The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia
July 9, 2013 6:25 AM   Subscribe

Tomorrow, the 2013 Ashes series (England verses Australia) begins with the start of the first match at Trent Bridge (Nottingham). Though England and Australia have battled since 1861, the Ashes were first contested in 1882. Australia lead England 31-30 in series victories. England start as strong favorites with the bookmakers. Glenn McGrath cautiously predicts a 2-1 Australia series win, whilst Ian Botham predicts a 10-0 wipeout for England over the two series. The 2013 Ashes will be streamed live to 53 countries over YouTube. With Britain in the grip of unusual summer weather (sun), much play is likely.

Test cricket matches can last up to five days and conclude in a victory/loss, draw or tie. In recent years, an Ashes series consists of five matches. Out of the 107 countries and territories who are members of the International Cricket Council, England and Australia are currently ranked 3rd and 4th. The squads of both England and Australia bring a mixture of experience and new Ashes talent to this series.

During this summer tour of England and Scotland, Australia will also play England in several one day and twenty-twenty international matches, adding to a recent encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy (England won). Unusually, the next Ashes series takes place this Australia summer coming. If every available playing day is used, England and Australia will do battle on 65 out of the next 208 calendar days, plus warm-up matches.

To add spice to this series, Australia recently changed their coach, while one of their players was temporarily dropped for punching an England player in a Birmingham pub. Sledging, the practice of verbal insults and psychological distraction during cricket, is anticipated.

The Ashes also means a summer of Test Match Special for radio, online or app-based listeners. Increasingly using social media, this BBC institution is known for its distinctive theme music, sometimes unusual array of guests, and cake.
posted by Wordshore (126 comments total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
Keep an eye out for a Chesterfield sofa and some killer robots.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:32 AM on July 9, 2013 [16 favorites]


I'm thinking now would be a great time to visit the newly opened Hit Wicket, Boston's first cricket-oriented sports bar,
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:35 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


Naturally, the YouTube stream won't be available in North America, I guess because the rights are held by somebody, but god knows who. Some obscure satellite channel, I expect.
posted by hoyland at 6:40 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


As someone whose only previous exposure to the Ashes was via Arthur Dent, I appreciate the detail!

draw or tie

....Or?
posted by selfnoise at 6:41 AM on July 9, 2013


draw or tie

....Or?


A tie is when the two teams complete the game with the same score; it's pretty rare. A draw is when the game can't be completed because there isn't enough time in five days to finish the game; it's much more common.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:45 AM on July 9, 2013 [4 favorites]


I confess that I am still bothered that I spent 3.5 hours of my life watching Lagaan, a Bollywood film about learning to play cricket, and I still do not understand the rules of cricket. I can't rule out that this is some sort of mental block on my part.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:48 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]


It does seem that the older I get, the more parts of Douglas Adams' work suddenly make sense to me. "They've garble warble fashes?"
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:56 AM on July 9, 2013 [5 favorites]


I confess that I am still bothered that I spent 3.5 hours of my life watching Lagaan, a Bollywood film about learning to play cricket, and I still do not understand the rules of cricket.

On the other hand, I feel like I'm way more knowledgeable about colonial taxation.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:58 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]


i am so frickin excited about this
posted by hydatius at 7:00 AM on July 9, 2013


The Ashes being live on Youtube is wonderful news, no more dodgy streaming sites for me!

My only concern is that the IPL's 'live' Youtube stream is often behind the Cricinfo commentary - which, for the uninitiated, is ball-by-ball text commentary. So the Youtube streaming was slower than some guy typing a description of events in Cricinfo's Bangalore office.
posted by smcg at 7:08 AM on July 9, 2013


I've always felt vaguely guilty about not being a cricket fan, like I'm neglecting some important patriotic duty. Maybe this should be the year that I finally put the effort in and actually pay attention to a series?

I'm completely on board with village-level matches: you pick a warm day, sit with some friends around the edges of the pitch with a picnic and some cool drinks and, somewhere in the edges of your vision, cricket happens. Lovely way to spend time. But I find the idea of watching international matches -- with history, and people I'm supposed to have heard of before, and tactics -- slightly daunting. Is Test Match Special a reasonable place for a noob to start listening, if I try to do a bit of homework first?
posted by metaBugs at 7:14 AM on July 9, 2013


Is Test Match Special a reasonable place for a noob to start listening, if I try to do a bit of homework first?

