H_T

It looks so lonely. Redleg, there's always the Pre-Season Draft countdown. Although, that could be a non-event. There's always the Mayan calendar ending on Dec 21st to fall back on...

Looks as though Watson will not come up, another chance for Quiney perhaps. Is Watson in the best 6 Test batsmen around Australia?

Did you happen to see Flores' goal in Adelaide? Great goal.

Soccer in Australia, or football as it's known around the world just took a step forward in this country today with a 4year deal with Foxtel and free to air for the first time for the FFA. $166 million deal over 4 years. (Previous deal with Fox sports was $120mill/7years). http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8567038

Just call it 3 more sleeps...

Sorry guys....(Sheesh!) How could I forget...?

I'm genuinely pleased for him. He can hit the dance floor on the love boat and jive to Banana-Rama knowing that whilst jiving our club will be active as ever this National Draft 7 days from now. 7.

I had a banana smoothie last night Redleg. No B$ (on topic), bit of crushed ice and watched replays of Clarke, Cowan & Hussey pounding the Sth African attack. Not one thought re: the ND, I could 'see clearly again'. I'll have another tonight, my son loves banana's and due to their relative low cost now, they're in no short supply at our household. Gee, ADC is missing all this pleasant conversation, it's a shame.

Brian Cook you mean... As I mentioned recently somewhere that meeting at Icebergs with the AFL and Cook must have been something else. A seafood basket with a side serve of brown paper bag with "North" written on it.

Tend to agree Redleg. I've found the re-interviewing very interesting though. Perhaps they pressed stop/record too many times initially.....

9...

Here's an article posted on the MFC website very recently. Matthew Wade and Jeremy Howe (cousins) have six balls at each other. Bit of fun. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/150991/default.aspx

Who did you play for, RR?

Superb batting by Clarke, Cowan and like a fine bottle of wine Hussey has put Australia in with a very slim chance of victory. Whilst a draw is more likely for today given the state of the pitch on Day 5, Sth Africa can rule out a win for themselves and may face a nervous time in the afternoon if there is a collapse of sorts on their behalf. Michael Clarke is certainly performing well as captain with the bat as previously mentioned above (see 45HG16's stats) and may quickly add to his tally in this mornings play, along with Mike Hussey.

10

I thought you were going to come on and say Sth Africa should have put Australia into bat.... On another note.... I would like to know of the posters on the Anyone for Cricket thread, who are your favourite journalistsreporting on the Cricket currently? Robert Craddock for mine. Gideon Haigh another. Haigh posted the following this morning on Kallis, who surely is one of the greatest cricketers to grace this Earth: - http://www.news.com....9-1226513549339

It's ok BB, tomorrow will be 12.

13

21 20 Edited.

If the AFL are aware of this it will either be: - 1/nothing and/or 2/dragged investigation/please explain past draft date I don't think they would want to prolong the Draft date. Nor would they want to impose draft penalties (if there is a finding) mid-stream through trade/draft 2012.

22

23

24 days

Malcolm Conn today names his Test XI v Sth Africa: - Dave Warner Ed Cowan Shane Watson Ricky Ponting Michael Clarke Mike Hussey Matthew Wade James Pattinson Peter Siddle Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Ben Hilfenhaus He states that Matthew Wade today will be named instead of Brad Haddin. That brings a smile to me. The only question remains is who will be named 12th man. I think they will include Lyon, need a spinner. Either Starc or Hilfenhaus will be 12th man. Conn thinks Hilfenhaus will be a surprise 12th man. I'm unsure. It would have been easy to have made the sentimental decision to select Brad Haddin. But I will applaud the selectors in naming Wade ahead of a busy summer and an ever important Ashes series approaching fast.

I'm confident something will happen. Something!! Maybe Clothier's investigation will be announced as "still ongoing"... Now that he's assisting Ken Wood in the Tippett case, I'm expecting a completion of the investigations around the time GWS' list is brought back into line with all other teams. Think that's around 2019...