Ashes thread - a place to worry or exult

[muriel_volestrangler]

and right now, I'm worrying. 104-3, and Warne has taken all 3 wickets. A draw isn't looking likely at this rate.

[rooboy]

1. If it wasn't for Warne, Australia would be in deep shit.

McGrath isn't in form, Lee is too unpredictable and as for the new guy Tait, I can guarantee you we have better bowlers than him back in Australia.

[malaise]

2. OZ will win this match

and retain the Ashes. They know how to win under pressure.

[truebrit71]

3. 115-3

I.R.Bell is bloody useless!!!!

Vaughan isn't much better...what a hopeless shot to make...

Pietersen and Strauss had better put on the better part of 200 this afternoon or England might be in real trouble....

[tjwmason]

4. 213-4

Things are calming down a bit now with a good Strauss-Flintoff partnership.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Or maybe the weather will force the draw

I love this comment from the BBC ball-by-ball:

"Meanwhile, a host of England supporters raise their umbrellas in a bid to persuade the umpires to bring the players off, while Australia's fans pretend the sun is shining by taking off their tops."

[ben_packard]

6. Did you see the Aussies in their sunglasses today

after being called off for bad light? :)

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. England 126-5 - Flintoff just out

I think there's going to be a result after all - and unless England's bowlers do something very special, the Aussies will win. :-(

[Kipling]

8. 335 all out. Should have had more faith, heathen scum!

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Well, they did do something special

136 runs after Geraint Jones was out - Giles got his highest ever test score. That's what I call a good tail performance!

Yeah, alright, I should have had more faith. :-)

[fedsron2us]

10. Well they have finally won the Ashes

Who would have thought watching the BBC's ball by ball tick over at work could be so nerve wracking.

Congratulations to Vaughan's England. You were the better side.

Commiserations to McGrath and Warne. You are both great bowlers who almost snatched a result for Australia against the odds. The result might have been very different if some of your colleagues had not so consistently underperformed. Australia's cricket team is not going to be the same without you.