The Ashes 2009

[Reg Smeeton]

Always do what the opposition least want you to do - which in this case means pick Ramprakash (the Oval atmosphere will be electric if they make this imaginative choice). Unfortunately Ashley Giles is one of the selectors and (a) Ramps slagged him off at the start of the season and (b) he's biased towards his Warwickshire boys, which means Bell and/or Trott is certain to play.

[Keef]

You got it spot on Reg.

Gutted, would have liked to have seen Ramprakash, would have made a good story.

[Sherwick]

Geez, Ian Bell is not only retained, but moved up to the critical number 3 position.

Beggars belief.

[????]

Personally I'd have liked to have seen Key get another chance

[Sherwick]

Let's hope Ian Bell does a bit better at the Oval than he did in 2005 in the last Ashes test...

1st Innings:

Warne to Bell, OUT

IR Bell lbw b Warne 0 (9m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

2nd Innings:

McGrath to Bell, OUT

IR Bell c Warne b McGrath 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

[Reg Smeeton]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You got it spot on Reg.

>

> Gutted, would have liked to have seen Ramprakash,

> would have made a good story.

A bit like Tom Watson at this year's Open, fairytale stories don't always come true. Still, perversely now that England are firm underdogs maybe they have a chance.

[mockney piers]

It's not looking like a world beating batting line up. I fear the worst, hope for the best obviously.

[Keef]

Monty will save us.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Yeah, I can see Ponting as Rommel.

[Brendan]

So is that why you need South Africans coming in to help you win?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Scary shades of likeness.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1973-012-43,_Erwin_Rommel.jpg/250px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1973-012-43,_Erwin_Rommel.jpg

http://www.topnews.in/uploads/Ricky-Ponting003.jpg

[Reg Smeeton]

Ricky Ponting

Alfred E. Neuman

[Brendan]

And there you have it folks. The first time ever someone has drawn a valid comparison between Field Marshall Erwin Rommel and Alfred E. Neuman.

[Sherwick]

Ponting looks like George W Bush.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Are you saying Rommel didn't commit suicide and has in fact been hanging out in North America all these years?

[Brendan]

Yes and he runs a magazine called Mad or Geisteskrank as he prefers to call it.

[Brendan]

This be a genuine request. I am going to be without a TV and out of FM braodcast area this weekend. Can any of you who have my number text me the cricket score at end of play on Saturday please? Just to let me know how it has been going.

[Keef]

Will try to remember.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Great start!

[Loz]

Brendan,

If your phone does WAP I well recommend the mobile area of the BBC site: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mobile

[Keef]

Well, not exactly racking the runs up, but at least they recovered from the early wicket, and had a steady session. Hope Bell can stay in for a bit and get a good total, he's had a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

[Fear 'n boozin]

anyone heading to the pub later to watch the close?

[Keef]

I should have kept quiet.

[Fear 'n boozin]

you had me worried there, thought Bell had gone. But you're right, we should all keep quiet!

[mockney piers]

Loving the weird David Brent theme in the Guardian obo today

"David: Under "Strengths"... you've just put making up the numbers.

Ian Bell: Yeah.

David: That's your job though, that's, that's just-

Ian Bell: - Mmm. [nods]

David: No, Ian. What. I was sort of looking for your skills within your job. So is there anything else you could have put there?

Ian Bell: [shrugs]

David: Nope. Okay. Umm... Under "Weaknesses" you've put batting."

bit unfIr as the boy is doing well today