Anyone for cricket?

[H_T 3,032]

After his effort last friday night with 0/41 from 2 overs and a simple dropped catch I reckon he might shelve any thought there may have been of that happening.

Still wouldn't suprise me if he came out in his next match and took 4/10, but it was tough seeing him like that.

I love Warnie, but he went out on such a great note I'd hate to see him do a Plugger, come back and be a shell of what he used to be.

I was there on Boxing Day 2006 when he bowled Strauss through the gate to be the first man to take 700 wickets in what was his second last test and my last chance to see the great man play. I'll always have that memory and I'd hate to see it ruined.

Edit: Spelling

I'll have ever lasting memories watching Boxing Day tests at the ground and whilst away down the coast on holidays (watching the last couple of hours of play from tea) of Warnie mesmerising batsmen. I'll recall those days when crowds gathered around monitors when Warne was bowling.

That's it, Warne created interest in cricket and was a must watch for many people. People flocked to see him turn the ball almost square and see the batsmen tremble.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Hell, I wish the bowlers would pitch up. We have been too short too often during the series.

And Michael Clarke by chance........

Yes, & Michael Clarke MK11...

[low flying Robbo 979]

Game between Adelaide and Brisbane came right down to a "Michael Bevan" style last ball 4 conclusion...

Pollard made the most arsey run out i've ever seen. So unlucky for the batsman...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

4/299 is a very good score on this wicket.

Hughes made some runs.

Cowan was headless. Watson was never comfortable. Where is he at? If you cant make runs against these bowlers then......

Once again we cant get an opening pair that gets a start

Clarke and Hussey were class.

But Hogg is right, this attack is pedestrian. This is a really tricky wicket with balls keeping low all day. Not good for 1st day. But when your attack bowls around !25kph then you are not going to exploit it too well

I expect Siddle and Starc(particularly the left armer) to make hay with the variable bounce.

The Test will be lucky to go more than 3.5 days

[dee-luded 2,959]

4/299 is a very good score on this wicket.

Hughes made some runs.

Cowan was headless. Watson was never comfortable. Where is he at? If you cant make runs against these bowlers then......

Once again we cant get an opening pair that gets a start

Clarke and Hussey were class.

But Hogg is right, this attack is pedestrian. This is a really tricky wicket with balls keeping low all day. Not good for 1st day. But when your attack bowls around !25kph then you are not going to exploit it too well

I expect Siddle and Starc(particularly the left armer) to make hay with the variable bounce.

The Test will be lucky to go more than 3.5 days

& his swing... 'Starcs', movement thru the air hopefully will do some tricks. & just maybe the hilf, before its too late for him?

IMO bounce will help Siddle.

[MadAsHell 4,209]

4/299 is a very good score on this wicket.

Hughes made some runs.

Cowan was headless. Watson was never comfortable. Where is he at? If you cant make runs against these bowlers then......

Once again we cant get an opening pair that gets a start

Clarke and Hussey were class.

But Hogg is right, this attack is pedestrian. This is a really tricky wicket with balls keeping low all day. Not good for 1st day. But when your attack bowls around !25kph then you are not going to exploit it too well

I expect Siddle and Starc(particularly the left armer) to make hay with the variable bounce.

The Test will be lucky to go more than 3.5 days

I share your concerns about Watson and Cowan RR, where are they both at and how long do we carry them for?

Clarke, Hussey and Warner are the only automatic selections for mine in the batting order. If Hughes continues to bat like the way he did yesterday, then he'd be able to make it also, but then what?

If Watson is only going to average 30 odd then he has to bat at 6 and bowl more. Batting 4, 3 or openning is just to high.

Then we have to find someone else to either open or bat at 3. Cowan's there at the moment, our only other options for mine would be Khawaja, Joe Burns, Rob Quiney, Alex Doolan or Callum Ferguson. Problems I have with Quiney, Doolan and Ferguson is that they all average under 40 at first class level.

Whatever the answer is, I just hope someone stands up to demand a spot and soon!

[Sir Why You Little 36,629]

4/87 at stumps.

Thanks for coming.

[45HG 1,539]

Another very good piece of captaincy from Clarke.

[rumpole 511]

What were the crowds like today. They were abysmal yesterday.

Come on Taswegians - turn up if you want local test matches!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

What were the crowds like today. They were abysmal yesterday. Come on Taswegians - turn up if you want local test matches!

Indifferent 2nd rate opposition, inclement weather and a pitch that all season has been heavily bowler favouring.

Great knock by Hussey and Wade.

Australia in the box seat. Hard to judge the bowling yesterday. Aside from Dilshan, the batting was limp. The score says we did well some of the bolwing was too short.

[Whispering_Jack 29,191]

Siddle's 5fer in the circumstances of this test match demonstrate the folly of leaving him out of the 3rd Test v SA.

The question now is whether we have enough ammunition to bowl SL out on the final day?

