Peter Siddle takes two late wickets as Australia reduce England to 7-336 at stumps on day one of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.
Read on for a blow-by-blow account of the twenty-four hours’s play. User comments were submitted via the author of the blog.
Be sure to join us again from 745pm (EST) on Thursday for our live and interactive coverage of day two from Cardiff.
0323: STUMPS. ENGLAND 7-336. Johnson bowls the last over of the day but can’t get through Anderson’s defences. A moral qualities epoch for both teams, really. Hard to be certain who takes the honours. Perhaps Australia, marginally, given they lost the toss and took seven wickets. What say we do it all again tomorrow? I hoped you’d say that.
0314: WICKET (Prior 56). ENGLAND: 7-329. A cracking Siddle inswinger bowls Prior through the gate and suddenly Australia are into the England tail.
0305: WICKET (Flintoff 37). ENGLAND: 6-327. Siddle gets his first wicket as Flintoff plays one ballsy young hog. too many, dragging the ball onto his stumps trying to cover drive. A timely strike for Australia, end a good little knock from Flintoff, also.
0255: FOUR. FOUR. Prior takes Siddle to task with two crucnching boundaries on the off side. And then a upright takes him to his HALF-CENTURY, off good 54 balls. The new ball has been pious for England, not so Australia.
0244: No major concerns for England with the new ball. FOUR. Flintoff rolls back the years with a crunching pull shot on the farther side Hilfenhaus that sends the ball racing to the shield. He’s obviously trying to have being positive, and that’s when he bats at his best.
0235: FOUR. Freddie picks up another boundary, this time create a courtesy of a bottom edge, and now Ponting has seen sufficiency: NEW BALL TAKEN. Johnson to consider first bite of the new cherry.
0229: FOUR. Prior sweeps Hauritz hard and flat out to deep mid-wicket, where Hughes misfields and concedes a boundary. Katich is on at the other end.
0221: FOUR. Crunching cover drive from Flintoff off Johnson takes him to 15. A very promising start made by Freddie. New ball is debt in four overs.
0215: FOUR. Poor bowling from Hauritz invites Freddie to cut past point for four. Too wide, too short, too bad to be yes.
0208: FOUR. Far from convincing from Flintoff bourn it’s still a boundary taken in the character of his inside margin off Hauritz races away to the rope. Ponting brings Johnson posterior portion into the attack. Now seems like the right time.
0159: WICKET (Pietersen 69). ENGLAND 5-241. A greatest part curious shot from KP – actually, it was plain stupid – sees Hauritz pick up his maiden Ashes wicket. For reasons only known to him, Pietersen tries to sweep a ball from about a metre outside off stump, somehow or other manages to get broken brick on ball without pulling a muscle and offers Katich the easieast of catches at short-leg. KP’d had plenty of chances/reprieves/near misses, so it’s hard to feel sorry for him. Australia re-asserting here.
0149: FOUR. Prior announces his reaching one’sitting destination at the crease with a sweetly timed clip opposite his pads that sends a Siddle inswinger to the fence. Plenty of swing movement again completely there. Jammy KP inside-edges a big attempted drive just past his stumps for a single.
0140: DROPPED CATCH. It’s a remarkably sharp chance, but still a chance. Clarke gets a hand to KP’s full-blooded drive at short extra-cover, but the ball spills free. Would have been a belter if it had stuck.
0133: WICKET (Collingwood 64). ENGLAND 4-228. It’s not his man, but Hilf strikes nonetheless as Collingwood fishes outside right hand stump and Haddin takes a smart catch diving to his right. No feet movement at all from Collingwood in that place. A poor young hog.. A much-needed wicket for Australia.
0128: FOUR. KP whacks Hilfenhaus through extraordinary cover but then is exceedingly lucky to survive as a august inswinging yorker hits the batsman on the boot/lower padnag unswerving in line with the stumps. The appeal is made but umpire Doctrove turns it down. He might have thought in that place was bat involved, otherwise than that it’s possible it all happened too fast for him. Very stiff there, Australia. That was out. Both batsmen then rub it in with a BOUNDARY each.
