The Ashes, 4 Th Test, Melbourne, Day 2

[ChillDoubt]

Starts in half an hour. KP needs to stay measured but also needs to marshall the tail as best he can, a captain's innings if you will.
300 would be nice, 260 odd closer to reality if form is anything to go by.
C'mon England, let's see a bit of grit and determination, with no little application.
Losing the Ashes so tamely has been devastating, 5-Nil would be catastrophic.

[jim360]

Great work by Australia to add 40 for the last wicket this morning... Still, England have a 51-run lead in the first innings, and that's better than we've had all series by some distance. Now to back something of it in the second innings!

[jim360]

Good start for England, Cook looking in good nick, 34-0 after 9 overs.

[Canary42]

It's a dead rubber - the Ossies just aren't bothered one way or the other.

[jim360]

Nonsense -- 5-0 is far more desirable than 3-2.

[Hypognosis]

Discussion about running someone out "in the interests of the game"

Athers: "So how did you go about running out Geoffrey Boycott then?"

Botham: "Easy. 'Yes. No. Sorry'. That's it."

I don't know why but I was giggling uncontrollably about this for a full minute. Priceless.

[Hypognosis]

* it's actually Andy Strauss doing the other half of the commentary.

[seekeerz]

Just out of interest ...how is running anyone out 'in he interest of he game' ? No wonder you were in hysterics !!

[jno]

when you need quick runs and Boycott is incapable of doing it, running him out is in the interest of the game (your team's game, anyway).

Well, looks like another appalling day's cricket at the G.

[seekeerz]

Ahh I see, thanks jno, and I'm keeping quiet about the cricket !!

[jim360]

Well crikey. I left it at 65-1 when I did half wonder if Cook's exit would lead to a collapse, but I hoped that was just pessimism. Evidently not. Brilliant.

Roll on 5-0. Might do England a favour.

[ChillDoubt]

Give England their due, that was a master lass in building the fans hopes up, only to cruelly dash them on the rocks of incredulity.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and all that.

[Hypognosis]

Did anybody have money down on KP holing out on 49?

[grumpy01]

Australia have still 200 to get on a wicket that has been difficult to score on.

[humbersloop]

hope....


....it just gnaws away the soul

[jno]

I've given up on hope, sloopy, I find despair, enlightened by the occasional bonus of good luck, a more placid emotion.

[jno]

can't see what else Pietersen could have done, Hypo. He was down to his last two partners, who have so far scored 37 between them. The only chance of England getting more runs was to make them himself. He died trying.

[humbersloop]

I'd give Pietersen the benefit of doubt for that too - daft, but understandable in a prevailing shambles I suppose

ok jno, I'll give the despair/lucky bonus thing a go ;)

[seekeerz]

Hey folks, you never know your luck, we might all have hangovers this morning and can't see the ball or .......well I tried to get your hopes up