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The Ashes
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Author:  Colin S [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:06 pm ]
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Paul

One each with three to play! The Aussies must be getting nervous eh? Looks like a 3-2 either way now. Your still slight favourites but.......

Colin

For those not fortunate enough to come from England or Australia. The most important sporting contest in the world, bar none, is now taking place between our two great nations. The Ashes Test Series at Cricket. The best of five, five day games between the two best teams in the world. It doesn't get any better than that, and I'm stuck on a boat! What other game do you stop every afternoon to take tea, so civilised.
Author:  RussellR [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Colin

Don't know if you got to see any coverage, but it was very tight, the Aussie tail end where superb, but we just managed to nick it.

Go on England !!
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:11 pm ]
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sadly, the most recent commentary seems to indicate that the final out was poorly decided as the batsman's hand was not on the bat when the glove was snicked. makes one wonder whether there should be a video umpire.

but rating england ahead of south africa or india may be a bit risky.

will be interesting to see if mcgrath can return to the bowling rotation for any of the remaining tests. it seems that his not bowling is the poms' best hope!!!

oh, and anyone of proper upbringing knows that the rwc is of vastly greater sporting import than the ashes, followed by the tri nations, npc, currie cup, even the six nations. but eventually the cricket will get a look in, at least before the "world???" series.

crazymanmichael38572.3424537037
Author:  bob J [ Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:50 pm ]
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Burn that googlie past him!
Author:  Colin S [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:04 am ]
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[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] sadly, the most recent commentary seems to indicate that the final out was poorly decided as the batsman's hand was not on the bat when the glove was snicked. makes one wonder whether there should be a video umpire.

but rating england ahead of south africa or india may be a bit risky.

will be interesting to see if mcgrath can return to the bowling rotation for any of the remaining tests. it seems that his not bowling is the poms' best hope!!!

oh, and anyone of proper upbringing knows that the rwc is of vastly greater sporting import than the ashes, followed by the tri nations, npc, currie cup, even the six nations. but eventually the cricket will get a look in, at least before the "world???" series.

[/QUOTE]

In the two recent series against South Africa, England won very easily, the same is true with India, and all the other sides with the exception of Australia. In the official world rankings Australia are number 1 and England number 2, the rest at the moment really are nowhere.

Soccer is a game for gentlemen played by thugs, Rugby a game for thugs played by gentlemen, but Cricket is a game for gentlemen played by gentlemen. There is a third umpire able to watch replays, but only for certain decisions when requested by the two on-field umpires. The day they introduced using replays was a sad one. Everyone accepts that the Umpires' decision is final. As I said, the Aussies are still favourite but they are not the force they once were.

Colin
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:51 am ]
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sadly, whilst cricket once defined the essense of sportsmanship, i think the beginning of the end of the days of the "gentleman" player began with jardine and bodyline and they were largely supplanted by the professionals very shortly thereafter.

the indians and the springboks both seem to be utterly different propositions at home or away.

if there were stewards in sports other than horse racing, rugby for instance, they would be swabbing the lions, ab's, wallabies and springboks. the 'bok's were utterly ordinary in being badly beaten in australia, yet within a month had looked world beaters disposing of australia twice and the ab' once at home. go figure.

india is the same in the cricket. on the subcontinent they are very hard to beat but can be very ordinary away.

the windies used to travel well, but seem to have fallen on hard times. if brian lara doesn't rack up a pair of doubles they don't do too well. but it was always a treat to watch them in sydney when garner, holding, lloyd, richards, et al were on song.

have to agree in one way about the video ref/ump and the spirit of the game, regardless of which one; but yet when one sees the number of decisions that would have been rendered utterly incorrectly without the electronic aids it does give pause.... certainly one doesn't see many batsmen walking these days.

nevertheless i would give odds that the mcc had best not try to hold their breath till they again take possession of the venerable urn! those rosey red clubhouse cheeks will get a bit blue first!crazymanmichael38572.5925115741
Author:  PaulB [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:57 am ]
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Hi Colin,

How unusual, to loose an Ashes Test to England! I was reading in the paper yesterday that there's a whole generation of English youth who've never known what it's like to win the Ashes - a series win for England might be good for Cricket. This may well be your year, but then again maybe not! It's nice to see some good competition, perhaps our lot need a good thrashing to wake them up - loosing the second test may have this effect.

I was also reading in the paper some moaning about that last decision, but you've got it right "the Umpires' decision is final" end of story.

Hopefully we'll get McGrath back before long, but now it looks like Brett Lee is out of the third test too. Even with those guys out, we've got a few new young fellows that will be trying to make a name for themselves if they get the tap on the shoulder.

Which ever way it goes, we're going to see some brilliant Cricket. Best of luck!

Paul
Author:  RussellR [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Paul

Don't know if you saw the footage, but I didn't see much wrong with the decision. Then again I might be biased.
Author:  PaulB [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:32 am ]
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No, I didn't see the footage, just a series of still pictures taken from the footage. It seems the ball came off his glove, and that's only out if the glove is in contact with the bat and it seems that in this case the glove wasn't touching the bat. But that's really irrelevant, it's the umpires decision. Over the course of the series, we might get a few questionable decisions, as might you, it all pretty much evens itself out in the end.

