LET THE CRICKET BEGIN

[2020hindsight]

ripper
the harder poem will be words of condolence for the Sri's lol
(or maybe they'll get it )

here's or for us spectators (cricket tragics) lol....

While they work their cricket magic, and the sun comes up outside
It is time for viewers tragic (matchsticks keeping eyelids wide)
to reflect upon the reason we were put down here on earth..?
....
maybe just to see such sportsmanship - and inner Aussie worth ?

 

[grumpee boi]

have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6445207.stm on the BBC site. It has all world cup averages and Andy Bichel would be able to lay claim to the greatest all rounder in world cup history. Batting over 100 and bowling less than 13. Sure he only had 3 at bats......

Symonds does very well considering the number of at bats he has had. The other interesting thing from that site is the reporter blogs and responses from the 'fans'. According to many, the win was hollow and if not for the rain, DL method, the ICC, the CIA etc Sri Lanka would have won. Would have been nice to see a full match however and Aus get 400.

 

[grumpee boi]

Sri Lanka did play bravely and are a good team that deserved to have a bit more luck.

 

[2020hindsight]

have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6445207.stm on the BBC site. It has all world cup averages and Andy Bichel would be able to lay claim to the greatest all rounder in world cup history. Batting over 100 and bowling less than 13. Sure he only had 3 at bats......
..According to many, the win was hollow and if not for the rain, DL method, the ICC, the CIA etc Sri Lanka would have won. Would have been nice to see a full match however and Aus get 400.

bloody good points - couldn't help thinking that myself (as I just walked the dog) wouldn't say it was hollow - just that it might have been real close if it weren't for the weather and - good toss to win Ricky.

spare a thought for the Sri Lankins as they finished in the dark
as we handed them a spankin while they couldn't see their mark
with the third umpire an owl or two, and shortened match their loss
hek - they shudda thrown the towel in when they lost the bludy toss.

PS Bichel was a gr8 entertainer -always laughing.

 

[bvbfan]

At least it was a better and more of a contest than the final of 1999 and 2003.
Sri Lanka bowled far too many wides and stuff down leg side probably cost us 40runs.

Glad it was a decent sportsman in Gillie (and someone who I respect) who destroyed us. Not like the yobs of McGrath or Ponting.
Now only a few wankers to retire and I can start supporting Australia again.

Also the old adage of catches win matches is true, if Fernando had caught Gillie on about 60, maybe Mahroof would have had a better chance???

 

[Mazrox]

Time for fellow tragics to wake from hibernation and get back into the real cricket season!

Who's going to make the Australian team for the first Test?

Does MacGill deserve a go? Or has Brad Hogg pipped him at the post with another 4 wickets last night? Will Jaques get the opening spot?

I reckon Jaques is a shoo-in and MacGill deserves a run, although he's looking a bit rusty. Always seems to lift for the national team though - has the runs on the board, if you'll pardon the pun.

All will be revealed at 2.30!

Maz

 

[Mazrox]

Well, the team has been announced. The selectors have gone for an each way bet, choosing both Hogg and MacGill. Jaques has the opener's spot.

The squad for the first 3 mobile Test is:

Ricky Ponting (captain) TAS 32
Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain) WA 35
Stuart Clark NSW 32
Michael Clarke NSW 26
Matthew Hayden QLD 36
Brad Hogg WA 36
Michael Hussey WA 32
Phil Jaques NSW 28
Mitchell Johnson QLD 25
Brett Lee NSW 30
Stuart MacGill NSW 36
Andrew Symonds QLD 32
Shaun Tait SA 24

Maz

 

[sleeper88]

Well, the team has been announced. The selectors have gone for an each way bet, choosing both Hogg and MacGill. Jaques has the opener's spot.

The squad for the first 3 mobile Test is:

Ricky Ponting (captain) TAS 32
Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain) WA 35
Stuart Clark NSW 32
Michael Clarke NSW 26
Matthew Hayden QLD 36
Brad Hogg WA 36
Michael Hussey WA 32
Phil Jaques NSW 28
Mitchell Johnson QLD 25
Brett Lee NSW 30
Stuart MacGill NSW 36
Andrew Symonds QLD 32
Shaun Tait SA 24

Maz

i'd like to see Hogg and Johnson in the XI for the first test

 

[Mazrox]

Well, fellow tragics, Hogg is out in favour of MacGill, and with Tait pulling out I'd be very surprised if Johnson doesn't get a run.

The next question is, if we win the toss, do we bat? What's the weather like in Brissie?

One more sleep!

Maz

 

[nioka]

Showers.Possible heavy at times?

 

[Mazrox]

Hmmmm...

Maybe we'll have a bowl?

 

[sharechaser]

If it stays rainy and cloudy tomorrow, maybe having a bowl wouldn't be a bad idea. The humidity might help our quicks swing the ball for once!

On a side note, up here in brisbane they're only showing the afternoon session on the tele - is that the same all around the country, or is it just in brisbane to try and encourage people to go and see the match?

