[gonzo]

Originally Posted by ferocious

Did you forget your camera ?

Didn't bring one mate, don't have a long enough lens to do it justice. Besides, keeps my hands free for the Stowford Press

[Frankie]

Well the Convicts need 412 runs to win, in 2 days, on a wicket that is starting to deteriorate and showing signs of variable bounce. Could get very difficult by tomorrow afternoon. Always think it’s a massive psychological advantage when a side has to score more runs in their Second Innings than they achieved in their First. It’s England in the driving seat now.

Thought the coverage was good on Sky especially with Ricky Ponting (cunt) being the Tourist teams commentator. He gave some great insights and excellent analysis.

[gonzo]

Just started raining in Cardiff, be interesting to see the difference it makes to the pitch tomorrow as it was looking dust bowl dry this afternoon.

[bazzap]

The Ashes puzzle explained


Ever wondered why we are having 3 Ashes series within 2 years? I did and asked everybody I talked to about cricket but nobody knew the answer.

Now I do and here it is.



Historically Ashes series are held 4 years apart in each country

In England in the last 20 years, this was 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009 & 2013

These were followed in Australia about 14 months later with the First Test starting in November usually in Brisbane. 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 & 2010.

All was going well until when the 2014 series was due in Australia. Australia was awarded the World Cup for early 2015. That made it near impossible to schedule in a 5 match Test series before the World Cup so the powers that be brought it forward one year to November 2013.

November 2013 became the new benchmark and future tours to Australia will be held in 2017,2021 etc etc

With the benchmark now set, the Ashes series in England should have been started about 16 months beforehand. The problem is that means the next English Ashes series would have been held starting July 2016 clashing with European Football Championships, Olympics etc. As the cricket authorities did not want that clash, they brought the Ashes series in England forward a year.

Thus we are playing cricket right now and 2015 is the new benchmark for English Ashes series. Future England series will be held in 2019, 2023 etc etc




Clear as mud I know but I think I understand it.

[WankingWodger]

More like there are very few test matches that make money now so they've added more in and if they're not careful they will kill it off , used to be great waiting for 4 years for revenge as there was the W.Indies , India, Pakistan etc and some good cricket but now it seems 1 day rules the roost

[WankingWodger]

Aussies doing an England this afternoon

[ferocious]

I think the IPL big bash etc have made the test format less appealing look at the w indies when they played us couple month back half their team was in India earning big bucks

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by ferocious

I think the IPL big bash etc have made the test format less appealing look at the w indies when they played us couple month back half their team was in India earning big bucks

I think it would be better to schedule Test Match cricket so that it avoids the period during which the IPL is played. Obviously players want to be in the IPL as that’s were the big bucks are. Mind you the IPL seems to drag on forever, I sometimes watch some of the early games but never retain enough interest to last until the final. It all gets very bland and repetitive.

Anyway what happened to the Aussies at Cardiff? A close game that England won by 169 runs. Jobs a good un!

[bazzap]

We got flogged, Frankie. Life here with Captain Jack, Mirkwood, Hammer etc will be bad for a few days. Until the Lords Test anyway.

Hope they get rid of that Queenslander Watson who gets out lbw and wastes reviews all the time.

[WankingWodger]

Starc injured, Johnson can't do it on English pitches so it needs one of the others to step up to the plate at Lords.