Macca

Bit tricky trying to tip 3 road winners in the completed games this week - there were only 2 road winners! At first glance it looks a lot easier this week. The points tally ... 6 - Strafford 5 - cowboy from hell 4 - pantaloons 3 - Macca 1 - DemonDave, Gorgoroth 0 - 45HG, Norm Smith's Curse, Arrow, bananas ... week 15 games

It will be a nice problem to have when Cummins, Pattinson and Starc are all fit and raring to go. Bird has a bit to offer as well.

Our cricket has improved dramatically. We seem totally switched on and there's a real purpose to just about everything we've done so far. It's been quite a revelation to a lot of fans - these are the best kind of wins. As for England, I'm not sure they can right the ship enough to challenge. What do they do about Johnson? The wheel has turned and the Aussies will be going in for the kill. And yep, win the toss and bat!

From the 'Mirror' online ... England have been utterly outplayed - and the truth is that it could be too late to salvage the Ashes Test Match Special Podcast ... England defeated by 218 runs (includes interviews with both captains) The predicted forecast for the first 3 days in Perth ... hot, dry and 36 degrees.

Unchanged line-up, dl. Sounds a little boring but it's not just because of the "Don't change a winning side" default mode. Team harmony and that 'all conquering' attitude that a team can suddenly have are also very important. We're playing well as a team and even one change could disrupt things a little. I also share the thoughts of a few other posters that Lyon could well be suited to the Perth track because of the bounce that he achieves. "Roo" Yardley is a half decent comparison although Bruce spun his off spinners with his middle finger. As you no doubt remember, Yardley got good bounce and had a stellar year in the mid 80's where he took 35 odd wickets in 6 Tests. Nathan also possibly needs to know that his position is a bit more secure. On top of all that, he leads the team song! The up and comers might have to bide their time for now. We play Pakistan in Abu Dhabi/Dubai (?) for 3 Tests in October and then India are here in the summer of 2014/15 for four Tests. Ideal opportunity to blood a new player or 2 in those series. I reckon the guts of this team will tour South Africa now that we've turned things around. If we win in Perth, the selectors might decide to experiment but that might involve giving the quicks a game off (each) None of them would be putting up their hand though. Sore spots and aches and pains can be put aside when you're winning. Winners are grinners

Once again, the TV games ... Monday 5.00am Kansas City at Washington (OneHD) 5.00am Indianapolis at Cincinnati (Fox2) 8.05am Tennessee at Denver (Fox2) 8.25am Seattle at San Francisco (OneHD) 12.30pm Carolina at New Orleans (OneHD & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Dallas at Chicago (ESPN) ... all the other week 14 games and ... The ESPN 2013 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

Happy to go with the old adage "Never change a winning side" dl. It's been so long since we've had some real stability in the make-up of the side. Winning does change the thinking. If England can keep us out in the field well into tomorrow, one of the quicks might become doubtful for Perth. Clarke would be aware of that however, and will no doubt use the fast bowlers with that in mind. We get another one soon and the rest might fall sooner rather than later.

Fair enough. If Lehmann lifts the team out of the doldrums and takes the team to the top like Bobby Simpson did, he'll have done a great job. Not sure we reached no.1** status in the World under Simmo but we went damn close. Regardless, Bobby certainly took the team to the top (as a manner of phrase) It's going to take some doing to catch South Africa or even come close to their status. For starters, we'd have to win the series over there next Feb/March ... and that's just to start making some inroads with regards to the rankings*. They'll be well ready for us! That upcoming series should be a terrific one, all the same. ... but first of all, we need to clinch this Test and this series (and not lose any of the remaining Tests in the process) * The ICC Rankings 'Predictor' **Edit: Bobby Simpson did, in fact, take us to the no.1 status in the World ... Bobby Simpson's Coaching Career

The Demons getting to 9 or 10 wins next year might be seen as a monumental improvement. That's where I could see the similarities. I definitely wasn't thinking in terms of finals (yet!) It's the proportional level of improvement where comparisons could be made.

