Incidentally, did anyone see the article in Cricinfo?  Swann's grandmother ( I kid you not ) says she believes  that Swann has retired because the Australians ( or one of them anyway ) were nasty to him.

I agree, at the press conference yesterday he just looked like a spoiled child who had spat the dummy and was taking his ball and going home.

need we comment further?

Score 1/71 at Lunch.

After being sent in, England's performance is, I think, better than Australia would have liked. Obviously the biggest problem was to have missed Pietersen twice.  If he'd been dismissed, honours would have been clearly Australia's way. If Bresnan can hang in there, and he's not a mug with the bat, a good partnership would see Australia behinds the 8 Ball. Early wickets with the still very new ball are vital, or Clarke may rue his decision.

Australia in a bit of trouble. 9/164 at Stumps.

So far, we have seen a classic contest between two mediocre sides. The batting of both teams has been abysmal, with England marginally better. The top six for Australia, all of whom are chosen as batsmen whose job is to make runs, made 109 runs between them. By stumps on day 1 it was apparent that Clarke's decision to bowl had not worked, albeit not helped by dropped or missed catches off Pietersen in particular. An old saw, attributed to W G Grace is, "When you win the toss; bat. If in doubt, think about it, then bat. If in serious doubt, consult a colleague, then bat." There has to be a real, all-consuming reason to bowl first, and there wasn't one.
But then, look at the Australian dismissals. Warner - a cross bat poke at a ball he should have left alone; Watson - bog standard flat-footed drive outside off and caught behind the wicket as usual; Clarke - here are the stumps, I'll play no shot and you hit them; Smith - poor footwork and impatience; Bailey - again showed that he is not a batsman of Test class; Rogers - well played until a rush of blood. For the whole series so far, Australia has had two reliable players - Haddin and Johnson. This time, Haddin had no assistance in his mission to yet again rescue the innings. I felt very sorry for Johnson when he walked out to bat. He should have had two days rest after his excellent bowling display, but has been cruelly let down by his team mates. I would not like to see this Australian team facing a top quality England attack such as Trueman, Statham, Laker and Lock.

England should win from here.

So far, we have seen a classic contest between two mediocre sides. The batting of both teams has been abysmal, with England marginally better. The top six for Australia, all of whom are chosen as batsmen whose job is to make runs, made 109 runs between them. By stumps on day 1 it was apparent that Clarke's decision to bowl had not worked, albeit not helped by dropped or missed catches off Pietersen in particular. An old saw, attributed to W G Grace is, "When you win the toss; bat. If in doubt, think about it, then bat. If in serious doubt, consult a colleague, then bat." There has to be a real, all-consuming reason to bowl first, and there wasn't one.
But then, look at the Australian dismissals. Warner - a cross bat poke at a ball he should have left alone; Watson - bog standard flat-footed drive outside off and caught behind the wicket as usual; Clarke - here are the stumps, I'll play no shot and you hit them; Smith - poor footwork and impatience; Bailey - again showed that he is not a batsman of Test class; Rogers - well played until a rush of blood. For the whole series so far, Australia has had two reliable players - Haddin and Johnson. This time, Haddin had no assistance in his mission to yet again rescue the innings. I felt very sorry for Johnson when he walked out to bat. He should have had two days rest after his excellent bowling display, but has been cruelly let down by his team mates. I would not like to see this Australian team facing a top quality England attack such as Trueman, Statham, Laker and Lock.

England should win from here.

We are 9 down, not all out yet. If we can scratch out another 40-50 runs we won't be too far behind. If we can repeat the effort 2nd innings we'd chase down 300-350, which is very doable if Warner, Clarke and or Haddin can get a hundred.

If we can scratch out another 40-50 runs we won't be too far behind. If we can repeat the effort 2nd innings we'd chase down 300-350, which is very doable if Warner, Clarke and or Haddin can get a hundred.

Yeah - and if my auntie was built differently she'd be my uncle.

Game on...

Game on, indeed. Now England is doing its best to throw the game away.

Does either side really want to win this Test? Suicidal batting is a habit for both teams.

