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The evil beach balls at the Gabba
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 10 Comments »
They must be stopped, punctured and brought in for questioning. The Fun Police at the Gabba have been having a ball; harmless fun is now considered dangerous, or rude, or provocative. It has been the one blight on this Test, so much so that the Barmy Army have boycotted out of protest; their bugler was ejected and they’ve been segregated to nullify their “effect”.
It’s pathetic.
Ponting’s mission
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 1 Comment »
I couldn’t decide whether Ricky Ponting’s decision not to enforce the follow-on was the old Ponting or the new. One the one hand, he was rubbing England’s bloodied noses in the dirt. On the other, he has given them a window of opportunity to save the game – especially if you believe the rumour Australia will bat until lunch today. England would then need to survive five sessions on a wearing pitch against Glenn McGrath, Stuart Clark and Shane Warne. Unlikely? Yes. But this is cricket – odd, inexplicable things happen.
Can you imagine the response from the media if Australia draw this Test? Maybe England can use that delicious thought as inspiration.
1 Comment »Zen and the art of cricket torture.
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of November, 7 Comments »
Take note. If you are playing Australia, you do not have to worry about the ‘follow on’ rule anymore. Honestly, if yesterday was not the time to enforce it, I do not know when it is.
And to make things worse for England, they will be fielding for a while this morning for just a little bit longer. Langer will be given a chance to get his century, and Ponting will have the chance to order another dose of the heavy roller, to assist in breaking the pitch up. Ponting will also like to plant seeds of uncertainty into English minds.
Yesterday’s play was bizzare though because to the casual observer, you would swear that they were playing on two seperate surfaces. The pitch that the English batted on was up to all sorts of tricks, and McGrath and Clark were able to get the ball to cut and seam about alarmingly.
Yet when Australia went out to bat, there was barely a deviation to be seen. So it will be interesting to see how it plays today. Of course it could just be that the Australian bowlers were the only ones to be able to get the balls into the right areas, but even Flintoff was unable to get any tricks happening.
For England, there was one bright light yesterday and that was the batting of Ian Bell. He showed plenty of grit and application to the task at hand, something that his team mates could take note of. However, given the movement that was happening, you just have to give credit to the bowlers. Cook and Flintoff, for example, never stood a chance against the deliveries they faced.
Today’s play is a sell-out. I wonder how many will turn up?
7 Comments »Live: Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 3rd day
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 21 Comments »
The third day from Brisbane. It ought not to be the last but stranger things have happened.
Chat away.
21 Comments »Forget the follow-on, worry about the clock
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of November, 9 Comments »
Last night, as England started their reply to Australia’s massive first innings score, the television authorities showed us how many runs England needed to avoid the follow on.
As it stands, England are 3 for 53, so they need about 200 to avoid the follow on. If England score any more then 250 in their first innings, I doubt Ricky Ponting will be in any hurry whatsoever to enforce it.
The issue for England is time. They won’t be given a sniff of a chance to win this Test, the issue will be whether or not they can bat out 130 or so overs in the final innings on a fourth and fifth day track against Shane Warne.
England will have to bat out today. The runs column does not matter so much as the wickets column. Although given that Flintoff and Pieterson are two of the batsmen that England’s hopes depend, the runs should take care of themselves. Australia’s bowlers will be bowling to aggressive fields so there will be plenty of scoring opportunities.
However England will make their task a lot easier if they forget about the follow on mark. Unless they are totally routed this morning, it is unlikely to be an issue.
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By the by, I’ve noted online some English supporters are very unhappy about the aggressive nature of the Australian ground authorities. All I can say is that this trend has been going on for years, and is just getting worse and worse. As an Australian, I’d like to apologize to any stray Barmy Army readers who come across this post, because Cricket Australia really are unspeakable.
Our cricket team is wonderful and our administrators are deplorable. There’s nothing we can do about it.
****
Greg Baum suggests divine intervention might be required for England. There’s no rain in sight, though. There’s been a nasty drought in Australia this year.
Lawrence Booth admires McGrath’s planning.
9 Comments »England’s rust a warning to the future
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 11 Comments »
I’ve been furious with Steve Harmison throughout this Test, and this year. But on the bus home this morning after work, it struck me that the problem isn’t solely his own. The near-total lack of warm-ups before internationals these days allow no time for any player to prepare sufficiently for the cauldron of a Test. Consequently, we could be entering an era when talent is elbowed aside by sheer fitness-fanatics – and what price will cricket pay? Anyway I wrote some stuff on similar lines, so have a read and offer your own thoughts.