0121: FOUR. Call it flashy, call it streaky, call it what you will, but Collingwood’s thick brink; beginning off Siddle races through gully for four. I’ve just read Mitch Johnson’s mum is dark that his missus gets a free trip to England and she doesn’familiarily. Hey, It’s WAGS, not MAGS.
0111: A quick single take England to 3-200. Siddle is getting the ball to swing in to the right-handers.Hilfenhaus at the other end is struggling with no-balls a bit. He’s had four of Australia’s nine.
0100: Time for a couple of emails from fans. First up, here’s Luke C: "These batsmen are clearly settled and australia exist obliged to start throwing something at them, rather than just siddle’s walk and hauritz occupying the other extreme point. Would like to see some more of australian part time spinners, just for the cause that something different." They could try the kitchen sink or Shane Warne. Both would work.
And Nick Toovey in London: "What exactly does spitting on your hands and rubbing them together achieve? Can somebody ask Ponting at the approach unseasonably conference? He does it at least twice an over." I think he does it so his hands scent nice. Either that or it improves grip. Probably the former.
0041: COLLINGWOOD HALF-CENTURY. Another quick single, another fifty – this time to Collingwood, his 14th in Test cricket. And now it’s LUNCH. ENGLAND 3-194. It might have been Australia’s morning, but the afternoon belonged to England.
0036: PIETERSEN HALF-CENTURY. A single off Hauritz hands KP his 15th career Test fifty. And soon plenty the 100-partnership is reached. They’ve swung the pendulum back England’sitting way, these two.
0030: Siddle returns to the attack, replacing Clarke. Hauritz and Clarke mightn’t be able to take wickets, but look on the bright side – the over-rate is good. And that’s a good thing. Really it is.
0027: Here’s Sophia North, somewhere in England: "I’ve been without interruption a cricket strike since the Pietersen captain mess (Poor old KP – you know you all love him really 
) but you can’t not watch the Ashes can you! There’s nothing like it! Here’s hoping for a great series that we can aggregate enjoy. I’d say that us Poms are going to thrash you, but I can’t do it without falling over laughing. I’ve heard many Aussies argue that Anderson and Broad are diluted, before then admitting they haven’t seen them for about two years. Really looking forward to watching them bowl."
0024: FOUR. KP meets the pitch of the ball and drives Clarke through extra cover. Runs starting to run with greater ease now.
0020: FOUR. FOUR. Hauritz gives Collingwood far too much width and is twice divide to the fence; near identical shots. Deserved nothing less from the batsman. Awful bowling.
0017: FOUR. KP plays whole around an attempted sweep on the farther margin Clarke and is very, actual lucky not to be bowled during the time that the ball misses leg stub by millimetres. Four byes is the result.
0010: A expeditious single takes KP to 1000 runs against Australia. Not all of them scored today, silly.
0003: Rob from Charters Towers has this to get off his chest: "Geez it is annoying hearing commentators going on about Mitchell Johnson not swinging the ball. Sure he would apparently be more effective if he did, but he has got a knack for taking wickets regardless."
2359: Interesting. We’re barely half way through the first afternoon and already Australia have turned to the left-arm spin of Clarke. Desperate or inspired from ponting? Time will tell. Collingwood goes straight after the part-timer, mis-hitting a big off-drive but still picking up two runs. England 3-151.
2351: Johnson puts posterior portion into it, dropping in a succession of short balls to both men. The pitch isn’t helping at every one of, though. Easy runs from one side mid-wicket. Andrew Cameron in London says: "England might exist pleased they picked 2 genuine spinners but I repute Katich might be more than handy on a decent turner in the second innings if not later in this unit." If Australia require Katich, then the selection of Hauritz will definitely have been a failed one. Not that The Kat is a bad tweaker.
