45HG

They should've been forced to fight much harder to get to that total though. India should thank Ricky Ponting for being allowed to get to that total after we had them in a difficult position.

First ball mate. I must say, I cannot comprehend their attitude/approach. They played so well in the first session, why would they change it? Bat hard, make the test (and series for that matter) only winnable to one team and go from there. Don't bat slowly and let the opposition back in. Dissapointing from an Indian point of view

If they were serious they'd have a lead of 350+ tonight, declare and have a few overs at us tonight. They don't seem to have that killer attitude

Exactly. Our recruiting of late has been a bit of a joke, though mind you Bent has now scored more than Berbatov and Keane this season combined. Your mob going well

441. Krezja taking 8! Look what happens when you play a spinner! 8-215. 3-4 Last 2 overs, 5-19 at the end. Big finish! Game on! Mind you, doubt we'll bat well on this pitch though

Darren Bent! Well, maybe he's worth half of what we paid for him now. And this will have to be UEFA cup goal of the season, wow. Tom Huddlestone at about 1 minute 15

Yeah, was going to post something about this last night but was more interested in the election. Seems ridiculous to me, really childish stuff. They should ban him for two matches now

I thought Gambir's appeal was going to be successful, going by past instances. Good to see the decision upheld

Food for thought indeed. You have been pretty lucky in a few games this year too. I suppose it's why I like you most out of the "big four," but probably to your downfall, that the Reds' just don't seem to have that arrogance about them. Perhaps giving too much respect to their opposition when they should be going for the jugular.

Not too minor though. How bizarre though. He hasn't had enough time to change anything tactically except possibly one thing, confidence. He's either come in and said perform or you're out, which i doubt, or he's come in and built the players up, letting them play more freely. Just goes to show how much a bad patch can kill your confidence.

Surely not...

Haha, knew you'd pull Beckham! Yeah, I guess it's probably a matter of personal opinion (and bias, both for and against). Don't think you can say he didn't hit it well though, i thought he seemed to try and get his leg across sharply to try and put top spin on, also didn't seem to middle it so it would curl, basically he seemed to try and punch it. In short, I don't know how to put into words what i think he was trying to do, I also don't think he could do it again with 25 attempts. But not many people could anyway. It was a bloody good strike, the game's over, let's move on. How do you see the round Diablo?

How many delicate goals have you seen hit from halfway? I think you're talking bollocks. Zeb, the way you're carrying on you sound like you've just lost the league. Then again, maybe that's why you're grumpy. Ah well, back to business tonight. Can't see us stopping the Reds unbeaten run, look for a Robbie Keane brace. The dream Hull run could come to a second crashing halt in the space of 4 days. You'd think Arsenal would get back on the winners podium at Stoke. Interested in the Everton/Fulham matchup and the West Brom/Blackburn games, could be season defining for some of those teams. Portsmouth should dispose of Wigan, who seem to have lost it, and I can see the Middlesbrough/West Ham game producing a few goals. Now, don't be surprised if not one thing I've said there comes true

Bentley post match after being told to enjoy the result - "I feel like superman at the minute"

And it's Bentley with a wonder strike!

Wow! One team in London! Lol. Well Zeb, you did say this could be the game that turns our season, I guess we'll wait and see. Have a mate who flew to England for the Carling Cup final. He just flew over, landed the day of the Bolton game. I don't think he should come back

What's the go with White?

thanks boys, it's a big relief! Harry should do the job, though i wonder how long a prospect he is for the club. Is he, as you say, the man to keep us up, or will he also be the man to take ur into the future. Time will tell i suppose. Good to see the reds get up. Due to torres, my man, they'd probably be a second team. Wish i could see some matches though! The other thing about Spurs in the League is that we've lost 6 games by 7 goals in total, so Redknapp should have enough to work with. Having said all that, I'd probably take 3 points from the next three games. Away to Arsenal and Man City and home to Liverpool. Tough time to find form, but may as well do it against the big boys

Haha Ramos gone, who didn't see that coming? A win tonight I'm feeling...

Would've been great to see it. Good to see Quiney get some runs, and Nannes seems so consistent. Victorian cricket is very strong at present, though I don't really know how. Is it just part of the motion? Will we drop away again soon? Though haing said that, we seem to be there or thereabouts in at least one form of the game. Do we have a lot of players that can hold their own against lower attacks, but struggle on the big stage? (Sheffield Shield and One day final last year) Amazing win though, 8 points from two away games, good start. Ponting has averaged over 60 since assuming the Captaincy, whatever way you look at it, that's amazing. And HT, yes i think it's easy to say the problem is there's no Warne and no Mcgrath, but that's precisely the problem. Take two of the best bowlers ever out of any team, of course there will be a let down. Dropping White will not be the answer, though he may not be up to the standard (perhaps another example of the Vics not cutting it on the big stage). We do not have quality turners of the ball. Though from reports Cullen has improved, and Krezja looks alright(comparatively). Not sure about Mcgain, how can we call an uncapped player anything near a replacement for Warne? No offence to him, but he's only held a Victorian spot for 19 matches, and even that it's only really been for one season (his 37th year). I wouldn't pin my hopes on him You just cannot underestimate how much we're missing McGrath. In India, for instance, obviously a place not favourable to Fast Bowlers, he averaged 21.3. 21.3! He would hold an end as good, if not better (which is my opinion) than Warne would. Our attack lacks control, i feel that's the biggest issue. Too many bowlers that simply don't seem to be able to hit a target consistently enough to force pressure. As for the batting, I've always felt our middle order to be somewhat suspect, and it's only going to get found out more and more. It could become something of an open gate by the time we arrive home from South Africa. The ridiculously arrogant display put on in the run chase symbolized how I view much of the Australian team. They did not show the opposition enough respect and it turned on them viciously. The Indian second innings, whilst brisk, was well played against an impotent bowling attack. The Australians should have recognised that and batted within themselves until they felt they had their eyes-in, and built upon their innings' from there.

Carn the Vics

The wheel has finally turned methinks. Same old arrogant Aussie rubbish, trying to burst everything open losing 2. Last over or two before tea for crying out loud, get to the break and then reassess. Two wickets in the last over. Could've been 0/50, now 2/50 off 8 overs

Well half our points this season came after being a goal down at the Bridge, HALF! So i guess you never know

I thought we play the Gunners soon Zeb? Ah! Thought it was the 29th, then assuemd as that's midweek i must've been wrong. Well, at last i'll miss that

I wish some of our batsmen would show the same application Lee does with his, but yes very uninspiring with the ball. Just highlights the greatness of Warne and Mcgrath.