robertoart Posted July 10, 2013 Report Posted July 10, 2013 First ball in under half an hour. England won toss and batting. Selection surprises all around. Test Match Special team on the Radio right now. Geez I love The Ashes. Dulcet tones of Elgar just trailing off into the distance. Quote
mjazzg Posted July 10, 2013 Report Posted July 10, 2013 Great to see a cricket thread. Listened for the first two hours - two sides testing eachother in the early exchanges. Will Aussie's young bowling attack fulfil undoubted promise? England will regret losing the two wickets and with Peitersen now in it could be three down very quickly as he's such a poor starter. Geoff Boycott now on commentary so it really is a test match! Quote
sidewinder Posted July 10, 2013 Report Posted July 10, 2013 Predictable batting collapse from both teams ! Quote
Head Man Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Predictable batting collapse from both teams ! ...all over by Saturday? Quote
sidewinder Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Predictable batting collapse from both teams ! ...all over by Saturday? Quite likely ! With conditions which swing the ball and erratic batting lineups like these two, I can't see it lasting the full 5 days. The dismissal of Prior yesterday, for example, was total recklessness - and Pietersen's dismissal was feeble too. Bring back Boycott and John Edrich and no hooks before lunch. Edited July 11, 2013 by sidewinder Quote
Head Man Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 I'll leave you to explain the rules for our non-Brit members! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Everything I know about cricket I learned from the Hitchhikers Guide books. So trying to explain the rules would probably take longer than I've got left... Quote
mjazzg Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 An entertaining first day for sure. I've not seen any highlights yet so haven't seen the England dismissals but I gather Trott and Prior could have done somewhat better. The Aussie batting line-up looks very unbalanced with four openers in the top six. I wonder whether the Australian collapse puts England's batting performance into a clearer perspective - maybe the overhead conditions were more contributory to their low total than first seemed. Anyway, looking forward to England getting 100 lead and piling on some runs in the sunshine this afternoon. Quote
Head Man Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 .......looking forward to England getting 100 lead and piling on some runs in the sunshine this afternoon. In your dreams! Quote
robertoart Posted July 11, 2013 Author Report Posted July 11, 2013 I'll leave you to explain the rules for our non-Brit members! It's best to make it clear from the outset that the game may be played for FIVE days. But that still doesn't guarantee there will be a result Quote
Head Man Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 I'll leave you to explain the rules for our non-Brit members! It's best to make it clear from the outset that the game may be played for FIVE days. But that still doesn't guarantee there will be a result leg before wicket.....silly mid-off.....cover drive........ ...where to start... Quote
robertoart Posted July 11, 2013 Author Report Posted July 11, 2013 The overcast conditions affected the first day. The BBC commentators were saying after lunch that an English total of 250-280 would be an acceptable first innings score. Broad has hurt his shoulder while batting and didn't bowl. Otherwise Australia may have been worse off. And now Watson is injured again to even things up. Whoever can grind out a decent partnership for Australia or England before the pitch crumbles into dust might just wrest the advantage. Day Two before tea could provide the best opportunity for this, but Australia could be all out well before lunch. Young Steve Smith really impressed me for Australia yesterday. But I think England will get enough runs in the second dig to let Swan do his thing. Could be all over Friday. Gee it's good to hear the TMS team. Another Australian abomination thrown in to this mix however, with the inclusion of the Bogan Glenn Mcgrath, who must only be rated as barely literate in this company. Last time it was the appalling Born Again Christian Matthew Hayden. Unfortunately only Kerry O'Keefe can compete with Blowers and Aggers etc al. in the way kinda way Boycott complements this lot. Kerry is closest to Boycott in the politically incorrect, gruff matter of fact stuff. But O'Keefe can be genuinely hilarious at times. During the last Aussie summer campaign, one of the Poms was in minor discomfort from a twinged knee. Kerry thought he was overplaying this a bit...and said...geez it's not that bad. The way he's carrying on you would think he was Douglas Bader I'll leave you to explain the rules for our non-Brit members! It's best to make it clear from the outset that the game may be played for FIVE days. But that still doesn't guarantee there will be a result leg before wicket.....silly mid-off.....cover drive........ ...where to start... Hat trick, bowling a maiden over, wrong un, googly, square cut, third man, full toss, right arm over the wicket. Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) What a strange game it's been so far. Listening to TMS in the van today in between jobs. I get in the van and it's 95-4. By the time I got out again it's 115-9!, Got back in an hour later, wondering why lunch hadn't been taken and why Australia were still batting. Another stop and Agar was serenely on his way to 100. Back in the van an hour later, he's out for 98 and England are 2 down for not many! BTW, I actually enjoyed Matthew Hayden's stint in 2009 Freelancer. He was hilarious, obviously for all the wrong reasons. McGrath doesn't seem so bad. I have had my fill of Boycott now, after 12 years of the same boorish, "back in my day" shtick. Edited July 11, 2013 by rdavenport Quote
