The Ashes 2013/2014

Well it's here chaps.
Once again we do battle with the old enemy.
How are you calling it?

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Looking good...

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Broady lad... Gan on...

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Five wickets from a fired-up Stuart Broad gave England the upper hand as Australia struggled to 273-8 on a seesaw opening day of the Ashes.
The home side had been reduced to 132-6 in the middle of the afternoon before a seventh-wicket partnership of 114 between Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson dragged them back into the contest.
But Broad, who had taken every one of the first four wickets to fall, returned with the second new ball to dismiss the aggressive Johnson for 64 to end the day with figures of 5-65 from his 20 overs.
James Anderson chipped in with two wickets in a typically probing display and Chris Tremlett with one as Australia failed to cash in on a pitch offering minimal assistance to the bowlers.
Only Haddin, unbeaten on 78, Johnson and, earlier, David Warner (49) had made the most of the benign conditions.
Having lost the toss on a searing Brisbane morning England will be delighted to go into the second day in such a strong position.
Their bowling was tight and their catching faultless as Australia lost four wickets for 29 runs either side of lunch to cede the advantage they had established in the first hour and a half.
Broad, set up as the villain by the local media in the phoney war before the series, was booed as he took the ball for his opening over and cheered wildly when he delivered a no-ball first up that Warner pulled for four.
But he silenced the boisterous Gabba crowd when he had Chris Rogers caught at gully off one that climbed off the pitch, and after Warner and Shane Watson had settled in with relative comfort for the next hour, then had Watson (22) caught at second slip by Swann as he hung his bat out to a delivery he should have left.
Lunch provided the sole respite for the beleaguered home side, so bullish in the build-up but fragile once again as soon as pressure was applied.
Skipper Michael Clarke went in Broad's first over after the interval, fending a short one to Ian Bell at short leg for just one to reduce his side to 73-3, and Warner handed Broad his fourth when he slapped another short one straight to Kevin Pietersen at extra cover to fall one short of his half-century.
Broad, understandably, was relishing every second, and when Anderson foxed debutant George Bailey with a delivery that moved away enough to take the edge for three Australia were in danger of collapsing completely, just as they did repeatedly in the corresponding series in England last summer.
Steve Smith flourished briefly with his customary aggression, rattling along to 31 before he became Tremlett's first Test scalp since July 2011 when he edged into Alastair Cook's midriff at first slip.
Three years ago England had reduced Australia to 143-5 here in Brisbane, only for the home side to recover to 481 and take a substantial first innings lead.
On that occasion a Haddin century had done much to repair the early damage, and it was the wicketkeeper - in his 50th Test - who once again began to bolster the fightback in alliance with the recalled Johnson.
At first slowly, and then with increasing ease against the old ball, Haddin and Johnson dragged Australia away from the abyss and towards a competitive total.
Haddin went to his half-century off exactly 100 balls with a single off Root, and Johnson joined him with the help of a pair of lofted sixes off Swann as the partnership went past 100.
Runs came quickly, and it was a relief to England when Broad found an inswinger to the left-handed Johnson to clean bowl him.
Anderson then induced a nick from Siddle (7) as the shadows lengthened to leave England with the advantage going into Friday's second day.
Catch up with a two-minute summary of Test Match Special commentary with Pint Sized Ashes.

 

The above from the bbc.

 

Pity about the Haddin / Johnson partnership, I seem to remember they did something similar when they played at Durham.

Rogers c Bell b Broad 1
Warner c Pietersen b Broad 49
Watson c Swann b Broad 22
Clarke c Bell b Broad 1
Smith c Cook b Tremlett 31
Bailey c Cook b Anderson 3
Haddin not out 78
Johnson b Broad 64
Siddle c Cook b Anderson 7
Harris not out 4
Extras 1nb 1w 11lb 13
Total for 8 273

 

Yes Rogers and Watson got them out of a hole, though England still won, thanks to the bowling of Broad, hope that's an omen.

 

England well positioned think we will score 500 and then bowl them out cheaply. Will win the series 2-1.

 

Ably assisted by Anderson, Bresnan and Swann.


Anderson 25.0 8 65 2
Broad 24.3 7 71 5
Bresnan 19.0 3 63 1
Swann 18.0 5 48 2

 

Very true, Broad also took 6 wickets in the 2nd innings.

 

Great start. I'm now knackered though.

If we win here, it could be a long series for the Aussies. This is traditionally their best ground. Nothing has changed from the summer, they just have a poor batting line up. Our better batsmen tend to fair a bit better out here than at home. If Cook, Trott, Prior have a better series, we should muller them really. Could see Root liking the bounce there too as a back foot player. Never that simple but I just don't think the Aussies have the personnel now.

Loving Broady ramming it back up them. Had the Courier under his arm when he did the end of day press conference Probably the worst player to get on the back of, as he is aggressive by nature and is at his best when fired up. These wickets suit him well. Tremmers concerns me, he seems to have lost that nip. I still think Onions should have been there either as an extra option or instead of him, Rankin or Finn. The good thing about Tremmers is he does give you some control. I wouldn't play Finn until he gets that in his game. Bres will obviously be a good option once fit.

 

Yes I was there, I saw it.

 

Did you go any of the other days, remember Harris got 7 or 8 wickets in our 2nd innings, for me their best bowler.

 

Was there every day.

 

Nice one, thought Day 3 and 4 were brilliant to watch, had tickets for day 5.

 

Well this is a piss poor effort. Bounced out, didn't even get after Lyons. Seriously in the ****e now. Boooooooo!

Thought it might be a long summer for them if we started well today. 82-2 to 91-8, its like the 90's again. We need to make a fight of this. One thing for sure, the curators will be doing their best to get pace in the wickets.

 

We are in for a helluva battle to save this test. It'll need to flatten like last time.

 

We are doomed and will sell all of our best cricketers

 

Well that was damned unsporting of them employing tactics every Australian team has ever implemented at the Gabba... We never saw it coming!

I reckon we'll get a draw. We've been in this situation countless times over the past few years and know how to play dull Cricket to get us through. Australia will be wary of us not being as awful in the second innings and will thus bat too long, at which point we'll have 11 Boycott's blocking til the end.

 

I like your positivity but we'll need the pitch to deaden. I suggest we get Beefy to get really pissed and run the heavy roller over it all night in a drunken frenzy. We were clueless against the short ball. They have Trotty's weakness. Its a **** one too, leg side bouncers. Just fecking leave it! How long before the Sun start referring to his South African heritage in every piece? Who'd have believed Mitchell Johnson would be our problem. Mind with KP's 100th test he will want to do something special. Did you see the fan get him today, pretty funny to be fair. Pint in hand, called him over to the boundary to sign a mini bat, only to pull away and laugh in his face when he went to oblige. Schoolboy error. Strauss couldn't hide his appreciation of the gag on commentary.