The Ashes

[Cobra Kai]

This review system is a joke.

Can't they just scrap the field umpire completely for big international matches.

Any time a team appeals it goes upstairs to get reviewed with all technology available.

If a team appeals too often some kind of punishment is dished out.

It will change the game fair enough, but it will be for the better.

[Coopertrooper]

The game is being killed with misuse of the DRS, the Indian obsession with T20, match fixing/corruption, etc. Not that any of it is new, the DRS has been a joke from the start, but it just continues to denigrate the game in my eyes, which is a very sad thing. In terms of this match, it is getting very ugly. The batting line-up is being exposed again. Can't rely on Clarke all the time, especially when his body is starting to cause him real on-going issues. Too many sloggers, not enough genuine bastmen, and not a whole heap in the wings either.

[rohan22no]

I missed all the action cause my band was playing, but I'm happy I did. Looks like a very sad day for Aussie cricket.

[Lookingtostart]

If a team appeals too often some kind of punishment is dished out.

Each team is only allowed two wrong appeals. That is fair and it works well, England have been getting their appeals right and Australia have been wasting theirs.

Most of the DRS that you saw was from the field umps, sometimes checking for no-ball with the foot over the line. That does seem annoying to me, too much of an anti-climax when you think someone's out.

[Lookingtostart]

I can't understand why England didn't enforce the follow-on..!? Stupid decision, the pitch has hardened and been more inconsistent than from 1st day, England capitalised on that now they want to bat on it?

[Cobra Kai]

Each team is only allowed two wrong appeals. That is fair and it works well, England have been getting their appeals right and Australia have been wasting theirs.

Most of the DRS that you saw was from the field umps, sometimes checking for no-ball with the foot over the line. That does seem annoying to me, too much of an anti-climax when you think someone's out.

I'm proposing an entire overhaul, get rid of the field umpires completely. Let the game be umpired from upstairs.

Essentially every appeal will be referred upstairs, that way we a guaranteed a FAR higher success rate on getting right decisions.

It will change the game completely but so it should because the game is broken when correct decisions aren't being made. Bottom line.

The punishment for to many appeals would be similar to boxing where a referee issues warnings then takes a point if said behaviour continues. Maybe a wicket could be given back...

Two incorrect challenges are not nearly enough considering what's at stake. You have to be very LUCKY to get the right calls on a consistent enough basis not to use up your challenges especially if the bowlers are creating a lot of opportunities.

I am half joking around with all this, but in my mind the game would be better off if this was the way the game was officiated.

[rohan22no]

bump for 3rd test. Go Aussies!

[Lookingtostart]

Question is, does anyone trust the upcoming weather at Old Trafford?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6691246

[rohan22no]

10.40am Phillip Hughes is Australia's highest scorer on this tour but can't keep his place. New challenge for Warner, batting at No. 6, and the boy's own story of Ashton Agar is over for now.
10.30am Australia have won the toss and will bat first for the first time in the series. Michael Clarke confirms the return of Warner, Lyon and Starc. England are unchanged, Pietersen is fit.
England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Joe Root, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 David Warner, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon

[rohan22no]

Jeeze...Hughes has done well to get dropped as Aus's highest run scorer in the series...Why not drop Watson? In horrendous form with the bat and who can forget the "cancer on the team" comment by Clarke (via Arthur)

[hedgejob]

Took Aus U 324.5 1st Innings

[Optional]

He must have enough support to hold his position in order to be a cancer to start with.

[rohan22no]

That stood out to me aswell hedgejob, ended up going half a unit on Roders v Watson first to 25 @ 3.6

[Domestic]

Took Australia O330.5 first innings, horrible number but only had funds in Centrebet 5 mins before first ball. Good luck all.

[rohan22no]

That stood out to me aswell hedgejob, ended up going half a unit on Rogers v Watson first to 25 @ 3.6

ship

[rohan22no]

That is a very brave bet domestic considering our runs so far on tour, I hope you get it tho!!

[rohan22no]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/657203.html

Some sickening stats in the above article.

In more pleasant news, The Aus openers are nearing a 50 partnership (dare I say it!)

[Optional]

wow a decent start.

[Optional]

What the hell?

You could see his bat hit the pad a mile away from ball.

Thats mad.

[MatI]

And the internet just exploded.

Ditch this penetrating DRS.

[Optional]

seems pointless if we still have humans making wrong decisions.

[MatI]

I'm starting to think the Indians had a point.

they need to ditch it until they have better rules on its use

[benrama]

Shocking decision, no doubt. I still don't mind the technology though, it was accurate in this case, it's just the umpire monitoring it should be fired from ever be on DRS duty again until he gets his eyesight checked.

Keep in mind without the technology he STILL would have been given out, at least with DRS we had a chance of the right decision being made.

[benrama]

Australia "runs scored at loss of 4 wickets" over 163.5 live betting @ $1.88 (Sportsbet), short of a burst before lunch this is a pretty good wicket for batting. Rogers looks in good nick, Smith is in good form, only need Australia to do better than 2 for 71 in this session.

[rohan22no]

Finally a great batting day for oz! Broad with a niggle and Anderson bowling like shit!

hopefully we can get to 650 tomorrow, then we'll have 3 days to take 20 wickets

[Dr.Gonzo]

Finally a great batting day for oz! Broad with a niggle and Anderson bowling like shit!

hopefully we can get to 650 tomorrow, then we'll have 3 days to take 20 wickets

They don't need 650, Australia are not enforcing the follow on. 500 and it's pretty much up to the bowlers.

[rohan22no]

V flat pitch...I think we need to bat as long as possible. Bowling to eng in the 1st inns will be a big grind. Agree lots of pressure on the bowlers.

[Domestic]

V flat pitch...I think we need to bat as long as possible. Bowling to eng in the 1st inns will be a big grind. Agree lots of pressure on the bowlers.

Yeah, match seems to have draw written all over it at this point.

[MatI]

It's only early guys. Pitch will start to turn soon and wickets will fall.

[rohan22no]

Hope you're right Matl...Aussies need the win...can only hope weather stays away.

[aussieH]

Aussies not out of this one yet

[Lookingtostart]

[rohan22no]

So...it was a draw. Whatever. With the next Ashes only a month or two after the end of the 5th test, this would have to be one of the most almost-meaningless series ever.

I'm just happy to see Aus put in a MUCH better performance and play somewhere closer to their potential than the 2nd test. We dominated this match from start to finish. Lots of confidence should be taken out of this match, and if we can carry the same form into the last 2 tests we have a great chance of sneaking a win in one or even both of them. Even 2 more good draws for us would be great after the 2nd test performance.

If we can keep the series at 2-0 or get it back to 2-1, Aus will go home with their tails up and be super fired up for the home series, where we will have a really good chance of winning back the urn.

[rohan22no]

Another great day in the first day of 4th tests for Aussies. Completely dominated the series after the disaster of the 2nd test. If we can keep the pressure on for the next 9 days of cricket, we're in great shape for the home series!

[aussieH]

I think we win the ashes back on home soil. Not much between these teams.