Any cricket fans?-The Ashes

Me, me - although I'm having a bit of a hissy fit at the sheer lack of Yorkshire lads being picked!

I'm also very sad that Ryan Sidebottom won't be playing ? He's a lovely lad and very fit IRL too ?

I plan to watch every minute of every test....

Oooh I'm glad there'll be someone else to watch along with me!

There's a reason there's a lack of Yorkshire lads ?

I think I actually prefer test cricket to twenty20, am I odd?!

Oy you - Ryan is from Yorkshire. And I'll have you know I dated an ex-Englad test player from Yorkshire.....

I love the drama of the twenty20 but I'm definitely a traditionalist and love the tests. Especially the Ashes.

We're a strange family because my Grandad is a Yorkshire man but lives in Lancashire now so we do support both counties really!

Oooh which player?

Me! I'm also on maternity leave so hoping to catch a fair bit of the live play in between enforced breaks for cbeebies and toddler care. Hoping Freddie pulls something special out of the bag. Looking forward to the look on Ponting's face and he loses the series (well ok that is probably very wishful thinking but a girl can dream!)

<raises hands>

Me, me,me athough I suspect you already knew that ?

I agree with Hecate, there just isn't enough Yorkshire players in the squad but I shall watch as much as I can depending on how long I am off sick.

I can't wait.

Yay, if there's 4 of us does that mean we can justify a daily Ashes thread? ?

You're right bingy, if we win Ponting's face will be worth it alone

Me 5 (I think). I'm most annoyed as my H and Dad have oval tickets and my bro Lords tickets - did they think about me? Did they heck!

NO! Omg, I'd be fuming-have you culled?

? We have subscribed to Sky Sports for the summer just so we can watch it. We are Sussex fans so are looking forward to the County Championship final as well (although I will be babysitting while my H goes ☹️).

Me. There is a chance we are going to the second day of Lords. I haven't really been able to follow cricket as much as I would like over the past few years for a variety of reasons but I will always love the Ashes.

SGL, I like your commitment.

RBH, very jealous. I would love to go to Lords or indeed any England match but some of the prices I've seen are scary.

PE, we could go to Headingly although I presume we're too late?

Han - Gareth Batty

I may have made the mistake of telling him I had the hots for Ryan.........Ryan's dad taught me to bowl

Had to google to jog my memory but I recognised the name. Don't know why as I don't 'know' you but he doesn't look like your type ?

And could Ryan's dad not get you an introduction?

Another excited cricket fan !

On paper, it has to be one of the strongest squads we've fielded in years (assuming everyone is fit and stays fit - yes, I'm looking at you Freddie).

I hope Ali Cook and Ravi Bopara have a good series - nice lads, I met them in the security queue at Stanstead last year heading off to a match.

Part of me still thinks Steve Harmisson should have had another crack at the Aussies after his form in the warm-ups, and I'm not convinced Monty really has what it takes, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

Also, not exactly delighted that we'll have Katherine Jenkins singing the Welsh National Anthemn - Isn't it supposed to be the English cricket team ? Hmmmm.

I missed that! How strange.

I think Freddie could very easily slip from national hero to villain if he isn't careful and at least shows a few good spells.

I agree re Panesar

Yep - I'm over for the Lord's and the Oval tests.

I know Rashid hasn't had Monty's test exposure, but if you look at their county history they have very similar bowling figures. The big difference is that Adil can actually bat (and field) quite well.

On current form, Monty's 6 wickets at 86 runs a piece (after 9 innings) really doesn't look like striking fear into Australian hearts, although with 94 runs in that time, his batting average is on the up. ?

Did anyone read the Guardian supplement on the Ashes? I've just realised it's been recycled but their descriptions of the players was very amusing.

You're right re Monty P&aP, he just seems a bit I don't know. I can recall a moment of brilliance from most of the other players, a good wicket, catch or some good batting etc but Monty just doesn't seem to register on my radar. He has to prove us wrong ?

VS, very jealous! you should take a hitched banner ?

I didn't post at the time as I didn't know if anyone would be interested but I bumped into the entire Indian Cricket team in Nottingham the other week. They were getting off their coach and going into the hotel and I was wandering along on the phone to a client. When I looked up I had walked into the middle of the press photoshoot!

I am already going, the tickets sold out ages ago, thankfully H's accountant is a mad cricket fan and bought me one ? I love cricket but have never seen any live ?

PE so jealous, I expect a full report!

SGL, that's cool-I'm impressed especially at you sauntering into their press conference ?

It`s the England and Wales Cricket board so not that strange to have Katherine Jenkins there..and Simon Jones was Welsh...

Am gonna be up nice and early to sit and watch the match, sadly work then gets in the way, although I`m hopeful that Damascus will somehow have coverage, else I`ll use the BBC live text to keep updated. ?

You know me, I shall fill you in ?

I can't wait for it to start tomorrow, maybe we should have a msn chat about it ?

Monty is cute but yes, not exactly a threatening presence on the team!

Just hope all the optimism isn't dashed by lunchtime as England slide to 60 for 4 or some such rubbish score.

I'm very jealous of those going to the live games, but I'm too pregnant/ will be too tied to a newborn baby to even contemplate going in person. Ah well, thank goodness for sky!

hear hear!

Raises hand. Me too. Although I have to go in work early today so will only see the first hour or so of today's play.

Looking forward to it immensely as is my 14 year old son.

Freddie will not let us down (said more in hope than expectation ?)

I love the Ashes. The bit I love most of all though is Test Match Special on the radio - it has to be the right presenters, and there have been some notable absences recently, but it's fab. I've even been tempted to send them a cake or two.

We watched England womans v Australia womans the other weeks - England were pretty dire (particularly given that they've got two world titles), so I'm hoping that the men's team are a bit more impressive!

Another Ashes fan here! Whilst I'm not too good on the technicall stuff I do enjoy it!!!

I'll be following at work on the Guardian's over by over coverage - makes me laugh so much! Has anyone read 'Is It Cowardly To Pray For Rain?' - a great book on Ashes 2005 using the over by over coverage from the Guardian online!

I'm sat ready and waiting ?

penguin, as long as you enjoy it that's the main thing. The bit that confuses me is fielding positions because I've never learnt them but it doesn't stop me enjoying the game.

Glad we've won the toss, good start!

You're not alone - I can't tell my silly mid off from my backwards square leg. ?