TMS is a lovely way to start. You can be doing other things at the same time. It's usually quite relaxed. There's no need to understand every cricketing term they use; it'll all come over time. The commentary is pitched towards casual listeners. If you want, have a glossary to hand.

The key mistake that perhaps many make is trying to understand *all* of cricket, quickly. That sounds very stressful, and even the top players get surprised every now and then. As do the cricketers themselves.

Give it a few years. Just know the basics e.g. 6 runs if the batsman hits the ball over the boundary without it touching the ground, 4 if it does touch, and the main ways of getting out (caught, bowled, leg before [blocking] wicket), and that's enough. Stuff like the obscure ways of getting out, why the players don't come back out when rain stops, fielding positions such as silly mid-on, what cow corner is, the Duckworth Lewis adjusted scoring system - especially the Duckworth Lewis system - just leave all that to pick up in the future.

Enjoy your cricket.
posted by Wordshore at 7:23 AM on July 9, 2013 [5 favorites]


fielding positions such as silly mid-on

I think the fielding positions are actually worth learning early on, especially if you're going to be listening to radio commentary without video. It helps visualize what's going on if you understand that "silly" just means "very very close to the bat" (it's "silly" because only a silly person would willingly stand that close to someone using a willow bat to whack a rock-hard ball at their largely unprotected body from practically point blank range). It's also worth grasping at the outset the distinction between the "on" side and the "off" side; the on side is everything forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which the batsman is facing in his batting stance and the off side is forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which his backside is facing. The other fielding position you want to know going in is the "slips" which is the array of guys behind the batsman looking to catch a ball that just nicks the edge of the bat on the way through.
posted by yoink at 7:38 AM on July 9, 2013


The Ashes also means a summer of Test Match Special for radio, online or app-based listeners.

Ah yes, the Test Match Special, in those benighted days before broadband internet and Radio 4 streaming, that was the bane of the listener not interested in cricket, having to depend on Radio 4 Longwave for their slice of British civilisation, all your regular programmes interrupted for more bloody sport, no longer able to listen to Woman's Hour, or the Archers, or You and Yours (so it wasn't all bad.) That glorious day when we first got broadband quick enough to actually stream the proper R4 (using Realplayer even!) was one of the happiest in our lives.

its distinctive theme music

Provided by the colonies' finest instrumental funk/soul band, Booker T and the MGs.
posted by MartinWisse at 7:40 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


Test Match Special is in my opinion some of the finest radio programming that exists. Its incredibly entertaining and informative, and when you consider the amount of time they have to fill its an awesome achievement.

I particularly appreciate the fact they have commentators/guests from various cricketing countries (and NOT just from England as is more normal with other sports broadcasts) and that they allow every contribution to have their say rather than trying to push some pre-decided angle or hype.
posted by samworm at 7:43 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Ooh, this might be really nice to have on in the background while I'm editing. I know enough about cricket to understand the basics of what's going on, but not enough to have my attention gripped in a vise of sport. I hope Iceland is one of the European countries that are included in the streaming rights.
posted by Kattullus at 7:47 AM on July 9, 2013


So if Youtube doesn't have the US streaming rights, who does? I would have assumed ESPN3, but they are only showing the Tri Series this week.
posted by Freon at 7:58 AM on July 9, 2013


So if Youtube doesn't have the US streaming rights, who does? I would have assumed ESPN3, but they are only showing the Tri Series this week.


Willow seems to be streaming it as well. I would guess they do.
posted by asra at 8:01 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


For me, the sine qua non description of cricket comes from Bill Bryson's In A Sunburned Country (which is about Australia but takes a couple delightfully amusing detours to discuss cricket):
Eventually the radio dial presented only an uninterrupted cat's hiss, but for one clear spot near the end of the dial. At first i thought that's all it was - just an empty spot - but then realised I could hear the faint shiftings and stirrings of seated people, and after quite a pause a voice, calm and reflective, said:

'Pilchard begins his long run in from short stump. He bowls and ... oh, he's out! Yes, he's got him. Longwilley is caught leg-before in middle slops by Grattan. Well, now what do you make of that, Neville?'

'That's definitely one for the books, Bruce. I don't think I've seen offside medium slow fast pace bowling to match it since Baden-Powell took Rangachangabanga for a maiden ovary at Bangalore in 1948.'

I had stumbled into the surreal and rewarding world of cricket on the radio.

