Rhino Richards

England have made an awesome statement over the past 2 days. They have smashed Australia and neutered its attack.

That's an assumption. Not a fact.

No "A small Cash flow with a good Profit margin can prosper." is not an example that substantiates your assertion. They are both generalisation that address different things. Nice try to move the goal posts in the argument. Keep trying. So how do achieve the same resources as the Giants with a "small Cash flow with a good Profit margin"? See if you can get beyond a label of "Prudent management". And a real life example to demonstrate your "many situations" claim would help too.

Unbelievable!! The toss had nothing to do with it! England won it and batted badly. Under normal circumstances, Australia's first innings lead of 221 on a Brisbane wicket should have been enough. If you check the records, the side that has the highest score at the end of first innings in an Ashes Test has usually gone onto win. Hindsight does not obviously weaken the Australian position. England have put on a masterly display of batting which should psychologically belt the Australians. And their effort in the 2nd innings had little to do with the toss.

Nasher, Hilfy, Siddle and Johnson looked like first change bowlers out of form. Hilfy looked ordinary on the flat track. Take away his first over where he got Strauss, he has not measured up too well. Heats on him. Johnson deceives through pace and at times bounce. He is bowling at around 141-142kph. At his best he is 150kph. He looks ordinary and his place in Adelaide on a belter must be in doubt. I'll cut Doherty some slack in his first Test and having to back up when your pace bowlers are toothless. Johnson should have taken that catch (Geez Strauss was lucky. Aaarrghh. Only joking about the lucky). On a belter in Adelaide I would think North and Johnson may be out. If Bollinger is fit for the game then he plays. I would bring in Khawaja. Clarke would have to be in doubt with his back. Only thing saving North. In retrospect, aside from the hat trick burst from Siddle the bowlers have struggled. Unless something changes dramatically the urn is in Englands hands.

I'll repeat... Thanks for substantiating my assessment. Not that it needed it.

You are right that pokies are only source of revenue. Personally I hate the things but realise that Clubs must leech the public to survive. The debt demolition was a great thing and it did a great job to eradicate debt and its related interest cost. MFC have the MFC Foundation if supporters want to continue to donate. Unless there is a Dick Pratt like MFC supporter then this is gratuitous small beer to the revenue line. MFC has to build sustainable business models with growing revenue streams to compete into the future. Thats the challenge of the current administration.

Haha! You didnt give one. You have just made an unsuppported statement thats all. Apply it to the sporting context....if you can. B)

I was worried about Strauss but WOW what a performance by he and Cook. On the alternative side, with the exception at times of Siddle, our attack looked very pedestrian and loose on a good batting strip. England are back in this series and psychological the heat is back on Australia. It will probably be a draw this Test but the battle lines are well and truly drawn. To a win a Test you need to take 20 wickets....Australia has some real concerns with Hilfy, Johnson and Watson (too wide today). I thought we lacked a capable 4th innings bowler. Add the 3rd innings.

You called him a list clogger in October and backed it up when challenged about. You're so full of it that for a sensible person it would be embarrassing. He played a great knock yesterday and all you can say is he was lucky so many times you sound like a scratched record. You cant even recognise the skill and character of the knock. Running out of pins again. Stauss and Cook played great knocks today but both had their share of good fortune. Hussey is the same age as Katich and a year younger than Ponting. All three more than hold their spots ahead of younger teammates. Its laughable you talk about character...Hussey has shown over his career he has got it by the bucketload. And he is the 5th highest batting average of any Australian. How is that a basis for retirement?? BTW, the issue was not that he was not lucky. Its what he did in the situation where the luck occurred and context of the match. That where the test of character. You cant even give due recognition. Even for you Basil, your line on Hussey's knock is incredibly small minded.

Nothing like hiding behind a cliche when you dont understand the issue. And thanks for the demonstrable examples you gave. They surely give substance to your argument.

You mean it has not been earnest prior to this?? Who would have thought? Thanks for this. Exactly. And its column filling stuff for the papers nore often without a scintilla of substance.

Very good post Nasher. Tactically the Australians have played well today and late yesterday. They have picked off Swan, exposed the frailty of England having only 4 bowlers. The monkey is on Strauss, Its silly to claim Hussey was out for lbw when the umpire did not give and England inexplicably did not have any referrals left having wasted one in particular on day 2 on a silly over excited assessment of an earlier Lbw. That's Strauss's fault. They got the rub of the green. And Test cricket is full of those days. Its also a test of character and Hussey certainly has that despite some of the churlish and small minded criticism that abounds. However, for mine, England are not down and out. In days of old they would have fallen to pieces and they would have looked a rabble. They kept at it in tough conditions. Anderson bowled well (better than 4 years ago), Broad and Finn will be better for the experience. Swann has some thinking to do. Unlike past series, I am not counting them out. Whatever the outcome, what will the selectors do with Johnson, North and Clarke for that matter? If Clarke goes injured, North might get a reprieve. Hmm 1st session today again critical. Australia must get wickets. Mitchell Johnson its time to stand up.

