1st 3 Ashes Test - Gabba

[smac]

Good to see some social commentary mixed in with the cricket commentary!

Michael warns: "it will be worse when you get to the WACA as the fun police are in the process of banning everything. The Mexican wave has already been banned. Clapping and cheering will probably be next." Sounds like Lord's. Anderson into the attack as Harmison ambles off the pitch

138.6 Flintoff to Lee, no run, Lee has to hurry to jab down on one pitched up

138.5 Flintoff to Clarke, 1 run, Clarke happy to take singles

138.4 Flintoff to Lee, 1 run, short and Lee climbs onto his toes and guides that off an open face to third man

138.3 Flintoff to Lee, no run, played out into the covers

Stephen writes: I was fortunate enough to be at the 'Gabba for the last Ashes in Aust and thoroughly enjoyed my two days, the atmosphere was fantastic. The Barmy Army provide an aspect of cricket no other country can. At no stage did I feel threatened or intimidated. Our politicians and sports administrators have decided that passion and atmosphere are not good for the game.

138.2 Flintoff to Lee, no run, driven but not timed to extra cover

138.1 Flintoff to Clarke, 1 run, that is Clarke's fifty ... wide and he had to stretch to punch that into the covers

[MightyEagles]

8/528 at tea on day 2.

[spell_check]

Anderson gets tonked for consecutive sixes by Clark, its just looking like a typical Australian performance at the moment.

[am Bays]

Looks like Gilly is packing the kit today.......

[Dissident]

Punter - probably out but still seen that not out - hawkeye reckons it would have clipped the middle of the bails. Makes it worse that he was on 196
Gilchrist - Not out. I don't care who you are, but a ball coming from that wide angling in and hitting in line is PROBABLY going to miss leg. Either way, it's a not out.

IMHO obviously.

[RustyCage]

Punter - probably out but still seen that not out - hawkeye reckons it would have clipped the middle of the bails. Makes it worse that he was on 196
Gilchrist - Not out. I don't care who you are, but a ball coming from that wide angling in and hitting in line is PROBABLY going to miss leg. Either way, it's a not out.

IMHO obviously.

Punter - out every time. No problem with the decision.
Gilly - Not out. He get screwed over with LBWs a lot.

[heater31]

2 in 2 balls u beauty, who said McGrath is finished. Only concern is Hussey taking out Lee with shades of Dizzy in Sri Lanka

[scoob]

"Dads Army" - F@#k off Botham!

[spell_check]

2 in 2 balls u beauty, who said McGrath is finished. Only concern is Hussey taking out Lee with shades of Dizzy in Sri Lanka

I reakon everyone was thining about that incident, seeing them run straight at each other.

[heater31]

2 in 2 balls u beauty, who said McGrath is finished. Only concern is Hussey taking out Lee with shades of Dizzy in Sri Lanka

I reakon everyone was thining about that incident, seeing them run straight at each other.

I know I ******* was

[Adelaide Hawk]

This Test could be all over this time tomorrow night. I certainly can't see it getting to Day 5. I really don't know what to make of this English effort, they have been so timid it's almost embarrassing. If Flintoff gets injured they may as well hop on the plane and go home.

[stan]

"Dads Army" - F@#k off Botham!

Botham has now started to talk about how the English bowlers are underdone and trying to get back into form in a test match. Hes a strange person some times, but still Dads army comes out in front again.

[stampy]

gilly worries me as i said on here a coupla weeks ago i reckon his best is past him i hope he proves me wrong but since the series in england where the poms sorted him out he hasnt recoverd in my book, haddin would be rubbing his hands together i reckon

[sydney-dog]

tickets for 3rd, 4th and 5th tests should be on E-Bay within a fortnight

the series will be dead within a fortnight

the biggest build up will lead to the biggest flop and disapointment of all time

[RustyCage]

tickets for 3rd, 4th and 5th tests should be on E-Bay within a fortnight

the series will be dead within a fortnight

the biggest build up will lead to the biggest flop and disapointment of all time

Mate, if the Aussies beat the living crap out of the Poms then there is no way the series has been a disappointment! Im happy for a 5-0 result with each Test lasting only 3 days.

