The best way to learn cricket is to watch the Indian cricket team play in South Africa.
Those $%$$$##$$ chickens!
Well, the second ashes test is heading towards a close finish. I hope England manage to draw this test.
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The Ashes
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The best way to learn cricket is to watch the Indian cricket team play in South Africa.
Those $%$$$##$$ chickens!
Well, the second ashes test is heading towards a close finish. I hope England manage to draw this test.
The Aussies have won! Hussey is the best batsman in current form. Where was he all these years?!?!?!?
I still wonder why English batsmen can't play quality spinners.
I still wonder why English batsmen can't play quality spinners.
What a great finish! England must be gutted after playing so well in the first innings. Oh well... makes up for them winning the close ones last year.
Well that was a classic English collapse very similar to the final at the Oval. The only difference being that Warne saw off Pietersen first.
This match has shown finally the utter folly of Fletcher in persisting with his two favourite boys. It's pretty obvious that Giles' inclusion is now an utter disgrace and just in case Fletch wanted to say 'at least Gerry kept wicket well' he drops a dolly off Clarke (not that it mattered).
This match has shown finally the utter folly of Fletcher in persisting with his two favourite boys. It's pretty obvious that Giles' inclusion is now an utter disgrace and just in case Fletch wanted to say 'at least Gerry kept wicket well' he drops a dolly off Clarke (not that it mattered).
Geoff Boycott has been criticizing Fletcher for a while now. Do you think it's time for a change?
You fail to understand oober, that this is part of the national sport of England baiting. I think that the effusiveness after England stole the Ashes last year, with their predictions 'of a new world order' and the deposing of the 'aging old guard' coupled with the preposterous OBE's for the whole team (including Colly who made 17 runs and took a catch) plus their appalling arrogance in playing a Micky Mouse 3 day 14 a side warm up, and another 3 dayer (in which Harmlesson didn't play) and subsequent insistence that this was fully sufficient practice to defeat the Aussies, um, I've sort of lost the thread of this sentence...oh yeah... means they and everyone concerned, (like the management who refused to give Troy Cooley the 2 year contract he asked for) will inevitably cop some flak.
When Hoggard was interviewed yesterday evening, he was asked if he'll be looking forward to batting tomorrow. His answer: "Yeah, as much as a kick in the groin".
When Hoggard was interviewed yesterday evening, he was asked if he'll be looking forward to batting tomorrow. His answer: "Yeah, as much as a kick in the groin".
england have just shown how really crap they are..
what should of been a certain draw, turned out to be the most farcical display..
and yes, fletcher should be OUT, as well as jones and giles..
now if they do put panesar in for the next test, remember, england are 2-0 down, and the amount of pressure on monty would be so great, that if he doesn't take wickets, he'll be wrongly criticised!!!
i'm sorry to say that it's all over for england and the ashes..
what should of been a certain draw, turned out to be the most farcical display..
and yes, fletcher should be OUT, as well as jones and giles..
now if they do put panesar in for the next test, remember, england are 2-0 down, and the amount of pressure on monty would be so great, that if he doesn't take wickets, he'll be wrongly criticised!!!
i'm sorry to say that it's all over for england and the ashes..
I've experienced a lot of very sorry England capitulations over the last 10 or so years. But I have never known of a defeat quite this crushing mentally and I don't think I have ever been this disappointed with a sporting side before.
I really believe there is nowhere for them to go from here and that Pigeon's 5-0 is absolutely on the cards.
I really believe there is nowhere for them to go from here and that Pigeon's 5-0 is absolutely on the cards.
'Farcical' *is* the correct word here. Giles' dropped catch was ridiculous, then we had the comical sight of Pietersen patting Fred on the back giving him some encouragement then giving Clarke 7 off Fred's next ball by having a go at the stumps for no reason. Then the ultimate cliche of Pietersen being bowled around his legs by Warne, after he'd been crowing the day before how he's now got his measure. The worst thing about all this, is that England have now ruined the series. A draw would have been a better result as we all want to see a good match.
I'm reminded of the pictures in the paper the day after England lost badly to the Prime Minister's XI, of the lads eating out at a Sushi bar in Sydney as they were given the day off. Then there's Jones and Vaughan who've been given new contracts even though they've played no cricket. It's just plain weird.
