Topic: Ashes 2010 - squad announcement, warm up's, Tests and ODI's

[The 5th Benitle]

While there are a few cricketers about, broke my trust V800 in the nets the other day, an old school bat. A lot of modern bats seem awfully big and heavy, any suggestions?

Go Indian. SS. Beasts.

[CHOPPER]

I asked yesterday would or should we bat all day, now that we are way ahead; at what point should we stop (if at all) and have ago at them?

[Cassiel]

I don't think I ever played Lancashire so I would have missed Crawley - not sure tho, but yes, you're probably right. I got found out in the U18's. In truth, I'm getting more and more found out - a year on year progression.

I hear you brother.

[Bennyo]

Got my eye on a GN 5-star oblivion, though to be honest think I'll just go pick up the best piece of wood I can find in the shop for my money.

[The 5th Benitle]

Got my eye on a GN 5-star oblivion, though to be honest think I'll just go pick up the best piece of wood I can find in the shop for my money.

The bat DK was referring to that I picked up at Lords is a GN (my first since my Powerspot in 1988). Test class willow, Ignite. Were doing a special deal on custom made ones. It's sweet.

[Gus 1855]

I thought my bat would go last year and found a Gray Nicholls Millenium LH at VKS in Ealing which was lush. (the bat, not the shop, the shop is like going into an estate agents). Can't find one anymore though.

Suspect your descriptor of "beast" for the SS would rule it out for me, not a big hitter. More of a timer than a hitter. Only have a cover drive and a square/late cut in my locker, so no need to go overboard.

[Bennyo]

Lovely. What's the grain like? Think a custom bat would be wasted on me.

[Old No7]

Come on tim, the leads 250 now, 10 off 67 isn't helping

[The 5th Benitle]

Suspect your descriptor of "beast" for the SS would rule it out for me, not a big hitter. More of a timer than a hitter. Only have a cover drive and a square/late cut in my locker, so no need to go overboard.

Lots of meat but v light.

[Ray K]

I asked yesterday would or should we bat all day, now that we are way ahead; at what point should we stop (if at all) and have ago at them?

There's no chance that Strauss will declare. As bad as the Aussie bowlers are, even they'd manage to get 3 of the tail out before the end of the day.
That should give them 100 odd overs to skittle them out.

[Gus 1855]

That's the chap!

http://www.montysports.com/product_info.php/cPath/27_76/products_id/145

[Gus 1855]

Good sprinkler action there.

[Crosby Nick]

I thought my bat would go last year and found a Gray Nicholls Millenium LH at VKS in Ealing which was lush. (the bat, not the shop, the shop is like going into an estate agents). Can't find one anymore though.

Haha that is just down the road from me. I love it there - proper old school sports shop and the only place around where you can get cricket gear, tennis rackets etc rather than bargain buckets of shiny shit!

[Bennyo]

That's the chap!

http://www.montysports.com/product_info.php/cPath/27_76/products_id/145

very interesting... Ealing you say... looks like I'll pay them a visit on Sat!

[Gus 1855]

Haha that is just down the road from me. I love it there - proper old school sports shop and the only place around where you can get cricket gear, tennis rackets etc rather than bargain buckets of shiny shit!

Yup, I get very angry with sports shops nowadays, in particular Lilywhites in town. Used to be able to get everything in there, not you ask for a cricket ball and they look at you with a vacant expression.

Any other decent sports shops you know of?

[-Sad Fuck-]

What's Bresnan playing at?

[Gus 1855]

very interesting... Ealing you say... looks like I'll pay them a visit on Sat!

Ah, no, that place is not in Ealing, they don't have the Millenium anymore, the Ealing shop is www.vks.com

[The 5th Benitle]

Lovely. What's the grain like? Think a custom bat would be wasted on me.

It's wasted on me too
Really smooth, even grain. Orange stickers a bit garish though!
Hmm. Just tried to upload a pic but it wouldn't let me. Presumably Roy is still affecting the server.

[Komic]

Seeming though there is a topic of bats floating around there is a myth about my dad's bat, he said that it got broken and he fixed it with concrete and bandages. It is a heavy bat and I've never get a straight answer from him over it. Is it possible that he's telling the truth or is it just a bandage over a crack - never looked incase it did split in two?

