Second Test

[C C Csiders]

Glenn McGrath ruled out of Second Ashes Test after a freak injury during the warm up. What a shame http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Aug. 04 2005,10:05)]Glenn McGrath ruled out of Second Ashes Test after a freak injury during the warm up. What a shame http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
Ponting won the toss and asked England to bat.

[C C Csiders]

Batting first I, unfortunatley, sniff disaster. The wicket is apparently very green to match the Aussies caps. Just as well McGrath is crocked.

Why is Giles playing on a green top? I can only assume because those responsible for selction on the morning of a match are making a point.

My prediction England 145-155 all out. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[The General]

Warne dropped Strauss to a rather big cheer. 17-0

[canveyshrimper]

You pessimist Csider, though you could be right. I do think England will make a better fist of this time with the bat so I am going for 300+ without McGrath.

If the sunshines it will dry out and then a variation of attack could help us if the convicts are chasing a score on day 5.

Says he hopefully.

17-0 off 3 overs

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 04 2005,10:47)]You pessimist Csider, though you could be right. I do think England will make a better fist of this time with the bat so I am going for 300+ without McGrath.

If the sunshines it will dry out and then a variation of attack could help us if the convicts are chasing a score on day 5.

Says he hopefully.

17-0 off 3 overs
I just hope I got slated on here come Sunday or Monday when we have made 450+ and then Giles takes 7-56 as we win by 200 runs.

[canveyshrimper]

If that happens all i can say is that it will brilliant to be wrong.

[CANV]

pitch not doing as much as ponting hoped.. hopefully he was fooled by the cuning bluff sold to him by the groundsman earlier this week

[canveyshrimper]

54-0 in the 12th over, hope we can build on a solid start.

[Matt the Shrimp]

60-0 - Warne's in, and Strauss has just clobbered him to the boundary!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Warne has conceded 37 from his 6 overs so far.

[Matt the Shrimp]

And then chubby Shane takes his first wicket...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Strauss out for 48 (shame for him not to make his half ton)... 112/1. Vaughan in. Big knock needed - especially with McGrath out of the picture.

Matt

[Matt the Shrimp]

Banger has just creamed 18 runs off the last over before lunch, bowled by Brett Lee. Quality!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[C C Csiders]

132-1 at lunch. Trescothick 77*. Ignore my previous post - I quite obviously know nothing (unless we lose 9 wickets for 23 runs).

Should now be looking at well in excess of 300 by close, even with say 5 down that is very acceptable given that squinty-eyed Ponting put us in. Go on the boys. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Aug. 04 2005,12:26)]And then chubby Shane takes his first wicket...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Strauss out for 48 (shame for him not to make his half ton)... 112/1. *Vaughan in. *Big knock needed - especially with McGrath out of the picture.

Matt
"Opens mouth to change feet"

[Matt the Shrimp]

Although I'm having to endure Blofeld at the moment, it does at least sound as if Vaughan is in quite good nick.

Matt

[Bucks_blue]

Bangers out! 164-2.

Looks like 250 all out then!

[Matt the Shrimp]

B*LL*CKS!

Weak shot from Bell, now it's 170/3...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Only a 20 minute or so slot on TMS and then the pillock is shunted out for an hour.

Great scoring rate by England so far.

Will Bell go in at 4 or Pietersen?

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 04 2005,13:38)]Will Bell go in at 4 or Pietersen?
Bell. Rather academic, really...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Aug. 04 2005,13:40)]
Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 04 2005,13:38)]Will Bell go in at 4 or Pietersen?
Bell. *Rather academic, really...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Sure is - other foot firmly back in my mouth.

[Matt the Shrimp]

F**K!!!

Vaughan out - top-edged a hook, out for 24. From 164/1 to 187/4. Only England can do this...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/down.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/ghostface.gif

Up to Freddy & KP now...

Matt

[canveyshrimper]

Still scoring at near 5 an over.

