Shouting from the Hop

As expected, the Aussies got past 600 in the first innings of this first Ashes test (Hussey bowled by Flintoff left), and have England in trouble at 53-3 in reply. It will take very good knocks from Pieterson, Bell, Flintoff, and Jones if England are to secure enough runs to prevent the follow-on. Of course, if they fail miserably, Ricky Ponting may not ask them to follow on, but bat until the game is well out of reach, and set England an impossible target on a wearing pitch (obviously suited to Shane Warne!).

It's all a bit deprssing for the English media, who had built up an England side into something that they are not - world beaters! The pessimists are recalling that England won the Ashes last summer after falling behind in the first test, so that's alright then! I am not so confident, and think England will lose this match sometime late on Sunday, and with it any hope of making a decent series of this tour.

But what do I know?!? Come on KP - stick it back up them! Let's get a thousand, and make them lose by an innings!!!