³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ

³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ BLOGS - Test Match Special
Β« Previous | Main | Next Β»

Time for the beach, anyone?

Oliver Brett | 07:38 UK time, Saturday, 25 November 2006

ob66.jpgAt this time of year in Australia, school leavers – known as celebrate their coming of age with a series of parties.

Many take the journey up the from Sydney to the Gold Coast beaches near Brisbane.

As I walked to the bus stop this morning, I saw lots of activity at the car hire place just outside my hotel.

A number of schoolies were cramming the boots of their newly-hired hatchbacks with filled to the brim with beer – ready to head to the beach.

I can think of some other people who could do with a trip to the beach right now.

When Ricky Ponting cruelly opted against enforcing the follow-on at the Gabba, bringing England’s bowlers out to the middle again, maybe Andrew Flintoff could have forfeited the match there and then.

surfers_onthe_goldcoast.jpg
It looks to me that the whole team need to get their mind on something else – and a trip to the might be just the thing.

After all, did the Pakistan side not get over their defeat in the first Test against England in 2001 by retiring to Blackpool Pleasure Beach?

Days later they hammered Alec Stewart’s side at Old Trafford to level the series.

Saturday’s play at the Gabba lacked bite, both sets of fans knowing the match had become too one-sided.

On the way to the ground, most of the chatter on the bus came from the Brazilian catering staff. It made a prescient change from the playful banter of Thursday.

Travelling England fans know there will be better days than the last three they have seen.

Just ask 38-year-old engineer Nick Taffinder, from Leeds, who struck gold on his only other previous visit to watch England play abroad.

In January 2003 he watched Andy Caddick blitz Steve Waugh’s men.

β€œI was lucky really,” he told me.

β€œWith England it’s like we’ll win one in five if we’re lucky.

β€œObviously we’ve been doing quite well recently but unfortunately it’s been a poor show here really.”

His advice for watching England abroad – pack in some sight-seeing as well.
β€œIt’s a long way to come just for cricket and if you don’t see some of Australia as well then you’ve probably missed out.”

So that’s a date then: the Gold Coast it is, with the schoolies, the England cricket team, its fans and anyone else who wants a break from the cricket.

°δ΄Η³Ύ³Ύ±π²Τ³Ω²υΜύΜύPost your comment

  • 1.
  • At 08:17 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • dizzy wrote:

a trip to the gold coast is just what freddie in the boys should do. they have to put this first game behind them and get mentally recharged..... did i tell you i was an bladdy ozi??? ...... i just want to see some good cricket!!! *yawn*..

  • 2.
  • At 08:39 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • valerie esher wrote:

A trip to the Gold Coast! What have the England team done to deserve a treat? There must be a bowling coach somewhere in Brisbane looking for a few quick bucks to give Harmison some pointers! I suppose they could always play beach cricket.

  • 3.
  • At 08:43 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • David Holmes wrote:

Plenty of space on the beaches to plant a few tent pegs : D

  • 4.
  • At 08:45 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • ivan meyrick wrote:

i didn't make it to brisbane but a group of friends have - their text to me said - "do you know what its like to be humiliated and laughed at by thousands of aussies?" - it must be terrible to be there to watch and i am glad i am not.

  • 5.
  • At 09:05 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Ken Chapman wrote:

I can't believe Ponting didn't enforce the follow on! He really is seething from the Ashes defeat in England last year. I hope what he's doing is only going to galvanise England to achieve better things in the next test.

  • 6.
  • At 09:17 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Oliver Brett wrote:

Ken

I think not enforcing the follow-on was actually fairly predictable. Australia were going to win the game anyway, why not let the batsmen help themselves to a few cheap runs and reduce England's confidence further?

Plus, he could rest his own bowlers and keep Queensland Cricket happy - the match might even creep into Monday now.

  • 7.
  • At 09:17 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • SwamyCricketAnanda wrote:

Well.. England's players have got injured with basketball (Collingwood), swimming (Batty almost drowned), tennis, footie, volleyball... or in the case of Harmison - simple things like getting out of bed can be a dangerous adventure!

