It's The Ashes!

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

I'm astounded they didn't pick Panesar yet again.

Why? The English are racists. It's fine for Monty to be the sports hero of the summer (in order to show how multicultural and enlightened England is), but to actually let a brown man represent England in the Ashes is beyond the pale...

Ten points for the "Beyond the pale" reference.

[Solly]

Fewer than 500 to get now..9 wickets remaining.

[Maquiladora]

England always do this, it wont last long.

Expect Jones to make a century too now hes all but dropped.

[trev]

Australia declared well before it was necessary and desirable, another 100 runs could have been scored and still left heaps of time to get England out.
With score now 1/160 approx, there is a chance Australia will pay a price for its early declaration, small at present, but giving them any chance was unnecessary.

[Solly]

Current match odds?

[Maquiladora]

Home 1/8, Draw 7/1, Away 9/1.

[Solly]

Lay the draw

[trev]

Wicket to Australia, so Englands chances have halved to 18/1

[Maquiladora]

11/1 England now.

[Solly]

Steve Harmison: "Mr T, I've no Ashes"

[Maquiladora]

Jones run out for 0

What a sad attempt that was. It may actually be better for us to lose 5-0 now.

[Frozzy]

Sad yes, but some fine individual performances none the less. Some people didnt deserve to lose out there

Ian Bell was desperately unlucky not to make 100.
We witnessed the making of Alastair Cook, who frankly played a heroic innings given the arduous conditions out there, and at such a young age.
Kevin Pietersen frankly has been the only consistently decent player for England this series, and his battles with Warne have been fascinating to watch.

Oh, and I doubt we'll ever see Geraint Jones again.

[Tim_Augustus]

Originally posted by Frozzy
Sad yes, but some fine individual performances none the less. Some people didnt deserve to lose out there

Ian Bell was desperately unlucky not to make 100.
We witnessed the making of Alastair Cook, who frankly played a heroic innings given the arduous conditions out there, and at such a young age.
Kevin Pietersen frankly has been the only consistently decent player for England this series, and his battles with Warne have been fascinating to watch.

Oh, and I doubt we'll ever see Geraint Jones again.

Certainly not in this series

I'm not sure why they've persisted with him this far to be honest. It's been quite obvious from the start of the tour that he's in **** form with the gloves and the bat... And as I understand it he was mainly selected as a "batting keeper" - a touch of Gilly-jealousy I think

[Joe Kick Ass]

Originally posted by Tim_Augustus
I'm not sure why they've persisted with him this far to be honest.

'Cos GoJo picks the team...

[Maquiladora]

Theres no wicket keeper good enough to be picked soley on their keeping.