3rd ASHES TEST: England v Australia at Birmingham, July 30 - Aug 3, 2009

[eddiesmith]

Hilfy has bowled superb.. Also Ponting is a peanut, the ball is swinging around and Johnson is actually getting nice shape and he decides to try and boucne Bell out. Captain of the year Punter your a F### Wit

Smart captaincy, got Bell on the back foot

 

[Kiki]

THIS IS SO DEPRESSING

watson! less highlights more bowling practice!

sigh

 

[TheParraboy]

poms in the box seat

7/343 - 80 ahead

could even possibly declare tonight with around 100-120 lead

 

[TheParraboy]

poms 9/375

broad 55no

lead 112

 

[aussies1st]

Finally bowled out the English pretty poor bowling in the end.

 

[Matt23]

2-57, watch us fall like flies, would'nt surprise me if this ends up being an innings defeat

 

[TheParraboy]

Sunshine to score 150no, mark my words

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Meh I hope it doesnt rain.

Weve had 2 full days washed out, as much as I hate England if we cant hold on for at least a draw in just a tad over 3 days cricket that will do me.

England were in a similar situation but 10x worse 2 tests ago and got out of it easily. Lets see how tough some of these batsman are and see if they can occupy the crease for a while.

We would have to bat very poorly to lose from here....but i wouldnt be suprised if we did lose. With North and Manou coming in at 6 and 7 :s

 

[Twizzle]

can only see a draw from here

 

[lockyno1]

Meh I hope it doesnt rain.

Rudi will find a way for England to win otherwise. I hope it pisses down!:lol:

 

[TheParraboy]

I hope it pisses down when we are 9/200

might kickstart the selectors to bring in clark and hughes

 

[aussies1st]

Going by our track record at saving matches we are next to screwed.

 

[Twizzle]

I hope it pisses down when we are 9/200

might kickstart the selectors to bring in clark and hughes

they are saying Lee is ready for the 4th test

I would think Siddle is gone, they wont drop Notch or Hilfy

cant see Clark getting a run now

 

[Danish]

Anderson having a little girly hissy fit at Watson at day's end was quite funny.

 

[caylo]

If North isnt going to bowl I would have Phil to open and Watson at 6, Johnson bowled well and I would have Clark in there... he would have bowled well IMO on that sort of pitch, If bowling it means bowling all pace then so be it because Katich has been under-used in this series IMO.

 

[hineyrulz]

We just have to bat all day simple as that, if we can't do that against a pretty tame attack on a good wicket we deserve to get beat and lose the Ashes.

 

[Ridders]

That ball that got Ponting was a beauty. Even if it was an Englishmen, it was so refreshing to see a quality display of spin bowling. Say what you want about Watson, but in both innings, he has outlasted Katich. Still would like to see him down the order, but jeez, he's got to bowl ALOT better than what he did if he wants a permanent place in the squad.

 

[beads6]

I agree about Watsons bowling .. He looked like he was rolling the arm over because he was scared of getting injured. I think he can hold his spot in the side as a batsman alone though.

 

[Tommy Smith]

We just have to bat all day simple as that, if we can't do that against a pretty tame attack on a good wicket we deserve to get beat and lose the Ashes.

Tame attack? Did you not see the ball swinging all over the place (out swing AND in swing) in the first dig by Anderson and Onions? That was world class bowling good enough to get anyone out.

Still, this England team are far from world beaters. And yet we've still absolutely crunched you lot two tests in a row.

Face facts, this Aussie team is just solid at best. How you couldn't bowl our average batting line up out much cheaper than that when it was swinging sideways i have no idea. And its nice to see Mitchell back to his best apparently - 2/92 from 20 odd overs:crazy:

 

[HevyDevy]

Yes I had a little chuckle when I rwad that Mitch was apparently back to his best. He did improve though.