First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

This is a ripping test match. Toss of the coin right now.

We're set for a cracking series.

How many more do we need Lem? The pitch has settled a lot but with Lyon on a fifth day pitch I think anymore than 250 is going to be difficult.

Is it just me or have the wickets in England been a lot dustier than they have been in previous years? Even in the WC some of the pitches had clouds of dirt flying around when the ball pitched.

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Well said TD, the punishment was ridiculously harsh.

Thanks BAD. You guys may have noticed that it's a topic I get fairly passionate about.

[hujsh]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

So when do we see the rest of the cricket cheats get punished to the same degree as our three players were? We were played for mugs and the pile on from people like Craddock was nothing short of bullying. In my opinion if the world media had said "that's a bad look but everybody does it, a fine is an appropriate punishment" then the Australian media would have fallen over themselves to be in furious agreement with that.

I'm not saying that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were angels (in fact Warner is in the top 5 of my least favorite cricketers of all time and Smith couldn't captain his way out of a wet paper bag-I hate to defend these blokes but I believe it's the right thing to do) but they were judged on a vastly different set of values than any cricketer has ever been judged on before. It's the hypocrisy that gets on my nerves, not to mention the enabling of the idiot section booing the three of them and the problems with mental health that sort of thing causes. After all didn't we just have a national conversation about the constant booing of Adam Goodes and the effect it had on his career?

Don't see how any of that is relevant to what you said. Your defense of them cheating was 'no one is perfect'. You can argue about the punishment all you want but that's a very bad defense of the action. May as well say 'boys will be boys'

[Bornadog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Don't see how any of that is relevant to what you said. Your defense of them cheating was 'no one is perfect'. You can argue about the punishment all you want but that's a very bad defense of the action. May as well say 'boys will be boys'

OK cool. I actually agree that the 'noone is perfect' excuse doesn't fly. But but my point was the media pile on was to say the least distasteful and at worst bordered on bullying. They aren't the only players to have interfered with a ball and they won't be the last but it's only them who have been so harshly punished for it.

[lemmon]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

How many more do we need Lem? The pitch has settled a lot but with Lyon on a fifth day pitch I think anymore than 250 is going to be difficult.

Is it just me or have the wickets in England been a lot dustier than they have been in previous years? Even in the WC some of the pitches had clouds of dirt flying around when the ball pitched.

It's dusty and should suit Lyon but he's never been a spinner that runs through sides on the fifth day. I thought 250 was going to be a really tough chase at close of play yesterday, might need 300 based on how easily we've played today.

[lemmon]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Counter-attacking knock from Wade, just what you want from a number 6.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Wade, 50 off only 70 balls. Well done!

My Dad gets sick of me bashing Usman Khwaja but I think he's the most boring batsman going and can't wait until someone takes that spot. At least Warner has a decent highlights reel for his trouble.

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Need a minimum 250 lead, 300 would be good.

It's dusty and should suit Lyon but he's never been a spinner that runs through sides on the fifth day. I thought 250 was going to be a really tough chase at close of play yesterday, might need 300 based on how easily we've played today.

Just watching how much bounce that Root is getting I'm thinking that Steve Smith could be a dangerous prospect on a wearing fifth day pitch?

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Wade, 50 off only 70 balls. Well done!

My Dad gets sick of me bashing Usman Khwaja but I think he's the most boring batsman going and can't wait until someone takes that spot. At least Warner has a decent highlights reel for his trouble.

You need an anchor batsman in a test match innings. We went through a period last summer when we got the idea in our head that a fast match is a good match and didn't pick a sheet anchor but it didn't work out very well for us because we kept getting out for 150 in a session...

[MrMahatma]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

It’s Aussie win or a draw from here.

And respect to dogs fans watching to defuse their pain. ��

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

It’s Aussie win or a draw from here.

And respect to dogs fans watching to defuse their pain. ��

It's the hoping that the red, white and blue team loses that is a bit alien to us.

[lemmon]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Not sure why Root hasn't taken the new ball? He's giving Wade some trouble from his end but this is an oddly defensive move when you're desperate for wickets.

[jeemak]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Not sure why Root hasn't taken the new ball? He's giving Wade some trouble from his end but this is an oddly defensive move when you're desperate for wickets.

Possibly wants to keep the pace of the ball not wanting to see it ping to the boundary 2005 Brett Lee style with two in form bats at the crease.

[lemmon]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Does Joel Wilson genuinely just guess? That never looked out.