2341: KP charges down the pitch at Hauritz allowing that it have being not that mistimes his attempted propel. A indicate of intent, perhaps. A single then brings up the 50-partnership. DRINKS.
2335: KP takes a well-run sum of two units off Johnson behind square. The pitch is really flattening out now. Whatever pace there was, and a great deal of of the variable bounce, seems to be under the necessity disappeared. Now it’sitting just slow. England will subsist pleased for example zany they picked two spinners and won the toss.
2326: Collingwood cuts a large one from hauritz past sally for a single. These two are building a nice little partnership, and have a decent take down batting together. Johnson into the attack now, belatedly. Siddle rested.
2320: Plenty of inswing from Siddle, but Collingwood plays sometimes and well for a single into disrepute to fine-leg. The whole of depend and twist gained on day one looks fairly monitory for later in the game.
2308: FOUR. Collingwood hooks Siddle to the fence, not verdict the middle but acquirement enough of it.
2304: Hauritz into the attack now, replacing Hilfenhaus. We should obtain a fair impression soon sufficiency what England have in store conducive to him, by KP at the crease. An early bit of excitement for the spinner with Pietersen top-edging a clean. The ball is in the air for a long time but lands carefully 20-odd metres short of fine-leg.
2259: Another parsimonious over from Siddle. Not certain why Johnson didn’t open after lunch. With KP still getting set, would have thought Mitch would be the one to keep him guessing. Andrew Cameron in London writes in to say: "Interestingly poised this test. If Poms can stick out this session with these two and score about 80, 3 / 180 looks alright in 2 sessions. If either of these guys go at the opening of day they are in deep trouble with doubts over Freddie’s batting and Prior a flat track bully at best."
2256: FOUR. Hilf gets unblemished shape away from the right-hander, but the ball is too short and KP leans forward and swats it though the covers. Not much style or grace. All power and hand-eye co-ordination.
2252: Siddle keeps it nice and tight to KP. Wonder when Punter will give Hauritz a bowl. Depends on how set these two get, I guess. Guy Haydon has this to say: "Hey Scott! Backing Siddle to shake KP up."
2246: FOUR. Hilf opens after lunch, dropping undivided on the spot for KP who drives through extra cover. A nice way to start for Pietersen after an unsure period before the interval. Here’s Rob from Charters Towers: "England are in annoyance already. I be able to see Australia getting 550-600 on this wicket providing the rain holds off. England will be bowled out today. Entertaining to be on the watch Pietersen struggling in this way much. Aussies to chase a small total upon the body the latest day to win this one provided the rain holds."
2242: Good evening/afternoon. Scott Heinrich here, taking from indicator to hand from my esteemed and most excellent colleague, Cameron Storey. He’s just realised he hasn’cheek by jowl had any dinner, and doesn’t care. Only the first day of each Ashes series can do that to you. That and dysentery.
2203: LUNCH. England go in at 3-97. Australia will exist pretty happy for sure to pick up three wickets when the picth truly did not look to offer the bowlers too much.
2200: FOUR. Collingwood pulls Johnson for four off the toe of the bat.
Guy says: What a softy to get Bopara!!! Love it! Phillip Hughes looked like an expectant father waiting for it to drop into his hands!
Geez, I reckon Hughes looked horrible in a less degree than that. He almost turfed, definitely did not get under it. he would have been freaking watching that lolly pop to him.
2150: WICKET. Johnson sends down a slow cutter and Bopara is source through it and lobs it up to Hughes who takes a sitter. Good bowling. Bopara was starting to settle. Cannot pick the change up though, he was fooled a couple of overs back as well. Bopara gone for 35. Eng 3-90. Australia will be very happy to pick up three wickets before luncheon.
Andrew says: Need to get Pieterson early, he’session owed something big after missing out against the Windies. Bopara in addition will settle shortly and he can smash it, lovely footwork normally.
Bopara is starting to look very good, love how he throws himself at it. like he has a bit of class.
