Whooo..hhooo...less than an hour to the Boxing Day test!!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Aus off to a dreadful start losing 4-58, including Mike Hussey their only batsman capable of creating a high score.
Hussey went for 8, the captain Ponting gone for 10.
The Aussies must be hoping the rain sets in for the next five days
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
The Aussies must be hoping the rain sets in for the next five days
They're not alone....
So if the "match" is rained out it doesn't just get scheduled to be played later?
Another question....
If there are five matches scheduled, and the team that's won the most matches gets the "honor"
of keeping this jar of soot in their country....If one team wins the first three, do they then cancel the last two?
The Aussies must be hoping the rain sets in for the next five days
They're not alone....
So if the "match" is rained out it doesn't just get scheduled to be played later?
No surprisingly. A rained out test is a match abandoned. Mainly due to scheduling practicalities with the grounds, players and umpires.
Another question....
If there are five matches scheduled, and the team that's won the most matches gets the "honor"
of keeping this jar of soot in their country....If one team wins the first three, do they then cancel the last two?
Of course not! Tickets will have been sold for all the matches months, years even, in advance. Not only that but there are ground "members", Hen's cousin is a member at the MCG. This entitles him to a premier seat in the members area, plus first rate facilities.. Also the market for cricket "hospitality" boxes for corporate whoring is huge. Don't forget, cricket is one of the worlds biggest international sports.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
The first two England batsmen have just resumed on day two and have notched up 158 runs between them.
It could be a massacre.
The potential of losing the Ashes for a third time is devastating for Aus.
Though I think it will be worthy of a new thread, if and when it happens.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
So they won't re-schedule games that could have a bearing on who the winner will be, but insist on playing games that will have absolutely no bearing on who the winner will be....
That would be analogous to a team winning the World Series in four games, but then they go ahead and play another three games anyway....
And people actually show up for this?
I'll bet the players are really giving it their all too...
Jim, even if a match will have no bearing on who retains the ashes, it is still part of the series.
But the big news is Ricky Ponting argued with the umpire after the decision had been referred to the third umpire and given against Aus!!
The man's losing the plot!!!!!
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland accepts captain Ricky Ponting could face censure for his behaviour on a heated second day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
England batted themselves into a position of complete dominance on day two of the fourth Ashes Test, but much of the talk centred on Ponting's altercation with the match officials.
The home skipper referred a not out decision against Kevin Pietersen after wicketkeeper Brad Haddin sensed an edge and Ponting was left furious when the television verdict upheld the on-field call made by Aleem Dar.
What followed was an unseemly flashpoint with Ponting jabbing his finger and debating the issue furiously with Dar - and his colleague Tony Hill.
Asked before the close of play for his take on events, Sutherland told reporters: "There's an ICC code of conduct there if it's applicable to be dealt with.
"It's an ICC matter, we're in the middle of a Test match and the code of conduct is there to deal with matters that need to be escalated to that level."
Meanwhile the English papers are having a field day!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Just when you were thinking Ricky Ponting's Xmas couldn't get much worse...
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been fined 40% of his match fee after an ugly row with umpire Aleem Dar on day two of the fourth Ashes Test.
Ponting spent more than a minute remonstrating with Dar after an unsuccessful review of a not out decision against Kevin Pietersen.
Ponting also exchanged words with Pietersen and umpire Tony Hill.
In a statement, the International Cricket Council said Ponting pleaded guilty to a Level 1 offence.
Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to "arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire about his decision".
And having pleaded guilty, match referee Ranjan Madugalle passed down his judgement without recourse to a full hearing.
Madugalle said: "Ricky's actions as captain of his country were unacceptable. A captain is expected to set the example and not get involved in a prolonged discussion with the on-field umpires and question their decision.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Australia has had some very good cricket captains over the years, and some very great cricket captains. Australia has had captains who have been respected in the cricket community for their leadership skills. Separate from their cricket playing ability, they were also good and great captains.
And now we have Ponting.
I cringe
I can't even apologise for the man - he's beyond apology.
All I can do is acknowledge the shame of it all.
.... and I don't think we've got anything of note waiting in the wings that would have the leadership ability to get us up and out of the boghole Ponting has dug for us.
Life is like photography. You use the negative to develop.
I have to agree Alice, I don't think Clarke has the making's of a Captain, Hussey's too old, Siddle's too temperamental.
Meanwhile the misery continues..
Australia collapsed this afternoon after an encouraging start to its unlikely bid to avoid defeat in the Boxing Day Test, losing three second innings wickets shortly after tea, and five in total in the final session.
After going to the afternoon break at 1-95, the Aussies lost 3-5 in six catastrophic overs to dash any hopes of a miraculous second-innings salvage mission.
The English bowlers moved the ball in the air and off the pitch, in contrast to Australia's efforts during the majority of the 159 overs it bowled to England.
England's first innings lead of 415 was the greatest such margin in Ashes history.
Hehehheh..
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
