The rugby fans' Ashes thread

[Portnoy's Complaint]

First topic message reminder :

I meant to start this yesterday.

Scoreboard http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23261769

[GloriousEmpire]

Trust me. Improving performance of cybernetic systems is my area of decades of speciality. I am telling you how this is done in reality. Time is shaved off my reducing the accuracy. And in this case, there isn't much accuracy to begin with.

Stick your head back in the sand and keep beleiving what sky TV tell you if you want, in fact be just as naive as you need to be to feel all safe and comfortable in the world. But I assure you snicko is a media tool and not a scientific one.

[mystiroakey]

 

[ChequeredJersey]

Out of interest, GE, have the English/British ever won anything fairly and has the team you are supporting ever lost fair and square?

[Portnoy's Complaint]

So normal service resumes as England are deep in to the Oz tail.
365-5

[GloriousEmpire]

Out of interest, GE, have the English/British ever won anything fairly and has the team you are supporting ever lost fair and square?

Second World War?

I APOLOGISE. That was in poor taste.

But in seriousness, I think the Welsh win back in 1953 was fair reflection.

[doctor_grey]

Well, well, well.  
The weather gods have pulled England's (and Wales') arse out of the proverbial fire.  
That little urn stays put in the land of Hope and Glory.
Exactly the type of present we need to welcome Her Majesty's great grandson to her blessed kingdom.  Makes me all warm inside....


But the battle is not won - there is still a Test Series to win..........

[mystiroakey]

.......or draw

[doctor_grey]

Truth, but I would rather win.
As my son used to say: Winning is cool.

[jimmyinthewell68]

i see that south African made 100 runs for England . glad to see that sort of thing dont happen in rugby  

[Cyril]

i see that south African  made 100 runs for England    . glad to see that sort of thing dont happen in rugby  

If the Welsh actually contributed to England (and Wales) we wouldn't need South Africans.

Even playing poorly England have retained The Ashes

[mystiroakey]

I am shocked as to why so many Welsh dont support there cricket team.

Our cricket team(England and WALES) are pretty succesfull.

[Cyril]

I am shocked as to why so many Welsh dont support there cricket team.

Our cricket team(England and WALES) are pretty succesfull.

It is an odd one given that there are as many English players in the Welsh rugby team as there are in the England and Wales cricket side.

[jimmyinthewell68]

we only England and Wales when England cricket wins  

[mystiroakey]

Well we havent had a Jones in the team for a few years.. Churn a couple more out for us will ya!

[Portnoy's Complaint]

i see that south African  made 100 runs for England    . glad to see that sort of thing dont happen in rugby  

Written and typed like a like a proper Welshman with a sticky CAPlock  

[The Great Aukster]

The "England" Test cricket team is really a UK representative team as they have always allowed players from Wales, Scotland and NI to be available for selection (without any qualification through residency).

England Rugby OTOH solely represent England.

[mystiroakey]

Aucks- it actually includes Ireland as well(in cricket look at ireland as one). As they are not a test nation. Any Irish player qualifies as well.

However the Board is the England and wales cricket board.

The county game is the stomping ground for the national team.. Clearly any one that plays cricket to a decent level in these Isles will play for a county in england or the one in wales(glomorgan)

In theory the county game is there to nuture the talent for the National team.. And as scotland, ireland and NI dont have test status if they want to progress they have the oppurtunity to do this for the england and wales cricket team. However they still have the Ireland and scotland ODI teams.. Wales does not have one. Because it is the wales and england cricket team. Not just england..

[brennomac]

From a neutral - even though England poaches our best cricketers - Joyce, Morgan, Rankin

England - nowhere near as good as they think they (and most of the British media) think they are; Australia - maybe not as bad as most of us thought they were after Lords. Durham test should be interesting especially if what I read elsewhere that the pitch will favour Ryan Harris (he was the pick of the bowlers and together with Siddle, Starc and Watson makes for a very decent four-pronged seam attack.

