Ashes 2006 / 2007

[Red_Polo]

How Monty is not playing is beyond me.

Giles cost England the Game. The runs Ponting scored after being dropped and more importantly, the time he occupied the crease, will prove the difference in this one

I tend to agree, although on the other hand you could say Monty is a worse fielder than Giles, so the dropped catch is something you can only argue with hindsight. Monty did obviously deserve to play though because he's far better with the ball in his hand, and even the extra runs made at the crease and saved in the field by Giles were never going to make up for that.

[SouthAfricaRed]

That's it - Follow On avoided

The pitch is looking better than Day 1

Cant see anything but a Draw now/

Off to bed. It's 03h50 here

[Harv]

I didn't notice a lot more runs being scored by your lot in the day

were just digging in now.

58 runs in a session was pathetic by your lot. It did pick up when Pietersen came in however

[Red_Polo]

Well Hoggard got 7 wickets in the end. Impressive stuff. A lead of only 38 going into the second innings means the draw's the firm favourite now if it wasn't already.

Cook caught behind playing a ball outside the off-stump. Gone for 9. Straussy seems a bit more settled than previously though, has hit a few boundaries, hopefully he can put in a good knock now.

[Shaggy]

So it's a draw then. Very disappointing.

[Los Rojos]

So it's a draw then. Very disappointing.

Looks the probable outcome but anything can happen. The decision to play Giles instead of Monty looks to be an unfortunate one.

Chris Read (Monty's new best mate - anyone else noticed how they're always together now) must be pretty fed up after watching Jones play like Tuffers with the bat.

[Red Chilli]

You can never predict a result on a 5th day pitch with the weather set fair. Of course a draw is favourite but sometimes low targets are hard to chase.

[bacon]

73 for 4 at the moment ... Draw still favourite ??

[Fiddy]

73 for 4 at the moment ... Draw still favourite ??

[bacon]

77 for 5 !!

[Fiddy]

****in hell this is awful. the one result i never imagined is now more likely than any other

[MrMichael]

So horribly predictable really. How to balls up would would have been a confidence boosting draw, even if England cling on now it'll never have the same effect. Poor.

[Fiddy]

never fear, Hoggy's in next. He'll bat the day out






Shame none of the other ***** will survive tho

[MrMichael]

Lunch 89-5, England's lead is what, 120ish? They've been far too defensive against Warne today; come out, score a few runs and the game'd be over.... but oh no, not England

[SouthAfricaRed]

never fear, Hoggy's in next. He'll bat the day out






Shame none of the other ***** will survive tho

Yes but Australia have snatched the Moral victory from England

Watching Warne bowl on this pitch, I would have loved to have seen Monty get a spin on it

What exactly is the reason given for him not playing in this one?