The Ashes 2009

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:32 am

Johnson's display with the bat might just be a plus factor on his behalf. Cricket relies on all sorts of things to turn games, weather, fitness, rub-of-the-green, personal performance on the day, bags of patience and good captaincy. Ponting's both a good performer and captain, with qualites we'd admire in one of our own. Losing Flintoff will be a massive blow to English cricket because of his fighting attitude and I hope he lasts out for the Ashes, but a lot of the time it's "cometh the hour, cometh the man", something well proven by it not always being the expected ones who save the day. (Monty with the bat in the first and Collingwood, Swann, Anderson etc, being good examples)

Australia will fight, no doubt about that, but our lads seem up for it and let's hope they all realise the full importance of that little wooden ornament to cricketers.

That and the fact that there's no feeling in the world like beating the Aussies.

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:46 am

bw@bw wrote:not half as much as I do

I suppose you're going to tell us that your flat has an uninterrupted view over the ground, bw@bw. Lucky sod. At worst I guess you are within easy reach of the ground.

Oh, yes: Would you mind doing an anti-rain dance, please? Ta.

TANGODANCER wrote:That and the fact that there's no feeling in the world like beating the Aussies.

Don't worry, TANGO, I can assure you that that sentiment works both ways. It matters not how well either team is playing or where they rank in the broader view of the game; The Ashes are always special.

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:26 pm

Whoops....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ju ... -out-ashes

Who can the middle order turn to, when they need someone to dig in and play a sensible innings for the team?

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:29 pm

Big bob.

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:41 pm

Puskas wrote:Whoops....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ju ... -out-ashes

Who can the middle order turn to, when they need someone to dig in and play a sensible innings for the team?

Ha, journalistic excellence: "I'm gunning for Edgebaston and as long as I can run I'll play" Kevin Pietersen in today's Sun. Hoo-Haa.

Little Green Man · Post by **Little Green Man** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:52 pm

Verbal wrote:Big bob.

More likely to be Baby Bell.

Leaving Bob a bit cheesed off.

Tombwfc · Post by **Tombwfc** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:53 pm

It's on the BBC now aswell.

A real shame, and should be a huge boost to the Aussies. No doubt that if we lose the Ashes from here, people will be blaming KP for not battling on like Fred. If we win, it'll be because his ego was no longer stifling the team.

I seem to recall Ian Bell having an excellent record coming in lower down the order, so they'll probably chuck Collingwood up and stick Bell in.

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:03 pm

Bugger.

We wont drop Bopora now.

Double bugger.

Worthy4England · Post by **Worthy4England** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:32 pm

superjohnmcginlay wrote:Bugger.

We wont drop Bopora now.

Double bugger.

That was my first thought....

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:09 pm

Verbal wrote:Big bob.

Absolutely. Surely Key has had one of the rawest of Cricketing deals. I mean, what did he ever do wrong?

No doubt that it'll be Bell that's brought in though!

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:25 pm

Bruce Rioja wrote:
Verbal wrote:Big bob.
Absolutely. Surely Key has had one of the rawest of Cricketing deals. I mean, what did he ever do wrong?

No doubt that it'll be Bell that's brought in though!

it's a key decision, that's the truth...

CAPSLOCK · Post by **CAPSLOCK** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:36 pm

Bruce Rioja wrote:
Verbal wrote:Big bob.
Absolutely. Surely Key has had one of the rawest of Cricketing deals. I mean, what did he ever do wrong?

No doubt that it'll be Bell that's brought in though!

If you take out one goodish series v The WIndies, averaged 20

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:52 pm

CAPSLOCK wrote:
Bruce Rioja wrote:
Verbal wrote:Big bob.
Absolutely. Surely Key has had one of the rawest of Cricketing deals. I mean, what did he ever do wrong?

No doubt that it'll be Bell that's brought in though!
If you take out one goodish series v The WIndies, averaged 20

That's like saying that Gary Cahill's shit because he doesn't score many goals, and furthermore, you know it.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:03 pm

Bell's decent at number 4 indeed - 47 average i think it is there? Definitely needs his head sorting out though. And knowing him he'll be facing his first ball thinking "2005, 2005, 2005..."

I'd personally like Key to get in just to get him to make a double century, take his helmet off and show two fingers to the selectors.

Bell will get it though, no point in arguing. He is an unbelievably talented batsman, just needs a Vaughan-like head on his shoulders. Cos the one he has is too small for his body, clearly.

CAPSLOCK · Post by **CAPSLOCK** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:50 am

Nah, i'm not having this about Key being harshly treated

It doesn't stand up

Hes a decent county plodder and nowt else

As good as Bopara, mind

And probably as good as Bell

But he can't run, the fat lard

Very good mate of Freddie, though

officer_dibble · Post by **officer_dibble** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:48 pm

They were even talking about Sir Ramps at one point

Looking forward to the creeeeeekeeeeeeet starting again! I thoroughly enjoyed my first few days on holiday watching it in full with a pint.

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:34 pm

It's tomorrow - Freddie's fit(ish) - Monty's gone home...

the ground is flooded - I predict a day severely affected by rain and bad light and a huge anti-climax

John Doe · Post by **John Doe** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:22 pm

Interesting to hear Warney chirping about Bopara in his column this week. For some reason hes got him in his sights, after saying that he is too bothered about how he looks before the start of the series, he has now said hes 1 bad test away from being dropped.
Good old Shane, 18 months after retiring he is still sledging from beyond the boundary rope.
Btw you're probably right bish, groundsman doesn't think there will be any play before lunch tomorrow

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:00 am

John Doe wrote:Interesting to hear Warney chirping about Bopara in his column this week. For some reason hes got him in his sights, after saying that he is too bothered about how he looks before the start of the series, he has now said hes 1 bad test away from being dropped.
Good old Shane, 18 months after retiring he is still sledging from beyond the boundary rope.
Btw you're probably right bish, groundsman doesn't think there will be any play before lunch tomorrow

Perhaps its because he's been shite up to now?

John Doe · Post by **John Doe** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:16 am

superjohnmcginlay wrote:
John Doe wrote:Interesting to hear Warney chirping about Bopara in his column this week. For some reason hes got him in his sights, after saying that he is too bothered about how he looks before the start of the series, he has now said hes 1 bad test away from being dropped.
Good old Shane, 18 months after retiring he is still sledging from beyond the boundary rope.
Btw you're probably right bish, groundsman doesn't think there will be any play before lunch tomorrow
Perhaps its because he's been shite up to now?

Wouldn't disagree, but no doubt Bopara thought it a bit odd that, before a ball had been bowled, he was being called vain by a bloke who's had a hair transplant cos he was going bald.
Anyways its still raining.

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