Thetownend.com

So Mcgrath has been passed fit to play.  Bring it on.........

You beat me to it  :x  :) ,bad news travels fast.
Weather for london on thursday is sunny,with a max temperature of 24 degrees and moderate winds.Its not looking like the weather is going to do us any favours yet.

But supposed to be a bit rainy over the weekend, especially Sat i believe.  Anyway we wont need the weather to help us, we are going to batter 'em  :mrgreen:

Its suppose to piss down all day Friday!.

Accuse me of being negative if you like,but i hope there are constant rain interruptions,16 years is too long.Since i  got into cricket there have been 2 ashes series, and being stuffed by the convicts  made it humiliating and dispiriting being an english cricket fan.Now its in our grasp,i don't care how we win that urn back.

I quite agree larwood, but I'm going to Regent's Park on Sunday, so as long as we get some cricket then I'll be happy.

I know K.T,so am i. :beers:
I recently discovered the joys of pimms and lemonade and so will be taking several cans of this wonderful concoction [and some cider]with me on sunday. :)

Pimms is just the best stuff!  Me and the Mrs have it every sunday afternoon.  We have Pimms, lemonade, ginger bear, stwarberries, apples, cucumber and anything other frutiy type thing wer have lying around and put it a massive jug with loads of ice! Gorgeous :beers:

We were robbed by a day of rain at Old Trafford so I hope it pisses down all weekend, we should be 3-1 up and have it all wrapped up already.

Thats a fecking good point, although if it does rain and we get a draw the Aussies will be moaning about that for years whilst forgetting the help they got at OT. :roll:

Fuck em. They can whinge all they want. We deserve it fair and square.

So lets all forget about that shite england team of ast night and conecntrate on a England team that is actually going to win something!

Come on England!  Roll on 10:30  :P

Surely all we need to do is to just play really defensive right from the start, and just play for a draw, and run out of time..... its negative, but it will be great when we win :)

The trouble is that the way test cricket is now you can't really play for a draw,just look at the last four tests,only the manchester test went to 5 days,and that was because of the lost day.The best thing we can do is try and carry on the way we've been playing and hope it rains and  we win the toss.

Collingwood is in the team

Not really suprised.All we have to do now is win the toss.

We have won the toss and elected to bat.  You beauty!

  :D

If you play for the draw from the off in a Test match you are guaranteed to lose.

We got in this position by being positive so why should we change. Have faith

c,mon England, we have the tv on in our office  8)   I hope Mcgraths elbow falls off  :twisted:

Thats a bit harsh isn't birdy?........actually no!

Nice start 38 for no loss.  :D

Make sure you don't get too excited when you see Shane Warne!!

Thinking about, he looks a bit like cheggers......  :wink:

_______

He's on now

I just watched his first over, nice to see him get smashed for 4, he is a lovely hunk of man love  :oops:

keith chegwin  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

82-1 Tres out for 43

They should use that to sledge him....."like it cheggers, like it"

Which one is which?

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/landofbo/warne.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/landofbo/cheggers.jpg

He just took a wicket...

Vaughan is a penis

please tell me why vaughn gets a 100 one day then gets out for 11 and makes a school boy error the next he makes me angry

Fuck me Bell-end has gone now for a quakcer!

that was warney's 3rd wicket.  I officially hate him til monday now  :(

:?

Don't get too down yet guys, we've got an extra 'batsman' in Collingwood, so there'll be a chance of some extra runs down the order.

Hopefully Strauss can stick around for a while and help KP make a few before a certain Freddy Flintoff makes it to the crease.

This next session could be huge in this test, with rain a high possibility whoever makes the most of this session will be in the box seat - hopefully it's England who do so.

We can only hope KT - to you get that TV into work with the 40 year old bird??

I am hoping for a good innings from pieterson, he hasn't really proved anything yet, lets see what he is made off.  hopefully not the same thing as Bell  :|

No, she didn't ask the boss. :disapprove:

Still it was good of her to think of it in the first place.

