BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Tam the man
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:35 AM

I'm a born again Christian, I'm praying that the next few days it will be fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:39 AM

Go with Grace my son

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 06:42 AM

Too late Tam, or too much sin. It's raining.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Tam the man
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 07:05 AM

Naw it isn't not now, God must of heard my prayer

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:41 AM

Langer gone at last! 185-1.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 09:06 AM

For a batsman that Aggers said looked uncomfortable at the crease yesterday afternoon, he lasted a long time!
G.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 09:19 AM

Oh you are on the radio then...

I'm listening to the radio but that is a Norwich City vs Plymouth football commentary. I've been watching the cricket on my PC - channel 4 TV - but they have wandered over to horse racing at the moment (I think it's for more rain this time).

As for the rain and the cricket, much as I would take the ashes any how, I think Ritchie Benaud had it right earlier when he said this game really should be a win one way or other... Well I'll modify that a bit... a draw would be OK but in the context of this series, it would be a shame if the draw was simply one decided by the weather,

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 01:37 PM

277-2 at close - Australia 96 behind. Australia have batted well today and have got a good base :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 05:27 PM

...but have they got enough time?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 05:40 PM

I'd think so, or at least enough to test England's nerve. What would you rekon on assuming Australia don't get bowled out? A declaration round about tea tommorrow?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 07:43 PM

Well in the first dig they took four sessions to bowl England out, and they should be able to do it more quickly in the second, but is Warne's 6/122 a statistical aberration?

I can't see us compiling enough runs in just one day, especially since we're 96 behind even starting, and I doubt if we can knock England over in just one day, and then there's the weather...I guess a declaration at tea or at stumps maybe would have to be the only way to go.

I'm almost prepared to start issuing "Cricket's The Winner" posts.

It doesn't look good from here.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:05 PM

John, I think if it came to the push, Ponting could even declare with scores level. He could lose the game doing that, though I think England would be content to bat it out if they could, but he's got to try to create a win from somewhere.

My best guess as to his plan (which of course could change with early wickets lost) would be to continue steadily as they have done until lunch and then taking chances in an effort to get some quicker runs (presumably with Vaughan by then setting some very defensive fields).

It is like chess, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:08 PM

It is like chess, isn't it?

Well I often say that but to be honest, I can't play chess (know how each piece can move but I'm useless).

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:15 PM

Hmmm...

I wish you could 'castle' in cricket.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 08:20 PM

Sorry, that was ignorant of me. Castling - When your king is in critical danger you can move him to the other side of a rook for protection.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 09:25 PM

Sort of legal version of lbw...

Perhaps they should have some kind of cricket equivalent of a tie-break or a penalty shoot out when there's otherwise going to be a draw.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 03:51 AM

... and when they can't make it rain, they turn out the lights!

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 04:20 AM

Never quite forgiven us for the 1932 Bodyline series have you?

Giok ;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: gnu
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 05:32 AM

Is it game on oe what?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 05:40 AM

Yes gnu, the're playing. Weather predicted to be cloudy but hopefully no rain.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 05:52 AM

Martyn has followed the example set by his captain.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:31 AM

I had the good fortune to be in Melbourne when Allan Border and Jeff Thomson nearly pullrd off an unlikely victory against England (um, 1982?).

A week later I was also at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia, who at that stage only needed a draw to retain the Ashes, were running up an unbeatable score, and I commented to a couple of old blokes sitting near me on the Hill (this was when there was a real Hill) that it would be interesting if Chappell declared to see if Australia could get England out and make a good game of it.

Their reaction: "Not after what Jardine did to us!"

We forgave Larwood (who emigrated to Australia and only died in Sydney a few years ago), but we'll never forgive Jardine.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:33 AM

They just skittled Gilchrist. Getting interesting. Just think, every wicket they take brings them closer to Warne in their second innings.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:38 AM

So what are we betting on now? Australia all out with a lead of about 30?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 08:45 AM

Oh well 367 all out - 6 runs behind - would not have predicted that this morning...

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 08:49 AM

No?

Unpredictable you say?

I guess you won't be taking any guesses as to what's going to happen next then?

Me neither.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Tam the man
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 09:36 AM

It must be great as having an English umpire at an England cricket mtach, just a bit biased me thinks.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 09:40 AM

Who's that Tam? Billy Bowden (New Zealand) or Rudi Koertzen (South Africa)?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 10:22 AM

Drawn game, money on.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 11:41 AM

I think as it sits now it will be a drawn game played out or rained off, I'd prefer to see it played out.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Alan Day
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM

It has been a strange day regarding the light.First thing this morning I thought I had got up too early or that it was about to rain heavily and it has been like it all day.
What cricket we have had has been spectacular once more Flintoff was World Class and Shane of course is always World class.How can a spin bowler take so many wickets on the first day.The Australian side without Warne will not be so formidable and of course he is the one that even now could win this series.
Whatever the outcome it has been great fun.
After a week or so Tam you can come out of that big hole you have dug for yourself.Or is there a fourth umpire we do not know about?
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: The Shambles
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 03:54 PM

It will be a nervous enough day tomorrow with the 90 or so overs that remain to be bowled. If Warne had been able to bowl more today - the last day of this Ashes series would have been even more nerve-racking that it is still going to be....There is still time for The England batsmen to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The England bowlers
don't deserve that. They used the conditions well today - and they have been the better of the two attacks all through the series (even though MacGrath and Warne may be the best individual bowlers).

