So who's staying up tonight?

[scaryjim]

ZOMFG!!! When did we get good? If we lose from here we need to hand back the Ashes now.

What chance we get a swash-buckling one session ton from KP, set them ~ 240 in 55 overs, and give ourselves a chance of wining? Or is Strauss too much of a captain cautiousto signal an all out offensive?

[nibbler]

My money is on a draw, metaphorically of coursse.
Still, that sets the tone and shows the Aussies that now we're over the tentativeness and nerves, we won't be taking it lying down. Did you hear John Mcririck at lunch on TMS? Inflamatory comments

[kopite]

Wow!
last night was my first night off after nights so I slept right through and they put in a performance like that. I`m gonna sleep through every other night now

My previous post was more out of hope than expectation about our batters doing well but that looks like it was an awesome night

[scaryjim]

no, I was sound asleep. I keep thinking about staying up to listen for a bit, but the wife wouldn't like it Might listen to the catch up on iplayer later...

[nibbler]

I heard Strauss get his ton then drifted off after that, it's great having my pure radio with sleep function. Sorry Jim but I draw the line at listening to radio commentary of cricket when it's not live

[kopite]

WOW just wow

Thats why I love cricket from excitement at the start, slight worry after the first day, Depression after the second day, third day felt like the world was falling apart and then day 4 and 5 was a master class in batting from our first 3

I cant think of another sport where a draw can be so humiliating to one team as that was and to make things better Ponting`s catch given as inconclusive

[scaryjim]

Was a bit special, although to ask the world getting Punter out second time around would've been even better. It does look distinctly like the pitch turned into a road after a day and a half though.

Still, encouraging signs for England all over the place, including how quickly we mopped up their tail after the Hussey / Haddin partnership, particularly given how decent the pitch obviously was by that point. I guess the only real worries are over Swann's bowling, which stats-wise at least doesn't look too special, and the first innings batting performance, which was hopefully nerves and won't happen again this tour!

And only a few days until the next one starts Not sure I can take another 4 of those though (although as Mr Dirs pointed out on the BBC text commentary, 5 draws would do England very nicely )

[nibbler]

Yup, looking forward to the next game. Once my cousin is back from uni (on the 4th) I can go watch it at his house

[scaryjim]

Well, here we go again folks Midnight start: four years ago Collingwood hit a double ton and England declared on 551-6, then collapsed to 129 all out (Collingwood not out for 22 off 119 balls!) in the second innings handing the Aussies a 6 wicket victory.

Historical positives? Well, as well as Colly's double ton and Pietersen's 158, Hoggy took 7 in the first AUS innings, and I reckon Anderson now is easily as good as Hoggy in his prime (and as a Yorkshireman it hurts me to say that ). So perhaps we can sneak this one if we play well

[Steve A]

Hmmm, very good start 245 all out, Anderson bowled superbly ...

Hopefully the batsmen can get us a good lead ...

[scaryjim]

Yup, wish I'd stayed up. I have a friend who listened to the first hour then the last session (sleeping in between) and got 8 of the wickets that fell, that way! Lucky bugger...

[nibbler]

Hoggard's figures were 7-109 iirc. Was a great spell. Why did he ever get dropped :S

[scaryjim]

There was a feeling that he had lost some zip and I think the selectors were looking for an excuse to drop him so they could get Broad and Anderson into the team together, tbh.

Those 7 in Adelaide were more than half his wickets for the entire Ashes tour (he took just 6 in all the other matches combined). The following summer he was injured in the first test against WI, giving Sidebottom and Harmison a chance to shine: came back into the final test without being spectacular, had a good first test against SL in Kandy but then was comprehensively outbowled (again) by Sidebottom, and to a lesser extent Harmison, in the next 2 tests (SL in Galle, NZ in Hamilton). Out went Hoggard and Harmy, in came Anderson and Broad. The rest is basically history.

That said, it was definitely harsh on Hoggy. In 2007 he took 32 wickets at 20 a piece in 10 county championship matches, and in 2008 he took 42 @ 25 in 13 matches. 2009 was a less good season: 43 @ 34 in 15 matches. Then he moved to Leicestershire and I stopped caring

I think the reason Hoggy didn't get a chance to come back is because England produces a lot of conventional swing bowlers. Once you've got Sidebottom and Anderson bowling well, and lots of country swing bowlers having good seasons it's hard to see a way to bring Hoggy back into the set up.

[nibbler]

I've never liked Sidebottom too much, and Hoggard is just such a consistent bowler that for me he deserved a bit more from England after all he has done. Do I sense a fellow Cricket stats enthusiast here? I bet you've got/read the cricinfo stats books

[scaryjim]

No, no stats books. Why have stats books when they're at your fingertips online anyway I do like my stats though (all part of the my natural geekery) - I did a lovely little post on the BBC 4 years using the stats to show why we should have been playing Monty *and* Gilo in the Ashes (with Anderson the one to miss out).

Have to say I've always rated Sidebottom, and I'm very happy to see him back at Headingley, particularly since his international retirement means we should have him available for the whole season Given how well we batted last season (although losing Jaques Rudolph is a big blow in the department) I reckon we've got a really good chance this year...

[nibbler]

I have no county to support really, but I like somerset purely because tresco is a hero. The stats book is decent, but the fact that it's out of date about a week after you buy it is a bit annoying!
Managed to find the highlights online.