Fifth Ashes Test

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:39 am

Well, thought I'd start a thread for the Last Chance Saloon, aka The Oval Test. Feel free to vent your frustration or express your joy.

England have won the toss and will bat. First thing has gone right. No spinner for the Aussies on the grounds they didn't need one at Headingley (grrr. mutter. grumble). Bopara out, Bell up to three, Collingwood to four and Trott in at five, Flintoff back at seven for his last Test. He'll want to go out with a bang. Let's hope it's not his knee.

Aussies not changing a winning side.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:48 am

OI!!!! we're on delay here mate don't give too much away.!!!!!! I'ts only just started ....hang on ...........

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:51 am

OI!!!! we're on delay here mate don't give too much away.!!!!!! I'ts only just started ....hang on ...........

:)

You mean, win or lose, I have the chance to torment you all through the game by knowing what's happening five minutes before you?

O gosh...:sneaky:

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:54 am

If it rains hard enough England might fluke a draw.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:04 am

Morning Barman. Hoping for better than a draw.

Single off the first over. Strauss batting with great caution, Hilfenhaus a little wide so the single was off the last ball of the over, the first ball Strauss played at.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:22 am

Emgland 12-1. Cook goes for 10.

Aussies have found a flaw in his technique and exploited it (Inswinger to left hander). He'll be of limited use until it is sorted.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:06 am

56-1 at drinks. Clouding over and some light drizzle. Shouldn't amount to much and it's due to be pleasant this afternoon.

England recovering a bit after the loss of Cook. Drinks breaks are always a bit risky though - the break in concentration often leads to a wicket.

The pitch looks to be cutting up a bit. Unusual for the Oval, but we're told this isn't like the Oval pitches of old. Why not, we wonders. They were good pitches.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:41 am

108-1 at lunch. Strauss 50.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:21 am

131-2. Strauss went to a good one from Hilfenhaus with the score on (I think) 126. Hilfenhaus has been the bowling find of the series for Australia.

Bell has his fifty, but it's a loooong time since he's made 100. Collingwood is a battler, but not a natural talent of the class of, say, Bopara. Can he battle it out on a true pitch that would normally suit a natural talent like Bopara? It's the sort of true pitch that could reward Bell. He won't get many better opportunities and he's a quick scorer if he stays around. 100 or out by tea, at a guess.

Ooops. Strauss' wicket was a clear no-ball.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:06 am

167-2. Steady progress by England.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:02 am

180-3 at tea. Collingwood gone. Bell and Trott have since put the anchors down so my prediction of Bell out or 100 by tea has proved completely wrong.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:07 am

Bell gone first over after tea, so I was almost right. Great. Still only one 100 in the series so far. The Aussies will probably all get 100s on this track. Or more.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:05 am

282-7. Have resorted to misery eating and self-harm.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:07 am

Clodhopper;1232588 wrote: 282-7. Have resorted to misery eating and self-harm.

Very sad listening to Flintoff's cameo innings. Sounds as if he never settled to the bowling at all.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:23 am

Very sad listening to Flintoff's cameo innings. Sounds as if he never settled to the bowling at all.

Mitchell bowled well to him. My impression was he was trying to bat responsibly but being Freddie couldn't resist the shot. Last game emotions may have played their part as well.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:02 am

Well gosh! You go out for a while and Broad takes 4-25 and Swann is 2-15. Immediately put plasters on self inflicted wounds and put away the vodka and sleeping pills!

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:09 am

Clodhopper;1233009 wrote: Well gosh! You go out for a while and Broad takes 4-25 and Swann is 2-15. Immediately put plasters on self inflicted wounds and put away the vodka and sleeping pills!

Is that good then?:-3

Still class cricket as rounders with only 2 ends.:p:wah:

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:45 am

YOu guys watching now?:yh_rotfl

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:41 am

Morning Fuzzy. Yes, I'm watching. Been a grim grind this morning, but fascinating stuff. 134-3, lead by 306 with 7 wickets in hand.

England attacking a bit just recently. Every run doubly valuable on this pitch. 100 partnership between Trott and Strauss just come up. Immensely valuable partnership, pushing the game further away from the Aussies.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:48 am

Still class cricket as rounders with only 2 ends.

Burn the heretic.:p

No game is a more searching test of character.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:52 am

England lead by 400. It's goodbye Freddie for a cameo 18. Broad appears to be taking a liking to North - three fours off the over.

Now it's a case of putting what? fifty or 100 runs more? to the remove the game from any possibility of hope from the Aussie point of view and leaving ourselves two days and part of a session to knock them over and regain the Ashes!

Whooda thunkit?

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:46 am

Lead of 462 at tea, Swann biffing North around the park.

Should England declare at tea, or bat on for an hour or so and get to 500, then bowl at the Aussies for the last hour?

Bat on for an hour. They're Aussies and should therefore be left no sniff of hope.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:36 am

Trott century on debut. Lead 518. Ok, time to declare and have a go at the Aussie openers.

On the other hand, I stand watching England batting like this for a while longer! :-6

sesu · Post by **sesu** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:02 am

In tihs test definatily England wins. Because batting order is very strong compare to AUS. Seris England's.

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:36 am

England have scored 2 centuries in the series so far with Australia taking (I think) 7. Its not so much how many runs you score but about taking all 20 wickets. The pitch hasnt done quite what was expected, its even stabilised a bit.

Australia have done exactly the right thing and come out fighting. No point in trying to drag it out for two days. The pitch will eventually play up and do all sorts. Get the runs under your belt as soon as.

England must concentrate on taking 10 wickets and not setting a defensive field to save the runs. Just go for it

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:38 pm

In tihs test definatily England wins. Because batting order is very strong compare to AUS. Seris England's.

