| 
Posts and words
Loading ...Given that these two test, apart from a pretty insignificent couple of tests in Zimbabwe, are the only test for oz for 12 months, I’d imagine they will definately be the last hurragh for some of the older oz brigade. A few other will make the world cup and then that could be it.
But wait, there’s more!
By Scott 4 years ago, mid-December Add your comment below
I’m tired of reading post-mortems about the Ashes. The result is decided, but there are two Tests to go. As an Australian, I’m absolutely delighted that Australia have won the series. But the future of both teams is not set in stone yet.
It seems to me that both sides, but especially England, have a lot riding on the outcome of the final two Test matches. It is by no means a given that Australia will go on for the 5-0 outcome that is being loosely bandied about, but if that happens, 2007 will be a year of woe for England. The inquisition will be a sight to behold.
On the other hand, a fighting England performance, with England coming home 3-2, will give a tremendous filip to English morale. There will be positives for the English team to hang their hats on.
For Australia, a 5-0 win will be the peak for several of the team’s veterans to call it a day. While Australia will seek to manage the retirement of their key players, looking ahead to 2009, the batting looks strong, with Michael Clarke, Hussey and Ponting being a core middle order to build around.
So it is not over yet kids. The Fourth Test starts in a week, and Warne is one wicket away from 700 wickets.
Tags: ashes, australia, england, MCG, Michael-Clarke, michael-hussey, post-mortems, ricky-ponting, shane-warne |
5 Responses to “But wait, there’s more!”
December 19th, 2006 at 11.43 am
December 19th, 2006 at 1.32 pm
Scott,
Yep – it’s THAT OTHER Aussie.
I reckon Punter will want everything he can get. His anger at Duncan Fletcher and Fletcher’s comments when we lost The Ashes knows was tangible. It still is. But Punter has and will continue to use that anger, that rage to inflict on England the biggest defeat since the fall of Singapore.
Put bluntly, Punter wants the lot.
We may not get it, but he and the team want it.
My son explained this to me quite well the other day. He said “The English play to come second, or just finish, or just to compete. The Aussies are only in anything in order to win it. There’s no such thing as an honourable second place”
He was born in England 35 years ago. Gotta love the boy haven’t ya 
Bilbo
December 19th, 2006 at 9.48 pm
So am I, Scott. Well said. It was obvious that the Ashes were gone practically from the first ball zooming on to second-slip, for godness sake. Sometimes only Chardonnay and chocolate can help. For the spectators, I mean! Sigh.
We desperately need to see England regroup now and keep on fighting. After OZ, there is a lot more cricket to be played and England have only shame on their one-day record to date. Pride is at stake. Go, boys, go!
December 20th, 2006 at 6.29 am
Even a happy[drunken]- {Rule no. 1 Don’t blog when you’re sober}Xmas to Bilbo but don’t bring Boycott just come bye yourself.
December 20th, 2006 at 10.44 am
Pride is a strange thing in sport – especially English sport. It only ever gets mentioned once we’ve lost the series! What about playing for pride while there’s still something to be won? For me the biggest downer of this series is not particularly that we’re facing a whitewash, but it’s the lack of pride shown in the performances of Strauss (early on in the series), G. Jones, Flintoff (except in Brisbane) and Harmison (except in Perth’s 1st innings). Very rarely have we seen any of the pride and passion of 2005 – and with no Vaughan, we needed that more than ever!
However, all this is a moot point. As the way that the Aussies have played, there is no team in the world at the moment that wouldn’t be 3-0 down. “Awesome” is the only word to describe it really!
I disagree with Scott’s point though that if England do lose 5-0 then 2007 will be a year of woe and the inquisition will be something to behold. I fail to see, apart from dropping probably 3 players, what the selectors can do (the media will go mad for a week, but that’s nothing new!). The batting now seems pretty fixed, the keeper’s spot is still undecided, and Monty, Hoggy and Freddie are the mainstay of the bowling.
God, I hope we win a Test though!!!!!
Comments
