The Ashes

Indoor cricket exists using a plastic playing surface of some sort. But it has about as much of a following as pogostick racing.Cricket purists would probably get into an apoplectic frenzy at the mere idea of putting retractable rooves over hallowed cricket grounds. In that sense yes I guess it is considered "part of the game" as you suggest.In practise I suspect the size of the field is the other main prohibitor for implementing roofing of any sort. A cricket field is between 20,000 to 30,000 square metres. In comparison a football (or "soccer" if you insist on calling it that) pitch is between 5,000 and 10,000 square metres. I dunno. Bizzarrely implementing roofing is not a question I have ever heard discussed.At the moment Edgebaston (the cricket ground in Birmingham where the latest Test match should be taking place) resembles a series of small disconnected lakes. The actual pitch in the middle is covered but the fielders would need snorkels at the very least.

Well, there's an idea...underwater cricket. They have underwater hockey, as bizarre as that sounds, so why not? I was all set to suggest merely a pavilion type roof over the playing field, rather than a full, domed stadium, but... If the rain is strong or hard enough, you still end up with too much water. Oh well, maybe we should pick up the entire Island of Britain and move it to a less rain prone area.

Really? WTF? But then what would we Brits talk about? And how would we hold onto our current 1-0 lead in the current Ashes series? I think we had better stay where we are. Play to commence at 17:00 BST (i.e. any moment now). More later.....Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.

Interestingly enough, it was invented in England. Wikipedia Entry

Well, why not? We've had High Energy Cricket, now Underwater Cricket, what's next? Space Cricket? Plenty of time for tea in that game:- How's it going?
- O, splendid, my dear chum. The second OBW this year.
- OBW?
- Ah, I forgot, you're a "wetter".
- Yes, well, let's not underestimate Underwater Cricket, shall we?
- Right. Well, anyway, OBW means Orbit Before Wicket. So the tea season has started.
- Marvelous!Edited by Parasomnium, : No reason given.

Straggler,Is there a web site (free of course) that shows the highlights?Better yet, is there one that will stream the match?I've looked in vain ... and it wasn't there, either.There is no printed description that could ever exist that matches the actual underlying tone of the match in progress. It has to be seen, but, where? How? Free is a necessity. I like the game. I don't love it.

This is Cricket: 4 min overview

Thank you, Asgara, but I'm looking for the Ashes highlights.If you know where they are I would really be your bestest friend.

Streaming I cannot find short of signing up for pay per match TV extras.But after the event highlights are here http://cricket-online.tv/...tralia-3rd-test-day-1-highlights. To my knowlegde this is country independent. Let me know if not!!Look away now if you don't want to know the state of play before watching the highlights.Aus are 126 for 1 wicket down and look like taking a commanding lead. England's fast bowling all-rounder is pumped and fit for the match with cortisone injections, plasters and general gluing together ("Freddie" Flintoff - Actual name "Andrew Flintoff" but "Freddie" to his disciples by virtue of his namesake "Fred Flintstone")Aus have lost their wicket keeper (essentially a "backstop" who has the crucial and agile role of taking most of the catches to get batsmesn out) to a broken finger incurred during a practise session. Replaced by a test debutant.It is day one and all to play for but Aus are in the ascendancy and have the psychological advantage of having blunted Englands initial pace attack. The Aus best batsman and captain Ricky "Punter" Ponting is in and looking in good touch.As an England fan things are looking ominous.......... the Aussies are in control and England need to get some early wickets tomorrow before the game escapes them.Not good

The "baggy green". No not an embarressing ailment. Nor a quaintly named English village pub. The "baggy green" is a part of Australian cricketing folklore. It is the dream of every Aussie schoolboy and shrouded in history, tradition and no small element of mystique. The "baggy green" is a hat. Or more specifically a cap.Unlike the disposable, sponsor logo laden headgear of other national and international sports teams the Australian cricket team wear their uniform "baggy green" caps as a badge of honour, pride and team solidarity. No modern baseball style variations allowed. Ceremonially presented in a manner akin to the way that a great warrior would have been declared as a knight of the realm in times gone by. Worn until threadbare and beaten with no replacement requested. Each mark, each scratch, each flaw telling a tale of battles past.We English are thought to be sentimental about "our" game but the Australians have adopted more than just the sport and spectacle of cricket. They have in many ways made it their own. As much as is galls me to say it this is why the Australians are the best side in the world at the moment. The Aussies take no small amount of pleasure in reminding their once colonial masters of their superiority at the sport and of the long history of sporting rivalry between the two nations. Both teams are desperate to win.Latest: Skiddy England quick bowler Graeme Onions has got two Aussie batsman out in two consecutive balls. Hoorah! Aussie captain Ponting is still in and looking furious. England fight back to take the initiative. At this point England are probably slightly in front but the game is in the balance. Great stuff. I'm off to the pub to catch the action.Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.

8 wickets down at lunch! What a turn around!

Thank you, Straggler. Just what I was looking for.I watched first day this morning. Seems there were quite a few LBWs not called by the ump. Me thinks England got away with some here.Umps and refs are the same the world over ... foggy-eyed.When I first was introduced to the game at the Gabba I noticed the crowds did not take much exception to an umpires errant call. In the States we jeer the referees with delight at the slightest provocation.I suggest the following cheers be instituted in Cricket, especially for the Aussies:"Nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts, we got screwed!""Elevator, elevator, we got the shaft!""The ref beats his wife ... The ref beats his wife ... The ref beats his wife ..."This should add some additional color (or colour if you prefer) to the proceedings.

Hey AZFuller highlights can be found here http://www.five.tv/programmes/sport/cricket-on-five (AbE - Todays play should be here somewhere later tonight)I have been in the pub all afternoon watching with delight as Aussie wickets tumbled like the proverbial dropping fly. Forgive me for mixing my metaphors. My head is a little fuzzy.Buuurp.England bowlers absolutely on fire. Anderson bending, dipping and jagging the ball all over the place. England bowling success being followed up by a reasonably solid batting performance. Not that I actually caught much of the England battting as by that point I was too busy trying to single handedly drink England to victory.Hic.Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.

Spectacular swing bowling. Dramatic turnaround in Englands favour.Who knows what will happen next? Ebb and flow. Peaks and troughs. That is the nature of the game.

Hey who are you supporting here? Surely no the old enemy? Yeah it's all very crickety to unquestioningly accept the umpires decision as final. "The spirit of the game". A hangover from the whole 'gentlemans game' mentatility of a bygone era. Totally the opposite to football where anti-ref chants are practically obligatory. Cricket crowds generally reserve their ire and wit for the opposition players (or even their own!) rather than the umpires. For example: And other such gems of inspiration and creativity.Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.Edited by Straggler, : Fix quotes