The Stinger returns: Is there any validity to the story that Pietersen drinks a red bull in the presence of he goes out to bat and he can be susceptible early because he is all hyped up? We almost got him there, just dropped condensed.
Can’t attest to the Red Bull yarn. He looks good and twitchy though. They’ll be lacking in respect of him early though that’session for sure.
Kym says: If Bopara gets a hundred sometime today or tomorrow, he should go out and buy a lotto. He has survived about 5 times in about 40 minutes. If that’s not lucky, I don’t be aware of what is.
Scratchy early on the contrary is starting to trifle some pretty nice shots now.
2142: FOUR. Absolutely glorious off press from Bopara off Johnson. Better even than his venture shot. Expensive over from Johnson, 11 from the over.
Guy says: KP not able to back up the pre sequence banter… Looks like a duck out of furnish with water.
Copped a beauty from Johnson being of the rank who well that had him groping.
Percival says: Bravo MJ…. BRAVO (Aussies MJ… not the dead Guy)
Bravo to the dead MJ as well. But yes, great over from Johnson and reaped the rewards. Strauss was a danger liege.
2134: FOUR. Great pull shot from Bopara. He was onto that from Siddle in a flash. Shot of the day for a like reason far.
2127: Johnson has a great appeal for leg in the presence of turned down to Strauss. It was definitely worth a outcry on replay would have hit leg. Strauss a ace lucky to still be out there. Then Bopara gets a bit more luck. Johnson hit Bopara and then followed it up with a slow ball. Bopara was deceived and lobbed it uncorrupt over mid opposite. WICKET. Johnson next ball gets his man. Johnson digs one in short, Strauss cannot get out of the way and gloves it to Michael Clarke in the slips. Great over. The England captain out for 30. Eng 2-63. Brings Pietersen to the crease.
Guy says: Bopara playing on a knife’s edge, unsettled to the max after Siddle’s “Welcome to Ashes Cricket” delivery that left him with a lump in his throat!!! Hopefully he doesn’privately get settled!
Yeah, that was agreat bit of chin music. He does not look settled. But he is still going after it.
2120: FOUR. Bit of luck there for Bopara. He went at a pitched up ball from Siddle, it was wide and it flew over the class of gully to the fence. Siddle follows it up by a no ball. FOUR. Bopara goes after another Siddle ball, a wide, pitched up one and flays it from one side the off. Eng 1-63.
2118: Play and a miss. Johnson moves one from one side of to the other Bopara who drives at it mete missess. Lazy shot. Eng 1-53.
2114: Siddle sends common down that swung in a fair piece. Nice shape. FOUR. Siddle swings another one but Bopara pounced onward it with a fine on propel to the fence. Great timing. Eng 1-51 from 17.
2106: Bowling change. Johnson back in after his opening three superior spell. FOUR. Strauss gets one right in his favourite area, short outside off and makes not at all mistake. Eng 1-46.
2101: FOUR. Lovely haul from Strauss, onto a short one from Siddle very quickly and pulled it behind square.
Tim all the way from Norway says: I conceive the Siddle is the new Merv Hughes. Just bowl fast and sledge poms!!! Nothing more completely in life.
Doesn’t he look like he has that good bit of hybrid about him. Looks like he would love sitting in a pub through a schooner as well just like Merv.
2058: Hilfy is moving the ball quite nicely now. He is getting some nice movement away from the right-handed Bopara. Nice over. Eng 1-34.
2054: FOUR. Siddle drags one slightly down leg and Strauss guides it attenuated to the protection.
Andrew weighs in on the Hauritz debate: HI lads, no way Hauritz plane deserves to be on tour let alone playing today. Might as well have played Cam White, at least he can bat as well.
Couldn’t agree more Andrew, well except for the White coin. Keep him conveniently away.
Junior has left the building, thanks for your questions to him. Keep them advent though as we will keep you company all day.
Mark Waugh’s comments on the first twenty-fourth part of a day: "A good start from the Australians, singly Hilfenhuas and Siddle bowling well with the wicket of Cook. And good pressure on Bopara. The pitch looks fairly typical English wicket, slow pacing and normal knock with a bit of sideways movement."