SA still top of the cricket pile by a long way - Biltong and pals must be very pleased

[Portnoy's Complaint]

From a neutral - even though England poaches our best cricketers - Joyce, Morgan, Rankin

England - nowhere near as good as they think they (and most of the British media) think they are; Australia - maybe not as bad as most of us thought they were after Lords.  Durham test should be interesting especially if what I read elsewhere that the pitch will favour Ryan Harris (he was the pick of the bowlers and  together with Siddle, Starc and Watson makes for a very decent four-pronged seam attack.

SA still top of the cricket pile by a long way - Biltong and pals must be very pleased

A bit harsh. Never (including the Nawab of Pataudi) have I ever known of a man dragged kicking and screaming from his homeland to play in or for England.

Even KP Nuts came over here because he couldn't get an SA club contract.

[Cyril]

From a neutral - even though England poaches our best cricketers - Joyce, Morgan, Rankin

England - nowhere near as good as they think they (and most of the British media) think they are; Australia - maybe not as bad as most of us thought they were after Lords.  Durham test should be interesting especially if what I read elsewhere that the pitch will favour Ryan Harris (he was the pick of the bowlers and  together with Siddle, Starc and Watson makes for a very decent four-pronged seam attack.

SA still top of the cricket pile by a long way - Biltong and pals must be very pleased

A bit harsh. Never (including the Nawab of Pataudi) have I ever known of a man dragged kicking and screaming from his homeland to play in or for England.

Even KP Nuts came over here because he couldn't get an SA club contract.

Although, if you're like Hendre Fourie, you are dragged kicking and screaming back to your homeland once your usefulness has expired.

[Portnoy's Complaint]

From a neutral - even though England poaches our best cricketers - Joyce, Morgan, Rankin

England - nowhere near as good as they think they (and most of the British media) think they are; Australia - maybe not as bad as most of us thought they were after Lords.  Durham test should be interesting especially if what I read elsewhere that the pitch will favour Ryan Harris (he was the pick of the bowlers and  together with Siddle, Starc and Watson makes for a very decent four-pronged seam attack.

SA still top of the cricket pile by a long way - Biltong and pals must be very pleased

A bit harsh. Never (including the Nawab of Pataudi) have I ever known of a man dragged kicking and screaming from his homeland to play in or for England.

Even KP Nuts came over here because he couldn't get an SA club contract.

Although, if you're like Hendre Fourie, you are dragged kicking and screaming back to your homeland once your usefulness has expired.

Well there you go then Cyril, just shows the power of a V/visa. I doubt that the Nawab ever needed either. Ho hum...

[ChequeredJersey]

If they would otherwise be unable to represent a Test side because they don't have one of their own, and they are happy to represent England and Wales, then it can't count as poaching in my eyes.

[Portnoy's Complaint]

All ready to KO in the 4th test. Fingers crossed for DRS not to be star of the match again.

[Scrumpy]

No Onions, I'm not happy about that.

[Portnoy's Complaint]

Looks like even-stevens coming to the end of the Oz 1st innings. 266/9 (+20) atm. So much for the predicted English all-round dominance.

[bsando]

Teams seem very even. Both bowling quite well but so-so with the batting. I think England should be doing better than they are, but they've been better side overall so far. This series has been very good though, enjoying these close tests.

[Cyril]

England not playing up to their best but should still set the Aussies a difficult total.

A target of 220+ won't be easy.

[mystiroakey]

Good day for england- Switched it around. Another 100 and it will be an amazing effort to win for aus..

[bsando]

Yep Bell has been very good for England, looks very solid at the crease. I could see him staying there for a while today again. Australia need to get him out asap or their chances will be pretty slim. I can't see Australia making 300+ in their second innings.

[Portnoy's Complaint]

Well that's the Aussies going back with their tails between their legs then. Not been a good summer for them as it.

Where's me Kleenex? I'll need at least two separate boxes for when I think of either Oz or England. Nah, wait a minute - make that one box. I'll use my sleeve to dry my eyes.

