England set off to Australia to retain Ashes tonight.

That's rather the point, Deane - Australia have proved themselves consistently adept at bowling sides out on not very challenging wickets.

Of course it helps that they are also ruthlessly efficient at amassing a stack of runs when they bat.

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:

It is my belief that this Australian team is one of the greatest test sides of all time with (at least) 2 of the greatest individual players of all time.

The wickets haven't been very challenging - apart from the cracked one in the first test. So not sure about the "..of all time" part.

Deane

This opinion is not based on one series but rather on years of such dominance.

Regards

Mark

quote:

Lat night I booked my tickets for England v W Indies next summer, and I'm still looking forward to the last two Tests. The progress of English cricket has stalled slightly, but not back to square one.

Hi Bruce,

I'm lucky enough to be off to the WC in Barbados in April - given that our one day stuff is at an all time low, howzat for optimism?

Cheers,

Steve

Just heard on the news that Fletch has a plan for restricting Hussey (averaging 138 in the series) and Ponting (104). That should be interesting!

Still looking forward to the Boxing Day test in Melbourne. Always a big occasion, and I suspect the poms will improve sharply now the pressure is off.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Steve,

My apologies to you and the other Aussies on the forum for my rudeness in my lack of posting since the last test.

Mark, I was only joking about the sulking. I myself am a renowned sulker.

Thanks for the unqualified praise of the Australian team. However, as far as the remaining Tests are concerned, I still say:

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Mark, I was only joking about the sulking. I myself am a renowned sulker.

Steve

It was taken as such, hence my sulky denial of my sulkiness in reply to your post.

I just thought that I ought to offer my congratulations to a superb team who deservedly won the trophy back and that I was a little late in doing so.

Now that has been said it's time to get back to the banter for the rest of this thread. We've retired Warney already, now there's just Glenda to go. We going to send them off with a bashing they won't forget.

Mark

quote:

Just heard on the news that Fletch has a plan for restricting Hussey (averaging 138 in the series) and Ponting (104). That should be interesting!

Unless his plan consists of sending them to the wrong ground, I can't really see what other option he has.

quote:

Fletch has a plan for restricting Hussey (averaging 138 in the series) and Ponting (104)

Not a plan for getting them out, just 'restricting' them.... That'll be one bouncer per over and the other 5 deliveries will be bowled underarm...

quote:

Originally posted by Stubby:

quote:

Fletch has a plan for restricting Hussey (averaging 138 in the series) and Ponting (104)

Not a plan for getting them out, just 'restricting' them.... That'll be one bouncer per over and the other 5 deliveries will be bowled underarm...

How about bowling to second slip that should keep them at bay?

Bowling to second slip wasn't very effective, perhaps Harmie will bowl to gully instead.

New England tactic announced-it has become a war of attrition now. Martyn has gone, Warney now announced, Mcgrath to follow. Who else? All we need to do is add a 6th Test and they will have only 5 or 6 on the field by then!

Seriously, Warne deserves his finale over two tests. A genuine genius, he made every little kid want to bowl leggies, and added to his special talent he is not just a perfomer but has never forgotten that he is an entertainer too. He gives full value when ever he takes the field, for Hampshire on a windy day in May or for Australia against the Poms. He also seems to balance his on-field aggression and (often hilarious) gamesmanship with a genuine respect for an opponent who performs well.

Fair play to him. Will be some emotional scenes when he gets his 700th wicket, leaves Melbourne one last time and eventually bows out in Sidney.

One brief anecdote, I had the pleasure of knowing the late Freddie Trueman for the last 15 years or so prior to his death this year. Chatting cricket as we tended to do he told me once that if he had the chance to be any bowler in the world he would not have preferred to be any other pace bowler than himself, but he'd have loved to be Warne even more.

Bruce

So Glenda is off as well then.

Looks like both him and Warney are running off as they don't fancy another Ashes series over in England.

Shame as they're not bad players, just can't cut it when the going gets tough.

Looks like we'll be playing the under 15s in the next series after all!

Mark

OK Australia, we're busy planning for 2009.

Smashed inside three days, getting embarrassing now.

quote:

Originally posted by bazz:
Smashed inside three days, getting embarrassing now.

Bazz, you misunderstand - England had the Aussies just where they wanted them, in the palms of their hands, until some dastardly rotter nicked the top secret plans and gave the game away...

The Hogster said on TV last night they're holding a leak inquiry (reminds me of Yes Minister) and when the culprit is found they plan to hang him by the dingly dangly dooglies, whatever they are.

As a true Scot I would like to offer my sincere condolences to England on losing the Ashes.

As always they get a little cocky after they win something and then get the usual drubbing.

I am sorry I just can't stop laughing about what I just wrote. Ha!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!

At least they can get cocky by winning SOMETHING every now and then.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
So Glenda is off as well then.

Glenda's new career

And whose 'dingly-danglies' are they on the skewer...?

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
So Glenda is off as well then.

Glenda's new career

5-0 comin' up.

How many one-dayers are they going to play? I'll wager we shall win none.

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
5-0 comin' up.

Oh no it isn't!

Because it has been a bit of a pantomime!

Oh yes it is!