A Day at Lord's

I spent the day at Lord's yesterday for what was my first taste of an Ashes test match, and a pleasant day it was too. Play was restricted by a couple of showers in the afternoon session but it was still a more than enjoyable day.

It didn't start so well with England resuming on 364-6 with Strauss 161 not out. It took the Australians just two balls to remove the skipper without further score. This was followed by wickets in each of the next two overs leaving the home team on 378-9. A great last wicket stand between Anderson and Onions though took England to a respectable 425.

In the field England's start was almost as good as Australia's as Anderson followed up his work with the bat to have Hughes caught behind in the 3rd over. When he also had Ponting contraversially given out shortly afterwards the Aussies were 10-2.

Katich and Hussey stabalised the innings. Katich fell for 48 and was followed soon afterwards by Hussey who had completed his half century. Breaking this partnership was key and England then got a flurry of wickets to leave Australia on 156-8 at the close, still needing 70 to avoid the follow-on with just two wickets standing.

Our seats were in the main Grandstand, but despite being built 7 years later, I didn't find it as good as being in the Mound stand which was completed in 1987. The Mound stand offers more leg room so you don't leave feeling you've been cramped up all day, and is also angled so you don't get a stiff neck from sitting wih your head turned. If you were sat in the middle of the Grandstand you might be OK, but at the ends (seat 192 out of 194) it is less than ideal.

Despite that and because of the cricket we had a good day, which is more than can be said of the Aussie Kevin who sat with his mate a couple of rows behind us. In amongst a sea of England supporters he was fiercly partisan but good natured and the banter, particularly later in the day, was excellent.

Almost Time

Just over 5 minutes to go until the long awaited Ashes series gets underway in Cardiff. I think it's going to be a close run thing and I can't wait for next Friday when I have a ticket for the Lord's test.

The Aussies are in the latter stages of a transitional period and are still a strong team, but England have been blending a very useful team together too. My heart says England will win, but my head really doesn't know what will happen.

Let's hope that winning the toss is a good omen and that England can get some good runs on the board this morning. Their bowlers are inexperienced of English conditions and if they struggle first thing it could set the tone for the series.

For me it's hard to see beyond Pietersen as the top English run scorer and for them I think Ponting will be up for it as he is unlikely to be back again in 2013. I do expect Mike Hussey to score a lot of runs though, as he did in the years he spent over here with Northants.

As for bowlers, I'm pleased to see England going into this one with two spinners and Swann could get quite a few wickets in the series. I do think overall though that Anderson and Mitchell Johnson will be the top wicket takers for their countries.

11 o'clock - c,mon England!