Thought I'd drop in and see what the reaction was. Nice to see some old faces still around.

I remember watching the World Cup in 2015 thinking how lucky we were to have so many match winners with the bat and ball and how our selectors had managed to capture the spirit of the new style of ODI play, while laughing at England getting knocked out by Bangladesh.

A lot has happened in the three years since.

Having said that, I think the domestic BBL series is playing with the selectors heads (and I reckon Cricket Australia might have a say in which BBL players are 'released' for International duties). I'd hope that with a clean slate that put together a better squad.

At least you'd hope so. Some of Australia's selections for this ODI series are bizarre to say the least.

Good first day for England. If they bat well tomorrow they have a chance to win the Test.

Should Australia have enforced the follow-on?

Well Australian beats England at the Gabba which is no surprise. I don't think England have won there since 1986 when Ian Botham went bananas.

It seems Smith's innings was the main difference.

The next test is Adelaide. Some observers think the pink ball at night will provide more 'English' conditions and will help Broad and Anderson. Of course, a swinging ball may also help Starc.

I guess we'll see.

Well it's time for another Ashes thread.  I predict that if Australia's fast bowlers stay healthy it will be a victory for the home side.

If not, it will be a close fought series. Both teams seam to have fairly fragile batting line ups that are overly reliant on one or two batters.

BTW for those of you who follow ladies cricket, Laura Jackson from Lancashire (and Cheshire before that) is a coach at my local team.

Just thought I'd pop in to deliver some genuine comisserations. I didn't watch the game but saw the highlights the next morning. With 19 off the last over you would feel reasonably confident of victory. I agree that Stoke's choice of deliveries was a bit puzzling, my English work colleague says that Stokes did have an excellent tournament with the ball.

Well this is entertaining.

Australia should declare and give our bowlers a chance on this greentop before it dries out too much.

Well that was a surprise. After day one I presumed it would most likely be dull draw or maybe a narrow Australian victory on the last day.

Here are some interesting comments: http://dennisdoescricket.com/england-have-jumped-the-shark/

Gee its a bit flat in here. Is having the Ashes on every two years dulling the excitement?

I must say this is the least excited I've been for an English Ashes series since I began watching them in 1985.

I wouldn't want to bat last on that pitch.

It's England's game to lose from here.

Yeah I don't like the look of this pitch either.

BTW in another example of how ridiculously small a world it is, an old girl friend of mine is now partners with Paul Winslow

When I discovered that he was man behind the magnificent song 'Don't look back to Langer' I turned to my old friend and said 'we are in the presence of Royalty here!'

\

Amazing finish.

Monty is comical in the field and with a bat, and I can't really think of any others.

Monty shows more guts with the bat in Adelaide than most of your top six.

I've never been to Australia but I do get the feeling that ....

Should have stopped right there perhaps.

Of course the 'newcomers' who initially destroyed Aboriginal culture were of course, British.

Honestly, some silly stuff being thrown around in this thread lately. Just because your batsman (except Bell) have mentally disintegrated in the face of the world's second-best pace attack there is no need to get shirty.

The difference between this series and the last one is our batsman aren't collapsing as often, which you can probably attribute to Anderson and Swan struggling in Australian conditions.

Okay how is Panesar playing after it seemed his entire cricket career was over last summer?

Well respected local Australian comedians comment on the 2nd test match

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfPcNNJZ5uI&noredirect=1

I think we both need to think again! Good as yesterday was for England, day 2 has been awful.

Now where is that promised rain?

Yes that was a bit of a surprise. I presume England will receive more of the same in Perth. I also presume that England will be stronger in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

England's big issue IMO is Trott. He had an ordinary series at home and he's not looking great at the moment, although Adelaide may give him a chance to settle.

That Broad newspaper front page has to be one of the worst I have seen.

That's nothing. Here are some other front pages from the local Murdoch tabloids during the last election campaign

As an ex-Murdoch employee, I'm sure you're very proud

Prediction time.

Expecting a tough series, but I still think England will prevail. Don't expect Australia to win a test. 2-0 England.

I think England will win 2-1. We should in Perth, and England will win two of Adelaide/Melbourne/SCG/Brisbane. There will be a draw somewhere.

That was my prediction before the season started, after yesterday maybe it will be England 3-1.

Pathetic journalism. And Australia as a country needs to grow up.

Well its from a Murdoch tabloid Jim. You'd know all about that I'm sure.

Odd series, but I guess it shows that you Test Cricket (and entire series) can be won in crucial sessions.

Australia played well at times, and beat England at times...and a couple of times folded like a house of cards.

In the end I was surprised by how close it sometimes was, I was expecting a repeat of Lord's every game. I still think you should have played more spinners on drier wickets but with Panesar seemingly having a mental breakdown perhaps you don't have as much depth in spin as you thought.

A shame (for you) because we can't bat against spin and we can't bowl spin. So thanks for giving our pacemen a good chance