Macca

If t20 is aimed at kids then why do so many adults like the sport as well ? Check out the faces in the crowd . T20 is here to stay and will only get bigger . As an aside , the Test crowd at the MCG was over 189,000 so what are people worried about ? The crowd at the Sydney Test will be big as well btw It seems there is a percentage of people who don't like t20 and that is their right . But do they need to tell everybody about it ? There are loads of things in life that I don't like but I don't feel compelled to tell the whole world about it . I'll give you one though - I don't like brussels sprouts ! You do however make a good point about Test players playing t20 and that does need to be addressed . You are also correct in saying that it's a completely different game . If you treat it as such , you may not dislike it as much . I compare Test cricket to t20 like I do the Marathon to the 100 metre sprint . It's ok to like both . Overall t20 is family friendly , fun , exciting , entertaining . There's music and dancing etc etc . I go to the games and everybody is smiling and happy . What's wrong with that ? Btw , I'm waiting for the cavalry to arrive . I seem to be the only one on this thread who likes the sport . ( And I didn't kick it off ) Cheers

Came across a good new comedy called "Episodes" about a British couple who have a successful comedy in the UK . The plot revolves around the "American" version of the show with the lead played by Matt LeBlanc ( who is somewhat miscast as a Headmaster of an elite boys academy ) . It has been nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy series . Worth a look .

Renegades are on the board at last ! Scores are lower this year . It seems the bowlers are fighting back in this form of the game .

Macca 4.4 All the best for the New Year all you rock fans !

Here are the 2 scorecards from those 2 tests vs Pakistan in 1972/73 . 5 changes from a winning test ! ( For various reasons ) . The great DK Lillee bowled 23 overs straight in the 2nd innings in Sydney ( albeit with a break overnight ) . He of course broke down with stress fractures in his back soon after . Pakistan made 574 in their 1st innings in Melbourne yet somehow lost . They were chasing 159 for victory in Sydney and at one stage were 3/83 and lost again . Eerily similar to events in Sydney 2 years ago . http://www.espncrici...atch/63095.html http://www.espncrici...atch/63096.html Well done to the Aussies today . For a while there yesterday I thought we'd be 1 nil down but we got there in the end . Great team effort .

Too good WJ ! Yeah , John Benaud . After he failed in the 1st innings of the Melbourne Test vs Pakistan in 1972/73 he was dropped for the Sydney Test . He then went out and made 142 in the 2nd innings . I was at the game . He then went to the West Indies in 1973 and played one more Test ( his last ) Well played sir !

Quiz time Who was the Australian top order batsman who scored 142 in the 2nd innings of a Test match but was dropped for the next test match ? Clue - they were consecutive Test matches .

Whilst I like and prefer the DRS , I don't reckon we will see too many "sus" LBW decisions given . Batsmen on the front foot will probably get the benefit of the doubt . I can live with that . What we might see is a 1 or 2 LBW decisions where the batsman gets a thin inside edge . These ones are the toughest to adjudicate on . So far , India haven't been on the wrong end of a clanger . But it will happen . And can you imagine if it's Sachin ? ( in the 90's )

Well done Hilfo and the other bowlers . It's a pity that a lot of the cricket writers often don't seem to know much about Shield cricket . I'm wondering if any of them trot along to the games at all . They don't quote stats or have much to say at all . The general public seem to know very little about all these new players coming through . I go to cricket.com a lot these days to read match reports etc because you won't find much in the online daily's ( re Shield cricket ) . Hilfo has apparently been bowling well in Shield ranks but most folk wouldn't be getting this information . Therefore some opinions on Hilfo can only be based on last years Ashes series . Just on those Shield stats - if you asked the average punter about Jayde Herrick , Michael Hogan or Peter Forrest you'd get blank looks . Herrick and Hogan lead the aggregates in wickets taken ( 32 each ) and Forrest leads the batting aggregate ( 500 plus ) I had to look up these figures btw .

We might have a chance if we can take a catch !

Not so sure about that Indian big first innings score WJ . They're not the batting team they used to be . The extra bounce will sort a few of them out . Some good short stuff ( wisely used ) wouldn't hurt either . And there's a bit of sideways movement in the deck as well . We'll win this Test though they might get 300 in their 1st innings . Edit - I am , however , unusually optomistic when it comes to the Test side ! Ditto for the Demons !