Hello Sesu. :-6

I am very worried by the English batting line up. If Strauss fails, everyone fails. We have some talented players, but no clear 3, 4, 5, and number 2 is looking a bit shaky.

Snowfire: It's possible the pitch will just flatten out. But with turn like this Swann ought to chew his way through them. Ought to...

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:56 pm

Harmison, Anderson and Flintoff need to step up to the plate. There's big run makers all through the Australian order and they need to be bombed into making mistakes....Jeez, my granny could play those three. They don't seem to have enough fire in 'em, considering the importance of this game!

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 3:03 pm

Harmison, Anderson and Flintoff need to step up to the plate.

Agreed. It's as though they aren't sure how they should bowl on this. Flower has a lot of work to do overnight by the look of it.

Bowl Swann pretty much unchanged and rotate quickies at the other end is my first thought.

mrsK · Post by **mrsK** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:35 pm

Still just smiling here & not saying much as yet.

Doesn't look to good atm but stranger things:driving:

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:10 pm

Still just smiling here & not saying much as yet.

Doesn't look to good atm but stranger things

I know. I'd be a lot more comfortable if we'd knocked over either opener. Katich by preference. But I've got this nightmare vision of a Ponting 200....(augh!) :wah:

Still, all it will take is one good England session and the Ashes are ours....

To coin a phrase: "It ain't over 'til Mrs K frowns and says a lot."

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:18 pm

"It ain't over 'til Mrs K frowns and says a lot." :wah::wah::wah:

wow humour on a Sunday morning.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:34 pm

wow humour on a Sunday morning.

Still Saturday night here, if you see what I mean. Glass of wine and peruse of the boards then bed. Ready for a frazzled day tomorrow.:wah:

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:38 pm

ahh yes about the wine .....:-3 you're talking to miss hangover at the moment

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:48 pm

Nope. Just a glass before bed. And I stuck a thread up so I'm sort of hovering a bit.

mrsK · Post by **mrsK** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:19 pm

Clodhopper;1233460 wrote: I know. I'd be a lot more comfortable if we'd knocked over either opener. Katich by preference. But I've got this nightmare vision of a Ponting 200....(augh!) :wah:

Still, all it will take is one good England session and the Ashes are ours....

To coin a phrase: "It ain't over 'til Mrs K frowns and says a lot."

I like it:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:40 pm

We're down to the second last day of five five day games and it's all still in the balance. Ashes cricket. There's nothing quite like it.

Goodnight!

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:23 am

86-1. First wicket at last! Katich padding up to a Swann arm ball.

And Broad just got Watson trapped on his crease. 90-2.

Breathing a bit easier. Ponting got a good reception, too.

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:06 am

You should at least explain what the game is all about mate, Americans dont play this game (not daft are they). Hope you dont mind if i post a simple version so all the foreigners can understand all the excitement and get involved.

Cricket Explained.

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Simple really.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:40 am

Ah yes. Haven't seen that in a while.

Also that cricket is a game invented in England requiring five consecutive days of good weather...

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:07 am

Popped off briefly and two wickets have gone - one to a Freddie direct hit run-out.

Australia 227-4. Pitch looks to be easing, but still plenty of turn. Pity we're dropping all the catches off Swann.

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:16 am

Lovely stumping of North by Prior off Swann. Ball really turned and bounced and North was left agonisingly unable to stretch back the necessary half inch.

236-5

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:52 am

Ooooh! four wickets while I went for a walk and did my shopping. Ashes nearly regained.

And won!

Yippee!

Cue celebratory beer. :-6

Bad luck Australia. This wasn't the greatest series ever, but it went down to the wire. No, we've just got to retain the Ashes in Australia...Can't wait!

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:56 am

Me neither:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Congrats Clodhopper, i can tell it means something to you.

farmer giles · Post by **farmer giles** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:35 am

well done tottenham :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

i mean england beating west ham and being top of the league

i mean winning the ashes :-6:-6

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:40 am

Regaining the Ashes AND Chelsea winning. Life doesnt get better than that

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:42 am

Oh, no congrats to me. I did nothing. But yes, the Ashes are special. Test Cricket is special and the Ashes are the pinnacle of Test cricket because of the history between the two countries, playing this game. You might enjoy this link:

BBC SPORT | Cricket | When Lily Allen met Aggers

Snowfire · Post by **Snowfire** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:45 am

Clodhopper;1233575 wrote: Oh, no congrats to me. I did nothing. But yes, the Ashes are special. Test Cricket is special and the Ashes are the pinnacle of Test cricket because of the history between the two countries, playing this game. You might enjoy this link:

BBC SPORT | Cricket | When Lily Allen met Aggers

Couldnt agree more. I'm a purist. One day and 20/20 are fun but nothing comes close to test cricket

As for Lily, there may be a chance for me then. She likes her men on the larger side and a little older.

Give us a ring Lil

Barman · Post by **Barman** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:57 am

farmer giles;1233573 wrote: well done tottenham :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

i mean england beating west ham and being top of the league

i mean winning the ashes :-6:-6

Hey, this is a thread about cricket not sad old spurs, win a couple of games and you think the league is all yours.:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

farmer giles · Post by **farmer giles** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:58 am

Snowfire;1233576 wrote: Couldnt agree more. I'm a purist. One day and 20/20 are fun but nothing comes close to test cricket

As for Lily, there may be a chance for me then. She likes her men on the larger side and a little older.

Give us a ring Lil

this is the only lilly that would be interested in you ...he liked a "ding" bat :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

YouTube - Dennis Lillee uses Aluminium Bat! (Cricket )

Clodhopper · Post by **Clodhopper** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:32 am

Farmer Giles: Well, if you want to call Dennis Lillee a puff that's up to you. :wah:

Ok, he had the moustache.

Hmm. Dennis baby, is there anything you aren't telling us?