One of the worst in terms of quality and excitement in my memory. Poor Choice of venue with Durham leaving Edgbaston and Headingly where you can get an hostile place for an Aussie. Batted poorly as a team and apart from Root and Bell in 1 seperate innings each its been poor. And Australia must be useless as England to me have been poor but are going to retain the urn.
There was nothing exciting about losing 5-0 in Australia a few years ago ....... First test was full of excitement and was decided with 11 balls to spare. Second test we absolutely murdered them. Third test would have been exciting (for an Australian) if we hadn't had the rain. And going in to the fourth day tomorrow either side could still win.
Bell has 3 hundreds. Which 2 of those weren't good innings? Pietersen has a hundred - not a good innings? Don't really understand where you're coming from.
People were making coments like this in 81', demanding Botham be dropped and Willis was past it...we lookback on it now and it seems outrageous...we will win the Ashes, JOB DONE.
Been today and just seemed dull with no atmosphere, give me Headingley or Edgbaston anyday. We've battered poorly as a whole, too many cheap wickets. Agree, Bell has done well today though.
The first test was fantastic, the second test was great from an English perspective, the third test could have retained the competitive edge to the series had the British weather not ruined it. It's not the greatest series ever but it's far from being one of the worst.
I've only listened to TMS and watched the C5 highlights but I've really enjoyed it. I think we can agree that some of Bell's shots today were sublime, in particular those beautifully timed cuts. The cricket is one of the things that genuinely makes me pine for England during the summer.
I'm just curious as to why one of Bell's other hundreds in the series, and Pietersen's hundred at Old Trafford, were not good innings?
Western Terrace aside I think Durham is just as good as Yorkshire for test cricket. Having been there a couple of times I love that even though it's a distance from here miles wise, it doesn't take that much longer than to get to Headingley due to how much easier the ground is to get to. Parking at Durham is much easier as well with the pay and display car park across the road. The surrounding area is better with the castle. Also it's not 5.80 for an half pound cheeseburger on it's own like Headingley rip you off with.
I don't watch cricket but I sometimes hear bits on the radio in the car...on the short drive to the shop earlier they were on about "night watchmen", what the chuff is/are night watchmen?
When it's coming towards the end of a days play the batting team usually bring out at the loss of a wicket a bowler to bat instead of a specialist batter. His job is to protect the genuine batter at the other end.
Went to the first day at OT and enjoyed it - great batting performance from Clarke and a good laugh with the Aussies. We've done what we needed to do against a poor Australian team - batting has not really got going and Anderson looks lost the last two games. Ashes retained which is what wanted - will be a different prospect over there