Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cricket: Ashes 5-0 Clean Sweep to Australia!

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Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-05-2007, 03:56 AM:

For the first time since 1921 (or thereabouts) there has been a 5-0 whitewash in an Ashes series.

For those unfamiliar with cricket, The Ashes is any test match between England and Australia. There are no greater rivals in world cricket then these two teams and to go 5-0 after losing them to England only 15 months ago is a remarkable achievement.

It's bitter-sweet though as this series also marks the retirement of four players from the Australian team. Damien Martin (who retired spontaneously at the end of the 2nd test) Justin Langer, fast bowler Glenn McGrath and saddest of all, spin bowling legend (term not used lightly) Shane Warne who retires with just over 700 test wickets and just over 1000 wickets in international games including the one day series.

Well done to the Aussie team. At the end of England's win 15 months ago, the entire English team were awarded Queen's honours...this time I'm afraid a few of them will be shown the door and the way they just gave up in the end I would say rightly so. I do feel sorry for English Captain Andrew Flintoff though. He had an impossible task...a revengeful Australian team on their own turf and a team to lead (with few exceptions) that looked like they'd rather be at home eating a nice mince pie than playing for their country.

So farewell to the retiring Baggy Green wearers. You've done us mighty proud and we couldn't have written a better script as your swansong.

Posted by Rick Hunter (Member # 1606) on 01-05-2007, 05:30 AM:

You betcha....

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 01-05-2007, 06:34 AM:

White wash more like a [Mad]

Am I down hearted.

YES

One good thing Sky Sports will not pay a fortune to have sole broadcast of the 2008 Ashes.

So we can seen it on poor man's TV.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 01-05-2007, 02:27 PM:

quote: John Wilson
Well done to the Aussie team. At the end of England's win 15 months ago, the entire English team were awarded Queen's honours...this time I'm afraid a few of them will be shown the door and the way they just gave up in the end I would say rightly so.

Agreed ... sort of. Since the late '80s now, the big problem with cricket in England has been that it simply hasn't been supported at school or adult amateur level in any serious way. So unless you go to a posh private school or get hooked on it some other way, you're not going to get involved in cricket. Add to that the fact that all the big money and celebrity attention has gone into soccer over the same timeframe, and you get a situation whereby your average 5-15 year old aspires to play soccer in the World Cup, not cricket in the Ashes. So when the occasional star comes along, the expectations on him are enormous (same thing with Tennis - look at Henman's relatively early burn-out). Trescothick's pulling out blew a huge hole in the England side, much bigger than it should have done, because there was no Plan B. So Strauss and Panesar were effectively asked to do the job of a whole team, and however gifted those two are, that was always going to be too big an ask.

If we're ever going to have a serious cricket team again, the job of building it has to start now, and it has to start with primary school kids in the playground. Lots of primary school kids, in lots of playgrounds. That's the way Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies have come to dominate the game worldwide. I'll never forget sitting next to an Indian lady on a flight from Amsterdam to Minneapolis a couple of years ago: neither of us spoke much of the same language, but we had no problem discussing the recently finished England/India cricket tour for almost nine hours!

quote: John Wilson
I do feel sorry for English Captain Andrew Flintoff though. He had an impossible task...a revengeful Australian team on their own turf and a team to lead (with few exceptions) that looked like they'd rather be at home eating a nice mince pie than playing for their country.

Not quite as impossible a task as that of the captain of the Titanic (who was single-handedly responsible for the whole disaster himself, and didn't even have ten other poor sods to share the blame with), but, yeah (reluctantly!); agreed, too. At least we could have gone down with some sort of a fight... [Frown]

We should have sent Rachel Heyhoe-Flint down there ... I'm sure she'd have sorted Adam Gilchrist out!

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 01-05-2007, 05:03 PM:

I read once that cricket has the highest suicide rate of any sport. Something about potentially having days between at-bats. I'm not familiar with the game, but are such matches televised and how long do they typically take?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 01-05-2007, 05:19 PM:

A test match takes place over five days, with around seven hours' play on each day. Morning session - 1000-1300, then lunch; afternoon session 1345-1545; evening session 1600-1800. The tactics of how long each innings (the phase of a match in which each side bats) lasts, and the time it'll take to get runs, wickets, key batsmen out etc., is the major part of a captain's job in planning his tactics over the course of the match. Where sod's law comes in - tail enders lasting longer than expected, a key bowler failing to perform, rain stopping play, etc. etc., is where the fun lies for a spectator (real cricket nerd) or radio listener surreptitiously at work (me, basically) in finding out how the game pans out over this length. A test match usually runs Thursday to Monday.

