Macca

Couldn't help but notice that the 'Big Bash' is taking a break of 4 days during the Perth Test (from Friday) . Would have been an ideal time to play some Shield cricket or at least a 3 day scratch match for our 1st class cricketers . Ok , there's only the Adelaide Test to go but what if India strike back in Perth . Without big Patto the Aussies don't look as formidable .

This track is by the late Grover Washington Jr . His music lives on forever though . A fantastic saxophonist . The song is called "Tell Me About it Now" Macca 1.3

Thanks for that WJ , read the article the other day . Amazing where life can take you sometimes . I'll have a look at the game later that day . Did they play a few months ago ? 9 - 6 scoreline to LSU ? As for this weeks games , all the favourites should win though there's nearly always an upset or 2 . Your team ( the 49ers ) and mine ( the Packers ) await . Good luck to Houston . There's a couple on this thread that support them .

Fair old game tonight ! 399 runs in 3 hours . Best game so far and young McDermott was very good in the last over . The Heat get a win at last though they probably can't make the finals .

Macca 4.6 This retro(ish) sounding track has been the no.1 rock song in the US for a number of weeks now . And it is 'The Black Keys' official video of 'Lonely Boy'.

CA has a very close relationship with India and we play them in some form of International cricket every year (We're supposed to play them in 4 Tests in India in Feb/March of 2013) . And I've also heard that we do very well financially out of the deal ( TV rights etc etc ) . On the ABC today they were saying that the TV audience back in India for this Test was between 200 and 300 million . That's one of the reasons we play them every year . Money talks . So , here's my point . India control World cricket because they bring the most amount of money to the game . I've heard that it's more than 80% . And now everybody wants to play them more often which in turn makes them stronger . India know this of course and use it to their own advantage . No DRS is your classic example of how India are flexing their muscles . The reality is that their power base will probably get stronger and the cricket world should find a way of working with them . Another example is the IPL and the Champions League t20 . India wanted a window for the latter and got it . Australia and South Africa are heavily invested in the Champions League t20 as well and do quite nicely out of it . As for the IPL , there seems to be less and less cricket "clashing" with it . You can just imagine the BCCI saying to another Nation - " Yes , we will play you in 3 Tests and 5 ODI's but we need you do something for us ................

Well , where do India go from here ? Hopefully a nice green bouncy wicket greets them in Perth . I really hope we play 4 quicks there to deliver the knockout blow . My preference would be Starc but it looks like Harris will get the nod if they go down that track . And you might rest Pattinson in Adelaide if we're 3 nil up . A 4 nil series win against this lot would be beautiful . Sachin might have to wait until Adelaide to get that ton . And 'Chelly' , I've heard that Watto has just started running so he's highly unlikely and I doubt they'll change the Keeper . I reckon they will wait for Tim Paine to be fit and then make the move . Well done to the Aussies again and a special congratulations to Michael Clarke for his triple century and his leadership . Even his harshest critics must be changing their mind about him . After his innings his Test batting average is now 48.66 - not too shabby . Siddle , Patto and Hilfo all had terrific games and whilst I thought father time had caught up with Punter and Mr Cricket I'm quite happy to be wrong and I hope they can both keep going .

I get what his point is . I read the whole article and all his quotes . I see sport as winning and losing so his opening comment baffled me and still does . If people want to see "into" his comment then so be it . That's what we're debating here - those who see it as black and white and those that see the grey . Most times I see the grey but not this time . Most people do expect them to lose but Dravid shouldn't be thinking this . I believe he is with his "nothing to lose" comment . The Aussies would have seen his comment as a sign of weakness . Or they should . We're talking elite competitive beasts here .

I didn't see into the Dravid comment the way you think I did . I took it on face value and thought it was an oxymoron. And if Dravid's comment is such a non-issue then why did the sub editors of the 'Age' use it as the headline of the article?

So if India lose this Test they haven't really lost . I get it now . How silly of me not to see this . In all seriousness that "We've got nothing to lose" line is trotted out far too much . To me it's a total cop out and is just another way of making an excuse . It is often said when an individual or team has been completely outplayed . It never ceases to amaze me how , in a match where there is a winner and a loser , one competitor can say that they've "Got nothing to lose". Ah , yes you have , because if the other mob win , you lose ! In that 'Age' article Dravid also made a veiled reference to Sachin hopefully making "that" ton . I thought it was supposed to be a team game . I can't imagine an Australian player focusing on an individual performance if we were similarly precariously placed .

