England v Saffas

[hornetrider]

And the Saffas are taking a beating!

Superb batting from KP, excellent today from Bell kicking on and Stuart Broad is the next Botham in the making, imo. He's starting to show some real class with the bat.

Alas I fear it may be time to give Colly a spell in County cricket to regain a bit of form. I expect Shah is pulling his hair out, it looks to me if Colly is dropped he will make way for Flintoff.

[Luckyluciano]

Been watching it on sky, great game. Hopefully the weather will hold out.

Colly was given out but the replay showed otherwise.

[spikeyhead]

I checked the weather forecast last night. It was obviously not worth going down there today, rain due all afternoon and probably in the morning as well. Arse.

Some excellent batting from KP, Bell and Broad too.

I'll go on Monday if there's a reasonable chance of a result.

[Luckyluciano]

bumble keep your mouth shut!!!

Bumble"No England player has ever got out on 199"
Oooo Bell's been caught on 199.......

Still, 593 is not a bad score.

[stimmers]

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

[spikeyhead]

stimmers said:

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

That's not exactly news. He's been working hard on his batting and I think he should be promoted above Ambrose. Probably makes sense to use him as a nightwatchman too.

Hopefully the game will end up with some chance of a result on Monday as I want to head to Lords to see it live.

[BigMansZetec]

199, gotta feel sorry for Bell, cracking innings though. Good work by the middle order.

[stimmers]

spikeyhead said:

stimmers said:

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

That's not exactly news.

I think its news, Broad made a top draw score in a test match vs a very good team. It shows how much his batting has come on and how much his hard work is paying off. If Eng stand a chance vs the Aussies, we need to be able to bat, properly, down to 8.

I think thats quite big news that we might be able to do just that

[hornetrider]

stimmers said:

spikeyhead said:

stimmers said:

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

That's not exactly news.

I think its news, Broad made a top draw score in a test match vs a very good team. It shows how much his batting has come on and how much his hard work is paying off. If Eng stand a chance vs the Aussies, we need to be able to bat, properly, down to 8.

I think thats quite big news that we might be able to do just that

He's just saying that it's been coming for a while. He's been getting good scores prior to this series.

[spikeyhead]

stimmers said:

spikeyhead said:

stimmers said:

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

That's not exactly news.

I think its news, Broad made a top draw score in a test match vs a very good team. It shows how much his batting has come on and how much his hard work is paying off. If Eng stand a chance vs the Aussies, we need to be able to bat, properly, down to 8.

I think thats quite big news that we might be able to do just that

You're right that to beat the Aussies we'll need more resistance from the tail and Broad certainly looks like he'll be able to provide some of that. What's always been good about Broads batting is his footwork. As his confidence has grown then he's steadily getting higher scores as he's batting from a solid platform.

Anyone else going to Lords on Monday?

[stimmers]

I thought the best bowler in the last Ashes win was Simon Jones. H got the ball to move the other way from the rest of the bowling attack. So if he's fit and playing well, who are your 4 bowlers for the Ashes from the below?

Harmison
Flintoff
Sidebottom
Jones
Hoggard
Broad
Anderson
Monty

[Wildsea]

spikeyhead said:

stimmers said:

spikeyhead said:

stimmers said:

Broad seems to be a genuine all rounder !!

That's not exactly news.

I think its news, Broad made a top draw score in a test match vs a very good team. It shows how much his batting has come on and how much his hard work is paying off. If Eng stand a chance vs the Aussies, we need to be able to bat, properly, down to 8.

I think thats quite big news that we might be able to do just that

You're right that to beat the Aussies we'll need more resistance from the tail and Broad certainly looks like he'll be able to provide some of that. What's always been good about Broads batting is his footwork. As his confidence has grown then he's steadily getting higher scores as he's batting from a solid platform.

Anyone else going to Lords on Monday?

Do they still sell the tickets cheaply for the Monday, had a great day there on Thursday and got the Monday off work. Just hoping the match lasts to the fifth day

[spikeyhead]

Wildsea said:

Do they still sell the tickets cheaply for the Monday, had a great day there on Thursday and got the Monday off work. Just hoping the match lasts to the fifth day

They're usually £10 for adults and £5 for kids. Call in at Panza's deli in St Johns wood terrace and grab enough food to see you through the day. All that's needed then is a little sunshine.

[Wildsea]

spikeyhead said:

Wildsea said:

Do they still sell the tickets cheaply for the Monday, had a great day there on Thursday and got the Monday off work. Just hoping the match lasts to the fifth day

They're usually £10 for adults and £5 for kids. Call in at Panza's deli in St Johns wood terrace and grab enough food to see you through the day. All that's needed then is a little sunshine.

Great. I normally buy food out of the ground. I refuse to spend £6 on a disgusting burger!! What part of the groung is the £10 ticket for, or is it anywhere? I was in the lower Edrich on Thurs and allways forget how cold it is there.

[Wildsea]

Wildsea said:

Hopefully this is a return to form. There hasn't been many games lately when we haven't been let down in any department. But this has been an amazing performance so far. Let's hope it continues for the whole series

Looks like my plans for Lords on Monday may be off though, if they finish the job tomorrow.

[spikeyhead]

Well play the Saffers, predictably a much better response in the second innings.

I'll be there tomorrow, tickets are I believe only £10 and are ground entry tickets, no designated seats so you'll be able to sit in any of the stands that aren't reserved for the members.

I'll sit in the upper Compton Stand somewhere near the Grandstand.

[Luckyluciano]

Tickets are £20 and cash only.

[central]

Freddy's back for the 2nd test -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/75...

[spikeyhead]

central said:

Freddy's back for the 2nd test -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/75...

He's back in the squad.

I suspect he'll play, either in place of Sidebottom if his back is still giving him grief or else in place of Collingwood as part of a five bowler line up.

[hornetrider]

spikeyhead said:

central said:

Freddy's back for the 2nd test -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/75...

He's back in the squad.

I suspect he'll play, either in place of Sidebottom if his back is still giving him grief or else in place of Collingwood as part of a five bowler line up.

I agree with that, 3 solid days in the field has probably taken a lot out of the bowlers. I think there are still slight questions over Freddie's fitness so I can't see him playing as part of a 4 man attack, especially against SA. For me he replaces Colly. The bowlers need to up their game slightly as Simon Jones is also waiting in the wings.