The Ashes

[NickDRFC]

So how do we rate England's chances? I don't think there's much between the teams, although if the Aussies were half as good at playing cricket as they are at talking we'd be staring down the barrel of a whitewash. I'm hoping you just don't get completely blown away at the Gabba, and then we might make a decent fist of it.

3-2 England.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Feel a lot more optimistic if Stokes was involved. Have to wait & see won't we.

3-1 England.

[Draytonian III]

With William Hills England are 100/30 to win the series, I've had £20 on,I think it's pinching money

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I fancy them to do it.  They've been slagged and written off. Point to prove. Hopefully Stokes comes in at some point, he should be there.

[GazLaz]

Two very poor sides I think. If Smith scores as many or more than Root it’s game over.

[Filo]

Our bowling attack is not suited to the Assuis pitches, Anderson will struggle to swing it over there, and if the likes of Warner get going our batsmen will have to score a lot of runs

[Draytonian III]

Their batting line up is not the strongest it's been,a lot will depend on Smith and Warner

[Geoff Blakesley]

First test is vital. Aussies rarely lose at the Gabba and it will be a long way back if we lose there. 3-0 Aussies. Mind you my brain is still scrambled after being in Mumbai and Chennai for the final two tests last winter !

[wing commander]

    The sad thing is not many will actually get to see any of it.Am I right in thinking BT sports now have sole right to any broadcasting pictures for the Ashes..Does that mean we wont even get the c5 highlight show..??
    It will cost a minimum of £80 just for bt sports over the duration of the ashes apparently.

   As foe the result it will be down to how we deal with the bouncy pitches..If the new guys fair better than they did this summer we will win.If they don't then we wont.First test is crucial.

[Jenny]

    The sad thing is not many will actually get to see any of it.Am I right in thinking BT sports now have sole right to any broadcasting pictures for the Ashes..Does that mean we wont even get the c5 highlight show..??
    It will cost a minimum of £80 just for bt sports over the duration of the ashes apparently.

   As foe the result it will be down to how we deal with the bouncy pitches..If the new guys fair better than they did this summer we will win.If they don't then we wont.First test is crucial.

I have internet with Plusnet, who have offered access to the BT sport App for £2.50 a month. This can be connected up to TV via airdrop. Worth looking into any offers that are out there.

[wing commander]

    The sad thing is not many will actually get to see any of it.Am I right in thinking BT sports now have sole right to any broadcasting pictures for the Ashes..Does that mean we wont even get the c5 highlight show..??
    It will cost a minimum of £80 just for bt sports over the duration of the ashes apparently.

   As foe the result it will be down to how we deal with the bouncy pitches..If the new guys fair better than they did this summer we will win.If they don't then we wont.First test is crucial.

I have internet with Plusnet, who have offered access to the BT sport App for £2.50 a month. This can be connected up to TV via airdrop. Worth looking into any offers that are out there.

   My internet is with EE and they only offer deals on sim cards with bt sports on pay monthly...You would have thought that when paying 60 odd bonce a month including license for tv services you might be entitled to think you could do something old fashioned like turning on the telly box and watching it...

[The Red Baron]

I have a feeling Australia will shade it 3-2 or 3-1. Hope I'm wrong but Stokes is a huge miss.

I can't help wondering if the Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset police is an Aussie. FFS, either charge him or get him on the next flight to Aus.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Forget Stokes ! If he clears the Somerset police he will likely get a lengthy test ban from the ECB as they look at stuff after the police investigation. Can you imagine what a laughing stock we will be to all the young kids in this country to say it is ok to go out thumping folk two days before an international match. He has been idiotic. The team is bigger than one player. If he doesn't grow up soon - he is a married man with a family I believe- then sorry dude we will get someone else who appreciates his position rather than abuses it.

[The Mighty Brian Rowe]

Anyone found any decent streams yet?

[NickDRFC]

Solid start by England - pretty attritional but I'm happy for us to play like that as it will wear down their quicks who don't have the best fitness record. Hopefully we can keep them in the field for a while tomorrow as well and post 350+. Promising that the ball is turning on day 1 as well, hope that Ali makes the Most of it when they're batting last.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Yeah good steady start by England. Hopefully Moeen and Jonny will get hundreds tomorrow. So much for the bouncy Gabba pitch ! Will it turn when the pitch dries out a bit more though ?

[The Red Baron]

http://sport.bt.com/cricket/free-ashes-highlights-how-to-watch-australia-v-england-best-bits-with-bt-sport-S11364222752132

[wing commander]

http://sport.bt.com/cricket/free-ashes-highlights-how-to-watch-australia-v-england-best-bits-with-bt-sport-S11364222752132

Lyons was turning it plenty on day one and although there wasn't as much in the pitch as we thought,they bowled pretty well on it..

    This is were we are going to really miss Stokes..First hour is crucial lose a early wicket and it's 250,see off the new ball and it's 350 plus..All in all about level for me and I will take that..

    As for watching it.I managed to get a great stream off Mobdro.

[Filo]

Blown away by a bang average bowling attack, not helped by Moeen's dodgy stumping

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Rumours doing the rounds on Twitter that Ben Stokes is currently at Heathrow getting on a plane to Australia.

Wouldn't have believed it but there was a photo of a well built gent from behind with a load of cricket gear.

Hoist up the John B sail...

[Geoff Blakesley]

Average bowling attack !! stokes at airport !! stupidness aplenty on this forum dudes !!

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Average bowling attack !! stokes at airport !! stupidness aplenty on this forum dudes !!

Least I've got a basic grasp of English.

Confirmed he's travelling to New Zealand to train and spend time with family.

How very convenient.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Thought you said he was getting on a plane to Australia. Look dude he won't play unless he is cleared by Somerset Police then he has to attend a disciplinary meeting with the ECB as he is currently banned from cricket. Will that happen in 7 weeks .... NO ! But yes- your grasp of English could easily be described as basic.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Hold the front page !! Stokes is going back to New Zealand where he was born... to see his relations!!

[Geoff Blakesley]

Michael Vaughan‏Verified account @MichaelVaughan · 2h2 hours ago

 More


























Love twitter for gossip but sorry England fans Ben Stokes isn’t on a Big Bird Down Under .....

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Alright Geoff calm down no ones that bothered. 3 posts in 10 minutes that could have been placed in 1.

Chill out, dude.

For the record, he's in talks with Canterbury out there to play cricket. I imagine he'll be getting a talking to off police for that seen as though he's 'banned from cricket'.

[Donnywolf]

Dont know whether we have discussed this before and an Ashes thread seems the right place

Do Aussies give the score as 7 for 169 JUST to annoy us - and if not why is it that way round ?

Personally I dont see any logic to it. You win the game by outscoring the other team and so to give the Wickets first is just bizarre.

[Geoff Blakesley]

Apparently when the first scoreboard was built in Australia about 1890 it had wickets before runs, therefore it become customary to say the score the same as it read on the scoreboard, like 2-78 instead of 78-2, since all scoreboards built after that were probably built with the same design its difficult to change a tradition that has lasted for generations

[Filo]

Just watching todays play, Englands day all round, the Aussie are rattled, Smith has goot a face like a slapped arse, wasted two reviews and told the Barmy army to f**k off for taking the piss.


Shit Malan just been bowled 😩😩

[Filo]

Close of play, 177 to win, 6 wickets still standing, bat sensibly and we can do it tomorrow