Ashes

[minestrone]

Broad has a long history of time wasting and generally being a sour faced little arse, but other than that he had a bit of a lucky day, batsmen getting themselves out for him.

If I was England I would be concerned, you could not convert a match winning situation and the other bowlers looked really poor. Australia's bowling line up is stronger ad that will show out over the course of the series.

As I said.

[Damon]

Bugger!

[doodab]

Now that's proper Aussie baiting, giving them a bit of false hope before the sucker punch.

[DirtyDog]

I woke up this morning and for a moment thought I was in 1995

England haven't won an opening test of an away series since 2005/06 v South Africa (apart from the Bangladesh series, which doesn't really count in my eyes)

[DirtyDog]

As I said.

Is the Australian bowling line-up stronger, or is it that so far England's batting line-up is weaker?

Or both?

[minestrone]

Is the Australian bowling line-up stronger, or is it that so far England's batting line-up is weaker?

Or both?

Whole Australia team is stronger but their bowling has seen the most improvement, England's bating is the same but their bowling is really going to struggle, Anderson is not firing and was not for a lot of the summer. If him or broad get injured you could get hammered. Add in Cook does not know what he is doing.

Nobody wants to admit it but England got a lot of luck in the summer against an unsettled Australia team which has resulted in ridiculous over confidence. I was shocked pundits like Botham who are genuinely meant to know something about the game was predicting a white wash.

[Misterfox]

I am praying for rain now.

[minestrone]

I expect 350 more runs by close of play.

[minestrone]

Some of the ashes test threads from the summer ran into 20 pages, can't understand the indifference shown to this one.

[doodab]

Some of the ashes test threads from the summer ran into 20 pages, can't understand the indifference shown to this one.

There isn't much to say really is there. Dire performannce with the bat, aside from broad in the first innings not much going on with the ball for us either. Would be nice to see the middle order salvage some pride at least.