Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, Nov 25-29, 2010

skully wrote:... farkin Nein was more intent on a self-promotional fluff piece about the coming Channel Eddie coverage delivered by the jibbering Kenny Sutcliffe than giving the final XIs for the game.

How stoopid are you? Watching Nein News and expecting News. Honestly...

Henry wrote:Yeah, the Gabba in general is a pretty awful cricket ground to be honest. No discernible pavilion to speak of, and row after row of concrete and multi coloured seat ugliness. No character whatsoever.

It's a hell of a lot more comfortable for spectators than it used to be in the days when there was a dog track between the playing area and the spectators, and a much better watching ground than it was in those days. And I'm pretty sure the players appreciate the amenities they have now compared to the limited things that were on offer in days of yore.

JKLever wrote:All that excitement and I can help but remember Brisbane 02-03 and 06-07

Hayden smacking some county trundlers and Harmisons first ball straight to slip.... you knew we were farqed after day 1

We need to compete in the series early.

I also remember the forum went tits up about 30 minutes before the start in 2006/7 - some clueless qunt at C4 wiped all the threads.Not a good omen.

Indeed, I am excited but like you say it is so imperative that we start well. How many times have England won the ashes down under after losing the first test?

Wouldn't surprise me if the answer was "0".

Well, I've just put my money where my mouth is and backed England in this Test.

Interestingly, England is paying 2.95 for the first Test, but only 2.75 to win the series.

Australia is 2.10 for this Test, 1.90 for the series.

A draw is 3.85 in this Test, 5.25 for the series. A drawn series at that price was far too tasty to leave alone.

I'm wetter than an otters pocket in anticipation for this match.

Hopefully I'm online in time for the first ball. Let's hope it's Mitchell Johnson bowling a full bunger down the leg side for four byes.

or, if Aus are batting - Jimmy getting enough swing to have Watson prodding & groping for the ball like a ten-year-old

Growler wrote:or, if Aus are batting - Jimmy getting enough swing to have Watson prodding & groping for the ball like a ten-year-old

If it's cloudy, Jimmy will want to make the most of conditions. Cannot see it being the same elsewhere. But you never know, Mr Anderson might have come a long way. If he starts bowling cutters and mixing up his length and pace (intelligently) he might get more out of useless conditions.


Oh what am I saying, if it doesn't swing, Jimmy won't get much out of the pitch.

No, but unlike last time (only half fit with virtually no cricket the previous summer) he'll be economical. Since the NZ home series in 2008, in 8 series he's never gone at more than 3.5 rpo, and in 5 of them, less than 3 rpo. I really believe he'll do much better than many people think.

I've said before, he is the one player Fletcher & Vaughan between them totally mishandled during their tenure. He spent so much time as 12th man rather than getting overs in his legs, he was just stagnating for years. He's a different animal altogether now.

Really hope we are bowling first. Can't lose the test in the first session if we are bowling...

vilkrang wrote:Really hope we are bowling first. Can't lose the test in the first session if we are bowling...

Not that I expect it to happen this time around...

•2006/7, Day 1, Lunch: Australia - 109/1 in 25.0 overs (JL Langer 68, RT Ponting 11)

Henry wrote:Honestly, i'd prefer it if we bat first. I think we can handle swinging conditions better than Australia, and it should swing throughout the match. We shouldn't forget the advantage we have with Swann potentially bowling last.

It won't break up or play low. He is as likely to be successful in the first innings of the match as the last. Bounce is the spinners ally at the Gabba.

Indeed Zat.

Win toss, think about bowling and then decide to bat.

Henry wrote:Yeah, the Gabba in general is a pretty awful cricket ground to be honest. No discernible pavilion to speak of, and row after row of concrete and multi coloured seat ugliness. No character whatsoever. I see the Barmy Army's trumpeter has been allowed to keep his instrument for the entire series so that's at least something.

You are a gibberer Trev. Have you ever watched a game from inside the ground?

Zat wrote:

vilkrang wrote:Really hope we are bowling first. Can't lose the test in the first session if we are bowling...

Not that I expect it to happen this time around...

•2006/7, Day 1, Lunch: Australia - 109/1 in 25.0 overs (JL Langer 68, RT Ponting 11)

We lost the series after the first ball of that match, nevermind the first session.

90 minutes to go...

perdition awaits

I must admit . . I'm a wee bit excited this morning . .and the ashes series starts today as well . . .

Dunno if anyone's mentioned this, but the other day David Lloyd reckoned Mike Kasprowicz had insisted to him that this pitch was going to be as dead as dead, no pace what-so-ever, little in the way of bounce.

Could this be...?

....as dead and flat as Australia's prospects?

Henry wrote:Yeah, the Gabba in general is a pretty awful cricket ground to be honest. No discernible pavilion to speak of, and row after row of concrete and multi coloured seat ugliness. No character whatsoever. I see the Barmy Army's trumpeter has been allowed to keep his instrument for the entire series so that's at least something.

I totally agree with your comments on the Gabba. I've watched a test match and a few one-dayers there and loathe the place. Those coloured seats are an abomination.

Anyway, test cricket!

Sunny with a few clouds, apparently. Bat FFS.

Clutchen wins the toss, England to bat.

Can't say I'm unhappy about that.

Similar conditions in which Nasser elected to bowl in 2002. Slight tinge of green in the pitch, but pretty good conditions overhead.

We are so screwed.

Geez....How fantastic that Tubby was allowed to talk to players standing in the doorway of the Oz dressing room who could say how well (or not) they slept last night ..that's a keeper .....