11 Comments »Live: Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 2nd day
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 39 Comments »
A superb day yesterday for Ricky Ponting and Australia, but all is not lost for England. I say that with my positive hat superglued to my scalp.
We might get a draw, you never know. Get chattin’
39 Comments »Live: Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 103 Comments »
At last, here we go! I’m opening this up early, as you’ll all no doubt be cowering under your duvets or getting suitably aled-up in the pub. And I need some sleep before midnight. Well, wherever you might be, I hope we’re in for a great match and another terrific series. So stick the radio on, make yourself a brew and leave a comment or two below.
We’re on ball-by-ball at Cricinfo and will have a mass of coverage: bulletin, Australian verdict, English verdict as well as further comments from all and sundry, so pop over for our coverage too.
103 Comments »Let’s get ready to rumble!
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of November, 4 Comments »
A day to go… I have stocked up on smokes, chips, Coca-Cola, and other essential items that are needed to help the Australian cricket fan get through the First Test. Backup devices such as batteries for the radio are also on standby in case of a blackout.
You can not be too careful, after all.
The good news is that I’ve passed a fitness test, and am able to take my place among the millions of spectators that will be watching the series. Doubts remain about the fitness of players on both sides.
In fact, it’s been a bit of a circus watching the injuries to players. Even with the players that do make the field… Justin Langer’s first game back after a major head tonk. Matthew Hayden got bitten by a dog. Shane Watson has done a hammy. Stuart Clark’s not quite right with his thigh.
For England, Ian Bell is sore after a blow in the nets. Trescothick’s gone home. Steve Harmison has a niggle and probably wishes he was home. Andrew Flintoff’s only just come good and Michael Vaughan, well we never know if he will ever come good.
I don’t know about the UK at all, but here in Australia, the government and the doctors are always nagging us to get out and be active more, exercise and stuff. I’m not so sure. After typing that injury list, I think I’ve got a wrist strain….
I’d better look after it- I’ve got a remote control I need to turn on tomorrow!
4 Comments »Postcards from the Sledge (10 of 10)
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of November, 1 Comment »
The last of 10 postcards from Postcards from the Sledge. It’s the end of our exclusive run, and many thanks to Beach for allowing them here. Hopefully I’ve helped him sell a few. In 24 hours, the first ball will be hurled down in Brisbane and the sledging can really start.
(1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10)
1 Comment »Aussies in Aus: send us your photos
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 1 Comment »
A rallying call for any Australians or Englishmen in Australia…send us your photos. The wackier the better. Anything which can convey the fever, passion and all in between; be it at Brisbane, shop-window displays calling for Aussie unity..anything!
So if you have any to share, drop a note and I’ll stick them up during the series.
1 Comment »“Go the convicts”
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, No Comments; be the first!
Seen on the South Bank in Brisbane
Harmison declares himself fit
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 5 Comments »
So he’s fit, as much as a cortisone injection can mask the pain, but is Steve Harmison angry enough?
“I will bowl through the pain barrier to help retain the Ashes,” Harmison wrote in his column in The Mail on Sunday. “I won’t do anything foolish, because this first Test is just too huge. But, as long as the medical people say my condition won’t get worse by playing, I’ll take any painkiller they want me to, and I’ll get myself on the field.
“Once I’m out there, I’ll bowl as much as they want me to, for as long as they want me to. I’m desperate to play in this match and in the whole series. The way I’m feeling now it will take a hell of a lot to stop me.”
Fighting talk, then. Worryingly for someone who is about to embark on his 46th Test, concerns about his commitment remain. An angry, menacing Harmy is what England needs for the first Test – much as he provided in the first Test at Lord’s last year, albeit a match England lost.
5 Comments »Get in the mood for the first Test
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 10 Comments »
What better way (for an Englishman at least) to get in the mood for Wednesday night than to listen to the BBC cricket theme tune, Booker T and the MG’s Soul Limbo. Listen, loop, and enjoy.
10 Comments »Pig ‘n Whistle pub, Brisbane
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 2 Comments »
The BBC’s Test Match Special are out in force (and en masse) in Brisbane and, perhaps for the first time in its history, are sharing photos to the world which, for a photo geek like me, is splendorama. I think it’s Arlo White who is armed with the necessary – so keep an eye on their Flickr page.