The one-day match is what it says on the tin. Each side has 50 overs (over = delivery of 6 balls) to rack up as many runs as they can, while trying not to lose all their wickets in the process. There are big differences in the tactics of a test match and a one-day game, meaning that batsmen and bowlers who are stars in one might not perform well in the other. Basically, the test match is a long-term tactical game, while the one-day match is a quick and dirty run chase.

The cricket world cup, starting in the spring, consists entirely of one-day matches. Eternal optimists are saying that England should redeem themsleves a tad compared to the Ashes (note to anyone who needs an explanation: The Ashes is a tournament which has been played bi-annually between England and Australia since 1882 - Wikipedia article) ... but I'll believe it when I see it!

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-07-2007, 04:41 AM:

Eternal optimists... [Big Grin]

The one dayers over summer in Australia will be no different. England / Australia / New Zealand.

Australia and NZ will be in the finals and Australia will win.

That leaves the English team free to be thrown into the pit full of The Balmy Army. (Balmy Army is the name given to the multitudes of English supporters who travelled across the globe to see their team surrender from ball #1 on day #1 of the first test.)

Posted by Rick Hunter (Member # 1606) on 01-08-2007, 04:52 AM:

Come on John, I think you are being a bit negative....

But when I think of it....perhaps not.

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 08-20-2009, 05:00 AM:

It has been 955 days since the last post.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-20-2009, 05:00 AM:

2009.

After 4 of 5 tests, it's one-all with 2 draws.

The fourth test we wiped the pitch with the Poms winning by an innings and something runs. An absolute drubbing.

Get ready for more of the same. [Razz]

May the best team win. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-20-2009, 07:52 AM:

Thanks John

Thats very sporting of you.

We will [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-20-2009, 04:51 PM:

Geez...who prepared that pitch? [Roll Eyes]

End of day one...8 for 307 with England batting. High score of 72...and that was Ian Bell? Still, it's not too bad. That score is almost 3 times what you made in the last test in either innings. [Wink]

I hate to break it to you, but you're not going to win The Ashes back with those results. Don't forget...even with a draw, we get to keep them.

Bring it on... [thumbsup]

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 08-20-2009, 04:59 PM:

“Cricket is basically baseball on Valium.” Robin Williams (American actor)

"Cricket civilizes people and creates good gentlemen I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen” Robert Mugabe

“It (cricket) requires one to assume such indecent postures” Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)

“Many Continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket is a game” George Mikes

“I tend to think that cricket is the greatest thing that God ever created on earth - certainly greater than sex, although sex isn't too bad either” Harold Pinter (English Playwright, b.1930)

“Baseball has the great advantage over cricket of being ended sooner.” George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

“Baseball and cricket are beautiful and highly stylized medieval war substitutes, chess made flesh, a mixture of proud chivalry and base - in both senses - greed” John Fowles

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 08-20-2009, 07:30 PM:

YAWN...

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-20-2009, 11:08 PM:

Ha! Yes, I know. My wife agrees with you entirely, Phil. [Wink]

However, I do enjoy watching the games and especially The Ashes tests. I know cricket's not high on the U.S. sport calendar...but here, in Britain, West Indies and especially India it's huge.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-21-2009, 04:07 AM:

quote: John Wilson
I hate to break it to you, but you're not going to win The Ashes back with those results. Don't forget...even with a draw, we get to keep them.

So you are going for the draw. [Razz]

A bit defeatists if you ask me.

Saying that, buy the looks of the weather there will be not a lot of play the next few days.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-21-2009, 04:05 PM:

160 all out. [Big Grin]

It must make you Sick

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-21-2009, 08:02 PM:

Sure does. [Eek!]