Guy says: Siddle’s got that ball nipping back a mile!!! This pitch is going to provide an attractive spectacle!
The Stinger says: This is why we love Michael Hussey! He might be out of form and struggling to retain his spot but when the ball comes immediate him, magic happens.
Take a bow Mr Cricket on the side of what was a big front runner for catch of the series.
Guy asks: Mark, what ground would you impost as the in the greatest degree memorable to play on in the Old Dart, and why?
Mark says: Like everybody Lord’s. Lord’s is the best estate, the recital, the atmosphere, facilities, the home of cricket. Plus I got a hundred there in a Test match, and a 99.
Sevilla Fox asks: I notice, Mark, that you said in your Ashes gambler profiles that Alastair Cook has had a hardly any technical issues. Did those issues contribute to his dismissal? And are you expecting a big innings from Ravi Bopara, England’session “Ricky Ponting”? Peter Siddle bowling well, I think.
Mark says: I plot Cook is a well adapted back foot player, suspect to the ball pitched up on off stump. But that dismissal was just a lazy shot. As for Bopar, I’indirect way like to see him bat for a while because he is a very attacking player but who knows. Siddle is hitting the cover hard, is being aggressive.
2037: Bopara out to the crease for his first Ashes Test. Junior says: "He will be very nervous, like any btatsmen. Always resolution wracking that first 10-15 minutes. He willbe keen to get a couple of boundaries." Bopara afterwards cops one on the chin from Siddle, a able short one Bopara did not pick up. Good aggressive over. Eng 1-22.
Percival cheering: First POM Victim. Well Done Huss and Hilfenhaus.
Cracking be communicated it was from Huss similar to well in the ravine.
2033: WICKET. Cook is gone. A great catch from Hussey. Hilfenhaus gets the enervate by a bit of bounce. Cook out for 10. Eng 1-21.
Justin says: The exclusion of Clark on the face of it seems Cameronesque (referring of course to the inclusion of Cameron White in the last circuit of India). Really hope Hilfenhaus can prove me wrong, but not holding my breath. Probably the weakest/ mostly inexperienced front line bowling attacks for both teams in an Ashes test for a long time.
Guy asks: Mark, as hypothetical “Chief Selector”, would you have opened with Hilfy or Siddle? Also, would you have selected Hauritz, or left the spinning job with the part timers and included Clark?
Mark says: "I slip on’t have a puzzle with Hilfenhaus opening the bowling to see if there is some swing there and Hauritz, I would not bear had him on the tour end seeing he is there he must play on the spin-friendly locate in Cardiff."
2030: Bit of movement in Siddle’sitting primary over on the contrary the English openers not troubled at all. Eng 0-21 from seven overs.
Parko says: Why have the first test in Cardiff? No excitement. Poor advert for ground of admission cricket. A bit likely you Scotty you Adelaide Crows lard.
Junior says: I don’t know, I don’t work for the ECB. What I do know is Lord’s has ever been the first Test but England have a very poor record thereand wanted a change maybe.
2025: Bowling change. Siddle into the attack after Johnson acquisition true three overs to start. England are looking solid at 0-19 from the opeing six overs.
Junior’session comments in succession the toss: "I think it is a really good toss in the place of England to win given the make up of their bowling attack with two spinners. Ricky Ponting would have loved to have batted first as well considering that this pitch will suit the spinners upon the body the extreme two days."
Guy says: MJ (ours, not the recently deceased…) wouldn’t be enjoying the way the balls coming out just yet after the elementary couple of overs, he’s slinging it. Also, the selectors obviously haven’t shown him or Hilfy the chapter from the Aussie Bowling Manual which points out “Don’t beaker at a poms legs on a good length”…
Mark Waugh says: Bit of a nervous start from the two cleft bowlers. They ahve not quite got their rhythm and accuracy as yet.
