What are you doing, Fletcher?

They've made the same mistake again, i think someone should tell the England crew that you need to take 20 wickets to win the test...... Thank fuck we've won the toss...........

Perfectt batting wicket they reckon, I just hope the front two can make a sizeable start and not get out to stupid shots and take a bit of pressure off the middle order. I don't feel confident though, 225 all out.

I also have a feeling that we'll be about 4 down at lunch. I really hope I am wrong. Batting first on this pitch we should really not lose the test.......

Just a week ago I was having a go at you for your negativity, now I am 100% with you!

The prepareation was just pathetic for the whole series in my opinion. i'd rather the one day seies's had been played before the tests as well as a few more 4 day games against the likes of Queensland, Soutth Austrailia, Tasmania or whoever. it seems like the cricket team have only been in Austrailia five minutes and are already in danger of losing the Ashes.

The Aussies will have no mercy, they will hit big runs. KP, Strauss and Collingwood in particular have got to occupy the crease and hit big scores. Getting out in the 60's and 70's will not be good enough, the Aussies will be hitting big 150's........

Come On England.....

266-3 at the close, Colly two short of a ton and KP plodding away as usual on 60.

Class- well worth staying up till half 7 for!

Collingwood and Pietersen have done excellent so far but they can prove their worth as world class players by making 150 and 100 respectively and putting further pressure on the Aussies.

It was one of the most disciplined England batting performances in years, Warne and McGrath didn't have a sniff all game and I think it will put a lot of doubt into the minds of many if they are the world beaters they used to be. Still a long way to go but a very promising start

Things are going well BUT we need a good first hour when play resumes, a good hour losing no wickets should put us past 300, and like TPP says we need a BIG score out of Colly or KP if not both. If we can get 500 on the board then we really shouldn't lose the test which is a start.

I'd really like to see us get into a posistion where KP, Freddie and Gerraint Jones can open their shoulders and take on the Aussies. We need to put the Aussies on the back foot.......

I'm still disappointed that Monty isn't playing but hopefully in his absence the team can get back in the series......

I'm just off to watch some paint dry

The barmy army my fooking big fat cock, bunch of see you next tuesdays, but hey, they are cricket fans so its sooooo ironic, isnt it