No, I was never going for a draw...but right now I would settle for that. [eyes]

Still you're 3-53...it ain't over till it's over but it's not looking good for us I have to admit.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-22-2009, 08:18 AM:

I wish I had tickets for the 4th day.

Not that I am counting my chickens,but with a bit of luck
England will get the cane out & give the Aussies a bloody good thrashing. [Big Grin]

John

You know of course I will have to remind you every week If we do win. [thumbsup]

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 08-22-2009, 01:13 PM:

I'd comment about this but I don't understand the game at all. Perhaps someone would care to explain the purpose of it to me.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-23-2009, 12:08 PM:

Robert

I will look for the best online rules for Cricket & will post them here soon.

In the meantime John [Big Grin]

What more Can I say.
I think it was an Australian who said

quote: John Wilson
May the best team win

And you know what, WE DID. Sorry for being a bad winner but you will get use to it in time [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-23-2009, 05:59 PM:

Like I said, 300 wins won't win you the ashes but moreover 160 in the first dig DEFINATELY won't.

Congratualtions to the English team. I sure would have liked to have seen a result without the run-outs of Ponting and Clarke though. [Roll Eyes]

See you in two years...on our turf. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-24-2009, 03:52 AM:

Yes I must admit I was getting a bit worried until Ponting Committed suicide [Eek!]

followed by Clarke.

We will probably have the same result as usual on your turf.

So I need to make the most of it now [Big Grin]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-24-2009, 04:01 AM:

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-24-2009, 06:27 AM:

For the people who wish to know what we are on about

Basic Cricket Rules

Full Rules

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-24-2009, 06:34 AM:

And for those who don't...

Naked pictures of women

Naked pictures of men

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-24-2009, 09:55 AM:

[thumbsup]

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 08-24-2009, 02:51 PM:

Thanks Jon:

I printed them out. That should complete my secondary education. I now feel like a whole man.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-24-2009, 04:57 PM:

[Eek!]

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 08-24-2009, 07:59 PM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Basic Cricket Rules

That funny that this links to a Polish site (er, well, an English site for Poles - or whatever ... it says "Angielski" and there's a Polish flag). My first real exposure to cricket was when I was studying in Poland for three semesters - one of my fellow students was a Brit and most of the pubs that showed sports were broadcasting Sky Sports - so cricket was on often enough, and I started to actually enjoy it. However, since moving back to the States, I can't say that I've ever sought out a cricket match on TV. Perhaps that was just because it was nice to see something other than soccer at the pub. [Smile]

Posted by Rick Hunter (Member # 1606) on 08-25-2009, 12:59 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
For the people who wish to know what we are on about

Or more simply:

The Rules of Cricket
as Explained to a foreign visitor

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.

Each man that's in the side that's in, goes out, and when he's out, he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.

Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When both sides have been in and out including the not-outs, that's the end of the game.

All clear now....an exam later...after a few beers.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-25-2009, 03:40 AM:

[Confused]

I do not like exams

Can we just do the beer [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-25-2009, 05:07 AM:

Rick, Rick, Rick...you're making Phil's head hurt.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-25-2009, 07:45 AM:

Funny, doesn't look like Phil

Posted by Rick Hunter (Member # 1606) on 08-27-2009, 06:30 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Can we just do the beer

But of course!

Posted by Rick Hunter (Member # 1606) on 08-28-2009, 05:08 AM:

quote: John Wilson
you're making Phil's head hurt

Then let's go straight to the refreshments!

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-02-2009, 03:45 AM:

[Big Grin]

still Happy

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-02-2009, 04:20 PM:

I'd be happier if you could arrange for some decent weather so they could actually play some cricket.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-03-2009, 05:31 AM:

I would like some decent weather so can get out on my Bike.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-11-2009, 06:15 AM:

John

This must be karma due to me ribbing you about the Ashes

1 The weather has improved.

2 The English Cricket team has not unproved

3 My bike has been run in to & taken off the road.

So all I can say now is come on the Aussies

Maybe my luck will change for the better.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-11-2009, 08:16 PM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
So all I can say now is come on the Aussies

Instant Karma is gonna get you.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-14-2009, 04:42 AM:

It worked

[thumbsup]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-15-2009, 04:20 PM:

5-0...that has a familiar ring to it. [Wink]

Another clean sweep coming up?