[CHOPPER]

There's no chance that Strauss will declare. As bad as the Aussie bowlers are, even they'd manage to get 3 of the tail out before the end of the day.
That should give them 100 odd overs to skittle them out.

I'd of thought getting them in to get them out and win by an innings, plus runs and sort of doing it in style may have been the order of the day.

Excuse my naivety if this is a ridonculous conclusion.

[ABJ]

I asked yesterday would or should we bat all day, now that we are way ahead; at what point should we stop (if at all) and have ago at them?

If possible, Bat until Tea and then put them in. We should have a lead of well over 400 by then which would give us around 120 overs to get them out and wrap up a 3-1 series pasting 

[Cassiel]

This is your place, just off the A3 near Richmond Park.

http://www.fordhamsports.co.uk/

Nowt but cricket gear. If I'd walked in there aged 14 I would have passed out with joy. Now just almost pass out.

[The 5th Benitle]

Fordham Sports is worth the journey. On the A3 near Kingston. More bats than a Guatemalan cave in there.

[Crosby Nick]

Yup, I get very angry with sports shops nowadays, in particular Lilywhites in town. Used to be able to get everything in there, not you ask for a cricket ball and they look at you with a vacant expression.

Any other decent sports shops you know of?

Is Lilywhites not owned by Sports Direct now? Agreed though, used to be able to spend hours wandering round there and now it's terrible. Don't know of any others really. I used to play hockey to a decent standard and there was a good shop just near Kew Bridge so that probably does cricket stuff too. Does anyone up north remember Barrington's in Knutsford? Cracking place!

[The 5th Benitle]

This is your place, just off the A3 near Richmond Park.

http://www.fordhamsports.co.uk/

Nowt but cricket gear. If I'd walked in there aged 14 I would have passed out with joy. Now just almost pass out.

I should learn to type quicker

[Something Else]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

[Cassiel]

Seeming though there is a topic of bats floating around there is a myth about my dad's bat, he said that it got broken and he fixed it with concrete and bandages. It is a heavy bat and I've never get a straight answer from him over it. Is it possible that he's telling the truth or is it just a bandage over a crack - never looked incase it did split in two?

There was a special cement people used to mend bats. Some of the old guys I played with had more tape than wood on their bats too.

["Nookie".]

https://www.solly-sports.com/

That's the one near me. A lot of internationals get gear from there while playing at Headingley, seem to remember Tendulkar being one.

[Bennyo]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

Thanks for the heads up. Was trying to forget all that to be honest!

[Ray K]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

It's late. He's fucked off to bed with his mug of Ovaltine.

["Nookie".]

Is Lilywhites not owned by Sports Direct now? Agreed though, used to be able to spend hours wandering round there and now it's terrible. Don't know of any others really. I used to play hockey to a decent standard and there was a good shop just near Kew Bridge so that probably does cricket stuff too. Does anyone up north remember Barrington's in Knutsford? Cracking place!

If it is, don't fucking go.

[Crosby Nick]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

I'm honestly preferring the bat chat right now! But cheers for the heads up, will have a read. Currently flicking between here and getting wound up by Twigg the Manc's comments, dunno why I bother!

[Gus 1855]

I used to go to 3D sports in Kettering which was similar to Fordham Sports, they had about 12 of every bat in there to swing around with the specific weights of the bats listed. Used to make me feel good saying 'no, I will go for the 2lb 10oz bat, I think the extra ounce makes all the difference'.

[The 5th Benitle]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

Twitter's been in meltdown all day mate, have decided to only believe it when I see Paddy Barclay's obituary to a great man destroyed by us nasty fans.

[Cassiel]

I should learn to type quicker

And I got a link in too *polishes nails*

[Bennyo]

For those concentrating on the cricket, lots of rumours breaking Roy has fucked off. Maybe he is hoping to take Collys place

Did you just set me up for L6's trap?

[Gus 1855]

Did you just set me up for L6's trap?

I got caught.....bastard!

[Bennyo]

Is Lilywhites not owned by Sports Direct now?

It is.

[The 5th Benitle]

And I got a link in too *polishes nails*

True. No Guatemalan cave joke though.

[Bangin Them In]

If possible, Bat until Tea and then put them in. We should have a lead of well over 400 by then which would give us around 120 overs to get them out and wrap up a 3-1 series pasting 

1/2 hour before the break and then put them in.

You get a quick run at them, then the bowlers get a rest, another go tea-close and fresh for the morning.