Starts on Wednesday.

I've just signed up to Sky online so i can catch bits of the first test at work...not during lessons, obviously.

I mean...obviously.

Steve W

Sky Player is crap. You get 3 seconds of video/audio, followed by 10 seconds of 'buffering'. Unwatchable.

A good first day - honours pretty even. England need to get as close to 400 as possible this morning.

Steve W

A quick word about some of the absolute shite being printed and spoken by those who should know better.

Why on earth are people complaining about the first test being played in Cardiff? ECB regulations state that to play for England, a player must be a British or Irish citizen, and have either been born in England or Wales, or have lived in England or Wales for the last four years.

For the purposes of the make up of the administration of 'English' cricket, England and Wales are part of the same entity. If you're born in Wales you're as eligable as anyone born in England - this is not the same for anyone born in Scotland or any of the parts of Ireland. Similarly, 'English' county cricket includes the Welsh county of Glamorgan, without any problem. Finally, if The Ashes 2005 were England's finest hour, we must remember that two key members of the team were the two Jones (Garaint and Simon), both proud Welshmen.

For the purposes of cricket, Wales is part of England - or should I say that 'England' is more accurately 'England and Wales'. Not only is this the current situation, but it has been for many years.

Steve W

Well England managed to get to 435 which i think is quite respectable considering how things went yesterday.

Yeah, but the Aussies have just passed 200 for the loss of only 1 wicket.

The Welsh crowd are singing the national anthem, but with a slight change. "God save your gracious Queen...".



Steve W

I hate to admit it, but England look in trouble . On a lighter note did you hear the the new lyrics of Walzting Matilda, i had to laugh.

That's the sort of fighting spirit we want!

Well done to everyone in Cardiff - that looked like an extremely well-organised test match. The crowd were great, too.

A great exchange between a couple of the commentators:

1 - "That's very loud singing by the English crowd"
2 - "How do you know they're English, and not Welsh?"
1 - "The singing was out of tune"



Steve W

a fine spectacle.. a great game..and a close result..
ok the pitch may not have been the best ever, but...

I thought it went off splendidly, and can't see why we can't have another sometime..

a great picture from the paper this week.

For years we've held the first test at Lords, and got thumped.

Playing first elsewhere appears to have changed that...for the moment.

Steve W

Well done to all cxoncerned at Lords - a bit of history there.

All we need now is 15 days of rain coinciding with the remaining tests.

Steve W

!-0 up, and today it's going to be a draw (or if the weather is good.. I know some hope.. ) England could even get a win out of this. Super stuff

The Aussies have just gone to 137-3, leading by just 24 (so effectively 24-3 in a one innings match).

Why wait so long in such good conditions for swing before introducing Anderson?

Steve W

172-4.

A lead of 59 runs.

70 overs left.

Long nails not in evidence.

Steve W

Tea soon.

Australia 291-4.

A draw now, methinks.

Steve W

I thought yesterday that England might have been able to get a win, but after listening to it for an hour today, a draw was on the books. It's a shame that the bowlers couldn't find the attack but at least it gave the Aussies some batting practise. Looking forward to the next one.

Having watched most ofg today's play, the ball was doing nowt.

Steve W

Fourth Ashes Test, Headingley, day one.

England chose to bat and by 2-20pm its 102 all out....... oh dear oh dear oh dear!

Painful to watch.

The only good news is that the Aussies are already down to 18-1.

Steve W