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-17-2009, 05:09 AM:

I am going to say good luck to the Aussies.

Karma:

The Euro millions lottery is £85,000,000.00 this weekend.

I have my ticket. [thumbsup]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-17-2009, 07:45 PM:

6-0 [Razz]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-18-2009, 03:01 AM:

funny you do not look 60 [Wink]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-20-2009, 07:05 PM:

English humour? [Roll Eyes]

6-1...I can live with that.

Strauss would've been strung up by the English 'fans' if you'd lost another.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 09-25-2009, 03:57 AM:

No I think the UK press will do that for the fans.

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 11-22-2010, 01:53 PM:

It has been 423 days since the last post.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-22-2010, 01:53 PM:

Why, hello Jonathan. We meet again...

The Ashes series in Australia starts in two days time and the Poms have decided to come out here this time and be optimistic about retaining them...on Australian soil.

Good luck with that. [Wink]

I'd like to see some close games this time if that's possible. Oh, and England, please don't lose one test and go into a coma for the rest of the series like you did last time.

Best of luck to both teams.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 11-23-2010, 03:28 AM:

3-1 to England , one match drawn. [thumbsup]

Come on John . Take your punishment like a man! [Wink]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 11-23-2010, 05:46 AM:

John

I like the positive attitude.

What I want to know is how positive you will be after the first test.

To be fair I think it will be a very close run thing this year.

Only time will tell.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
how many we will win by [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-25-2010, 03:47 AM:

quote: Dick Vaughan
Come on John . Take your punishment like a man

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Only time will tell.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
how many we will win by

Sydney Morning Herald report on the first day of the first test.

Siddle hat-trick rocks England
Jamie Pandaram in Brisbane
November 25, 2010 - 6:47PM

Peter Siddle took a sensational hat-trick on his 26th birthday as Australia dominated a pulsating first day of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

England were bowled out for 260 after winning the toss, as Australia reached 0-25 from seven overs at stumps at the Gabba.

England were bowled out late on the first day after debutant Xavier Doherty (2-41) claimed his maiden Test wicket removing Ian Bell (76) when he was caught at deep cover by Shane Watson. The Tasmanian spinner ended England's innings five balls later when he bowled Jimmy Anderson (11).

Siddle, who turns 26 today, claimed career-best figures of 6-54 when trapped Graeme Swann (10) LBW shortly after his hat-trick.

Bell top-scored for England hitting eight boundaries in his 131-ball innings, going on the attack after Siddle so ruthlessly exposed England's lower order.

Peter Siddle celebrates after Paul Collingwood was caught at third slip by Marcus North. Photo: Getty Images
Cook anchored England's innings for nearly five hours before become the first victim of Siddle's hat-trick when he edged a ball to Watson at first slip before Prior was cleaned bowlede.

Siddle sealed the hat-trick with a full ball that swung towards Broad's leg stump, striking the fast bowler on the boot. Umpire Aleem Dar upheld the LBW shout but more drama ensued when England referred the decision to the third umpire.

After a short deliberation the decision was confirmed and Siddle became the first Australian to take a hat-trick in an Ashes test since Shane Warne at the MCG in 1994.

Earlier, Cook reached his 23rd Test half-century after Siddle sent Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood back to the pavilion in the space of 11 balls during the middle session, with England 4-172 at the tea break.

Siddle dismissed Kevin Pietersen, who pushed too hard off the front foot to a ball that rose and clipped the edge, flying to second slip where captain Ricky Ponting crouched to take the catch. It ended a 76-run partnership between Pietersen and vice-captain Cook.

In Siddle's next over he had Collingwood pushing forward and the result was almost identical, though this time the ball went a little further right to third slip Marcus North who took a smart catch low down.

At 4-125, England were in danger of collapse but Bell has continued his impressive tour form while Cook has been stoic.

Ponting used up his two referrals before the last break. In the 48th over Mitchell Johnson believed Bell had nicked a ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Short-leg Simon Katich was convinced he heard a noise and urged Ponting to refer Aleem Dar's not out decision to the third umpire, but Hot-Spot showed no sign of a nick.

