Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, and part of me thinks this to be honest. It's just my glass-half-full mentality coming to the fore!
MERGED - The 2010/2011 ASHES tour thread...all Ashes related chat here please!
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Aussies win the toss and bat.
As an aside, I heard the other day only 15% of Australians polled approve of Michael Clarke being captain. What has he done (or perhaps failed to do) to warrant such a low popularity rating?
As an aside, I heard the other day only 15% of Australians polled approve of Michael Clarke being captain. What has he done (or perhaps failed to do) to warrant such a low popularity rating?
I think that's what we call professional cynicism in my profession...
Probably Clarke's failure with the bat recently is why he is an unpopular choice. I personally think Haddin would be a better captain and is a someone in form right now, but it's impossible not to have the vice-captain take on the captaincy role with Ponting out.
As for the game, Aussies bring in 2 debutants (Khawaja & Beer) and England are unchanged. I feel a bit bad for Finn, leading wicket-taker before the MCG test but they stick with Bresnan (who did well at the MCG). I hoped they would've started with Morgan ahead of Collingwood, but I guess it's one-last chance for Colly to save his Test career.
As for the game, Aussies bring in 2 debutants (Khawaja & Beer) and England are unchanged. I feel a bit bad for Finn, leading wicket-taker before the MCG test but they stick with Bresnan (who did well at the MCG). I hoped they would've started with Morgan ahead of Collingwood, but I guess it's one-last chance for Colly to save his Test career.
Virtual TV quality stream...
Correction, its just gone off air...bastards...
Back but not as good quality...
Correction, its just gone off air...bastards...
Back but not as good quality...
Test Match Sofa really is great, "I fell down 4 floors once, I was serenading a lesbian at the time"
Batting issues, but I think also he went out with a famous celeb and it all turned to shit, airing dirty laundry in public is never a recipe for success
Hussey is their best player, I'd have thought he'd be a shout, lead by example?
Lara Bingle...was trying to find a decent pic & this was the best I could come up with.
She ain't all that...
Carrick bowling.
They've batted much better today.
She's well ugly....Lara Bingle...was trying to find a decent pic & this was the best I could come up with.
She ain't all that...
If only all women looked like that eh.
Khawaga looks close to tears, this wont end well...
fecking hell, Tremlett gets Hughes right on the stroke of lunch.
Perfect timing for Hughes' trademark shot.
Poor batting that, should've left it and let it go to the WK. Lunch and Aussies 55-1. Well, that was a much better performance by the openers, took them 8 innings before they realised how to play a test match innings but overall it was good, patient cricket and then Hughes played at a shot he could've left and England got their breakthrough.
Tremlett's bowled well, deserved that wicket.
Tremlett's bowled well, deserved that wicket.
It was an impressively bad shot.
Usman Khawaja = Graham Thorpe.
Khawaja seems like a limited overs player to me, expect him out at around 30.
Khawaja reminds me of Mathew Hayden, just shorter. That pull shot for four early on was
Australia has to stick with him though. Our good batsmen have a history of starting with a bang and then dropping off slightly. Phil Jaques and Brad Hodge, Hussey and Michael Clarke in recent years just to name a couple.
Australia has to stick with him though. Our good batsmen have a history of starting with a bang and then dropping off slightly. Phil Jaques and Brad Hodge, Hussey and Michael Clarke in recent years just to name a couple.
Could they really not just turn the pissing lights on?
I love the New G, but how much nicer is it having these old pavilions still at Cricket Grounds.
How brilliantly pointless was that?
I've actually been watching a bits and pieces, that Clarke chap always strikes me as some-one who should be in Home and Away.
I'll let you in on a lil secret Khawaja is one of my three names. I think he's done very well, just looks very much at home at Test Level... his defence/tenacity reminds me of Hussey though technically he looks more refined and plays straighter. One things for sure in my opinion, he has that vibe where you just like watching him bat even when he's defending.
I think he's something special. He just had that aura about him when he came out this morning and then he made that pull shot.. You don't see many debutants come out and smack a bowler like that when they're only on two.
The ball is moving off the seam quite well.
unlucky, but a good innings in harsh conditions. Disappointing that it was a poor shot choice but in the end, he did much better then some supposedly far better batsmen.
the aussies have let the initial momentum slip from their hands, haven't they?
Couldn't have been much closer
I think you'd have to say this is fairly satisfactory after them being 1 down with over 100 on the board:
BBC SPORT | Cricket Scorecard
What are the weather prospects for the rest of the Test?
BBC SPORT | Cricket Scorecard
What are the weather prospects for the rest of the Test?
I wouldn't. I'd be annoyed if Australia weren't 5 or 6 down for England. They had the perfect bowling conditions today, overcast with several stops and starts and only just took 4 wickets. They were 1 ball away from going to bed at only 3 for.
We bowled well today - 134-4 when a side has won the toss and put themselves in, is a very good return, and England will be very content.
It's a long tail, and an early wicket tonight could spell trouble for 'em.
Australia put themselves in on the basis that the weather would remain favorable. Instead it got worse until we had two rain delays. England bowled well but they will be annoyed that they didn't take 6. Just to let you know, thats 4 stoppages throughout the day, 4 times the batsmen needed to settle back in. Khawaja had to settle 3 times 'on debut' before a poor shot rather then good bowling got him out. 50 overs in those conditions and only 4 wickets was not a fantastic return. Batting conditions were better in Melbourne and they took 10 for in the same amount of overs. 250-300 will be a par score on this wicket
We bowled well today - 134-4 when a side has won the toss and put themselves in, is a very good return, and England will be very content.
It's a long tail, and an early wicket tonight could spell trouble for 'em.
I'm just not sure it was a bat first pitch, I understand their decision, I'm guessing they really didn't want to be batting last on it, but they're batting was already under pressure following the previous test.
And they must have thought the bad weather was a possibility.
And they must have thought the bad weather was a possibility.
143-5 - Haddin out, Bowled by Anderson & Caught by Prior
New ball due soon...
We've found a use for Collingwood...at last!
171/6
Bye Bye Smith, Australia must be regretting batting so god damn slowly.