quote:

Originally posted by Light The Fuse watched a fair bit of it today - and yeah we are flogging em right now - but i tend to agree with some of the commentators 'undercooked' theory - 2 warmup games is not enough. things might be a bit different in the next couple of tests now a few of the poms have settled into the conditions a bit.

this to me is one of the biggest factors. Nearly all the Aussies have played county cricket in england, know the conditions etc. Not many englishmen get to play state cricket in Aus, so it's like going to a foreign land, compared to a familiar one for the likes of warne, McGrath, Hayden, Ponting, Langer, Clarke, Symonds etc etc

5th day pitch is taking control now. McGrath couldn't have got less bounce if he threw the cricket ball 30ft into the air on a beach of thick sand...

and a good thought for the day in a blog about cricket australia being a nuisance...

quote:

Great concern this summer attended the arrival of the Barmy Army, whose songs, chants and general bonhomie, it was feared, would drown out Australian fans, and render Tests inhospitable – or, at least, interfere with time-honoured parochialism and partisanship which Aussies regard as the natural state of things. In fact, both the Army and their antipodean rivals have here been kept well and truly under a pretty coarse thumb by the police, administering the Killjoy Act with the help of CCTV. Only Pat Buchanan is more hostile to the Mexican wave than the potentates of the Gabba. Yet Cricket Australia is poorly placed to be pointing the finger at anyone – it is looming as a far more exasperating noise polluter than any group of fans. Those at home moaning about the ad breaks and Greig-o-grams on Channel Nine are actually getting off lightly; I have hardly known a noisier Test match. Even the first morning, when one might have expected a breathless hush in the close, was punctuated by deafening advertisements and pointless announcements on the public address system. No cricketer on the field has been celebrated so lustily as ‘the lovely Sheree and her team from 3’, the corporate nymphs and dryads distributing the main sponsor's bounty, while the loudest voices have been of Talking Boony, Talking Beefy and Talking Bollocks – the bonehead at the microphone who lets us in to such milestones as Ricky Ponting’s 9000th Test run, of which he informed the fact-starved masses in the middle of an over on the third afternoon. Pop songs begin playing at 8am every day – or to be precise, they’ve been playing when I’ve arrived at that time, and they may well be on an endless 24-hour loop, deafening the cleaners as well. At various intervals, the crowd has also been serenaded by the troubadour Greg Champion. His rendition of a puerile anti-Pom jingle to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight – ‘They whinge away, they whinge away, they whinge away, they whinge away, they whinge away, they whinge away (repeat * 445) – at least drew an apology from Queensland Cricket’s CEO Graham Dixon. The rest of it has been beyond sorry, and into the realm of unforgivable. How badly does Australia cricket need the cash, that they should be have surrendered their temple to the money-lenders? Before the Test, patrons were invited to report to the authorities anyone noisy and uncouth enough to interfere with the enjoyment of others. The trouble is that, at the Gabba, the authorities have been noisiest and uncouth of all. Is it too late for me to dob in Cricket Australia?

All over red rover. Aussies chalk up a victory but the poms played well that second innings. Their batting showed some promise but the bowling leaves a lot to be desired. Im sure they will lift for adelaide though.

Hopefully the australian selectors don't drop Clark.. he played a top match! If any quick should be dropped my vote would go to Lee. Give him some time to play with his new baby cos he does nothing with the new ball.

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quote:

That tranceaddict sure set me straight... when i said dj. sammy roxord he said "wtf? you n00b..."

totally agree on that point ian.

it used to be only the one-dayers, with the music etc, now its got into the tests.

to quote shooter mcgavin from happy gilmore "Damn you people. This is golf. Not a rock concert."

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shooter!



luv that kharnt

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how bout i go eat some hey? i just may!

haha

geez you go away for a weekend and you almost miss a whole test match

i was looking forward to england having a crack but when i wake up and they lost 2 wickets in the first 45 mins already i knew it was over hehe. first blood to us!

Following the crushing defeat of England in the first test, the International Cricket >Council has imposed a new set of rules for the rest of the Ashes series to make the contest more even.
>
>1) As a result, England has been granted an automatic wickie, freeing
>up wicket keeper Geraint Jones to defend the boundary. Under the
>rule,Australian batsmen will be deemed out "caught behind" if the ball nicks >their bat and lands in the immediate area behind the wicket. The rule is a >compromise from the original English proposal which had pushed for automatic >slips as well. The ICC refused that request on the grounds that "someone has >to go and get the ball when an Australian misses it."
>
>2) In addition, Australia is under strict "tip and run" restrictions
>which require they take a run off every ball they hit. Ricky Ponting was happy >to accept this, as it meant no change to his current game plan. As a >compromise, it was agreed that the Australians will also have to shout out >the word "wickets" when completing a run to make run out decisions by >umpires easier.
>
>3) Following his outstanding performances, Ricky > Ponting has "six and out" restrictions imposed on him. As well, following >complaints from English fielders, Ponting will have to get the ball if it >goes across the road.>
>4) Instead of using a bat, Justin Langer will now be obliged to use his >arm with his jumper wrapped around it.
>
>5) New rules for England include "one hand, one bounce" while they are >fielding, and the provision of "last man carries" when they are batting.
>
>6) The English tried to extend the "can't get out first ball" provision >to "can't get out first ten overs", but the ICC proclaimed that the extra >runs gained would hardly be worth the effort. Australian captain Ricky Ponting >as vigorously opposed the "last man carries" rule and has launched an >appeal. Ponting says Australia will only agree to the rule if there are >electric wickets at the end, allowing Aussie fielders to throw to the stumps >at either end.
>
> 7 ) English pace bowler Matthew Hoggard will also be allowed to wrap the >ball's seam with electrical tape when he's bowling in the secondinnings. >

> 8 ) An ICC spokesperson stated there will be "no LB" for English batsmen >unless "it is really, really obvious."
>
> 9 ) Shane Warne has conceded that its "fair enough" that he has to bowl >underarm (but not molly grubbers) to the English tail end.
>
>10 ) If England decides that Steven Harmison is to be given an over, the >umpire will deem the Australian batsmen as dismissed if Harmison lands the >ball anywhere on the pitch. Captain Ricky Ponting has no problems with this >change, as the probability of such a dismissal occurring is >infintessinatelly small.
>
>Despite the changes, Australia remains firm favourites to win the series, paying $0.22, while an English win is currently paying $1.3
>trillion.

