The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[Aidan11]

I like how the Aussies are still booing Stuart Broad for that ridiculous "but he didn't walk" whinge.

Ignoring the fact (a) the umpire didn't give it out and (b) Clarke didn't review that decision.

I think they used up their reviews at that point.

[The Waugh Twins]

I like how the Aussies are still booing Stuart Broad for that ridiculous "but he didn't walk" whinge.

Ignoring the fact (a) the umpire didn't give it out and (b) Clarke didn't review that decision.

Likely because (a) They are drunk and (b) they have little else to do.

If they are at the cricket then they are probably having an awesome time and a darn good laugh.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Good opening day though for both sides in the end.

Could go either way in the morning as it always does in cricket.

Yup, hopefully it means today demonstrates that England will be able to compete in the series and we'll have another 2005esque cracker. People saying the Australian attack is far superior but Broad and Anderson at their best and an emerging Wood will cause the Aussie batters problems.

Probably would have said England were edging day one at 343/6 but losing Buttler at the end makes it even steven and all to play for.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I like how the Aussies are still booing Stuart Broad for that ridiculous "but he didn't walk" whinge.

Ignoring the fact (a) the umpire didn't give it out and (b) Clarke didn't review that decision.

It is ridiculous, but Clarke didn't have a review left.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good opening day though for both sides in the end.

Could go either way in the morning as it always does in cricket.

Yup, hopefully it means today demonstrates that England will be able to compete in the series and we'll have another 2005esque cracker. People saying the Australian attack is far superior but Broad and Anderson at their best and an emerging Wood will cause the Aussie batters problems.

Probably would have said England were edging day one at 343/6 but losing Buttler at the end makes it even steven and all to play for.

Fair enough. Australia might be a bit rusty, and I expect them to bowl better in time, but it was important for England to stand up to the Aussies, and Joe Root certainly did. Only Ballance looked troubled by pace, though on a surface intended to neuter it.

[Aidan11]

Could be an interesting day tomorrow.

[yuppie]

The weather report i just looked at has tomorrow cloudier than today.

Might offer a little more to the bowlers in the air. Nothings going to help the liveliness of the pitch.

[sussexpob]

The weather report i just looked at has tomorrow cloudier than today.

Might offer a little more to the bowlers in the air. Nothings going to help the liveliness of the pitch.

The bowlers got consistent movement today, just didnt use it that well.

[captaincolly]

Bob Willis suggesting Haddin needs a trampoline to cope with the wayward Aussie bowling.

[Dr Cricket]

nice article from Jonathan liew.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... -Root.html

The answer is not only relevant to sports marketing students. If we are frank with ourselves, none of the five Ashes series since 2005 has actually been that good. Four have been hopelessly one-sided; 2009 was a low-quality series won by the team that choked marginally less frequently. And yet, it is hard to overstate just how many people have a stake in convincing us otherwise: the county executives relying on an Ashes windfall to fill their coffers, the broadcasters desperate for a box office hit in an otherwise quiet summer, the sponsors paying through the nose for a slice of the pasty. Over-hyping the Ashes suits them all. Yet all the squawking and fireworks obscure the fact that cricket is a sport like no other, a sport of intricate tactics and unspoken strategy and infinite nuance and, yes, long periods where everyone shuts up and nothing much happens.

Agree with this.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And yet, those series had a big impact one way or the other. For England winning in Australia, and the two Aussie whitewashes were huge for the winners. 2013 was a very dull series.

[The Waugh Twins]

If you're purely about results and scorelines yes you can agree with the above statement by Jonathon someone and unfortunately that is the way most folks bring up their kids these days and in the past. Win,win,win at all costs.

Winning has to be the bonus in life and not the goal. I love the game of cricket and it is painful when you lose, but you have to enjoy the ride.

[Dr Cricket]

And yet, those series had a big impact one way or the other. For England winning in Australia, and the two Aussie whitewashes were huge for the winners. 2013 was a very dull series.

got to say the aussie legs of the ashes were good but that was more for the pitches, was boring for the whitewashes.
England one generally been bad but that mostly down to the pitches low slow and dead.

2009 series was poor quality, 2 mid table sides at the time.
2013 poor pitches didn't help
hopefully the pitches are better this time otherwise england gonna serve another bad ashes series irrespective of the result.

Also I was more agreeing about the hype then the actual results, in the last few years Ashes hype have gone to crazy levels, Counties obviously love the ashes since they get more money through the gate, ECB get a massive pay day, Sky get higher viewers in a quiet summer period and it suit all parties to hype it up but actually it just like any other series.

[Gingerfinch]

England were pretty good in 2009, weren't they. Forget the hype, it's just an old rivalry.

[The Waugh Twins]

Who is Jonathan Liew?

Really IMHO I think it's actually a pretty stupid piece of writing, much like this line I just wrote.

How can two teams play each other for a decade for 25 days per series and you simply say it wasn't that good? Was he there at every match? Did he watch every delivery?

I likely started watching cricket before Jonny was born and I can tell you this much the 5-0 whitewash last year really, really awesome.