The Ashes 2010/2011

[Juniortubed]

I feel like I was partially responsible for that performance because of my overwhelming optimism

[nicwing]

I feel like I was partially responsible for that Iperformance because of my overwhelming optimism

In that case... keep it up!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Due to other commitments (essentially an opportunity to wear black tie - a rarity in Plymouth), I missed the morning sessiin for the first time, listened to the afternoon session on TMS though. What a great day, shame there's not quite enough in the pitch to convert it into a win. A true captain'a innings - top three leading from the front.

Very impressed that this seems to be a team which performs at its best under pressure - a welcome change for an England cricket team...

[Monkey Nuts]

Great stuff from our top three yesterday. Managed to see it through to tea last night before the rum I had consumed earlier in the evening caught up with me and I woke up on the sofa at the end of play!!

Hopefully we can keep it up tonight and put a bit of pressure on the Aussie top order and come away with a winning draw with the momentum with us to the 2nd test.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Wow! Highest partnership by an English pair in history, and only the second time ever that all three of England's top three batsmen have scored centuries. A real blow to the Aussies ahead of the next test, I'm liking this resolve.

In my opinion: afternoon session, blast it around a bit, get a 270ish lead, declare, and have a dart at their batsment. Would be almost impossible for the Aussies to win it from there, their top order will be under pressure for their places, and England's bowlers are due a bit of good luck (and won't be as bad as the Aussie attack has been).

[Monkey Nuts]

It's an amazing looking scorecard at the moment isn't it???!!!!! Top 3 are 100, 200 and 100

I reckon your prediction is about right Simon - pitch looks pretty lifeless so a win looks highly unlikely, but England's bowlers will get more out of it than the Aussies, and may give them something to worry about.

[Simon-JG-hr]

You really do have to love Geoffrey Boycott. Here's one of his comments from the Telegraph's online coverage of the test:

What might happen next: England drop Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell and bring in Panesar, Shahzad and Tremlett for Adelaide, reasoning, quite reasonably, that three batsmen is ample - luxurious even - against this lot.

[moidoid]

Psychologically, how good can it be that Mitchell Johnson, who was going to pile into the England batting returned figures of 170 for 0? He bowled some shockers last night - his 4 wides down leg was particularly entertaining. I suspect he may not be there for Adelaide.

[EugeneSax]

It's a sad day when your team captain's the lowest scoring batsman of the innings ;-)

[Monkey Nuts]

Well what a start at Adelaide!!

You couldn't help but laugh at England's last innings finishing at 517-1, and then the Aussies managed to power their way to 2-3

Watched it up until lunch, and I thought Anderson's bowling was superb again. Haven't seen much of his bowling yet, but nice to see Swann back in the wickets.

Hopefully we can put in a decent batting performance, get a big lead, and put them under serious pressure for an innings victory!!!! (Ok, maybe getting a touch carried away, but I'm an optimist!)

[moidoid]

I want to know what Punter was getting his knickers in a twist about in the end. We've got 'em rattled!

[Juniortubed]

I want to know what Punter was getting his knickers in a twist about in the end. We've got 'em rattled!

Right on, when Ponting gets aggressive it's because things aren't going his way...but only time will tell what happens next, remember you only know what a good score is when the other team has batted, remember at the moment it's just a reverse of what happened in the first test!

[nicwing]

Right on, when Ponting gets aggressive it's because things aren't going his way...but only time will tell what happens next, remember you only know what a good score is when the other team has batted, remember at the moment it's just a reverse of what happened in the first test!

Are you really Geoff Boycott?

[Simon-JG-hr]

Nah, if he was Geoffrey Boycott he'd be getting all wet over forward defensives... I've never seen anyone talk such filth on Channel 4 at 10am (even bearing in mind it was home to the Big Breakfast...) If I recall correctly, he used some fairly explicit imagery to describe his love of that particular shot.

[Monkey Nuts]

Hopefully we can put in a decent batting performance, get a big lead, and put them under serious pressure for an innings victory!!!! (Ok, maybe getting a touch carried away, but I'm an optimist!)

I might not be too far off the mark here!!

Great batting from the top order again, but as I said earlier in the thread, the Aussie attack really does lack any serious threat on a pitch like this. Bat for most of tomorrow and nick out a few of their top order before stumps will be our plan tonight I reckon.