mjazzg Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Today is why Test cricket is such a great day. Agar's innings was marvellous. All over to KP tomorrow I don't mind McGrath either, a bit bland but may grow into it. I still enjoy Boyc's "stick of rhubarb" wielded by his mother. He hasn't quite reached the self-parody role that dear old Fred truman became Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Today is why Test cricket is such a great day. Agar's innings was marvellous. All over to KP tomorrow I don't mind McGrath either, a bit bland but may grow into it. I still enjoy Boyc's "stick of rhubarb" wielded by his mother. He hasn't quite reached the self-parody role that dear old Fred truman became More and more often, I find myself telling the radio to fuck off when he starts harping. It's the constant reference to a long-dead world of cricket comprising himself, Closey, Illy, Sharpey, Binksy, Fred, Jackie, uncovered pitches and for fuck's sake, shut up man. Quote
mjazzg Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Today is why Test cricket is such a great day. Agar's innings was marvellous. All over to KP tomorrow I don't mind McGrath either, a bit bland but may grow into it. I still enjoy Boyc's "stick of rhubarb" wielded by his mother. He hasn't quite reached the self-parody role that dear old Fred truman became More and more often, I find myself telling the radio to fuck off when he starts harping. It's the constant reference to a long-dead world of cricket comprising himself, Closey, Illy, Sharpey, Binksy, Fred, Jackie, uncovered pitches and for fuck's sake, shut up man. From which i can only assume you're not in a "a corridor of uncertainty" about this? Quote
sidewinder Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Agar's innings was marvellous. What was that guy doing batting at No. 11? Should have been in at No. 2. Incredible performance ! All over to KP tomorrow He was remarkably sensible in his batting today. Will it last..? It's the constant reference to a long-dead world of cricket comprising himself, Closey, Illy, Sharpey, Binksy, Fred, Jackie, uncovered pitches and for fuck's sake, shut up man. Now that brings back memories. One of the first matches I ever saw (Sunday League - John Player League no less ) had a Yorkshire side led by Illy (Closey had defected to the turnip-pickers) and with Phil Sharpe, Jimmy Binks, Fred Trueman, Don Wilson and Jack Hampshire. And a certain Mr G Boycott. I think I even asked for Jimmy Binks's autograph. I believe after he finished with cricket he emigrated to San Diego to the world of hi-tech software ! Edited July 11, 2013 by sidewinder Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Does it show? I don't much care for the majority of cricket commentators. Many of the TMS team annoy me one way or the other; aside from Boycott, Blofeld's "dear old thing" shtick is 30 years past it's sell-by date, Vaughan is a bit hyperbolic and brash, Tuffnell is okay in small doses, Ed Smith and Simon Mann are okay if a touch wooden. Agnew, Marks and CMJ are/were about the only ones who don't annoy me. I prefer the visiting commentators, especially Tony Cozier and Jim Maxwell. That said, Jeremy Coney was starting to get on my nerves by the end of the NZ tour. Reading this, I don't know why I listen to TMS! I would of course be gutted if the BBC ever scrapped it. And listening to the Sky line-up would be infinitely worse. As would be the cringeworthy Mark Nicholas on Channel 5. Edited July 11, 2013 by rdavenport Quote
sidewinder Posted July 11, 2013 Report Posted July 11, 2013 Bring back Jim Laker, John Arlott and E W Swanton ! One of the best commentators of course was Richie Benaud. Remarkably impartial for an Aussie.. Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 12, 2013 Report Posted July 12, 2013 Agar's innings was marvellous. What was that guy doing batting at No. 11? Should have been in at No. 2. Incredible performance ! All over to KP tomorrow He was remarkably sensible in his batting today. Will it last..? It's the constant reference to a long-dead world of cricket comprising himself, Closey, Illy, Sharpey, Binksy, Fred, Jackie, uncovered pitches and for fuck's sake, shut up man. Now that brings back memories. One of the first matches I ever saw (Sunday League - John Player League no less ) had a Yorkshire side led by Illy (Closey had defected to the turnip-pickers) and with Phil Sharpe, Jimmy Binks, Fred Trueman, Don Wilson and Jack Hampshire. And a certain Mr G Boycott. I think I even asked for Jimmy Binks's autograph. I believe after he finished with cricket he emigrated to San Diego to the world of hi-tech software ! I watched a lot of Sunday League games at Old Trafford as a kid/teenager. Yorkshire weren't much of a side in my day however - I only remember Boycott and Hampshire of that list. Lancashire weren't so hot either though, apart from Clive Lloyd. Quote
sidewinder Posted July 12, 2013 Report Posted July 12, 2013 (edited) Bumble and Farokh Engineer were pretty good ! I agree, Clive Lloyd was a phenomenal all-rounder - and a great captain too. Many of the players on my list retired around the 1971/73 period. It was the end of Yorkshire's last truly great side, 1960s vintage. Add Doug Padgett and Tony Nicholson to that list. Meanwhile, back at the Test.. Edited July 12, 2013 by sidewinder Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 12, 2013 Report Posted July 12, 2013 Bumble and Farokh Engineer were pretty good ! I agree, Clive Lloyd was a phenomenal all-rounder - and a great captain too. Many of the players on my list retired around the 1971/73 period. It was the end of Yorkshire's last truly great side, 1960s vintage. Add Doug Padgett and Tony Nicholson to that list. Meanwhile, back at the Test.. It all started in 1981 for me, so Lancs were fairly mediocre. Engineer was long gone, Bumble and Frank Hayes were on their way out, so it was really only Clive Lloyd. There were still some great players on show for opposing sides eg Viv Richards, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, Gooch, Lamb, a past-it Derek Underwood etc. Yes, the test is nicely balanced, slight advantage Australia at lunch. Quote
mjazzg Posted July 12, 2013 Report Posted July 12, 2013 advantage England towards end of the day. 250+ lead looking useful. I'd be a lot happier if they can extend that to 300+. Swann on a hard, deteriorating pitch.... Broad walks like an Aussie! Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 12, 2013 Report Posted July 12, 2013 You'd hate Broad if he wasn't English.....the attitude, the overratedness... Quote
GA Russell Posted July 13, 2013 Report Posted July 13, 2013 There was an article in this morning's Wall St. Journal about the guy batting eleventh and having such a good day. Quote
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