Ashes Review

Haven't much energy these days, for what seem to be boring/repetitive games, but, felt I missed a major opportunity in the 5th and final Test.

After 3 days, a draw was looking v likely, with rain forecast to fall all day, on the 4th day.

In the evening of the 3rd day, the draw was trading at 1.08/1.09, and thou it looked v likely, I didn't feel the rain would be as heavy as expected, and left up a speculative lay, of £50k, at 1.06 - liability £3k.

In the wee hours, the draw drifted to 1.10, so, I cancelled the trade, only to see the draw trading at 1.03, pre day 4, as the weather moved in.

Day 4 was a washout, and the draw traded £2m at 1.01, and England traded 660/1 .. Which, it was a mistake, not to get involved with.

Day 5, saw an early dec by Clarke, and England went as low at 1.5,before finally falling short, by 20 odd runs, due to bad light.

I won smalls on the test, but, have the feeling, one got away.

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4th Ashes Test - Durham - Day 4/5

Radar seems to indicate rain will likely fall, after 2pm, on the 4th day.

This might not be terminal, but, if England are still batting, will throw various spammers into the works.

 

Some jumpy market moves, already.

Draw down to 3.75, in the early horse, back to 5.0 at the start, and within 3 overs, back to sub 4.0.

Eng 248-5. Lead by 216 .. Rain probably in 2 hrs.

Eng 1.76

Aus 5.2

Draw 4.0

 

Bell goes to a grub-hunter, 251-6, lead by 219

New ball

Eng 1.77

Aus 3.45

Draw 6.6

 

And then, next ball, another.

Eng 1.77

Aus 2.86

Draw 12

 

Drinks

Eng 306-8. .. Some v quick runs for England, mainly from Bresnan.

Eng 1.58

Aus 3.4

Draw 12 .. Which, is absolute madness

 

England 330 all out, lead by 299

Just before lunch, and no rain yet. Tomorrow looks reasonably clear, but draw, as ever, refuses to go away ...

Eng 1.59

Aus 3.1

Draw 17.5 ???

 

Aus 10-0 .. Eng lose a review .. One day, these will get priced in, properly.

Rain delay, but not for too long. Draw backers a bit unlucky, as some really heavy stuff, just slid by. Eng bowlers look a trifle unlucky, and Hill still getting a few wrong, but Aus so far, survive.

Aus 50-0

Eng 2.18

Aus 1.98

Draw 24

 

Aus 97-0

 

Eng 3.75

Aus 1.40

Draw 48

Aussie game to lose now .. Rain keeping away .. Tea in 20 mins, and light might start to go, but, Aussie doing it easy.

 

Aus 111-1

 

Eng 3.2

Aus 1.48

Draw 48

 

Aus 151-2

 

Eng 4.7

Aus 1.28

Draw 75

 

Aus 168-3 .. Good knock by Warner, maybe some life in this game.

Eng 3.4

Aus 1.43

Draw 60

 

I left to go play cards, as didn't want to ruin my book, and Aus v tamely folded, to lose, almost embarrassingly.

You could feel for the coach, who is a new guy, and deserved to get at least one win.

The side does look short of runs .. And Eng got the game, from no-where, with the highlight, being the superb bowling of Broad, who took 11 wkts in the game.

Sometimes, he's v average, but, when he's good, he's v good.

Anderson looks a bit tired .. After having a great season.

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4th Ashes Test - Durham

Series score 2-0, following the rain draw at Manchester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some rain probable, during the 5 days at Durham, but, given the Aus need to play aggressively, I think u have to be against the draw.

Pre-toss ..

England 2.14

Aus 3.85

Draw 3.85

England win toss and bat

After a very slow session, Eng finish at Lunch on 57-1

Eng 2.07

Aus 5.1

Draw 3.0

I am with England, at avg 2.20 .. Okish book.

 

Tea - 155-4

Eng 2.14

Aus 3.75

Draw 3.75

Ball starting to spin, so, have gone against draw.

 

Cue wkt .. 5 down

 

Eng grind themselves into a corner ..

Eng 199-8

 

Eng 2.74

Aus 1.98

Draw 7.6

 

Average its inns score here, in 5 1st class games this yr, all about 250, so, this score isn't desperate, but, 104-1, to this, it ain't.

England lost their mo-jo, but, have to lay Aus, sub 2.0.

 

So, COP ..

Eng 238-9, which maybe isn't so bad.

Eng 2.56

Aus 2.15

Draw 6.8

 

Interesting days play, and u get the impression the Eng batters find it hard to play against bowling which is naggingly accurate, and give away their wkts.

Maybe the bowlers, will come to the rescue again.

 

Day 2

Anderson gets hit on the head, and succumbs to a straight one, a few balls later.

Eng 238 all out.

Eng 2.72

Aus 2.02

Draw 7.0

 

Run line, is about 300 .. Think they will get more, and a 100 run lead, may well be the match.

 

Warner goes early, 12-1.

Eng 2.34

Aus 2.18 (1.91, pre)

Draw 8.0

 

Some volatile trading, as Aus lose 2 then 3 wkts, but Rogers steadies the ship, and after tea, Aus are 203-4.

Just 35 behind, and thou bad light may be an issue, rain is staying away.

Eng 4.9

Aus 1.74

Draw 4.6

 

Day 3

 

An early wkt, for England, with Aus 7 behind, 3 wkts left.

Eng 2.78

Aus 2.1

Draw 5.9

 

The draw price, is being held in place, by the light/rain, which may come later, but right now, it's sunshine.

 

Aus all out, with the last review, really funny, as the players accept it's out, and walk off, to leave the umpire to raise his finger (he got it wrong, again), to no- one.

Eng 2.26

Aus 2.68

Draw 5.3

 

Draw refuses to go away, with showers maybe tmrrw.

 

After lunch, Eng 48-2, 16 ahead.

 

Eng 2.26

Aus 2.38

Draw 7.6

 

No rain yet, and sunshine now.

Tea - Eng 123-3 91 runs ahead.

Some dark clouds about, but, they keep missing !!

Game really moved on, after lunch, with some quick wkts, but Bell and Pietersen has moved the game, firmly to England.

 

Eng 2.06

Aus 2.94

Draw 5.7

 

Have had some nice trades, and am an Draw lay, at 2.1 avg.

 

An hour or so left in the day, if light permits. The weather has been v tricky, with pixels fading away, and rain falling, for literally seconds.

Eng 176-4

 

Eng 1.95

Aus. 2.92

Draw 6.8

 

The test seems to be heading England's way, with a lead of 144, and it looks like 225, would be challenging.

 

COP Eng 234-5. Lead by 202

 

Eng 1.76

Aus 4.2

Draw 5.0

 

Sme thoughts, there will be some rain tomorrow, and might lose 40 overs.

I had one bad trade, which set me back quite a bit, but, have ok book.

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