The Ashes Tour 2013

[theblether]

A real kick in the b*lls for Michael Clarke, just when he got a performance out of his team the weather beat him.

Oh well. That's a shame.

[BookMan]

A real kick in the b*lls for Michael Clarke, just when he got a performance out of his team the weather beat him. 

 

Oh well.  That's a shame.    

Clarke is used to being kicked in the balls by his ex gf Lara Bingle

[theblether]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

[7by7]

^^ Thanks for that.

I would have given you a like ... but I didn't 'like' the forecast ...

And after going to all that trouble. ...............................

The weather forecast is my like.......Ashes retained.

I'm not happy with the forecast at all.

I'd rather the Ashes were retained due to cricket; not the weather.

Even if the cricket meant England battening down the hatches today. Such a day can be enthralling to watch; for example Atherton and Russell in Johannesburg 1995.

(Although those who prefer their test cricket be played in the same way as T20 wont agree.)

Australia have been on top for virtually every session of this match; it will be such a shame if it is the weather which robs them of the win they richly deserve.

[BookMan]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

Here is a nice shot she sent me a while back

[Will27]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

Here is a nice shot she sent me a while back

bingle1.jpg

Boing!!

[theblether]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

Here is a nice shot she sent me a while back

bingle1.jpg

I see you photoshopped a top on to her, your a real gent protecting her modesty like that.

Well rain stops play and The Ashes are retained. The weather is part of cricket, always has been and always will be as long as it's played outdoors. Anyone that doesn't realize that has got no grasp of the game whatsoever.

[uptheos]

^^ Thanks for that.

I would have given you a like ... but I didn't 'like' the forecast ...

And after going to all that trouble. ...............................

The weather forecast is my like.......Ashes retained.

I would have thought you would be thinking of 5-0 uptheos

I was up to this game.

Re-adjusted to 4-0

[7by7]

Well rain stops play and The Ashes are retained. The weather is part of cricket, always has been and always will be as long as it's played outdoors. Anyone that doesn't realize that has got no grasp of the game whatsoever.

Yes, the weather is, always has been and always will be a part of the game. Though perhaps less so now than in the days of uncovered pitches.

But would you have been happy if England had retained the Ashes because all 5 tests were washed out draws?

I wouldn't, and nor would any real cricket lover.

I repeat: Australia have been on top for virtually every session of this match; it will be such a shame if it is the weather which robs them of the win they richly deserve

[David48]

Everyone is talking like play is already abandoned ... is it pissing down over there?

[David48]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

Here is a nice shot she sent me a while back

bingle1.jpg

I see you photoshopped a top on to her, your a real gent protecting her modesty like that.

she does have a cricketing pedigree ...

.

[uptheos]

*theblether scurries away to do a Google search on Lara Bingle.

Here is a nice shot she sent me a while back

bingle1.jpg

I see you photoshopped a top on to her, your a real gent protecting her modesty like that.

she does have a cricketing pedigree ...

.

I know her!!.........that's Sheila.

[theblether]

^^ Even Sheila knows that the weather is part of cricket.

[uptheos]

^^ Even Sheila knows that the weather is part of cricket.

Yup, gotta win your games when the weather's good.

I've spent summer holidays from school looking at the covers, day in day out.

[theblether]

^^ Even Sheila knows that the weather is part of cricket.

Yup, gotta win your games when the weather's good.

I've spent summer holidays from school looking at the covers, day in day out.

That's a fact, even in my short school career we had to endure the vagaries of the weather. Being Scotland, if it was light rain we'd play, and if it turned into a monsoon, the Umpire would have a think about it. #

The idea of being given the light was out of the question though, the Umpires reckoned we all had the vision of Moles anyway so they'd have us playing at midnight.

Then they wonder why Scottish cricket is mai dee.

[7by7]

Everyone is talking like play is already abandoned ... is it pissing down over there?

Slight rain at the moment, and the forecast is not good.

Covers still on, but still 55 minutes until the scheduled start.

