The Official "Ashes 2009" Thread

[TheShortStack]

First Test:
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Toss: England win toss and will bat
Match scheduled to being at 11.00 local time

England team
AJ Strauss*, AN Cook, RS Bopara, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, MJ Prior†, A Flintoff, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, MS Panesar

Australia team
PJ Hughes, SM Katich, RT Ponting*, MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, MJ North, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, NM Hauritz, BW Hilfenhaus, PM Siddle

Stumps Day 1:
England 336-7

Stumps Day 2:
England 435
Australia 249/1 (71.0 ov)


Just an hour to go now and I'm getting properly excited.

No idea if anyone else on here is in to cricket, but I know there are a few Aussies on here so I'm guessing they'll be up for a bit of banter.

My prediction: 2-1 England overall with a good start in Cardiff. Losing Brett Lee was a big blow for the Aussies after he took 6 wickets against the Lions
urn.jpg

[faststeady]

losing brett lee is no loss, in fact its a blessing as far as us aussies are concerned

not sure what you guys have done to think you have any chance of beating the NUMBER 1 TEST CRICKET SIDE IN THE WORLD....west indies doesnt count

[TheShortStack]

Two spinners for England and Clarke has been left out by Australia. Interesting start ... no idea what Hauritz is like but glad to see the back of Clarke although not sure about Monty coming in after the season he's had.

Anyway Strauss has won the toss and England are going to bat first.

[superiorword]

It's going to be an exciting series. I would love to see Australia losing...chances of England winning this series are quite high as there are no warne, gilly, hayden n lee.


By the way, solid start by England so far...prior and flintoff are playing some beautiful shots

[Planet Mark]

The start of the ashes is always exciting... still recalling the moment England took them back in 05, welled up it was so emotional!

Unfortunately no way to watch it from BP, and even if I did no time... so its follow the BBC updates for me this time - along with working hard enough that I can travel to Oz for a winter series in the not too distant future!

Mark

[Stephen]

Its now morning after for me - having been up half the night watching the game from Sydney. Great start to what really should be a great series here to be honest.

Cant wait until tonight now to get it all going again.

[Hazo]

England are gay. We will win this series with ease and retain the Ashes.

[superiorword]

England are gay.

LOL

[TheShortStack]

England are gay. We will win this series with ease and retain the Ashes.

That's quoted, so you can't delete it once the 5th test is over and the ashes are back home

[TheShortStack]

Ha ha - it's like a 20/20 match out there.

James Anderson reverse sweeping