Kim’s thread risks getting totally sidetracked by cricket discussion, and since I started it, I thought I’d better put up a specific post. So treat this as an open Ashes thread. A meta-comment to start off with – I’m really liking the sbs coverage. Nine has become far too gimmicky over the years.
Oh, and Gilchrist seems to be digging himself in nicely at the time of writing.
Geoffrey Boycott is hilarious!
Yep, I’m not entirely sure that Michael Slater knew how to take him!
Speaking of England, London bombed again.
Yes, Nic, as I noted on the most relevant thread.
Spoke very soon Mark. 190 all out is hole digging of the highest order.
Shit, really, Russell? Last time I popped back to sbs, the cricket had been replaced by the Tour de France. Oh well, the English attack is certainly on form. It’ll be interesting to see how they bat on that wicket. At least the series won’t be boring!
What did Warney make? Won’t be a good look if he doesn’t play well given all the recent publicity.
Gilchrist was out for 26. Warney made 28, which is not bad considering the circumstances.
England are 0 for 10.
Warney did ok – 28. The batsmen were lazy and crap – overfed on hype and now, sans pants. Australian cricket dominance is soon to be a thing of past. Ok, so its moving round a bit, but England has a very fine attack indeed.
Wha…??? Whats that bloke doing on a bike? Friggin SBS
BOLTY! COLUMN!
Warney might have got a chance to send a few texts, anyway, after he got out. That’s something.
McGrath’s gotten his 500
Kewl!
… and 501 in the same over.
Good stuff. Fast bowlers’ wicket at Lords, evidently.
Are there still bikes? I want pictures…
Must wander back to tv now, I was reading the coverage on that net site I linked to. Was quite fun – reminded me of the stories about Reagan having to make up baseball commentary from a ticker machine.
Bloody hell … McGrath is skittling them. 4-19.
McGrath is 4 for 7 off 8 overs. Pretty classy!
Crap! It may be all over by lunch on Day 2.
I did my age old thing and turned the sound down and listened to the radio but I might have to listen to the telly for a bit just for Boycott. Hoggard said McGrath was too old — ha!
Oh beautiful morning. How sweet it is …
Indeed. I actually woke hoping that Lee had skittled ‘em but McGrath is just ageless. Having the Aussies out for 190 the Poms must have felt like they were in with a chance. But 7/92 is a nice result to wake up to.
17 wickets in day. They did replay the Twenty20 game did they?
Do you think J.Howard might make an exception to the ban on human cloning in the case of Glenn McGrath?
Excellent catch by Martyn just before off Warne’s bowling.
Boycott fans – turn on your sbs!
Ooops, just posted an Ashes comment on Sat Salon.
There?Äôs something in this.
When even dopey Justin thinks he?Äôs got to move along at a run-a-ball, something?Äôs wrong. It?Äôs a Test match, for heaven?Äôs sake! It worked better in the second dig (they seemed to be getting the idea), but still the 4/over obsession. Eh oop, they want to get Geoffrey out of the commentary box and get him a set o’ pads, lad.
The 4 run an over obsession is why Australia have been so dominant (I think smaller grounds – by bringing the boundary via a rope – have helped). If you can score close to 360 runs in a day you set yourelf up for plenty of time to bowl the opposition out (and we still have a great attack) and then respond. Even the more circumspect overnight innings went along at 3.97/over.
While I agree with the need for some grafting, Gilly had saved us a few times by blasting the opposition attack into submission.
Poor Micheal Clarke. Found some form and was denied by 9 runs. Hope the form stays. And light showers are forcast for today.
He wasn’t denied exactly, it was a duffer shot!
I am totally in love with Geoffrey Boycott. Just sayin…
I tried. I listened to the TV commentary for a few minutes but it was bloody Tony Greig so I turned it off and went back to my beloved radio.
Amanda, you totally missed out. I love his way of being fair and super critical at the same time (and in that accent!) – “that footwork was awful. He deserved that dismissal”. Plus he knows what he’s talking about to a greater degree than than some of them!
I know Boycott — my nanna never misses an opportunity to complain about his habit of spending hours doing nothing at the crease. But is the trade off of having to listen to the other galahs worth it?
Actually, Slater, who’s paired with him isn’t bad. I went to sleep when Richie Benaud came on.
In the past, I have been a bit in love with Jim Maxwell.
Who’s Jim Maxwell?
Mark, I have lost all my respect for your intellectual honesty.
Seriously, Amanda. I have never heard of the estimable gentleman in question.
ps – Ha!
You have good point, Irant – it certainly has worked more often than it’s failed. But I get spooked when ever things start going even the slightest bit pear shaped a bit in England – I was scarred for life as a youth by the Kim Hughes tour, denied the Ashes by our inability to graft out what, 90 odd? And it’s also to blame for our famous knack of getting beaten chasing small totals.
ABC cricket commentator (you know, the radio — the way cricket is supposed to be heard). Geez, hand in your passport on the way out.
Ol’ Dean Jones and Advanced Hair Studio bloke kept on saying that England are going to struggle to get 300+ at Lords because only the Windies have got over 300 runs in a 4th inning at Lord’s.
Yes, they made 1/344. The Windies lost ONE wicket in 4 sessions!
England’s best total was around the 370 mark and they got that in 4 sessions for the loss of three wickets.
There’s still 3 days to go – anything could happen (especially another textbook England batting collapse)
I don’t have a passport, Amanda!
I haven’t seen Clarke’s dimissal so I take your word it was a duffer shot. However I will blame Boycott! It was all his doing.
I know work til you drop is now official ideology, and I don’t want to have a go at old duffers who like to keep their hand in, but Richie Benaud is far past his use by date. Just sayin…
Replace him with Jim Maxwell!
(Have I restored my intellectual credibility now, Amanda?)
Also, the article in today’s Fin about how John Howard should never be allowed to deform cricket commentary with his execrable guest spots (interspersed with hexing batsman and shameless political asides) was spot on.
Even John Major looked bored on the news tonight sitting next to Howard at Lords.
Jason Gillespie needs a haircut.
What’s with Dean Jones and Advanced Hair Man – do they really need to demonstrate the fine arts of spin bowling in the studio?
If only more of your fellow travellers would have such humility, Mark.
One drunken football comment-slash-rant? Is that really all the damage from last night? Phew. Settling in for my traditional hangover cure, Coke, Almond Magnum and last night’s episode of Monk.
Dizzy’s hair is an ornament to the game and must be left intact. For all our sakes.
Benaud should be killed – ritual sacrifice, I think.
Dizzy should be shorn – long hair is fine while you’re bowling well, but once you have a soft spot, off to the barber.
Deano looks shocked to have been asked. Matthews,well, Advanced Hair Man just sums it up doesn’t it – what a saddo.
In the Philosphers’ XI, Popper would bat at no. 7.