[Cyril]

Yep, 3-0 with one to go is pretty good considering England haven't really been on top form.

Broad was immense.

[brennomac]

Gosh, the hysteria has started - England are now world beaters and it's only a matter of time before they knock SA off their number one perch etc etc.

Been said before but just to repeat Aus are not a team but a collection of individuals some of whom have no place at international level. They have two decent openers in Rogers and Warner, a number 3 in Khumaja who is hopelessly out of his depth, a world class 4 in Clarke, another out of his depth at 5 in Smith, a misfiring 6 in Watson. They do have an excellent WK/batsman in Haddin, an excellent seamer in Harris, a decent seamer in Siddle, a so-so off spinner in Lyon and..... If England didn't hammer this bunch then there would be something wrong.

As for England, Cook and Trott are way out of form, Root is no opener and not proven at test level, Pietersen looks after number one as usual, Bairstow unproven still, Prior hoplessly out of form with the bat. What they do have is an excellent Bell in top form and a quality bowling attack even though Anderson has been out of sorts in the past two tests.

So let's get a bit of perspective here. SA are still clear number one, England no 2 although a good bit behind and the new-look India - shorn of the lazy old guard - are probably nibbling at England's bum at no 3. If I was choosing a combined SA-Eng team it would probably split 7-4 to SA with Bell, Prior (if his batting improves), Swann and Broad the four from Eng.

[boomeranga]

Haven't Engalnd already chosen a combined SA-England side? Ahahahahah Just joking obviously (before I'm accused of murdering puppies).

Well done you pasty, soap dodging hooray Henry's. Far too good.

[GloriousEmpire]

Yep, well done to England. Definitely the clearly better team over the series and deserved winners.

The thing that has impressed me most is their resolve under pressure. England used to have talented players, but they always seemed mentally fragile. But this lot are solid as steel.

I can't see the Aussies turning around the return leg.

[boomeranga]

Me either. We just don't have much coming through at the moment to even attempt to change our rot. There is no yoof to invest in even if we wanted to. We are the West Indies Mk II.

[Cyril]

Gosh, the hysteria has started - England are now world beaters and it's only a matter of time before they knock SA off their number one perch etc etc.

Been said before but just to repeat Aus are not a team but a collection of individuals some of whom have no place at international level.  They have two decent openers in Rogers and Warner, a number 3 in Khumaja who is hopelessly out of his depth, a world class 4 in Clarke, another out of his depth at 5 in Smith, a misfiring 6 in Watson. They do have an excellent WK/batsman in Haddin, an excellent seamer in Harris, a decent seamer in Siddle, a so-so off spinner in Lyon and.....  If England didn't hammer this bunch then there would be something wrong.

As for England, Cook and Trott are way out of form, Root is no opener and not proven at test level, Pietersen looks after number one as usual, Bairstow unproven still, Prior hoplessly out of form with the bat.  What they do have is an excellent Bell in top form and a quality bowling attack even though Anderson has been out of sorts in the past two tests.

So let's get a bit of perspective here.  SA are still clear number one, England no 2 although a good bit behind and the new-look India - shorn of the lazy old guard - are probably nibbling at England's bum at no 3. If I was choosing a combined  SA-Eng team it would probably split 7-4 to SA with Bell, Prior (if his batting improves), Swann and Broad the four from Eng.

Thanks for your support

I'm not sure there's that much hysteria (unless you've been taken in by the press again).

There's no doubting that SA are best in the world at the moment, but this is a very good England side. As you say, some players (especially batting) are a bit out of form so there's still room for improvement.

I don't remember people saying the Aussies weren't that good when they were tonking England in the Ashes time after time. You can only beat what's in front of you and England have been doing that regularly (bar SA).

It's always a tricky one when a team with England in the title is successful, isn't it?

Re. a joint England/SA side you're probably right in terms of the split, but I think Anderson (though not firing fully at the moment) would be the choice over Broad. He's generally more consistent whereas Broad has purple patches when he's unplayable but then drops off a bit,

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