[Whispering_Jack 29,191]

Ok, Rogue.

Entrants to date: -

Tall Defence

45HG16

Rogue

H_T

Spots filling up. How about it?

Nasher ?

Axis of Bob ?

Rhino Richards ?

titan_uranus ?

WJ ?

??

Not good at that stuff and with my work commitments right up to and including Xmas Day I'm not going to be terribly reliable.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Siddle's 5fer in the circumstances of this test match demonstrate the folly of leaving him out of the 3rd Test v SA. The question now is whether we have enough ammunition to bowl SL out on the final day?

Siddle was not 100% fit and given the problems we have had with bowlers in the Tests this summer. Why would you risk it?

Barring injury Siddle has booked his ticket to the Ashes. It would be great to have Patterson and another strike bowler with him.

[H_T 3,032]

Siddle was not 100% fit and given the problems we have had with bowlers in the Tests this summer. Why would you risk it?

Barring injury Siddle has booked his ticket to the Ashes. It would be great to have Patterson and another strike bowler with him.

He's seated in first class with one exception with his booking. He's to be served no meat.

Clarke has again shown good leadership and decision making. Looked superb again with the bat along with Hussey scoring his 19th century. Wade was handy with the bat again.

[H_T 3,032]

Just heard all out for 278 having been in a meeting.

Lost 7 wickets after lunch and Clarke was retired hurt....wow

Nasher, I hope you're at the Test. May have a good finish.

[Sir Why You Little 36,629]

Sri Lanka could still win this...we have half a bowling attack.

strange summer this one...Cricket is so far behind in the promotion game it amazes me...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

There are three major drawcards in cricket besides Australia.

India....played them and beat them last year. They are on the wane.

England....we tour there in June.....Good for TV.

South Africa.......Wont tour Australia across Dec/January because it clashes with their season. Would have been a cracker series with 5 Tests.

And then we have Sri Lanka........What a let down of a side after the Saffers.

With the exception of Sangakarra who is top shelf their other players of note are at the tail end of their career at 35/36yo.

Its a hard season to promote when you have a crud main act.

And it has not helped Australia having Pattinson and Cummins injured. Ponting fading early to retirement and indifferent batting in the top order.

[Sir Why You Little 36,629]

There are three major drawcards in cricket besides Australia.

India....played them and beat them last year. They are on the wane.

England....we tour there in June.....Good for TV.

South Africa.......Wont tour Australia across Dec/January because it clashes with their season. Would have been a cracker series with 5 Tests.

And then we have Sri Lanka........What a let down of a side after the Saffers.

With the exception of Sangakarra who is top shelf their other players of note are at the tail end of their career at 35/36yo.

Its a hard season to promote when you have a crud main act.

And it has not helped Australia having Pattinson and Cummins injured. Ponting fading early to retirement and indifferent batting in the top order.

not enough countries play the game is a problem i see.

But the crowds for the tests and 20/20 have been really poor. That is a huge concern

Gonna cost CA an absolute fortune this summer.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

not enough countries play the game is a problem i see.

But the crowds for the tests and 20/20 have been really poor. That is a huge concern

Gonna cost CA an absolute fortune this summer.

So its got nothing to do with the promotion game at all.

Cricket's popularity is restricted to England and its commonwealth countries by history. Its not easily solved in a lifetime

I think CA have banked on Sri Lanka not turning the turnstiles this summer. The mild interest in 20/20 thus far is to be expected as real interest will come towards the final.

[Rogue 585]

There are three major drawcards in cricket besides Australia.

India....played them and beat them last year. They are on the wane.

England....we tour there in June.....Good for TV.

South Africa.......Wont tour Australia across Dec/January because it clashes with their season. Would have been a cracker series with 5 Tests.

Even with South Africa, cricket was struggling.

Fwiw, someone wrote an article in The Age recently along the same lines as WYL's comment.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

South Africa's 3 test series was too short played out of season (November rather than December/January) and did not include the MCG/SCG tests. Its a pity they are now wasted on a Sri Lankan side on the wane. Its a pity that Cummins and Pattinson have broken down.

There is no doubt the novelty of 20/20 is losing its lustre. Its a game that suits short attention spans and the minds the like it before are not so enamored now.

[45HG 1,539]

Jackson Bird has made a very impressive start to his career.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

At the G now. Jackson Bird is an impressive sight. Johnson is just toooo expensive. Middle is a gem. Sangakarra is all class. The rest of the Lankans have been poor.

[45HG 1,539]

Aside from Kumar and Mahela, the Lankans seem to completely lack mental composure. Very disappointed with most of the dismissals. The pitch looks a good one and, after a day or so of sunshine, could be a batters dream IMO.

[Macca 16,611]

Test cricket, t20 style ! Fair dinkum, what were those Sri Lankans doing out there ?

Bird looks alright, nice compact action and has a high release .

Ripper catch by the Taswegian .