[sydney-dog]

disappointing meaning most of the cricketing public were expecting a real contest

[smac]

tickets for 3rd, 4th and 5th tests should be on E-Bay within a fortnight

the series will be dead within a fortnight

the biggest build up will lead to the biggest flop and disapointment of all time

Mate, if the Aussies beat the living crap out of the Poms then there is no way the series has been a disappointment! Im happy for a 5-0 result with each Test lasting only 3 days.

Couldn't agree more pafc. Cricket is one of the few sports that a whitewash is actually good to watch - we have just seen 2 days of outstanding batting and now get to watch some outstanding bowling/fielding for a couple of days (maybe less).

Looking forward to next Friday in the front row of the Chappell Stands. It's definitely on!

[Adelaide Hawk]

tickets for 3rd, 4th and 5th tests should be on E-Bay within a fortnight

the series will be dead within a fortnight

the biggest build up will lead to the biggest flop and disapointment of all time

Mate, if the Aussies beat the living crap out of the Poms then there is no way the series has been a disappointment! Im happy for a 5-0 result with each Test lasting only 3 days.

Couldn't agree more pafc. Cricket is one of the few sports that a whitewash is actually good to watch - we have just seen 2 days of outstanding batting and now get to watch some outstanding bowling/fielding for a couple of days (maybe less).

Looking forward to next Friday in the front row of the Chappell Stands. It's definitely on!

Yes, I agree with that. Cricket's more about an exhibition of skills and an immediate contest between bat and ball. So long as there are plenty og highlights, a 5-0 victory wouldn't bother me at all. For me, a footy game needs to be close to be interesting, but I can watch a one-sided cricket match and thoroughly enjoy it.

[Rik E Boy]

I will just remind everyone that Australia won the 1st match last Ashes series also, dont get to ahead of yourselves, its only the 1st day of the series, plenty more cricket to come.

Flintoff to take 3 wickets in his 1st over today.

A Cun tral Districts supporting Pom. Whodathunkit LOL.

The only difference this time Samuel is that they are using a real cricket ball instead of one of those Duke toys. Hoggard in particular can't swing the Kookaburra for shit and that's how you cleaned us up last time. Also Vaughan, Trescothick and Jones at home is a huge plus for Australia. From what I have seen Freddie is a mediocre captain..some of his fields weren't too flash and Vaughan excelled in this area for England in 2005.

England handed over the initiative when they selected Giles over Panesar on the basis of his superior batting ability. Teams with a winning mindset select bowlers to take wickets. Jolly good show old chap.

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

The only difference this time Samuel is that they are using a real cricket ball instead of one of those Duke toys. Hoggard in particular can't swing the Kookaburra for shit and that's how you cleaned us up last time. Also Vaughan, Trescothick and Jones at home is a huge plus for Australia. From what I have seen Freddie is a mediocre captain..some of his fields weren't too flash and Vaughan excelled in this area for England in 2005.

England handed over the initiative when they selected Giles over Panesar on the basis of his superior batting ability. Teams with a winning mindset select bowlers to take wickets. Jolly good show old chap.

regards,

REB

That's a good point you make about the cricket ball.

I think I speak for all thinking cricket fans that we are very much Freddy Flintoff fans, what a wonderful cricketer he is. However, I consider him to be the wrong style of captain currently required by English cricket. For one, he MUST take the new ball, but he is doing the "team" think in allowing Harmison and Hoggard that luxury.

However, my major concern is not necessarily his field placements, but the type of personnel in the team at the moment. We see Harmison complaining of homesickness and putting in very ordinary performances. He needs a captain to put a rocket under him and get him motivated. Freddy's too much of a nice guy who wouldn't want to upset anyone.

We saw Ian Bell hit on the wrist in the nets 4 days before the Test. Nothing broken, just a bruise, and he is talking about being in doubt to play. WTF?? I'd love to see someone try that caper on Ian Chappell or Ray Illingworth. They'd never play Test cricket again.

There appears to be a genuine soft under-belly in the English squad and they really need tougher leadership, and release Flintoff to do what he does best, take wickets and flay opposition attacks with the blade. Having said that, I can't imagine who that person would be.