 

[Wysiwyg]

If it stays rainy and cloudy tomorrow, maybe having a bowl wouldn't be a bad idea. The humidity might help our quicks swing the ball for once!

On a side note, up here in brisbane they're only showing the afternoon session on the tele - is that the same all around the country, or is it just in brisbane to try and encourage people to go and see the match?

The ball swings best when dry and shiny.Once the leather soaks up ground moisture it is near impossible to swing.

Might even go to the test myself if the sky is blue.

 

[Mazrox]

Quote:
On a side note, up here in brisbane they're only showing the afternoon session on the tele - is that the same all around the country, or is it just in brisbane to try and encourage people to go and see the match?

It used to be the same everywhere, only the last session was televised. But for the last couple of years in Sydney at least, they have trialled showing it all day. I think the trial was in response to the fact that Sydney was anticipated to be a sell-out every day for the Ashes. Don't know what the plans are for this year.

Quote:
Might even go to the test myself if the sky is blue.

Aahh, I wish!

I was up there on holidays a couple of years ago (when McGrath and Gillespie were having a picnic with the bat). Very nice viewing ground is the Gabba. Although the new stands had not been finished yet, and the pleasant breeze that day might not get through now.

I'll be stuck here in Sydney, in my City office block.

All I can say is - Bless you Auntie ABC!

Maz

 

[2020hindsight]

Gilchrist is declared the sixiest cricketer of all time ....

(first to reach 100 6's )

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/17/2093779.htm?section=sport
Gilchrist became the first man to hit 100 sixes in Test match cricket when he belted Muttiah Muralidaran over the rope in successive deliveries just prior to the declaration.

The second heave went out of the ground, forcing the umpires to find another ball.

As they say - keep an eye out for that ball on ebay ..

 

[2020hindsight]

........ some photos from the last world cup

 

[chops_a_must]

A really awesome first days play to watch. After being very unlucky in the first hour, and almost looking totally gone, India fought back very well through Kumble. Fantastic to see that fight for once. Should be a really interesting test. Go the Indians!

P.S. - is anyone else having trouble thinking here? I can't seem to get a proper rest and am totally stuffed by this weather...

 

[2020hindsight]

chops
yep, nicely balanced..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/26/2127621.htm?section=justin

Kumble wickets negate Hayden ton
The Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the MCG was poised evenly at stumps on an enthralling first day, with Australia heading to the pavilion at 9 for 337 in front of 68,465 fans.

An unbeaten final wicket partnership of 25 between Mitchell Johnson (10) and Stuart Clark (21) helped the Australians finish the day in a respectable position, after a five-wicket haul from Indian skipper Anil Kumble (5 for 84) had brought the home side crashing to earth after a promising start to the day.

Matthew Hayden had earlier stroked an impressive 124 in difficult conditions to continue his dominance at the MCG. The innings was his 19th ton on home soil...... etc

(as for the weather - sydney has been cool - I hear you've had a scorcher)
what about that bloke killed with a cricket bat on the beach at Geralton ?

 

[chops_a_must]

(as for the weather - sydney has been cool - I hear you've had a scorcher)
what about that bloke killed with a cricket bat on the beach at Geralton ?

Yeah well... the Geraldton natives are amongst the worst I think there are. The school up there is apparently very bad, (no guesses as to why), and the teachers and staff are very scared of them.

Something has to be done about the problem we have in WA. Despite all the talk from certain community leaders in the aboriginal world about turning their kids around, we have hurrendous juvenile crime problems amongst the aboriginal youth. In the order of 80% of all serious assult convictions for people under the age of 18 in WA, are recorded against aboriginals. That's just not good enough. And now we have 12 year olds apparently... accomplices to murder.

Geez, I tell you what. If the aboriginal community up there aren't strung up, I think there is going to be serious trouble. Because they are a blight on that town. And perhaps the best thing they can do for themselves, is to go away and die somewhere. Because they aint doing anyone any favours, certainly not themselves. All the favourable schooling and lenient policing they get there has not made one difference. And there were what? 25 people involved. Surely one of those kids knows who laid the blow. So why aren't they helping? Another thing that has annoyed me about it, is that they have stopped calling them aboriginal. If they are an aboriginal gang, call them that. But geez, the natives there are just about the worst I've seen...

Hopefully with the new rail system we don't have to put up with their crap at the stations either. I'm not sure what it's like in other states, but I get scared when there are aboriginal kids at a train station with me, especially if I'm on my own. Luckily I'm fairly tall, and just stand up when they are eying me off, but yeah, the WA aboriginal groups will probably have to put up with vigilantes soon if they don't get their finger out. And I'm not really sure if I care if they get some of their own medicine to be honest...

 

[The Mint Man]

Well they thought they had us for a while there but Symonds and Hogg have hung in there and are smashing them at the moment.... Granted, symonds has had a couple of lucky breaks..... but who cares:
Symonds just bought up his 100 and Hogg is on his way there

Cheers