Cricket - willow and leather

[Twit]

Found this thread a bit late I think... Just sat here, hoping for the rain the stop and the game to be won!!

Great pictures of the G, I was there for the Commonwealth games and the way its been done up is amazing considering its age. I remember going to the G as it was for a footie game a few years back, before the update, the atmosphere was great but it was still a shed!

Seen the press slating of the Australia side, I think thats a bit unfair, this England side is very good and I think in a couple of years they could end up as the worlds number 1 side. If that happens this tour is the one that has focused that and, I hope, given them the confidence to go on and beat India in the Summer.

 

[Smithy]

Well that's it!

England take the series 3-1.

Well done and well deserved England :eusa_clap

And hi Twit good to have another cricket lover here in the thread.

Now roll on the ODIs

 

[Smithy]

Found this thread a bit late I think... Just sat here, hoping for the rain the stop and the game to be won!!

Great pictures of the G, I was there for the Commonwealth games and the way its been done up is amazing considering its age. I remember going to the G as it was for a footie game a few years back, before the update, the atmosphere was great but it was still a shed!

Seen the press slating of the Australia side, I think thats a bit unfair, this England side is very good and I think in a couple of years they could end up as the worlds number 1 side. If that happens this tour is the one that has focused that and, I hope, given them the confidence to go on and beat India in the Summer.

Twit, there was apparently quite a hoofluff when they did the upgrade on the G and especially in relation to the Members bit. It happened before I moved to Melbourne but it still stirs up discussion if you bring it up at the pub!

 

[Dav]

Well done England:eusa_clap

 

[PADDY]

About time too!! Well Done Pohms!! you make us proud.

 

[Twit]

Twit, there was apparently quite a hoofluff when they did the upgrade on the G and especially in relation to the Members bit. It happened before I moved to Melbourne but it still stirs up discussion if you bring it up at the pub!

I bet there was! I'll see if I can find my pics from the place pre-upgrade; it was pretty rough and ready if still huge! I was amazed at the difference when I went back.

Well done England, well won series, although it seems odd that it wasn't the normal underdog victory, England just steamrollered it really, Perth aside!

The ODIs will be interesting, there will be some new players coming into the England side and some of the test players won't play. The guys coming in won't want the standards to slip and the Australian side are going to be desperate to win. I think the test series is pretty irrelevant, its a whole new series. Bring it on, can't wait even if it is destroying my ability to work the next day...!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

ODIs, whatever. bring on the World Cup!

 

[bumphrey hogart]

Fantastic,well done chaps,been waiting a bloody long time for this,again absolutely brilliant!!!
As far as the one dayers go,they're just a bit of fun really,honestly don't care that much,obviously want England to win but compared to the ashes?
Not sure I like the one day game that much,you can't beat a test for really finding the true mettle of a team,five days really gives the opportunity for a captain to use all his strategic and tactical wiles,for players to get down to really find the true character of the bowler/batsman they are facing. I don't know, in an ODI it's all a bit rushed,I know it's argued that it's a more exciting game,I can't see it,imho tests are the most exciting form of the game there is by far.
Never the less,good luck England and well done again on (pinch yourself at this point) RETAINING THE ASHES!!!!

 

[Twit]

I agree that test cricket is where it is, and I'm sure nearly all the players think that too!

But ODIs have there place, I've had many good days at Lords and the Oval and its good to get a result in one day if you are actually there!

Actually... who am I kidding, the best thing about one day games is the bars opening at 10 am and being able to get a few beers down in the summer watching the game. I love the way the crowds clap politely in the morning and its slight less civilised by 6 in the evening!

The next big sporting opportunity to beat Australia has to be the rugby world cup...

 

[Smithy]

The next big sporting opportunity to beat Australia has to be the rugby world cup...

You'll have to go through us first!

Go Black

 

[Twit]

You'll have to go through us first!

Go Black

Haha!! Indeed! If NZ don't win this one there will be a national enquiry!

I was in Christchurch last new year, 2009-2010 and there was a huge countdown sign in the main square, 2 years away from the event! Hopefully I'll get over for the WC.

NZ should win it, but they have the uncanny ability to be the best team in the world by a country mile for 3 years out of four, but guess when the fourth year is?! Going to be a good one, I think a whole number of teams could win it, obviously Australia, NZ and SA, but also England, France - depending on which team turns up, and Wales are capable of beating anyone on their day although they are not consistent and are aging very quickly.

Anyway, can't wait and probably another thread!

 

[Smithy]

Hi Twit,

There's a rugger thread here:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?49639-RUGBY-UNION!!

It's quiet down here on the other side of the world rugby-wise but up your way it's all go so get posting!

Honestly if the ABs choke again in a WC, I (along with most of NZ) will have a fit.

I can't wait for the WC though!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

To be clear. I actually love ODIs, and T20 has swiftly become my favourite form of the game to actually go and watch.

I'm just looking forward to the world cup as the next "important" series/competition.

 

[Smithy]

I'm looking forward to the WC too BK.

My money is on SA or India to take it.

And talking T20, I might be going to the game on the 14th at the G.

 

[Smithy]

Very exciting game of T20 this evening and Aussie regain an (albeit) small amount of pride.

That 6 of Finch's over one of the longest boundaries in cricket was a hell of a shot. Quite an innings for his debut.

 

[Dav]

Throughly enjoyed both the T20 games, looking forward to Sunday.

 

[Smithy]

Throughly enjoyed both the T20 games, looking forward to Sunday.

With the WC starting next month Dav it should be interesting to see how both teams approach these one dayers and how they fare.

Good grief the MCG was slow today but then considering the rain we've had it's not entirely surprising!

 

[Twit]

Good game today, with the 6 in the last over I thought Australia were actually going to bottle it! Good job Lee was bowling the last over!!

I'm interested tosee how the ODIs go, I think they will be tight. It was being reported on TV here that Sunday's game is being viewed as a last trial match by Australia, so the make up of the side will be interesting.

The MCG was slow, and some of the boundries were huge, almost another park!

 

[Smithy]

OK boys, let's hear your picks for the WC...

Mine are, although I'm loathe to say it, SA or India to win it...

...but most 6s from an individual player, McCullum after he breaks his own record for a T20 individual innings.

Well I have to hope for something memorable from the Black Caps

 

[Twit]

Probably India, althought its difficult to call because it only takes one side to have a good game and it all changes. South Africa are a good side, but not sure of the depth of the squad... Also, the grounds are not huge, so boundaries will come into it much more, the game today was low scoring because you have to be superman to actually hit a six in the MCG.

For me, I want England to win and they have a shout, decent hitters and a good captain. For us its going to depend on Swann and Yardie to keep the rate down in the middle of the innings...

So India to win, England to do well and if things go well they could win and Australia to bounce back a bit... Going to be good! Black Caps...? Well you have to be optimistic but NZ World Cup comes a bit later in the year!