Lunch time in 15 minutes, means I can get home for the start of the session and catch about 45 minutes on the tv.

Nice, listening to TMS over t'internet...Wish channel 4 streamed the video on their website, they missed a trick there!

I know, I've been wishing that all series.  Sky's cricket centre is OK though, when it's not cocking up.

Would have been great news,but warne is bowling like the genius we know he is,he's just got kp :( .Surely he can't keep on bowling,if he does he could bowl us out by tea time.

He is awesome that bloke....wanker  :x  :D

I think its between warne and freedie for player of the series,warnes batting this series means you could class him as an all-rounder.

213-4 at tea.  Good recovery after that dodgy spell!

Indeed, the player of series will be one of these two, probably the one who gets the result they want, ie. if its a draw or a win to us then Freddy will be MOTS, otherwise it will be Warne.

We seem do be doing just that at the moment.  :beers:

274-5 Flintoff gove for 72

Strauss is fucking ace. I love him.

Superb innings from Freddie.

The canteen at college has had it on all day, I sat there like a billy-no-mates for awhile :D

Nowt wrong with that, should've sat there all day!

The extra "batsmen" did well, Collingwood LBW....arse

poo

buggers

Think I jinxed it, sorry people. :?

Australia's day.....we had a chance to put the game away, but didn't take it......not a complete disaster though especially if as promised the weather breaks.

319-7 isn't too bad but at the rate we started, we should have finished off on a higher score I feel.

If we can add another 100ish tomorrow then it's not a bad score for the Aussie's to chase, not sure how much we''ll miss Jones though.

Anyone for a spot of rain dancing?

:\/

  Nearest thing to a raindance.

http://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gifhttp://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gifhttp://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gifhttp://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gifhttp://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gifhttp://ipredict.co.uk/CL/icons/5_1_120.gif

If we get another 60 then i think we'll be ok.

that's just scary  :shock:

we need it on here :nod:

:nod:

Play that funky music White boy!  :)

That is class-best pre-match entertainment I've ever seen!

Imagine that on the scoreboard before every game! Who needs rockin' robin!

I think England are okay with that total and hopefully they will be able to reach the 350 mark before losing another one!

WHY oh WHY are my free periods (today and tomorrow) both BEFORE the start of play?!

You have to worry about Shane Warne in our 2nd innings-if he can do that much damage on the first day.If Australia retain the ashes it will be as near a one-man performance as dammit.

Bollocks, first wicket down already! Jones

Best we can hope for now is about 360. :?

I think that may be pushing it!  :(  Let's hope not though

Another!  345-9 , Hoggard for 2 of 36 balls!!  not a bad little partnership!

373 all out!  Not too bad in the end.

Yeah, not too bad.  At least the bowlers can go at their openers quite hard for the few overs before lunch, if we can get 1, or even 2 wickets in that time it would be a real confidence builder.

Here's hoping!

fooking bbc website has gone down, I've lost my commentary!!

I don't think the aussies will match England's 1st innings total, they may creep towards the 300 mark but that'll be about it.

Convicts are 101 for no loss.  I am actually starting to get a bit worried for the first time this series.

The aussies are strange,why have they taken the light?Come on the rain and thunder.

It is a bit odd.  Maybe they are very confident of getting a really big total and dont want to risk going out but still seems a bit odd.

What an odd choice, is it quite bad?  If so I suppose you can understand it, they don't want to lose a couple of wickets, though that would have been lovely.

No,its just a bit dark and raining slightly.

There's a thunderstorm now. Thankyou God!

fucking cuntybollocks

missed start of play cos I had to be at college for 11, then had lunch at 12:30 so only saw about 15 minutes play after lunch in the cricket then got back to my car at 3:30ish and the Aussies had fucked off, bastards!

Fucking idiots, the light wasn't that bad should have batted on until the rain came.  Ponting's gonna get some stick if they don't win this one.

