MadAsHell

McDonald defended and provided rebound from defence well. Touch of the fumbles as i've already mentioned, but conditions didn't suit. White used the ball well and is pretty good overhead. Could possibly be something there? King wasn't bad, but thought there were a few more contests he could have impacted. Look forward to seeing how the seniors go.

Got here about 20min into the 2nd term. One of the first things i saw was Oscar outmark Waylon Manson. Both McDonald and White have been in the play a bit. Oscar's fumbled it a few times, but conditions are tough to be fair. Seen King kick a goal playing deep forward, but he hasn't really impacted many contests. Neal-Bullen unsighted, not sure if injured or late withdrawl due to conditions? As for casey boys though, Ed Morris is to good for VFL 2nds.

Agreed re McCartin. Feel sorry for the kid and hope he doesn't cop it. But maybe Watts will finally get some slack? He had one nice bit of play after he spilt a mark to recover and get the ball to Billings, but thst was it for him.

Dropped marks and fumbles count as butchery. He also got a free kick 5min ago and kicked it straight to the opposition.

Not trying to stick the boots into a young kid. But McCartin's butchered nearly everything he's touched tonight. Just wonder if he'll cop the same flack that Watts did?

Agreed, Saints getting a stiff run.

Watching McCartin look like a deer in headlights makes you appreciate just how special Hogan obviously is given how comfortable he's been first up.

Can't tell if trolling or not?

Don't think we can play Jamar & Spencil in the same team, if we were to go with two rucks think we'd need to go with Gawn. But as long as there's no injuries or suspensions I'd make no changes. Give them a chance to atone. 41 touches between Jones, Tyson & Vince wont happen again!

As long as there's no injuries or suspensions I'd make no changes. Give them a chance to atone. 41 touches between Jones, Tyson & Vince wont happen again!

This^

That's funny, I don't recall an early election being called because Labor no longer had the numbers to form a minority government?

Very dominant win by the Aussies in the ODI final tonight. Crushed England and sets us up nicely to repeat the dose to them come Valentines Day. In a blow though it looks like Faulkner has picked up a side strain injury and could be out of the World Cup! Very big loss given he's a valuable asset both with the bat as a finisher batting at number 8, we saw his 50* off 24 balls today as proof. Not to mention his ability to bowl at the death of the innings. His injury could well be Watson's life line I think. Fingers crossed the injury isn't to bad and we'll see him in a few weeks. Well done to the Aussies so far. This summer we've won the T20 series v South Africa, won the ODI series against them also, won the Test series aainst India and now the tri ODI series v India & England. Only the World Cup to go.

Youngest player to reach the quarter finals at two slams since a guy called Roger Federer. He could be something special. Seems to be a more driven version of Philippoussis.

Not much made of the win on friday night? England 8/303 (50) I. Bell 141 J. Root 69 M. Ali 46 G. Sandhu 2/49 (10) M. Henriques 1/34 (7) J. Faulkner 1/59 (10) Australia 7/304 (49.5) S. Smith 102* S. Marsh 45 B. Haddin 42 M. Ali 2/50 (10) C. Woakes 2/58 (9.5) S. Finn 2/65 (10) Thought we actually won that a bit easier then the score card suggested thanks to another Smith ton and some great bowling at the death from out bowlers. For me that's three of our last five games where our bowlers in the last 10 overs have brought the opposition score back about 20 runs then what they looked set to score. Game 4 v RSA @ MCG, our 2nd Tri Series match v India @ MCG and this match just gone against England. What was most pleasing aspect of the win for mine was the XI that we did it with, it was almost a 2nd XI against a full strength England team, so we surely must be shortening for the World Cup. Here's a pretty good XI that didn't play on friday. N. Maddinson D. Warner S. Watson M. Clarke G. Bailey M. Marsh M. Wade N. Coulter-Nile M. Johnson X. Doherty J. Hazlewood Arguably a better XI then the one we put out on friday.

Some serious questions need to be asked of the Stars after their 4th straight semi finals loss! 1) Should Cameron White stay captain? 2) Luke Wright had an ordinary season. Is it time to look for another overseas player? 3) Should we keep Faulkner & Maxwell on the list given they're always likely to miss the back end of the seasons due to ODI commitments? 4) Is it time to move on players like David Hussey, Clint McKay, Rob Quiney? I think the Stars has some excuses this year unlike last year. Apart from Maxwell & Faulkner who are in the ODI squad, we've also been without Hussey since the 4th game, Stoinis all season who would have been a vital cog IMO with his batting and medium pacers and we only got Handscomb available from our 7th game. Still it's a let down though.

Nervous first half.

Remarkable victory really. When they were 3/28 at the start of the 6th over I thought they were gone and never even thought they were the slightest chance until there were about 6 overs to go and I realised they still hadn't let the run rate blow out. Hastings then went bang and McKay got some valuable runs allowing poor Handscomb to catch his breath. The poor guy looked like Dean Jones in Madrass 1985! A great effort from the Stars and tat now makes in 5 in a row! Funny though, I'd actually rather then finish 4th and play Adelaide then 3rd and play Perth. But I guess we'll find out after we see how much Sydney Sixers win by tonight to see who finishes where.

Yeah I think Stoinis is still some time off sadly. Keath should come in for Boland and bat at 7, just to bolster the batting. But although they've done well to turn things around the Stras I can't see them going any further then the semi's. Got it correct there GRR. Especially Mel McLaughlin, love, love, love! Although you're wrong on Flemo IMO, most entertaining one there.

In a concerning sign leading into the World Cup. I don't know what this scorecard says for Afghanistan less then a month out. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/812645.html Bowled out for 63 by Scotland! And the Afghans will have to face the likes of Johnson, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood on a bouncy WACA pitch on Wednesday March 4. We might bowl them out for under 20 if they can't make many runs against Scotland on the slow tracks of Abu Dhabi....

Fingers crossed for the Pattinson/Cummins partnership in years to come. Could easily become the most dangerous new ball partnership in World Cricket. Back onto last night though, thought it was really good the questioning between Ricky Ponting & Kevin Pietersen in the commentators box. I found it really insightful and interesting stuff. Actually opened up a new respect I have for KP and especially Michael Vaughan at how he managed & captained his team and was able to bring the best out in his team mates.

The problem that I have with it is I see it as something that isn't necessary. At least with cricket, the shortest format of the game before T20 came along went for 7.5 - 8 hours. I understand the Federer v Hewitt game went for just under 2 hours as a best of 5 sets. Well that's about the same amount of time a best of 3 sets match goes for, so for the people who don't like 5 set matches, why don't they just avoid Grand Slams and Davis Cup? Yeah, it'll take some time before it has me convinced.

Haha, clearly not a Heat fan gs? Was a weird match last night. Didn't think a team would ahve so much trouble chasing 81 for victory. Pattinson's 2nd ball of the match to bowl Burns was an absolute jaffa! Nothing Burns could do.

They were clinical last night with the 4-0 drubbing of Oman, a country that's troubled us in the past. Now a sure thing of playing in the Quarter Finals and will play South Korea on Saturday to determine who tops the group. Matt Leckie is establishing himself as a very good player as is Luongo. And to make it all the more better they just completed the 7th leg of my 11 leg multi!

Yeah Zimbabwe should be the ones to go. Only problem is BCCI probably wont allow it as it may mean one less vote for them on the council. It's really sad the powr they have over the game. I think Ireland's best chance of getting test status is if Afghanistan also get it at the same time. That way there's another Asian nation there that India can control on the council and rely on for votes.