After years of patient study (and with cricket there can be no other kind) I have decided that there is nothing wrong with the game that the introduction of golf carts wouldn't fix in a hurry. It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavors look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. I don't wish to denigrate a sport that is enjoyed by millions, some of them awake and facing the right way, but it is an odd game. It is the only sport that incorporates meal breaks. It is the only sport that shares its name with an insect. It is the only sport in which spectators burn as many calories as players -- more if they are moderately restless. It is the only competitive activity of any type, other than perhaps baking, in which you can dress in white from head to toe and be as clean at the end of the day as you were at the beginning.

Imagine a form of baseball in which the pitcher, after each delivery, collects the ball from the catcher and walks slowly with it to center field; and that there, after a minute's pause to collect himself, he turns and runs full tilt toward the pitcher's mound before hurling the ball at the ankles of a man who stands before him wearing a riding hat, heavy gloves of the sort used to to handle radio-active isotopes, and a mattress strapped to each leg. Imagine moreover that if this batsman fails to hit the ball in a way that heartens him sufficiently to try to waddle forty feet with mattress's strapped to his legs, he is under no formal compunction to run; he may stand there all day, and, as a rule, does. If by some miracle he is coaxed into making a misstroke that leads to his being put out, all the fielders throw up their arms in triumph and have a hug. Then tea is called and every one retires happily to a distant pavilion to fortify for the next siege. Now imagine all this going on for so long that by the time the match concludes autumn has crept in and all your library books are overdue. There you have cricket.

The mystery of cricket is not that Australians play it well, but that they play it at all. It has always seemed to me a game much too restrained for the rough-and-tumble Australian temperament. Australians much prefer games in which brawny men in scanty clothing bloody each other's noses. I am quite certain that if the rest of the world vanished over night and the development of cricket was left in Australian hands, within a generation the players would be wearing shorts and using the bats to hit each other. And the thing is, it would be a much better game for it.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:02 AM on July 9, 2013 [11 favorites]


Genjiandproust: I took a Sociology Through Bollywood course my freshman year of college, and every Wednesday night they showed a Bollywood film. At first everyone was thrilled. By the third week everyone was starting to get a little anxious. By the fourth we started to realize they were all going to be the same story and that even the fantastic musical numbers couldn't save us from the three hours of mind-numbing repetition. Lagaan was the fifth or the sixth film we were forced to slog through, and by then most of the class had simply stopped showing up.

It's like a roundabout Ludovico Technique causing a deep-seated aversion to cricket...
posted by Mooseli at 8:07 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


It's also worth grasping at the outset the distinction between the "on" side and the "off" side; the on side is everything forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which the batsman is facing in his batting stance and the off side is forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which his backside is facing.

Um, it's the other way round. :)

It helps to remember that the on side is also known as the leg side (i.e. the side that the batsman's legs are on).

Also, the "forward of the wicket" qualification is incorrect. The on and off side both also extend behind the wicket.
posted by jonnyploy at 8:20 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


I'm not the only one who used to think the whole Ashes thing was just another absurd joke in Hitchhiker's Guide, am I?
posted by Gordafarin at 8:21 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]


No, Gordafarin, you're not the only one.

you mean it's not?
posted by notsnot at 8:31 AM on July 9, 2013


It's also worth grasping at the outset the distinction between the "on" side and the "off" side; the on side is everything forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which the batsman is facing in his batting stance and the off side is forward of the wicket on the side of the pitch towards which his backside is facing.

Um, it's the other way round. :)


This is why it's good to keep it simple at first :) That, and Kevin Pietersen's batting just complicates the whole on/off side thing anyway...
posted by Wordshore at 8:46 AM on July 9, 2013


Man, as an Englishman, I know I should like it, but god-damn is cricket ever boring to watch. Unfortunately, as we are not doing so well in the football, I guess I shall have to get used to being bored:

England Under 21s
England Under 20s

jesus h christ, we won't be winning anything until at least 2024.
posted by marienbad at 9:00 AM on July 9, 2013


Um, it's the other way round. :)

Oh jeez. That's what comes of re-editing on the fly.
posted by yoink at 9:02 AM on July 9, 2013


Also, the "forward of the wicket" qualification is incorrect. The on and off side both also extend behind the wicket.

Yes, but not if we're thinking about names for fielding positions; from square leg and backwards we have "fine leg," "long leg" etc. and from point (the fielding position directly across from the batsman) backward we have the variants of "third man." If the "on" and "off" terms are used to describe a fielding position then they're describing someone fielding in front of the batsman's wicket.
posted by yoink at 9:07 AM on July 9, 2013


Lions series win, Ashes, Wimbledon (!) and maybe Tour de France means 2012 was one Mo Farrah hammy away from being the second best Summer of British Sport.

