The Ashes.......

[muzzer]

I reckon England 2-1...........

[amateur51]

It'll be grand to have the commentary available on Long Wave through the night. i just hope the BBC has lined up a decent team of commentaters & summarisers to deliver the goods.

[teamsaint]

My boss suggested, when I didn't answer my mobile this afternoon, that I might be having a snooze, in order to be ready for the cricket tonight !!

As if........

Anyway good luck to our lads.

[Keraulophone]

Warner dismisses a Brisbane-booed Broad's first ball to the square leg boundary... ah encore The Ashes.

A few late nights coming up til Jan 2014... not too many Through the Night, I hope.

Happy listening and viewing to all musically-inclined followers of the game.

[Sir Velo]

A good start by England but the Mitchell/Haddin partnership highlighted the risks of a four bowler strategy. When the quicks have tired after their opening spells, there is precious little firepower to break stubborn partnerships like this. We saw it briefly back in the summer when Agar and Hughes nearly won the first test for Oz.

[amateur51]

A good start by England but the Mitchell/Haddin partnership highlighted the risks of a four bowler strategy. When the quicks have tired after their opening spells, there is precious little firepower to break stubborn partnerships like this. We saw it briefly back in the summer when Agar and Hughes nearly won the first test for Oz.

This would be the same four bowler strategy that resulted in last Summer's 3-1 drubbing of the Australians? Some risk!

Bravo Stuart Broad!

[Sir Velo]

This would be the same four bowler strategy that resulted in last Summer's 3-1 drubbing of the Australians? Some risk!

3-1? 3-0 more like - don't go giving the Aussies a win they didn't get!

I stand by the point, however. Rarely does an extra batsman make that much of an impact; whereas, with only five batsmen, each realises the value of their wicket and plays with a greater sense of responsibility. Four bowlers might be sufficient in England's cool, damp climate but conditions are different in oz: the Kookaburra stops swinging after 20 overs; the pitches are harder and flatter; and it's a darned sight hotter than back home. Time will tell who's right....

[aeolium]

I agree with that point, Sir V. With very good batting conditions and hot weather you ideally need 5 bowlers. The problem is that the late-order batting would have looked fragile if any of the other quicks had played. Had Bresnan been available perhaps Prior could have played at 6 with Bresnan and Broad following, but Flower seems inflexible with his four-bowler strategy which to be fair has served him well so far. He may also be worried about the England top order which did not perform too well this summer.

Incidentally, there are highlights on Freeview TV every evening at 10 pm - the Pick channel (I think Freeview channel 11).

[amateur51]

I agree with that point, Sir V. With very good batting conditions and hot weather you ideally need 5 bowlers. The problem is that the late-order batting would have looked fragile if any of the other quicks had played. Had Bresnan been available perhaps Prior could have played at 6 with Bresnan and Broad following, but Flower seems inflexible with his four-bowler strategy which to be fair has served him well so far. He may also be worried about the England top order which did not perform too well this summer.

Incidentally, there are highlights on Freeview TV every evening at 10 pm - the Pick channel (I think Freeview channel 11).

Sorry about my 3-1 goof, Sir Velo

To take eight Australian wickets in 90 overs in a day in Fortress Brisbane suggests that the selected bowling attack is more than adequate. The question of the the fifth bowler is down to which outstanding and available bowler has been ommitted? I agree with aeolium about Bresnan, I would always have him in my side because he's also an outstanding batsman on occasion. But there is no obvious candidate, surely. Cook has given Root a few overs today and Trott and even Pietersen can turned their arms over usefully.

Aside from identifying the missing bowler, I guess we also have to acknowledge that one of the existing four may break down during this tour. Finn will come into his own on the faster pitches, and Rankin has yet to show what he can do.

Ah the joys of armchair cricket team selection

[Sir Velo]

I agree Ams and Aeolium that Broad and Co did mighty well today. Of course, this is just the start of the tour, and I remain concerned that the workload required of a four bowler attack may take its toll eventually - if not in this test, then later down the line. Of course, there are replacements but one would hate to see Broad or Anderson get a stress fracture or some such injury through overwork. Finn's form is an obvious worry; in an article by Derek Pringle he appears to have completely lost form and confidence in his action - worrying indeed at the start of a tour! Bresnan's return can't come too soon - not quite in the Flintoff class but he should bolster the batting as well as being a reliable third/fourth seamer. I just hope they don't bring him back before he's fully fit.

[aeolium]

I cannot understand why Finn and Rankin were preferred to Onions who had a phenomenal summer and was one of the top wicket-takers in a championship-winning team. Tremlett has had very little cricket since returning from injury. They have gone with three similar tall quicks and no straight replacement for Anderson (the bowler Onions most closely resembles) should he be injured.

[Sir Velo]

Agree about Onions. They obviously don't think he's suited to Aussie pitches. Having said that, he's on tour with the "A" team so will undoubtedly be first cab off the rank in case of injury to Anderson.

[amateur51]

I cannot understand why Finn and Rankin were preferred to Onions who had a phenomenal summer and was one of the top wicket-takers in a championship-winning team. Tremlett has had very little cricket since returning from injury. They have gone with three similar tall quicks and no straight replacement for Anderson (the bowler Onions most closely resembles) should he be injured.

I wonder what Onions is doing this Winter? In a perfect world he'd be nearby taking wickets for a state side, tuned up & ready to be called up if needs be.

Cross-posted with Sir Velo

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

bloody england!

[teamsaint]

bloody england!

which is why for that " Holiday of a lifetime", an ashes jaunt might not be the very best idea !!