Anyway Perth will be fun. I'm really surprised at how Martyn played in the first innings. I felt for sure this was his favourite situation, Australia in a bit of bother, where he can come to the rescue with a patient solid performance. But alas he holed out. I hope the selectors have learned their lessons from 2005. It's just not going to be Martyn's series and he should be dropped in favour of Shane Watson for Perth.
I'm reminded of the pictures in the paper the day after England lost badly to the Prime Minister's XI, of the lads eating out at a Sushi bar in Sydney as they were given the day off. Then there's Jones and Vaughan who've been given new contracts even though they've played no cricket. It's just plain weird.
Anyway Perth will be fun. I'm really surprised at how Martyn played in the first innings. I felt for sure this was his favourite situation, Australia in a bit of bother, where he can come to the rescue with a patient solid performance. But alas he holed out. I hope the selectors have learned their lessons from 2005. It's just not going to be Martyn's series and he should be dropped in favour of Shane Watson for Perth.
I'd be surprised if Martyn isn't out, especially now Clarke has secured his place. Watson will be fit for perth and will need to edge somebody out. Australia will be even more formidable with some more bowling depth.
I'm also surprised about Hayden's form. On these flat batting paradises you would expect him to have feasted on the England attack - everybody else has! Maybe Jaques is hopeful of getting a game.
I'm also surprised about Hayden's form. On these flat batting paradises you would expect him to have feasted on the England attack - everybody else has! Maybe Jaques is hopeful of getting a game.
Yeah, I think they'll stick with Hayden for one more test but Jacques should definitely be in for the last two if for no other reason that sooner is better than later.
I've just heard that Asif and Akhtar have had their bans overturned! What a disgrace. Warne got a years ban just for taking a *non* performance enhancing drug. Mind you it probably has prolonged his career long enough for him to torment England in 2009.
I've just heard that Asif and Akhtar have had their bans overturned! What a disgrace. Warne got a years ban just for taking a *non* performance enhancing drug. Mind you it probably has prolonged his career long enough for him to torment England in 2009.
That was very strange. One of the reasons given(at least that's what I heard) was that Asif is not too educated and doesn't know much about this stuff.
Well, if education was a reason, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Bravo and other West Indian cricketers would have been addicts by now!
You can make a daily soap out of the story of the PCB, their team and their captains. I slept one night and Younis Khan was made the captain, I got up the next day and by then Yousuf was made captain! And if this wasn't enough, Yousuf was sacked and Younis was made captain again!
Coming back to the topic, I hope KP hits a big ton in the next match. He is my favourite batsman in the English team. And I hope that the Indian selectors finally pick the right team: It's sad to see Gambhir and Mongia sitting out and idiots like Raina/Kaif playing just because they are good fielders.
I'm beginning to enjoy watching him but alas he is not a team player. He always goes for glory if he can. Sometimes he's lucky like at the Oval 2005 sometimes he screws up badly, as at Adelaide 2006. I think Pietersen is more interested in sticking one up South Africa every chance he can than helping England win.
Fletcher should be certified insane. Here are some of his comments after the match...
"The reason for that, [not playing Panesar] we have said on numerous occasions, is that we want to bat to eight," Fletcher said... We think Ashley [Giles] can do that better. That's the reason."
For frack's sake he was out for a duck.
"The key to it is that we can't just keep relying on Collingwood and Pietersen getting the runs. Crucially they have scored the bulk of the runs."
Er...Pietersen was out for 2 and probably could/should have saved the match. And Colly should have played his shots not played for time.
But Fletcher stuck by the decision to pick Ashley Giles - who was out for a duck on day five - over fellow spinner Monty Panesar. "When you consider Warne is a very good wrist-spinner and he took 86 overs to take five wickets - that summed it up."
Er...But 4 of those wickets came in 10 overs.
I don't understand what 8 batsmen will do that 7 batsmen can't, especially if the 8th batsman is Giles. With all due respect, he can stay at the wicket, but he is no Brett Lee(He won't get you quick runs).
I think England need a good leg/off spinner. Left armers are good, but you need some one who can rip the ball(Warne/Murali).
I think England need a good leg/off spinner. Left armers are good, but you need some one who can rip the ball(Warne/Murali).
Hasn't Jenner been working with English cricket to unearth some leggies of the future? I think it's a 10 year plan.
