The Ashes ...

[sunny-dave]

... start at midnight - anyone else going to be listening under the duvet?

Hope Springs Eternal - and it's not a bad England XI (even without Stokes) - but I have a horrible feeling that we'll leave The Gabba facing an uphill task to pull back a 1-0 deficit.

pommy dave

[Buenchico]

I'll be following the match throughout most of the night - unless things get too depressing, of course!

With such an inexperienced (but still talented) Aussie team, it's actually quite hard to forecast how things will go. The pundits here certainly can't agree!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42078910

[sunny-dave]

Watching (as opposed to listening) was going to be a bit of an issue - I refuse to take out a 12 month contract for BT Sport, just for 5 or 6 weeks of cricket.

But ... I seem to have the BT Sport App for free on my EE iPhone, and have found a neat way of streaming that to my TV - not quite perfect HD, but near enough.

Also, if you have BT or Plusnet TV, I've found that BT Sport 1 is available for free and is showing the Ashes live - and highlights are on at 9am tomorrow.

I don't have landline broadband ... but I've discovered that a certain small Irish person (no names, no packdrill) has Plusnet TV ... I may have to visit occasionally :)

[DTCwordfan]

a draw would be nice....Stokes to come in like the Messiah - I;m hearing that there's a lot of evidence coming forward as to extreme provocation. Okay, he was a tit but if we can get him out there to wind up a few billabong bashers.....

[DTCwordfan]

cricfree as well, dave, may have BT Sports 1......

[jno]

home advantage, I think. England bowlers are good in English conditions (and in 2011 the Aussies had a damp summer, which helped Anderson swing the ball a lot), but I don't think anything of the sort is predicted this time. So I think Aussie bowlers, particularly Starc, will be better than English batsmen more than English bowlers will be better than Aussie batsmen. Stokes is a grievous loss, even if he's finally acquitted of everything and pitches up at the MCG.

[Buenchico]

With a Now TV box, I can get access to all Sky Sports channels for a week for £10.99, which is usually handy for Test matches. Unfortunately though, while Sky hold the rights to all other England cricket matches, BT have got exclusive rights to the Ashes series, so being able to watch Sky Sports for a week isn't going to help me :(

[sunny-dave]

Agreed, jno - I'm surprised that Plunkett wasn't drafted in to give an extra pace option - the England pace attack looks a bit 'samey' and as if it will be a bit exposed if the ball isn't moving around.

Moeen may be the key - if the Aussies take him apart before he even gets his (metaphorical) sun-tan topped up, then Root will be in deep trouble as he looks for some control.

[gness]

Oh lord....now if you're going to be wandering down here in the middle of the night....or for the highlights...the key will be under the mat.....be very quiet and don't open any curtains to let in light....and coffee....black with one sugar about ten thirty please.....

The dishwasher will need emptying and you can run the duster around....quietly....x

[sunny-dave]

Running commentary from here on ... look away now if you don't want to know ...

[sunny-dave]

England win toss and bat - which is the correct decision - but will still mean it's squeaky bum time until lunch (at least) ...

... Moeen to bat at 6 - let's hope we don't see him too soon.

[Buenchico]

Er, not exactly the best of starts!

[sunny-dave]

Aaaaargghhhh - Cookie :(

[jno]

you should never expect much of Cook in Australia - one massive series, two poor ones, make his overall average look good but that's unfortunately misleading.

[sunny-dave]

Decent start - neither Stoneman nor Vince completely convincing, but they're still there and have blunted the initial surge with the new ball.

I was going to give up now & go to bed, but my streaming cold won't let me sleep, so it's another hot toddy & we'll see how the after lunch session goes.

snuffly dave

[Buenchico]

Since when have you ever needed an excuse for 'another hot toddy', Dave?

[sunny-dave]

Thanks Chris - the previous one was working, but has now evaporated (there can be no other explanation for the empty mug) - I would see if I could rustle up another - but it seems to be raining in Brisbane, so I may try sleep again.

[sunny-dave]

196-4 with a good elegant knock from Vince and an effective (if somewhat scratchy) one from Stoneman.

Nicely poised - perhaps the Aussies just have their noses in front, as they should get the best of the batting conditions on Days 2/3?

Play starts at 23:30 tonight (to make up a few of the overs lost to rain on Day 1) - a crucial session I think.

sniffly dave

[gness]

That'll be Dave making his excuses and leaving the pub quiz early then....... ;-)

[sunny-dave]

If we're still in the pub at that time, then the quiz will have had a marathon series of tie-breakers :)

[DSJ]

I set the TV to record the day's play before going to bed last night. Came down this morning to find that I had got seven hours showing a blank screen apart from a printed message in the middle. I had no idea that SKY had lost the contract.