# The Ashes 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 4, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898 "2009-07-04T15:41:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/81 "2009-07-16T12:45:38Z")
Dead pitch, and Australia bowling poorly so far. Our batsmen really need to make this count in order to put some pressure on the Australian batsmen. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/82 "2009-07-16T13:20:11Z")
Hauritz dislocating or breaking the middle finger on his bowling hand could completely screw Australia; with only three seamers, and only one of them bowling particularly well, their bowling options suddenly look very limited indeed. Looked like it hurt horrifically, too; poor guy. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/83 "2009-07-16T13:55:50Z")
Marcus North isn’t particularly a like-for-like replacement for Hauritz, is he? Cook just short of his century, but England still looking good at 196/1. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/84 "2009-07-16T14:26:38Z")
Two down, and something of a comeback; hope England don’t lose their heads here, they’re still totally in the driving seat. Johnson did not deserve that wicket, and indeed didn’t even celebrate it. Hilfenhaus most certainly deserved his, though, and Australia are making Bopara look rather less than a Test no. 3. Never mind Hauritz, is North really a better bowler than Clarke, or even Katich? I suspect not. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/85 "2009-07-16T16:14:14Z")
England chucking it away here. KP batted like a tit, Collingwood played a shot he probably learnt off Ravi, and now Johnson’s got another undeserved wicket. Much like Cardiff, we’re not going to get the total the pitch demands, and if Australia bat til Sunday we’ll be saving the Test again. Humph. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/86 "2009-07-16T16:14:48Z")
Well, Clarke’s been given a go, and Colly immediately gets himself out to him, the clot. Strauss none too pleased. Ack! And as I write, Prior goes. Australia well back into it now at 317-5. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/87 "2009-07-16T16:31:46Z")
The Nelsons are striking pretty hard today…Bopara fell at 222, now Flintoff at 333. At this rate we’re not going to see if 444 strikes. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/88 "2009-07-16T16:32:43Z")
Fred gone, and now Australia are in the driving seat, you’d say. This was a 550+ pitch, and Andrew Strauss looks like a man beset by imbeciles. How do you collapse on a pitch this flat? Proper ingenuity. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/89 "2009-07-16T16:37:24Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > The Nelsons are striking pretty hard today…Bopara fell at 222, now Flintoff at 333. At this rate we’re not going to see if 444 strikes. Heh. Ninja’d! Poor old [Shepherd](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Shepherd_(umpire)#Umpiring) would have had the serious fidgets today. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/90 "2009-07-16T17:13:51Z")
…And Strauss finishes the day on exactly 5000 international runs. Would help a lot if he can improve on his personal best tomorrow, and also if Broad can continue with his impressive-for-a-bowler batting average of 30. Still, from nearly 200 for none to 364-6 represents a good fightback by Australia and emphasises, once again, that it ain’t over till it’s over. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/91 "2009-07-16T17:19:43Z")
Looks to me like the pitch is pretty flat. I’m going to predict England will be bowled out for about 430-odd, which Australia will respond to with some massive total like 674 for about six down, then England will struggle to hold out for a draw. Then the Australian captain will complain about time wasting and a crucial cog in the England machine will announce his imminent retirement. Who’s with me on this? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/92 "2009-07-16T18:34:29Z")
England’s tail needs to wag again, remember that the best day to bat is traditionally the second day. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/93 "2009-07-16T19:16:00Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Looks to me like the pitch is pretty flat. I’m going to predict England will be bowled out for about 430-odd, which Australia will respond to with some massive total like 674 for about six down, then England will struggle to hold out for a draw. Then the Australian captain will complain about time wasting and a crucial cog in the England machine will announce his imminent retirement. Who’s with me on this? I’ve that’s going to be the pattern for the series, we won’t have much of a team left for the winter tour to South Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/94 "2009-07-17T10:04:29Z")
Strauss is out! - second ball of the day, and Hilfenhaus has him stumped. **Duke** , I feel that your prediction of 430 could be too high… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/95 "2009-07-17T10:26:19Z")
> [@Panurge](#): > > Strauss is out! - second ball of the day, and Hilfenhaus has him stumped. **Duke** , I feel that your prediction of 430 could be too high.. Well, “bowled”, that is. Then Swann gets a good one, then Broad helpfully drags one on, even 400 is highly doubtful now. What a waste from 190+ for none. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/96 "2009-07-17T10:27:50Z")
So much for digging in and getting to 450. At least the ball is swinging, could be interesting when Anderson and Onions have a bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/97 "2009-07-17T10:32:10Z")
Unbelievable. It scares me that the wicket has suddenly become venemous and Australia will get 200. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/98 "2009-07-17T10:33:22Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Well, “bowled”, that is. Then Swann gets a good one, then Broad helpfully drags one on, even 400 is highly doubtful now. What a waste from 190+ for none. :smack: Heh. :smack: Don’t know where that came from.. Anyway, things are not looking good for England this morning - I have trouble seeing them reach even 400. How long was it since England last beat Australia at Lord’s? Not going to happen this time either. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/99 "2009-07-17T10:43:06Z")
It’s a bit early for for the pessimism, lets see how England bowl and what the ball does. If it swings, Anderson in particular has the ability to do some real damage. I agree this innings has been a missed opportunity, but 400 is never a bad total. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898/100 "2009-07-17T10:43:53Z")
You can only imagine Anderson and Onions would far rather be bowling than batting at this point, especially while it’s still overcast, so presumably they’ll hit out at anything they can with the aim of getting the maximum runs in the minimum of time. If they go to lunch with 20 runs and 1 wicket a piece, they’ll have had a good morning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ashes-2009/501898.md?page=6)