Will someone at Channel 4 sort out the fucking coverage - stop interupting the FINAL ASHES TEST MATCH with fucking horse racing from Doncaster.  Not everyone has access to Filmfuckingfour. Wankers.

I agree. Who gives a shit about the 4.50 from Doncaster when you could watch the grass growing at the oval!

Rain Please all weekend. :old:

Agreed!  :D

well it should rain this afternoon apprantley...

it's raining now  :D

11AM start.  :(

\o/

281-3

Martyn b Flintoff c Collingwood

i though i'd try watching this cricket malarky, however i'm quite bored  :(

plus how can they keep checking the light, its not that dark?

its a funny old game...

freddie's on fiiiiiiiiiiiire!

all out for 367!

shit me, we seem to be doing ok!!!

I'm not a cricket man, but 2-1 is shit yeah?!

Men at work. Now I liked them.

we bowled the aussies out too quickly.... :|

i love bad light

I love bad light too but i prefer Rain all day on Mondays.

I have NEVER seen a crowd cheer bad light before :mrgreen:

I think that it would be better for us to get to 10-9 and THEN go of for bad light tomorrow evening! :)

The weather is looking good,so all we have to get through is 98 overs. :-))(
I'm pretty sure its going to be a tense day.
COME ON ENGLAND!Please don't fuck it up now.

I am just so fucking nervous, this is killing me.  Come on boys.  I think we'll do this.

im gonna bloody miss it as im on a late shift! FUck sake

If we can get to lunch with only 2 or 3 down we SHOULD be ok....I  hope that fucker Warne isn't on fire this morning

Bad luck mate!
I've taken the precaution of skiving the day off work,but i'm not sure how much of it i can stand to watch :) .

I think your right,but r.e warne the rumour is that he could retire from international cricket after this test,so [if its possible]he will play even harder.

I think Warne will go after the next Ashes, in Australia. He's bowling so well at the minute that it would be a huge loss for cricket if he were to go now.

Vaughan out to a stunning catch from Gilchrist off McGrath. He was looking brilliant as well, whilst Tresco looks very scratchy.

shit, shit, shit

I'm no cricket expert, but what is the point of Ian Bell?

I know he's had a shocker of a series, but in five years time he'll be in the top 5 batsmen in the world. Guaranteed.

109-4. :?

Freddy and KP now in, KP is on 30.

Freddy really needs a good knock, if he gets one he will be Man of the Series.

Please just stay in though, please. :|

Ian Bell likes his ducks doesnt he!

(Almost) quoting Liam Gallagher:

"Who the fuck is Ian Bell?"

126-5!

Freddy has gone!  Is this the disaster we are all dreading?

I'm bricking it, that's for sure.

It all going wrong. Flintoff gone, 126-5. Aaaaagh.

Ummm....shit?!

In big trouble now. If Collingwood wants a Test career he's got play an innings of substabnce here. If there was ever a time for KP to make his maiden Test hundred it's now.

KP took a bit of a bashing at the hands of wet lee. i still think we have the upper hand but we need an innings from jones, collie and KP!

This just had to happen didn't it ?There was no way the last day of the last test of one of the best series ever was  going to meander to a draw :( .There are 70 or so sphincter tightening overs left and we will need at least a 250 run lead.

This is doing my head in!  Why can't anything ever be simple?  :twisted:  Bloody cracking entertainement though.

Titch you are a fucking sadist! :)

Funnily enough that has been said before

your right. if we can claw our way up to 250 i think we hav a good chance

surely pieterson should not be out there hitting for 6 but should be defensive, aim of the game now to stay in til tea time?

True but we still need to get runs on the board.

Well he is wnding Lee up good and proper  8)

I dont understand cricket.

So in simple terms:-

1. Does it finish at 6.30 tonight?

2. If we get to say 250 all out, can aussies do it?

3.  Can we time waste?

1) I think we can go up to 7pm, light permitting of course.
2)Of course they can do it but they will risk losing wickets which could hand it to us.
3)Nope

2) How long does it usually take to get 200 runs? More than 5 hours minus tea time??? I think its ours?!?!

