The 4th Test - Headingly

[nimbusj15]

When I were a lad, there were this bloke called Botham who leather a ball all around the ground.............


However, according to Auntie the ECB have asked Notts to keep Sidebottam in reserve. Is Broads batting enough to keep in the side or will we see Harmisson have a crack.

Anyway enough of the technical stuff, I'm off to find us a new cake tin, see you all on Friday morning.

[rustle]

I predict Australia to win this one...

[nimbusj15]

AAh there you are......

[Irv Lee]

Isn't it confusing having a Test ground called 'Headingley' and then apparently calling another one by a very similar name, just one letter fewer, (probably pronounced the same), and then deciding to hold a Test there!

[rustle]

AAh there you are......

Been away working for a while, thought I'd pop back and see how you lot were getting-on in support of your quest to regain The Ashes...

Australia win this one, draw the fifth, retain.

NB: Need to find a better "gold" colour.

[Paul Incognito]

Been away working
Australia win this one, draw the fifth, retain.

I take it you've been too busy to watch the games too? Your bowling attack has the ferocity of a timid kitten, so unless there's plans to recall McGrath and Warne, or England have a nightmare, you've no chance of taking 20 wickets - a requirement for winning a game against England

[kookabat]

or England have a nightmare,

Bingo!!!

[Propwash]

I predict Australia to win this one...

Have your batsmen found out how to play the swinging ball then?

PW

[rustle]

I refuse to rise to the bait, Prop...

I think our boys will do just fine this time. Ponting will actually score some runs and Flintoff looks like he's out (NPI)

Just need some decent weather so it doesn't fizzle to a draw cos then we HAVE TO win the fifth

[Propwash]

Actually, you HAVE TO win both the remaining tests if you want to WIN the Ashes.

Of course if you are happy just to "retain" them . . . . . . .

If the weather stays this humid then the ball should swing, especially at Headingley. With Anderson easily the best "swinger" in the game that will be a test for the Aussies, although there were worrying signs that Johnson has started to master the Duke ball at last.

Never mind Flintoff, he did his stuff at Lord's, if the Aussies play Lee it will show that they are worried.

PW

[rustle]

Hm, winning/retaining the bar talk will still be the same

I think they are worried - Ponting stands on the verge of becoming the first Australian captain in more than 100 years to lose two Ashes series in England. [from Cricinfo.com]

Should be a corker of a match though, and I for one will be glad to see the series drawn 1-1 after it

[Propwash]

I may be wrong, rustle, but I think a 1-1 result would still see Australia surrender its number 1 test position in the rankings to SA. If they don't win either of the next two matches they slip to number 4.

There's more at stake for Ponting than the Ashes.

PW

[Paul Incognito]

or England have a nightmare,

Bingo!!!

We had a shocker in the first test and you couldn't finish us off then. So to retain the Ashes you're relying on us having a shocker AND your guys having some luck! How the mighty have fallen.


(chin up, you could always wind us up about the weather - I understand your current mid-winter weather is trumping our current mid-summer weather at the moment).

[Jim Jones]

Does any of this really matter?

[Paul Incognito]

Does any of this really matter?

Yes, this is the Ashes! In the last couple of weeks I've met Saffers, Kiwis and Indians all getting excited at the prospect of another Aussie defeat - never known an English team in any sport to get so much support from outside it's borders. Rumour has it there's even a Scotsman who's declared he's neutral.