Well the optimism lasted long didn't it! This England team has lost matches before and won series, and played badly and won series, and come from behind to win series. There is no reason why they can't come back from 1 down, everyone predicted a loss at Lords anyway, now it's time to take the positives from that match, we did afterall take 20 wickets and could have had 26/27 easily, while Pietersen, Tresothick and Strauss all showed that they can contribute well with the bat.

Well it's sunny here! Let's just hope the test series follows the same pattern as the one dayers, we one the first match there and look what happened.

Basically Giles has shown that, against this Australia side at least, unless it's a pitch where you NEED a spinner there's no reason to have him in the side, even then I might prefer it if other more attacking spinners were looked at.

Yes Paris Plage is up, though you'll be lucky not to find somewhere that isn't simply exceedingly dirty. Pigalle is alright, but generally it's where the French yobs, gangs and various other groups hang around, not really that nice. It does have a few things to offer when it comes to nightlife, but whatever there is can be found elsewhere in nicer areas.

Well played Australia. I'd say England probably only were the better in three sessions, first two of the match and then the last on day two, simply not good enough. The batting was awful, wickets were thrown away almost and major technical errors made. The bowling was decent, but it wasn't supported well enough by the fielding, probably accounting for an extra 100-120 Australian runs, in other words the difference between having a real chance in the second innings rather than simply hoping to bat out time.

Totally agree, I just don't believe Thorpe's time was up quite yet.

Hadn't seen that, looks interesting. Pigalle...there's a place I wouldn't go! haha. Perre Lachaise is interesting, but you have to like that sort of thing.

Well I would have had Thorpe instead of Bell, though would have picked all three for the squads. They are of a similar style, and though I'm sure Bell will make a great player he doesn't yet have the experience that is sometimes needed.

I think you are talking about the open-air cinema at parc de la villette? If so that runs for about a month, 19th of July until August 28th, except for mondays. Here's a link to an English website with details. Open-Air Cinema at Parc De La Villette

Over here in France there are a large number of plain clothed police, but the general rule is not to stop. There have been a number of instances where criminals have used this to their advantage, pretending to be police and then stopping cars or stopping people in the street. I'm pretty sure that if I had been shouted at by men with guns I would have either done a runner or probably dropped to the ground terrified.

Was he at least black?!? At least you had a good time though.

Wouldn' happen to be here september 11th for a meet up for the game would you? The tuilleries is a garden right next to place de la concorde and during june and august they set up a fair ground. There is always a ferris wheel there that gives you a good view of the city, though be warned, it gets a bit bumpy at the top! The rides are pretty decent at the fair and it makes for a good night. Plus if you walk just down the road and are in the mood for clubbing one of the cheapest clubs around is just down the road. If you want a more detailed guide to the actual nightlife though I could give you tips on any specific bars or clubs if that is the sort of thing you think you'll be doing as well. Depending on whether you want this trip to be visiting famous sites or just having a nice relaxing week in Paris I could say there are some other good places to visit. For another nice day out the parc de saint cloud, which I mentioned in the festival thread, is just outside of the city on heights overlooking it, meaning that if you go to the edge of the park you get a magnificent view. It's fairly easy to get to by train, and would set you back 2.70 from the city centre to get to. The day tour to the sewers are quite interesting, and if you can get in the catacombs they are really a different and interesting thing, though make sure the lady doesnt mind seeing lots of skulls.

That's odd. Well next time you're here, or for anyone else, if the bar tells you that then just move on to another one, it isn't normal.

This test has perfectly highlighted the reasons why England needed Thorpe. I have no doubt that in the first innings when wickets were falling he simply would have shut up shop, meaning that he and Pietersen and Jones could have put on more runs with recognised batsmen in and got closer to the Austrlian total, if not passed it. It cannot be forgotten that in the field he is an excellent catcher, of course the odd drop but on the whole one of the best. While in the second innings, after a good start, runs on the board and going a a good rate him pushing the ball around for singles and not getting out is exactly what England needed. Unfortunately it's too late to go back, but I think England were caught up in this new generation of players and forgot the need for both age and experience as well as one of the players who played such a major role in England's rise to power, albeit without taking any of the glory.

Well looks like we got the rain!

Yeah, if it weren't for the aggressive lot it would be totally safe to drive your car around when you've had too much to drink.

That actually reminds me that when you are there the fair in the tuilleries will still be running. It's a nice way to spend a day as well, especially in nice weather with a pretty girl.

Oh dear god...haha

Certainly possible to spend an entire day. It's all modern art but there will be the main collections as well as exhibitions. On top of that they have possibly the best library in Paris, though I doubt that would interest you. Though if you need internet access or want to watch a bit of tv stop in there and you can.

Usually not, though if you'd like I'll get you the number and you can give them a ring.

Certainly use public transportation. Jim J, what bars did you go to where they charge you to sit down? Got a bit screwed there.

Well you'll be find when it comes to the olympic stuff. They did want it but anyone who talks to you about it will say congratulations through their teeth. Be prepared for hot weather is my first advice. It's been very hot for the past month or so and only going to get hotter, and if it is anything like last August then it's tough to manage. They have a day long bike tour (in english) of the city which is actually nice. You go in a group of about 6 or 7 with a guide for the afternoon. It's a different way to see the city and I quite enjoyed it, though perhaps if it's your first time you might not be interested. Make sure you get to the Pompidou Centre, though that is pretty well known, and if you have a bit of money to spend (about 40-50 euros a person) and want to impress your girlfriend with a very romantic evening eat in "George's", which is at the top of the building, which has just about the best view of the city you can find. For a good night out you can head to the Latin Quarter and simply just walk around and you'll find a good range of bars, pubs and clubs. Also if you walk around there by day you'll see some of the famous sites where the host of famous 20th century American authors wrote during the 1920's, while also seeing some of the oldest parts of the cities (some of the olds walls and buildings still stand). Other than that I'd say at this time of year just walk around the city and get a taste of Parisian life. The sidewalks will be full of life and just taking a walk and stopping in a café that no one will ever talk about in a guide book beats just about anything, and also makes for a good holiday. Edit: If you need any help or specific questions just ask, I'll give some more good places to go after I've thought a bit longer, have a nice trip though.

Not panto season kenny.

That is probably how a lot of the stuff is written in the News of the World.

30 minutes of play and rain the rest of the time would do me just fine at this point. Poor batting and dropped catches have put England in this situation, unless Jones and Pietersen can do something amazing there's no getting out of it. Who's to say they won't both score hundreds though and this will be the sweetest of all victories? Well...I won't be betting on it.