sidewinder Posted July 19, 2009 Report Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) Ashes Commentary Rivetting stuff. After the near capitulation of the last Test Match it's quite a turn around. Could be a major upset. Edited August 22, 2009 by sidewinder Quote
sidewinder Posted July 19, 2009 Author Report Posted July 19, 2009 Ponting bowled out - crucial wicket. Quote
sidewinder Posted July 19, 2009 Author Report Posted July 19, 2009 The only thing that can potentially scupper this now is.... the weather. Quote
Matthew Posted July 19, 2009 Report Posted July 19, 2009 I had an overnight lay-over in London Friday, and I wound up watching this for about four hours, it was memorizing stuff! and I didn't even know what was going on. However, as time went on, I could really see the skill that was involved, and there was this one English hurler that was having a great day, and that was exciting to watch. I can see why people get passionate about cricket. Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 19, 2009 Report Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) I read somewhere that the end of the cricket season is when a cricket fan notices that his wife has left him. Clarke and Haddin resisting well here. England still big favourites though. Edited July 19, 2009 by rdavenport Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 19, 2009 Report Posted July 19, 2009 Hmm, this could go horribly wrong for England tomorrow. Quote
kenny weir Posted July 19, 2009 Report Posted July 19, 2009 I didn't even know what was going on ... there was this one English hurler that was having a great day, and that was exciting to watch. No kidding Matthew! (They're called bowlers.) But yes, it can be gripping viewing, even for someone like for whom it quite a way down the sports pecking order. (Go Socceroos, go All Blacks (rugby union), go Melbourne Victory (football), go Melbourne Storm (rugby league) etc etc ) Man, it would be really something if the Aussies can pull this off. I thought this series would be a matter of indifference to me. But that was until Ponting started banging on about "the spirit of cricket". He had good cause, given the Poms' delaying tactics in the previous Test. But, really, he should just shut fuck up. He's heir to a long tradition of Aussies and barely legal cheating and sledging that goes way back. Spirit of cricket my arse. Go England! Quote
sidewinder Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Posted July 20, 2009 Go England! Nice to hear ! Could go either way today I think. England definitely let it slip in the later sessions yesterday. Quote
carnivore Posted July 20, 2009 Report Posted July 20, 2009 No Joy in Mudville (I mean Oz) tonight....Great win!!! Quote
Royal Oak Posted July 20, 2009 Report Posted July 20, 2009 I didn't see it, but I'm amazed Clarke gave Swann the charge with only 6 wickets down. I can't imagine Ponting is happy with him. Quote
sidewinder Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Posted July 20, 2009 Just about to watch the highlights on Channel 5. Flintoff seems to have out-done himself. Great news - I thought we would be in for another England capitulation today. No dought the Aussies will be fired up for the next match ! Quote
sidewinder Posted August 22, 2009 Author Report Posted August 22, 2009 After yesterdays shock total Aussie batting collapse at The Oval let's hope that Strauss and England hold it together and achieve a suprise test and Ashes series win in the next couple of days. The little bottle of dust is long due another stint under English glass. With a bit of luck it may be over as early as today ! Quote
kenny weir Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Both openers gone in the first two overs. England are all over them. For me, there's something creepy about the siege mentality/team bonding/macho fighting spirit fostered for many years in the Aussie cricket team. Nonetheless, it's hard not to feel a little for Ricky Ponting. Should his side fail to force a draw, he will be forever be known as the skipper who lost the Ashes twice - never mind all his other numerous accomplishments. And in this case at least, and this tour, he's been hamstrung to an extent hard to quantify by selection decisions. Edited August 23, 2009 by kenny weir Quote
sidewinder Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Yeah, it's very unfortunate for Ponting - a really great player. Very impressed yesterday with the way he spat the bust tooth out and got one with the game - also his very generous applause to the now-departing Fred Flintoff (predictably in and out very quickly - way over-rated IMO). I wish I had access to Sky TV to watch it live but I will make a drive this afternoon to someone who has. Without doubt, Strauss and (especially) Trott's steady innings yesterday made the big difference. Strauss as captain has been lucky in this match too (not least winning the toss and playing the spinners). It's a good thing we have these two South Africans in the team.. Edited August 23, 2009 by sidewinder Quote
