The Ashes Thread (England v Australia)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1st Test Wickets (news from The Guardian):

8th over: WICKET! Hayden b Hoggard 12 (Australia 35-1) Off the final delivery of another expensive over, Hoggard shocks everybody by finally finding his line, just on off stump. It jags back, going through bat and pad, before clattering into Hayden's stumps!

13th over: WICKET! Ponting c Strauss b Harmison 8 (Australia 55-2) Harmison looks like he's caught going-down-legitis, and allows Ponting to flick it off his pads for an easy boundary. But then he produces a real snorter, which Ponting can only fend to third slip, where Andrew Strauss takes a simple catch. "To widen Glen Sibley's Aussie Art culture I have three words," says Ravi Motha. "Men at Work."

15th over: WICKET! c Harmison b Flintoff 40 (Australia 66-3) Flintoff comes for Harmison - and immediately strikes! He fires one one in short and Langer can't resist the hook shot. However, it's quicker than he expects: it comes off the splice of his bat, and loops high into the air and Harmison takes an easy catch. "Re: the Aussie culture debate. Everyone is forgetting three names, all of which we've exported to you (and you've kept). Rolf Harris, Peter Andre and the outspoken leftie-feminist chick who's name escapes me" - Damian Hockley. Germaine Greer or Anne Robinson, Damian?

16th over: WICKET! Martyn c G Jones b S Jones 2 (Australia 66-4) Simon Jones strikes with his first ball! Martyn tries to drive off the back foot, but it moves slightly and Geraint Jones snags a regulation catch behind the stumps. Apologies for all the exclamation marks, but what a start for England! "I really wished I worked with some Australians now," says Phil Butler, who surely speaks for the nation. "Not that i'm really working."

Source: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/overbyover/story/0,16077,1533100,00.html

(time:1207) Current Score: Australia 78-4

[Bob3]

1. How long as it been since England won the Ashes?

It seems like it's been ages.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

2. It has been ages

1987 was the last time England won.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Now 97-5 at lunch

And that was after a lucky 4 over the slips by Gilchrist, who is Australia's last hope.

[D-Notice]

4. Convicts 190 all out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4700157.stm

England currently 35-4 (is that a worse rate than the Ozzies? I'm not really into my cricket...)

I think the fact the game's carrying on shows what a complete balls-up the "terror attack" is/was

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. We're doing worse than the Aussies at the moment

Australia did well to get 190 all out considering the wickets they lost early-on.

[Matilda]

8. Excuse me?

Mind who you're calling a convict.

[D-Notice]

12. It's an affectionate term

similar to you lot calling us "Pommies"

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. Latest score: England 76-5

[demobrit]

10. Pietersen

Well , this guy has shown that he will be a lynch pin for the England side for some time to come .
He has shown good technique and a willingness to get his head down for the side when it isn`t his natural game .

[Taxloss]

7. I can't talk about it.

Too painful.

[Matilda]

9. Hardly worth watching.

I'm just glad your lot haven't done any better than ours.

[T_i_B]

11. England 155 all out, Australia 37-1

Glen McGrath's bowling yesterday was just too good for us! Damien Martyn' catch today and Kevin Pietersen's run-out this morning were pretty good too.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

13. 2nd innings Australia 279-6

[demobrit]

14. England can still win it

:)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

15. Australia 372-9, Aussies lead by 407

:cry: