A Year of Thinking Positively.

[Durhamfootman]

thank goodness I didn't try to go, btw. Incredible scenes outside OT. Will we ever see its like again?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Vaughan's form has been variable on the field, but he's hitting it out the ground off the field. His communication with tv and press is very strong.

[Arthur Crabtree]

thank goodness I didn't try to go, btw. Incredible scenes outside OT. Will we ever see its like again?

Maybe, cricket has been building itself to be comfortable with limited interest. The current popularity of the team threatens to burst its usual confines. R5 have started covering the series, in the way they might feature football, with stories running in among the news and chat.

[Durhamfootman]

Vaughan's form has been variable on the field, but he's hitting it out the ground off the field. His communication with tv and press is very strong.

good. for a couple of decades the England rhetoric has been one of damage limitation. This is refreshing......... I don't know.... can England do this, do we think? Hard to believe.I don't want to jinx anything, but England seem to be on top, yet have looked a little vulnerable when in command of a match, almost as if they don't quite believe it and freeze a little when they should be pressing their advantage. Perhaps that's just a side effect of many, many years of being under the Australian boot?

All to play for at TB. If it swings, Glenda could be unplayable. Feeling nervous actually. OT should have given us a cushion. If only they'd taken that last wicket. what might have been

and..... the oval could be perfect for Warne, so we really have to win at TB

can't believe I'm thinking about how to win...... normally we'd be 2 or 3 nil down by now, depending on how much rain had affected matches

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, the Ashes have normally gone by now, and England looking to pick up the dead rubber, often the only exciting games. Difficult t know how much these close finishes are to the credit of Australia rather than the detriment of England. England aren't supposed to be winning these games, never mind with something to spare.

Several Aussie players are struggling. Whenever their innings has been under threat in the past, Gilchrist has saved them. Bowling round the wicket and swinging it away has got him out, as we said it might. Most batting resistance has come a place lower from Warne. England just have to keep them down for one more game.

I'd guess Gillespie is finished.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Still, it's 1-1. England could lose 3-1 and the last two weeks feel like an embarrassing illusion.

[Durhamfootman]

I'd guess Gillespie is finished.

who would they replace him with, though? Kaspa looks cooked too. Is there another bowler in the squad they could turn to, or would they have to bring someone in?

Martyn looks shot too. Undecided about this new lad Clarke... looks a bit 'up his own @rse', to me.......... might be up his own @rse enough to make him a future Aussie captain, who knows?

[Durhamfootman]

Still, it's 1-1. England could lose 3-1 and the last two weeks feel like an embarrassing illusion.

In the extremely unlikely event that England do win (humour me for a moment, even though I'm being completely preposterous)..........

who would replace Ponting as captain?

No way would Ponting be forgiven for being the first captain to lose an ashes series for the best part of a hundred and fifty years.

Would they dare go for Warne?

probably not..... he'd sack all the backroom staff, in a blaze of publicity, and try to do everything himself......................... after having his roots treated, of course.... got to get the priorities right

[Arthur Crabtree]

Kaspa's only played one Test and he's bowled well on tour. He's used to the conditions, so he'll come in. McG didn't look even half fit at OT, and they really will need him at TB, with Gillespie bowling so badly. Australia can't just continue assuming that everything will be alright, because it's not. Shaun Tait is a possibility, or the ghost buster, Shane Watson. Shaggy, maybe? Won't catch on. He's an all rounder.

If Australia lose from here, it'll be 3-1 at worst. If they sack anyone, it'll be Buchanan or Ponting. You can't sack a player, for one, you'd just drop them, and secondly, you can't hold a batter or bowler responsible for the realm of the coach or the captain.

Warne can't be captain, after drug-gate and betting cartel-gate. Langer next, if Ricky loses that number.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Is Clarke a FAC?

[Durhamfootman]

depends what FAC stands for

I can think of a couple

[Aidan11]

Probably just as well Uruguay don't play test cricket.

[Durhamfootman]

that would be FCC

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe it means something else in Uruguay.

[Durhamfootman]

It means 'clever' in Uruguay