Hmmm. 73-1 and Ponting rattling on. :o

You cant own the ashes, you can only be allowed to look after a replica.

I wouldnt have even dreamed of thinking that the Aussies were a walk over but, and i know its a big but, they look beat already, if they lose today they will be spending so much time worrying about the loss of form they may not be able to build them selves up for the REAL test.

The other point I would make is that its probably only the Australians that can provoke the type of attitude that goughy had in the 20/20.

Are you watching this game? Even following it on cricinfo? They don't look too beat to me! It takes more than 3 losses to make these boys drop their heads. They've dominated both forms of the game for over 10 years because of their impeccable mental approach - not because they lose their way mentally. I think you've got that wrong and you'll see that as the summer of cricket goes on.

I didn't mean owned literally, I meant in terms of the fact that they have been the holders of the ashes (well, the pathetic replica that we're actually allowed to have) for 16 years. They are private property still I believe, given to a former English captain by a Melbourne girl who caught his eye.

I asked the curator of the museum at Lords if he'd let me take them back when I was there, they were in the glass display case. Clearly it was a joke but the curator was the most arrogant, condescending ar$ehole about it. The home of arrogance in cricket is the MCC in my opinion.

I'm with you on this one Shaun!

I think a total of 266 might not be enough.

Australia are going to have bowl and field well to win this!

Amen to that!
Who cares!!!!:lol:

i was keeping tabs with it on line but since england started to bat (err try) I have been watching it and humility and humble pie maybe the order of the day. Something that most english fans can manage, because were used to having too ! Anyway at least it provoked an sensible debate instead of all that reality TV crap !

It's a text based forum so I don't know if you're having little digs at me or not, so I'll just let it go.

It's too early to pick form for the Ashes just as it's too early to say who is going to win the NatWest series. There's only been a handfull of games and you can't write a side like Australia off that easy. You might think it's arrogance but it's not - it's confidence. The confidence that winning the last two cricket world cups gives, the confidence that ending the year as the top ranked ODI side for however long they've managed it gives. That's all.

I didn't think that 266 would be enough but the Oz bowlers lifted their game and I think that the English batsman didn't play very well - as is evidenced by Darren Gough being getting the highest English score. I also thought that England looked poor in the field, lots of mistakes and in the previous games they were very sharp - no mistakes and that AWESOME catch that Collingwood got Hayden with, oustanding.

Long way to go yet - lets hope there's a lot of good cricket to come :D

How good was Goughy? What a star. Shame the 'batsmen' were crap.

Anyway, we'll beat Bangladesh in the final, and then take the Ashes too :P

:lol:

Oz are already above Bangladesh in the table courtesy of taking a bonus point tonight.

And the ashes .... care for a friendly wager :D

I've already got a pint on the outcome of the ashes with Phil.

Goughy was awesome at the crease - he was pulling Mcgrath and Lee to the boundary with ease when they dropped a bit short. Nice one. Good strike rate.

Did you just see the interview with Symonds for getting man of the match, he's just been fined for staying out on the p!$$ too long and receiving a two match ban and he's getting digs about the champagne! "I might give it to charity mate"

:lol: