Whispering_Jack

A great interview from Crash Craddock in the Herald Sun - How Ashes star Mitchell Johnson bounced back to become an Ashes hero Lessons there for every sport including AFL.

I know he did it in the white ball game and that doesn't necessarily translate into test success but last night's effort must strengthen Faulkner's claims for South Africa. I think he should be right there for the next time that Watson's calf or hammy inevitably twinges of strains.

Let's not knock Romsey which was in Melbourne's old country zone and spawned player John Reid who played for us briefly in the early 70s before crossing to his father's old club Footscray. Reid's younger brother, Bruce, was an even better player who Melbourne sought keenly in the mid 70s. Bruce Jr. eventually was cleared to play for the Bulldogs and ended up at Carlton and played over 100 games in total.His sons are Ben Reid (Collingwood) and Sam Reid (Sydney) which goes to show that we should have treated Romsey with a lot more respect and simply refused to let the Reids out of grasp all those years ago as it would have given us a couple of ready made key position players under the father/son rule as well no doubt, as a herd of alpacas.

I understand that a prominent Melbourne supporter is also returning to the jurisdiction at the weekend.

With Lindsay Fox as Prince for life and building a private swimming pool on crown land adjacent to the royal palace. All hail, Prince Lindsay!!! Come to think of it we could do with some hail right now.

Thanks but I managed to escape via the freeway where they haven't set up border controls yet. I'll be back by the weekend for a wedding and to check out how the republic's growth industries (weight loss clinics and dental implant technology) are faring.

How are things in Bonbeach bub? I tried walking there from the Independent Republic of Frankston and Boganville the other day but got stopped at the border and wasn't allowed to cross for lack of a passport. They're taking this succession thing too seriously IMO.

Never in doubt and I knew that one of the clubs I support would be playing in a final against the Hawks in 2014. Now for a win in that one and a double up in September

Davey Warner playing second fiddle in to Aaron Finch in an ODI. I'd like to see that!

What was it like last night sharing a cell at the Southport watch house with the winner of the magic millions, Redleg?Former Gold Coast Suns footballer Campbell Brown arrested after Magic Millions

Great. I have to get up at sparrows tomorrow and then drive back to Melbourne across the state line from Frankston to get to work. Or perhaps just tape the game and watch later (which might be better because I can fast forward some of the parts).

History repeats in the women's ashes test. England scored 201 on the first day and had the Aussies struggling at one stage at 5/37 before recovering to take a first innings lead of 6 runs. Poms are at 3/18 at stumps.

I assume that getting a wildcard effectively means you have to go through the playoffs away from home every week until the Superbowl if you're good enough to get there. Tough ask for the 49ers.

That building you're inhabiting for the moment seems to be a magnet for former Melbourne people. Didn't it once host another ex-Demon who excelled in three games under RDB during the halcyon days of 1981?

One area where we improved immensely is in the immeasurables - the little 5%ers in the field, bowling changes and field placements working, a lot of little factors that worked for us and failed for them which saw us building in confidence as the series went on while their morale dropped. This was much the opposite in the northern summer when everything seemed to go right for them - winning some close ones and the draw when it rained and we were on course for a win. South Africa will be a new ball game. We need to work on our poor starts to our first innings and that might involve some changes in our batting order. What to do with Bailey? What happens with Watto and his place on the batting order?

The 49ers take down the Packers 23-20 on a last-second field goal in the NFC wild card. Who's next?

Now that the series is over we can return to the all important decision as to who will be our next keeper. Despite some concerns about his keeping I think Wade is still # 2 for the time being. What's the prognosis on Paine?

I think it would be fair to say that the English tail "wagged" for once (comparatively) and that made it easy for Clarke although I don't think there was ever a chance of enforcing the follow on at Sydney even with the current pitch which looks different to the Sydney tracks of the past. There's a one day series to follow. I would imagine though that the majority of the English team will be eager to catch the first plane home as soon as this match finishes.

Hey guys, get your heads out of the record books and have a look at what's going on at the SCG. England 5/23 - reminiscent of 186. Anderson, the night watchman is equal top score ATM with 7.

Mitchell Johnson does it again!

How's his work with the gloves?After all, the position is "wicket keeper".

It was fresh the last time you were in Hobart.

Whatever the result this is riveting stuff and a reminder as to why test cricket is far superior to anything the white ball game can throw up.

A good rearguard action from Haddin & Lyon to get the score over 200 but now is the true test of our mettle. We have to bowl on a pitch that's getting easier to bat on, in the heat and with Watto a bit dodgy. Win this and we really do deserve to go up in the test rankings.

Snicko gets Bailey and we're in a real pickle for the first time in the series. Who would have thought it on what seemed such a good track?