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quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN Following the crushing defeat of England in the first test, the International Cricket >Council has imposed a new set of rules for the rest of the Ashes series to make the contest more even. > >1) As a result, England has been granted an automatic wickie, freeing >up wicket keeper Geraint Jones to defend the boundary. Under the >rule,Australian batsmen will be deemed out "caught behind" if the ball nicks >their bat and lands in the immediate area behind the wicket. The rule is a >compromise from the original English proposal which had pushed for automatic >slips as well. The ICC refused that request on the grounds that "someone has >to go and get the ball when an Australian misses it." > >2) In addition, Australia is under strict "tip and run" restrictions >which require they take a run off every ball they hit. Ricky Ponting was happy >to accept this, as it meant no change to his current game plan. As a >compromise, it was agreed that the Australians will also have to shout out >the word "wickets" when completing a run to make run out decisions by >umpires easier. > >3) Following his outstanding performances, Ricky > Ponting has "six and out" restrictions imposed on him. As well, following >complaints from English fielders, Ponting will have to get the ball if it >goes across the road.> >4) Instead of using a bat, Justin Langer will now be obliged to use his >arm with his jumper wrapped around it. > >5) New rules for England include "one hand, one bounce" while they are >fielding, and the provision of "last man carries" when they are batting. > >6) The English tried to extend the "can't get out first ball" provision >to "can't get out first ten overs", but the ICC proclaimed that the extra >runs gained would hardly be worth the effort. Australian captain Ricky Ponting >as vigorously opposed the "last man carries" rule and has launched an >appeal. Ponting says Australia will only agree to the rule if there are >electric wickets at the end, allowing Aussie fielders to throw to the stumps >at either end. > > 7 ) English pace bowler Matthew Hoggard will also be allowed to wrap the >ball's seam with electrical tape when he's bowling in the secondinnings. > > 8 ) An ICC spokesperson stated there will be "no LB" for English batsmen >unless "it is really, really obvious." > > 9 ) Shane Warne has conceded that its "fair enough" that he has to bowl >underarm (but not molly grubbers) to the English tail end. > >10 ) If England decides that Steven Harmison is to be given an over, the >umpire will deem the Australian batsmen as dismissed if Harmison lands the >ball anywhere on the pitch. Captain Ricky Ponting has no problems with this >change, as the probability of such a dismissal occurring is >infintessinatelly small. > >Despite the changes, Australia remains firm favourites to win the series, paying $0.22, while an English win is currently paying $1.3 >trillion.

wat a laugh!

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Next Gigs:

In Rotation @ Brown Alley (May 30)
Anthony Pappa @ Brown Alley (June 14)
Poison Apple @ ladida (Weekly Saturdays) launching June 21.

lol

love how all of a sudden it changes. Ponting could well have ended up looking very stupid there by not enforcing the follow on. I think we did ok 2nd innings, but we were simply left with too much to do from inept bowling. Hoggard hasn't fired in a while now, and harmison is so out of confidence. I think there's a lot of points to come out of this though:

we lack the dynamic captaincy of vaughan, the brains to set unusual fields, make unusual bowling changes & generally inspire.

Flintoff is not captaincy material. It's too much for him. Strauss captained fine last summer when freddie was injured, so I'd have kept him on, it must have dented his confidence when he needed it most against his worst enemy (warne)

Bell has improved, you can't deny that. He's still making some mistakes,but overall isn't too bad.

We miss simon jones. big time.

If Geraint Jones is a good enough batsman, play him as opener anyway, and drop cook who looks inept against bounce & pace, giving Read the chance to take the gloves at number 7.

Michael Holding said it on commentary: Batsmen make runs, bowlers win games, so WHY didn't we pick Panesar & Plunkett, 2 of our real good bowlers


Anyway, let's see what happens in Adelaide

quote:

Originally posted by Ian we lack the dynamic captaincy of vaughan, the brains to set unusual fields, make unusual bowling changes & generally inspire. Flintoff is not captaincy material. It's too much for him. Strauss captained fine last summer when freddie was injured, so I'd have kept him on, it must have dented his confidence when he needed it most against his worst enemy (warne) Bell has improved, you can't deny that. He's still making some mistakes,but overall isn't too bad. We miss simon jones. big time. Michael Holding said it on commentary: Batsmen make runs, bowlers win games, so WHY didn't we pick Panesar & Plunkett, 2 of our real good bowlers Anyway, let's see what happens in Adelaide

Agreeing with what you say mate.

Michael Vaughan is your modern day Dermot Reeve, he made weird but effective bowling changes and field settings, but it always seemed to pay off. Vaughan is missed greatly, not only for his batting, but his captaincy. Yes he didnt make enough runs while he was captain, but he is still a quality player when he gets in.

Flintoff, just dosnt have the qualitys as captain. He should be left to just concentate on his batting and bowling. Strauss would be a good choice.

Bell is getting better all the time. But im worried the middle order will be exposed to the pressure if the openers go early.

Jones is a superb bowler. He caused the Aussies all sorts of problems, with his control of swing. Hope he recovers soon.

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