The 4th Test - Headingly

[rustle]

Yes, a good point Paul

England: 63-5 (22.2 overs)

Who's going to be first to blame the hotel's fire alarm?

[rustle]

72 for 6 - I love this game...

[Paul Incognito]

Who's going to be first to blame the hotel's fire alarm?

Dude, you're getting confused, it's Ricky and Co who are master of the excuses. After the first ball I was waiting for Ponting's post match press conference - "I'm not going to make a complaint, but I'd like to think the authorities will do their job and speak to the umpire about that decision. No, I'm not making excuses, but if the umpire had given that out I'm confident England would have been all out for 5, we would have gone on to score 10,000 runs and we would have won by the margin we deserved. To be honest, I'm disappointed he didn't walk. I would have walked. I always walk when I'm out - every Australian has always walked when he's out, but that's their choice. We will continue to play completely within the spirit of the game, if they want to manipulate the rules to their advantage that's their choice. Everyone knows that's not the Australian way. Why is everyone laughing? Can someone call an ambulance, I think that guy's having a heart attack."

[rustle]

PI, you're starting to sound [write] like Prop

[rustle]

England 92/7 (29.4 ov)

[rustle]

Oh dear...

31.4
Siddle to Harmison, OUT
SJ Harmison c †Haddin b Siddle 0 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

...

30.4
Clark to Harmison, no run, he's a little late on that, but nevertheless digs it out
Harmison has 19 ducks for England. Only Atherton made more (20).

Another record equalled then

[rustle]

Blimey.

Courtesy cricinfo some good news: Gordon Brown writes. "I think hard-working families up and down the country will be proud and will recognise how the England cricketers have fought through the difficult morning session and emerged into the far brighter afternoon session their hard work so richly deserves. After all, England lost seven wickets this morning, and predictions suggest they cannot possibly lose more than three this afternoon, so recovery is obviously just around the corner."

England, ALL OUT for 102 (33.5 ov)

[Propwash]

PI, you're starting to sound [write] like Prop

But to be fair, he has a point. I was listening to Shane Warne rail against poor umpiring decisions after the first ball (which I grant you was out). If umpires were perfect, he wouldn't have got half the wickets that he did when he was playing

He didn't say much about Onions (who clearly wasn't out) and I bet he doesn't mention Clarke (who clearly was).

All that said, England have had a very bad day at the office.

PW

[derekf]

I very rarely visit this forum, but felt I had to say

I don't believe it!

Don't know what else to say.

Hmmm

Apart from to say I'm glad I'm not English

[kookabat]

I'm assuming that you are too young to recall the 1980's?

Ahhh... yeah, most of it. I do know the history though.

It'd be nice to see the Windies getting their act together again... anyone but the bloody poms!!!

[BlackheathBloke]

Does anyone think Bopara is a good player at the highest level ?

[Propwash]

Bopara is a good player who probably has a future with England. He is not a test number 3; he was flattered by his three consecutive hundreds in that position against a mediocre West Indies side. He would probably be better at something like 5, but he needs to rethink what seems to be a fairly careless attitude. Too many soft dismissals, and some pretty careless fielding.

PW

[rustle]

Bopara is a good player who probably has a future with England. He is not a test number 3; he was flattered by his three consecutive hundreds in that position against a mediocre West Indies side. He would probably be better at something like 5, but he needs to rethink what seems to be a fairly careless attitude. Too many soft dismissals...

PW

Er...

[rustle]

Just for you, nimbusj15:

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia fair,
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.

-----------------------------------------------

England 102 & 82/5 (32.0 ov)
Australia 445
England trail by 261 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Stumps - Day 2

[Jim Jones]

Rustle,

You vanish for months then turn up on a single thread in which you occupy 50% of the postings, only to then gloat about your nation's success in a pointless game of defend-the-3 sticks-against-the-wicked-red -ball.

Then again, that is about all Australia has achieved in its entire history........