The cricket...

[Von Broad]

Imagine what it feels like for Archer, Broad and Woakes sitting there looking at this calamity!!!!
Goodness me.
The Aussies are bowling really well by the sounds of it....but for heavens sake, why are we so good at chucking wickets away?

I'm jealous of those folk cycling back to the ferry from PBP - nice trundle back, sunshine, stop for a beer and oblivious to this farce

[Nuncio]

And I have a ticket for Sunday. I've only ever been to one test match before and that was the first day. Odds on the game being over by cop Saturday?

I also have a ticket for the first day at the Oval, as insurance. Odds on rain?

[Greenbank]

And I have a ticket for Sunday. I've only ever been to one test match before and that was the first day. Odds on the game being over by cop Saturday?

You'd get quite long odds on it being done in 3 days.

This may not age very well.

[andyoxon]

Farewell to the little urn...

[spesh]

<checks score>

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarking hell...    

This doesn't come out too often, but I think the Picard ASCI-palm is called for:

                                         _________
                                 , -‘”                   ``~ ,
                          , -”                                   “- ,
                       ,/                                              ”:,
                  ,?                                                     \,
                  /                                                        ,}
                 /                                                    ,:`^` }
               /                                                  ,:”       /
             ?      __                                        :`       /
              /__ (     “~-,_                            ,:`          /
            /(_    ”~,_        “~,_                   ,:`        _/
          {  _$;_     ”=,_       “-,_      , -~-,},  ~”; /      }
          ((     *~_       ”=- _     “;,, /`    /”        /       /
            \`~,      “~ ,                    `     }              /
           (    `=-,,       `                        (      ;_,,-”
            / `~,      `-                               \    /\
            \`~ *-,                                    |, /     \,__
,,_          } >- _\                                   |              `=~-,
     `=~-,_\_      `\,                                 \
                   `=~-,, \,                               \
                                `:,,                           `\              __
                                     `=-,                   ,%`>--==``
                                        _\           _,-%        `

[PaulF]

At 66-9 the only positive is that Australia didn’t score enough runs to enforce a follow on.

[Jaded]

OK. Who was it that said we all need to play like Archer?

Archer 45-6
England 45-6...

[Jaded]

And I have a ticket for Sunday. I've only ever been to one test match before and that was the first day. Odds on the game being over by cop Saturday?

You'd get quite long odds on it being done in 3 days.

Oh, I’m not so sure...

Aus bat for the rest of the day then put us in tomorrow. All over by lunch.

[essexian]

OK. Who was it that said we all need to play like Archer?

Archer 45-6
England 45-6...

I am sure they thought you meant: "play like Geoffrey Archer....." 

[Peter]

This may well be the best thing that's happened to English Test cricket for years, win or lose.  It's time for a bloody clear out of the organisation and attitudes.  On a different tack, much as I'm amused by Geoff Boycott (I was once having physio in the same cubicle but that's another story) and generally think he speaks sense (he agrees with my first-mentioned sentiment) I must argue against his continued assertion that Root is England's best player and so should bat at number 4.  If he's England's best player, it's from a very poor bunch and he's nowhere near as good as Stokes to the team.  And even Stokes threw his wicket away.  Root is sadly back to his non-playing captain role.

I'm usually wrong, so am looking forward to Root's double hundred tomorrow!

[Von Broad]

It's only a game, get over it, don't take it all so seriously, who gives a flying etc , and all that stuff....etc

I understand that, but I can honestly say I can't remember being so psychologically deflated and affected by a sporting performance, specifically the national cricket team, for a long, long time......given the context of the first innings bowling performance and the whole series.

It was just so, so dreadful to listen too....

Still....the sun shines tomorrow

[Peter]

Yeah - Australian conditions..........!

Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments about what's actually significant and still being depressed!

[Von Broad]

On a different tack, much as I'm amused by Geoff Boycott (I was once having physio in the same cubicle but that's another story) and generally think he speaks sense (he agrees with my first-mentioned sentiment) I must argue against his continued assertion that Root is England's best player and so should bat at number 4.  If he's England's best player, it's from a very poor bunch and he's nowhere near as good as Stokes to the team.  And even Stokes threw his wicket away.  Root is sadly back to his non-playing captain role.

I feel a bit compelled to stick up for Root....a little.
Having taken on the No3 role through the absence of a 'natural' No3, he's being exposed to the new ball and fresh fast bowlers far too early in the innings, due to the failure of the openers, that he's almost operating as an opener....and he's most definitely not an opener.

Also the first delivery he got today from Hazlewood was a delivery any bowler would be jealous of - just such a brilliant ball. He has to play at it.

Scroll down a bit, if you haven't seen it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49451295

I wonder about his suitability as a captain more than anything.

[mattc]

And I have a ticket for Sunday. I've only ever been to one test match before and that was the first day. Odds on the game being over by cop Saturday?

You'd get quite long odds on it being done in 3 days.

Oh, I’m not so sure...

Aus bat for the rest of the day then put us in tomorrow. All over by lunch.

Yup. Or even put us in for the half-hour before close.

Either way, I reckon Nuncio should be looking for an australian fan to buy his ticket 

[Nuncio]

Any Australia fan want to buy a ticket?

[Von Broad]

On a slightly more light-hearted note....
TMS was talking about the time that Brian Johnston get his revenge on Aggers after Johnners completely lost it from with the 'leg over' comment on TMS. You know that one.

But I hadn't seen 'his revenge'. Brian Johnston arranged for Fred Truman and Jack Bannister to be interviewed by [a very much younger looking] Aggers about the dire state of fast bowling in England, it was due to be broadcast on Grandstand a bit later that day. He gets it towards the end.

It's The Fast Show before it's time.....Truman and Banister do a brilliant job of trying to be serious but taking the piss at the same time
Truman's desperate comment had me in stitches!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlQu9gSyWKA

[andyoxon]

I'm not going to say that they 'might do it'...

[spesh]

"Might" is doing a fair bit of heavy lifting there.

[Von Broad]

Keep the faith!

They've got the weather and the time. So no worries there.
The only thing England have to worry about is the Aussie bowlers[and they are bowling so well]....and themselves!

[robgul]

This may well be the best thing that's happened to English Test cricket for years, win or lose.  It's time for a bloody clear out of the organisation and attitudes.  On a different tack, much as I'm amused by Geoff Boycott (I was once having physio in the same cubicle but that's another story) and generally think he speaks sense (he agrees with my first-mentioned sentiment) I must argue against his continued assertion that Root is England's best player and so should bat at number 4.  If he's England's best player, it's from a very poor bunch and he's nowhere near as good as Stokes to the team.  And even Stokes threw his wicket away.  Root is sadly back to his non-playing captain role.

I'm usually wrong, so am looking forward to Root's double hundred tomorrow!

The way that Sir Geoffrey (as Brian Redhead used to refer to him) talks about Joe Root you'd think he was Boycott's love child!

Rob

[Von Broad]

Looks like I'll be tuning in tomorrow again now.
No other game can stretch out the agony like cricket.
It's the hope that keeps us coming back for more

[mattc]

Any Australia fan want to buy a ticket?

Strewth!

I'll give you £20 for it, cobber?

[Peter]

Looks like I'll be tuning in tomorrow again now.
No other game can stretch out the agony like cricket.
It's the hope that keeps us coming back for more

Absolutely!  Even if the Aussies roll us over before lunch, I'm feeling so much better - a bit of fight (and common sense) has been shown!

[spesh]

Looks like England are getting more from the new ball than Australia. 

[andyoxon]

Can I cope with listening to this afternoon's session?