One hopes the squad is here to play Cricket, and as Sunny would say, if that is boring / tiring, you simply don't belong here... it's that simple. If the curent squad cannot cope with the game's challenges and pressure, time to replace them en-masse I guess. No picnics at the Gold Coast.

  • 8.
  • At 09:32 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Paul Bennett wrote:

I feel totally desolate at waking up this morning to this news. What a catastrophe!

The only shred of comfort I can glean from this is that the result doesn't necessarily reflect the skill levels in the teams.

So much of the game could have gone differently. If England had won the toss and batted then they would almost definitely have posted a useful score.

If any of those early streaky shots from Hayden and Langer had gone to hand, and if Ponting had been given out when patently lbw to Giles on day 1 then who knows what might have happened?

If KP was given not out today when patently not lbw, and if the umpire had opened his eyes when Flintoff was given out and noticed that it was in fact a no ball then we may have even scored a half decent amount.

So many things have gone Australia's way and against England.

Starting with the toss we have had no luck whatsoever. Taking the element of "luck" out of this game there wouldn't be such a huge gulf between the teams.

Obviously Harmy has been poor but the others would have been far more successful on home soil.

So ... big sigh ... things could have been very different. Let's hope that next match we can recover some sense of pride and self-belief and give those Aussies a pasting.

  • 9.
  • At 09:50 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Ken Chapman wrote:

Oliver,

I don't think Ponting could humiliate England much further after threir attempt at a first innings total. Why not destroy England inside three days and let his bowlers have an extra two days rest. Besides they only bowled sixty overs in the first innings!

  • 10.
  • At 09:55 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • David Holmes wrote:


"Obviously Harmy has been poor but the others would have been far more successful on home soil."

Paul, England are NOT, I repeat NOT playing in England. They don't seem to have a good enough side, and they really have not prepared as much as they should. There really are no excuses for international matches such as this.

For the sake of enjoyment, I hope that England picks themselves up in the second test. Nothing worse than a one-sided affair. Well maybe that and the fascist Cricket Australia security measures that have been applied to ALL fans.

  • 11.
  • At 10:01 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • William wrote:

I find some people's reaction to all this quite astonishing. Maybe England's preparation was not good enough, maybe they are not good enough, or maybe we are just the most unlucky team in the world. Although maybe some of the above is true (though not much), why can't we all just accept that Australia have performed superbly and England have had 3 of their worst days of Test cricket in the last 4 years. I am an Englishman and find it dissapointing when people can't accept defeat or just role out the excuses, in the same way that i don't like some (emphasis on some) of the Australian comments being thoroughly ungracious in victory. It is one game of cricket, Australia have been fantastic and unless England play out of their skins, they will wrap up a deserved victory in the next 2 days.

  • 12.
  • At 10:03 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • tom Messer wrote:

Has fletcher gone into hiding... We have not heard a word from him!!!

I have a feeling that if this series is still alive by New years day we could see Vaughan batting at 3. Lets hope Monty is picked before then and KP bats at 4 as he is better than Collingwood and surely you have your best batters at the top of the order

Please Scotland beat the aussies at rugby Union today!!

  • 13.
  • At 10:05 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • the other Paul wrote:

Bit rich the Pommies complaining about umpiring decisions. Some of the decisions in the 2005 series were shockers (Kasper, Martyn's LBW decisions). Just take the beating and stop squealing.

  • 14.
  • At 10:05 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • kevin wrote:

Hi Maurice

yes, the Aussies might be getting on a bit but did you see Ooh Aah Glen McGrath limp off after taking 6/50? I didn't think so. It would not particularly matter if our team were all 36 years old, especially if their performance today was anything to go by. I think Beefy and a few other who were hanging their hats on the Aussies collective experience (ie age) are eating humble pie.

Phil Jacques, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and a handful of others would probably be walk up starters in any other countrys' side but can't break in. The dynasty looks set to continue.

can't wait for Adelaide

  • 15.
  • At 10:14 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • SwamyCricketAnanda wrote:

Paul Bennett wrote: "If KP was given not out today when patently not lbw, and if the umpire had opened his eyes when Flintoff was given out and noticed that it was in fact a no ball then we may have even scored a half decent amount."

