The Ashes Thread

[deskslave]

Australia hadn't lost at home by an innings in 18 years. They've now done it twice in two weeks, and they've also failed to win the Ashes at home for the first time since 1986. Well done England!

 

[RickStain]

There's two teams in every match and England played very well, but the utter collapse by Australia on such an important stage is just amazing. They didn't even put up a fight.

 

[deskslave]

It'll be interesting to see what happens next year when England play India. Pretty sure they're still well behind both India and South Africa ... but then again, as long as they're better than Australia, no one really much minds.

On a side note, there's an England v. Sri Lanka Test match in June at the ground not far from where I live. Might have to check out a day of that ...

 

[TrooperBari]

On a side note, there's an England v. Sri Lanka Test match in June at the ground not far from where I live. Might have to check out a day of that ...

What are ticket prices like for test matches? I assume matches against Australia, India and Pakistan would demand more than SL, the Windies or New Zealand. If I did make a summer trip to England, I'd at least want to watch some cricket in person.

 

[deskslave]

For the Sri Lanka match at Hampshire, it's £60-£65 for decent seats on days 1-3 and £39 for "third man" tickets; for the match at Cardiff, they range from £30-£70 for days 1-3. They come down £10 for the fourth day.

£48-£75 for the India Test at the Oval. So I'm not sure it varies all that much by opponent; I think the variation is more likely to be by ground.

 

[Stitch]

Ponting out from final test with a finger injury, which kept the selectors from making a tough call to dump him.

Australia up 55-1 as Phillip Hughes was caught out by England's third slip on the last ball before lunch.

 

[Stitch]

Australia up 134-4. Usman Khawaja scored 37 runs in his test debut, but was caught out just before rain stopped play again. I'm thinking a draw for the test because of the rain, which would give England the series win.

 

[RickStain]

Too early to say if there's a result in the offing. One batting collapse is all it takes.

 

[Football_Bat]

Australia up 134-4. Usman Khawaja scored 37 runs in his test debut, but was caught out just before rain stopped play again. I'm thinking a draw for the test because of the rain, which would give England the series win.

England have already clinched retaining the Ashes. This final test is only important in that they complete winning a series down under and silence the detractors once and for all.

134-4 is a good start.

 

[RickStain]

England's down to their last wicket in the first innings, already up by a few hundred, and Swann knocks out 19 in five balls on the way to a 22-run over.

22 runs in that over beats the score of any Australian batsmen in the first innings of the fourth test.

 

[RickStain]

Massive necro-bump.

Anyone else following this? England looked to be completely trashed in the second test but are suddenly at least vaguely in it. Australia's at 129/9 in their second innings.