kenny weir Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 Blimey - Ponting and Clarke gone, run out. Clarke after 4 balls. Incredible throw by Flintoff. Quote
Jazzjet Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 North now gone. And the Ashes are won!!! Quote
Royal Oak Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 Yes, two consecutive home series now won. It's almost a shame to see a once-invincible team made to look mortal. I only hope for their sake that the Aussies' decline isn't as steep as that of the West Indies post-1991 (or thereabouts). You'd have to think Ponting's captaincy is at an end, but he showed a lot of character and good grace in defeat. Quote
kenny weir Posted August 23, 2009 Report Posted August 23, 2009 he showed a lot of character and good grace in defeat. Yes, so often the way - he and his mates are more lovable, in a funny sort of way, in defeat than victory. Don't worry about the future for the Aussies. The game is too prominent for the Windies malaise to strike. And there are not the same problems. In the Windies, the close-by lure of the US and basketball is proving ruinous. One thing the Aussies need to do is get their selection policies right. They need a specialist Twenty20 team. The now retired Hayden and Gilchrist should have played in the T20 World Cup. Quote
sidewinder Posted August 24, 2009 Author Report Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) No doubt the inevitable 5-0 drubbing on Aussie soil to come in response, in 18 months time. Cheers things up over here for a few weeks though, until Gordon Brown gets back from his 'work experience' ! Edited August 24, 2009 by sidewinder Quote
kenny weir Posted August 24, 2009 Report Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) No doubt the inevitable 5-0 drubbing on Aussie soil to come in response, in 18 months time. Yep. It's a cliche, but ... you can bet on it! Edited August 24, 2009 by kenny weir Quote
ASNL77 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) No doubt the inevitable 5-0 drubbing on Aussie soil to come in response, in 18 months time. Cheers things up over here for a few weeks though, until Gordon Brown gets back from his 'work experience' ! I hadn't realised there was a cricket thread here! Although I am not a huge fan as there is no culture of cricket in France, I have enjoyed watching the last match of the series and I am chuffed England beat the Aussies. What a beautiful performance from Stuart Broad. But have you ever seen a more arrogant muppet than Flintoff?!! I didn't know that guy until last week but never before in my life had I felt this irresistible need to punch somebody's face! His body language and his silly postures when celebrating really made me cringe. Is this guy really a national hero? If it is the case, no wonder that English sportsmen have got the reputation of being arrogant. Anyway, it's nice to see the whole country delighted and elated by the victory. Next stop: Football World Cup? Come on France and England! Edited August 24, 2009 by ASNL77 Quote
sidewinder Posted August 24, 2009 Author Report Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) Is this guy really a national hero? Not really - not since he capsized that pedallo whilst out of his head on booze showing off to women when on overseas tour (West Indies? can't remember). Great ambassador for the country - so of course they made him an MBE ! No subtelty in his cricket - it's literally all or nothing. That run-out was damned good though - and in retrospect, crucial. Strauss is much more a class act, as was his predecessor Vaughan. Yorkshire have a very promising young spinner called Rashid who has been hitting 1st class centuries recently - he could well be the long-term all rounder they are looking for, if not Broad. Predictably, Gordon Brown has invited them all for a photo op to bask in the reflected glory. Straight out of the pages of T. Blair. SOB ! Edited August 24, 2009 by sidewinder Quote
Royal Oak Posted August 24, 2009 Report Posted August 24, 2009 (edited) Sorry, I can't have any criticism of Flintoff. If ever there was an Englsih sportsman worthy of the hype, it is (was) Fred. The most wholehearted, talismanic English cricketer since the equally-mythical Ian Botham. I remember watching him bat in the second innings of the Edgbaston Ashes test of 2005 and it was simply mesmerising - all this after disclocating his shoulder early on his knock. I think the pedalo incident added to his lustre if anything. Edited August 24, 2009 by rdavenport Quote
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