KP might've been out very cheaply if Clark was not like Panesar. The Ashes 2005 could've been a 1-2 loss if a single decision of Kaspro had gone the other way.

It is obvious that Anderson, Giles and Harmison are neither strike bowlers nor 'containing' bowlers. And that is the reason England are struggling. And it was well within the management's power to play Saj and Monty who have both done reasonably well in recent times.

I think England deserve the thrashing they're getting. I still doubt whether the right lessons will be learnt though.. Giles is being underbowled even in the 2nd innings... is he being preserved for the remaining Tests? Is KP a serious bowling option for England? Very stubborn, it seems.

  • 16.
  • At 10:31 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Julia Wilson wrote:

Dear Brian Zeal

Why do you feel the need to attack England/the English just because your team is winning a cricket match? Could it be your insecuirty showing?

  • 17.
  • At 10:34 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • trigger finger wrote:

I heard a guy on ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Radio asking whether James Anderson was free next Saturday to give his 7 year old son some net practice. Having watched Anderson
perform so far I would say there's a chance that he'll be free by next week! He hasn't got a clue how to bowl a disciplined spell and is just bowling the Aussies in. Just look at the difference between his control and that of McGrath & Clark.
Ok, he's just one part of the England failing but we can't hope to bowl a side out with him, Harmison (who is looking like a tour basket case already) and Ashley Giles who would get a nose bleed if he ever got more than a couple of wickets.

  • 18.
  • At 10:36 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Philip Shaw wrote:

What's the difference between England now and the team that won the Ashes - Troy Cooley!
Engalnd's administrators should be shot for letting him go.

  • 19.
  • At 10:37 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • philip wrote:

A day on the beach? I thought that the complaint was 'not enough cricket.' Didn't they get a day on the golf course soon after they arrived in Australia? Just how many days off do these professional sportsmen, representing their country, need?

One of the many dispiriting features of the current match is watching the players not selected this time sitting around on the team balcony with their feet up. Shouldn't they be in the nets practising like hell in order to be chosen for the next match? With practice the two surplus fast bowlers might actually start hitting the stumps ( does anyone happen to know how many wides Brian Statham bowled in his whole career?) and Monty Panesar might learn how to hold a cricket bat.

If they show no determination to get into the team England will be left with the same sorry lot who have failed so dismally this time.

  • 20.
  • At 10:41 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • raaj malhotra wrote:

lets not pannic yet,i dont knw why ponting didnt enforse the follow on but if he did then we could have been a couple of wickets down,lets just hope the boys can play cricket for the last two days because the havent bin doing that for the last three and the selecters have a chance to send their best 11 that are in form

  • 21.
  • At 10:48 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Alan Fairweather wrote:

My question is, did the England team have enough preparation for the climate down in Oz?
I checked the maps: Brisbane is virtually tropical, and the whole of Australia is anyway at a southern latitude equivalent to North Africa, as a reference for those up here in 'Yewrup'. Even Tasmania is not as far south as Spain is north - so there needs to be good acclimatisation and - with that - much more "net time".
In any case, one has to admire the Aussies by laying it on superthick with a first test at their most difficult ground - for visitors. They also have Glen McG, who is such a great bowler and who was really missed last time in England.
Yes, Australians are bad at losing - for which they haven't had much practice - and may appear cruel when they win, too: with reason.
I can put it all down to some friendly revenge for those who remember the real and factual carnage of Galliipoli.
So: "Good on Yer, Mates!" You've earned it.

How about selection based on merits and understanding that you have to bowl well to win. Fletch can at least smile smugly he got 40 odd runs out of Jones and Giles...... (I am being ironic BTW)

British sport is undermined continually by stable selection of stars even at the expense of winning. It is why this country rarely wins out of turn.

  • 23.
  • At 11:25 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • dan wrote:

Its a bit mean to recommend a trip to the gold coast. The gold coast is a terrible place, tacky, full of chavs and old people. The Gold Coast would be the place to send them if you want to demoralise them.

