Ashes 2023 16:47 - Jun 8 with 93883 views | Hoopstar | Ah the home Ashes series is almost upon us, my personal favourite sporting event (not down under, that's just generally depressing.) I need something big sporting wise to focus on and quit my worrying about QPR for a while. Anyone going? I was at the first day of the World Test Championship at the Oval yesterday. The Aussies looked in depressingly good nick with the bat and their pace attack appears as terrifying as ever. I think it's going to be an exciting, tough, tense series that'll go down to the wire. I only managed to get tickets to the very final day of the Ashes on 31st July at the Oval, you never know. I predict... Crawley to average less than 20 with Duckett getting closer to mid 30s Brook to really secure his position as an outstanding talent and mainstay of the team Pope to struggle again~ Root, in what could be his last home Ashes, proving his worth again Bairstow - haven't a clue which version turns up post broken foot Broad - an Ashes too far? You'd be mad to write him or Jimmy off. Robinson to nab Smith at least four times.. | ![](/images/avatars/2206.gif) | | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 13:00 - Jul 24 with 2063 views | TheChef |
Ashes 2023 on 11:49 - Jul 24 by SydneyRs | Herald Sun is one of the poorer newspapers here. If Australia had started "bazball" they would be absolutely gushing over it. They're secretly gutted they haven't been able to neutralise it and know they are only ahead through a very large slice of luck, having almost two full days of play ruled out just when they needed it. Australia retaining the ashes isn't ending world hunger either, but much of their media treats it as far more important than that. |
That's because it's all that matters to them. It's basically what defines them - perhaps not surprisingly living at the other end of the world. | ![](/images/avatars/2559.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 13:40 - Jul 26 with 1904 views | Nov77 | England name unchanged team. Anderson retains place. | ![](/images/avatars/2744.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 14:25 - Jul 26 with 1864 views | TheChef |
Ashes 2023 on 13:40 - Jul 26 by Nov77 | England name unchanged team. Anderson retains place. |
Really hope Jimmy comes to the party, but just can't see it. Hope I'm wrong. | ![](/images/avatars/2559.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 15:29 - Jul 26 with 1811 views | stowmarketrange | Anyone else going to any of the days at the Oval,apart from me and Black Crowe? I’ll be in the blocks next to the Bedser stand towards the front for all 5 days.I think the qpr shirt will make an appearance on Saturday. Shame it’s not a decider,but I’ll settle for a 2-2 draw again.I just hope it’s a good game and the weather doesn’t spoil this one too. | ![](/images/avatars/4993.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 15:44 - Jul 26 with 1796 views | R_from_afar |
Ashes 2023 on 10:42 - Jul 23 by LimehouseR | I think if it is agreed at the start of a series or is enforced so everyone knows the rules then it is fine. Yeah we'd pray for rain too if he were in there position but ultimately a match should be decided by actual play not an uncontrollable factor like the weather. The umpires have been awful this match. England have had to overturn two LBW decisions in the first innings and the last wicket had to be appealed too, it was clearly out. Then they took ages to do a pitch inspection, about half an hour after the ground staff had prepared it. Then they said play to start in 45 minutes?! Ridiculous. The biggest joke was the umpire yesterday claiming it was bad light so we couldn't bowl seam, without consulting the light meter first and whilst wearing sunglasses. Slightly fishy if you ask me... I'd be amazed if we get any significant play today so that's it really. England did the best they could. Some people moan and say they should have declared earlier but Australia would now have a lead so I think it was the right call anyway. |
"The biggest joke was the umpire yesterday claiming it was bad light so we couldn't bowl seam, without consulting the light meter first and whilst wearing sunglasses. Slightly fishy if you ask me..." Many years ago, I was playing in a club cricket match and my team were at home, and batting. We had brought along our own very elderly, specialist umpire, but one of the side batting was operating as the other umpire for each side. We weren't doing well and the weather was miserable, cold with drizzle which just went on and on. A wicket fell and our next man in whispered to the rest of the team by the side of the pitch: "Watch this, I'll put a stop to the game so we can get inside and out of the rain". He put his glasses on, strode out to bat, then announced to the umpires: "I can't see the ball because my glasses keep getting covered in drizzle". The umpires were sympathetic and took the bails off but as the players started to trail off the field, one of the opposition piped up: "Hang on, if you need to wear glasses, how come you weren't wearing them when you were umpiring earlier?" | ![](/images/avatars/5145.gif) |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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Ashes 2023 on 15:54 - Jul 26 with 1782 views | nix |
Ashes 2023 on 15:29 - Jul 26 by stowmarketrange | Anyone else going to any of the days at the Oval,apart from me and Black Crowe? I’ll be in the blocks next to the Bedser stand towards the front for all 5 days.I think the qpr shirt will make an appearance on Saturday. Shame it’s not a decider,but I’ll settle for a 2-2 draw again.I just hope it’s a good game and the weather doesn’t spoil this one too. |
I'm going on Friday. Will look out for you! | ![](/images/avatars/16746.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 15:54 - Jul 26 with 1782 views | R_from_afar |
Ashes 2023 on 14:25 - Jul 26 by TheChef | Really hope Jimmy comes to the party, but just can't see it. Hope I'm wrong. |
I hope he has a great test too. I do think some people underestimate the value of his economical bowling. His miserly spells build pressure for other bowlers to exploit. He's often the most economical and only goes for about two an over. Obviously, you'd want him to contribute a fair number of wickets too, but stopping the scoring at his end encourages the batters to take more risks against the other bowlers. | ![](/images/avatars/5145.gif) |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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Ashes 2023 on 16:25 - Jul 26 with 1744 views | flynnbo |
