Anyone for cricket?

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Good first hour. Lets hope they can cash in and make at least 400 in the first dig.

500+ would be even better!

[MadAsHell 4,215]

What on earth was that Warner!

You've got through the first hour without incident, taken 10 runs of Ali's first 5 balls and then you try and hit him out of the park again only to sky it to midoff!

We'll be in for another painful test if that's an indication of the shot selection we should expect.

Dreadful shot!

[Macca 17,034]

What on earth was that Warner!

You've got through the first hour without incident, taken 10 runs of Ali's first 5 balls and then you try and hit him out of the park again only to sky it to midoff!

We'll be in for another painful test if that's an indication of the shot selection we should expect.

Dreadful shot!

Yep, there's a lot of runs in this wicket and we need to take advantage.

Getting to lunch only 1 down is a big plus.

.

[Demon Jack 6,930]

Good start but we really should still have Warner out there. Poor cricket from Davey.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

They've slowed us down to a snails pace England.

But wickets in hand is worth two in the bush!

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Great middle session by the Aussies, lets hope Rogers & Smith can both go on and make 100's.

Hopefully we aren't anymore then 4 down at Stumps and with about 300 odd runs on the board, we should be well set up for that 400+ score.

Wont be watching this final session, so I hope for good news when I wake up.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Funnily enough, I think our batting looks a bit better now with Mitch Marsh & Nevill there now instead of Watson & Haddin. Although we will miss their experience no doubt.

Still think we can bounce back qucikly. Especially if we win the toss and bat first and make a decent total. We saw in the last sereis out there in 2013, that the two tests we batted first (3rd test & 5th) we had them on the back foot the whole time, and if it weren't for rain would have likely won both tests. If enough pressure's applied to England they'll fold I have no doubt.

Bowl in the right spots, build an innings with the bat and hold your catches and we win without much fuss. That I'm confident of!

Glad you're confident mate ... the Poms will be, that's for sure. A bit surprised that Lehmann described the first test debacle as a "hiccup" ... did we win even one session in Cardiff?

Nevill is playing his first test and he may be more worried about not making a mistake.

There's pressure on Voges to perform - he doesn't get the same luxury of patience that a younger player would get ... he was brought in to make runs from the get-go and the time is nigh.

Mitch Marsh is playing his first test in England and it won't be easy for him either. I reckon he's got a lot to offer but unlike Voges, we need to be patient with Mitch.

If our top order doesn't perform, we could easily go 2 nil down. Bayliss has got England playing with confidence and aggression.

I still believe we can win of course but we'll need a number of things to go our way.

Never in doubt Macca!

Still a long way to go in this test, but couldn't have asked for a better day 1.

Pitch likely to quicken up for our bowlers which will help. We shouldbe aiming for well over 500 now.

[Macca 17,034]

Never in doubt Macca!

Still a long way to go in this test, but couldn't have asked for a better day 1.

Pitch likely to quicken up for our bowlers which will help. We shouldbe aiming for well over 500 now.

Yep, we couldn't have asked for a better result for day 1 - to only be one wicket down is a remarkable outcome. Now to press for victory - the pitch is a very good one for batting but a large score allows Clarke to attack.

Haven't heard the following podcast yet but I'm sure Geoffrey Boycott has some complimentary things to say about the Aussies (and perhaps some not-so-nice things to say about England's efforts) ... BBC 5 live Ashes Report - Day 1

[Macca 17,034]

If the match turns into a draw it brings us back to square one (apart from getting a bunch of batsmen some runs in the bank)

Getting 20 wickets on this deck might be easier said than done - much might depend on Lyon. Fingers crossed!

.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Macca

[Grapeviney 9,800]

When Smith and Rogers were in the 90's last night, I found myself praying (for want of a better word) that they'd both make tons.

It later dawned on me; why are my cricket prayers answered so often, yet my footy prayers almost always fall on deaf ears?!

[daisycutter 29,739]

When Smith and Rogers were in the 90's last night, I found myself praying (for want of a better word) that they'd both make tons.

It later dawned on me; why are my cricket prayers answered so often, yet my footy prayers almost always fall on deaf ears?!

wrong deity?

[Macca 17,034]

When Smith and Rogers were in the 90's last night, I found myself praying (for want of a better word) that they'd both make tons.

It later dawned on me; why are my cricket prayers answered so often, yet my footy prayers almost always fall on deaf ears?!

Ha! Unfortunately our footy club is in it's own special category when it comes to ideal outcomes.

I've learnt over the years to have tempered ambitions and reasonably low expectations. It's the only way I can deal with it!

As for the cricket ... the state of a wicket can change expectations as well ... the Warner dismissal is a bit irrelevant now in the whole scheme of things.

Graeme Swann compared the track to one he might expect in Nagpur.

[Whispering_Jack 30,672]

I hate flat tracks.

[Macca 17,034]

Clarke might come up with a sporting declaration to open up the game.

More so the time factor rather than an amount of runs.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Better session then by England, but we're still well on top at 3/424

Rogers great innings came to an end and Clarke's run of outs continues. But Smith & Voges looking good.

600 could be on the cards here?

[Macca 17,034]

Better session then by England, but we're still well on top at 3/424/

Rogers great innings came to an end and Clarke's run of outs continues. But Smith & Voges looking good.

600 could be on the cards here?

Bit tougher today ... 87 runs only in that session.

Smith looks at ease out there ... a fine player who seems untroubled by circumstances surrounding him. "Greg Chappell like" in that respect.

Voges goes but we're building a large total.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Broad bowling well. Picked up Voges & Marsh since lunch.

Hopefully this is a sign that the pitch is getting better for the bowler?

Still well on track for at least 500.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Like the look of Nevill with the bat.

Very busy. Reminds me a bit of the way Ian Healy used to bat.

And well done Steve Smith, brilliant double ton!

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Smith & Nevill both depart in quick time, but the damage is done at 7/536.

20min till tea. Reckon they'll look to bat till then and maybe just half an hour after tea . If not dismissed by then they'll likely declare. Not point exposing the tail to the 3rd new ball.

Somewhere in the 570 region is a daunting total, so can't see us loosing this test from here.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Another great day for Australia. Couldn't have asked for more having them 4 down at stumps.

Couple of early wickets tomorrow morning and think their spirit will be shattered for this match and hopefully the series from there.

[titan_uranus 25,043]

Ripping efforts from Smith and Rogers with the bat, and then the pace bowlers with the ball. The extra pace of Johnson and Starc was evidently important.

The fightback from Stokes and Cook was good but they're still 282 behind the follow on and 482 behind our score. There's Buttler and Moeen still to come but at the same time there's 3 days left and a mountain of runs. We're in a great position.

[Macca 17,034]

Order is restored by the looks of it .... hard to see us not winning this test from this position

BBC podcast day 2 (includes Geoff Boycott's summary and an interview with Mitch Johnson)

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Thanks for the link Macca.

Was a good fightback from Cook & Stokes, but Stokes & Buttler out either side of lunch has England still well on the back foot.

My prediction is even if we bowl them out with a lead of over 200, we wont make them follow on. Will look to bat possibly till half an hour into the middle session tomorrow and set them around 450 - 500 to win,

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Cook drags it on for 96 just before the new ball and we should be looking t knock them over for less then 300 with any luck!

[dee-luded 2,959]

Cook drags it on for 96 just before the new ball and we should be looking t knock them over for less then 300 with any luck!

just great to see the new team going well with all our boys doing a $terling job