The Ashes

[Xanthippe]

Oops - bye Freddie
c Haddin b Johnson 7

[simonno6]

you have to love broad and swann... great batting depth to have down the order.

[Darce]

England may rue the fact that they didn't pick Monty.

Lot of turn here if you bowl it on the money

[Darce]

How do you feel Aussie?

Hauritz must be feeling pretty smug in stands. What price a spinner now!

[simonno6]

you have to love broad and swann... great batting depth to have down the order.

and their bowling isnt half bad either!!!

[suisse]

you have to love broad and swann... great batting depth to have down the order.

and their bowling isnt half bad either!!!

Are you quoting yourself again?

[Oldschool]

Great idea to start this post.
A general comment on sports physcology, which cricket in particular shows.
Three of the english batmen are in poor form.
The Aussies, usually, are one of the best teams at "getting after" a player whose out of form.
The result is that the out of form players' confidence is damaged even further.

SO and this is almost a POLL question.

1. Should the selectors rest these players and allow them to regain their form at county/club level.
2. Should they keep picking them, based on reputation and hope they recover their form.

My own vote would be the - The policy used by the most successfull cricket nation, ie Australia.
Their policy - Pick your best 11 and then pick your captain sums it.

Separately - Will Australia make a better fight of it than England did in the last test? - You betcha.

Hours later - Looks like I got the last bit wrong.

[Danthefan]

England win the Ashes.

[baggo baggins]

They won well in the end. Some debut for Trott. Broad was good but they needed a big innings 2nd time out and he gave it to them. Bad weekend on the sports front for the aussies - beaten by the two teams they really love to hate.

[claire_m]

chuffed to bits that England won today. Woo-hoo!

Gutted the aussies couldn't have put up a better fight today though - I've got tickets for tomorrow. Still, I'm having a girl's lunch out, but it won't be the same.

[simonno6]

great stuff - catching up on all the highlights now but i was up until 9.30 am (new york time) listening to it on tms!

pity it was all over before the fifth day claire! Even if there had only been one wicket remaining, it still would have been amazing to see.