3rd Ashes test - a draw - but wonderful cricket

[tjwmason]

My little heart could barely cope with the final few overs - right to the very last ball England could have won, but victory slipped through our fingers.

England - 444 & 280-6 (dec.)

Australia - 302 & 371-9.

Had that last wicket fallen and Australia gone to 371 all out - England would now have a series lead of 2-1 - alas we ran out of time.

http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/npower-tests/fans-flock-to-old-trafford,5653,EN.html for a match report.

[sundog]

1. i love wonderful cricket!

:bounce:

[tjwmason]

6. You're just trying to irritate me even more

I'm going to rise above it effortlessly :P

And this time it won't involve me staying awake until 2 a.m. - and thus being tired and grumpy all day at work either.

[sundog]

8. bang chitty! bang! bang!

[tjwmason]

10. Can I hear some random buzzing sound?

Like there's some small insect trying to speak to me?

The sort of insect that wouldn't realise when a squid has died, but would assume that it's pining for the fijords.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

2. I repeat: That was a wicket googly!!

[crispini]

3. Tell me what the Ashes are again?

I know I should know this, but I don't.

Also, why do they call it a "test" match when it's the real thing? :P </ignorant american>

[tjwmason]

5. The Ashes are the trophy contested between England and Australia

Many years ago, England lost the test series whilst touring in Australia. The following tour the Australian captain presented his English counterpart with an urn containing the ashes formed by burning the bails from some cricket stumps (they're the little things which lie across the top of the three upright poles). Ever since this has been presented to the winning team of the England-Australia series (though the urn is kept at Lords in England).

I'm not entirely sure why it's called a test match - the terms is used for Rugby internationals as well. In cricket it is used to distinguish between the shorter matches (which only last for one day), and the lower level countries (there are only about 10 test match countries).

Incidentally, the world's first cricket international was played between the U.S. and Canada.

[crispini]

7. thank you for the education!

US, eh? too bad it didn't stay caught on.... seems like cricket and "soccer" aka football are the things that most of the rest of the world plays -- except us!

[tjwmason]

9. Cricket is only really played by the former British empire

It confuses the rest of the world as much as it confuses Americans.

[crispini]

11. I watched some in Thailand once.

I didn't get the appeal, but my mom (a Brit) assures me it's a lot of fun. Then again, I don't get the appeal of a lot of sports, so no surprise there. :P

[mrfrapp]

4. Darn.

It was an excellent game all told. Speaking as an England fan it's a pity England couldn't knock out Australia when they were on the ropes but I can't help thinking the momentum is still with England this series so I'm not too disheartened with the draw.

There's something missing from the Australia team at the moment and they need to do something about it rather quickly I would say.