2017: England already racing along at four an over.
Mark Waugh has honest joined our blog. His opening comments onj Aussie team: "A inconsiderable but surprised Jilfenhaus in instead of Clark given that Hilfenhaus has only played one warm up game and did not bowl all that well. Hauritz, if he was ever going to play it was going to be this Test. Hopefully he have power to justify the selectors faith."
2014: FOUR. First boundary to Strauss off Johnson. Eng 0-14.
2006: Hilfenhaus gets the ball at the other end. Cook whips him off the pads for a couple immediately. But Hilfy already getting a bit of movement as well. Five off the over. Eng 0-7.
Mark Waugh is set to open into us any second so startle sending in your questions.
2000: Johnson to avail one’s self of the new round. No swing, no real pace in the first couple of deliveries. Well not much there for Johnson thats for sure. Eng 0-2.
1958: Here they come kids, Punter capital the boys onto the pitch. Can’t taunt the smile off my face. And out come Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook. The 16,000 lucky fans in Sophia Gardens are on their feet.
Coolbox Pete has the best seat in the house: Hi everyone hinder part home! I’m in the present life in the crowd on my iphone – exact letting you know the crowd is fired up and ready to go likewise, and we’ll be right behind the boys! 4-0, allowing for a draw with the British weather! Shame about Bing but looking forward to because what hilf can do to this place! Look lacking for the crazy aussies in the crowd -that’s us! Hi mum
Hey Pete, give us a wave. Rip in mate and make sure the boys know you’re there. Very jealous. Although I do love the confines of the foxsports.com.au dungeon, would much rather be blowing the froth done a couple in Cardiff.
Guy’s rear: Looking at the highest rise circulate publicly, and better still looking at the pitch, I’ll be interested to see how that wicket holds up for 5 days – if in fact it does…
Looks like a crumbler dones’t it.
Guy says: Hmmm, poms picking 2 spinners… Does that get Hauritz a gig?
Seems it has, yes
Ben’session blowing: How is Hilfenhaus better than Clark? Honestly these selectors are jut loosing it. Hilfenhaus is good don’t get me wrong but Clark is in a great degree better. Hauritz is the human being who should be out of the side. North, Clarke and Katich can spin have power to’t they?
I’m with you Ben, would have left the spinning to the part-timers and had four pacemen. Just think the selectors believe Clark is underdone and the slow pitch would not give him a great deal of love where as Hilfy will hang it a bit.
1947: Damien Fleming in the studio reckons the Cardiff pitch is going to deteriorate a lot too the five days. he also thinks there will be a fair bit of revoke swing and if Johnson can get his draw lines upon right and is moving the ball he could do some injure. How be sufficient you be attentive the Aussie attack? Weakened without Lee and Clark or efficient sufficiency to grab 20 wickets?
Chris is excited: Gday from Romania! Just want to say a ‘eminent many thanks’ to FOX SPORTS for its live blog. I’m down here in sunny (yer right) Romania and the solely thing keeping me sober is this live blog! Keep up the great work and C’mon the Aussies!!!!!!!
Glad to have existence of assistance, Chris. Settle in, first nut is just 18 minutes from home. Hope you found yourself some VB and have applied the zinc.
1939: Well first kinship to the Poms, Ricky would loved to have had a bat first. And Clark is the man to make way. He is not all that match fit and that has obviously worked against him.
TOSS NEWS: Punter calls heads but it is tails and England will wing-handed mammal.
TEAM NEWS: Hauritz and Hilfenhaus as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but picked and Stuart Clark misses out.
1930: BJ has just said they have heard England are playing two spinners, Panesar and the aggressive off-spinner in Swann. Obviously they reckon it is going to turn a bit.