I don't understand cricket at all, but don't the shit batsmen (bowlers?) play last?

We're knackered aren't we?!  :(

Sussex Red and Asher - We both have no idea about this but its a good excuse to be pissed if we win

We are still ok at the moment i think.  Jones is capable of putting a good few on the total and some of the others are capable of haging around.

It's all about the runs per over rate really.  Just depends how many overs are left after we are bowled out really.  Either way i think we are in a pretty good position at present but of course, as we have seen in this series, that is always liable to change.

Yes they bat last!, we're still in this.

Wish i was there the atmosphere is brilliant especially the rendition of 'God Save The Queen'.

ok ok say we are all out for 250, aussies start batting and get to 150 for 5, who wins?!?!?!

If that is the end of the day then it is a draw so we win the series.

 :beers:

With 10 wickets in hand any total is pretty much chaseable. On the other hand going for the runs Australia are bound to lose wickets playing their shots.

The game could still go anyway, but Australia are still just ahead in my opinion.

Collingwood has gone!, come on Jones!.

Collingwood gone. Shit.

Absolutely  :beers:

I've kind of fucked up by cracking open the vodka about an hour ago. And I'm off work ill (genuine).

Despite my surprise visit to the Merlin Saturday (to meet cuntface, no show, Ralphy), I still haven't met you.

One day, eh!

(although saw you in the bowl thing at Barnsley)

next time swindon win I will meet you for a pint (could be a long wait)

We're knackered aren't we cricket people?  :(

Knackered; no. In deep shit; yes.

You'll get the shakes again :D

Are you sure Vodka is the right thing to take when your passing blood?

You can still get 7.5 to 1 on an aussie win, cracking odds as they're still well in it.

Well Jones has now gone!

What a time for k.p to get his first century!Come on England!

A giant innings!  :beers:

221-7, a lead of 227, at tea.  I am pretty confident we will do this now!

well done pieterson, about time he showed us what he is made of

It's in the bag!

We need to stay in for another 5 overs and make 250 then the Aussies would be left with a required run rate of over 6 an over.

You can now get 11-1 on Australia to win, that is pretty good isn't it considering if as Boeta says they still have a damn good chance.

As I'm part Australian I win either way, I want England to win though but I've put some money on the Aussies so it won't all be bad if we don't.

I'm not sure i would go as far as to say it's the bag just yet, especially against the Aussies.  but you are right if we can stay in for another 5-10 overs then it will make it that much harder.

Awesome knock from KP.

The game is slipping away from Australia but they're champions and still have the ability to pull it off.

49 overs left.I agree with you boeta,i just can't believe its all over yet,the aussies have come from behind and won so many times.

The Aussies will lose 2 overs from the change of innings too, so they'll lose anywhere up to 10ish runs from that.

Yes, it goes great with white powder  :D

Is the king of spain going to save a test match again?,he's almost an all-rounder :) .


I'll say it quietly,but i'm feeling a bit more confident now.

Aye, same as.

Surely these people on the roof of the oval are a health hazard and may kill themselves or other fans.While im at it im sure I have seen people standing up in seated areas :o

Shocking behaviour bloody cricket louts.

Like I say, it's in the bag.

They already require more than 6 an over - no way they'll manage that.

 :D
There was a streaker earlier as well. :)

I'll agree with you now KT!  We're gonna win the ashes.........We're gonna win the ashes  :beers:  :beers:

I remember over the winter trying to convince people how good KP is.

The innings of life time.

Absolutely brilliant innings!  Also Giles has been excellent this last hour!

Yep, Giles looked like a rabbit early in the series but he's really pulled his batting back together, obviously done a lot of work on playing the short ball, and he's done superbly today.

not seen much of it today, caught an hour or so at lunchtime and was a bit worried, did we nearly have a mini-collapse in the middle order?