We must get over 300 as a bare minimum

[Matt the Shrimp]

Freddy and KP are building a useful partnership here... this is the key to England's first innings, now. *50 runs off 50 balls in 37 minutes for the current pair - Freddy on 28 and KP on 30.

238/4

Matt

[canveyshrimper]

Just seen on BBC website that the injury McGrath has could keep him out for 6 weeks. In which case he will miss the rest of the series.

Also why has Lee only bowled 7 overs?

[The General]

289-4.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (The General @ Aug. 04 2005,15:12)]289-4.
May the carnage of the Kev and Freddy show continue after Tea. If these two are still there at the close the score could be close on 450 - astounding in a days Test cricket.

[canveyshrimper]

It would be great if they are still there at close of play, 5 an over in a Test Match is amazing.

[C C Csiders]

Typical. Flintoff out straight away after Tea. 290-5.

[CANV]

i blame 20-20 .. what happened to the good old days of boycs and tavere.. 1.7 an over and 5 draws per series:)

[C C Csiders]

No real surprise the inept Jones out for 1. 293-6.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (CANV @ Aug. 04 2005,15:44)]i blame 20-20 .. *what happened to the good old days of boycs and tavere.. 1.7 an over and 5 draws per series:)
With Tavare it was more like 1.7 runs per session.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 04 2005,16:02)]
Quote[/b] (CANV @ Aug. 04 2005,15:44)]i blame 20-20 .. *what happened to the good old days of boycs and tavere.. 1.7 an over and 5 draws per series:)
With Tavare it was more like 1.7 runs per session.
It used to be like watching paint dry - but it was effective against the West Indies pace attack who he played his best for England against.

Just looked up his stats and his scoring rate in Tests was 30.6 runs per 100 balls (compare that to Trescothick currently scoring 58 per 100 balls in Tests). That means if he (Tavare) were to bat all day in a Test match, assuming he would receive half of the balls bowled, he would only have made 82 runs in a whole days play. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/ghostface.gif

[Bucks_blue]

328-6.

Any score over 300 on the first day of a tet is good.

Against Australia is excellent.

Against Australia when they have put you in to bat is even better!

Does anyone know what the pitch is like? If its cloudy/overcaset and the pitch is as green as everyone has been saying then is this a superb batting display?

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Bucks_blue @ Aug. 04 2005,16:17)]328-6.

Any score over 300 on the first day of a tet is good.

Against Australia is excellent.

Against Australia when they have put you in to bat is even better!

Does anyone know what the pitch is like? If its cloudy/overcaset and the pitch is as green as everyone has been saying then is this a superb batting display?
Apparently the pitch is flatter than a model from Holland on a pancake diet.

Meanwhile Pietersen has made his 3rd fifty from 3 Test innings'. Ably supported here by Giles in almost Fredddy mode.

Think 400 is absolute minimum here. The Aussies are likely to score at least as fast as us.

[canveyshrimper]

Agreed - also Vaughan will be the happier skipper, by Ponting putting England in he expected to bowl us out for under 250. Now looks like we will get closer to 400.

Lee is going for close on 8 an over, remarkable for their main strike bowler.

With some sun on it the pitch may get a bit more life and lift by the type the England quicks get on it. Just in time for Langer, Hayden & Ponting to get some chin music.

[canveyshrimper]

342/7 - Giles out - hope Hoggard, Harmison & Jones can hang around for Pietersen to get a ton.

Only 66 overs bowled so the Aussies could have an uncomfortable 30 minutes or so tonight.

[canveyshrimper]

Bugger - foot back in mouth 348/8 Pietersen out for 71.

The Aussies will have an awkward late evening session - hope we can knock a few over.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Aug. 04 2005,16:35)]Bugger - foot back in mouth 348/8 Pietersen out for 71.

The Aussies will have an awkward late evening session - hope we can knock a few over.
Looks like no more than 375 max. now. Would have settled for that prior to play commencing, having been put in. But, it could (and should) have been so much more.

