45HG

Here we are friends. Total matches played: 713. W: 332. L: 186. D: 193 Win percentage: 46.57 Matches Australia have fielded first in: M: 342. W: 152. L: 97. D: 91 T:1 Win percentage: 44.44 Matches Australia have won the toss and fielded first in: M: 76. W: 40. L: 20. D: 16. Win percentage: 52.63 You'll spit chips over this one I reckon. Matches Australia have won the toss and batted first: M: 281. W: 137. L: 71. D: 71. T: 1 Win percentage: 48.75 Yes, Australia's winning percentage is lower when winning the toss and electing to bat first than when we have elected to bowl. Furthermore, since 1990 Australia have elected to field 23 times for 17 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws for a win percentage of 74. Winning the toss and batting has yielded a win percentage of 56 in the same timeframe. Now I'm not saying that you should always bowl first (along the lines of the drink driving joke posted in another thread) but I think it's pretty clear that if a pitch seems suitable to bowl first it can be exploited to great effect - and possibly that pitches worth batting on first are far more likely to lead to draws. In the 2000s, winning the toss and batting has yielded us a 68% winning percentage (28 from 41), bowling first has resulted in wins 91% of the time (10 from 11)

Just finished watching the most OUTRAGEOUS display I've ever seen - and it was my team doing it! 9-1! Nine - One. And even their goal was from a handball. Defoe 3 in 6 minutes (fastest in premier league history), 5 for the match (sorry, 5 for the HALF), spurs 8 goals in the second half. There were 5 goals in 12 minutes, 6 in 18. Lennon 3 assists and a goal. WOOOOOOWW. Our biggest win in the top flight, the first time a team has hit 9 in 14 years, Wigan's worst league defeat,

A horrible mix up at the back has cost Bolton their momentum - keeper came out to take a long ball but Ricketts went back to head it to him, result: a 20 metre header into an empty net and a two nil Blackburn lead

I'm going in tomorrow - it's very relaxing.

Liverpool have certainly lost the plot since about midway through last season. Found this, similar to how the Dees have made me feel in the past - though perhaps a little extreme! Good for a laugh though.

LEARN HOW TO USE UPPER CASE

I don't take much notice of his 12 wicket match. It was a fantastic effort by him, but if not for some outrageous batting he may have ended up with 3/200+ and match figures of 7 or 8 for over 350.

I'll take it as a positive. If I'd have stayed we'd have lost. Had forgot how good it is to have a relaxing day at the cricket.

Went along for the first session, wish it was the second session!

Hodge should've moved to NSW

Haha who's on your list?

I'm sure that was Nasser Hussain's thinking too HT

I'm loving watching Johnson bowl lately, "tippity" rules seem to come into play. 3 overs for 34 whilst the VICTORIANATOR has 2 overs one maiden for 6 runs.

Don't get me started again on Keane. Bentley had a 'mare...or is just no good...

[censored].

Which numbers his days to around 1500

Not a good start. Ponting is 35, so your final comment is fairly obvious.

Fantastic, he's now been joined by his mate Shane "I'm in the team for my allround batting ability" Watson. Edit: This is fast becoming one of the most outrageous batting displays I've seen in a long while. 35 off the last two overs, 62 off the last 4. After 43 overs they were 4/267

Good to see Mitchell "the man you want bowling in the last ten overs" Johnson living up to his nickname.

Meanwhile, epic match last night. Mancs and Arsenal giving up 2-0 leads eased my heart a little.

Losing to stoke...at home...awesome, it's just like being able to watch Melbourne all summer

Bloody oath you will!

First time in my lifetime

5 goals in 36 minutes in the Arsenal match!

Agree with pretty much all of that T_U. Rubbish award. We always seem to struggle against subcontinent spinners. You can really see how the batsmen bat differently when they come on, seem much more tentative and almost afraid of getting out - especially on their home soil.