Good summary, TD. Still early doors but this feels a lot like the '89 series. Of course, we won that series 4-0 and had the better of the 2 other drawn Tests. I believe that '89 team was initially dubbed "The worst ever" to tour England as well! Whether we can dominate the rest of this series remains to be seen but the signs are good. To be honest, I'm still coming to terms with the turnaround. Let's hope that Roosey can have the same sort of impact at the Demons hey! (as well as seeing a number of our players starting to realise their potential) We've already snagged one of their best bats in the 2nd innings (Cook) I'd like to see Lyon pick up 3 or 4 wickets in this innings. Smith might get a few overs.

Michael Vaughan forecasts a 5-0 annihilation Geoffrey Boycott and other English greats blast tourists Test Match Special Podcast ... England fall again to Johnson (Geoffrey says the Ashes are gone)

With the Perth Test beginning next Friday, the more prudent move might be to bat again and set them about 550-600 to get in around about 2 days. Clarke will almost certainly bat again you'd reckon (that also gives us another chance to knock their bowlers around) A quick-fire Warner century? And I agree, Bell has to move up to no.3 if they're any chance of getting back into this series.

He had a chance to knuckle down and get his Country out of the mire. For someone with his experience and talent, he had to make a better fist of it. As soon as he was dismissed, their chance of saving the Test was all but gone. Now they've got the issues. Looks like they've been feeding Johnno raw meat - unbelievable turnaround. Good on him. He may have to keep the 'Mo' too. Cricketers are a superstitious lot.

Pietersen gave his wicket up - can't believe he fell for it. Clarke placed a couple of blokes in the spot where he likes to hit it - he duly obliged. Root's shot to get out was equally as poor. Bell looks the goods but it's just a matter of eking out a wicket here and there at the other end. We're playing well.

It's just nice to be right back in the contest, 'dl.' Our rediscovered aggressiveness could be on show again tomorrow. Looking forward to watching it - the couch awaits! If we can turn the big advantage we have in this Test, into a victory, we would go to Perth with a 2-0 lead. As it stands now, it will be at least a 1-0 lead (barring a miracle England win)

Well said, 'TD' So many runs to play with and Lyon could be a bit of a handful tomorrow (hope so anyway) KP could be the key dismissal but Bell's wicket is also very important. England would have to bat well into the 4th day to save the game you'd think. If the Aussies can pick up 2 or maybe even 3 wickets per session, we would be at their tail in the last session. 2 more centuries is very pleasing and is Haddin the 'other' renaissance man? (he kept very well in England but his batting right now, is superlative) Brad seems to be getting better with age. Another great knock to Clarke ... doing it at the no.4 spot as well (which is another positive result) It would be great if he could come to the crease more often when we're well placed (2 for plenty) Test Match Special with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott (includes an interview with Brad Haddin)

Ha! As we all know, Strafford, a lot of things can change in the NFL in just one week ... and this week is no different. Some great match-ups and it's a tipsters nightmare (and that's just trying to find some straight winners - home or away!) I could only come up with 2 (Denver and the Pats) Every other game could go either way (IMO)

TV games ... Friday 12.30pm Houston at Jacksonville (ESPN only) Monday 5.00am Kansas City at Washington (OneHD) 5.00am Indianapolis at Cincinnati (Fox2) 8.05am Tennessee at Denver (Fox2) 8.25am Seattle at San Francisco (OneHD) 12.30pm Carolina at New Orleans (OneHD & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm Dallas at Chicago (ESPN) ... all the other week 14 games Tips ... KC Oakland Giants

The Bengals are 2 games clear in your division, you're leading the comp and Roosey has come to save us! What more could you possibly want?

