The Ashes, 4 Th Test, Melbourne, Day 1

[ChillDoubt]

Just had the toss and Michael Clarke's double sided coin means that they have the option and will have a bowl.
Australia unchanged, Monty for Swann and Johnny B finally wrests the gloves from Prior, who has been frankly woeful bar one innings when the match was gone. Broad is fit and plays.

Hopefully we can see off the new ball and make a competetive score for once. KP needs to back up all the talk, but then it is all about him, isn't it?

Fingers crossed we get a good start and won't need him on day 1. Won't hold my breath though.....!

[sunny-dave]

I'm not sure I can bear to watch ...

[seekeerz]

Good morning chill, hope the team changes can give some confidence ..not too hot in Melbourne today, it'll be a good game.

[ChillDoubt]

Morning seekerz, I hope so too!
First hour is crucial as it looks as though 'it may do a bit'.
Can you get me one of those double sided coins of Clarke's?

[ChillDoubt]

Apologies, seekeerz. (Missed out an E).

[ChillDoubt]

First over from Harris safely dealt with.
Is there a finer, more dedicated group of hardcore fans than the Barmy Army, who are in fine voice with the strains of Jerusalem heard over the TMS mic from ball one?
Unfortunately, here comes Johnson to bowl the second over. Hang on to your hats!

[ChillDoubt]

2 overs gone and no signs of any lateral movement yet.
Cook settled in quickly on 8.

[ChillDoubt]

Cook off to the kind of start we needed 3 Tests ago!
Never mind, we build now for next summer, playing only for pride and hopefully some form and confidence.

[ChillDoubt]

The England captain gets an edge and that's 4 very streaky one's off Harris.
Steady Cooky, steady......

[jim360]

Yep, this and the next test are ones we could seriously do with winning just to restore confidence after the hammering we had in the first three tests. Fingers crossed.

[ChillDoubt]

Currently 23-0, or 0 for 23 for seekeerz.
Carberry dropped by Smith, could it be our lucky day for once?

[ChillDoubt]

Clarke sees nothing for his quicks yet so introduces Lyon early doors, who gets a bit of grip and turn.
Hope he doesn't get too much of that!

[jim360]

Carberry apparently just became the first Englishman to reach 200 runs in the series so far... that speaks volumes about how crap we've been so far.

England make it to 40 without loss, Carberry and Cook looking confident. Please don't let that be a commentator's curse...

[ChillDoubt]

Yep, solid, confident start. Is it possible the usually fastidious Clarke has missed a trick? He looked undecided prior to the toss and maybe his luck has waned a tad.
Let's hope so as we move to 46 without loss.
All rise as Sir Geoffrey of Boycott enters the TMS inbox.

[ChillDoubt]

TMS box, even....

[jim360]

Well, damn.

[ChillDoubt]

Cooky caught betwixt and between, shall I-shan't I shot and he edges. Shame that, he'd done the hard work.

[gness]

She moans about my snoring but the daughter in the next room is not enjoying the cricket....either that or she's having nightmares.....scared the wits out of me a minute ago!

[jim360]

Welcome to the Cricket gness :) Hope you've had a great day?

[ChillDoubt]

Root gets off the mark first ball, hopefully he can take advantage now that Cook has taken the shine off for him.
Need Carberry to maintain his style and demeanour, he looks a rock.
With that, I'm off to bed, will listen for half hour or so from the comfort of my mattress.

[sunny-dave]

Time for bed ...