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Post by Mattzo on Jul 7, 2015 14:13:06 GMT
Tomorrow brings us the 8th July 2015, and with it another Ashes series.
This thread is for the discussion of this series and all the drama associated with it.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 7, 2015 14:16:21 GMT
Can I just start by saying: **** Bradley Brad Braddin Haddin.
Thank you. Carry on, gents. Still got to catch up with the latest Switch Hit, see what the chaps (and Mel, maybe?) on there think about England's chances.
I'd maybe have a poll for this thread, Matt, for who will win: "England, Australia, tied, too close to call".
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Post by Mattzo on Jul 7, 2015 14:25:21 GMT
Excellent idea, and so added.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 8, 2015 9:28:56 GMT
We were all so optimistic on the blog - what's happened to that poll? Anyway, England win the toss and bat. Nasser Hussain moment?
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Post by Mattzo on Jul 8, 2015 9:35:23 GMT
I hope not. Although to be honest, as long as we don't get blown away I'll be happy.
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Post by Steadzz on Jul 8, 2015 9:37:10 GMT
That's a sign of confidence from Cook which is a good start. Although it could be argued that if we were to bowl we could make some big inroads first up. Either way come on England!!!
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Post by markfrommadrid on Jul 8, 2015 10:10:10 GMT
Here is my own blog with my take on the series. There's a slightly foolhardy prediction at the end. I am coming round to the idea that Australia are not quite as invincible as they think they are. If England show some nerve, the Australians may just crack: spanishturn.blogspot.com.es/2015/07/let-battle-commence.html
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 8, 2015 18:11:54 GMT
I was all ready to laugh at Steadzz after Lyth's early dismissal, but I'd definitely have settled for that. Flat wicket with demons in it. Root's simply amazing if he gets out of single figures.
Thoughts, gentlemen (and any ladies)?
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Post by markfrommadrid on Jul 8, 2015 21:24:28 GMT
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afcaoc
Henry Crocombe
Posts: 4
Team Supported: Yorkshire
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Post by afcaoc on Jul 8, 2015 21:29:20 GMT
Always good to see Haddin drop catches
Around even day i think
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 8, 2015 21:33:06 GMT
Amen to that, Afcaoc (how do I pronounce your username?). Especially potentially game-winning ones. I'm not sure that I agree with you, Mark, but I'm also not sure that I disagree. Apart from anything else, going into this series, I think that the Aussies would have been very unhappy to do anything less than blow England away for under 300 in their first innings. Wait until they bat, I guess.
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Post by markfrommadrid on Jul 9, 2015 6:41:40 GMT
Balladeer, there we do agree. Australia will have gone in yesterday expecting to dominate as they did in 2002 and in 2006 and in 2013. For an hour or so, it looked as if they would but, then, the script changed. If you go on purely cricket terms, Australia edged the day. If you go in terms of expectations going into the series, England finished the day way ahead. A par day for Australia was to dismiss England for 260-280 and be something like 50-0 in reply: that's what they would have expected. A par day for England was anything better than that: England have surpassed their expectations, Australia have not.
It's a bit like the opening day of the 2005 series: although England ultimately lost the Test, they put down a huge marker. This isn't a huge marker, but it's a marker all the same.
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Post by Steadzz on Jul 9, 2015 7:50:50 GMT
I'll agree with Mark on that aspect. Although there have been people moaning about the pitch, the fact it won't allow the Aussie pace attack to flourish, it gave us an early chance to put a foot down saying we aren't just going to roll over again.
Let's hope Mo, Broad & Wood can take us up to around 400 today.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 9, 2015 7:53:23 GMT
Don't forget Jimmy of the 81!
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Post by markfrommadrid on Jul 9, 2015 8:05:13 GMT
It's very difficult to call a game and much less a series after one day. However, you know as England have from long experience, that you can lose an Ashes series even in the first session (or first over). Everyone seems to think that this is a turgid pitch on which bowlers will not be able to take wickets, but I remember similar complaints about the pitches in 2013 and we got 3 results, a fourth match that almost gave a result and a rain-ruined draw that certainly was heading for a result too.
I'll reserve judgement until Australia have batted. If they make 600, we know that the pitch is as bad as people are claiming. If, instead, we get a game like Trent Bridge in 2013, we could be in for a cracker of a match and a series.
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