It's all rather strange.

Edit : the simple fact I'm assuming an ashes win is like crazypants
posted by fullerine at 9:16 AM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


I'm not the only one who used to think the whole Ashes thing was just another absurd joke in Hitchhiker's Guide, am I?

At least you don't go around correcting people for misspelling Krikkit.
posted by googly at 9:21 AM on July 9, 2013


The best thing about the Alice Cooper interview happened off-air. Geoffrey Boycott was introduced to him. On being told this was Alice Copper Boycs shook the singer's wife's hand.
posted by spectrevsrector at 11:07 AM on July 9, 2013 [3 favorites]


Since the original post mentions sledging, I think now is as good a time as any to link to the Anderson vs Johnson video from last time.
posted by Bare Ruined Choirs at 11:08 AM on July 9, 2013


Botham predicts a 10-0 wipeout for England over the two series.

Ahhh, The Both. What an immense twat.

Not that I expect us to lose either series, but what a fucking ridiculous thing to print. It's like he's never heard of rain.
posted by howfar at 11:45 AM on July 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


2005. Edgbaston. That was my first ever cricket match. Ever since I'm a fan.
posted by bdz at 1:28 PM on July 9, 2013


"jesus h christ, we won't be winning anything until at least 2024."

marienbad, if you turn your attention to the distaff side of the pitch, and specifically the 2013 Uefa Women's European Championship kicking off in Sweden tomorrow, you may be pleasantly surprised. Germany are the favourites, but England lost to them in the final last time and apparently have a chance this time, injury permitting.
posted by Hogshead at 4:32 PM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Lions series win, Ashes, Wimbledon (!) and maybe Tour de France means 2012 was one Mo Farrah hammy away from being the second best Summer of British Sport.

Fullerine, please don't forget that ManU and Liverpool are coming over to beat the ever-loving hell out of some A-League sides (an "all-star" squad and Melbourne Victory) in July. Sure, they're friendlies, but I'm going to count those likely wins in the Winter of Australian Discontent as well.

Plus, it's grey and rainy in Brisbane. Even the London weather is finding opportunity to dominate Australia.
posted by GamblingBlues at 7:49 PM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


It is the only competitive activity of any type, other than perhaps baking, in which you can dress in white from head to toe and be as clean at the end of the day as you were at the beginning.

The weirdest thing about that sentence is how different competitive baking must be from the way we do it in my house.

But speaking of sledging, here's a few famous ones (context for #3 - Mark Waugh is the twin brother of former Australian captain Steve Waugh). And of course, you have to remember Cameraman Joe, possibly the only instance of technical staff getting involved in the game (of sledging) - it even got discussed in Parliament, which I didn't remember!
posted by jacalata at 11:34 PM on July 9, 2013


I literally did not know about this. Thanks for explaining what's going to be dominating my Facebook feed for the next week. I was a bit surprised when Stephen Fry took time out from his Opera House talk to mock Australia for losing the Ashes.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 12:30 AM on July 10, 2013


Excitement building. Zaltman's Confectionery Stall preview is up.
posted by hawthorne at 1:27 AM on July 10, 2013 [2 favorites]


The theme music to BBC Test Match Special plays on the radio; it's the Ashes and the English summer officially begins.
posted by Wordshore at 2:28 AM on July 10, 2013


Watching it now..
My boy is going to be so fucken stoked about the summer ashes.
posted by wilful at 4:18 AM on July 10, 2013


I have 'Soul Limbo' (the TMS theme) as a ringtone. Wonderful fun to watch whose heads swivel when it rings in public.
posted by Hogshead at 6:27 AM on July 10, 2013


England 124-4 after 36 overs. This is not going to be the one-sided series that "Beefy Botham" and some parts of the media have speculated. which is good
posted by Wordshore at 6:51 AM on July 10, 2013


Well that was interesting. But on the other side of the coin "looks like Aus has set up a tricky batting session for themselves this evening" (;
posted by bdz at 8:42 AM on July 10, 2013


Australia now 24-3 and suddenly it's looking rosy for England again.

This is why I love test cricket.
posted by jonnyploy at 9:33 AM on July 10, 2013 [2 favorites]


This isn't going to be much help gilrain, but on the other hand, it is Vincent Price.