Pietersen will be the one remembered as winning us the Ashes and deservedly so but every single player has been superb, from Vaughan to Tremlett.

superb.

Surely we should declare soon, to give us a chance of actually winning the game?  

I know we're not going to win it, but it would be good for the bowlers to get a couple of wickets to finish it all off.

No fucking chance. Why would we possibly want to give Australia any chance. We want to keep them in the field all day, knacker them out mentally and physically. Don't give them a rest for the last hour and a half. We have to set the tone now for the next passage in world cricket - don't give Austalia anything.

Perhaps give them 10 overs in the end just to piss them off. That's it though.

If we haven't been bowled out, we should declare at the point where they need to get a 6 off of pretty much every ball, lets say they need 30 an over. I don't think they'll quite manage it.

If we stay in, we should decalre with 1 over to go?

Would the aussies still have to bat it?

If Vaughan were to suggest declaring to Harmy, Hoggard and Freddie I'd know exactly what they'd say. It's two words, the second of which is 'off'.

Edit: Having said that, if/when we lose a wicket Hoggard and Harmison might not fancy facing the new ball and would rather be bowling with one.

I imagine we'll keep going until KP's out.

how much longer we got? do i have time to nip out to buy a paper?

KP gone for 158.

Hopefully Gilo will get a 50 - he deserves it

All out for 335.

Warne takes 6; he's bowled like a God in this series.

Officially over - England have won the Ashes!! :beers:

 Its an interesting fact that the King of Spain and Freddie both got to all rounder status....1000 runs and 100 wickets in the same number of tests.

 I'm fucking drained by the events of the last few days and particularly today.....so can't imagine how it feels to play in something like this.

  :beers:   :beers:

:beers:  :beers:  :beers:  :beers:  :beers:  :beers:  :beers:  :beers:

GET IN!!

CHAmPIONES CHAMPIONES ARE WE ARE WE ARE WE!

Yes very good.

To be honest Ive watched a good deal of it and im not overly excited that weve won which is a shame.

Anyway good show etc etc.

This is bigger than the Rugby World Cup Yeovil!

I'm liking your avatar KT.

which equally I didnt give a fuck about. :|

You can stick the Rugby WC up your arse this is 100 times better. :D

Great to win the ashes, victory was secured by me betting on Australia.

I thought the crowd were a bit quiet to be honest but I guess that's cricket.

Can you imagine the reaction if we'd just won the world cup or the european cup? Would be mental. This is why football is better.

With the rugby world cup, the ashes and one of the best football teams in the world England are great at anything, I'm very proud to be English.

One of the best football teams in the world?  :oops:

Me too, just did a quick search on Google Images and it was the 3rd pic to come up!

Yeah England are one of the best football teams in the world, the fifa rankings confirm it and aside from maybe Brazil who have their weaknesses no teams can really claim to have a better squad.

Look at the reaction to the first test on here http://thetownend.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4700&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60, everyone was moaning about how shit England's cricket team were but we ended up beating the best team in the world.:D

The football team are capable of doing the same.

Capable yes I agree, wish we would start playing like superstars on the pitch! Aren't the USA in the top 10 of the Fifa rankings? I wouldn't say they are one of the best teams in the world.  :roll:

Yeah the rankings have their problems. I think that's because the way they do it, winning a qualification group in the American section is nearly as good as winning one in Europe 'cos they only compare the top 5 teams in each continent which is stupid really as Europe has far more strength in depth. USA aren't a bad team though.

England are certainly deserving of their top 10 place, probably should be higher really. Call them a bunch of prima donnas if you like but I'd love us to win the world cup

well i got home from work to see the ending, had a meeting 3 till 4....so missed the best parts

Cracking innings from KP and of course Giles deserves a mention....

You and me both!  :beers:

just to say, if it hasn't been said! i think ashley giles deserves alot of credit to for his 50 to help us put the score beyond the aussies!

 La di da, aren't you the high flying young go getter.

 Lets do lunch.