Originally Posted by Broad Shoulders (Post 7765064)

This really would be truely demoralising if the Aussies lost this test, considering that they should have been coming into this test 1-0 up, instead they are staring down the barrel of a 1-0 deficit with only 3 tests to play. One of which you would think would be a draw.

This would be another moral victory to England if they can take this one, on top of the great escape of Cardiff

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede (Post 7765081)

Agreed. I predict that England will win this one easily, then take two more wins to seal the Ashes.

Originally Posted by Broad Shoulders (Post 7764978)

IMO he was a mediocre captain of great players. Now those great players have retired he is left only with the mediocre tag

Originally Posted by Alfresco (Post 7765546)

Was that a legit catch (Strauses)? Looked a bit dodge to me. First time I've ever agreed with Shane Warne. :eek:

Originally Posted by robclaridge (Post 7764726)

Its going to be an interesting test series - and I may have to change my views about the Ozzie cricket team..... I always thought Ponting was a very good captain. Perhaps not quite as good as Allan Border. But now I find myself thinking was/is Ponting just a mediocre captain who had some outstanding players? Now that the greats are no longer around in the Australian team they seem at the moment to be a pretty 'average' bunch. But l'm trying not to judge to harshly just yet. Its only the second test before we all get too excited. We know that they have the killer instinct and the capacity to hit back. The ashes are not over yet.

Originally Posted by DadAgain (Post 7766268)

Plenty of opportunity for England to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory on this one...

gonna be a nail biting evening tonight I can tell!:unsure:

200ish runs or 5 more (tail end) wickets? could go either way but I suppose a result one way or the other is pretty much guaranteed unless it pisses down all day!

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede (Post 7766367)

England got lucky with some dodgy umpire calls. I'd be very interested to know what the score would have looked like if three of our openers hadn't been unfairly dismissed. Though to be fair, our batting was quite poor anyway.

Now we're relying on a partnership between moderate batsman and a wicketkeeper to keep our score alive! :eek: Crazy times. One more wicket down and the rest will crumble, I think.

England to win by at least 100.

Originally Posted by Broad Shoulders (Post 7766377)

One thing you can pretty much guarantee is that the Aussies will fight to the death. We have seen it time and time again and this test reminds me a lot of Edgbaston right now. We made a similar first innings score and completely outplayed them for the first 4 days, yet on the last day they took it away from us and nearly took victory. One thing is for sure, it's gonna be tight now. Whenever Johnson comes in he will no longer be coming in to occupy the crease and kill time, he will be doing what he loves best, smashing the ball around to try and win. Very dangerous situation for England here!

Originally Posted by Broad Shoulders (Post 7766565)

I only watched until Tea and I must say Clarke batted superbly. He came out with real purpose and showed that he was only going after one thing; Victory. Full credit to him as I don't think many batsmen in the world would have come out like that

Originally Posted by Amazulu (Post 7766661)

I agree, I still think Australia will lose. One of these two will probably fall early on and then, in reality, it's game over.