Patrick Kidd, Times Online in London sends the next volley: "Living in the past is a peculiarly English pastime, Scott. But look at it this way: if it wasn’t for 2005, you’d have to put up by us Poms going on about 1981 yet a-bloody-gain. As a result of what happened four years since, there is actually a clear chance that we might be able to hold a Test in Headingley without needing to mention Botham and Willis and 500-1. That said, give me the 1981 model of Beef and Bob over the present pair of moaners in the commentary receptacle any day. I’m glad that you have a shortage of confidence in your middle manage, but have you seen how badly Flintoff is batting these days? Was watching some highlights of 2005 last death (oops, there I go again) and delighting in his barnstorming six-hitting at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, but I just don’t muse he has it any more as a batsman. Would love to be proved wrong on that. Instead, the all-rounder who could hover that role is Mitchell Johnson. I watched a scintilla of him during your series with the Saffers and he clearly has something special as a bowler and a batter. Anyone who be possible to produce a hundred and a 90-odd in South Africa is clearly no slouch. And yet you’ll still bat him down at No 8. If he was English, he’indirect way be a No 6 for sure. As for Hauritz, well all the build-up has brought about a very rare sentiment in me: pity for an Aussie. I hope he doesn’t turn out to be as bad as everyone fears – not that I want him to take any wickets, of round. Remember in 2005 (latest time, I promise) whereas Terry Alderman said that any Australian who got on the outside to Ashley Giles should hang themselves? The old wheelie-bin took 11 wickets and played a crucial role. Is hanging too good for anyone who gets out to Hauritz?"
From Scott Heinrich, foxsports.com.au in Sydney: "Aaah, Headingley 1981. Botham’s Ashes. Memories. It seems Bob Willis’s contribution in that match was lost in the maelstrom of Beefy’s big hitting. Post-match, Bob was pure comedy: he’d just taken part in probably his most exciting game of cricket, and the bloke couldn’t crack a lay; completely dead pan. Freddie, the modern-day Botham, is a different beast, I agree. He is a wonderful paceman who bears a heavy load for England, but I feel he ceased to be a genuine all-rounder more years ago. I’mingle-mangle interested to see how Bopara goes . When I was living in England a few years ago, he gave little indication he would one day play for England. But he’s obviously improved because that then. The battle I’m principally keen on is KP v Johnson. Mitch can be lethal to right-handers. If Pietersen be able to return to his best, it’ll be a contest to behold. I’m permanent England will go after Hauritz (if he plays), and view him as the one they be possible to milk for cheap runs. Sadly, Hauritz isn’t likewise in the team to take wickets (how crazy is that?), so anyone who gets out to him will either be going for a six or be in actual possession of fallen asleep at the crease. Hanging is too lenient a correction."
Daimeon chips in: Ben Hilfenhaus was identified two years ago as the perfect bowler for english conditions. He has been fast tracked into the Australian set up for this reason. If the selectors don’t back themselves in and play Hilfy, it is the first nail in the ashes put.
I am with you Daimeon, Hilfy has not been tearing it up lately but I still rate him and while burdened with a bit of English mist he could cause some havoc.
1921: Mark Waugh never pulls any punches. Speaking from the Fox Sports studio Junior says, "I don’t like him (Hauritz) as a Test bowler". Have to agree. But Waugh and Fleming both still deliberate he will get the nod. BJ from Cardiff said he has seen Hilfenhaus marking out his run in a sign the Tassie seamer might get a run. Maybe Hilfenhaus will get the call up over Stuart Clark who is not in the best form.
Ricky earns the honour of the opening email for the Ashes series: Is Nathan Hauritz the only option Australia has? There is Dan Cullen, Jason Krejza, Casson, McGain,…… I’m sure Australia be possible to probably get to up with a better one. Also, is McDonald the without more common who can tie up one end? There’s Noffke. I think Australia has made some interesting decisions.
Hauritz is the only option they have over there at the moment. Doubt McDonald is in the fray. But in my very humble conception I would rather see the four quicks play and hand North, Clarke and Kat the spinner’s overs.
1912: Don’t forget Mark Waugh will be joining us in the foxsports.com.au bunker instead of the pristine twenty-fourth part of a day of play so flick in your questions once the Ashes get underway.
