PeterS

McGrath out injured. Should even things up a bit. Which newspaper will be the first with a headline about tornados and edgebaston after one of the quicks takes a few wickets. Bad toss to lose I fear.

I believe Pomm bashing is an official sport in Australia.

Gutted but I would suggest we are a lot closer. Our bowling attack can cause trouble. The batting definatly did not come to the party but we're not playing against the only side in the history of the game to have two players with 500 wickets. It will be a very long time before that happens again. It's an uphill task but if you want to be the best you've got to beat the best. I'm really pleased at Pietersens performance. Should shut a few people up although my mother said he should be sent back to SA after his dropped catches. Having said that she still thinks Fred Truman should be playing.

Just got into work after a long drive to see the score. Better get this one in before we bat.....

4 Days to go and I have to say I'm getting pretty excited. I can go a glossary of terms for our American thread followers but I suspect I'd be better of concentrating on the explanation of the insults rather than the cricket terms! Let the battle commence.

He's in the 11 for the game against Leics. Cricinfo think it's between Kasp and Gillespie for one spot.

Great to see Pietersen picked. I have always been a huge Thorpe fan and he will play this series as somebody will get injured. Only a few more days to go. It seems like a long time since the last Test Match.

And then on to the real stuff. Will Lee get a place in the test side Dave? Enjoyed watching him today.

Really. I'm in Amsterdam and it's really Sunny. Shame i'm indoors in halls with no windows all day.

Juliette and the licks - Like a bolt of lightning. Just bought this on the strength of 'American Boy' which I got on a demo CD. Really like it.

I'd given up hope when Collingwood got out. Amazing.

So what's the chat on Warne? Seems like our best ploy against him is just to get a whole load od pretty blondes and post them on the boundary.

One of my favourite players is Brett Lee and I think he really does add a dimension to their team. Solid recovery but a long way to go. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Give us a nice bouncy wicket for a Test match and watch Lee and another guy on his way over soon {Shaun Tait} who is nearly as quick as Lee cause some carnage <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tait's a strange one. Absolutely rubbish for Durham last year and then goes and takes stackloads for South Australia. I think it just goes to show the Australian wickets suit the genuine quick better. Here's a prediction Dave. If Lee stays fit and gets picked you'll win the Ashes. Otherwise not. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pete , yes, Lee is a must in my view but don't write off the other bowlers as one day cricket is nothing like a Test match.Normally it's Lee that smashes helmets and pounds bodies which then causes the batsmen not to get in behind the delivery and then the others use a bit of swing bowling and our slip's have a field day with catches.Lee usually goes for a few runs but like Shoaib Aktar for Pakistan , he is more there to inflict pain and doubt in the batsmen's head and the rest then clean up. I think England are alot tougher mentally and physically now, so this will be a huge test for both sides. One day cricket is absolutely no indication of how a Test game will pan out and as i have said before , other than the World Cup , it really is not that important to me because alot of the time the result will depend on luck so you will always win some & lose some ! I can't wait for the "Real Stuff" because luck only plays a small part in the result over a 5 day game. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't write them off I just think Lee adds the vareity that a well balanced attack needs.

One of my favourite players is Brett Lee and I think he really does add a dimension to their team. Solid recovery but a long way to go. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Give us a nice bouncy wicket for a Test match and watch Lee and another guy on his way over soon {Shaun Tait} who is nearly as quick as Lee cause some carnage <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tait's a strange one. Absolutely rubbish for Durham last year and then goes and takes stackloads for South Australia. I think it just goes to show the Australian wickets suit the genuine quick better. Here's a prediction Dave. If Lee stays fit and gets picked you'll win the Ashes. Otherwise not.

One of my favourite players is Brett Lee and I think he really does add a dimension to their team. Solid recovery but a long way to go.

HEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!! settle down.That wasn't called for <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Guys. I think we could be copping a load later this evening

That's why we're getting it in whilst we can. 20 years of copping it from you Aussies lot

Ian , I am a bee's dick away from putting my foot through the T.V as we speak. is going on with these clowns ???????? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I take it you didn't see the end of the game then.

I really has been one of the strangest weeks in Cricketing history. A great , great day for Bangladesh and hopefully one they can grow from. Australia will bounce back. There's too much talent in the side but questions have to be asked and it's becoming clear they will need to clear out their one day side if they want to win the next world cup. It pains me to say this as Dizzy has been one of my favourites but time to go and McGrath may not have that much longer in that form. As our Aussies friends keep pointing out the tests are a different matter but from what I have seen the bowling is really not as good as it has been. The batting is a different matter and I'm sure will come good, there's just too much talent there. Really boiling up to being an interesting summer.

This doesn't matter it's only a warmup... Must lower the confidence level a little?

5 years ago we'd have been bowled out for 80 and you'd have got the runs in 10 overs. Even Boof was impressed last night. Will we win the ashes.? Probably not but wouldn't it be nice to have a close series?

I've got it in DIVX format. Shouldn't take long to download. England have now won the last 3 games against Australia. The gap ain't so big now.

Rock City Angels II. Free download from their website.

Off the front or back foot?

Cricket stick !!!!! Cricket stick !!!!!! Blimey O'Reilly,it's called a cricket bat,if you don't mind.. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sadly not much chance I'm afraid. There are a few metal fans around the circuit. I know Gillespie likes his rock for one. I'll keep my anonymity but my brother also plays for a county and he's borrowed a lot of my stuff over the years.