If anyone who said test cricket is boring, watch the Ashes now !!

[Wayne]

I thought our bowlers were doing OK back in England, Harris and Siddle were the standout. It was our batsman that keep letting us down. If Warner can hold his domestic one day form, and the rest of the top and middle order all contribute, we are half way there.

But on paper, the POMS are batting better than the Aussies ! I read it in the Telegraph yesterday, Clarke is the only batsman on both side who has a test average of over 50. All of the batsman on the Aussie side are averaging in the 30's !

But wait for this, all the batsman on the England side are in the 40's

It's gonna be tight , Virgin Australia tight !!

Cheers

Yeah, it's a bit of worry that we have two middle order batsmen, Smith and Bailey, who don't play with a straight bat. Bailey, in particular, is likely to be found out with his leg side only play. He gets away with in limited over games with fielding restrictions but I really can't see him prospering in test cricket. At least we have got rid of our left handed middle order which gave Swann so many wickets.

But saying that, bowlers win matches. Johnson is the key because he is the only aussie bowler that can scythe through a batting line up.

[Punter Poontang]

Will all come down to Johnson's first over. If it's there or thereabouts, then we be competitive. If it's a howler then it will be a miserable summer.

The Barmy Army's new song:

It goes down the left, it goes down the right
Mitchell Johnson, his bowling is shite

And to be fair, they've got a point!!

Seriously though, with a guy THAT inconsistent, I wouldn't be making any judgements quite so soon. As long as the top order doesn't collapse like a bag of shit, we're in with a chance.

[Oneonone]

Well if we are going to have a chance then we need to remember the job of the opening batsman is to get us through to lunch and see off the new ball then if they want to have a slog it may be OK.

We cant win the game in the first hour but we sure can loose it.

Its test cricket not a one day or 20/20 slog.

[AHLUNGOR]

Well if we are going to have a chance then we need to remember the job of the opening batsman is to get us through to lunch and see off the new ball then if they want to have a slog it may be OK.

We cant win the game in the first hour but we sure can loose it.

Its test cricket not a one day or 20/20 slog.

It's bloody time that Warner and Watson stands up and do their job. If Steve Smith has any future leadership aspirations, he needs to do to England what Michael Clarke did to the Indian the year before.

So many heroic stories could be unfolded, let's hope they don't come from the England side.

Cheers

[Oneonone]

The carnage starts tomorrow! So we shall see, I wish and hope but that's about the most I can offer! I think the writing is on the wall.

[AHLUNGOR]

Just bringing this up for brother d_concierge

Let the Ashes begin !

[AHLUNGOR]

The Ashes is on !!

After three consecutive series lost, it's now or never as Michael Clarke has put it in the Tele!

Ponting lost two series during his watch and Clarkey already lost one in England. Stop the ROT !!]

We can't afford to loss a double/double over two Captains !



Order of the day:

Day 1, first Ashes test at the Gabba:

Michael Clarke please win the toss and bat first!

Rogers and Warner stay together and bat past lunch then perhaps survive tea time as well, if either one of them can then let go and score a 100 or bat till stumps, it will go a long way of winning in Brisbane !

Go Aussie

Cheers

[Oneonone]

If we can bat and then not loose more than one max two wickets before lunch we will be in good shape.

Lets hope we can make a game of it, we need some application when we bat.

[AHLUNGOR]

We won the toss, we are batting first.

Jimmy Anderson to Rogers - a maiden over!

Stuart Broad to Warner - getting the BOOOOOOs !

First ball to Warner - FOUR !!

Take that !

Game on !!

Go Aussie

[Oneonone]

Nothing has changed Warner lucky not to be out caught in slips and Rogers out to a short ball.

[AHLUNGOR]

Nothing has changed Warner lucky not to be out caught in slips and Rogers out to a short ball.

Fuck, bloody Stuart Broad again !!

[AHLUNGOR]

OK, settle down, Watson is on, he is the proper opener man, now we have a right hand left hand combination!

C'mon guys, let's see out to lunch !!

[noubroz]

Yawnnn, even this thread is boring. Hard enough to watch on tv so reading it... Can't do it!

[Oneonone]

And now Watson is out last over before lunch just what we didn't want.

[noubroz]

U guys must be kidding...

[Oneonone]

Now Clarke out for 1 looks like a repeat of the ashes in England all over again.

[AHLUNGOR]

Shit, Warner out for 49!

Stuart Broad took 4 wickets!

It's gonna be tough from here now !!

Smith and Bailey must stand up !

[AHLUNGOR]

Bailey out for 3 - may be give Faulkner a try in Adelaide ??

[d_concierge]

This is becoming like a midas session. Great expectation, but fall over all too quickly.

[AHLUNGOR]

Mitch Johnson hit Swann for six - good on you son, the first six of the day !

You might as well go for it rather than die wondering !!

Tea time !