Cricket

Fucking lovely. Really, really lovely.

told you the wicket would be damp underneath. weather will suit the england attack :(

Still not looking forward to Cook and co batting on this.

er...It's not entirely the pitch, it's the Aus batsmen giving away their wickets.

I'll watch the highlights tonight to see for myself but that's the kind of scorecard I liketo wake up to in the morning!

I was fitfully watching throughout the night - woke up at 6 to see the last hour. We made the best of the conditions and the toss. We bowled well and batted effectively.
This was a dreamlike days cricket, Aussie comfidence is a bit of a willow the wisp at the minute.

Piss off England.

Thats right.. .Im talking to the WHOLE country.

Went to sleep at lunch time last night (in any other situation that would be nonsensical!!) feeling pretty buoyant, but it no way was i prepared for the utter destruction!

Went to sleep at lunch with the radio still on, woke up convinced that the bogans were all out cheap and England were 180-1, with Peter Crouch on 83 not out. Sleep osmosis only works a bit.

I think the difference at the moment is that England are stringing together consecutive great sessions. In the past we would have bowled a team out for (really) cheap then lost a few cheap wickets and ended up all out for 200. It seems that this English side can press home their advantage when they are up and keep going for the opposition.

Having said that, it was a piss poor batting performance. Given that he has totally failed since been given a second international chance, will Phil Hughes be dropped for the last test?

Hussey out for 8 too.....love it. I guess he will come back at us in the second innings though.

kicking back watching the 2005 ashes DVD box set.

fuck y'all.

they all look so young!

Anderson and Tremlett were bowling some absolute jaffa's, only Hughes and Clarke probably gave their wickets away. Haddin's wasn't a great shot, but to be fair to him he's been in good nick so he was confident and the ball seamed away from him. Bit of batting resolve and George W. Ponting will be heading towards retirement.

I may kill myself.

have you watched it? Angry Anderson and Trembling Tremlett are ok back-up seamers but your problems are rooted mainly on home soil:

Every batsman fell to an edge caught behind the wicket, six to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior, two to slips and two to gully. Too many men played with hard hands away from their bodies, and they struggled to work out which deliveries to leave and which ones to play. The questions that the batting coach Justin Langer must consider surround not only technique, but also judgment.

Have another mince pie, Richie. Things might look slightly better after that.

yeah it ain't over until the fat spinner weeps.

Again the press are bigging england up and saying the ashes are already retained. ffs

(ha! on the 2005 DVD of the Lords test, they show a couple of couriers riding past the ground at the end)

Yep, Ponting has definitely had a weave or something

Might dig out my copy of the 2005 series before streaming tonight. The mighty British empire will live always in my heart..

Incidentally, i've been really impressed with Tremlett's control. Looks like a different player since i saw him last. 1st choice now to open with Anderson?

I always liked the way the ball steepled up for tremlett, but he's obviously been doing the S&C work like broad and co. He is now a massive man.

Some cool looking clouds in Melbs

Cook has already scored the same number of 4's (11) as the whole aussie team
just sayin

Die Hard 2 is way more entertaining. Fact.

Cook is shit, just sayin

Oh dear, don't do an Australia... not looking quite so good as it did 45 minutes ago

As I said, game is far from won, contrary to most of the English media predictions

Need a wrecking spell from Johnson or Siddle or Harris. They've each had one in this series

Siddle and Hilfenhaus can do that, they're Australia's line and length bowlers. They bowl a good length and they'll both take wickets.