The funny thing is, he doesn't even properly explain the phrase 'sticky wicket'. While the 3 stumps form a wicket - the thing the bowler's trying to hit (although half the time they aren't actually bowling at the wicket at all) - the pitch is also referred to as a wicket. When wickets were 'uncovered' - not protected from the elements during rain breaks - they could be really unpredictable, so batting could be a tricky experience.

I sometimes think we only invented cricket to confuse Americans.
posted by spectrevsrector at 4:18 PM on July 10, 2013


Mission accomplished!
posted by Chrysostom at 4:33 PM on July 10, 2013 [2 favorites]


Yeah it can be confusing that wicket has more meanings (the bails and stumps, the pitch, the dismissal..)
posted by bdz at 1:38 AM on July 11, 2013


Ok gilrain, something a little better - the 'This is cricket' videos on this person's youtube page. I think they'll give you the basics.

The Wodehouse Society Cricket Club has a written explanation, but I think anything in writing is going to be a little confusing until you've grasped the basics. It's probably best to watch something like the above videos and then get stuck in. Any time something happens that you don't understand you can always look it up. Any other time I might suggest watching a T20 game first, but I don't think there are any being played at the moment.

Twenty20 is the sambuca shot to Test cricket's slowly sipped single malt. Whereas Test matches can go on for 5 days, each side having 2 innings that last as long as it takes to dismiss 10 of the 11 players, Twenty20 just has one innings a side, lasting 20 overs each. It's more of a visual spectacle, as you'll see the ball being knocked all over the ground. I love the slow pace of a Test though. It has an ebb and flow, with sides being able to fight back from a poor session. Some of the most exciting games come from a side that can't win doggedly holding on for a draw - that is, lasting until the end of the 5th day.
posted by spectrevsrector at 2:51 AM on July 11, 2013


You can find some full IPL Twenty20 matches on Youtube.
Not that I'm a fan of IPL, but at least these are good for beginners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw6Q0vZ2FGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWNcRhjy3r8
posted by bdz at 3:30 AM on July 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Oh that Aussie batting collapse. 23 balls, 6 runs, 4 wickets. What a morning.
And I thought yesterday was a bad day for England.
posted by bdz at 3:54 AM on July 11, 2013


5 wickets in 10 runs. Am emotionally exhausted by this, and am just listening to it. And it's only the morning of the second day of the first test.
posted by Wordshore at 4:10 AM on July 11, 2013


What is that RPM meter thingy in the bottom right corner?

And there's no way Agar was out stumped just then.
posted by wilful at 4:20 AM on July 11, 2013


Skysport's new invention for spin balls. Shows the frequency of a rotation.
posted by bdz at 4:27 AM on July 11, 2013


Scores level! Highest score ever by a no. 11! And on debut! Remarkable!
posted by wilful at 5:21 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Didn't see that coming. Game on!

wilful, highest score by an Australian batsman, and the highest on debut ever.
The highest score is 95.
posted by bdz at 5:22 AM on July 11, 2013


Are we actually witnessing one of the great cricket matches of the last 150 years? Starting to think we are, with the dramatic turns in this match so far - and we haven't even reached lunch on day two...
posted by Wordshore at 5:27 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


As an Englishman I'm hating what is happening to the scoreline, but honestly these last one and a half days demonstrate everything that makes test cricket, and the Ashes in particular, so great. The swings in fortune, the examples of individual skill both with the bat and the ball, the surprises, the frustration, the joy. It's pure drama of a kind that no other sport is able to provide.

Christ, I wish I could be there instead of just following the score over-by-over on the BBC's website.
posted by jonnyploy at 5:37 AM on July 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


I've seen some interesting sessions of Test cricket but that was absurd.
posted by hawthorne at 5:40 AM on July 11, 2013


Yeah, this is a good 'un. It's why I watch the stuff.
posted by Wolof at 6:10 AM on July 11, 2013


Christ, I wish I could be there instead of just following the score over-by-over on the BBC's website.