I wouldnt say any more about the innings but lets mention the first ball again.....

And you clearly dont. We dont need to big but we need the same resources as the Giants. Gotcha. Good work.

I waded through the bile and it must really hurt to say "Good luck to Hussey". How even handed and thoughtful you are? That's the 3rd time... Thats worth a another pin surely. Neither would I expect you to Basil Fawlty. You never learn. And while you have been carping on all year, you have not, despite being asked repeatedly to say who you would have put in to replace Hussey. And you know what!! You scurried back under the stone and continue to put your pins into the selectors. Postscript: MEK Hussey c Cook b Finn 195 (495m 330b 26x4 1x6. The only thing that has been cod ordinary has been some of the appalling iand ignorant judgements you have tossed his way.

I'm bitter. I not the one who stick knives into public figures for the past 12 months without putting up any plausible alternative. This player who is 5th on the all time batting average for Australia has in the context of an important Ashes series comes into bat at a dicey 5/143 in difficult with his future in doubt and wingnuts like you slagging him off and has played a wonderful innings (maybe set the series up) and in his epic 300 ball plus innings all you can do is repeatedly focus on the first ball and rue the fact that he was lucky. Keep sticking the pins into the Mr Cricket doll. Once more the reality of the situation shows you up again....and again and again. As I write its now 5/446 and Hussey 186no. Partnership now 303 and growing.... Surely that worth another pin in the doll.

You are so pathetically predictable with your responses. Mr "list clogger" is 176 no. In Ashes history, its one of the great innings and partnerships (with Haddin who has been superb). You must be hating this given the silliness you have written here over the past 12 months. Any thought for the selectors who persevered with Hussey?? I bet its Greg Chappell's fault.

Agree. You cant keep going to the well. The Club must stand on its own feet and not live on gratuities from generous supporters. Indeed. Proof positive. B)

Was he the same source where you got the side strain information on Bollinger?

Like most of your responses.

Damn you with the facts HT! I told you I blame the selectors especially that know nothing Greg Chappell. Tactically inept he is. B) What rubbish. The issue is that he should not have been declared fit by the doctors/physio. If he was fit of course Clarke would be selected. He looked stiff batting today. I am glad you are educated enough to make statements about back injuries. Is there nothing you dont know? I would love to know what sought of tests were done on Clarke. North almost stamped his exit ticket. Swann must have bowled that delivery in his mind a 100 times in his sleep. Hussey played a good knock today. Attacked Swann early. Batted smart today. I hope he goes on. There may be some looking redfaced. Haddin struck the ball cleanly. Geez he does give it the full face of the bat. Tomorrow, England with the 2nd new ball should be a cracker contest.

The Captain is responsible for the use of his bowlers. He is responsible for over/underbowling his charges and should be recognised for his decisions when they go right as well. As you have agreed the 1st day was Australia's. Ponting deserves any more merit considering Johnson was poor and he had a first gamer in Doherty who did not let the side down. I was certainly not critical of your comments on the specific issue. I was not watching then. It more the tedious "experts" with their broadbrush criticism of tactics when they have shown they have neither the pedigree nor the knowledge to make a plausible judgement. Get my drift. B) And I blame Greg Chappell for this mess too.

The radio said repeatedly that Bollinger was declared fit for the game and that he has been replaced by Khawaja at the Test to allow Bollinger to play a shield game.

Its lucky he didn't win the toss. Ponting would have to get a big tick for bringing Siddle into the attack at 4/197. Could be one of the decisions that might influence the series. Up to then, Siddle aside and Hilfy's first over the bowling was nothing to write home about and I am not sure how you can knock the field when the bowlers generally bowled poorly. And I am glad you know more about tactics than a professional with 20 years first class experience. Its reassuring. And when a Captain has the oppposition out for 260 and his side 0/25 on the first day of the 1st Test in an Ashes Series, its fair to say he has won this round of the fight. Particularly when his opposite went for a 3rd ball duck. Telling blow. Ponting will have tougher days in the office and may deserve fair criticism for it. However he has landed a telling blow on England today (even with an ordinary Johnson) and should be given recognition for it Tomorrow is Round 2 and we will see what happens but if Australia can still be there are stumps then this is going to be a most difficult game for England. Any recognition for the selectors for backing Siddle over Bollinger? Hmmmm. Brave call for which they will never get due credit for.