Anyway Hayden, Langer, Ponting and Clarke "don't like it up 'em" as Corporal Jones used to say - so lets get them a couple down this evening.

[canveyshrimper]

Our tail does wag a bit more these days and both Jones & Harmison can put bat to ball.

If you had told me we would get 350 plus at start of play i would have taken it.

Hopefully their top order can smell a bit of leather before the close.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Harmison's cameo is over... 375/9. 400 looks unlikely now.

Matt

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

388-9, we're inching our way up to 400

[Matt the Shrimp]

Hoggard hit Warne for 4, and then Simon Jones has just thumped Gillespie for 6... get in!!

402/9 - superb wagging of the tail!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

This is already an amazing Test. We've seen:

*the highest score by a side which has been sent in
*ten 6s
*the first time (?) England has scored 400 against Aussies on the first day of a test...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Matt the Shrimp]

31 added for the last wicket - Hoggard 16, Jones 18 - 406/9!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Matt the Shrimp]

407 all out - and it's now stumps as it has started to rain at Egbaston. Superb performance by England - an extraordinary day of cricket.

Matt

Oops. Australia have lost a wicket already - Hayden out for a duck! 0-1!

[Hong Kong Blue]

Australia ominously move onto 52-1 at the end of the 11th.

I'm very concerned about the run-rate. England need to bore them out.

Ponting seems to be in good form, he's smashing the England bowlers all over the place. We need to slow the pace down a bit, we really need to take a lead into our second innings

[Matt the Shrimp]

The Wheelie Bin is being very annoying... keeping it tight for all bar one ball an over, which Ponting is merrily crashing to the boundary rope.

That's not how you build up pressure, Ashley.

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Aus 87/1 (again, at almost 5 an over), Ponting in ominously good form with 61 runs off 68 deliveries.

Matt

[Matt the Shrimp]

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Excellent - 89/2; the Wheelie Bin has stuffed that down my throat by snaring Ponting's wicket for 61, a hugely important scalp that. *Well played Ashley Giles! (and perhaps a slice of humble pie to be delivered my way by HK Blue at some point, no doubt...)

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif

Ponting's departure brings in Damien Martyn... blimey, they can bat a bit can't they, these Aussies...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Aug. 05 2005,12:08)]http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Excellent - 89/2; the Wheelie Bin has stuffed that down my throat by snaring Ponting's wicket for 61, a hugely important scalp that. *Well played Ashley Giles! (and perhaps a slice of humble pie to be delivered my way by HK Blue at some point, no doubt...)

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif

Ponting's departure brings in Damien Martyn... blimey, they can bat a bit can't they, these Aussies...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Well done Ashley Giles, that is a massive wicket picking up a well set batsman.

However like 11 overs doesn't make him a bad bowler, one wicket doesn't make him a good bowler, he should still be judged on his overall substantial contribution to the team over the last 18 months or so.

ps Another wicket or two before lunch would be most welcome.

[canveyshrimper]

Incredible in a test match that the scoring is still around 5 an over. Move over Sir Geoffrey.

Flintoff & Giles do seem to have applied a bit of a brake. One more before lunch please.

[Hong Kong Blue]

Did you ask for that before or after the run out!

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ Aug. 05 2005,12:43)]Did you ask for that before or after the run out!
Just before the run out.

Steady progress since lunch 147/3

[Hong Kong Blue]

In which case sir, kindly request another one just after lunch!

[canveyshrimper]

Hmmm - 165/3 would be nice to knock over a couple more before tea.

[Hong Kong Blue]

I think this half an hour before tea is going to be match defining. If England can pick up a wicket or two it will put them in the driving seat, but if Australia can survive it, they'll be in control.

NIce, just got in from the Opticians and we just take another wicket to go 208/5... not looking too bad so far

[Hong Kong Blue]

According to cricinfo Langer just edged Giles wide of slip for 4.

C'mon England, we need one more wicket before tea.

