BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:10 PM

The Grauniad reckons that England were shaded today, but they are still in the hunt. Will Australia score six hundred tomorrow and kill the game by Friday? That is the usual script as far as I remember it... Let's see what happens.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:31 PM

When we buried my old uncle (after he died) we did leave his ass sticking out of the ground just so I could use it as a bicycle rack---like I said. There was a two week period that I had to study for finals, and I wasn't using the bicycle at all then.
Rigor Mortis set in and I never did get that wheel out.

We put a plaque on it as a memorial stone to mark his grave.

Got the plaque off his teeth!!

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:34 PM

Big wash-out forecast for Saturday, could finish in a draw.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:40 PM

Tour de France - and that is certainly not cricket!
and I say thank god for that. The Tour is far more exciting

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:55 PM

"When we buried my old uncle (after he died) we did leave his ass sticking out of the ground just so I could use it as a bicycle rack---like I said. There was a two week period that I had to study for finals, and I wasn't using the bicycle at all then.
Rigor Mortis set in and I never did get that wheel out."

Are you sure it wasn't because your performance in the finals was so buttock-clenchingly awful?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:08 AM

The paragon of games !

I played it for 47 years out here in the Australian sun

Who remembers Lillee, caught Dilly bowled Willey ?

There is a theory that God could have invented a better fruit than the strawberry...but he didn't and man could have invented a better game than cricket but he didn't.

AD 1943

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 04:25 AM

"Who remembers Lillee, caught Dilly bowled Willey ?," Vaguely, Alan...and what was that one...if Lillee don't get you, Thomo will..?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 08:16 AM

Seems to me WAV that you favour the short limerick over the well-crafted sonnet.

The thing is that 20/20 is a short term spectacle (designed to enable ticket sales for 2-3 matches in a single day) whereas test cricket is a game of stamina, strategy, careful thought and low cunning. I hope to enjoy every twist and turn and stratagem of the current series

From my own experience there is no greater delight than a seat in the middle rows of the Lords Grandstand on test match Sunday with a well-packed hamper and a fortifying bottle or two. The prospect of a days sport and not having to worry about work until Monday. Heaven!

The real problem with 20/20 is that you keep having to put your beer down to applaud :)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 08:59 AM

As I said above AWM, brother!, I've never seen a 20/20 but I'd imagine they are too brief - I have, however, enjoyed a few 50/50s and World Cup 60/60s, and have, by the way, penned a few sonnets (link atop, if you so wish).

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

Australia on 101 for one in reply to MCC's four hundred. It looks like England are going to need that rain on Saturday!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 10:06 AM

Monty brought into the bowling. Can he do something.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 11:36 AM

Australia on 161 for one... This is beginning to look like business as usual, despite a good start from England.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 12:57 PM

Over 220 for one now. Time for a rain dance?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Jul 09 - 02:59 PM

Doesn't look too good does it.

However Ian Botham seems to think England got a duff ball that doesn't swing and they need to get the new ball and hopefully that swings. Is he suggesting that the Aussies are in collusion with the umpires and they fixed the ball.

Surely not!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 05:12 AM

The gist of the Guardian report was that England played well, but are gradually being thoroughly outplayed by a better team. I guess we can't ask any more than they do their best. It looks like rain will save them this time, but over five tests, the Ashes are likely to return to their natural home. Let's see if our bowlers have any more luck today.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 07:53 AM

343-4. Some wickets going at last. Australia can afford them, but could the luck be turning England's way?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 08:06 AM

The new ball is certainly moving a lot more than yesterdays nut 348-4 and the new men are not scoring at all freely.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 09:38 AM

It should be a draw. especially with tomorrow's weather forecast. Australia are playing well, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 09:59 AM

Oz even staging a comeback in the women's Ashes! Grrr.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

By the way, does the inclusion of Max Boyce in the lunchtime TMS slot make this an above-the-line thread? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 12:56 PM

And as I forecast a draw , the bookies odds at the moment 1/5, the Aussies certainly laid down their marker, poor bowlers on both sides, Aussie batsmen looking good.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 09:26 AM

634-5. Aussies putting England to the sword. England must now feel very glad that they batted first. A bit of bad weather weather could still save them. However, if the Aussies bowl a whole day against them, I think England's inevitable batting collapse will ensure the right result. It looks like they are simply outclassed and it is business as usual. This is not a bad side by England's standards, but they are obviously not really credible opposition for the Australians just yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 11:59 AM

The collapse started with the help of an Umpire Doctrove very trigger happy with Bopara. I wonder sometimes how they make these decisions.
Schoolboy cricket umpiring.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: BaldEagle2
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 12:18 PM

I wonder if the Scottish version of cricket will ever catch on in the rest of the world.

As you probably know, Scotland is very, very hilly - no, far more hilly than that.

So finding enough flat land on which to the play the game is so rare, that have adapted the game to be played over the crest of a hill.

Each side has an extra player, who stand either side and mid-way along the pitch.

One signals to the batsman where the ball is coming from, and the other signals to the bowler where the ball went.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:04 PM

Blimey, BE - I'd heard of French cricket (even played it) but never Scottish cricket!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:37 PM

Bald Eagle is having you on. LOL :-)

When I lived in Scotland, I played cricket on normalcricket grounds.