What a finish! It's all happening here at the Adelaide Oval, the tension! the drama! the crowd! the buzz! the atmosphere! Warnie! Warnie! Warnie!! The greatest Victorian ever to be a Victorian! Chair him off the field you ungrateful bastards! They were f*cked before Warnie started weaving his magic!
- Corm down Bull.
No I won't calm down Tony you f*ckwit! They were f*cked Australia and then the great man came on and totally bamboozled them! Warnie! Warnie! Get him up here, I want to boof him! Sorry Big Merv but Warnie's number one!!
*thump*
We'll be back here at the Adelaide Oval, after this break. Shuper effort that by the Australians, really shenshational shtuff.
- Corm down Bull.
No I won't calm down Tony you f*ckwit! They were f*cked Australia and then the great man came on and totally bamboozled them! Warnie! Warnie! Get him up here, I want to boof him! Sorry Big Merv but Warnie's number one!!
*thump*
We'll be back here at the Adelaide Oval, after this break. Shuper effort that by the Australians, really shenshational shtuff.
Today is one of those days when I remember that I'm Scottish! When England win of course it's all different...
martyn has got to be out next match.. he was just poor..
anyone follow the text commentary on the BBC website? lol..
here's an extract:
AUSTRALIA INNINGS
1853: That was the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. Lots of Aussies going berserk in Adelaide, lots of Englishmen looking like they've arrived home to find the French doors have been smashed and their new plasma TV's been stolen. Thanks for staying with me for the last 10 days - it's been a mix of emotions, but mainly depression and boredom, with a bit of anger and embarrassment thrown in. I'm off to Venice this weekend though, that should be nice, they don't even know what cricket is there. Bye.
1842: Jones drops an inside edge off Anderson. I'm not bothered, I don't even like cricket. Hussey then swings Anderson away for four before pushing one into the covers to complete a crushing six-wicket victory. 168-4
1838: Flintoff looks a bit teary now. So does my cricket editor, he's got to put up with another month of this. Nine more to win. 159-4
"The highlights are on BBC Two tonight, after the watershed. I think everybody needs to see it so they can comprehend it."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS
anyone follow the text commentary on the BBC website? lol..
here's an extract:
AUSTRALIA INNINGS
1853: That was the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. Lots of Aussies going berserk in Adelaide, lots of Englishmen looking like they've arrived home to find the French doors have been smashed and their new plasma TV's been stolen. Thanks for staying with me for the last 10 days - it's been a mix of emotions, but mainly depression and boredom, with a bit of anger and embarrassment thrown in. I'm off to Venice this weekend though, that should be nice, they don't even know what cricket is there. Bye.
1842: Jones drops an inside edge off Anderson. I'm not bothered, I don't even like cricket. Hussey then swings Anderson away for four before pushing one into the covers to complete a crushing six-wicket victory. 168-4
1838: Flintoff looks a bit teary now. So does my cricket editor, he's got to put up with another month of this. Nine more to win. 159-4
"The highlights are on BBC Two tonight, after the watershed. I think everybody needs to see it so they can comprehend it."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS
@dalvin200
Yeah saw the bbc commentary. The Grauniad ball by ball was pretty entertaining too...
...if they can bat this session, they will not lose. But it's an 'if' that England were only too happy to pay the extra 30p to supersize...
Hoggard somehow survives the last four balls, despite not getting his bat in the same zip code as them.
Panesar is rubbish he hasn't taken a single wicket in two tests.
At least we havn't had all the 'we must bounce back' platitudes yet. As Boycott said, "they need to stop saying it and just do it".
However Fred still couldn't help himself...
"Turning up today, the game wasn't in the bag, we hadn't drawn it by any means. We knew we had to play well to get anything out of the game and were confident of doing so. Walking off tonight having been beaten, there's a bit of shock."
This is patent bollox. The reason England lost is precisely because they were *certain* that the game was a draw and all they needed to do was bat for a couple of sessions. They had no intention at all of trying to win, had they made even the smallest attempt then they'd probably have gotten the 30 extra runs they needed for the draw.
At least Colly will be sure everyone remembers which test his double century came in.
Yeah saw the bbc commentary. The Grauniad ball by ball was pretty entertaining too...
...if they can bat this session, they will not lose. But it's an 'if' that England were only too happy to pay the extra 30p to supersize...
