Ashes thread - England vs Australia * SPOILERS *

Pigeon_Killer · 2 Dec 2006 at 04:23

Can't see anything other than a draw at the moment. Australia are struggling with the wicket and the fitness of their bowlers and we're batting far too slow. I think we'll probably declare around 550 and spend the next two days trying to bowl them out leaving one day for the final two innings.

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 04:33

Yup, thinking the same. Their bowling attack isn't doing well at all and ours won't be much better unless we get on a roll or they give wickets away under the pressure.

Warne nearly gave up against Pietersen there. Bowled completely negatively all day before being taken off. 1 more ball and it'll be the longest period without a wicket for him.

Big Kev · 2 Dec 2006 at 04:58

Brilliant performance by Collingwood, awesome achievement and he's now got his highest first class score, the record 4th wicket partnership for England v Australia and he reached the 200 by whacking Shanie boy for 4!!!

Hamster · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:01

Well done to Collingwood for his double - first one by an English batsman in oz for 70 years, and also Peterson. 300 partnership is an awesome achievment here!!

m

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:02

Wasn't it Clarke he hit

Great performance though the thing about it is that he hasn't looked in much trouble at all, just goes on and on accumulating them runs.

Hamster · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:03

Yes, was Clarke but nicer to think it was Warne!!

m

Big Kev · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:07

platty said:
Wasn't it Clarke he hit

Sorry mate, got carried away for a bit there, but I agree with Marmoset, it would have been nice if it had been Shane.

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:08

Could never have been Warne as he's basically given up today

Some of these shots Pietersen is playing as quality. Looks determined for runs today too.

Gutted, there goes Collingwood. 206.

That sets it up for Pietersen and Flintoff after tea.

Big Kev · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:09

Aaarrgghh, Colly 206 before edging to Gilly from Clark, Well done my son, brilliant!!!!!

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:10

Awesome innings. And thats tea which is good timing as it gives Freddie 20 minutes to get ready after sitting about for best part of 7 hours rather than just running straight out.

Hamster · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:12

Let's see if KP can surpass this landmark after tea.
Great stuff Collingwood. Batting for so long he must have been knackered so i think he can be forgiven

Question is - can england really expect to take 20 ozzie wickets on this flat one?

m

Big Kev · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:15

Marmoset said:
Let's see if KP can surpass this landmark after tea.
Great stuff Collingwood. Batting for so long he must have been knackered so i think he can be forgiven
Question is - can england really expect to take 20 ozzie wickets on this flat one?

m

I can't see us getting 20 wickets at the moment, unless the pitch starts deteriorating drastically from day 3, here's hoping.

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:17

Its where Fletcher and Flinoff are wishing they'd picked Panesar. It will be very hard to get the 20 wickets. Hopefully the pressure gets to them and our bowlers are fired up after the batting performance.

Pietersen will probably be told to take it to them a bit after tea so might not quite make it to Collys score. Surpassing his 158 best has gotta be the aim.

Hamster · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:25

Even warne couldn't understand the decision not to play Monty (and Read) in the first test. Warne tells it how it is and on this occasion i wholeheartedly agree with him.
Agree, KP should smack it around after tea and bring us up to a declaring score.

m

platty · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:49

Yeah Warne speaks a lot of sense, good bloke. Shame he's run out of ideas against Pietersen here though.

Pietersen falls for 158 for the third time. Had to be a run out though as they couldn't get him out.

Hamster · 2 Dec 2006 at 05:56

158 three times for KP!! Should have kept my mouth shut. Nice fielding there though.

m

Rosbif · 2 Dec 2006 at 08:09

Well that was well worth staying up for.. now Im gonna go drop dead.. lol

SoliD · 2 Dec 2006 at 08:23

wahay, woke up and just checked the final score for the night. what a couple of good knocks from collingwood and pietersen. wish i had stayed up a little while longer. hopefully finish off the job and bowl them out and make them follow on.

Just looking down the scoreboard 1 for jones bit disappointing. but not a bad little knock for giles by the looks of it.

JAzz · 2 Dec 2006 at 09:55

Very important toss to win, that was a belter of a pitch to bat on and it can only get worse from now on, big scores are common on this ground though so be wary of an Aussie fightback.

Great knock from Collingwood and Pietersen, class players

Garp · 2 Dec 2006 at 10:38

n00b question.

Why declare? Why not just keep going until you're all out? Surely you wan't to make it as hard for your oponents as possible?

Well done to Collingwood though. Thats got to be a career highlight for him, getting 200 runs against Australia