NatWest Challenge 2005/1st match-Headingley Thursday 7th July.

[Pete]

England bowling too short. The ball's zipping around and they continue to bowl short, these guys are stupid.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Maranello

No Ernest, at this stage they are saying it is 6 confirmed explosions in total, not all on underground, some on train stations, one on bus, and so on.... terrible and very, very sad indeed.

Yes I just got a news alert, 2 deaths but people trapped it would seem, and several injured, but picture not complete, spoiled the cricket.

Originally Posted by BBC

He said it was "particularly barbaric" that the attack was timed to coincide with the G8 summit which he would be leaving to return to London.

Well whatever the reason like you said, very sad indeed, a waste of life.

I do not know the reason, but I have heard two different people say they thought it might have had something to do with London winning the Olympic bid, I can't see that myself.but party cancelled.

Latests news from Radio four, 6 stations and 1 bus (only the bus confirmed).

Pete]England bowling too short. The ball's zipping around and they continue to bowl short, these guys are stupid.

Yes but I have seen this before, English bowlers don't seem to take advatage conditians that suit them.

[greg]

Ponting fails yet again.Any comment Mr Buchanan?

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by greg

Ponting fails yet again.Any comment Mr Buchanan?

Presumably Mr. Buchanan's comment will "focus" on how much better the Australian bowlers responded to their captain Ricki Ponting.

It seems to me that our bowlers are suffering from that "must-impose-myself-on-these-Aussie-batsmen" syndrome.

No you mustn't, you must use the conditions and get them out. That means pitch it up and stop trying to hit them.

Do you still think England are going to win the Ashes?

We have English conditions today, and we don't know how to use them.

[Beny]

What are you trying to say Greg? Every wicket of his except for one has been luck. He was out top edgiing a pull shot in very difficult conditions. Wait till we see England bat before we start getting cocky.

[Lemming]

The start of the Australian innings seems all too familiar with their others this season.

Gilchrist - Blistering start, but fails to continue to a big score.
Hayden/Ponting - Scrathing around for form.

It is now left to Martyn, Symonds, Clarke and Hussey to take the innings to the conclusion. It is usually about now when two of these four players have put on a decent stand to post a respectable total. We must get them, and quick.

[greg]

Not getting cocky at all.Just Mr B can say what he likes without comment yet if Fletcher opens his mouth it's all rubbish.

It's going to be tough to win this match in these conditions because we have bowled utter dross but despite this Ponting has failed again.You will be quick to mention it if Tresco or Strauss get a low score so why can't i mention Ponting being out of form?

[Lemming]

Good start, Symonds is gone for 6, c Trescothick b Flintoff.

Two more quick wickets in the next 5 overs would be just what the doctor ordered. Fingers crossed.

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by Beny

Every wicket of his [Ricky Ponting] except for one has been luck.

It probably more than luck, he seems pretty much out of form to me. Which is fine, everyone suffers loss of form. I'm sure he's not worried about it. He's a good, clever player and knows it will click. What England's job is, for the rest of the summer, is to make sure he finds it as difficult as possible to find form.

[Lemming]

Clarke has been bowled by Collingwood for 3. It's England's job to really turn the screw now and restrain the Australian batsman, hopefully to 175-200. You never know, maybe even less!