219-5 at tea, a lead of 188. Wishful thinking probably but it'd be good if we can bowl 'em out for around 300.... that'd be a handy lead to take into the second innings. Need an early wicket after tea though

[canveyshrimper]

Agreed if we can knock over Gilchrist early then that could be key.

Any lead will be great but around 100 would be a top effort.

[canveyshrimper]

One further point the England over rate has been pitiful, only around 13 an hour.

[Hong Kong Blue]

Are crac-info taking the p*ss out of the fact our wicketkeeper is an Aussie?

56.6 Giles to Langer, no run
56.5 Giles to Langer, bye: FOUR, turning in from outside the off stump,
Langer offers no shot, ball keeps low and beats Gilchrist
56.4 Giles to Langer, no run, comes down the track and gets beaten,
Gilchrist fails to collect it properly and Langer survives - that
will go down as a chance
56.3 Giles to Langer, no run, defended down the pitch
56.2 Giles to Langer, no run
56.1 Giles to Langer, no run, beaten outside the off stump and Gilchrist
quickly disturbs the stumps, question asked and the umpire goes
upstairs, green light flashes

[canveyshrimper]

Is he an Aussie or from Papua New Guinea??

[Hong Kong Blue]

He's a Welsh Papa New Guinean Aussie.

[canveyshrimper]

274/7 - Giles has 3 for, only going at 3 an over plus some valuable runs. He is answering his critics in the best way possible.

[Matt the Shrimp]

284/8 now - Simon Jones bags Lee. Dizzy in now...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Matt the Shrimp]

Freddy... you beauty! 2 wickets in 2 balls. Australia all out for 308 - that's a 99 run lead for England. Top banana!!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Great performance so far by England. They have won all the sessions so far.

Now an awkward little hal hour tonight, but that is such a good lead on that pitch.

I would say England need to score around 350 to set them 450++ to win.

Come on England.

[Matt the Shrimp]

The best thing is that there's loads *of time left - three days!

A lead of 400 ought *to be enough, a lead of 450 or more will surely clinch it.

Banger's just hit Lee for 4 off the first ball of the innings - good lad!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Woah, I go out to clean the car for a couple of hours and we've already bowled the Aussies out and are 16 for no loss! Perhaps all those people who were predicting a whitewash might eat their words, especially if we get a nice lead before the Aussies' second innings...!

[Matt the Shrimp]

Mental, we're still cracking along at almost 5 an over - we're now 25/0 off 5.3 overs! Banger is in superb touch, it has to be said.

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[The General]

Warne gets Strauss. How did he do that? Feckin' hell!!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Sh*t. Warne bowled Strauss - bit over the top from the commentator who almost blew my speakers out in celebration. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Great bit of bowling though

[Matt the Shrimp]

B*ll*cks... Shane's up and running again. Strauss has clearly not learnt how to deal with Warney.

Strauss b Warne 6

England 25/1 - that's a lead of 124 with 9 wickets in hand.

Matt

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Aug. 04 2005,10:26)]Batting first I, unfortunatley, sniff disaster. The wicket is apparently very green to match the Aussies caps. Just as well McGrath is crocked.

Why is Giles playing on a green top? I can only assume because those responsible for selction on the morning of a match are making a point.

My prediction England 145-155 all out. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
I know hindsight's a wondewrfult hing and I do agree generally with your posts on cricket but so far this prediction has been almost precisely wrong!!

Just need McGrath to start jogging round the pitch!

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (sufcintheprem @ Aug. 05 2005,23:46)]
Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Aug. 04 2005,10:26)]Batting first I, unfortunatley, sniff disaster. The wicket is apparently very green to match the Aussies caps. Just as well McGrath is crocked.

Why is Giles playing on a green top? I can only assume because those responsible for selction on the morning of a match are making a point.

My prediction England 145-155 all out. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
I know hindsight's a wondewrfult hing and I do agree generally with your posts on cricket but so far this prediction has been almost precisely wrong!!

Just need McGrath to start jogging round the pitch!
Brilliantly, superbly, fantastically, fandaba-double-dozzeelly wrong! http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif