Those that aren't already playing in England that is - Shane Warne has been here for years - he's captain at Hampshire, and a very fine one at that!

I can't believe we've not been posting about the Bangladeshi tests, I know we don't really take them seriously but they have to be good for moral, don't they?!

I listened to them on TMS Sarah..........much amusement when after the Bangladesh captain had announced that he wished to be known by a different name 'Aggers' managed to get 'Blowers' to read out a spoof e-mail (allegedly from the Bangladesh coach} saying that their wicket keeper had also decided to change his name and now wanted to be known by his middle name which was 'Bernard'

'Blowers' took the opportunity an hour later to quiz the Bangladesh coach about it and was told. with not very surpressed laughter, that he may need to speak to his colleagues about it, which resulted in much hilarity in the commentary box.


More on topic, I'm going to a 20 - 20 match at Trent Bridge on the 24th.

Good result for England in the 20 - 20 yesterday..............just hope that it's not the last of the good news this summer

After our 20/20 win over the Aussies , i reacon our confidence should be on the up,and we should be buzzing by the time the ashes start, whats your feelings?

If they can lose to Somerset (as they did yesterday) there must be a chance

Well judging by the poor performance of the Lions so far in their jaunt to NZ, the land of the long white cloud, where it looks like the Lions are getting a taste of the long hard All Black rugby style, I doubt whether the cricket side will fare any better. But it sweet to have dreams and faith.

Hey ... this strand is about cricket ... not egg chasing (I hate Rugby). This year Somerset have been absolutely awful. l The match against Aus is the first time that Jayasuriya has scored any runs for them. They've also played 9 1 day games & only won 3. So Aus had better pick up their ideas ... or else they may be in trouble.

One other thing. As a Yorkshireman I want one of the Australian comentaors sacked. Yes Darren Lehmann is good at the job, provided he remembers not to swear ..... but he shouldn't be on the TV ... he should be wearing the White Rose playing for us .... please Darren we neen you now !!

I know but apparently this thread isn't good enough to talk about cricket - we have to have a special for one the Ashes!

Gah!

There is one already !!

i think that was sarah's point.

Bangladesh have just beaten Australia

Let's hear it for..........................Pietersen

And Harmison. I saw that over this morning (I don't have the Dirty Digger channels at home) and he looked to be up for it. Micky Vaughan scored a useful 50 too. I still feel apprehesive about the test series though. Gillespie can't bowl this badly for ever.

As I wa saying. Aus losing to Bangladesh .. & then England. The Bagladesh loss was worse as Engl;and were saved by Pieterson

as a Bristolian living in the land where sport is king, it was nice to see the County Ground host 'the greatest cricket team in the world' to another defeat. Brings another meaning to the phrase Pommie Bashing

was a top day out Jon. Proper job.

skippy, mrs mangle, jason donovan, dame edna everidge, michael hutchence's noose, ayres rock, men at work, david baboon, kylie minogue, prisoner cell block h, steve waugh.... can you hear me steve waugh...... your boys took one hell of a beating.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

more Pommie Bashing

England in easy win over Aussies

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4655991.stm

As usual the EWCB have messed up the season. We hammered Banlgadesh (who are poor) before they came accustomed to English conditions & next week we're playing the Ashes after allowing the Aus players time to get into form. If there was any sence in English cricket the summer should have started with the Ashes tests, followed by the 1 days against both Aus & Bangladesh & finally the Bangladesh tests. This could have allowed England to play a cold Aus (so having an advantage for 1 or 2 tests) & given the Bangladesh players time to aclimatise which could have allowed them to give England a run for their money.

As it is Bangladesh were humiliated whilst Australia appear to be in fine form ready to win another Ashes series.

England have dropped Thorpe for the Ashes series - more Here

Kevin Pieterson looked like he was going to get it so I'm not surprised!

Thorpe has been very good but his "I'm retiring, oops no I'm not" routine is bloody annoying!

Forgot to add that there are 2 Hampshire players in the 12 selected for the first Ashes game.
Little Chris Tremlett is selected too - wahey!