On another note, I always find it so funny that the only thing Australians can find to get some sort of moral superiority over the UK is the weather. As a recent immigrant to the UK from Australia I can unequivocally state that aside from the weather, Australia has nothing else to offer. So take heart fellow englishmen, even if Australia do win, we always have culture, science, careers, good shopping, a thriving nightlife, good restaurants and on and on. Australians will go back to only being able to talk about the weather. (By the way, it rains less in London than in either sydney or melbourne)

  • 24.
  • At 11:30 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Arthur Nash wrote:

Dynasty - "A family or group that maintains power for several generations"

Okay, dominance of the Cricket arena for a year is impressive but doesnt quite make a dynasty.

  • 25.
  • At 11:44 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Steven Gregory wrote:

I disagree; it is not the Gold Coast but the Perth Cricket Academy where the majority of the players currently masquerading as an England test team should be sent for some practice and advice on application, restraint and the use of common sense. Play the backup squad for the second test, they could not make a more dismal attempt than we have witnessed this time.

  • 26.
  • At 11:46 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • GLENN WILLIAMS wrote:

Having just read a few lines from a certain aussie - Mr Kevin Byrne, lets put this test match into context, Australia won a good toss and batted superbly, England just underperformed in the bowling department on day 1, allowing the aussies to score 346 on day 1 is asking for trouble, it is reasonable to suggest that why on earth is anderson playing instead of Mahmood?
I applaud the selectors for playing gilo as he needs 1) big match exposure and 2) time in the middle, this pitch is a batters paradise and gilo can bat, make no mistake.
England have lost this test but i have no doubt that they will come back hard in adelaide, the key for me is playing Mahmood, his extra pace and unpredictability will be vital.

  • 27.
  • At 11:47 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Riff wrote:

I think we've got no alternative but to agree with Sir Geoffrey that Fletcher is well past his sell by date. His dogmatic insistence on using Giles instead of Panesar and Geraint Jones instead of Chris Read is a significant factor, as is his refusal to let Harmison bowl outside of England international matches. Harmison has bowled only 186 overs in 2006 before the start of the Ashes, which simply is not enough. And what Kevin Shine is doing, heaven only knows! Abysmal performance by England, truly shocking with only Bell showing any reistance.

  • 28.
  • At 11:52 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • ROD wrote:

Dear Alan Fairweather....and all the other misguided "supporters"

STOP trying to find logic or reason to the fact that England are just completely useless....No if's no but's....just useless. The only decent players in the team are Flintoff and the great saffa Mr P.

I was at the NSW v England at the SCG match 2 weeks ago and the display was appalling... (a farce of a game where England requested that they have 14 players, so they could try everyone out in the hope of getting more pitch time.... )they were spanked by a bunch of guys who aren't good enough to make it into the Aus Test XI. FLintoff is a great player but very much out of his depth as a captain....

What nobody on all of these postings has mentioned is that without the tactical brilliance of Michael Vaughan, the current team are sheep with no idea of what to do...

BAAA....

At least last year Aus lost because our guys were out drinking (Symonds) and "meeting" english women (Warne + Clarke). It was our worst perfomance in 20 years, and your best in 20 years......and for the last year most english have convinced themselves that they were world beaters....mmm.... welcome to reality.

So what are your guys doing? Going home early because they are "stressed".... maybe Tres knew more about the quality(?) of the team than we have given him credit for.

I have tickets for Day 1 of the Sydney Test.... they're free to whoever wants them.... at this rate there will be no competition to watch...

How disappointing...


  • 29.
  • At 11:56 AM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • paksta wrote:

Geez, fellow posters. Win with some d*mn class!
(I'm an Aussie)

Anyway, I don't think the Gold Coast beach will be the most relaxing place. Schoolies will get drunk, pee on the team bus, throw things at them and be calling out rude things 24/7. Worse if they realise it's the English team.

