Whispering_Jack

FWIW I actually thought he overdid the short balls late in the day.

After day two the balance of the game is slightly in our favour but, as has often happened in the past, it's very much in Bell's hands.

A bit of both I would say. On the one hand, we should be mindful of the fact that England showed a bit more fight in its last innings and its batting line up is slightly stronger on paper in this match but on the other, they're just one more batting collapse away from losing the Ashes. If we can bat on today and nudge into the 400's then it might be enough to push this mob over the edge, particularly in the face of a barrage of hostile and intimidatory bowling of which our quicks should be capable on this track (and hopefully aided by field placings more attacking than those employed by the Poms).

Haven't been down to training yet and probably won't until the new year but given that Dave Misson is still in charge of elite performance, it's to be expected that training is more intense this year. It's what he has consistently been saying about the progression in training after starting from a relatively low base a couple of years ago. This was always going to be the year when his training regime would start bringing about some concrete results.

... and a well compiled ton to Smith. If he can keep up the improvement in his batting, he could be a contender for the captaincy down the track.

What's par for the first dig on this track? 375? 400?

The best I can do is to try to find out whether they were suspended with or without pay. BTW, does Stu's missus speak to reporters outside the front door of the family mansion?

If someone injected Black Caviar's bro with Mexican Jungle Juice then perhaps it should be called Red and Black Caviar?

Isn't that Brayshaw?

The English equivalent of MFCSS. I'm hoping the English team is following their media pack because that sort of stuff tends to become self-fulfilling. Their fighting spirit (or lack thereof) is so different to the South Africans who staved off defeat in a test last year by holding out our bowling attack for a whole day.There have been many disappointments among the English in this series to date but Graeme Swann would have to be the biggest. From deadly spin bowler to pie chucker in the space of a few months. The opposite can be said of Mitchell Johnson who has found his direction and an extra yard at a time when, but for injuries to a myriad of other pace bowlers, he would surely be on the scrap heap. Did I really hear Hoggie on radio discussing the possibility of us resting a pace bowler for Perth and mentioning Johnson as one of them? Get outta here!

Johnson's on a hat trick for the second time in 20 minutes and he's got Monty coming in! But Ryan Harris is bowling first.

What a catch!

Fair over there from Mitchell Johnson. Lasted about 15 minutes and grabbed three wickets for naught including Broad for a golden duck & he's on a hat trick when he comes back to bowl.

As much as he has some annoying traits, Dunn actually knuckled down and worked hard last season and produced some decent games in defence. Perhaps he's just one of those players who's seen the light and doesn't want his career to flicker and die like so many before him at this club in recent years. Worried about a near 10 year player beating a kid at pre season training in early December? No not really.

Anyone else think we're getting on top in this game?

True and notwithstanding that some are elsewhere claiming we committed a "crime" the reality is that it was reported that two senior counsel gave opinions that the AFL's case against us would fail if it went to the Supreme Court. The problem was that it would have cost us a fortune in legal fees.And in the end we were shafted by the AFL who punished us twice. The first time with the fine in the negotiated settlement and the second when it bowed to the pressure of the other clubs and refused to give us draft relief by way of a priority pick for the last national draft. We were entitled to the assistance on the merits but other factors deprived us of a proper consideration of our case. That's the AFL for you.

Don't understand this. San Francisco is the home of peace and love and friendly people with flowers in their hair.

They can't but you would have to be naive to believe that no evidence has been taken to date. The Bombers' players and staff have been interviewed as have the chemist and the staff of the off ground clinic where the players were injected. That venue was under surveillance by the ACC during the time players were injected (according to a newspaper report). My guess is that the surveillance included wire taps and other recorded material which in combination with the waiver documents and player evidence (including one very public confession about taking what was believed to be AOD9604) might be very damaging evidence. Dank has been interviewed by the ACC as well as by Fairfax reporters Baker and McKenzie (one part of their interview has been published). What Dank revealed might be incriminating of players. There's a question about whether and how all of the evidence can be shared (more legislation might be required). Then there will come a day when ASADA calls on Dank to be interviewed and produce his documents. This thing has plenty of mileage in it. It's not right to think in terms of our own sovereign laws either. The AFL has formally accepted that WADA's laws are paramount which means that the burden of proof that applies is not the same as that which applies under our legal system. If ASADA is satisfied that players had banned substances administered then it can issue infraction notices. The AFL then makes the decision and there is no right of appeal to a court - only the Court of Arbitration in Sport. You can rest assured that WADA will not allow this to go away. Finally, unless the information comes from within the ASADA investigation then anyone claiming to know what the final outcome will be is blowing hot air.

Not just the message but it would create a dangerous precedent and make the work of anti doping authorities all the more difficult and Dank will end up with Ned Kelly-like hero status among many. WADA is all over this and will ensure that the most thorough process of investigation takes place and results in infraction notices.

You're very wrong on this Redleg.

A definite Kris Kringle.

Wouldn't bowling Smith, Warner and Clarke at Adelaide inherently mean taking the pressure off?

As I left Wong's the other night, the proprietor Steven handed me a fortune cookie which I forgot about until this morning. I cracked it open to read: "If Campbell Brown doesn't pay, Then Steven May." I've always been confused by this Confucius thing so if there are any experts out there in oriental mysticism, I would appreciate an interpretation.

Well ... er, everything was fine till it came to paying the bill. Then someone who resembled Campbell Brown turned up.

An enjoyable and informative evening but let's not forget the old adage about what goes on at Wong's, stays at Wong's!