3rd Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 11-15 August: Day One

[Occasional Fan]

What is all this nonsense I am hearing about Shane Warne questioning whether it is really lunch time? Sounds as though the plan was to give him one over before lunch but they were reading the wrong clock. Did Ricky Ponting really not determine with the umpires before the game began which clock would be used to determine the match progress? all very strange.

Good morning for England, I'd say - looking forward to more after lunch.

[Trescothick]

Very good morning... Strauss was out to a brilliant ball so its hard to criticise him... But perhaps could have done better, Lee tried the same ball to tresco but he managed to whip him away for 3 runs...
Vaughan looking impressive SO FAR, because I'm not jinxing anything. Its been a tough battle for the batsmen so far but looking good, lets hope it can continue!

[The Phantom Ram]

Not sure if you are watching the game Six and Out but do you think that the fact Warne hasn't even had an over before lunch for a team with only 3 seamers (2 with dubious fitness levels) means there is absolutely nothing in it for the spinners?

I have never played a game of cricket in my life but I was captaining a side bowling against 2 batsman who were looking comfortable I would always try Warne for at least one over before lunch. Worse case scenario he goes for a lot of runs - doubtful as it seems our chaps had put the anchors on - best case? who knows!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

If I was aussie management, I'd be quietly ordering Ponting to give all major decision making to warne. If England kick on pontings fragile captaining-mindset will be even worse. Obviously they would never publicly give warne the captaincy - he has too much history - but he's clearly the best person for the job.

[DaveGillespie]

Furthermore, no player should be questioning the umpire's decision on whether it's lunch or not. That really is fully ridiculous.

[Six & Out]

I've always been of the opinion that Warne will spin it on ANY surface although there will be degree's of turn. Also, because of his guile and variety, you still have to pick the slider and not get out LBW. Therefore I would have put Warne on for at least an over before lunch. As I said, I find Pontings Captaincy so far this series far too reactive. I think as this game goes on and IF (big if) Australia start to get put under pressue, he's really going to feel it.

No one wants to be the Australian Captain that loses The Ashes as that's what you'll forever be remembered for; and the Aussie public will forget all the good things. In many ways its a cursed chalice he holds right now, especially with Warne and McGrath getting to the end of their career. I have absolutely no doubt that right now, Australia's graph is falling and England's is rising and if its not this series, it'll be soon that they'll pass each other and AUS will be playing in second place.

Poor old Punter

[youareagoat]

A very nice morning for England. Got to be happy with that. And Vaughn looks in good nick too, so much for all you who thought he wouldn't make double figures. Looking forward to the next session.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Six & Out

I would have put Warne on for at least an over before lunch.

I think that was the plan, and Ponting just messed it up by reading the wrong clock or reading the clock wrongly - hence Warne's appeals to Bowden for an extra over.

[Lemming]

Good morning for England. Australia have bowled well at Trescothick, not giving him much to hit and bowling on a good length, by hook-or-by-crook Trescothick has stayed in and might get set for a good score.

Lee's bowled well with the new ball and his dismissal of Strauss was superb, to be fair he completely 'did' Strauss with some very clever bowling, made Strauss look stupid I'm afraid.

Vaughan looked pretty tentative when he started, not getting forward too much, but has found good touch now and has played a few good back-foot drives through the covers.

I hope Trescothick and Vaughan can just bat well and not give their wickets away unneccessarily.

My little brother said that he can't wait to see Flintoff bat, but I told him that I'm quite willing to wait another 6-7 hours of play!

[Kirsty Harris]

Good, positve start for England - time for one of these two to push on to a ton, we can't go another day in this series without a hundred, surely?