Monty, there's no doubt he'll be dropped for Lords, if only for tactical reasons. Reluctantly I'd give Harmison a go, see if he's got it back. Remember seeing him against the Windies the last time they were over and he couldn't have looked less interested.

So now we're at that annoying stage where there's 14 overs left, but England really only need to hold out for 11 because if they do, they'll have a lead and we lose two to three overs with the turnaround. There's no way we'll see out 11 overs with just Monty to come, but if only one of KP, Cook etc had held on!

I win £60 compensation if the Aussies win - not good enough. But I lose £90 if it's a draw - I'll take that!

[nimbusj15]

I've just got in - hang on everyone

[Paul Incognito]

This is killing me. If they survive 15 more balls (not get out on the 15th, survive them all), then all the min overs in the last hour will have been bowled and all England have to do is come out and not play for the last few minutes....I think. Don't actually know how that works in the rules. Say with the turnaround all the min overs have been bowled but there's still time to play, wonder what happens.

oh jeez, 12 balls left.....or 5 overs officially, but 12 balls, or 12 minutes.

[nimbusj15]

Anyone got a large gin handy?

[nimbusj15]

Thank you Mr Collingwood!!!!