I think we may just have this in the bag

Great toss to lose!!!!

This has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant, almost faultless.

Superb win.

Just got to carry it through to the Final on Sunday. Great to watch today though --a great all round performance.

Fabulous

Captain Morgan with a rum shot to win it!

Someone posted that we needed to make a steady start to our innings without losing wickets. We did just that and set up the platform for the easiest of wins.

Absolute Cracker........

Pity Aussie Stu has moved back to OZ would have been good fun tomorrow on the local

Will have to make do with Whatsapp

And now it’s pouring down. Who cares?

Starc. 1 for 70. That pretty much sums it up.

Roy wasn’t even out. It is a shame he couldn’t get a big ton.

Woakes gets man of the match

Thoroughly professional performance by our boys. Play like that on Sunday and we'll win. Well done England.

Rashid the unsung hero for me. Breaking that Smith Carey partnership was key.
So pleased after all the hammerings we’ve taken down the years. Big job now on Sunday.

Cubanclaret wrote:Rashid the unsung hero for me. Breaking that Smith Carey partnership was key.
So pleased after all the hammerings we’ve taken down the years. Big job now on Sunday.

Rashid could have got the MOM, as could Archer or Roy. No argument with Woakes though.

Yes agree with that Rashid and that throw from Bairstow losing the glove and through the legs to hit the wicket
Everyone of our lot was top dollar today

Smith’s over will be replayed with so much mirth.
Satisfying in the extreme to see the Aussies scraping the barrell in their futile attempt to get back in it.

Longside4evr wrote:Yes agree with that Rashid and that throw from Bairstow losing the glove and through the legs to hit the wicket
Everyone of our lot was top dollar today

It was Buttler’s throw

Brilliant. The cheating Aussies finally get the Karma they deserve and on the biggest of stages as well. Rashid, Woakes and Archer bowled brilliantly and all four batters were awesome. Warner being dismissed early was the highlight for me. Got exactly what he deserved. Good luck to England on Sunday.

Now let’s stuff the Kiwis. Will take some stopping now, particularly if batting first

Quickenthetempo wrote:Looks a 320 minimum pitch to me with how easy these are playing. Just get yourself in.

I did call it early.

Quickenthetempo wrote:I did call it early.

Well done Qtt

I just wish the final was at Edgbaston instead of poncy Lords.

Quickenthetempo wrote:I just wish the final was at Edgbaston instead of poncy Lords.

Can't we arrange to sabotage the pitch,it's been done before.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles ... gley-30072

I don't know why England's record at Lords is so poor,could be that the other side rise to the surroundings,and raise their game.

Just hope the atmosphere is as rowdy as the Northern grounds have been.

There is good news the 1st test is at Edgbaston,and the Aussies haven't won there since 2001.

What a day that was. Sat in the Hollies stand today was awesome. Not many doubted we would win after the first 4 overs, but it was an epic day seeing it come to fruition.

Final at Lords, not for me, hate the place and the chattering type who frequent it. I’ll watch at home knowing that today was the real final, somewhat like our victory at Home Park in 1994.

tiger76 wrote:Can't we arrange to sabotage the pitch,it's been done before.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles ... gley-30072

I don't know why England's record at Lords is so poor,could be that the other side rise to the surroundings,and raise their game.

Just hope the atmosphere is as rowdy as the Northern grounds have been.

There is good news the 1st test is at Edgbaston,and the Aussies haven't won there since 2001.

They have switched the Edgbaston test on purpose to help us get off to the best start possible. Sick of starting at Lords and always having to come back into series.

Is it mean or anybody else agree the Aussy’s don’t look that good without there sandpaper

Quickenthetempo wrote:They have switched the Edgbaston test on purpose to help us get off to the best start possible. Sick of starting at Lords and always having to come back into series.

Good it's about time we started making use of home advantage.

I didn't realise this series was part of the ICC World Test Championship,i thought that idea had been shelved.

Sounds similar to the Nations League in football,i suppose anything that might revive interest in the longer form of the game is worth trying.

Great day for England, great day for cricket. I watched that channel 4 documentary last week about our 2005 ashes triumph, and I thought it was a shame cricket hadn't swept the nation since then to the same extent. It was a smashing atmosphere today, and I hope on top of an England win in the final (fingers crossed) it sets us up for a firey ashes series. There's nothing like cricket when it's at its best, especially if you're lucky enough to be there. Great sport.

