In addition to yesterday’s blog entry. In cricket; England still hold a 1 – 0 lead in the Ashes test series with Australia. The Englishmen had a good chance of taking a 2 – 0 lead in the series but were thwarted by the English summer. England bowled out the visitors for 263 in a little over 70 overs with James Anderson (5 wickets) and Graham Onions (4 wickets) leading the English bowling attack. England knocked up 376 in their first innings to give the home team a 113 run lead. Freddy Flintoff showed some form with the bat top scoring with 74 runs followed by opener Andrew Strauss’ 69. Then the British weather did what it does best making day three was a complete washout leaving England just two days to win the test. On day’s four and five the tourists held firm to earn a draw with the Aussies admitted was their intention after the washout on day three. The Australians managed to knock up 375 for 5 wickets frustrating the English bowlers in 112 overs to secure the second draw of the series. Now onto Headingley for the fourth test; if England can win this game; the series will be safe and the Englishmen can just have fun in the final test, but I have a feeling it will go down to the wire at the Brit Oval!
The new English Championship football season kicks off in earnest this Saturday with my home team Plymouth Argyle visiting Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace will provide a tough test for Paul Sturrock’s new signings. All eyes will be on Plymouth’s new signing, striker Bradley Wright-Phillips and also Benin international central defender Reda Johnson. Also Alan Judge who helped Argyle secure their championship status last season will be back at Home Park on a season long loan from Blackburn Rovers. But the biggest news of the closed season is Plymouth being under new ownership, I am actually fairly hopeful for this season, let’s face Argyle can’t do much worse than last season; their worse season since Argyle got promoted to the Championship!
Update (05/08/09 – 17:02): It seems that bad luck has already hit Plymouth Argyle before a ball has even been kicked in anger. Our new star striker Bradley Wright-Phillips is suffering from lateral tear of the knee after a friendly with Exeter City which will keep him out until September. I hope that Wright-Phillips isn’t going to be another sick-note like Emile Mpenza.