What I really admire is guys like our Adam Gilchrist who will walk if they think the umpire is wrong in giving them not out. I don't know how that goes down with their team mates though
Author:  RussellR [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:37 am ]
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I think your right, if you are out you walk. I felt sorry for Shane Warne in the last test, he couldn't have done much more. I'm looking forward to the next test should be a good series.
Author:  Colin S [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:09 pm ]
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I admire players that 'walk'. You still get a lot of "walking" in county games. I'd still sooner see a player walk when he knows he's out, and my side loose the game, than win knowing that it wasn't deserved. I just heard on the World Service that Lee and McGrath are both out for Thursdays start. Bad luck Paul! Now if we can just trip Warne up!

I still think Australia will win the series, but It'll be close.

As to Jardine and the Body Line series, how else were we going to beat Bradman?

Colin
Author:  PaulB [ Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:01 pm ]
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I hope it's close.

If "Cricket is a game for gentlemen played by gentlemen" what's our Mr Warne doing out there?

Australian cricket has improved over the last twenty years or so, due largely to the Australian Cricket Academy. There's a real depth of talent that's been developed over here, it doesn't really become apparent until your McGraths, Lees, and even Warnes, are out with injury. Then some new young fella steps up...

As to your Msrs Jardine and Larwood - water under the bridge.
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:27 am ]
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shouldn't blame poor harold, like any good working class lad he was only doing what the boss told him to do.

but like any flood that passes, bodyline left damage behind, and it surely "wasn't cricket", now was it.

as for pathetic shane, he's out there because no one before or since has been able to legally make a ball act like it has an internal guidance system as he does. i'll never forget the first time i saw him bowl his first test batsman around the legs!! was it mike gatting? the event sits in memory whilst the details have flown the coop.
Author:  Colin S [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:57 am ]
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[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] i'll never forget the first time i saw him bowl his first test batsman around the legs!! was it mike gatting? the event sits in memory whilst the details have flown the coop.[/QUOTE]

Still known as the "ball from hell", guaranteed to make any Englishman wince, especially Mike Gatting!. Every time I see it I know what's going to happen, but I just don't believe it. I love the duel between a great spin bowler and a dogged batsman. Chess on a sportsfield.

Colin
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Tue Aug 09, 2005 4:27 pm ]
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batsman surely didn't believe it either!

watching one second i was worried it might result in a passed ball and the next the rattle and the howzat!!!!

pity the poor fellow never grew up...
Author:  PaulB [ Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:42 pm ]
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Bad luck Colin & Russell.

Lee has been named fit to play in the third test, McGrath is a strong possibility & was bowling in Wednesday's practice session.
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:11 pm ]
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what part of sydney paul. when i lived there i was in the eastern suburbs, paddo, bondi and randwick.

if both the quicks play it will be interesting as the old trafford wicket is supposedly the best turning pitch in england. warne should have an easy time racking up no 600, and the rest.

the winner of the toss will have a difficult decision to make.
Author:  Colin S [ Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:49 pm ]
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The groundsman says the winner of the toss should bat first as the wicket will take turn later. Always listen to the groundsman.

Colin
Author:  PaulB [ Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:37 pm ]
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Hi Crazyman,

I've pretty much lived all over Sydney - Except the eastern suburbs. When I left Uni my first job was in a Pathology lab in Paddo (great chilli, chicken, cheese burgers in Paddo!), later I was at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute (in back of the hospital) in Randwick for a few years. So I know the area pretty well. Currently residing in Como West, down south in the Shire.

Well, England won the toss and elected to bat. Smart move, doesn't give our fast bowlers another day in the shed to heal.

England are 1-35. Both Lee and McGrath are bowling.PaulB38575.2767013889
Author:  Colin S [ Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:04 am ]
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1-149 latest, Mcgrath getting hammered!

Colin
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:00 am ]
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england all just after lunch for 444; warne 4-99. by all accounts it was a demonstration of how not to field and catch(keeper dropped 4 plus failed to dismiss off a no ball, plus a missed runout) will be interesting to see what the aus bats do. and the weather may rule out a decision anyway.

question; do they cover the wicket during rain stoppages in england now?
Author:  Colin S [ Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:06 am ]
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Australia 196-6, 248 behind, Giles 3-58 (we've got a good spinner as well!). They need another 48 to avoid a follow-on. It looks like the worst result for England now, and the best for Australia would be a draw.

Yes they do bring out the covers.

Colin

update 210-7 end of day. 35 to avoid follow-on.Colin S38576.5590740741
Author:  PaulB [ Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:12 pm ]
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Yes, I must say that it's been a long time since I've seen such an ordinary performance by Australia. I don't mind being beaten by England if it's due to the poms playing a far better game than they have been (and they probably are), but when it's mostly due to our guys playing worse. Well, it's getting hard to watch - I can't believe Gilly's dropped four catches.

Unless our guys pull their socks up over the next few days, England deserve the win.
Author:  crazymanmichael [ Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:40 pm ]
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england 1 match up in an ashes series! theres a whole generation who've never seen such a thing! the dogs would howl and the stingiest publican would have to shout the house a round. the palace would probably give the coach or captain a knighthood; perhaps lift sir clive's after his antipodean bungle and give it to the flannelled fools instead.crazymanmichael38577.3335300926
Author:  PaulB [ Fri Aug 12, 2005 2:52 pm ]
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It's 17 years since we've had to follow-on in a test match!

Oh dear
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