The Cricket Thread

[officepest]

Nevill is out lbw for 17 off the bowling of Stokes, but he’s reviewing…..

It’s not a no-ball ( ) and looks pretty plumb, hitting middle & leg. He has decided not to bother reviewing after all and is walking off.

Johnson’s up next.

Aus 224 – 6.

[officepest]

Johnson’s gone and Stokes has a five-for!

Stokes sends down a wicked delivery and Jonhson can only help it to Cook, who takes the catch easily. Johnson trudges back to the hutch having made 5 and Starc’s up next.

Aus are 236 – 7 and England are tantalisingly close to regaining the ashes.

[officepest]

The umpires have offered Australia the light and they have gratefully accepted. That looks like that’s it for tonight and England, in spite of some indifferent bowling (except Stokes: he was magnificent) will be delighted.

Can’t wait for tomorrow – football is back and England will surely win this test match too.

Aus 241 - 7; Voges 48, Starc 0.

[Perryashburtongroves]

It's absolutely brilliant to see us tearing them to pieces. The Ashes are on their way back tomorrow. Come on England

[officepest]

Australia will resume this morning still needing 90-odd runs to achieve parity with England, but they only have 4 wickets in hand.

This will probably be over before lunch, but you never know – Australia may grow a backbone.

I’ve just heard that the Aussie selectors have told Clarke he is surplus to requirements after this series so he has decided to retire. If true, it is a poor way to treat a modern great. At least wait until the series is done and dusted.

[officepest]

Stokes sends one down to Starc who wafts at it and succeeds only in edging it to Bell at second slip.

Hazlewood is the next man in; Australia are 242 – 8 and this will all be over soon.

[officepest]

Another wicket.

Wood sends down a beautiful yorker which sends Hazlewood’s middle stump flying. England are one wicket away from regaining the ashes.

Hazlewood is gone for 0; Voges has 49 and Australia are 243 – 9.

[officepest]

Voges gets his half-century.

[officepest]

That’s it, England have regained the ashes with a victory by an innings and 78 runs.

Wood takes the wicket of Lyon by sending his stumps flying all over the place. A thoroughly deserved series victory in which, the Lord’s flat road apart, Aussie have been totally outplayed.

Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

[g88ner]

That’s it, England have regained the ashes with a victory by an innings and 78 runs.

Wood takes the wicket of Lyon by sending his stumps flying all over the place. A thoroughly deserved series victory in which, the Lord’s flat road apart, Aussie have been totally outplayed.

Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

[arseofacrow]

That’s it, England have regained the ashes with a victory by an innings and 78 runs.

Wood takes the wicket of Lyon by sending his stumps flying all over the place. A thoroughly deserved series victory in which, the Lord’s flat road apart, Aussie have been totally outplayed.

Brilliant, brilliant stuff.

Even though Cook failed to mention it, I can't help feeling that you contributed in some small part to England regaining the Ashes.

[officepest]

Even though Cook failed to mention it, I can't help feeling that you contributed in some small part to England regaining the Ashes.

Why thank you my good man – I certainly tried my best. Just call me England’s twelfth man.

As regards Cook: I suppose it was to be expected Arse, what with the emotion of the occasion. I certainly won’t hold it against him.

I’ll be back for the Oval, of course, but I’ll sign off for now but simply saying it’s been a pleasure.

[arseofacrow]

Two days to the last test and another aussie bites the dust; Chris Rodgers to retire from international cricket after this series.

The problem with test cricket is that the fervour with which a series against Aus is welcomed in nowhere near matched in any other series. India no longer gives a fuck about test cricket and although South Africa do and are very good at it, they hardly get the attention or fans they deserve.

So what do you do? Offers??

[officepest]

Good points, Arse.

Thanks to the recent carve-up of cricket by the ECB, BCCI & CA test cricket will survive as England brings the fans to pack the grounds, anywhere in the world. That this cut out NZ, SA and the rest is shameful.

We just have to put up with crap like an occasional two test series in SA or three tests for India with myriad limited overs games added to ensure we can have five test series at home now and again.

If we’re honest test cricket is an anachronism and will probably, over time, be gently eased into quiet retirement and we’ll be left with twenty/20 only, complete with the fucking idiots who pack out the grounds now and treat it like a football match from the 80s.

Is t20 or nothing a compromise too far? For me, it probably is. If test cricket does die then so will my interest in the game I’m afraid.

That is, however, a long time off into the future so I'll look on the bright side and eagerly await stuffing the Aussies again at the Oval.

[arseofacrow]

Good points, Arse.

Thanks to the recent carve-up of cricket by the ECB, BCCI & CA test cricket will survive as England brings the fans to pack the grounds, anywhere in the world. That this cut out NZ, SA and the rest is shameful.

We just have to put up with crap like an occasional two test series in SA or three tests for India with myriad limited overs games added to ensure we can have five test series at home now and again.

If we’re honest test cricket is an anachronism and will probably, over time, be gently eased into quiet retirement and we’ll be left with twenty/20 only, complete with the fucking idiots who pack out the grounds now and treat it like a football match from the 80s.

Is t20 or nothing a compromise too far? For me, it probably is. If test cricket does die then so will my interest in the game I’m afraid.

That is, however, a long time off into the future so I'll look on the bright side and eagerly await stuffing the Aussies again at the Oval.

Well said mate.

Test cricket is a strange beast but has great value in and of itself. But for the TV companies it does not and on whole does not attract the crowds. For all the great matches, they produce the same if not more averageto stinkers.

T20 is for me very uninteresting but so are the myriad of shit tv programmes, "lift" music which populates the charts or indiely-pindly guitar music with a female solo who sounds like she on the verge of nervous breakdown. As are shit cafes charging a fortune for,erm,what? or outside food events, where real people cook real food for people with a lot of money

But back to the cricket How long will the English players have an interest in test cricket when they can get big bucks in India, Wes Indies or Aus?