The turning point would look like being the Aussie opener's strange choice to go off for bad light. This in itself did not result in too much time being lost to that innings but the light meter setting meant that whenever the light reached this level - the umpires had to ask the batting side if they wished to go off. Not too surprising that the England batsmen said yes.

It was funny watching and hearing the mainly English crowd - who had all payed a lot of money to watch cricket - cheering when the umpires called the sides off for bad light and trying to influence the umpires - by raising their umbrellas. Just as funny was the Australian supporters taking off their shirts and the Aussie team wearing their sun-glasses in the vain attempt to suggest that the light was perfectly OK........

A case could be made that the loss of Strauss's wicket was a little unfair for the only reason Warne was bowling so early was the light level. The umpires did seem to get it right after that. No one may be in great danger from spin bowlers but it is fair to both sides if they are offered the light - irrespective of what form of bowling is available. It might be a little hard on those who pay to watch but the umpires must be seen to fair to both sides - for continuing in bad light - for one side - may result in a false outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Ooh-Aah2
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 04:43 PM

Nice one Jon, that shut Tam up. Typical sour Scots bulshit.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:30 PM

bloody poms

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:49 PM

Out of curiosity, was anyone there to see the light?

It can't have been anything like this there. but where I live (near Cromer, Norfolk, UK) it was so misty... At a wild guess (expecialy as I've never been there, and I'm not sure I've been to any test ground - poss Old Trafford as a kid, thought only memory then is Worcester where wasps and Ice cream overide any memories of the game - though Pip would tell me Tom Graveney and Basil D'Oliveira were there...) I'd guess the width of the field is probably similar to the playing bit at the oval and I could not see across it - the most I could pick out the times I went outside this aftrnoon was some form of shadow where a line of trees stand.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 09:01 PM

I'd have thought if they were into technology enough to have light meters they'd have been into technology enough to have floodlights...

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 09:21 PM

I'd have thought that maybe there are some more practical considerations there.

Even I with no knowledge beyond ohms law (and a couple of other snippets) could couple a light dependant resistor to some AD converter on some chip (I do it outside with a solar panel to decide whether mabye pond pump should be running or an outside light at night) although I've no clue what Lux there is - just a simple voltage divider that will give a reading between (almost 0 and 5V). But I wouldn't have the first clue how to illuminate a stadium and give a suitable light for play.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: rhyzla
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:01 AM

Apparently they tried lights during a day match in India recently, and the players wlaked off in the end - because they still couldn't see the red ball, and they could see 4 shadows of everything!

Ok, what are the predictions for today.

Mine is - Warne will take 6 for 50 and England will be bowled out just before tea with a lead of 180.

Australia will end at 120-3, and game drawn, and ashes to England!

Anybody else want to make a prediction before play starts?

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: The Shambles
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:11 AM

Judging the light via the TV is deceptive as they can crank-up all their camera technology to make the dimmest of light look good. For example, late on in the day - the view of the pitch out of the TV studio window looked to be almost night - but when they switched to The Analist chap - who was standing on the playing surface and judged that it was too dark for any further play - it looked to be pretty good daylight.

But the point is that the light yesterday was worse (or the same) as the meter reading taken when the Australian team were offered the light and made the choice to go off. That was a surprising choice but the choice for the England side to go off - when they were offered the light - was no great surprise.

It is cloudy again here today in the West Country - and about the same as yesterday. I suspect it will be slightly more gloomy in South London. Not perhaps as gloomy as it may be currently in Australia..........But the fat lady has yet to sing 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport'.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:56 AM

When will play resume? Forecast for SE is cloudy with sunny periods.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: The Shambles
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:08 AM

The sun has just come out here.........

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:37 AM

Gloomy here...

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:54 AM

rhyzla, I think that you are uncomfortably close to the mark.

However, a quick hat trick to Warne, another to McGrath, and the Poms will be in terrible trouble.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:10 AM

Well play has started but... I'd not expect to ssee England bowld out to allow Australia a realistic chance of making the runs. Prediction = draw.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John O'L
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:29 AM

3 down, 7 to go. First hour isn't up yet.

Just an observation...

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:35 AM

I was nearly right about McGrath.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:49 AM

Came close to loosing another one then... There are times I simply do not understand the need for a quick single - it must be the most stupid way of getting out when there is no hurry for runs.

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 07:05 AM

What did I say about Bell?
G..

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: Tam the man
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 07:25 AM

Northern Ireland beat England, You're nearly losing the ashes but not quite and now all you need is Scotland to be Elephant polo world champions.

Great isn't it

(only joking)

Subject: RE: BS: Last Chance for the Aussies?
From: GUEST,Ooh-Aah2
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 07:27 AM

Some Scots are tedious wankers

(only joking)