I'm an American who barely understands this stuff and is just following text commentary, and I'm absolutely riveted. I just e-mailed a bunch of people who don't care to gush about how great this is.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:30 AM on July 11, 2013


How, in the name of Cthulhu, can the match go from Australia losing 5 wickets for just nine runs and being 117-9 (98 behind England), to the final pair putting on over 150 - and still going - and England supporters now starting to worrying about an innings defeat?! Within the space of a few hours...
posted by Wordshore at 6:40 AM on July 11, 2013


Agar the 'orrible. This is ridiculous. And fun.
posted by firstdrop at 6:47 AM on July 11, 2013


And here's hoping this is the innings that makes Phil Hughes as a batsman.
posted by firstdrop at 6:47 AM on July 11, 2013


Damn.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:53 AM on July 11, 2013


Ohh...
But well, my bet: we will see him making a century in the coming weeks!
posted by bdz at 6:55 AM on July 11, 2013


Even as an England supporter, I'm sad; just two off one of the greatest centuries in the game. Listening to TMS, standing and applauding.
posted by Wordshore at 6:56 AM on July 11, 2013


As a South African, I can't remember the last time I was upset an Australian got out. Oh, but this is why I love the game.
posted by doublenelson at 6:59 AM on July 11, 2013


I'm glad I decided to take tomorrow off after seeing the score yesterday; a game as unpredictable as this could be over by Saturday. Good that Cook and KP seem like they might (fingers crossed) make it through this session though...
posted by howfar at 10:32 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


Phew.
posted by howfar at 10:34 AM on July 11, 2013


Should Broad have walked? Does it matter, in this respect, that contemporary Aussies don't walk, plus the Trott decision? Torn on this one.
posted by Wordshore at 9:54 AM on July 12, 2013


Why does this not surprise me? Clarke is a high stake gambler. DRS is meant to correct howlers like this and they have no reviews left.
posted by bdz at 10:09 AM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


I think I'd feel happier if he had.

But yes, the Australian team can't complain too much. Plus what with Trott and the Agar stumping we were kind of owed a bad decision. Given the impact Agar made on the game after the stumping I don't think Broad has spoilt the game or anything.

And bdz made the point I was going to about DRS.
posted by spectrevsrector at 10:12 AM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


It doesn't reveal anything about Broad that we haven't known for a long time. The rather unpleasant aspects of his personality are integral to the sort of player he is, both in strength and weakness. In that respect, if no other, he's oddly reminiscent of Boycott.
posted by howfar at 10:49 AM on July 12, 2013


Looking at it again ... it's definitely not a slight nick. That ball seems to have taken a 45 degree turn off the bat, and Broad's stoic reaction speaks volumes.

That could be an awkward press conference, at some stage...
posted by Wordshore at 12:21 PM on July 12, 2013


The umpiring's been very average throughout.
posted by Wolof at 6:18 PM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


Not one of the Australians would have walked in the same situation, and none have said they would have.

Hopefully the expense of the lesson means M Clarke will finally learn what DRS is for.
posted by lrobertjones at 10:43 PM on July 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


Btw Aleem Dar had some stunning moments in the last Ashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpCBjGyJP2Q
posted by bdz at 1:57 AM on July 13, 2013


Aussies 68-0 after 18 overs, chasing 311 to win. Watson and Rogers galloping; I have a bad feeling about this.
posted by Wordshore at 6:23 AM on July 13, 2013


That's what I am talking about.

Edge. You can hear the noise. Dar asks the third umpire: confirms carried, noise is there.
And Clarke asks for a review... Review confirms out.

Another wasted review
posted by bdz at 9:39 AM on July 13, 2013


And another one out: no reviews left. LOL
posted by bdz at 9:40 AM on July 13, 2013


Is there a different moral code for batsmen?
" Many of my cricket friends that I've spoken to, cricketers who have played a high standard of grade cricket in Australia, are nonplussed by the fuss being generated by the popular media, presumably driven by the sentiments of the public, many of whom have never played cricket at a high enough level to understand that mistakes of this nature are part and parcel of the game.

From those who have played the game to any significant extent, the reaction was that it was no big deal. Umpires make mistakes, even howlers. Batsmen are perfectly entitled to stand their ground, fielders are entitled to show instinctive disbelief and disappointment, and the game moves on. The very "Australian-ness" of the moment was not lost on any of the folk I canvassed this morning. It is a widely accepted truism that Australia has always been slower to embrace the notion of "walking", happy enough to take the good with the bad."


Also worth read:
Clarke draws line under Broad debate
Australia bite tongues over Broad decision
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong call

As I see the media and the us, the fans made a big fuss about it...
posted by bdz at 2:11 PM on July 13, 2013


What an amazing game it's been.

