The Panglossian

The poor Old Hammers. Stayed with Arsenal till the 87th min. Dammit! They remind me of Melbourne so much!

Don't give up,WYL, we could still win this. If Johnson gets a chance against the spinners he should try to whack a few sixes.200 ahead and we're a fair chance!The Indian quicks were looking just as dangerous as the spinners,with the ball reversing and keeping low more and more often.

Did anyone else watch the Bushrangers v. the CSK last night? I recorded it and watched it not knowing the result this morning. Exciting!!! The Bushies got off to a great start chasing 162, but their rate slowed as the pressure rose. They needed one to win off the last ball to McGain, but failed to score, resulting in a tie! We batted first in the "Super Over", and Hussey belted 'em out of the ground for 27!! They only got 13. Rivetting stuff!

You call that batting, HG!!?? I haven't wasted my time posting every time the side batting first has won!

Very important to win toss tonight and BAT!!!! I'm sure HG agrees!

Yahoo Bushrangers! Great effort to beat Qld on the Gabba in the 'Big Bash", after being 3/5(should have been 4/5). Absolutely zero from Huss and Hodgey, too! Lucky with the weather and the Duckworth/Lewis, but we deserved to win!

So you DIDN'T think we'd lose, HG. You have phenomenal prescience. Your statistics on choosing to bowl then winning matches would be heavily weighted by pitches which have been affected adversely one way or another in preparation, making it obviously preferable to bowl first. On a normal pitch(as was the MCG's for the Vic/SA match), you must bat when you win the toss. SA's 6/517 shows that this premise was correct on this occasion. I contend it's always wise to bat first in cricket matches if possible. The fact that we won does not in any way prove what you say is correct.

Well done Vics.!!! But next time don't waste 2 points by giving up the advantage of winning the toss. It doesn't often happen that you have 6/500 scored against you in the first inns. and still win! I wouldn't hope for such a miracle to be repeated! HG you are the only one playing "I told you so"! Surely it's more meaningful to give an opinion while the match is on , rather than waiting for the final result to "prove" you're wrong or right. I re-iterate my opinion that it is always wise to bat first if you have the chance in cricket matches(of any duration).

Hey Hotgod! What did you think of Cameron White's decision to bowl first against S.A. on Thurs. ? I rolled up at 5 past 11, watched one over , and said...."I hope we didn't send them in on this batting paradise!" I later learned, to my dismay, we DID!!!! The pitch is looking worn now. We've got a test leg-spinner, and they've got Aaron O'Brien, who has about 30 first class wickets to his name! We'll lose. When you captain a side, it's SO tempting to send the opposition in after inspecting the wicket. It's a gutless option to bowl first. There ALWAYS seems to be a bit of moisture that you hope will make it hard for the openers against the quicks. But there's nothing like runs on the board. I think the following scenario encapsulates it..... Batting first, in a one-day game, you EXPECT at least 10 from the last over , and usually get it. Batting second....10 to win from the last over?? Sometimes, but not often.

[quote name='titan_uranus' You were right, Titan!! The guys did well! Luckily, I didn't put my money where my mouth was. If we'd batted when we won the toss, I contend that we'd have got all the points. Did you hear the rumour on 3AW this AM that Hodgey and Victoria are set to part ways by Christmas? I hope that's not right! I find the Sheffield Shield fascinating. I really care how we go. I know it's function is as a breeding ground for Test players, but the over-riding strength is the competitive nature of the games. I want us to gradually catch up on NSW in Shields. This will take till at least 2100!, so I may not see it,but at least I'll see the Demons overtake Carlton, Coll. and Ess for Flags, and clear out on the Tassie Waverley Hawks!

I went to the first session of days one and two. It looks like a bloody good cricket wicket. Something in it for the quicks and McGain. Hope it doesn't break up on day 4.

This is a great game! We've knocked off 60 of the 250 without loss. BUT, chasing in the 4th innings is always tough, even after great opening stands. You lose 3 wickets, then suddenly you realise there's only one specialist batsman left and you still need 100 odd. The pressure builds. My money's on W.A. I hope I'm wrong. So glad to see someone else CARES about the Bushies, Titan!

I reckon our batsmen should attack the spinners immediately they're introduced into the attack. Greg Chappell used to do it to Underwood, and Steve Waugh and Dean Jones did it to the subcontinental offies with success. They have to use their feet, like Michael Clarke. Early risks have to be taken, before these guys get the psychological edge.

When's Ponting going to learn.....???? If you win the toss,......BAT!!!!!!!!

I'm very worried about our chances in the Ashes. My main worry is our poor technique and approach against the spinners. I can see Monty and Swann causing us lots of bother. I reckon our guys should attack them from ball one. Blocking and waiting for the loose ball is doomed for disaster. The Poms will provide Spinners' pitches. We should have picked Jason Krezja(?spelling). We have no-one who'll trouble them. Hauritz isn't bad, but Pietersen will hit him off his length. Bopara looks a danger with the bat. The big x-factor is Hughes. If he comes off in a big wAy, as well he might, that'll help us a lot. Don't know what he's like against the spinners. I'm worried.

"Hussey's was incredibly poor, especially for someone like Hussey" Hussey did get a grubber, though.

They won't have any trouble with Vin Couttie. His(?great)grand-daughter, Jill Spargo, is married to the MCC Committee member, and keen MFC man, Stephen Spargo. Her brother Leigh Couttie is also a keen MCC/MFC man.

Quote "Old Man Rivers" "We had an aboriginal kid in the 70's that promised the world - Colin somebody or that may have been his surname." Colin Graham was a very talented aboriginal left-footer. I saw him in Adelaide in the rooms before the game v. the Crows in 2004,wishing "Flash" all the best. Presumably he still has an interest in the Demons, but lives over there.He'd been in a "good paddock"! He played 35 games for the Demons from '75 to '78 after beig recruited from Kyabram(originally from Penola).