Hoggard somehow survives the last four balls, despite not getting his bat in the same zip code as them.
Panesar is rubbish he hasn't taken a single wicket in two tests.
At least we havn't had all the 'we must bounce back' platitudes yet. As Boycott said, "they need to stop saying it and just do it".
However Fred still couldn't help himself...
"Turning up today, the game wasn't in the bag, we hadn't drawn it by any means. We knew we had to play well to get anything out of the game and were confident of doing so. Walking off tonight having been beaten, there's a bit of shock."
This is patent bollox. The reason England lost is precisely because they were *certain* that the game was a draw and all they needed to do was bat for a couple of sessions. They had no intention at all of trying to win, had they made even the smallest attempt then they'd probably have gotten the 30 extra runs they needed for the draw.
At least Colly will be sure everyone remembers which test his double century came in.
I can't believe I'm reading this from Colly...
There have been calls for Ashley Giles, James Anderson and Geraint Jones to be axed after the shock loss in Adelaide.
But England batsman Collingwood told BBC Sport: "There's been a lot of talking about certain players being dropped but we can't panic too much.
"I think we have proved we can play the cricket to beat Australia. We have to identify situations and be ruthless." BBC
It's bad enough that they wheel out Colly as if to say that just because he made a double ton that if he is the one talking this bulls**t it carries some extra gravitas. How have they 'proved' anything? Fred's ankle is buggered and their main strike bowler who took a single bottom order wicket played much better in the 2nd test and took no wickets. Looks to me that they just refuse to admit that Giles is fracking useless. I can see them playing both Giles and Panesar in Perth.
The way I see this Ashes series is that Australia has invited the English to a red carpet Ashes extravaganza with 50 cases of Krug world class catering and fireworks. The English team has stopped on the way to pick up some KFC and turned up in a grease stained party dress and sandshoes.
from the "I wish I didn't say that", dept.
Tim de Lisle —former editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, and Wisden Cricket Monthly— 2nd December 2006
"Warne has often made a fool of himself off the field. Here, for the first time in Ashes cricket, he was humiliated on it."
======================
KP— an extract from his book.
“I see no way Shane can bowl me round my legs”
=========================
Gerry Jones—pre Ashes comment
Asked whether he felt England had anything to fear from an ageing Aussie side that has added little to its ranks, Jones was quick to respond: "I don't think so, we've seen all they've got."
"They've lost their legend status – we knocked that out of them."
There have been calls for Ashley Giles, James Anderson and Geraint Jones to be axed after the shock loss in Adelaide.
But England batsman Collingwood told BBC Sport: "There's been a lot of talking about certain players being dropped but we can't panic too much.
"I think we have proved we can play the cricket to beat Australia. We have to identify situations and be ruthless." BBC
It's bad enough that they wheel out Colly as if to say that just because he made a double ton that if he is the one talking this bulls**t it carries some extra gravitas. How have they 'proved' anything? Fred's ankle is buggered and their main strike bowler who took a single bottom order wicket played much better in the 2nd test and took no wickets. Looks to me that they just refuse to admit that Giles is fracking useless. I can see them playing both Giles and Panesar in Perth.
The way I see this Ashes series is that Australia has invited the English to a red carpet Ashes extravaganza with 50 cases of Krug world class catering and fireworks. The English team has stopped on the way to pick up some KFC and turned up in a grease stained party dress and sandshoes.
from the "I wish I didn't say that", dept.
Tim de Lisle —former editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, and Wisden Cricket Monthly— 2nd December 2006
"Warne has often made a fool of himself off the field. Here, for the first time in Ashes cricket, he was humiliated on it."
======================
KP— an extract from his book.
“I see no way Shane can bowl me round my legs”
=========================
Gerry Jones—pre Ashes comment
Asked whether he felt England had anything to fear from an ageing Aussie side that has added little to its ranks, Jones was quick to respond: "I don't think so, we've seen all they've got."
"They've lost their legend status – we knocked that out of them."
warning: rant.
I must apologise for this post beforehand as I know it won't be pretty...
I'd like to say that I am very disappointed that the English have collapsed into a sort of dribbley mess, and didn't put up some more fight. But alas it wouldn't be true. The fact is that I am pleased that the pretenders to the crown have been utterly humiliated, because they well and truly deserved it.