Australia should win it from here, Only need another 201 runs, We should do it in a canter, Yeah Yeah cricket is a funny game, But the pitch is still playing alright, it has just been stupid batting from the poms that have shown it up

Kind Regards

But the pitch is still playing alright, it has just been stupid batting from the poms that have shown it up

Very selective piece of observation I must say. The Australian batting was nothing to write home about. The only convincing innings in the whole game has been by Haddin.

Very selective piece of observation I must say. The Australian batting was nothing to write home about. The only convincing innings in the whole game has been by Haddin.

See, now you have put the moccas on Haddin when he comes in to bat. As everything has more or less gone the opposite to what you predict, the Australian top order should do well, but Haddin will fail. Today will tell the story.

See, now you have put the moccas on Haddin when he comes in to bat. As everything has more or less gone the opposite to what you predict, the Australian top order should do well, but Haddin will fail. Today will tell the story.

If you read carefully, you will see that I have not predicted anything. After the Australian first innings, I said that England should win. That statement remains, because England was firmly in the driving seat. That they have now done their best to chuck it away is just crazy. After 60 years of following and playing cricket, I'm not dumb enough to say that such and such will happen.

If you read carefully, you will see that I have not predicted anything. After the Australian first innings, I said that England should win. That statement remains, because England was firmly in the driving seat. That they have now done their best to chuck it away is just crazy. After 60 years of following and playing cricket, I'm not dumb enough to say that such and such will happen.

I liked the viewer poll 'Should Australia put the Champagne on ice?'. And Dreary Healy said, 'Ooh, no, this could still go bad for Australia.'

Then Bill Lawrie said: 'If I was in the bottom order, I'd be getting stuck into it already'.

I agree with Bill, but sadly I am not allowed to get 'stuck into it'.

Cook has demonstrated again this morning why he should be replaced as Captain, not even vaguely in control of the team and making awful decisions.

I had a bit of a laugh too Blacksmith when thst viewer poll came up on the screen, I agree with what Bill said about the lower order getting stick into the Champagne now.
Great to see Rogers and Watson bring up their 100 and 50 with boundaries.
Shane Warne is correct in saying that Australia have been gifted with some deplorable English captaincy and fielding.

Rogers out for 116  (Edited my Oops)
Aus 2/200  
31 runs to get

Watson out for 116  
Aus 2/200  
31 runs to get

Fatty is still batting on my TV screen (and on the ABC radio coverage)

Fatty is still batting on my TV screen (and on the ABC radio coverage)

Thanks, my Oops, above post eddy ted!

I was going to say I was on the bubbly early, but I don't drink the stuff {I've seen how they make it!!}

4 runs for victory.

4 runs for victory.

3 ................   2....... NONE!!!!!!


4 zip

Victory for Australia, They have won by 8 Wickets, An atrocious game for England, With atrocious cricket

At last we saw some Test quality batting. Until this innings, this match has featured some of the worst batting I've ever seen on a good pitch. England had the game by the throat after Australia's first innings, and proceeded to put up one of the greatest failures in Ashes cricket. Fair dinkum, if this wasn't an Australia v England game, people would be screaming about match fixing.

Did anyone see Piers Morgan get bowled to by Brett Lee in the nets on Friday?,  Sir Richard Hadlee has written a piece condemning Brett Lee for his actions - http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2013/12/29/richard-hadlee-blast-brett-lee-for-piers-morgan-stunt- I must say I find it rather amusing from Sir Richard, when Piers Morgan wanted it to begin with, and as for the statement suggesting that Lee should be reprimanded for his actions, Sir Richard doesn't have a leg to stand on!

Kind Regards

If you read carefully, you will see that I have not predicted anything. After the Australian first innings, I said that England should win. That statement remains, because England was firmly in the driving seat. That they have now done their best to chuck it away is just crazy. After 60 years of following and playing cricket, I'm not dumb enough to say that such and such will happen.

Even with a 50 run lead, the game was 50/50. England are in such pathetic form they can't win from any situation.