The Ashes

[g88ner]

2-0 up... white wash?

[Leyton Gooner]

I really don't see why not. Only typically grim northern weather for the next two Tests can save the convicts. England haven't even been at their best yet

[northbank123]

2-0 up... white wash?

Maybe! Obviously weather plays a huge part - not unlikely that one of the remaining Tests will be a 3 and a half day match. Focus is another - when we've gone 1-0 up in the last two series we've taken our eye off the ball and let them straight back in.

But it feels different this time. Even though the 2009 and 2010/11 Aussie sides weren't vintage this lot are complete cack. The only really good batsman they have is Clarke (and although he is complete quality I don't think that he's going to prosper from watching the rest of the side collapse every other session). Their bowling attack isn't bad overall - Harris and Siddle are both solid performers if not spectacular, although that knock in the first Test has completely paved over the fact that Agar is well out of his depth with the ball. Hardly like they have the players to bring in to change it either.

Aside from the lack of quality, they have no backbone. So far they've collapsed once or twice each innings with the bat. The last three innings they've had England 3 down with very few runs on the board and they've taken their foot off our throats and let us get 350+.

[Leyton Gooner]

2-0 up... white wash?

Maybe! Obviously weather plays a huge part - not unlikely that one of the remaining Tests will be a 3 and a half day match. Focus is another - when we've gone 1-0 up in the last two series we've taken our eye off the ball and let them straight back in.

But it feels different this time. Even though the 2009 and 2010/11 Aussie sides weren't vintage this lot are complete cack. The only really good batsman they have is Clarke (and although he is complete quality I don't think that he's going to prosper from watching the rest of the side collapse every other session). Their bowling attack isn't bad overall - Harris and Siddle are both solid performers if not spectacular, although that knock in the first Test has completely paved over the fact that Agar is well out of his depth with the ball. Hardly like they have the players to bring in to change it either.

Aside from the lack of quality, they have no backbone. So far they've collapsed once or twice each innings with the bat. The last three innings they've had England 3 down with very few runs on the board and they've taken their foot off our throats and let us get 350+.

Reminds me so much of England in the 90s although that Aussie side was still head and shoulders above even this England team. I can't help wondering how that team of Stewart, Atherton, Cork et al would fair had they been fortunate enough to play against this mob. Old Trafford should be interesting. Been some interesting cricket there recently to say the least and it would seem that any old rabble can take wickets there, seam and spin. But equally the Aussies couldn't bat on an excellent pitch at Lords, and I expect Jimmy to have a big say at his home ground

[northbank123]

2-0 up... white wash?

Maybe! Obviously weather plays a huge part - not unlikely that one of the remaining Tests will be a 3 and a half day match. Focus is another - when we've gone 1-0 up in the last two series we've taken our eye off the ball and let them straight back in.

But it feels different this time. Even though the 2009 and 2010/11 Aussie sides weren't vintage this lot are complete cack. The only really good batsman they have is Clarke (and although he is complete quality I don't think that he's going to prosper from watching the rest of the side collapse every other session). Their bowling attack isn't bad overall - Harris and Siddle are both solid performers if not spectacular, although that knock in the first Test has completely paved over the fact that Agar is well out of his depth with the ball. Hardly like they have the players to bring in to change it either.

Aside from the lack of quality, they have no backbone. So far they've collapsed once or twice each innings with the bat. The last three innings they've had England 3 down with very few runs on the board and they've taken their foot off our throats and let us get 350+.

Reminds me so much of England in the 90s although that Aussie side was still head and shoulders above even this England team. I can't help wondering how that team of Stewart, Atherton, Cork et al would fair had they been fortunate enough to play against this mob. Old Trafford should be interesting. Been some interesting cricket there recently to say the least and it would seem that any old rabble can take wickets there, seam and spin. But equally the Aussies couldn't bat on an excellent pitch at Lords, and I expect Jimmy to have a big say at his home ground

Yeah that would have been an interesting contest. I'm not one of these people complaining about how it's too easy because we didn't win an Ashes series for the first decade and a half of my life and frankly I can't get enough of not only beating them but degrading them.

But imo even if we whitewash them it won't stack up next to 2005 - that series really did wonders for cricket's mainstream image but more importantly we beat a side of world class players that had dominated the sport for a decade. And the entertainment value was phenomenal in every test.

[LDB]

The return series in Australia might be more competitive, I guess they'll be fired up for that one. At least they showed at Trent Bridge that they're capable of getting 20 wickets and if you can do that you can win test matches and it's not as if England are a perfect side. Australia's complete ineptitude with the bat has somewhat masked how ordinary we've been with it. Our top order have failed to produce consistently (one Root innings aside) and the middle/lower middle order have been bailing us out.

The England series is gone for the aussies but if they can react in the right way we might see a decent series down under

[arseofacrow]

2-0 up... white wash?

racist

[flash gunner]

It's a bit too easy, isn't it!!!

[OneBardGooner]

cricket schmicket

[arseofacrow]

Well played Chris Rogers...bombed his way to 50 already

[arseofacrow]

Look like a terrible decision by the third umpire on Kawaga. Seems like the process wold have worked well in this case, to overturn an incorrect decision. Not a shocker by the umpire but the batsmen convinced he wasn't out so refered it. What criteria is the third umpire using?

[northbank123]

Seems strange. The ICC can issue all the guidance they want but ultimately different 3rd umpires are going to have different standards as to the level of doubt required to overturn a caught behind decision.

If they were willing to incorporate Snicko into DRS then it would help massively - basically if that and HotSpot agree, there's your answer and if that and HotSpot suggest different outcomes, stay onfield. Still be a few judgement calls but it would greatly reduce them. Unfortunately I think there's a bit of an issue with ownership/funding of the technology and the Indians still cry about DRS now so they'd certainly oppose an extension of it.

[arseofacrow]

http://uk.weather.com/weather/today/UKXX0092:1:UK

[Leyton Gooner]

http://uk.weather.com/weather/today/UKXX0092:1:UK

Come on Manchester you shithole. Your reputation precedes you ffs

[Steve_I]

Hang on in there, Rain... hehe.