Earlier in the day Siddle nearly had Jonathan Trott removed when he struck the right-hander's pad. Umpire Dar turned down a furious appeal from the home side, and Ponting then used his first referral after conferring with Haddin.

Replays showed the ball barely grazing leg stump, not enough to overturn the original decision.

Australia's Ashes campaign began in spectacular fashion when Ben Hilfenhaus removed England's skipper Andrew Strauss for a duck in just the third ball of the game.

Shane Watson then clean bowled Jonathan Trott in his first over - the 14th of the innings - which brought Pietersen to the crease amid a chorus of boos, but he and Alastair Cook steadied the ship to reach 2-86 at lunch.

Watson should have a second when Cook (29 not out) was dropped by debutant Xavier Doherty at point in the 24th over. Doherty jumped to reach Cook's cut shot, the ball bounced out of his hands and he could not reclaim it on the second attempt as he fell backwards. Ponting raced to his Tasmanian teammate to offer him a consolation pat.

The next over, Doherty nearly removed Pietersen (23 not out), who just managed an inside edge which was tickled down to fine leg.

Ponting's side could not have wished for a better start, having targeted Strauss publicly before the series, saying they would try to make him "crumble".

Crumble he did when attempting to cut Hilfenhaus's perfectly pitched ball which rose more than expected - as it so often does for batsmen at the Gabba - and Strauss's shot was directed straight to gully where Mike Hussey took a regulation catch and raised his arms in delight before the entire team mobbed Hilfenhaus.

Trott had looked comfortable, scoring 29 runs including five boundaries before he completely misjudged the line of Watson's delivery, which snuck through a surprisingly large gap between bat and pad and rattled the stumps, leaving England 2-42.

Doherty, Australia's 417th Test player, bowled a ripping first delivery that jagged back a long distance as Cook moved his bat away.

Strauss had won the toss and elected to bat in this first Ashes game, the frying pan of pressure in international cricket.

First drop Trott scored England's opening runs when he smartly edged the ball between third slip and gully for a boundary.

Hilfenhaus found swing on a green-tinged wicket.

AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (c), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus. 12th man: Doug Bollinger.

ENGLAND: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steve Finn. 12th man: Tim Bresnan.

-----------------

So...still feeling confident, boys? [Wink]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 11-25-2010, 10:50 AM:

Always confident.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[uhoh]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-25-2010, 03:03 PM:

quote: theguardian.co.uk
At least nobody can claim this time that the Ashes series was settled the moment the first ball was bowled. Even the most one-eyed Australian will agree that it lasted at least three balls this time, at which point Andrew Strauss imagined that he might strike an authoritative first blow and slashed a short ball from Ben Hilfenhaus straight to Mike Hussey at gully

Bwahahahaha...

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 11-26-2010, 04:06 AM:

Australia 220 for 5

Until they are 100 runs ahead it is to hard to call.

If England have a good 3rd day, it could be very close.

I know what you are thinking John, but even Australia have had shocking lower order collapses.

so I am keeping my fingers crossed,

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-26-2010, 02:54 PM:

I know...isn't it great? [beer]

Posted by Stephen Brown (Member # 292) on 11-27-2010, 02:36 AM:

Mr Cricket!!!!

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 11-27-2010, 03:10 AM:

[scream]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-27-2010, 03:48 PM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Until they are 100 runs ahead it is to hard to call

So, now you are 202 behind I assume it should be much easier for you. [Razz]

Anderson needs to brush up on Sun Tzu's 'The Art Of War' it seems, especially the bit that says 'know your enemy'.

quote: theguardian.co.uk
As Anderson's frustration grew on a warm afternoon, Hussey had the chance for further study of a Lancastrian accent that he had earlier claimed not to understand. Anderson also seemed to be mixing him up with his younger brother. "He was asking me plenty of questions today," Hussey said, "but I didn't think he was talking to me because he kept calling me Dave."

I love it. Every time he tried this sledge, Hussey would have looked at him and thought: 'You idiot'. That would have been more than enough incentive to hit him around the park [Roll Eyes]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-28-2010, 03:59 AM:

England came back from the dead today and have most likely done enough to draw this match.

