Hmmm...
200 runs required to make England bat again, only 2 wickets to get (assuming Harris can't bat as he's being operated on), and there's only a couple of close catchers for Graeme Swann? 😕
Seems a bit odd! I'd want to make the batsmen so scared to do anything except defend the ball, I'd have them totally surrounded!
Maybe Strauss is trying to give the spectators some value for money and make the game last a bit longer... 😉
Is it a practice session but without the nets?
Finally. 1 to go.
FINISH THEM
We win 🙂
Hurrah! An innings and 157 runs!!!
Largest margin of victory for any team touring Australia since 1912.
Get in.
😆
lol - Aussie commentator - 'spare a thought for Ricky ponting' - not bloody likely!
Only thing that could improve this would be for Aggers to do 'the sprinkler' in the middle of the MCG!
WHoooooT!
Great news don't you think, psychle?
woot
How long before the Aussies rehash this one (the whinging amused me no end at the time, so I thought it worth reposting)?
Stayed up till 2am to watch most of the first session, was slightly overjoyed to see Strauss out 3rd ball! The look of anguish, disconsolation and disbelief on the face of the England Captain warmed the cockles of my heart at midnight! You could almost see the cracks appearing in the carefully prepared mental walls, lovely way to start the toughest tour he'll ever face
Went to bed at 1:30ish with the score at 2-43 I think, wasn't much happening, though I did think that the batsmen didn't look all that comfortable with the bounce, but our bowlers weren't doing much with the ball or off the deck either.
Wake up this morning to find that one of our 'two average opening bowlers' had taken a sensational hat-trick, on his birthday no less! Really happy for Siddle, he's a proper Aussie cricketer, all heart and passion and a real character for the side. He reckon he'll be our bowling talisman this series, much like Flintoff was for England. To think that the Aussie press and pundits were questioning his inclusion in this team! Idiots... Warne likes him for much the same reasons I do, he's got the 'mongrel' air about him, and that's what an Australian team needs!
All in, a pretty awesome opening day for Australia, and a much needed reality check for the Englander's I think: this is not going to be easy for you, you're in enemy territory now and the natives are hungry!
POSTED 1 MONTH AGO #
What a difference a month makes eh psychle? 😀
🙂
England's celebratory "sprinkler" post-victory for the barmy army.
[img] 
[/img]
Quality
Over exuberant celebrations for a series which could still (just possibly) be drawn.
You gotta love cricket fans.
I am of course delighted for England and Wales.
Yes highlights for me beside the Cricket was Bumble talking about his dad's and dogs ashes and ripping it out of Vaughns shirt
But 30 odd years of watching English sport has made me think we'll lose the last test in Sydney 🙁
Over exuberant celebrations for a series which could still (just possibly) be drawn.
I take it you do know why they were celebrating ?
Like duh!
Odd that you think the celebrations are OTT then 🙂
Like I said, bitter aussies turning it into a 'non-event' 🙂
I'm neither Aussie, English nor bitter. Simply a neutral immigrant (who has always supported England in cricket). I'd say that the celebrations are best left till the series is won. It's just a comment, that's all. The English as a nation are probably the most dignified in the world in defeat. Time to show some now.
Fair point, I don't think you should begrudge the team to have their moment to celebrate retaining the ashes, especially since they played so well as a team. I think Strauss has good control of the situation and is the epitome of dignity.
Agreed.
excellent result and fair enough to celebrate - in a non freddy flintoff style. They have won - as they cannot loose anymore nor the aussies win. The next ine is not a dead rubber but it is not as significant either.
But another interview with a couple of totally sloshed cricketers laughing at OJ suggested to them by the PM would be good, don't you think?
Cheers for not killin' me folks. I was only commenting. I'm bloody delighted they wiped the floor with the Aussies. Brilliant comeback after the beating they got in the last test. And I really hope they can motivate themselves to come away with a series win rather than simply retaining the ashes after a draw. It would feel so much more satisfying.
Why the hate for Punting (this is a nickname for Ponting right?)?
What's the significance of the sprinkler celebration?
ponting is because they used to be great and unbeatable and now he is humbled some people feel shadenfreude [spell?]. His interviews always seem honest to me and he described his form as horrible after this test for example.
The springler dance - No idea barmy army dance??
Punter
Schadenfreude
Sprinkler
😉
so we win the ashes for the first time in ages and everyone goes mad.
is it 1966 again?
We won them in 2005 and 2009 actually 🙂
Why the hate for Punting (this is a nickname for Ponting right?)?
Punter.
You followed this Test? See the Pieterson incident on day 2 - and bear in mind it's far from the first time he's behaved like that. Great player, bad attitude.
Ponting out of the next test.
Ponting is a great player - but he also makes a great panto villain hence the booing.
Any true cricket fan has huge respect for his achievements.
However seeing Punter with this face always gladdens the heart 🙂
[img] 
[/img]
Ponting reminds me of JW Bush. I'm not doubting good intentions but it just doesn't click for me..
For TJ
[img] 
[/img]
Punter reminds me of a kind of Lee Evans/Ian Hislop hybrid.
These days his antics are funnier too.
Ponting out of the next test
So a broken finger has done what the match referee should have done. Is that the end of his career?
Past his sell by date, and personally I'm happy to see the back of the sort of behaviour and attitude he brings to the game, but he doesn't deserve to go out like this if this is indeed the end. Though it is really all his own fault - he should have gone when still at the top like so many of his team-mates did a few years ago.
What's the significance of the sprinkler celebration?
These may go some way to explaining it...
[url] http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/video/20101118/swannys-ashes-diary-no3_2276252_2224425 [/url] (about 8 minutes in)
[url] http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/video/20101213/swannys-ashes-diary-episode-5_2276252_2243406 [/url]
Ponting - great player - average captain.
Punter for his love of a bet.
Has crossed the line once or twice in his career, I can forgive him those, very pressurised situation top class sport. He always fronts up in interviews which you have to admire him for and that makes his few transgressions forgiveable.
Fantastic record as a batter, especially when he has played most of his tests as captain.