Imagine you’re one of Australia’s fanatics for a second. Close your eyes and concentrate. Now put down your imaginary pie and think about what your team requires to win the second test. (You might also want to hide that copy of Playboy by the way). You’ve just seen your attack flayed by England at the Gabbattoir, so changes could be afoot. But what should the Aussie selectors do – other than bundle Mitchell Johnson into the back of a helicopter and drop him somewhere in the outback without a...
TV commentary observation of the day
From Wisden Cricketer‘s deputy editor Ed Craig, awarding his gongs to the winners and losers from the Gabba: Best and worst commentary “David Gower during Peter Siddle’s hat-trick: sounded like he was picking up his dry cleaning. “Mark Taylor during Peter Siddle’s hat-trick (as available on ITV4’s highlights): gave it everything you’d expect. Brilliant.” A Also worth checking out their Ashes cliche drinking game. “Shane Warne says “absolute” prior to any noun – one...
What do you think of it so far?
A big thank you to everyone who’s been in touch with us during the first test and Ashes build-up. We’ve really appreciated all your comments and contributions, both here and via Twitter. The idea of The Full Toss is to represent the views and experiences of the everyday English cricket follower. So throughout the series, we’d love to hear your stories, observations, and opinions. Be it team-selection and strategy, TV coverage, staying up all night, or how you took revenge on...
Cook makes the critics eat their words – and also gives our coaches food for thought
Yesterday Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott compiled the ninth highest partnership in test history. It was an incredible effort which secured the draw in style. Now the word ‘style’ isn’t one we’d usually associate with Trott and Cook. In fact, if Trott’s batting is a thing of beauty, then so is Ricky Ponting’s boat race. However, Cook’s batting in this match looked good – really good. In the last couple of years, England’s vice-captain has batted terribly. He’s looked fidgety at the...
Day five at the Gabba
Stumps: England (260 and 517-1) drew with Australia (481 and 107-1) 517-1. I’ll say it again. 517-1. Five hundred and seventeen runs for one wicket. England’s score against Australia, in a live Ashes test, at the Gabba of all places. 517-1. Get it printed on a t-shirt. Have it tattooed over your heart. At work, daub it in wombat’s blood on the desk of your nearest Australian colleague. If I ever go on Desert Island Discs, I will choose today’s play as my luxury item. It...
Day four at the Gabba
Stumps: England 309-1 and 260. Australia 481. Did that really happen? Have England actually batted an entire day for the loss of only a single wicket, and come right back into the match? Or were we only dreaming? During an Ashes series, early-morning disbelief works both ways – positive and negative. The majority of us totter off to bed at the 2.00am lunch break. But by then even the greatest pessimists could slip between the sheets with a reasonable confidence Cook and Strauss might bat...