  • 30.
  • At 12:00 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Chris Mansell wrote:

Those of us of a certain age and strength of memory will recall the first test at Brisbane in the 1946/7 series. Looking through my Wisden I see Australia batted first and made 645 (so there's an improvement). Someone called Bradman made 187 at No 3 and Vice captain Lindsay Hassett got 128. England replied with 141 (recently deceased Keith Miller 7-60). Weather - torrential rain, hailstones as big as golfballs, followed by tropical sunshine - was a gift on uncovered wickets, so getting 172 in the second innings was heroic as well as an improvement (Ernie Toshack 6-82). England lost by an innings and 332.

The warm-up matches were against Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland - mainly four dayers. The English side fielded Hutton, Washbrook, Edrich and Compton + a sadly diminished Wally Hammond. The bowling was Alec Bedser, Doug Wright, Bill Edrich and a portly Bill Voce.

The series was lost 3-0. Draws at Melbourne and Adelaide. I recall having young ears pressed in the early morning to a very crackly radio to catch up with the latest disasters. At least ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Sport on the internet is more comfortable and clearer.

I have tickets for the first four days at Melbourne. Maybe Fletcher's lot will have learned a bit by then....but the touring side of our trip looks excellent.

  • 31.
  • At 12:01 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • rod wrote:

Dont send them to the Gold Coast, send them back to England....

I hear the English female team are pretty good at the moment - maybe they should get a run instead....

By the way Dan it's very hot here..... how is your mouldy Birmingham flat today...

  • 32.
  • At 12:09 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • ady wrote:

After seeeing the rerun in the Brum Walkabout I cheered meself up by going to the German Xmas fest in central brum with hearty steins of wheat beer & reminising the good old days with the German geezers

  • 33.
  • At 12:13 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Richard Adams wrote:

I was really looking forward to the first test. As an Australian living in Cambridge I got so much stick last time that I was looking forward to doling some out. The problem is Ponting, Langer, Hussey, Clark, and McGrath have played so well that it seems almost boorish and patronizing to lay the smack down. Now I'm in a strange position. I'd actually like England to win a test - or at least come close. At least then I could be a bit of dick without being a total arse. What has the world come to!

  • 34.
  • At 12:17 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • peter wrote:

This constant harping on about Read not being selected is getting boring. Beefy put it down as one reason for Englands failure in this test. Absolutely ludicrous. Jones has kept well - conceded the fewest number of byes in Test history for an opposition score of 600+ and looked more comfortable against Warne than any other Batsmen.
It really wouldn't have made the slightest diference if Read HAD been playing. Unles the bowlers start bowling well and the Batsmen begin to bat like Test players then we could have the great AP Knott keeping wicket and we would still be thrashed.
There are far more imprtant issues to sort out than who keeps wicket

  • 35.
  • At 12:42 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Chinedu wrote:

England only seem capable of putting up good performances on home soil. Once they cross the Channel, a good performance is the exception rather than the norm.

Harmison just doesn't look like someone who wants to be in Australia and a couple of the other players have let their shoulders drop. Until England improve their mindset, they can forget about beating any of the big teams away from "Old Blighty".

  • 36.
  • At 01:19 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Viv Kulkarni wrote:

There is usually not much difference between the physical ability and talent (there may be one or two exceptions) between these two sides. Its all in the head. England's mental preparation seems to have gone awry. They seem to have concentrated more on facing the Australian crowds than the Australian team. Harmison's first ball going to 2nd slip is proof enough. Trying too hard when there is a need just to back yourself with the talent and ability you have to produce a decent enough performance. Just get on with it!!

  • 37.
  • At 01:30 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • David Holmes wrote:

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

"TENT PEGS" "TENT PEGS" doo be doo be do ...

Ah it's all given in good humor.

PS: HTML works. Well at least in the preview. We shall see.

  • 38.
  • At 02:06 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • colonial lad wrote:

This Englnd team would be hrd pressed to give our local beach cricket team a run for their money. Enjoy the surf and the view.