Yep, they're a top notch team with a huge home field advantage, Strafford. Another big win yesterday. 2 home wins and they're in the Super Bowl. It's not done yet of course, but they're going to be hard to toss. You've hit the front in the comp! Just 4 weeks left but don't forget, 3 points are on offer in week 17. The road team wins are there but it's a matter of deciphering which ones! The points tally ... 6 - Strafford 5 - cowboy from hell 4 - pantaloons 3 - Macca 1 - DemonDave, Gorgoroth 0 - 45HG, Norm Smith's Curse, Arrow, bananas ... week 14 games ... The BS Report

My conflict was not picking Jacksonville instead of Arizona - I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I'll never learn Chicago go for the field goal to win the game on 2nd down? You could understand 3rd down but that decision could come back to haunt them. They are now effectively 2 games behind Detroit - although the Lions can't be trusted - can they? AP had a big game for your blokes. Big win for the Bengals and you've kept that 2 game buffer. That match up with KC in the playoffs looks like it might happen after today. If you get to 10 wins I reckon you win the division. That week 17 game against the Ravens may or may not mean anything in terms of winning the Division. But I'm just speculating!

Like the regular season comp, if there's enough interest, we could go ahead with it. I'll wait until we're done with the current one before "launching" the play-off one. Anyone with any ideas though, put 'em forward. Anyway, you've led from the front all season, 'cfh', but it's not all over just yet! (now I've done it, you're now odds on to pick up 2 points tomorrow!) It's been a strange year in terms of injuries and teams under performing. Against all that, we've seen a few teams come right into contention from seemingly nowhere - if Arizona get up tomorrow, they'll be right in the thick of things. The month of December is nearly always a great one though - in terms of key match-ups. ... here are the TV games again, along with Bill Simmons' column ... All the Fixins Monday 5.00am Miami at NY Jets (OneHD) 5.00am Tennessee at Indianapolis (Fox2) 8.25am Denver at Kansas City (OneHD) 8.25am Cincinnati at San Diego (Fox2) 12.30pm NY Giants at Washington (OneHD & ESPN) Tuesday 12.30pm New Orleans at Seattle (ESPN) ... all the week 13 games

Just a lucky guess, 'cfh' ... I figure if you make a hundred predictions, you're gonna get a few right! Not sure I predicted Houston or Atlanta's demise ... anyway, if you think back to last year, both our teams were right in the running after Chicago came back to the field (Cutler broke his thumb IIRC) How things can change hey and barring a miracle, we'll both be onlookers during the play-offs. Agree with you re the Saints. They've got a chance on Tuesday (our time) but if Seattle win, they'll get the 1 seed you'd reckon. It would then come down to the Panthers or the Saints for the NFC South (they've still got to play each other twice) Do the Saints need the dome? There's some ripper games on the box tomorrow and Tuesday with the Den/KC and Saints/Seahawks games being the big ones. Oh, and by the way, after our current comp is done, we could do something similar during the play-offs. Just straight winners for all the games with the Super Bowl being worth 3 points ... just a thought

Interesting development ... Lehmann ponders Faulkner inclusion However, this other article seemed a fair bit more definite ... ... Ryan Harris will play in Adelaide Test if he's fit, says coach Darren Lehmann

Yep, drafting is the key, 'cfh'. But like all drafts, they're not definitive and there's still a lot of luck involved. We're not badly placed at WR and our running game with Lacy involved is a lot better. We've drafted about 10 defensive players in the last 2 years - maybe a bit of time is needed or we could have drafted badly (as a consequence, not necessarily as anything that involved negligence or having poor recruiters or scouts) In the end, It still gets back to the QB. "Them's the breaks" (no pun intended!) But in all honesty, my thoughts have turned more towards the make up of the rest of the League. Seattle have this huge home field advantage in the NFC but a few doubts remain. In the AFC, Denver have an issue with regards to Manning in freezing and adverse conditions. I reckon the Super Bowl winner is up for grabs and any number of teams can win it. I still think the 49ers are a big show if they can get it all together. New England are the other team that can be very good on their day.