The 4th Test - Headingly

[rustle]

Not quite true, Jim.

I helped Rob S in his never-ending quest for knowledge (thrice, as I recall), and

I also took the p1ss out of IMCR and his anti-AOPA crusade, which is a particularly worthwhile contribution I feel.

[Rob S]

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.

Personally I would be happy with that!

Rob S

[Adam]

Anyway it's bonser to see you back mate! (even if we do have to put up with a degree of smugness - wait until the next test)

[kookabat]

Adam - "bonser'???


BONZA MATE!!!!

[Propwash]

Fair do chaps, Australia outplayed England in this match (against the general run of play in the series incidentally). They seem to have got their act together at last.

Sad to hear on the radio news today that some Australian "supporters" have admitted setting off the fire alarm in the England team hotel during the night before the match started. (Credit to England for not referring to it as any sort of excuse for the first day's dire performance) They did something similar to England in Oz during the last series. Says a lot about their attitude to winning at all costs, and fair play. They probably live under a seat in bay 13 at the MCG. Once a convict . . . . . .

It's a shame rustle has been away; I would have enjoyed his particular brand of contribution following the Lord's test match. Whatever happens in the series now, Ponting will always be the first Australian captain to lose there for 75 years.

PW

[rustle]

England 102 & 263/10 (61.3 ov)
Australia 445
Australia won by an innings and 80 runs

[Paul Incognito]

Credit to England for not referring to it as any sort of excuse for the first day's dire performance

You could just imagnie the uproar if an Englishman did it to the Aussies though!

I do like the Aussie nation's love of sport - even those that don't follow cricket will support their team in the Ashes, World Cup etc. You can't always say that about the UK, but then I always say that sport is part of the new (post-Empire) Aussie identity. Unfortunately the down side is the Aussie hypocrisy when it comes to "gamesmanship" (or cheating, whichever you prefer). All teams do it to varying degrees, but only the Aussies make a real fuss about it when they're on the receiving end, and then claim they don't do it!

So, well done Australia for the fourth test - a nice disciplined performance (with the exception of this morning's session) allowing you to take advantage of the England nightmare this time. I'll allow you both to let rip with all the smug comments, it just make it sweeter if we do pull off a win in the last test. Shame we didn't have the England team of 2005, we'd be 4-0 up by now.

[Rob S]

Please please please get rid of Bopara - he is sh1te.

Rob S

[nimbusj15]

Right chaps, that the bad one out of the way, chin up shoulders back, tell Larwood and Jardine to report to the Oval and get Ramprekash out of the riduclulous looking set of dancing clothes

[rustle]

Anyway it's bonser to see you back mate! (even if we do have to put up with a degree of smugness - wait until the next test)

Cheers Adam, it's good to be here

nimbus, apols for the thread hijack...

[Paul Incognito]

I trust you won't disappear again Rustle when England win the fith test?

[rustle]

I trust you won't disappear again Rustle when England win the fith test?

Well it's obviously impossible to know exactly what I'll be doing in a couple of years...

[IMCR]

Hmmm, clearly he did disappear.

Not one to take defeat well I guess.

Actually I thought there wasnt a lot between them.

[Keef]

Hmmm, clearly he did disappear.

Not one to take defeat well I guess.

Actually I thought there wasnt a lot between them.

Nah, you're looking in the wrong place. Try the Fifth Test thread - he's been in there since the result.