The Ashes

[Londonboy]

It's here, the battle for Sports smallest Trophy.
5 Test Matches over 7 Weeks between the 2 old rivals.

ENGLAND
In buoyant mood following Their thrilling victory in the limited overs World Cup, Playing at Home gives Them a big advantage.
Strengths : Deep batting order, no Team in World Cricket can match Their middle and late order's ability to overcome losing early wickets and right the ship. Strong and varied bowling attack ideally suited to English conditions.
Weakness : Captain Joe Root is the only proven player in the top 4 slots in the batting order, the rest have much to prove, England have tried many different Players over the last few Years and none have really impressed.

AUSTRALIA
Boosted by the return of their Captain (returning from his 1 Year ban for cheating), the current Ashes holders will be determined to reverse the recent trend of Home victories and avenge their CWC semi-final defeat by England.
Strengths : Captain Steve Smith is arguably the Worlds best Test Match Batsman (India's Virat Kohli is the only Player Who could argue with that) and anchors a solid top order. The bowling attack has plenty of quality Fast Bowlers and Nathan Lyon is a proven Spinner if the Pitch is turning.
Weaknesses : The middle and late order batting isn't strong and has been letting Australia down for quite a while. The Fast Bowlers might be a bit one dimensional and better suited to the hard bouncy pitches and sunny skies of Australia than the flatter pitches and cloudy skies of England.

 

[Londonboy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes
This is a link to the Wikipedia page, if You want to know the history.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

Hey LB, nice try at attempting to educate America about cricket. It's taken about 50 years and counting to get soccer some attention, I reckon about 500 years may be enough to get 'em interested in cricket.

We made a great start anyway, here's to a 5-0 series win.

 

[Londonboy]

Hey LB, nice try at attempting to educate America about cricket. It's taken about 50 years and counting to get soccer some attention, I reckon about 500 years may be enough to get 'em interested in cricket.

We made a great start anyway, here's to a 5-0 series win.

Let them off the hook in the final session, should have polished of those last 2 wickets shortly after tea and had them all out for 200 or less, still, slight edge to England with Australia all out for 284 and England 10 for none at stumps, here's hoping We can bat well on what looks like a decent pitch for batting.

 

[Londonboy]

I hope the Umpires have a better day today,1st day's umpiring was not Test Match standard.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I hope the Umpires have a better day today,1st day's umpiring was not Test Match standard.

Much like tech in all sports now, having the benefit of a million replays from several angles and the opportunity to analyze everything to death, officials are gonna look bad sometimes. back in the day, the ref, umpire, line judge etc made a decision and everyone got on with it.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

Let them off the hook in the final session, should have polished of those last 2 wickets shortly after tea and had them all out for 200 or less, still, slight edge to England with Australia all out for 284 and England 10 for none at stumps, here's hoping We can bat well on what looks like a decent pitch for batting.

Yeah, typical of England to engineer themselves a great position then not get the job done. Hopefully we can put up 300 plus and at least have a discernible advantage for the second innings.

 

[Londonboy]

Much like tech in all sports now, having the benefit of a million replays from several angles and the opportunity to analyze everything to death, officials are gonna look bad sometimes. back in the day, the ref, umpire, line judge etc made a decision and everyone got on with it.

That's true and at least DRS helps reverse some of the bad calls.
Having said that, I was shocked on 1st look at some of the decisions, didn't need a replay on the Smith no shot LBW that was missing the stumps by 6 inches or the massive inside edge that was given LBW (I think it was Siddle).

 

[Londonboy]

Yeah, typical of England to engineer themselves a great position then not get the job done. Hopefully we can put up 300 plus and at least have a discernible advantage for the second innings.

We're gonna need it if Jimmy can't bowl 2nd innings, the extra workload for the remaining bowlers may have been a factor in letting the Aussies rally to a half decent total.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

We're gonna need it if Jimmy can't bowl 2nd innings, the extra workload for the remaining bowlers may have been a factor in letting the Aussies rally to a half decent total.

They showed footage of Jimmy stretching and jogging on the practice pitch prior to today's action. There's been no official word but he looked fine.

 

[Londonboy]

They showed footage of Jimmy stretching and jogging on the practice pitch prior to today's action. There's been no official word but he looked fine.

He was running around and declared fit before the Test started, but only managed to last 4 overs, not sure if He'll be able to bowl 2nd innings, hopefully Our Batsmen can give Him a couple of days off if it's just a minor niggle that needs rest.

 

[Londonboy]

England 267 for 4 at stumps 2nd day, 17 runs behind, gritty maiden Test Century for opener Rory Burns has England in a strong position, time to put the hammer down on day 3 and build a winning position..

 

[Londonboy]

England 374 All out, decent lead of 90 at Tea on the 3rd Day.

 

[Londonboy]

England's Barmy Army (fans) had lots of fun serenading Smith and Warner (the 2 returning cheats) with choruses of "He's got the sandpaper in His hands" and "You only cry on the telly".

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

Ha ha. Brilliant. We aren't as far ahead as I'd like though.

 

[Londonboy]

Aussies 124 for 3 at Stumps 3rd day, a lead 34.
Delicately poised, pitch is offering some turn for spinners but little for the Quicks.
Looks like it's doubtful that Jimmy Anderson will be bowling.

 

[Londonboy]

Bad 4th day for England, Australia reached 487 for 7 before declaring, a lead of 398, England 13 for none in reply at stumps, still 385 runs behind. Steve Smith once again scored a Century, as did Mathew Wade.
England will need to bat well to earn a draw (some rain would be handy), Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon will be licking his chops at the thought of bowling on a pitch offering significant turn.

 

[Londonboy]

England 146 all out, Australia win by 251 runs.
Seriously depressing capitulation from England, some hard questions will need to be asked.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

England 146 all out, Australia win by 251 runs.
Seriously depressing capitulation from England, some hard questions will need to be asked.

Yep. That turned to steaming do-do in a hurry.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I'm tempted to say bin off Buttler (horribly out of form) and Moeen but who are you gonna replace them with anyway. We are miles away from having an established opening partnership and Anderson/Wood/Archer aren't fit. We have issues on both sides of the ball. It's hard to imagine how we went from having them at 122-8, to losing soooo badly.