I was going to say '... despite the controversies', but to be honest, I think they've all fed into the overall atmosphere of the match. It's had everything - fine pace and swing bowling, spin, jaw droppingly explosive batting from Agar, old school Boycott style grinding from Cook and Peterson, and a craftsperson's innings from Bell.
posted by spectrevsrector at 5:11 PM on July 13, 2013


84 to win with two wickets left.
Not even Agar can pull that off.

Can he?

Edit : 1 Wicket, sorry* Australia

*Not actually sorry
posted by fullerine at 4:31 AM on July 14, 2013


Fantastic effort by Haddin so far.
posted by wilful at 5:00 AM on July 14, 2013


31 to win.
This is getting silly now.
posted by fullerine at 5:05 AM on July 14, 2013


Hope I never see Finn again.
posted by bdz at 5:07 AM on July 14, 2013


WTF? 30 needed, with just this wicket left?

This has to be one of the great test matches, matches in any sport, ever, surely?
posted by Wordshore at 5:08 AM on July 14, 2013


Test cricket has been played for about a billion years, "one of the greatest ever" anything has a lot of competition.

Maybe if it's a tie :)
posted by fullerine at 5:15 AM on July 14, 2013


Test cricket has been played for about a billion years...

No; just this match :)
posted by Wordshore at 5:17 AM on July 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


Hope I never see Finn again.
Finn bowls two overs giving up 24 runs and drops a catch in the last hour.
He has to be dropped
posted by fullerine at 5:23 AM on July 14, 2013


If this ends up as a tie how the heck do I explain cricket to more of my American colleagues? (anticipating: "What the hell, after five days of play NOBODY ACTUALLY WON?" responses).
posted by Wordshore at 5:31 AM on July 14, 2013


That's lunch everybody.
posted by fullerine at 5:36 AM on July 14, 2013


Can someone explain what just happened? I'm only half-listening to TMS and they've just said 'hot spot' a load of times and now England's won. But I don't know what happened before that.
posted by hoyland at 6:23 AM on July 14, 2013


Out! Slimmest of 3rd umpire decisions.
Crowd go wild!
Australians, start your whinging :)
posted by fullerine at 6:24 AM on July 14, 2013


hahaha it had to be this way
posted by bdz at 6:26 AM on July 14, 2013


Can someone explain what just happened?
Ball was bowled and went past the bat and was caught by the wicket keeper.
England claimed the ball had just glanced the edge of the bat (meaning it was hit and the catch took the wicket)

There is a heat sensitive camera trained on the batsman which looks for "hot spots" (patches of heat caused by the ball striking the bat) and apparently there was one.
posted by fullerine at 6:27 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


Gosh, who minds? (Australian here.)

Bring on the next one! Let's get scrappy! If this isn't a great start to the series, what is?
posted by Wolof at 6:36 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


OK, if you watched any more than 20 hours of that (not including meal breaks) and didn't like it, cricket may not be for you.
posted by hawthorne at 6:59 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


(Personal "Yes!" moment) Tweet ("There is...") makes the BBC cricket website commentary. Probably the only time I'll ever be between Geoffrey Boycott and Glenn McGrath in any way.

Also this comment brings up the century on this thread :)
posted by Wordshore at 7:09 AM on July 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


The worst thing, being a cricket-mad Aussie, is being unable to watch more than one session per day of every other Ashes series due to stupid time differences. At least this year I suspect I'll get my fill...
posted by coriolisdave at 3:41 AM on July 17, 2013


There's good potential for a front page post on the Walk / Don't Walk cricketing conundrum. Some interesting points made on the subject in The Guardian's post match Ashes podcast. For example, I didn't know that umpires are only able to give a batsman out if the fielding team appeals.
posted by quosimosaur at 8:07 PM on July 17, 2013


The one thing that confuses me is how, no matter how intellectual the guest, if somebody is in Australia from Britain while they are winning the Ashes they'll taunt us about it. I've seen Stephen Fry and Edgar Wright do it.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 8:17 PM on July 17, 2013


Why would "intellectual" Britons not want to taunt Australians about the Ashes, or the Lions or even the fact our Olympics was loads better? It's literally the most fun you can have in Australia.

It's like saying "intellectual" people don't like sex.
posted by fullerine at 2:06 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]


Bit of a delay; teams having a chat with HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Once that's done, the second Ashes Test begins with England (who won the toss) batting.