The "Ab Fab" girls are back ( Absolutely Fabulous ) . A few specials only . The 1st of which was shown in the UK on Xmas day . Good for a laugh .

Yep I agree , but the question is the "Fully fit" bit . Do the selectors wait until he's fit enough to bowl (as well) before they select him ? I'm not sure they even know what to do with him at the moment . We're a team in transition right now and I can't see that changing for quite a while .

It's funny . I had a mate ring me with the info on Martin and Hussey today . And I dIdn't believe him ! I think he heard it on the ABC . Damien Martyn was a player who started having bad luck when he lost form ( Ashes 2005 ? ) . It's a weird phenomenom . I think the look on Hussey's face today said it all "Why me ? Why now ? " He missed that by a good margin today . Let's hope he makes some in the 2nd dig . Watson might be fit for Sydney and I can't see them dropping Marsh after just recalling him . Siddle has done well again with the bat . His cricket has improved in a short space of time . Good on him .

I heard that they both might have made 12 but not sure of the time frame WJ Btw just on Hussey - "Bad luck" seems to target out of form players . No idea why .

Thanks J J . Your music and all the music from others has been most enlightening . Look forward to a few more poster's putting their favourite bands up . Cheers and a safe Xmas and New Year to all ! ps - I must have watched and listened to STP's "Take a load off" at least 20 times by now !

If Hilfo plays I hope he does extra well . Many never get that 2nd chance . Let's hope he grasps it . He's reported to have got back a yard of pace . India are an ageing Team with a suspect bowling line up and this can often put pressure on batsmen . My gut feeling is they will struggle to get 20 wickets so we should win the series . Starc will get more chances hopefully . Left arm over at good pace is invaluable .

One of the really good new bands to hit the airwaves . "Young the Giant" have a great new sound . This is their latest hit "Cough Syrup" Macca 4.3

Macca 4.2

Well , well , Cowan and Marsh are now big chances for Boxing day and possibly Hilfenhaus as well . http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/ed-cowan-and-shaun-marsh-in-boxing-day-seats/story-e6frfg8o-1226227116382

29,241 at the Gabba tonight though I'm a tiny bit skeptical about that figure . Quite a few empty seats ! Good game all the same and it was great to see Warnie miked up and bowling well . Stars get a win !

Yeah , a long proud history. Fascinating engraving really. The long goal posts without the behind posts, The stand with the colosseum look (super boxes ?), the scaffolding for the lights (is there a bloke up there?) and the old picket fence in the background. Obviously night footy didn't take on as we waited a while for the next installment!

Remember seeing this engraving in Young and Jacksons years ago . Would have been quite a treat for the fans at that time . The "Escort cup" came a bit later ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Football_electric_lighting_MCG_1879.jpg

The loss we had to have re the Packers . Though our lack of a running game is a worry . We need James Starks back asap . San Diego are in with a chance as well but they'll need a few cards falling their way . Huge game tomorrow with your 49ers against the Steelers - hoping Big Ben plays and we get a great match . Rex got a win , the Tebow show was halted , Detroit had a great comeback win and the Eagles were supreme .

858,000 watched the 1st game on Foxtel - that's huge numbers for a cable station in Australia . http://www.smh.com.a...1218-1p0ra.html The Big Bash "opponents" are going to have to put up with the "New kid on the block" . We've already seen Warner and Lyon progress from t20 to Test cricket and there will be lots more like those 2 . Edit : Forgot to mention Patrick Cummins played his first lot of games in the "Big Bash" . In the UK they play over 150 games of t20 every season ( They've cut it back to around about 100 for the 2012 season but it's still a truckload more than the 30 odd we play in Australia ! ) Apparently they ditched a "poorly attended" 40 over comp to make room for the t20 comp so there effectively wasn't any "extra" cricket . T20 certainly divides opinion and whilst I prefer Test cricket I like this version of cricket as well and ...................it's not going away in a hurry . Traditionalists need to accept it ( you don't have to like it of course ) . Cricket boards the World over and the ICC need to find a way to manage all 3 versions of the game so that they all prosper . How they manage to do this is anybody's guess .