Think I would have gone with Thorpe, he's one of the few that Australia fear and someone who coming out at 3 for not very many (which will happen a few times in this series) is more likely to pull it around in the 5 day game than Pieterson or Flintoff (both of whom I can see making a few quick fire 20-30's before holing out to mid-on or cover).

Red Star - no offence, but that's bollocks. England are firmly established as the second best side in the world and would hammer Bangladesh inside 2/3 days regardless of when or where we played them. Similarly, we are still a long way behind Australia, who over a full series will beat us handsomely, again regardless of when or where.

Thorpe has been Englands best batsman for the last ten years,but his decision to anounce he will not tour again and his poor form this season,means that he can't have too many complianes with being dropped.

Perterson has averaged a lot more than Thorpe has in 5 day games this year.We have Vaughan and Strauss at the top end who are defensive players.We need two players who can attack.That gives the side balance.Australia will have at least 2 attacking batsman in their line-up.

The only way England can win the ashes is to attack the old timers in the Aussie side (McGragh and Warne).Be defensive against them,and we have no chance.

Monster, I didn't say we'd lose to Bangladesh or beat Australia. My revisions could have helped us win us the first test (Aus were very rusty early on) & may have enabled Bangladesh (who did improve near the end) to get into the 4th day of a test.

Does he know you Mo'?

Fuck. Ponting wins toss and will bat.

Predict 300-4 at end of the day.

No it just shows that I can't type !!

from the BBC.

Live: England v Australia
Australia: 66-4

Full scorecard

England made a dream start to the Ashes series by taking four Australia wickets before lunch on day one at Lord's.

It's fucking great being a pommie bastard.

97 for 5 at lunch!!
Rock on!

122-5

I can't wait for the excuses to come rolling in.....

This is fucking ace. I knew I should have chucked a sicky

178-8!!

Only one minor problem ...... McGrath has stuck again & we're 92-7 which is 98 runs behind what they got ....... at the current rate it'll be all over by lunch on Saturday. I hope the establishment figures who spend all their time knocking tests at Headingley that only last 3 days will do the same for Lords (Some hope)

Maybe I just interject to say to Sarah...and especially Jon...



HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!

As predicted by myself, about ooh 6 months ago, the lack of footwork in the top order will be the undoing of England. If I were Vaughan I would promote myself to opener, where he has played his best test cricket, and either get Tresco down the order or relpace him with Thorpe. If Trescothick stays at 1 he will score less than 100 runs all series, he's shit scared of McGrath who treats him like a number 11.

Somehow we need to eek out another 60 runs this morning, anything more than 40 behind on first dig and we are fucked. I see Australia racking up a fairly big score and be batting until tomorrow afternoon as they rarely fail twice, and our bowlers will chuck down some loose stuff as they will be too wound up by the feckless, nay, incompetent performance of the batsmen . The game will be over by Sunday lunchtime (weather permitting) with Australia well on their way to a 3-1 series victory.

You should be on the telly, Moster. You're better than Richie Benaud

The only problem is I can't carry off the cream/off-white/bone/beige suits with quite the same style.

Blazers, old boy. Blazers.

You don't 'Dream of wearing the Cream' then Mo ?

Whats so funny???

Only 98 behind with Peterson still at the crease.

But you're not even fucking Australian Warner - you just live there!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

I've proudly been an Australian citizen for 20 years.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!

OK, the games not over and it's still anyone's game etc... but can somebody explain something to me please....


What on earth is Chris Martyn doing umpiring the friggin' ashes?

Coldplay, bah. The guy knows nothing about nothing, Christ he didn't even know where/what Tolpuddle was until last saturday when billy told him.

Bring back Dickie Bird.

David Shepherd yes (shame he;sgot to go) .... Dickie Bird will only turn up if there's free grub.

England need 420 to win

I can't say I was ever too proud to be a british citizen for my 30+ years over there, and apart from the weather in QLD, I've not seen anything much to be proud/patriotic about here, unless you count inbred racism and racial intolerance!

Anyway, back to the cricket...


England 155 & 156-5 v Australia 190 & 384 (with 40 runs left to get)

Edited to add

They still need another 264 runs to win with only five wickets remaining.

Must've got my previous figures from the KLF Bureau of Statistics

That's because you live in Queensland. We're much nicer people down south