  • 39.
  • At 02:25 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • manuka wrote:

bloody hell, if there's one trait our countries share it's that we are even lousier winners than we are losers. it's embarrasing being an aussie and reading the gloating from the hairychested boofheads. sorry about that, england. those blokes just need one short word to shut 'em up: "Lord's."

so i disagree with my compatriots who just want to howl down english analysis, and also with english fans who are so quick to write off england's chances, and to credit past wins just to bare-arsed luck.

i am confident that australia can beat england on this tour but i am equally confident that england can and will be competitive in future matches. flintoff alone is definitely capable of putting the wind up us - he really is brilliant. freddy and pietersen alone scare the bejesus out of me, and monty's yet to come.

but equally, i think it's a bit poor to moan about bad luck when really teams have to rise above all that. australia had some bad luck in our tour of england last year too, but there is no doubt that england rose to the occasion and beat us. it was not just a crap shoot, we were defeated by a better prepared side who knew how to turn the breaks to their advantage. full credit to them. i reckon a similar principle might be at play here too.

and there's no point saying that things would be better on home soil - that's the point of taking turn about. you won the series on home soil, so now the challenge is to hold the ashes away. winning at home and winning away are two completely different things, as both sides well know, and that's why it isn't until they win away that a team can really confirm their posession of the ashes.

as an aside, i'd also like to broadcast that there are plenty of aussies who love the barmy army and think that it's crap how they are being treated in brisbane. the whole crowd is united against the security goons (eg beachballs), so please don't think this is an aussies v barmies thing - it is officialdom, and they don't speak for most of us. as long as nobody is violent or too boorish i think most of the crowd thinks it's all good fun.

oh, and go the wallabies...

  • 40.
  • At 03:17 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Eleri Maitland wrote:

OK it is a poor start but it is not going to help the team by us all slagging them off, they can do it and they ARE going to do it. Stick with them!! Iif all of us cricket fans and especially our journalists show them that we do believe in them they will find it a great deal easier getting into or maintaning the right mind set.

  • 41.
  • At 03:52 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • George wrote:

At 11:25 AM on 25 Nov 2006, dan wrote: As a recent immigrant to the UK from Australia I can unequivocally state that aside from the weather, Australia has nothing else to offer. So take heart fellow englishmen, even if Australia do win, we always have culture, science, careers, good shopping, a thriving nightlife, good restaurants and on and on. Australians will go back to only being able to talk about the weather. (By the way, it rains less in London than in either sydney or melbourne)

Dan mate... Go back to the UK if Australia is such a bad place with nothing to offer! As John Mcenroe would say "You can not be SERIOUS!!!"

Australia may not have your idea of "culture" but certainly has a rich scientific industry making many important discoveries. Careers? Mystified by this. Does no one work there & progress in their chosen field? Shopping? Mystified by this as well. Nightlife? Fair enough it is hard to get more than a kebab after 9pm in most cities but they still have nightclubs. Restaurants? Rather eat an Australian one where the produce is local & not flown in from continental Eurpope or Africa like it is in the UK & the prices are cheaper. On & on? What like fuel price that are more than double in the UK, electricity that costs double, gas that costs double, insurance that is dearer, VAT that is 17.5% where GST in AUS is 10%, average weekly shopping is 23% cheaper in AUS than the UK. It may rain more in Sydney but is has fewer rainy days than London (proper rain in Sydney, not constant grey drizzle.

Anyway, I know where I would rather be given the choice... & it isn't London!

  • 42.
  • At 03:58 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • David Holmes wrote:

I have just discovered a new "Pet-hate"...
The usage of the term "boorish" ...

Hey, I don't know why Cricket Australia are such bastards. I mean, I have a fair idea and I have myself stated it over & over how badly I feel about the way they have conducted things recently. But you know what, I think they have targeted the wrong "profile". What they need to be doing is targeting the influx of pompous English Cricket commentators and related staff. That Agnes or Agnew or whatever ...Sometimes good, but mostly no humor at all. Boo !

Okay, I am going to the match tomorrow with a mirror to reflect the sun into the commentary box of the ABC.. ; - )

  • 43.
  • At 04:18 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • John wrote:

I think Fletcher should go to the beach,roll up his trousers,and build sand castles.
The tide has turned and he is hopelessly out of his depth.
What we have is Australia vs Fletcher's Favourites and Old Crocks XI.It just wont do.