I understand why Lords was chosen to host the final as the "home of cricket" and all that, but as mentioned previously the atmosphere can be rather sterile and The Oval would have been a better (and noisier) option imo.

Dark Cloud wrote:I understand why Lords was chosen to host the final as the "home of cricket" and all that, but as mentioned previously the atmosphere can be rather sterile and The Oval would have been a better (and noisier) option imo.

Of all the grounds I’ve been on the worst atmosphere is at Lord’s

willsclarets wrote:Great day for England, great day for cricket. I watched that channel 4 documentary last week about our 2005 ashes triumph, and I thought it was a shame cricket hadn't swept the nation since then to the same extent. It was a smashing atmosphere today, and I hope on top of an England win in the final (fingers crossed) it sets us up for a firey ashes series. There's nothing like cricket when it's at its best, especially if you're lucky enough to be there. Great sport.

After that 2005 series the ECB had a golden chance to get more people into cricket but they went and flogged the game to SKY. Think they're slowly realising that was a mistake, although they'll never admit it. Same thing the R and A will soon realise after taking the Open off terrestrial T.V, all that money is great, but if participation levels are falling off a cliff it's not much use.

Maybe we should abandon the south and split in half, best atmospheres are always up north.

Who would win though north v south. Birmingham counts as north, trent bridge goes to the south

Local cricketer wrote:Maybe we should abandon the south and split in half, best atmospheres are always up north.

Who would win though north v south. Birmingham counts as north, trent bridge goes to the south

I'd like to see your north and south divide drawn up on a map.

Local cricketer wrote:Maybe we should abandon the south and split in half, best atmospheres are always up north.

Who would win though north v south. Birmingham counts as north, trent bridge goes to the south

Edgbaston and Trent bridge both definitely in the north along with Lancs and Yorks.
The Oval, Lords, and Southampton Rosebowl in the South and Cardiff included in the southern sector to balance things up.
Trent Bridge - incidentally - is quite a bit further north than Edgbaston. (At a guess about 45 / 50 miles).

nil_desperandum wrote:Edgbaston and Trent bridge both definitely in the north along with Lancs and Yorks.
The Oval, Lords, and Southampton Rosebowl in the South and Cardiff included in the southern sector to balance things up.
Trent Bridge - incidentally - is quite a bit further north than Edgbaston. (At a guess about 45 / 50 miles).

Off the current England squad more from Warwickshire than notts so that was the thinking

I've visited all of these grounds, including Lords twice this season watching Lancs, and can honestly say that The Emirates Old Trafford has the best wickets, stands, hotel and facilities than any other in the country by a mile.

The tickets for the final are selling at £10,000 a go tonight. I'd love to go but not at that price.

Rather like this bit of editorial by sports writer Tom Fordyce:

'On Monday Australia's players had taken their shoes and socks off and walked the outfield here. The idea was to feel the positive energy coming out of the earth. On Thursday England took their pants down for them too.'

It’s been hilarious watching Aussie cricket down here. When Sandpapergate first happened it was “they’re a disgrace to the country, should never play for Australia again”. The they struggled against India and it was “maybe the bans were a bit harsh”. Then they lost the series v India and it was “get Smith & Warner back in the side immediately!”

This still tickles me from the first match thread.

Foulthrow wrote:Missed stumping from Buttler. Australia haven’t even cheated yet and they’re massively on top. Worrying for England.

Hibsclaret wrote:Starc. 1 for 70. That pretty much sums it up.

Roy wasn’t even out. It is a shame he couldn’t get a big ton.

I think the BBC said that was Starc's worst one day bowling figures in 80 odd games.

RammyClaret61 wrote:It’s been hilarious watching Aussie cricket down here. When Sandpapergate first happened it was “they’re a disgrace to the country, should never play for Australia again”. The they struggled against India and it was “maybe the bans were a bit harsh”. Then they lost the series v India and it was “get Smith & Warner back in the side immediately!”

I'm glad their best players played in the WC,they can have no excuses for failure,it must be galling for them seeing their two biggest rivals matching up in the final well they watch on TV.

Just got to regain the Ashes now and then the cheating convicts really can slink him home in disgrace.

They haven't won an Ashes series in England since 2001,at least England can boast of triumphing away from home in that time.