England team
AN Cook*, JE Root, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, JM Bairstow, MJ Prior†, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson

Australia team
SR Watson, CJL Rogers, UT Khawaja, PJ Hughes, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, BJ Haddin†, AC Agar, PM Siddle, JL Pattinson, RJ Harris
posted by Wordshore at 2:51 AM on July 18, 2013


Well now, that was a bit of a turn-out.
posted by coriolisdave at 2:48 PM on July 18, 2013


Cowan deserved to be dropped. Great to see Harris in - when fit he's very fast.

Australia ahead on points at the end of the first day, I would judge.
posted by wilful at 7:24 PM on July 18, 2013


The one thing that confuses me is how, no matter how intellectual the guest, if somebody is in Australia from Britain while they are winning the Ashes they'll taunt us about it.

It's just harmless ribbing. Also, I sense an unspoken component in these taunts; they're always delivered with a hint of (very English) irony—a acknowledgement of Australian sporting achievements throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s. Now that British sports people are finding great success (the Olympics, tennis, cycling, rugby, cricket) there's a bemused, self-awareness in their triumphalism.
posted by quosimosaur at 8:38 PM on July 18, 2013


Watching the Youtube stream, good words from Strauss: Broad is a wasted all-rounder talent. He could be much much better.

Otherwise I think that 330+ runs gonna be a good competitive score. Reminds me to the 2009 Oval Test.
posted by bdz at 3:40 AM on July 19, 2013


We're not going to get anywhere near a contest in this one.

Too bad.
posted by Wolof at 7:44 AM on July 19, 2013


Come come! You underestimate England's ability to orchestrate a humiliating and utterly avoidable collapse in order to keep things interesting.
posted by howfar at 8:02 AM on July 19, 2013 [3 favorites]




"marienbad, if you turn your attention to the distaff side of the pitch, and specifically the 2013 Uefa Women's European Championship kicking off in Sweden tomorrow, you may be pleasantly surprised. Germany are the favourites, but England lost to them in the final last time and apparently have a chance this time, injury permitting."
posted by Hogshead at 12:32 AM on July 10

Sorry, but again it turns out we are shite at the footy. Damn.
posted by marienbad at 9:25 AM on July 19, 2013


England 22/2. Hmmmm. It's not over until it's over...
posted by Wordshore at 9:55 AM on July 19, 2013


30/3. 16 wickets down in the day so far. Bresnan out as night watchman. A few more wickets and Australia can creep back into this.
posted by Wordshore at 10:08 AM on July 19, 2013


Or not. Remember, 3-28 was the score for England on the first day.

And a lead of 250+... that's an Everest for this australian team.
posted by bdz at 10:30 AM on July 19, 2013


The Guardian's Barney Ronay writes about Stuart Broad, but not before getting his knives into the Australians:
Two weeks into this conjoined Ashes summer it is already hard to think what the correct collective noun might be for the current crop of Australian batsmen. An impermanence of Australian batsmen, perhaps. A disconsolate trudge. A technological naivety, a groan, a shower, a staged public detumescence of nuggety left-handed swishers.
posted by Kattullus at 6:09 PM on July 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


A very articulate way of saying crap.

There's no hero waiting in the wings either. At the hour of greatest slaughter, there's no great avenger being born.
posted by wilful at 8:27 PM on July 19, 2013


So what's crap about it? I concur with the lot.
posted by Wolof at 9:36 AM on July 20, 2013


I think there were quotes implied around "crap" in wilful's comment.
posted by howfar at 1:29 PM on July 20, 2013


This is somewhat disappointingly one-sided.
posted by Wordshore at 8:25 AM on July 21, 2013


Don't worry there's still a chance of a miraculous Aussie EscapeGoat
posted by fullerine at 8:53 AM on July 21, 2013


2 -0. Bring. It. On!
posted by marienbad at 11:28 AM on July 21, 2013


Wolof, Australia is crap. Shite. Useless. Mr Ronay was just taking his time saying it.

Can't see myself staying up to watch much of the next three tests.
posted by wilful at 6:40 PM on July 21, 2013


527-7 dec.
Hope England can bat for at least more than 1 day. Then comes the rain and the draw... (:
posted by bdz at 8:16 AM on August 2, 2013


Intriguing morning. England apparently discombobulated by the lack of rain. Meanwhile, my pet theory - that this whole series is just a promotional exercise for the Indian view of DRS - burbles along.
posted by hawthorne at 5:07 AM on August 5, 2013


Congrats England!
posted by bdz at 12:16 PM on August 5, 2013


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