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Joey Woodwork 8:30 Wed Jul 8
The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Start time 11.00am local (1000GMT)

Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)

England LWLWD
Australia WWDDW

Team news:
In 2009, England were sucked into playing two spinners in Cardiff. Ultimately they were grateful as Panesar helped save the day, but his pairing with Graeme Swann was not fruitful. They are unlikely to go down that route again despite the presence of Adil Rashid. The recent (British) heatwave has abated somewhat in South Wales, so four quicks with Moeen Ali - and some Root - is the most likely attack. Meanwhile, Gary Ballance and Ian Bell both begin the series under some pressure.

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson

Two Marshs, one Marsh or no Marsh. That appears to be Australia's selection conundrum. Has Chris Rogers, who missed the two Tests in West Indies with concussion, done enough to force his way back past Shaun Marsh and has Shane Watson done enough to keep his place ahead of Mitchell Marsh? The answer to both would appear to be yes.

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Shane Watson, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon


Pitch and conditions:
Keith Exton, the Glamorgan groundsman, said he does not expect a "sporting" pitch although there was a decent matting of grass left on the surface and the forecast of an overcast first morning could make the toss interesting. However, the weather is set fair and is expected to warm up during the weekend.

Stats and trivia:
Four of the top 10 Test run-scorers since January 2014 will play in this Test: Smith, Warner, Root and Ballance

Each team is likely to have three players who appeared in the 2009 match on this ground (Cook, Broad, Anderson; Clarke, Haddin, Johnson)

Dean Cosker, the 37-year-old Glamorgan left-arm spinner, will be one of England's substitute fielders for the first two days of the Test. Cosker was once viewed as an England prospect, reaching England A level between 1997 and 1999.

Quotes
"There is a lot written about my captaincy and it is important I sometimes get on the front foot. If you look back at previous teams, they were more methodical. Maybe there's more opportunity to be on the front foot with the players we've got now."
Alastair Cook

"We've been fortunate enough to have a lot of success as a team, winning away from home has been the area we've addressed and said we want to be more consistent. Beating teams in their own backyard is always the toughest part of our game and I'm sure this series will be no different."
Michael Clarke

BetterthanKaka 8:31 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Lock this shit...

worm 8:40 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

This is much better than the other one.

One McAvennieeeeee 8:45 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

This guarantees an Aus win then.

Effort.

stewie griffin 8:50 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Great thread. Thanks Wooders

One McAvennieeeeee 8:52 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

*Cringe*

Joey Woodwork 8:52 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

You cannot have one thread for 5 (FIVE) Tests, FACT

One McAvennieeeeee 9:10 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land

JustAFatKevinDavies 9:14 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Solid effort, cheese son

stewie griffin 9:20 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Going to enjoy having this Test without thundercunt Warne around.

Hopefully PUNTER will be better.

stewie griffin 9:20 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Going to enjoy having this Test without thundercunt Warne around.

Hopefully PUNTER will be better.

JustAFatKevinDavies 9:23 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

We heard you the first time

stewie griffin 9:25 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

You're up early, Fats0?

young woody 9:57 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Come on England!

ooooh Morley Morley 10:04 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Happy 'National Pretend to Like Cricket Day' everyone.

Hearney 10:34 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

HOWZ THAT!!!!

Eerie Descent 10:41 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

COME ON ENGLAND

joey5000 11:04 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

Australia 3-1 is well fancied by the visitors to Cricinfo;

Australia 5-0 England 14.66% 2747
England 5-0 Australia 2.35% 441
Australia 3-1 England 40.35% 7561
Australia 2-2 England 8.32% 1558
England 2-1 Australia 10.50% 1967
England 3-1 Australia 6.76% 1266
England 1-0 Australia 0.25% 47
Australia 2-0 England 3.90% 730
Test cricket 5-0 Everything else 5.76% 1079
None of the above 7.16% 1341
Total votes: 18737

They're wrong though. We will win this. 2-1 or 3-1.

One McAvennieeeeee 11:07 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

I have 13 (THIRTEEN) open bets.

Need to reign it in.

joey5000 11:10 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

I can understand why the Aussies are favourites, but 9/2 on England to win the series seems HUGE.

I'm happy with my 12s on Bell to be leading scorer too.

young woody 11:17 Wed Jul 8
Re: The OFFICIAL 1st Ashes Test, Cardiff, 8th - 12th July

in the airrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and OUT

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