  • 44.
  • At 06:31 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Bertrand Francis wrote:

I'm West Indian and a fervent supporter of England. Why all the doom and gloom, the real England is yet to show up and will this series 2-1! I wonder what all the England critics will be saying then.

  • 45.
  • At 09:09 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • doug kennedy wrote:

Australia has the best of everything.Best lifestyle,best people,BEST CRICKET TEAM.
After reading these blogs I think a few of you whinging Poms should actually come out here and SEE the difference.
Australia has achieved more in sport in a couple of hundred years than england ever has.

  • 46.
  • At 09:14 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Glynne Williams wrote:

The only reason Australia didn't enforce the follow-on as they should have done is money. Ian Bell was a bit naive when he expressed surprise at this. CrickAustralia would have lost out of 2 days'-worth of entry fees and you could already see how the spectators were deserting the Gabba. The Australian authorities would have lost out financially if Ponting had done as any captain should have done in the circumstances and I think the decision was not his at all.

I wonder if Australia will come to regret their obsession with winning at all costs (including treating the England fans with utter contempt and denying them tickets so as to avoid the Barmy Army giving the England team vocal support) and start looking at the entertainment element in sport? The ritual England thrashing by robotic batsmen is not particularly attractive to watch or to pay money for and people are voting with their feet. Give me England v. India, Pakistan or whoever for excellent and interesting games where you see the ebb and flow of cricket.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing England's abysmal performance at all but there are issues here to be addressed which don't relate to England at all. Australia have become the Chelsea of cricket, unfortunately.

  • 47.
  • At 09:23 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Sreejay S wrote:

Dan (post#23) says"So take heart fellow englishmen, even if Australia do win, we always have culture, science, careers, good shopping, a thriving nightlife, good restaurants and on and on. Australians will go back to only being able to talk about the weather." Hoo-boy!
And I was just about going to say the same thing, more or less...about India, my country!!!
You know, ancient culture, science etc. But, in the final analysis, the cricket teams of both our countries are mediocre.
India produces one-performance wonders who are content with their subsequent ad-deals and England - well, all of you people on this forum know better than me...
The final analysis? Grasping at straws...
And I am full y behind England, regardless - my poor sleep deprivation...

  • 48.
  • At 09:34 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • adrian potts wrote:

All British Isles sport is below par because sportsmen are too comfortable in the professional world - protected, cocooned, overpaid. They twist an ankle and they are out for 3 months. To wear a national shirt you must be prepared to bleed or to die for the cause otherwise you do not deserve the respect that comes with representing your country. They are not accountable and it's not their fault. They see other Public Servants - Politicians, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers - being allowed to keep their jobs despite huge failings. This England cricket side should be disbanded immediately for the shame they have brought us and we need young gutsy committed honest players to replace them as soon as possible.

  • 49.
  • At 09:37 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Justin wrote:

Talking of beach...have you seen the Beach Cricket that is being advertised at the cricket.

Involves a tri-nations tournament between England, Australia and the West Indies. Have a look at www.xxxxgoldbeachcricket.com

Awesome!!! Bring it on Thommo

  • 50.
  • At 10:02 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Julia Wilson wrote:

Dear Doug Kennedy

Another Australian attacking England/the English just because your team is beating our team. Australia has the best of everything? Pah! How do you know? How many other countries have you lived in? And before you tell me to go to Australia and see the difference, I'm already here and I already have. I'm with Dan on this one.

What's that summer Beach Cricket in Australia this summer all about? We've been getting ads here on the TV about it.. goldbeachcricket.com.au My hero Allan Border from where i live in sunny (drought stricken) Brisbane is going to be involved..

  • 52.
  • At 11:38 PM on 25 Nov 2006,
  • Alexander wrote:

All I can say about the Cricketing disaster is, an eye test for one of the umpires and a hearing test for the other The English Cricketers, no trip to the beach, a stick of dynamite up their a----s is a more likely remedy.The Aussie Cricketers, well, what can I say - their MOUTHS say it all. They talk about the poms soccer on field "love ins" The Aussie cricketers border on the profanity with their "love ins"

This post is closed to new comments.

³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ iD

³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ navigation

³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Β© 2014 The ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.