45HG

Strange. Will it go down as a pass? I thought once a team passed, they were out of the draft? Pretty clever when you consider they're giving up 20 and 54. Next year (if the charges were to continue) they could be looking at losing 10 and 28 (ish).

Given his career, I'd rather Watson in than Quiney, Warner, Khwaja or Cowan. Not that I mind seeing the last 3 get a go.

I don't understand the (need for the) scoring system.

Well, him or Manuel Preciado.

I was almost certain that this would be a thread about Mark Neeld.

Ha. Wonder if the AFL investigated him for it.

No, if we'd beaten them that day we'd have gone to 4 wins and would, somehow, have had to manufacture a result against the Dockers - a near-impossible task that day IMO.

"Dunn is one of several players who is believed to have passionately urged his teammates to win during the last change of that game" - this is my favourite extract. This is irrefutable proof that we tanked and I think the AFL's next stop should be Hawthorn. I watched that match and, at 3/4 time, players clearly implored each other to lift in the last term to claim the win.

Sad news. Champion bloke and a solid, tireless worker on the field who always thought utmost of the team principles and considered only how he could meet them. Hope he sticks around the club - his advice to players coming through would be valuable. Best of luck for the future, Barts.

If only Paul Wheatley wore 29, amiright?

I do remember the tears that swathed there way through Demonland like a river when Prismall chose the Bombers. No thanks.

If it was stumps on Day 4 and S.A. were essentially 6-51, on a deteriorating pitch, it'd be an entirely different conversation. Losing a day of play with two good sides playing is always going to put a result in doubt. Especially on a decent batting wicket. Quoting crowds for a Monday and Tuesday is bizarre, let alone factoring in the crowd for a washed-out day. As you say, the crowd for Sunday was poor - but a day missing and the away side batting at 2-255 isn't going to drag too many away, especially at the snail's pace S.A. approached the game. If they'd had batted with more intent, a result probably would still have been on the cards.

Because there's no precedent for it....

Gary Ablett Jnr.

Since Clarke has become captain: Versus SL 23 (In at 2-36 off 9.4 overs) 60 (2-5, 3.2) 13 (2-95, 36.5) 6 (3-101, 35.5) 112 (3-188, 55.5) Versus SA 151 (3-40,16.2) 2 (2-11, 5.3) 11 (3-193, 46.3) 2 (3-141, 36.5) Versus NZ 139 (3-91, 27.1) 22 (3-31, 15.2) 0 (3-159, 45.4) Versus India 31 (3-159, 48.3) 1 (3-24, 11.3) 329* (3-37, 8.5) 18 (3-242, 44.5) 210 (3-84, 25.5) 37 (3-40, 11.4) Versus West Indies 73 (3-84, 23.6) 6 (3-126, 33.6) 45 (3-83,32.3) 15 (3-57, 24.5) 24 (3-105, 45.3) 25 (3-112, 55.2) Versus South Africa 218* (3-40, 9.3) When he's come in after the team has posted 100, he has scores of 6, 112, 11, 2, 0, 31, 18, 6, 24 and 25 - 235 runs at 23.5 (10 innings) When he's come in before the team has posted 100 he has scores of 23, 60, 13, 151, 2, 139, 22, 1, 329*, 210, 37, 73, 45, 15 and 218* - 1338 runs at 102.92 (15 innings) I suppose the balance is there, but I'd rather see Clarke stride out at 1-30 than 3-50 odd. 3/5 times he's coming in with the score at less than 100. For the record, Clarke averages 68.38 since being made captain and has now pushed his career average over 50. He's made 1000 runs this year at over 110. Today's score is his 3rd double century of the year, making him only third player to achieve this. He has been very well managed throughout his career.

The ball has been moving around enough and the bowling has been tidy but, for the most, impatient and unthreatening. 3 wickets off of no balls doesn't help, either. If this was nearing stumps day 3, it'd be massively game on. The rain would also have slowed up the development of the pitch. Test matches that favour the bowlers are fun, but 2 day tests aren't great all of the time. It's good to have a mixture.

I assume you forgot that a day was lost for rain?

...And you'll never get them back...

Just a ripping, ripping post. In fact, if you look up anti-mozz in the dictionary, this post will appear, Before your post, Clarke had played 77 matches at an average of 45,81. Since then, he has scored 927 runs at 103!

Set high expectations, play him in the guts and give him explicit instructions.

Fixed.

Listing the playing numbers etc. is fine. If someone lists the results for that day, there may be bans...

Ivor Warne-Smith?

"Joke" is right. I think the point of this thread was to let us know that you were at a Melbourne Cup Lunch.

He'll be riding in West Sydney in two years time.