Ashes 2023 on 15:29 - Jul 26 by stowmarketrange | Anyone else going to any of the days at the Oval,apart from me and Black Crowe? I’ll be in the blocks next to the Bedser stand towards the front for all 5 days.I think the qpr shirt will make an appearance on Saturday. Shame it’s not a decider,but I’ll settle for a 2-2 draw again.I just hope it’s a good game and the weather doesn’t spoil this one too. |
Going tomorrow and Saturday but have sold my Friday ticket. Am in Galadari stand. Will look out for you, Stow. Haven't decided what to wear yet! | ![](/images/avatars/1412.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) | Login to get fewer ads
Ashes 2023 on 19:50 - Jul 26 with 1696 views | BlackCrowe |
Ashes 2023 on 16:25 - Jul 26 by flynnbo | Going tomorrow and Saturday but have sold my Friday ticket. Am in Galadari stand. Will look out for you, Stow. Haven't decided what to wear yet! |
I'm there tomorrow, Friday and Sunday. All in block 19. Be fun to org a lunchtime pint and meet up if anyone's up for it (tomorrow's a bit tricky as i'm with work but Friday and Sunday fine). | ![](/images/avatars/1396.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 21:02 - Jul 26 with 1652 views | LimehouseR | Aussies will play for another draw. The rain is going to make it another short test match. | ![](/images/avatars/1378.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 15:10 - Jul 27 with 1570 views | Nov77 | Commiserations to anyone with day 4 and 5 tickets.. | ![](/images/avatars/2744.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 20:44 - Jul 27 with 1460 views | Hooparoo | Never seen so many catches dropped in a series from both teams | ![](/images/avatars/1658.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 16:03 - Jul 28 with 1331 views | R_from_afar | The changing the bails thing was an amazing bit of psychological warfare which worked! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/64959413?ns_mchannel=social&ns_sour I'm not sure if it is against the rules, probably not. | ![](/images/avatars/5145.gif) |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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Ashes 2023 on 11:30 - Jul 29 with 1205 views | Nov77 | Good start by England, they’ve scored as many in the first 5 overs as Oz did in the first session yesterday. Weather’s going to do us again isn’t it? Looked at the forecast, rain starts around 3pm tomorrow and goes through Monday. | ![](/images/avatars/2744.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 13:49 - Jul 29 with 1111 views | Superhoops2808 | Great to see Zak in amongst the runs again - As I was posting he's gone | ![](/images/avatars/1639.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 17:40 - Jul 29 with 1026 views | Nov77 | England have been superb today (a welcome distraction from the football), pity joe couldn’t get a hundred. Looking like a 400+ lead so shouldn’t lose, just need the rain to stay away long enough. Pitch looking very flat and easy to bat on. | ![](/images/avatars/2744.gif) |
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Ashes 2023 on 17:44 - Jul 29 with 1020 views | Rangersw12 | Still gutting how we handed those two tests to the Aussies as we have been far better than them It reminds me a bit of the 2009 series where the better team lost | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 18:58 - Jul 29 with 985 views | Snipper | Stuart Broad retiring after this test series. We’ll miss him. | ![](/images/avatars/1293.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 19:48 - Jul 29 with 951 views | Hoopstar | A real surprise from Stuart Broad there, he's been our best/most consistent bowler again this series and we'll really miss him. Kudos to him going out at the top though - hope we can push the win through from here, be a travesty for the Aussies to win the series outright. | ![](/images/avatars/2206.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 19:50 - Jul 29 with 950 views | WirralHoop | Thank you for some amazing memories. 8-15 my COO at the time basically ordered me to stop working and get the TV on. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 20:26 - Jul 29 with 898 views | Malintabuk |
Ashes 2023 on 19:50 - Jul 29 by WirralHoop | Thank you for some amazing memories. 8-15 my COO at the time basically ordered me to stop working and get the TV on. |
On the train coming back from the Oval. Saw the news of his retirement and was shocked Gutted don't have tickets for tomorrow, but I hope he finishes on the top wicket taker of the series deserves Fantastic days play today and we are still not out of the woods. This series is just a series that don't stop giving... even the last few overs were fantastic Pity that we never won the Ashes but what a great advert for the gamec | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 20:31 - Jul 29 with 1717 views | flynnbo | Got back about 30 minutes ago having left early to catch one of the last trains. Another great day and will be glued tomorrow. | ![](/images/avatars/1412.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 21:32 - Jul 29 with 1636 views | thame_hoops | I thought we could’ve batted them out of the game completely, the late collapse was annoying. Still though, should be enough runs I would’ve thought | ![](/images/avatars/1592.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 21:49 - Jul 29 with 1598 views | stowmarketrange |
Ashes 2023 on 20:31 - Jul 29 by flynnbo | Got back about 30 minutes ago having left early to catch one of the last trains. Another great day and will be glued tomorrow. |
It was a great day all round from the 1st ball to the last.Some top banter with Mitchell Marsh on the boundary and some lovely shots by our batsmen.Shame we threw a few cheap wickets away at the end,but it’s already more than any other side has chased down to win a test at the Oval so hopefully the rain stays away and we get the win we deserve. I was going to wear the hoops tomorrow but after todays result I’m not so sure.I’m on the front row of block 5 tomorrow so if the Aussies ever score any boundaries you might see my shirt. | ![](/images/avatars/4993.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
Ashes 2023 on 01:41 - Jul 30 with 1526 views | SydneyRs | Its actually ridiculous that Australia has retained the urn given the performances of the two sides. This series could easily have been 4-1 England whereas last time we were lucky to get 2-2. Certainly England's approach has been absolutely vindicated, something the Aussie media will be absolutely hating. | ![](/images/avatars/0.gif) | | ![](/images/icons/ignore-user.png) |
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