(Translation: The Limeys get to keep the jar of soot)ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES.
Michael Clarke will make his Test captaincy debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week after Ricky Ponting was ruled out with a broken finger.
Randwick-Petersham batsman Usman Khawaja will replace Ponting for the fifth Ashes Test and thus become Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer, while Clarke will assume the vacant captaincy post.
Clarke and Khawaja will speak to the media at the Sydney Cricket Ground this afternoon.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/fra ... 3675203203
USMAN ''UZZY'' KHAWAJA'S selection in the Australian Test cricket team was only a matter of time.
And it was never going to be just about cricket. He's a Muslim - next week the first Muslim to play for Australia.
He is also a typical Generation Y Aussie - but an exceptionally gifted Generation Y Aussie.
And, yesterday when this bright, quiet, Pakistan-born 24-year-old was told he would be Australia's first Muslim Test player, he first rang his most devoted and delighted supporter, his dad, Tariq. Then he went back to his guitar and resumed trying to learn a Wolfmother song, Joker and the Thief.
Uzzy has always been single-minded. It's part of what made it clear he would one day play for Australia. Good judges called it early. They saw the hallmarks of a champion in the ''chubby'' 17-year-old who dominated Australian under-19 cricket competitions, who scored consecutive double hundreds for the NSW 2nd XI - great foot movement, terrific balance and seeing the ball early. And he had great temperament. Mixing it with the grown-ups, he was unflappable.
His NSW coach, Matthew Mott, sums him up in three words: ''Relaxed. Confident. Loyal.'' Simon Katich: ''He's the most popular player in the NSW squad.''
He has discipline, too - a good combination - and took time away from the game to complete his bachelor of aviation degree at the University of NSW, which qualifies him to work as a commercial pilot.
That done, he went back to cricket in February 2008: ''Finally cricket is No. 1,'' he said at the time. ''I've been waiting for quite a while to just play cricket, to concentrate on it. It's pretty much perfect timing; I've got nothing else on my mind.''
Since then he has been getting into the minds of fans and selectors. This season, as he steadily accumulated runs at the state level - and as the fortunes of the Australians slipped and slid in a forlorn Ashes campaign - the stage seemed set.
Late yesterday, when a Cricket Australia announcement came that he would replace his hero, the injured skipper Ricky Ponting (with Michael Clarke to captain) it was no surprise - and perhaps overdue.
But what to make of the idea that Khawaja's selection for the national team transcends sporting boundaries? That as the first Muslim in Australian Test history to wear a Baggy Green cap Khawaja's debut represents a significant moment for multicultural Australia?
Khawaja says he thinks little about it. His father cannot ignore it. ''Obviously it will have a positive impact,'' Tariq said. ''It's good for the (Muslim) community.
''It shows that it's a fair system and whoever puts in effort can achieve anything in this country. Not only Muslims, any religion. As a youngster, if you have passion and if you have dreams, you can make it work.''
To be Australia's first Muslim cricketer is not nothing. Australian cricket is Anglo, Anglo, Anglo. Cricket Australia has seen the cultural homogeneity in the game and is desperate to change it. It should be encouraged.
But it would be a mistake to burden Khawaja's selection with significance and more symbolism than it can bear. As a Muslim cricketer he is a lone dynamo, not the crest of a new trend. His achievement is not symbolic.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/uzz ... 19b5x.html
It's been a hard hard year, pushing shit up hill
But shit happens all the time and I guess it always will
Now the days are getting long, Summer's on it's way
And I can't wait for Christmas time, beacuse the day after is Boxing Day
And You'll know where to find me, ten rows back at the M.C.G
Right behind the bowler's arm
So leave your worries at the farm don't fret about the rain
Hold your credit at the store, bring the kids down on the train
Meet me on the Richmond side just outside the gate
I want to see the very first ball but no sweat if you're running late
'Cause you know where to find me, there's no place I'd rather be
Right behind the bowler's arm
And if we're lucky we might see, someone make a ton or slashing fifty
Yeah if we're lucky there might be, a bowling spell of sheer wizardry
But probably nothing much will happen at all
(Even if David Boon makes a century nothing much happens)
When the angels add my days and say my time is up
I'll say to them now hold on please there's one thing you forgot
I know each man must leave this world behind when he gets called
But we had a deal that you won't count the days I watched the bat & ball
And the angels, they'll know where to find me
There's no place I'd rather be
Right behind the bowlers
They'll know where to find me, ten rows back with sunburnt knees
Right behind the bowler's arm
NEW team, new year, same old sad story for Australia's top order. Only this time they endured the early onslaught before departing.
Australia slumped from the strong position of 1-105 to 4-134 before rain washed away nearly 2½ hours of play, officially drawing the first day to a close at 4.49pm.
Again, unnecessary strokes rather than wicket-taking deliveries brought about the demise of Australia's top four. Resolutions may have been made but the bad habits continue to haunt this desperate outfit.
Michael Clarke's first innings as skipper was unimpressive. The stroke that yielded his wicket was rash and impatient, not in tune with the situation. He cut hard at Tim Bresnan's delivery and James Anderson claimed a straightforward catch at gully. Amid the celebration, Bresnan collided with Kevin Pietersen and the pair stumbled to the ground much to the hilarity of wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
In his first offering to Test cricket, Usman Khawaja shone brightest of all. His innings of 37 featured many assured shots, and was enough to convince the masses that he belongs at this level and will have plenty of runs by the time he is done.
But England crowded him as off-spinner Graeme Swann teased. Khawaja eventually lashed out with an aggressive sweep that struck the top edge and popped to Jonathan Trott at square leg, thwarting the maiden half-century that beckoned.
It was the last act of the day. Rain swept across the field barely a minute after Khawaja's dismissal, sending the faithful scurrying for cover. With the elevation of Brad Haddin to No.6 in place of Steve Smith, Australia will today be reliant on a familiar pair.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/spor ... tedImage=0
It's like religion for dummies.dales wrote:titter?
such utterances are beyond me.
