H_T

Reduced the time from the leader to 1min 18 seconds. Caught up 27 seconds. No yellow jersey result, but good result with two climbs to come before the time trial on Saturday night. Schleck bros, Evans & Contador all crossed together. No time variations. Tonights one is a massive climb, very thin air up top apparently. Will be interesting to see how Evans copes. See tonight's stage 18 course - highest ever stage finish awaits

I was going to start a Tour thread last night, but I was enthralled by what was happening over the last 20km's in the stage last night. Big wraps for Cadel's ride last night, took them on and gained time on the jersey leader as well as putting more time between himself and the main threats in the Schleck Bros. and Alberto Contador. Tonights stage has a big hill climb to finish, so it will be set up for the favourites to make their moves. I just hope Cadel didn't burn up too much energy in last night's stage. Good to see him be attacking though, to be honest I haven't seen that from him since two/three years ago. He looks good and is a big chance now. For those who missed it, with about 15-20 to go, Contador tried to break away and gain time because he is behind Evans, the Schleck brothers and the leader. But Evans managed to go with him and then put further pressure on by breaking away from Contador and Sanchez (both Spaniards), which widened the gap even further from the Schleck brothers (Frank & Andy). Anyway, I think Cadel is in second now about 1min 45 from the leader and if he rides well tonight, he could snag the yellow jersey as soon as tonight, with 2 stages and a time trial to come - and he is favoured to distance himself from his rivals even more in the time trial. Big ask. C'mon Aussie.

In other words Demetriou is saying "who cares, it's our competition, we'll see to it to do things the way we want it to be done to achieve a competitive competition. We'll nurture the right talent with our own internal player managers and therefore ensure that new clubs succeed where applicable to ensure maximum tv rights, more money and a stronger competition against rival codes. Therefore ensure superiority of sport in Australia. But don't worry about the established clubs, they'll survive. They'll just have to be more prudent in their recruiting and spending now that we've made this decision" How is that for transparency, ok ?

Thanks...I've only just caught up on the Aussie thread. Prior to this I thought we're a bit thin on the small forward role. Even more now given this news. Maric will need some competition me thinks.

Aussie ? Really ? wow.

Do you have the teams available JL >?

$4.30 - that's highway robbery, especially for a terrible one. Was that a tall or regular ? $3.40 gives me the heart starter (*cough*) I need. Lavazza. If anyone can better that I'm reading (as opposed to listening). Disclaimer - Excessive caffiene intake is not recommended.

I wish I had two garage's. Hello Redleg.

Federer or Rafa ? I think bothe are humble, nice and polite and respectful of the game. Except one pulls out more wedgies than the other....

Thanks 45. Saville. Fixed. Hopefully it's a good sign for Australian Tennis.

How about the young Aussie Saville winning the Junior Wimbledon title... hopefully he has a great future in Tennis. The Joker had a great tournament and thoroughly deserved the title. Will be interesting to see if Rafa and Federer respond at the US Open.

I never said that Daisy, and you know it. You're spinning your own wheel. ^ Daisycutter came up with his opposite to MFCSS, being MFCFS.

Aussies made 8-361 and Bangladesh are making a fist of the chase at 1/111 after 18 overs.

India v Pakistan - India 4/185 after 36 overs, Tendulkar has been dropped 4 times ! Hmmm. Akmal the last to drop him. Tendulkar currently 84*

My tip is Sri Lanka to win the World Cup.

It's very easy to be critical of someone's performance in one game in isolation. Now observe and state his last recorded 15 innings at ODI, then try and support your reasoning ! You're as quiet as the Ponting critics right now.

Well considering he is playing on regardless (unless he gets a tap on the shoulder) it definitely will not be his last innings. Ponting has stated as such. And CA have backed him in the Bangladesh series following the World Cup. Masterful innings, supreme temperament at the crease in over 40 C. Best I've seen him move his feet for some time, from the outset today. Not many in the world can play an innings like that, under that amount of pressure in a quarter final of a World Cup for his country. I can think of three - Ponting, Tendulkar and maybe Kallis of the current crop. Steve Waugh of the recent past. Ponting may have just had a big say in the journey of winning the 2011 World Cup. That's how big the innings was. Stand up Australia.

Fair point titan. Point taken. My only concern here (Smith for D.Hussey) would be given the reports of the pitches to be played on - they could well be slow turning wickets. Could we do with slow bowling options ie. have Smith & D.Hussey ? Furthermore White doesn't seem to handle the spin when batting. From the vibe I get reading through reports, they might just stick fat and go in unchanged.

Is/was David Hussey out of form for a prolonged slump ? I think David Hussey is a better player of spin than that of White and the additional aspect is that D.Hussey offers another option of slow bowling (spin) - also helps out with the over rate in getting through his overs (not that that is a huge factor in proceedings !). David Hussey can turn it on with the bat. Because he has a reasonable record against spin, gives him the nod over White for me.

I thought that too. Ponting gave Tait I think three overs at the time when Pakistan required ~35-40 runs. After Tait's second over - which was unsuccessful and wayward a little - I thought at the time, right bring Binga on now with about another 20-25 runs required. Krejza and Tait bowled another 3 overs between them after that and by then they only needed 10 runs. Granted, Ponting probably could have opted for Lee instead of Tait, so in essence it probably was a bad call given the figures of the respective bowlers. But I thought he definitely should have mixed it up a bit and brought Lee on two overs earlier. A double whammy you could say. I wonder what Clarke would have done in Punter's absence ? Doesn't matter now, it's all been done. I think they just have to bite the bullet now and select D.Hussey for White. Hussey provides a bowling option and arguably Hussey is a better bat facing spin as opposed to White. No brainer for me. White has had all Summer to put forward his case - ample opportunities - and IMO probably a bit fortunate to have remained in the side with Mike's recall. Just on Krejza { I haven't really commented on him } - I query his field placings and also that of the captain for his bowling. Not so much against Pakistan, but the previous game his first two overs were horrible ( Canada I think ?), he repeatedly bowled down leg side and even bowled around the wicket ! Which left me bewildered (being a spinner myself). He had a deep fine leg and was milked for around 6-7runs (all singles* !) down to fine leg, before (highlighted to emphasize) one of Ponting, White or Clarke suggested either Krejza either bowl to his field ! or bring fine leg up !? * = After the third single I screamed at the TV for Punter to bring fine leg up (Tait) or get Krezja to go over the wicket - or get him off ! After each subsequent single after that - well, you don't want to know what i said ! [i'll leave it to the imagination] I would have said - being Captain and all -, "Jason, either you bowl over the wicket and get it on or just outside off stump or you're on the first flight out of here, I'll bring Hussey in."

Brett Lee bowled very well. Unfortunately we couldn't get anywhere near 220 + which is what would have been required to defend successfully. Ponting is out of sorts, White's run out didn't help but certainly the good Pakistan turned up to play. If they play like that in the remaining games they will be a chance. If Haddin and Watson click and make a big innings we'll still be there. Would be great to see one or both of them score centuries.

Did I hear it right ? They dropped *Chanderpaul for the England match ? * Of particular significance is the initial post of this great thread from WJ asking "How do we get that Chanderpaul out ?"

Unsure about "Unclear Power", but I know more about Nuclear Power and Japan. Time to stop Nuke hysteria The 50 brave workers are mostly at risk.

ICC will no doubt launch an inquiry. Can someone slap Mike Atherton around - I cannot stand some of his questionning comments. Questionning the Aussies because we aren't bludgeoning the Kenyan attack. Yet we're scoring over 5.5 an over and on target for 300+...Hello we are 4 wickets down Mikey.

That's unheard of really. Put this down in your list of best stats 45. It's got to be top 3 material. 2.4 overs.....I'm gob smacked at that stat.