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ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

• ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

• ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  StrumSolo > 20/11/2013, 19:49

  The (short) wait is almost over. At midnight tonight, Australia and England will step out in to the Gabba and begin the most eagerly anticipated test series since the summer's eagerly anticipated test series in dear old Blighty.
  
  If England can retain the urn, it'll be only the third time they've won consecutive series' Down Under, and also just the second time they've held it for four in a row. They're firm favourites to do so, but it's hard to imagine the Aussies surrendering as meekly as they last time out.
  
  Matt Prior is still touch and go for the tourists, so Jonny Bairstow could deputise if his calf injury hasn't fully cleared up. The only other selection dilemma centres around the identity of the third paceman, with Rankin, Finn and Tremlett all vying for one spot.
  
  Mitchell Johnson's only played four tests for the Aussies since being pulled apart by England in 2010-11 so his selection smacks of either cruelty or desperation. Take your pick.
  
  Teams:
  
  Australia (from): Michael Clarke (captain), Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin (vice-captain, wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.
  England (from): Alastair Cook (capt), Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior (vice-captain, wk), Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin, Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Monty Panesar.
  
  Predictions please gents.
  
  Image Source

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  StrumSolo > 21/11/2013, 11:12

  So they went for Tremlett in the end, and Prior was passed fit. The Aussies, meanwhile, handed a debut to batsman George Bailey.
  
  The teams:
  Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon
  England: Alastair Cook (captain), Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett
  
  The Aussies won the toss and opted to go first on a pitch that certainly looked to favour the batsmen. It didn't quite work out that way though, England's bowling attack had the measure of the upper order, reducing the home side to 132-6 at one stage. Michael Clarke had a particularly torrid time with Broad taking advantage of his dodgy back, playing him some chin music and eventually dismissing him for just one run.
  
  Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson rallied in the afternoon, putting on a face-saving seventh wicket stand of 114, which helped their team to a score of 273-8 at the close of play. Though judging by the pitch that looks well below par, and England will fancy their chances of building a big total over the next couple of days.
  
  Man of the day was undoubtedly Stuart Broad, silencing the crowd, as well as the Brisbane Courier Mail with figures of 5-65. Anderson took 2 for 61 with Tremlett taking the other at the expense of 51 runs.
  
  Everyone happy with that then? We've had worse first days Down Under...

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  carl1984 > 21/11/2013, 15:32

  I think if England play smart for the first 25 overs of their innings they can make a big score on this pitch, Haddin is fast becoming the batsmen that England can't get rid of, another good knock by him. Credit to Broad for just getting on with his job and not playing up to the crowd or anything like that

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  willis52 > 21/11/2013, 19:50

  Good start from England and Stuart Broad in particular. Assuming we can finish this innings off with relative ease and keep them to around the 300 mark we'll be in a strong position coming in to bat.
  
  I hope Carberry gets off to a good start and gets some run under his belt to ease any nerves. I definitely prefer to have a natural opener and having Root bat a bit further down the order.

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  carl1984 > 21/11/2013, 20:42

  The most pleasing moments for me were Stephen Smith, Michael Clarke and most of all David Warner getting out, they are my least favourite Aussie cricketers. Smith is just a nothing person who irritates me as he has a face I'd like to slap, Michael Clarke is an arse and his double standards over discipline is a clear indication of the favouritism he shows in the dressing room. And then there is Warner, what an arrogant piece of work he is and the thing is that he's achieved nothing in cricket to justify his arrogance. Just a complete bell

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  StrumSolo > 22/11/2013, 11:18

  What the bloody hell happened there?
  
  England took the last 2 wickets at the start of the day for just 22 runs, leaving Australia 295 all out. Which looked like a well below par score for this pitch...
  
  Bit of dodgy start for the tourists, 82-2, not great, not disastrous. Then we lose 6 wickets for 9 runs in 10 overs, eventually limping home 136 all out. A 40 from Carberry and 32 for Broad the only scores even approaching respectable.
  
  Australia 65-0 after 22 overs at the start of their second innings.
  
  Fucked it.

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  carl1984 > 22/11/2013, 11:24

  Shit performance by England today, the rash of wickets was alarming and not just that it was worrying that Lyon got 3 wickets with a newish ball on day 2 pitch, just technically inept. Hard to see England digging themselves out of this one

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  RussyRover > 22/11/2013, 12:03

  That's why you have to wait for both teams to have a go to see if it was the pitch or the team, and England showed it was not the team that got Australia out cheaply, unless of course you just put it down to them both being shit..
  I can't see them playing out for a draw with 3 days left so someone is going 1-0 up and at this moment it looks like the home side...

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  Hilary Briss > 22/11/2013, 12:14

  To be honest England have not batted well for some time. Bell won the ashes in the summer after rescuing England 3 times.
  
  On two occasions in the summer tests England were 30 - 3 after half an hour. They batted very poorly, were rescued by Bell, and got some very pivotal decisions. This was bound to happen eventually.
  
  They need to dig in and make a game of it or the crims will start thinking they can actually win the Ashes.

• RE: ASHES FIRST TEST: BRISBANE

  StrumSolo > 22/11/2013, 12:30

  Not posted 400+ since NZ in March apparently, 17 innings ago.
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