What a great test so far...it's why I love test cricket. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 11-29-2010, 03:59 AM:

I was never in any doubt. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-29-2010, 02:06 PM:

Australia gave up on this test 2 days ago...and not just the players. There were (only) 7000 people at the game yesterday...and I'm pretty sure they were all Poms. [Wink]

See you in Adelaide on Friday [beer]

(and knowing the pitch Adelaide normally serves up, we'll have more of the same). [Eek!]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-03-2010, 01:53 AM:

All out for 245.

Ponting

leaving in a golden mood.
[thumbsup]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-05-2010, 10:09 PM:

Oh, this is painful...

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-06-2010, 05:27 AM:

Adelaide forecast:

TUE Heavy Rain. Mostly Cloudy. Warm. Humid.

Yay!

(I really actually hope we lose these as we have been outplayed to the max by England. I hope for their sake England win at least one test to legitimately regain the ashes. If it ends up 0-0 from 5 draws and they keep them, it will seriously negate the vast difference between the two teams.)

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-07-2010, 03:23 AM:

Proof if it were needed
God loves English cricket. [Big Grin]

He holds back the rain until the job is done.

John
What is wrong with Australia. There is no way a scoreline should be like that.

Not that I am complaining. [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-07-2010, 02:16 PM:

I believe the problem starts with our Captain.

There's some stupid belief that the Australian Captaincy is an untouchable position. I do not hold with that and I think if more people saw it my way we'd be far better off. Anyone in the team who thinks his position is safe is riding the gravy train. A player needs to feel confident in his position, but know if he fails too often he will be removed.

We have now lost or drawn 5 test matches in a row. There are some glaring WTF's about the fielding decisions in not only this failed test but also going back years. The thing about going back years is it could be forgiven as we still won. Now they can no longer be ignored.

We toiled in the field for days in Brisbane and now Adelaide with no success. We took a combined total of six wickets in the last two English innings. When things aren't happening, throw the ball to a part timer. We have several. Clarke. Katich. Hussey...even Ponting can bowl...but did they? Strauss when he was having no luck threw the ball to Pietersen (PIETERSEN!) with instant results.

Fields have to be set not to the batsman, but to the bowler. That way he can bowl to his strengths instead of pandering to what they think the batsman will do. We took 5 wickets this test...England took 20.

Wholesale changes need to be made to the side. We have a team in this country that can turn this around for us and at the very least give us a decent competition. That side just has not come together yet. It's up to the selectors to find them, grow some kahoonies and then make the changes.

Well done to England. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-16-2010, 03:38 AM:

Here we go again [Big Grin]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-19-2010, 02:46 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Here we go again

Indeed.

This is the Aussies we know and love. Coincidentally, it's also the English team we know and love. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-20-2010, 04:23 AM:

Hi John

I thought you had gone in to hiding.

I do not mind the last test as it has done a few things.

Firstly the England squad will now have to pull there socks up and see that it is not going to be a walk in the park.

Also It is much better to have a test series that gos to the wire and is not over by the 3rd test. (More chance for more [beer]

)

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-27-2010, 05:27 PM:

Australia are now playing One day cricket. [Razz]

But not very well [Eek!]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-27-2010, 05:38 PM:

I'm expecting to be called up to bat in our second dig. Hell, I couldn't do any worse than our 'professional' batsmen.

Signed:
Digusted of Sydney.

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 12-27-2010, 07:28 PM:

"Oh, I say Old Bean, we gave those colonians 'what-for', eh, what!"

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-28-2010, 07:50 AM:

quote: John Wilson
I'm expecting to be called up to bat in our second dig.

John Wilson for captain. [beer]

Mind you Mr Ponting needs all the money he can get, after losing 40% of his wage after throwing his toys out of the pram. [Mad]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 01-03-2011, 05:00 AM:

final test and it is not looking good for Australia.

I do hope we win outright.

John

You will have to say the poms out played you in the test. [Big Grin]

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 01-03-2011, 06:52 AM:

What are these "ashes" to which you refer? No doubt a quaint Motherland tradition? [Razz]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 01-04-2011, 03:48 AM:

quote: Ian Parfrey
What are these "ashes" to which you refer? No doubt a quaint Motherland tradition?

Well let me enplane.

The English (That is us) come to Australia (That is you) To play a small game of cricket.