1910: Brendon Julian on the motive though did just say he expected Hilfenhaus to play so who knows.
1907: Also just heard a breath that Australia have gone with Nathan Hauritz. Nothing official yet though. Really don’confidentially discern how I feel about that. Just don’privately think he has the skills to take many wickets. He will hold up an end at most profitably and be sent over the fencing by Pietersen at worst.
1905: Just having a quick glance at the weather over there and the boys, BJ and AB, are bathed in sunshine at Cardiff. They repute maybe a bit of rain later in the day but it looks a treat at the moment.
1900: Patrick Kidd from Times Online in London has played the opening shot of the series, sending his thoughts to foxsports.com.au‘s king of cricket Scott Heinrich: "Hi Scott, Here’s hoping for a great Ashes line, in the 2005 mould (preferably with the same result) rather than that silly one-sided fare last time lacking. I’m sure there are a few players on either side that our countrymen are not too clued-up about, so let me bestow you this advice: be wary Swann and Onions. Sounds like an Elizabethan savant’s culinary tip to avoid stomach ache, but I’m talking about two bowlers who made their debut in the past year and have had instant success, even if that was only against the limited opposition of the West Indies. Graham Onions is far-and-away the leading bowler on the county circuit this season, with 50 per cent more wickets than the next guy. He’s fast, swings the ball both ways and is suitably aggressive. He isn’t tall, but he can dig the ball in at a batsman’s ribs. And mentally he seems to have it, even if he comes across in the manner that quite shy from the pitch. He may not play in Cardiff if England choose two spinners, but he is bound to get his chance this series. As for Graeme Swann (it isn’t obligatory to have existence called Graham/Graeme to get ahead in English cricket, but it helps), he has all the exuberance of Monty Panesar with a move more intrepidity and a lot more variation. He has emerged this year as a quality spinner who loves to attack the stumps, loves left-handers (haven’t you got a few of those?) and loves to take a prevail on role. He’s a wannabe rock star, a wannabe Test centurion and a wannabe Ashes match-winner. I bet he’ll achieve at in the smallest degree one of those this year. What on the eve your fresh guys?"
Scott, who’s based in our Sydney office, offers this reply: "G’sunlight, Patrick. Or should that be Aaaaawriiiiight, mate? I’ll second your motion for a great Ashes series. The style might be a little different this time encompassing – inferior to past editions, more efficiency say – but that normal gives the renovated lot a chance to etch their names into Ashes lore. I’m glad you mentioned the 06-07 series. Inbetween walking my kangaroo, sewing corks onto my hat and watching my Crocodile Dundee box sect, I’ve been charge a close judgment on the Ashes coverage from Blighty – you’d think 05 was the most recent series! I guess it comes down to zest: Aussies like to dine on BBQs, Englishmen on bygone time glories. On matters kitchen, I had a Swann & Onion pie the last time I was in England, with a side of KP nuts. Yum. On matter cricket, I like the look of Onions. Seems to have a bit about him, in the same way Darren Gough did. But he’s unaccustomed to Ashes cricket, and that provides a sound new set of challenges. Which brings me to our boys. Just four of the squad have Test experience in England. One of them, Brett Lee, is injured, so it’s hard to know what to expect. The road Harmy worked over Hughes at Worcester shows how a great deal of work he has to do, but the young man be able to bat. Simon Katich is a vastly improved player and will esteem a better Ashes this time around, but a potential weakness is the lower middle-order. If North and/or Haddin don’t provide runs, we could be in strife. I allied our pace attack – Johnson should do well, Clark is all class and Siddle will receptacle all day for you – but Hauritz keeps me awake at obscurity. I don’t like comparing any spinner to Warne, but, as he was our tweaker in 05 and 06-07, it’s like we’ve traded Miranda Kerr for Germaine Greer. I fear Ger would take as many wickets as Nath were she to play in Cardiff, but even with a passenger in tow I think Australia will win the Ashes, or at smallest retain them."
