OK, I admit I was wrong

chewmylegoff

Mr_Matey wrote: »

If only we'd been saved by the rain like you guys in the first test. :rolleyes:

Do you think old man Flintoff will play the whole series or will his aching bones give in?

i reckon he'll play the whole series, even if it means painkilling injections every day. his ego will need this to be "flintoff's ashes".

however, i don't think we'll see him bowl 51 overs in an innings any time soon.

michaels

I think we are celebrating too soon - I think we only won at Lords because we won the toss and got the good (batting) conditions on day 1, didn't do as well with the bat as we should have done but benefited from that too in that the Aussies were in for all of the worst conditions on day2. I think we would also have lost in Cardiff if we had lost the toss there.

Lets hope the rest of series is rained off...

kennyboy66_2

michaels wrote: »

Lets hope the rest of series is rained off...

and Ponting steps on a ball in the warm up and wrecks his ankle.

chewmylegoff

michaels wrote: »

I think we are celebrating too soon - I think we only won at Lords because we won the toss and got the good (batting) conditions on day 1, didn't do as well with the bat as we should have done but benefited from that too in that the Aussies were in for all of the worst conditions on day2. I think we would also have lost in Cardiff if we had lost the toss there.

Lets hope the rest of series is rained off...

the toss was important but i don't think it's right to say we only won because we were lucky with the weather.

the aussies bowled diabolically in the first session, and then suffered an england style self-destruction in their first innings. at least half of the wickets were due to poor shots, it's not as if the conditions made the bowlers unplayable. they played badly and we played well. the weather and toss helped but we were the better side in the match.

Thrugelmir

I can just say its great to see Bradley Wiggins performing beyond all expectations in the Tour De France. With a great time trial on Friday could be the first Britain to make a podium finish.

michaels

Yep - good too see him get through the first alpine stage without dropping back - still a couple of Mountain stages to go though - I wonder if Cavendish could capture the Green Jersey as well.

Still anyone who cycles up mountains is a nutter in my book...

kennyboy66_2

Thrugelmir wrote: »

I can just say its great to see Bradley Wiggins performing beyond all expectations in the Tour De France. With a great time trial on Friday could be the first Britain to make a podium finish.

Thursday is the time trial, which he should do ok in - only 25 miles, he should even be looking to gain a little time on main contenders for podium.

Its saturdays stage which will be the hardest for him. I think Andy Schleck will take at least 40 seconds out of him on the final climb to Mt Ventoux (where Tommy Simpson died).

Tomorrow will be tough as well.

Thrugelmir

michaels wrote: »

Yep - good too see him get through the first alpine stage without dropping back - still a couple of Mountain stages to go though - I wonder if Cavendish could capture the Green Jersey as well.

Still anyone who cycles up mountains is a nutter in my book...

I fell in love with Le Tour some years ago when I went skiing at Alpes D'Huez. Couldn't believe that someone could climb the hill in around 25 minutes (after already cycling for 4 hours at racing speed). The final stretch into the village is around 1 in 4 for about 200 metres. So steep its difficult to walk up.

Last year drove up Mount Ventoux when I visited Provence. So looking forward to Saturdays stage.

kennyboy66_2

michaels wrote: »

I wonder if Cavendish could capture the Green Jersey as well.

..

Almost impossible unless Hushovd messes up the last day.

Thrugelmir

kennyboy66 wrote: »

Almost impossible unless Hushovd messes up the last day.

Cavendish needs to improve his overall cycling. Without the Columbia train he'd be struggling in the sprints.