Good news is that they will play an extra 8 overs today to make up for the time lost yesterday; if the weather, and Australia's over rate, allows.

Edit:

Rain stopped; covers coming off; fingers crossed.

Edited August 5, 2013 by 7by7

[BookMan]

Maybe Clarke will surprise us all and keep on batting

[Will27]

^^ Thanks for that.

I would have given you a like ... but I didn't 'like' the forecast ...

And after going to all that trouble. ...............................

The weather forecast is my like.......Ashes retained.

I'm not happy with the forecast at all.

I'd rather the Ashes were retained due to cricket; not the weather.

Even if the cricket meant England battening down the hatches today. Such a day can be enthralling to watch; for example Atherton and Russell in Johannesburg 1995.

(Although those who prefer their test cricket be played in the same way as T20 wont agree.)

Australia have been on top for virtually every session of this match; it will be such a shame if it is the weather which robs them of the win they richly deserve.

Agree with that.

Some of the best matches of all time end up as a draw.

I still remember Mike Whitney batting out the last over against

Richard Hadlee in the 1987 boxing Day Test to secure a draw.

He was probably out twice LBW but we'll take it

Edited August 5, 2013 by Will27

[7by7]

Maybe Clarke will surprise us all and keep on batting

Can't understand why he didn't declare last night; say when 300 ahead.

If he had, then the umpires would have asked him if he was going to bowl his spinners, he could have said he would and maybe England would be 2 or 3 down this morning.

BTW, IIRC the highest 4th innings score to win a test match at Old Trafford is 294; but that was before the pitch was re-laid and rotated.

[BookMan]

Agree with that.

Some of the best matches of all time end up as a draw.

I still remember Mike Whitney batting out the last over against

Richard Hadlee in the 1987 boxing Day Test to secure a draw.

He was probably out twice LBW but we'll take it

[7by7]

Latest news; pitch inspection at 10:45.

Latest forecast; dry for most of the morning; rain for most of the afternoon.

[BookMan]

Maybe Clarke will surprise us all and keep on batting

Can't understand why he didn't declare last night; say when 300 ahead.

If he had, then the umpires would have asked him if he was going to bowl his spinners, he could have said he would and maybe England would be 2 or 3 down this morning.

BTW, IIRC the highest 4th innings score to win a test match at Old Trafford is 294; but that was before the pitch was re-laid and rotated.

That is a good point you make, but he couldn't have known at the time.

Hindsight wise, he would have been better going on in the first innings. The extra runs might have been enough to enforce a follow on. Could have had England 3 or 4 down yesterday

[7by7]

Indeed, Vic Marks on TMS has just made exactly the same point about the first innings declaration on TMS.

Declared the first innings too early, and the second too late?

[uptheos]

Maybe Clarke will surprise us all and keep on batting

Can't understand why he didn't declare last night; say when 300 ahead.

If he had, then the umpires would have asked him if he was going to bowl his spinners, he could have said he would and maybe England would be 2 or 3 down this morning.

BTW, IIRC the highest 4th innings score to win a test match at Old Trafford is 294; but that was before the pitch was re-laid and rotated.

Probably lack of confidence in his spinners? If England had got after them he would have brought on the seam attack and then the umpires would simply have halted the play.

[7by7]

Latest from TMS.

Clarke has declared, no surprise there.

Play will start at 11:30.

[David48]

Maybe Clarke will surprise us all and keep on batting

Nope ... but England might surprise us and try and bat to win the game ...

.

[David48]

Geeze, Warnie a changed man.

So thin, teeth bright enough to light the pitch yesterday.

Woman ... man, the things we do to make them happy.

I preferred the old 'blokey' Warnie

.

[GrantSmith]

Declaration before start of play and the Poms are chasing 332 for the win...

[BookMan]

Shocker first over from Starc

[7by7]

Why did Cooke review? Obviously out, unless he thought he may have hit it.

He will mightily regret that review if the 10th wicket falls to a shocking decision and England have no reviews left.