England have just lost their first wicket. Can England tame the Australian attack?

ugh.. cricket.. been 2 years since i saw a game live.. i miss it i miss seeing sachin bat..

I am watching cricket at the moment while I am working in my office.

I can tell that Australia will give them a hell, and we are not good enough, dunno why.

England are in trouble, 75-4 after 22 overs.

England were 228 for 7

Australia batting now. Gilchrist looking for a big one.

Gilchrist and Ponting giving the poms a lesson. I don't mind staying up this late to watch Gilchrist in this form.

I was watching it but only just saw the thread.

It was truly awful to see. The Aussie's are back to their best, but England need to sort themselves out and quick.

Saying that - Ricky Ponting - what can you say. Fantastically consistent performances the man is truly awesome. And Gilchrist, I thought he'd lost form - he was slapped all over the park in the I think it was the first ODI, but he is back.

If England want those ashes, they're gonna have to overperform

I thought England might push the Aussies in the Ashes series but I am having doubts now.

I know. Depressing that everyone got caught up with the excitement of beating the Aussies.

Michael Vaughan a great player, but not consistent. I do like his style of captaincy - cool and calm. England will need him to stay focussed if they're gonna avoid defeat. Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss two more who aren't consistent. They are very talented cricketers but can they be relied on? Ian Bell imo very lucky to be int he team. An average player. Kevin Pietersen - not much more I can say. His style of cricket is fantastic but with any attack-minded cricketer there will be times when he doesn't make runs. Andrew Flintoff - led the resistance brilliantly. I think he plays better when his back's against the wall.

Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, Chris Tremlett. All average cricketers with a lot of hype. Geraint Jones, Giles and Harmison are hailed as world class cricketers? Matthew Hoggard - not convinced but I think there's better to come from him.

The trouble is that if they all well play as a team England have a chance - if not they are sunk.

australia to win the ashes 3-1 or 3-2

in warne, mcgrath and gilchrist australia have 3 genuine matchwinners


the england selectors were wrong to pick pietersen, thorpe's experience was required especially for the first 3 -*test*-('")s...

strauss, trescothick and vaugh will all struggle against lee and mcgrath and then warne will run riot...

i hope it's a close series, but doesnt look that way now

KD, Pietersen is a breath of fresh air. I agree that Thorpe should be in but I'd pick him instead of either Trescothwick or Strauss.

My tip for England's MOM. He'll probably score a duck in both innings now.

i'm not saying pietersen isnt the future.... it's just that thorpy has been there , done that and after his comeback his average has been over 50

he gives grit, experience and reliability to the middle order. somehow i don't think we can say the same about pietersen who i'd associate with flamboyance and 'hit and miss'

I think there is a place for both of them.

Pietersen is needed to get some runs quickly and will definitely make runs. But I agree that Thorpe is the one who will plod along and stay there all day for his 50 runs.

I am partial to the flair players