After several hours of posturing by Australia on how they (that is you) are going to thrash the poms (That is us).

Your team (That is to say Australia) show how not to play Cricket (or indeed how not to pick a team to play cricket)

We (that is to say the greatest cricket team currently in Australia) Come home victors until the next time when you (that is to say an Australian team that can play cricket) come to England & the rolls are reversed.

Funny it has been like that with the odd exception for the last few years. [Big Grin]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 01-06-2011, 03:33 AM:

[Big Grin]

Need I say more

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 01-06-2011, 05:07 AM:

quote: John Wilson
England came back

quote:
& give the Aussies a bloody good thrashing

quote: John Wilson
I'd be happier if you could arrange for some decent

quote: John Wilson
Heavy Rain.

Sorry I had to use quotes as the Australians (mostly John) have gone very quite [beer]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-06-2011, 05:16 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Sorry I had to use quotes as the Australians (mostly John) have gone very quite

Quite.

Well, there's really nothing to be said.

A few Aussies from this team will not be seen again and that's not a bad thing. We don't play another test until Sri Lanka in October or something silly like that. The need for new blood is evident in the Aussie camp...from administrators down, but the efficiency of the English team should not be under-stated. I don't know what the hell happened to the English in Perth, but for mine you guys were the best in every way this time round.

Aussie cricket's not been at such a low since the mid-eighties. Hopefully, we won't stay here as long as England did. [Wink]

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 07-21-2013, 04:51 PM:

It has been 927 days since the last post.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 07-21-2013, 04:51 PM:

[Big Grin]

Need I say more

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-21-2013, 06:24 PM:

I was wondering when you'd show up. [Wink]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 07-22-2013, 05:06 PM:

Cricket? [sleep]

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-23-2013, 02:08 AM:

Brad, please ban Heenan.

[Moon]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 07-23-2013, 05:42 AM:

quote: Mike Heenan was the last to post
Cricket?

Its like baseball for the intelligent

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 07-23-2013, 10:25 AM:

Do they even make movies about Cricket? Too many to count about baseball.

AJG

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 07-23-2013, 10:53 AM:

The Final Test
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
Playing Away
Wondrous Oblivion
Hit for Six +
Lots of Bollywood films

The last baseball film I can remember was Fever Pitch

That was a ripoff of a British soccer film.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 07-23-2013, 04:48 PM:

Wilson, I'd say the same thing about American baseball too... [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-01-2013, 03:27 AM:

Hi John

Here we go for round three.

The weather has been a little hit and miss this week so the play may be a bit broken up.

Good luck (I think you will need it) [Big Grin]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-02-2013, 10:07 AM:

Or maybe it is us who need the luck [Frown]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-03-2013, 11:18 AM:

Pippa Middleton has decided that she is going to try to get the Americans interested in cricket, to which end she's written an article, trying to explain it to them. She writes that 'you don't have to understand it to enjoy it', which is just as well, because she made it embarrassingly clear that there are some pretty basic rules of the game that she herself is unaware of. Most notably, she wrote that 'A batsman goes out and is then in until he gets out. This goes on until the last batsman is out, apart from one who is still in and therefore not out.' She seems just not to know that an innings can also end when the total number of overs has been completed, the batting side declares, or, in the case of a test match on its final day or a one-day game, the match finishes early because of rain.

More worryingly, she seems ignorant of the fact that cricket is played on a significant (though admittedly, not very big) scale in the US, especially in the states and cities with Caribbean immigrant populations; and, from what I gather, it's growing.

Still, Middleton has provided some free entertainment, I suppose. She makes Kim Kardashian look positively discrete and retiring.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-04-2013, 07:41 PM:

Finally our batsmen have arrived but so has the crappy weather.

Our only chance now is to declare first thing and try to bowl you guys out in a day...but the weather may dampen even that possibility.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-05-2013, 10:38 AM:

Match abandoned on the final day due to crappy weather and ended in a draw - sorry. Final score: England 368 all out and 37 for 3 after 20.3 overs / Australia 527 for 7 declared and 172 for 7 declared. Comparing the second innings figures with the first, it looks like the wicket was deteriorating fast in the last couple of days.

