Groves lost on points on split decision. Knocked down in the first round. Close fight probably deserved to lose just about but he wasn't happy at all and will probably want a rematch like always. Think that's his last world title shot now unless degale gives him a go. Perhaps he was just another British hype job all along.

Jack vs groves tonight/tomorrow on box nation I think I may put my TV addons streaming box to use which may involve getting up at 3am or whenever it is due to be on.

Wasn't impressed by groves conduct outside the ring when he fought froch or degale but suppose it's was all a ploy to get under their skin or to dupe simpletons like me into believing there's genuine hatred. So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hope another world title comes to these shores.

Then groves vs degale rematch for a world title will be a decent fight.

Also will see if Joshua progresses or is taken past a few rounds.

Over the years I've watched a decent amount of cricket at all the main "ashes venues" and I would say in particular edgbaston, old Trafford and headingley are the most feisty ie north of Watford. Lords tends to be almost exclusively full of what Roy Keane would describe as the prawn sandwich brigade.

And for all its a bit of fun the fact all loses have come in the south and doing well in the north this time round what bugs me is the lockdown lords and the oval have on cricket. Fair dos lords is its home but it's almost as though oval also is guaranteed any game they want and the rest fight over the scraps.

Operation win ashes matches in the north still on. Now to complete the job this Sunday.

Yeah never thought of the geographical element to this summers ashes success/failure. Lost the 2 test matches at lords and the oval now lost the 1st 2 odi's at Southampton and London. I'd get a bit of satisfaction if against the odds went on to win the odi's in the north having also won the test series north of Watford.

Stokes out 'obstructing the field'. That's pretty rare.:

I've watch a lot of cricket never see that in my life. In real time it was ridiculous. When they slowed it down to slow mo and then judged stokes retrospectively as if he had ages to make a decision looks dodgy. But a harsh very harsh decision. I love all the technology but in this instance think it's been used incorrectly.

Good to be promoted first season down (again). I still maintain promotion from div 2 for a county like Lancs is little more than finishing 10th or 11th but it had to be done just need to go in the right direction in div 1. All in all decent 6 days t20 champions and promoted.

How does one behave as a winner. I know march down broad street chanting "oh Birmingham are you listening. Have you seen our trophy glistening. You're football teams @#/? and so's your cricket. Walking in a lanky wonderland." Sadly perhaps proving abbeys point but hey ho

So nervous about this one. A 6th defeat at finals day would be gutting. Thought before the collapse could be on for 200+. Oh well. With events at rovers I'm firmly pessimist these days so hope my negativity unfounded gere

Few beers in the holiday inn before making way to ground for 2 ish. Not fussed about other sides. Rather worryingly we parked up outside the hotel then lost it and took us 10 minutes to find it again.

I think Saturday will be my 6th finals day watching Lancs I've lost track. All ended badly. So I live in hope our fortunes will change.

Should bloody win from here even being a pessimist. They rallyed in last 5 overs but hopefully finals day here we come!!!

Quite! I heard Jos Butler is available to play too.....

Are you driving down? Looks like an overnight stay for me (though haven't decided Kent or London), no way to do it in a day on public transport.

Train down to Canterbury for 11.08 think we arrive via Euston and St Pancras then staying down. After we went to Chelmsford and missed the last train home not worth risking it. There's a few nice pubs round the cathedral I hear. Sure Canterbury will be nicer than the last place I visited in Kent when rovers got Gillingham in the cup and stuck us in a rickety scaffold type stand.

Anyone heading down Kent on Saturday for the T20 Quarter-Final?

It will be more than a welcome distraction from that "football" @#/? going on.

5 of us heading down. Quite looking forward to. Hopefully the rain will keep away. Either way it'll be better than the dross at Huddersfield.

For all I think KP is still one of the best batsmen in the world. He is the same bloke who text the opposition players how to get our opener out which was a disgrace. Then in his book he pretty much slated current and key members of the squad Anderson, broad and I think even cook. Which may destroy any team ethic.

For those reasons in my opinion he can never play for England ever again even if he is definitely still good enough. It's potentially cutting off your nose to spite your face but perhaps the moral decision right. A bit like in footy how John Terry is one of the best English centre halves out there but he can't ever play for England again either not because of ability but because of his actions.

I will say the ecb behaved terribly in dangling the return carrot in front of him maybe it was Strauss' revenge and I'll add the caveat that I did wobble on my KP non return stance massively after the lords debacle. But alls well that ends well suppose.

I Remember down under last series they were crowing about how many England retirements/oustings it brought - Prior, Trott, KP, carberry, swann, tremlett. I suppose rankin as well.

How roles have reversed Clarke, Watson, Rogers, haddin, Harris will almost certainly go/already gone. Then likes of Voges, the marshes may never be seen again.

Job done. This is such a great ashes win. It's not as high on the list as say 2005 or 2010/11 but I genuinely believed we'd lose this 3-1 or even 4-1 if the weather didn't intervene. Couldn't see us getting 20 wickets nor could I see our batsmen keeping out starc/Johnson. These sporting moments are to be cherished.

Ward really needs to work on his run up. He's bowling no-balls far to often.

Apart from that we've bowled well again. Stokes has really surprised me with his ability to swing the ball. Didn't know he had that in his locker.

Ward? I meant Wood.

Edit: my mistake it was Finn who cocked that up

The guy on 5 live sports extra was reeling records off. Can't remember half of them but for those who like their state. Convicts 7th lowest score ever. Australia's 1st innings was the fewest deliveries faced in the first innings in a test match ever. Only 4th time a test team had to bat before lunch having bowled first. Also this game will see the millionth test delivery in England.

Not read the thread so apologies if this has been mentioned before.

Where does Broad's 8 for 15 rank in terms of all time Test match and/or Ashes hauls?

It's 8th best figures by an Englishman but some are 1800s. 4th best ashes figures. And 21st best test bowling figures of all time top of the pile Jim laker vs Australia 10/53 in 1956.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283203.html

Extras top scorer with 14. Carried his bat.

Unbelievable.

Quickest 5 for, ever maybe?

I went to edgbaston day one on a corporate do and through poor travel planning missed first 30mins. Turned out to be a great day but at the time I was mildly irritated missing a wicket but couldn't really say much as it was a freebie. If I was 40 mins late to this I'd be inconsolable.

29/6 30 mins of play i bet there's no finer sight than seeing Mitchell Johnson skulking into bat.

What the @#/? is happening. I must be asleep