Macca

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.

The Ravens might be making a move ... their next 4 are vs Minnesota, @ Detroit, vs New England and then @ Cincinnati. Scary moment when Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell lost his helmet near the end of today's game. Thankfully he was all right (as was his opponent, Jimmy Smith) Hell, it's a brutal sport! The Steelers could win their last 4 but that's probably what they'd have to do to have a chance of making it. Their remaining games are vs Miami, vs Cincinnati, @ Green Bay and then vs Cleveland. It's possible but losing today was a body blow. The Raiders put up a good show but the Cowboys were too good and might be heading for the playoffs - they play the Eagles at home in week 17 (that game could decide things)

Well, it had to happen. Blown away completely in a game without Rodgers. At least it wasn't a surprise. Just goes to show what can happen when you're reliant on such a top line player. I can't see an easy answer though - he's irreplaceable and any 2nd stringer is always going to pale in comparison. Rodgers is worth every cent and more. Detroit had one of their better days as well.

Yeah, I agree. I'd prefer to see that game over a couple of others although the other 2 "late" games have a lot of interest. Can't wait for the time where you can push a red button and get any game. "Red zone" would be great too. It'll happen eventually. The Rams would have to give themselves a chance although I've been waiting for the niners to hit their best form. Could be a close one, all the same. Tomorrow's games could decide a few things - loser out of the Steelers/Ravens game could be in a bit of trouble. The Packers/Lions game has similar connotations and Dallas wouldn't want to lose to Oakland at home.

I would have liked to have "liked" a number of previous posts but I guess those "likes" are there in spirit! ... the TV games ... Friday 4.30am Green Bay at Detroit (OneHD & Fox1) 8.30am Oakland at Dallas (OneHD & ESPN) 12.30pm Pittsburgh at Baltimore (Fox2 only) 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) That's not too bad hey - 9 games on the box! ... all the week 13 games Tips ... another tough week but 2 points are on offer - I'm tippin' someone will get all 3 right! New England Arizona Denver

They've picked the same 12 for Adelaide but there was a small rider in there with relation to the fitness of the fast bowlers. Wouldn't surprise me if there's one change. However, we need to reinforce our advantage and the team will be itching to get at England again. It's certainly an interesting scenario though and your idea has merit, TD. I would lean more towards still only going with the one specialist spinner though (Lyon) At issue here is the drop-in pitch - how is it going to play? I reckon if they make any sort of change, Harris might be rested. Has he the capacity to be at his best for all 5 Tests? (given his injury history) Or we could just roll up our sleeves in true Aussie style and just get on with it! If we win the toss and make a stack of runs, we could therefore rule out the possibility of losing the Test. As is nearly always the case, it will be an important toss to win. I wonder if any of our Test batsmen are playing in any of the 3 Shield games that start on Friday? I'm assuming the answer is no but a couple of our blokes could do with some time at the crease ... also, it might be worth noting to see if any of our back-up fast bowlers are being rested in these matches.

Points tally in the comp ... 5 - cowboy from hell 4 - Strafford 3 - Macca 2 - pantaloons 1 - DemonDave, Gorgoroth 0 - 45HG, Norm Smith's Curse, bananas, Arrow 2 points on offer for this week - the 3rd bonus round ... A reminder that in week 17, three points are up for grabs. Also, I couldn't award a point to one unfortunate poster this week - tips were in too late - sorry) ... week 13 games ... the BS Report

Things might fall into place but I'm not banking on it. I still reckon Rodgers' injury is at least a 6 week one (which would mean he'll miss the next 3 games) We're hanging on but Flynn would have to have a big game, our few WR and TE targets would need to play well and Detroit would need to continue to play well below par. Don't like the odds, 'cfh'. Atlanta are my biggest disappointment but there's quite a few isn't there? The Ravens might still make it but they haven't done a lot. As you said, Houston have been poor. It makes a mockery of any pre-season predictions. But of course, we'll do it all again!