It's a pity - getting the three openers showed it was clear that if the rain had stayed away, Australia's declaration was the right call and that bowling England out in a day was do-able: in any case it would have been a very exciting final day.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 08-05-2013, 02:36 PM:

Whenever I try to understand cricket my head spins. Maybe you should draw me pictures. Football (American), baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball OK. But cricket? Geeze.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-05-2013, 09:46 PM:

Cricket is really very similar to baseball. The essential differences are:

1. Instead of an innings lasting for three 'outs', it lasts for ten, or until the alloted number of 'overs' (six deliveries by the bowler (pitcher)) for the innings have been completed.

2. Each team gets one innings each (in a half-day, or '20/20', or one-day match) or two (a five-day match, or 'test match').

3. Whereas in baseball, if the batsman fails to hit a legally pitched ball it's a strike and it takes three to dismiss him, in cricket, the ball has to be legally bowled and strike the 'wicket' (three stumps with a horizontal bar, or 'bails' on top). If it does, the batsman is out on the first strike. If it doesn't, it doesn't matter if the batsman chooses not to play it - he stays in. However, a batsman can also be dismissed if the umpire judges him to be 'leg before wicket' (LBW) during the delivery - in other words, he's standing in such a way that the delivery would hit his body rather than the wicket if he didn't hit it with the bat.

4. A 'no ball' in cricket is equivalent to a 'ball' in baseball, except that the batsman scores one run.

5. If the batsman hits the ball over the boundary (white marker rope around the edge of the field), he scores four runs - equivalent to hitting a home run in baseball. If he hits it right out of the stadium, that's six.

6. Individual runs are scored by running between the two wickets - roughly equivalent to running the bases, except that you can only score complete runs, not (in effect) parts of one. However, each run is easier to come by, hence an innings total of 100-300 in a one-day game and 300-500 in a test innings being typical.

7. If the batsman hits the ball into the air and it's caught by a fielder before hitting the ground, he's out straight away - exactly the same as in baseball.

8. The function of the umpire is very similar (especially when it comes to making judgments as to whether a delivery was legal or not and if someone was run out or not), but in cricket there are no managers to argue with him and be sent off! In fact, controversies involving umpires are very, very unusual - the infamous career of Shakoor Rana being the obvious exception.

There are some more esoteric rules and jargon, and tactical issues that differ between the 20/20 match (a relatively recent invention), the one-day game and the full-scale test match, but those are the essential differences. I went to my first baseball match in the US yesterday (Toronto Blue Jays vs. LA Angels), and picked up what was going on very quickly. If I hadn't been a cricket fan beforehand, it would have been a lot more difficult.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-06-2013, 05:57 AM:

John

It is a shame we retained the ashes in this way.

We deserved to lose the way we were playing.

Also I think that because of the weather forecast, England did not play to their full potential as they knew they would draw.

See the way Cook played in the last Innings.

We need to prove that we can win with the next game.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-06-2013, 08:42 PM:

I love the way the British press are all saying you guys have won the Ashes. That may well happen, but for now you've only retained them...there are still 2 tests to go.

I hope the weather plays nice and that we again step up to make a contest. We went close in the first test (all out with just 15 runs to get), we didn't turn up for the 2nd, but the third was ours for the taking. I've not seen such an incredible display of bowling as was witnessed the first session of day 5 I think ever before. Amazing stuff...and much fun.

Pity about the rain.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-09-2013, 03:44 AM:

Durham test starts today.

Weather is looking ok until Monday pm then ok on the last day.

Hopefully there should be some good Cricket

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-12-2013, 04:53 PM:

Hi John

Spoiler Alert
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[Big Grin]

Thats 3 then.

I think next time around we will need to stert a new Topic.

How about can Australia ever win the ashes again.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-12-2013, 05:38 PM:

OK...now you've won them. Appalling display from our guys.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 08-27-2013, 04:41 AM:

John

Ashes Finnish 3-0

Thanks to the light.

I wonder if Clark would have made so much of the light if we were not so close to winning the final test.

Then I am sure England would been the ones complaining if it were the other way round.

See you next time around, see if we can make it 0-5.

Now the time for the 20 20 matches.

This should be very interesting.