They took the English, public who had faith in them and played everyone for fools. Happy to grab the money and utter every cliché imaginable after every loss. Nobody called them on this probably because they wanted to believe, but it was a false hope. I think everyone knew deep down that the chimera of success would dissolve soon. That is probably why they are getting a savaging in their own press as well.
Mamhoud and Panesar will surely be in for Anderson and Giles but truth be told it won't make any difference. Sajid will be smashed to the four corners of the earth and I don't think Panesar will be much more of a threat than Giles but certainly an improvement.
The final cliché was always "we've got a young team who don't have any scars from defeats to Australia". Well they'll have a few scars by the end of this tour. I think England will wish they had a plastic surgeon as part of the squad. What is all this "Australia are too old" bs anyway. Surely it's about playing the game not being a particular age. What's worse going into a test a few years older but still able to perform or going in younger carrying injuries? They could keep saying it because like a stopped clock they must eventually be right one day.
I really feel sorry, (it's true I do) for the England supporters who've already bought tickets and are yet to fly out to witness even more humiliation. But one good thing will come of this — no more clichés. Although that's probably too much to ask for.
Fletcher has now been quoted as saying that he wasn't the only selector, there's a special committee made up of Strauss, Fred, someone else I can't remember, and...wait for it, Gerry Jones. Yes that's right Gerry is on the panel to select himself.
The groundsman at Perth seems to think the pitch will play more like the WACA of old with the No. 4 pitch that hasn't been used for 2 years. Could be a lively game.
Fletcher's latest announcement that... shock horror Vaughan won't be ready for Perth, is nothing more than an insult to the intelligence. It's a shame that there isn't a cricket category in the paralympics.
I must apologise for this post beforehand as I know it won't be pretty...
I'd like to say that I am very disappointed that the English have collapsed into a sort of dribbley mess, and didn't put up some more fight. But alas it wouldn't be true. The fact is that I am pleased that the pretenders to the crown have been utterly humiliated, because they well and truly deserved it.
They took the English, public who had faith in them and played everyone for fools. Happy to grab the money and utter every cliché imaginable after every loss. Nobody called them on this probably because they wanted to believe, but it was a false hope. I think everyone knew deep down that the chimera of success would dissolve soon. That is probably why they are getting a savaging in their own press as well.
Mamhoud and Panesar will surely be in for Anderson and Giles but truth be told it won't make any difference. Sajid will be smashed to the four corners of the earth and I don't think Panesar will be much more of a threat than Giles but certainly an improvement.
The final cliché was always "we've got a young team who don't have any scars from defeats to Australia". Well they'll have a few scars by the end of this tour. I think England will wish they had a plastic surgeon as part of the squad. What is all this "Australia are too old" bs anyway. Surely it's about playing the game not being a particular age. What's worse going into a test a few years older but still able to perform or going in younger carrying injuries? They could keep saying it because like a stopped clock they must eventually be right one day.
I really feel sorry, (it's true I do) for the England supporters who've already bought tickets and are yet to fly out to witness even more humiliation. But one good thing will come of this — no more clichés. Although that's probably too much to ask for.
Fletcher has now been quoted as saying that he wasn't the only selector, there's a special committee made up of Strauss, Fred, someone else I can't remember, and...wait for it, Gerry Jones. Yes that's right Gerry is on the panel to select himself.
The groundsman at Perth seems to think the pitch will play more like the WACA of old with the No. 4 pitch that hasn't been used for 2 years. Could be a lively game.
Fletcher's latest announcement that... shock horror Vaughan won't be ready for Perth, is nothing more than an insult to the intelligence. It's a shame that there isn't a cricket category in the paralympics.
There are some people who say that Shane's poo is pure white and has no smell whatsoever and I can believe it.
My thoughts exactly but god was I surprised (and of course delighted) by his performance today. I'm so glad that this WACA pitch has something in it for the bowlers - the last two pitches were just a bit too batting friendly (if, unlike most of our top order, you can bat).
I think England did well to get Australia out for less than 300 but I think we'll have a massive struggle to get there ourselves. A lead would be awesome, but extremely difficult. About time Strauss got some bl**dy runs. And the skipper for that point. Not so bothered about GoJo, we need an excuse to drop him.