I'm not nitpicking at all . I made a comment on what I reckon is an outrageous statement by Dravid . The bloke has an excellent command of the English language so there's no excuses . "Clearly not the words he meant" ? Can you please explain what he did mean to this mere mortal .

Yep , and my comment was on his choice of words . Don't apologise for him , he's a big boy .

It's not out of context Nasher ! He said "We have nothing to lose" Whichever way you read it , it's a stupid comment . He's trying to somehow put a positive spin on a disastrous situation . If / when they lose this Test they will be 2 nil down . They have everything to lose ! "There's nothing to lose in the sense that we're so far behind now" said Dravid . He's effectively saying if we lose it doesn't matter ! But .......it does matter .

We have nothing to lose : Dravid Excuse me ? http://news.theage.c...0105-1pmrj.html

Nice goin with this thread . Ronny Jordan is my favourite jazz guitarist , hails from the UK . A lot of his tunes have a great feel to them . This song is called "7th Heaven" Macca 1.2

This track is by the one and only George Duke : Keyboard Jazz pioneer . Like most of the songs I will post on this thread, it's a bit of a toe-tapper ! The link to this track should play automatically . I found this music site has just about everything, and the sound quality is quite good . This song is called "T-Jam". George Duke - T-Jam

Ah yes , I used to check the District scores as a matter of course , einstein . ( that's not meant to be a put down btw ) ! , but have lost touch in a lot of ways because I don't buy the paper that much anymore ! The Age on the weekends is about it . You've reminded me that I should do so as the Melbourne Cricket Club are one of my many sporting teams that I support . Won a lot of Premierships have the MCC and I've played a bit of cricket with a couple of blokes that played in the 3rd eleven there . Cheers

Macca 4.5

Good on ya JJ . Thanks for that but you were the originator of the idea mate . I'll kick my contribution off with a nice little number from a superb jazz guitarist - Chuck Loeb . This song is called "Carbo Fuel" Macca 1.0 Chuck Loeb - Carbo Fuel

Hodgey and Ronnie put on a show . Some big 6's in that innings . Always nice to see Melbourne beat Sydney !!

Funny you should mention jazz because I like a fair bit of it as well . And I'm sure there are others here that do as well . Tell you what , if you start a jazz thread I will contribute whenever I can . Most of it would be on youtube or the like . Maybe the songs will just have still shots - but that's quite ok . Some of my favourite artists include George Duke , Nils , Jeff Golub , Acoustic Alchemy , Ronny Jordan , Chuck Loeb , David Benoit and various saxophonists . Most of the jazz I like is a bit uptempo but it's somehow described as downtempo - I don't get that , but let's face it , how do you describe jazz? Cheers and btw Korn are good .

A bit of holiday reading for you blokes and ladies The late great Keith "Nugget" Miller http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/482217.html

Yes wisedog, you make a good point re the "State competition" though I can understand why CA made the move . Most big sporting comps around the world are City based so they've just re-jigged it . It will take a bit of time before the public warm to the Stars , Renegades , Sydney Thunder and Sixers but in the other Capital cities the new "franchises" have been accepted ( if you go on crowds ) . The "Thunder" having Chris Gayle and the "Stars" having Warnie will help those teams pull a crowd you'd reckon . Possibly by the end of January people will start to accept the new teams and certainly by the end of next summer . I still find it a bit strange switching from "Test" mode to "t20" mode but I reckon most feel this way . Cheers

Yep , we're on the same wavelength Nasher . I think in time the purists will buckle . There's just too much to like about t20 . As ya said , that Gayle knock was exciting . Just wonderful artistry . Effortless in a lot of ways , pure timing . He's done it twice now in the comp and what a crowd puller he is . The sport is part exhibition as well which can't be denied but so what . People love it . I worry about the future of Test cricket sometimes but 189,000 at the MCG eases my mind somewhat . They should come in their droves to the Sydney Test as well especially it being the 100th test at the ground .

Test cricket is a Test and a better game to watch ( for me ) . T20 for me is a much better shorter version of the game . It might surprise some that I don't like 50 over cricket at all . ( except for world cups where I take a bit of an interest ) . To me the 50 over game goes far too long . We already have a long version of the game in Test cricket . I reckon it will be the 50 over game that will fade away to be perfectly honest . Btw t20 pays its way and probably subsidises Shield cricket ( which must cost a small fortune to run ) So , in fact , cricket needs t20 and the money it brings to the game . Big picture stuff in a lot of ways .