Official Luthiers Forum!

Paul, Kim and all you other lads from downunderland, good luck over at the Gabba. As we're without Vaughan, Trescothick and Jones I'm not too hopeful, but lets hope it's as competitive and close as the series over here, and that the best side wins (yep probably you guys). My money is on 3-1 to Australia, but hope it's the other way round.

Here's to a good series.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin I was just heading over here to start a thread wishing you poms good luck.

I think the weather might beat you guys this time though, it was 40 deg C (104F) in Sydney yesterday and summer is still 10 days away. It's going to be a hot one this year.

Seems I was right in thinking your blokes winning last time would be good for cricket, there's been huge media interest this time round. And not just the media, all the matches sold out months ago. There will be close to 100 000 people at the boxing day test at the MCG. I unfortunatly, will have to be happy to watch it on TV, beer in hand, from my swimming pool .

For our friends from non cricket playing nations, here's a picture of the English and Australian captains with the Ashes trophy. Yes that's it, that little thing is one of the most esteemed sporting trophies on the planet. Actually I think it must be a replica, the real one is far to fragile to be handled like that. It is kept under glass in museum conditions. Even when we win it, it stays under glass at the Marylebone Cricket Club in England. Though after years of negotiations, we finally have it down here for an exhibition.

[QUOTE=PaulB]
For our friends from non cricket playing nations, here's a picture of the English and Australian captains with the Ashes trophy. Yes that's it, that little thing is one of the most esteemed sporting trophies on the planet. [/QUOTE]

Thanks Colin, I am with you, lets hope it goes to the wire, it is always best for the game.

Paul, looking at the picture you posted I thought you were going to place that label on Ricky Ponting instead of the trophy

Good luck, and may the best team win.

Cheers

Kim

You can listen to the commentary over the web Here via abc radio in Australia.

Anyone have a link for sound and video over the web? I'd love to watch it at work, tho my boss would prefer I didn't.

Good luck to the Poms in Adelaide tomorrow. Lets hope its a closer game than that last one.

The Gabba was never on our list of 'might wins', they don't call it 'the Gabbatoir' for nothing. Aussies won every test there for something like 18 years?

I'm still looking at 3-1 to Australia

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Small Trophy?
I find it uplifting that in other parts of the world, winning the trophy is the thing, not the size of the prize.
Cheers and best of luch to all,

Looks like we might regain the Ashes today or tomorrow., Punter was really playing some excellent shots yesterday, they are saying he's the best batsman we've had since Bradman. If we finish it up tomorrow, England will have held the Ashes for the shortest time of any team in history. We might have lost them after 17 years, but winning them back in record time almost makes up for it. But it ain't over yet.

Seems that it's not that England's players can't play, more that the selectors can't select

I'm all for close matches being good for the game, but, by golly I like it when we thrash the Poms PaulB39066.9705671296

Well done Paul and all you other Aussies, well deserved win.

Your right about the selection, we should have won the second test, if they'd only picked Monty earlier, He's been our best bowler all year! It seems that we can play most of the time, just go to sleep for a session or two then get hammered. Our players are expected to play too much with too many meaningless fixtures.

Pity we're without Vaughan, Trescothick and Jones, but that's no excuse Australia are the better team. I'm still sticking with my 3-1 prediction.

Warne and Ponting are the difference, Australia are fairly ordinary if you take them out of the equation.

As they say (and this counts for Monty as well as Shane) "It aint over till the fat bowler spins"!

Well done though

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Shane Warne retiring from Test cricket!

Colin

Should've done it years ago

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Yeah, thought that might make you happy. He's holding a press conference in a couple of hours, going to retire after the Sydney Test, or so the rumour goes. Something about him trying to reconcile with his wife, and she ain't stupid, so no more touring for our Warney. Wonder if he has to give up the moblie phone too .

McGrath is said to be anouncing his retirement today as well. He'll be around 'til after the world cup, then that's it, our best bowlers will be gone

And what's with not playing Monty, he IS the best bowler you've got. Though our Gilly was all over him , that was an awesome innings.

I reckon you Poms will give us a hammering in the next Ashes series. You've got all young blokes at the moment who still seem a bit green, while we've got all old blokes who are ready to retire. The times they are a changing....

My bet is 5-zip for this series, I think Punter isn’t through proving his point just yet.

Our television people reckon he'll still come over here and play county cricket with Hampshire for six months of the year, and go back to Aus and sit in the commentary box, for the rest of the time. McGrath going as well!

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I think I'll reserve judgement on 2009 Paul.
There is quite a bit of depth waiting in the wings in in most departments but those guys need some games up their sleeves eg

2009 Team

Rodgers/Ronchi
Jacques
Punter
Hussey
M.Clarke/Voges/Hodge/Cosgrove
Haddin
Watson/Henriques/Hopes
S.Clark
Lee/Johnson/Tait/Hilfenhaus
Cullen/White/Bailey
MacGill

I think people forget that MacGill is the second best leggie on the planet and the fact that he has always walked in Warnies shadow will push him a bit harder now.
He has generally returned better figures than Warnie when he has played for Oz. just got to see how his temper holds up I guess.

Cheers

Bob

_________________

------------------------------------------------------
Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia