Nasher

Nearly :-) It pissed down with rain here for about 5 minutes then passed. Hot (relative to recent weather) and humid and yucky.

I'm in your corner too Macca. No science behind it, just think that his rate of progression in the long form of the game has been pretty good, remembering that he wasn't a professional cricketer when he was catapulted in to the Australian T20 side. He's obviously got all the shots - I think in time the temperament and concentration will come. I liked this article - seems to reaffirm what I'm saying: What Sehwag saw in Warner

I don't know that that washes - Glenn McGrath's improvement had no effect on the longevity or effectiveness of his career because ultimately it was still his bowling that did the talking. It was just an added bonus, and probably a testimony to his work ethic and desire to do the right thing for his team. Those other old guys came from a different era and probably spent 0% of the time working on their batting, in the era of professional cricket I'd expect better. Then again, maybe Martin is considered a lost cause, but I find that hard to believe that nobody could teach him how to get forward and block the ball properly when it's on the stumps.

No, don't think I'll be going. I think if I was going to wag work, my wife (who has pregnancy related pelvis issues) would prefer that I stay at home and help look after the kids, and they're too little to enjoy watching hours of Test cricket at a time. There was an article a while ago about Chris Martin being statisically the worst Test batsman of all time, outdoing the likes of Courtney Walsh etc. He's also one of two Test cricketers (30+ matches) to have more wickets than runs scored. I thought that was pretty funny :-) I like his cricinfo bio: "Hardworking with the ball and outrageously feeble with the bat" and "by the end of the decade Martin was New Zealand's fourth highest Test wicket taker of all time but he was equally well known for his comically inept batting. Getting Martin out is as difficult as making a cup of tea and often takes less time. " The guy's nearly 37 years old too, it's amazing that he's managed to forge such a successful Test career as a bowler without making some inroads in to at least being able to stick the bat in front of the ball occasionally. Look at Glenn McGrath's improvement with the bat as his career progressed.

I struggle with having to choose between Siddle and Pattinson. Siddle is currently our best bowler and Pattinson was hot in that second innings; it'd be a momentum sapper to drop him now. Does Harris have to come straight in to the side if fit? I'm assuming he won't be anyway, so it's a bit of a moot point. Everyone seems to be an expert on Hughes' technique. Not saying I disagree with your assessment t_u, but I cringe a little when armchair experts comment on "technique" of professional batsmen.

Out for 96 - disappointed for him. I was thinking after he punished Lyon for two fours that he might do something silly in the last ball of the over, and he did. Deserved the 100.

In Vettori's last 50 or so Test innings he's averaged around the 40.00 mark. Over his career he's transformed himself from a handy defensive lower order "end occupier" to a bona fide middle order batsman. What an amazing story about what hard work and a good temperament (not to mention sheer necessity) can do - some of the more talented batsmen on their list should look at him and feel embarrassed at themselves. Can't think of too many players in Test cricket that I respect more than Vettori.

Kirstie Alley has a history of losing weight and stacking it all back on I believe.

Interesting, I'd always wondered whether your nickname may've been Scoop based on SJ's alias. I reckon having Scoop and Scoop Junior on Demonland would've been a nice touch, personally.

Would that make you "Scoop"?

Opposite end of the scale to me then! My first was born when I was 22. At the age you started (~48?), my "kids" will be 26, 24, 22 and 20 :-) Life will just be beginning!

Hi everyone, I'm sorry to say that I recently discovered the passing of "two sheds jackson" during this year and wanted to belatedly share the news with those concerned on Demonland. The admin on Demonland would like to extend our condolences to his family. - Andrew N

Hehe. That's not *quite* what I meant

I'm afraid only three of them are Dees by brainwash. Only one of my mum's children are Dees (I'll let you guess which one :D) - unsure how it happened, but there are Collingwood and Richmond fans all around me. I guess in even the most degenerate of families you get the odd genius anomaly

How many grand children have you guys got? My mother is of your generation, she's got 10 so far with more to come (from four children of her own).

How good is it!! Wait, am I a bit late?

How come "T$ B$" is acceptable but my genius spoonerism of "Scum Tolly" wasn't? Boo.

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza...

I heard (third hand) of a club official describing trade week as "that week where we try to offload all our players that are no good, and every other club tries to do the same". Pretty much sums it up, really.

I've been an administrator of this site for almost six years, and the first time I ever actually told anyone about it (most who know me well figured it out) was about six months ago. I felt like such a retarded dweeb. Will never do again.

How long do I need to remain on "haven't posted in the Scully thread" wagon before I'm allowed to post in here? Or are obvious fence jumpers like rpfc and e25 welcomed with open arms?

My three year old son just scared the living sheet out of me by secretly lurking in the (very dark) bathroom playing with the glow stick he got at a birthday party today. Jesus effing Christ. I'm not certain which of us was more surprised when he came wandering out as I wandered in, but I'm pretty sure it was me.

How do you guys find time to watch so much sport? It seems to be the same people participating in all the "other sports" threads. I barely get time to watch one game of AFL footy a week. If I could squeeze in a couple of others I reckon Baseball would be a fair way down my list.

Uh-oh, inconsistency!

My Football Club Effing Sucks - DA called it MFCMCS, but it's not specific to the MFC, all clubs have these types of supporters. These are the people that believe that everything and anything is wrong with the club and if there's nothing real to criticise, they just make stuff up. This one applies to all the people who were having a moan about our 90 point win against GC.