The Ashes thread! (spoilers)

England to win by 7 or 8 wickets, on a flat pitch that the tailenders from both sides have batted comfortably on. A massive anticlimax. Root to finish on 40-odd not out.

Never in doubt.

What did i tell you?

Rooooooooooooooooooooot!

Cook Root didn’t make 40

I said 40-odd. 38 covers that.

Haha. Bit harsh! Shirley 38 is close enough!! 🙂
Good showing that, hopefully the rest of the series will be as good!
RM.

I presume that as they both have four letters and “oo” in the middle that Root covers Cook? 😛

Yes, that was a typo. I meant Root all along. It was part of the plan, for Cook to get the shine off the ball by letting it smash into his stumps. i knew that would happen too but didn’t want to mention it in case the ICC match fixing panel got suspicious.

Top day there. Even the old man was jeering Johnson and Warner when they were near

Is this the point at which we throw a hissy fit because someone who clearly made contact with the ball doesn’t walk?

I was sat 50m away and was half listening to TMS and even I heard the nick

Glad you had a good day and you were lucky enough to see one of the best sights in international cricket, Ian Bell in flow.

Great series. Weather aside, I can’t see any draws. Another win needed and Edgbaston is the best bet…..but no Jimmy. Woods in for JA, and Finn and Bell have boosted my confidence in the whole thing. Lythe the only real let down. Due a big score? I don’t think so – he’s in because he fits the new positive/aggressive model. Steady right hander needed?

A couple of bits from Sky’s coverage from the last Test.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/cricket/9930599/ian-healys-ashes-wicketkeeping-masterclass

They’ve been running masterclasses all series but this one on wicketkeeping particularly caught my attention. First, because I was a (half decent, by all accounts) keeper, yet had no specialist coaching until I was in my 20’s; I’d have killed for stuff like this back in the day. Second, to just see the enjoyment and bants of three old team-mates back together again. If anyone has a youngster who fancies wearing the gloves, make them watch it.

Second is a short montage of funny bits from the last test; I can’t decide if my perfect day out would be watching the cricket from the Sky commentary box or the TMS box. Sky’s humour appeals a bit more but TMS have better cakes. I particularly like the bit where Alistair Cook helps Nasser Hussain out with pronunciation of long difficult words at about 20s in.

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12340/9931119/ashes-2015-watch-the-lighter-moments-from-the-third-test

Trent Bridge 14 – Cook Lyth Bell Root Bairstow Stokes Buttler Moeen Broad Wood Finn Rashid Footitt Plunkett

I briefly got on TV when Bell hit one of his first few fours

Love the guy dressed as Nasser with the false nose

They’re being decisive about replacing JA then (I’m assuming Finn is now undroppable – thought about cutting Rashid from the list, but then if he’s in the squad presumably he’s a potential replacement). Personally I’d like to see Footitt, though I guess Wood is most likely as if it wasn’t for injury he’d already be inked in.

😆 he’d fit in well here

Morning, everybodeeeee

Toss won and bowling. Right decision I reckon.

Clarke “dropped” down the order a bit. Beginning of the end, or wise tactics?

He was always more comfortable at 5 rather than 4. Is every other cricketer in Australia called Marsh?

I have a feeling that the Australian’s are going to regret to bringing Siddle in to the attack.

First over!

Long walk back to the pavilion.

300 up for Broad.

301

Oh.

I think Blowers may explode!

What an astonishing first over.

😆

😀

This may make up for having root canal work at 8am this morning

What a start 🙂

YEs! Warrrrrrrnerrr

LOL!

10-3 after 8 balls… GET IN…….

How am I supposed to work with this going on!

Second over going quite well also

My phone is sending alerts so quickly it sounds like it is ringing 🙂

Crikey. 😀

Please tell me that’s not the affect of drugs. I did just see those wickets fall 😆

Good job Clarke enjoys playing so far down the order.

This will be the end of Mickey Break your Arm Clark.
Australia collapsing.

F&cking yes yes yes get in

WTF 😯 😆