Comments on: Ashes to Ashes

By: jonathan

jonathan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 21:43:45 +0000

and consider: the first innings in brisbane is the highest score by australa under his captaincy. also, australia have not lost any of the tests under his captaincy where they have scored 500 or more in any innings. no good reason to be follow-on averse.

By: Justine

Justine — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:07:02 +0000

Thanks for the research.

Ha! I knew he was follow on averse. So from that one freak event he is now deathly afriad of the follow on. That was not the lesson he needed to take. Gah!

By: jonathan

jonathan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:28:27 +0000

this from cricinfo: “There have been five opportunities to enforce the follow-on in Ponting’s 31 games since taking over from Steve Waugh and he has taken the option once.” that game was drawn. no side has ever scored the score australia is now setting england to win a game.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:04:09 +0000

once australia decided to bat again i went out and did something else. there was no point. this game should be almost over. now it’s probably going to make stumps on day 4. nonsense. i will look up about punter and the follow on.

By: Justine

Justine — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:56:51 +0000

Really? Why do I feel like Ponting never enforces the follow on? I know I could google it but I’m about to run out the door.

I love Australia winning and yet once England were all out I found today’s play dismal.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:52:02 +0000

i know. i agree. it’s a bizarre decision. i can’t fathom it. and, of course, the only time it’s ever happened before in test history, the game ended in a draw. hmmm.

By: Justine

Justine — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:00:29 +0000

Madness! I really really really don’t understand why he won’t enforce it. England are stuffed. The pitch is a series of craters. McGrath is on a major roll. We were 445 runs ahead! No way was England ever going to get that. What’s the point other than to completely demoralise them? And, frankly, they’re already there.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 04:07:18 +0000

they’re gonna bat again? i don’t believe it. i don’t understand it. weird.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:27:27 +0000

this is true. i know. i do remind myself that cricket is a game where you can always lose. still, it’s fun when it’s like this.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:03:39 +0000

Yes, indeed. They must be thrilled with these first two days of play. They managed to restrict Australia to 600 and now are only 350 behind the follow on with 7 wickets to spare. Victory is almost theirs!

Before we get too smug, we should remember that we also thrashed them in the first test last Ashes . . . and look how that turned out. (Brilliant cricket, best Ashes in ages, but, well, we lost!)

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 07:59:46 +0000

i would agree. 3/50. poms are doing well.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:58:14 +0000

I see that sarcasm does not translate. Perhaps I should have used a smiley. Sigh.

In all seriousness I think Warnie is the greatest bowler we’ve ever had. And top five for all bowlers ever. I think he’d make a great captain. I am not sold on his potential as a human being, however.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:56:10 +0000

warne = ‘show bags’. you know. you go to the royal show. you buy a show bag. looks great on the outside, full of sh*t on the inside . he is a genuinely great player though.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:55:01 +0000

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:53:32 +0000

you’re not a fan of ‘show bags’ are you?

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:52:49 +0000

Wash your mouth out! Not even in jest can you say such a thing! Warnie’s a spin bowler. He can stay forever. Remember Bobbie Holland!

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:50:45 +0000

it’s true. and warnie’s older. we’re stuffed.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:47:32 +0000

If McGrath wasn’t so old he woulda gotten the hat trick.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:47:18 +0000

seems that way to me give the youngsters a go.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:44:20 +0000

Yeah, clearly time for McGrath to retire—only two wickets?!

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:43:56 +0000

second wicket! dang. we better drop these old guys. they just don’t perform.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:43:20 +0000

And now Cook’s gone . . .

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:42:10 +0000

And I was just about to say wouldn’t it be funny if our bowlers sucked as bad as theirs?

I hope Lee’s injury is nothing!

By: jonathan

jonathan — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:38:09 +0000

first wicket down! lee injured? gah.

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:17:09 +0000

I totally agree.

On the Sydney test—we do have a history of losing energy when it’s a dead rubber. Most of the tests we’ve lost in the last twenty years have been after we’d already won the series. So I have high hopes of that fourth day.