However I do remember playing golf in Bo'ness.
One of the holes had this sort of Conical small hill. You teed off and had to hit the ball over the hill and the green was at the bottom the other side. I would imagine it ruined many a golfers score card. It certainlyruined mine. :-)

One thing the Scots are good at and very passionate is Golf. Such beautiful golf courses. Managed to play the KIngs and Queens at Gleneagles.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:55 PM

I gathered that, TV - hence the "!"...never played golf at Gleneagles, but I did enjoy one round at Saint Andrews; and, I agree, holes where the green is hidden can be more than a challenge.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 02:00 PM

Blame the umpire?, that wasn`t the umpire I seen bowling, outclassed in this one, the rain to Englands rescue.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 02:28 PM

We are just getting the Aussies into a false sense of security.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 07:43 PM

I hope so. But England are over two hundred adrift and have to bat all day tomorrow to avert an innings defeat. Then they move on to Lords, where I am told, the Aussies always win. There was a miracle once with Ian Botham. Do you think the age of miracles is over, or could something as preposterous ever happen again?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 03:32 AM

By the look of the forecast, they might have to bat out half a day. That is if they can apply themselves to the job.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2160?count=10

I would like to see Harmison in the next match. His confidence is back, so well worth a try.

England are not that bad, but seem unable to apply themselves when needed. I am amazed that none of the English batsmen scored a ton in the first innings.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 06:01 AM

They did reasonably well. Over four hundred is a respectable score. Unfortunately, it is nowhere near good enough to compete with Australia!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 01:55 PM

Wow, the rain kept away, and I have to admit to giving England no chance today, if they had to bat all day.

Panesar and Anderson should get a gold star for what they did.

Well done England for stopping Ponting and his Aussie crew from winning the first test match.

What an exciting finish.

A good bollocking to every player and getting them pumped up for the next match is needed now.

That took the smirks off the Aussies LOL :-)

Incidentally, I think the England team should be fined for sending on thsoe players at the end just to take up time. I don't like to see that and its not good sportsmanship.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 02:13 PM

It takes a proper cricket fan to appreciate the fact that a five day game ending in a draw can be described as 'exiting' and 'thrilling'.

But England batsmen need to learn something about shot selection, and England bowlers need to learn how to bowl to quality batsmen when they aren't getting any help from th pitch.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Arnie
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:38 PM

Collingwood was the match saviour with his 74, and it's a shame he wasn't still at the crease at the end. Still, it was a great finish with Anderson and Panesar hanging on in there for the draw. I agree about the bad sportsmanship sending on the physio and a pair of spare gloves just to run the clock down - totally unnecessary and just not cricket! I also agree that Harmison is due another outing and possibly Onions. Roll on Lords...

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 04:47 PM

Phew! Just recovering from the if-I-pretend-I think-there's-no-chance-might-they-just-sneak-it? double-blind. Worked for once! As said, would you ever get a dot ball cheered in the short form? They certainly counted more than runs in that last hour.
Bury the 'Ashes'? Pah!

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 05:22 PM

...with only a basic Sky package, I didn't see it, but the delaying tactics described just above are nullified by the limited-over form.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 08:35 AM

Ihope that the selectors pick Rashid ,and drop Bopara or Panesar or Broad.he is a good batsman and a leg spinner.
Adil Usman Rashid (born 17 February 1988, Bradford, West Yorkshire) is an English cricketer who plays for Yorkshire. Previously a player with England Under-19s, in December 2008, he was called into the full England Test squad, for the Test matches to be played in India. He was then selected for the full tour of the West Indies.

Rashid is an all rounder, although as an English leg spin bowler (a rarity in modern first class cricket), it is his bowling that has attracted particular attention. He has already taken more than 100 first-class wickets and has received coaching from Terry Jenner as part of an ECB programme to encourage wrist-spinners.[1]

Rashid is only the third Yorkshire-born Asian to play first-team cricket for Yorkshire,[2] and the first of Pakistani origin.[1] In 2006, ECB bowling coach David Parsons considered him the most talented young leg-spinner in the country.[3]
I hope people will not stop booking me at Folk clubs because I have uttered an opinion about the England Cricket team.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 11:10 AM

I find it strange if not stupid, giving Flintoff and Pieterson injections becuase of their injuries. Surely if they are doing that, these guys are not fit and could do themselves untold damage by playing.

I would rather rest them until their injuries are cleared up properly.

I also think it sends the wrong message to other players available to play in the team.

Nobody is indespensable

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 02:25 PM

As someone who has had a series of ligament and joint problems, I can heartily endorse that statement. Playing while injured is likely to lead to other injury problems. I tried to carry on training before a ligament injury had healed on one side of the foot. The resulting stress put it out on the other side. It then went on to cause an imbalance on the meniscus of the opposite knee. That resulted in a year's loss of training and an operation. I shudder to think what some of these sportsmen are doing to their bodies. No sport is worth doing permanent damage to your body.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 06:20 AM

lords cricket ground used to have a ridge,which bowlers could take advantage of,is it still there?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 07:45 AM

100 before lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 08:09 AM

I was the above Guest.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jul 09 - 05:09 PM

For what it's worth, I did watch the highlights on channel 5 tonight and, sure enough, there were a few unpunished air-swings, but I certainly enjoyed the slow-motion pics - that also made Wimbledon a better watch, this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 06:22 AM

Oh dear.

I sat there thinking this morning, that with the weather the way it is, England could lose wickets very quickly.

So I am sitting here with dismay as England collapse to 378 for 9 from an overnight score of 364 for 6.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 08:42 AM

But the tail-gunners gave us another 40 and then Australia are 2 down at lunch. There's definitely some movement in the pitch and at the moment about 7/8ths cloud and the rain is keeping off to the west. Could be an interesting afternoon

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 09:13 AM

its raining now.

Lords has always been good for swing bowling from my memory.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 11:39 AM

why pick Flintoff,they must have known he was considering retiring,time to give Rashid a chance.

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 12:33 PM

A very surprising afternoon. The Aussies are currently at 118-5. It sounds as if they are currently batting like one of the taditional England teams. Can this be for real?

Subject: RE: BS: Bury 'The Ashes'?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Jul 09 - 04:44 PM

It sure can 156-8