It's going to be a great Ashes series!

[Gob]

Who in their right minds would play a game called; "American football', when it is neither American or football?

He started it....

[Lord Jim]

Cricket involves two teams with 11 players on each side. The captain who wins the toss decides whether his team bats or bowls first.

Well now there's something I approve of....

It's nice to know that if you're stuck in a cricket game, they give you the option of doing something enjoyable like going bowling instead....

[Gob]

[Sean]

You and me both, older!

Besides the fact that no matter how many times AndyH or Gob has tried to explain cricket, I still don't get it, isn't it the wrong season? I mean seriously, if you want to talk to me about cricket, please make it in June, under a late afternoon summer sun, in a glorious green English cricket, er, field, and make sure I've got a Pimms #1 in my hand.

It's the right season in Oz Guin...

[Guinevere]

Oops. I forgot about the pesky southern hemisphere stuff -- especially as we move into the cold, dark, wet, icy season. Please fax me a plane ticket, a ticket to the matches, and the Pimms (I'll need to get started drinking on the flight over).

[Sean]

Sorry Guin, I made the mistake of trying to fax the Pimms first and it broke the fax machine...

[SisterMaryFellatio]

tsk tsk...Sean could not make a decent Pimms.....

*pour Guin a long tall Pimms with mint, strawberries and cucumber topped with frothy ginger ale*

Cheers

[Lord Jim]

(I'll need to get started drinking on the flight over).

Well given the fact that a non-stop flight from Boston to Brisbane Australia (if there were such a thing) would take 20 plus hours.....

If you start drinking shortly after takeoff, (and drink continuously till you land in Brisbane) you should be in just the right frame of mind to be able to appreciate a cricket match when you arrive....

[Guinevere]

That was my point, LJ.

SMF, I make my Pimms with cucumber and ginger ale but LOVE the idea of adding mint and strawberries! I'm filing that away for next summer.

[Gob]

Andrew Strauss (c)

Arguably one of the best openers in world cricket. Unfortunately for Strauss, his technique for these conditions is not compatible. He hooks up, and when playing forward his front foot goes straight down the wicket rather that to the line of the ball. He averages 43.11 in 77 Tests but only 24.70 in Australia, with a highest score of 50. Recently scored a century in Perth but will need to show ability against better opposition.
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Effectiveness Rating: 5.5

Alastair Cook

Has had his technique put under the blowtorch by oppositions after bursting on the international scene. Opponents around the world have realised he is predominantly a square-of-the-wicket player, and now bowl full and outside off-stump as there is a question about his ability to leave the ball. Had a good 2007 series, and might have the durability to adapt in Australia. Effectiveness Rating: 6.5

Jonathan Trott

Is one of England's in-form batsmen. Grew up on the hard wickets of South Africa so might be able to cope with extra bounce and pace that he will encounter this summer. Effectiveness Rating: 6.5

Kevin Pietersen

The X-factor, who on his day is one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. The big question hanging over KP is what is his mental state after being left out of the one-day and T20 teams. Can play off the front and back foot with ease, and score to all parts of the ground. It is important that England find someone who can hang around him and not leave him high and dry like in '07. Effectiveness Rating: 9

Paul Collingwood

The man when no-one else can. Puts a high price on his wicket, and provides stability which makes up for any deficiencies in his technique. The Australians will bowl full and wide and tempt him to hit the ball through the cover, which is what his closed grip on the bat is most susceptible to. Effectiveness Rating: 7.5

Ian Bell

There is plenty of talk in England about how much better Bell is now than in '07 and '09. Bell has a solid technique adaptable to all conditions, but there is still a lingering question over his mental toughness when playing against strong opposition. Watch for the Australians to try to rough him up when he strides to the crease. Effectiveness Rating: 6.5

Eoin Morgan

Unknown quantity for the Australians. Might never have experienced the pace and bounce like Down Under but is a quality player of slow bowling who can manipulate the field. His eyes will be bulging when he faces up to the pace and bounce in the middle of the Gabba. Effectiveness Rating: 5

Matt Prior

I believe the other X-factor in the England team this summer. A batsman who will like the extra pace and bounce of Australian wickets, which will allow him to play his attacking game. His keeping has improved to a solid level, and one of the lower order to give tired bowlers a hammering if the top order does the job. Effectiveness Rating: 7

Steve Davies

Reserve wicketkeeper who is a fine county player. Probably won't see much game time unless Prior has a shocker.

Effectiveness Rating: 3

Stuart Broad

Has been talking it up about creating a Manchester United-style dynasty for the English team. As a bowler, his great attributes are the height at which he lets the ball go and his ability to get some late swing with the new ball. Is a hard-hitting lower-order batsmen who can also take apart tired opposition. The Australians won't give him a friendly welcome when he comes out to bat, and will try to put the pressure back on him when he bowls. Effectiveness Rating: 6.5

Tim Bresnan

A bustling bowler who hits the bat harder than expected. A question mark remains over his fitness and ability to bowl a long spell in tough conditions. Has the game to be successful in Australia but will need scalps early to gain confidence. Effectiveness Rating: 5.5

Graeme Swann

The most improved cricketer in the world. Traditionally, off-spinners have struggled in Australian conditions but Swann bowls with drift and control, and will provide a tough assignment for the hosts' batsmen. Has the potential to be difference between the two teams and ensure the urn returns to England. Effectiveness Rating: 8

James Anderson

Had a horrible '07, and was left out for the Perth and Melbourne Tests. Because he bowls with a low trajectory, he needs the ball to swing and conditions to be conducive. Might only be effective in Brisbane, and possibly Perth, unless he has learnt to adapt to Australian conditions and the Kookaburra ball. Could face another tough tour. Effectiveness Rating: 4

Steven Finn

Big, tall into-the-wicket type bowler, which is essential here. England did not play him against the Aussies in the last one-day series, and some believe it was to keep him up their sleeve. If he can find the right the length, he will extract bounce and sideways movement, proving quite a handful. Effectiveness Rating: 6.5

Chris Tremlett

Having played county cricket with this gentle giant, I have first-hand experience of what he can offer. The problem is you just don't see it enough. On his day, there's late swing, steep bounce and plenty of aggression, but on others batsmen can leave their pads and helmet at home. If he brings his A-game he gets a 9 … but the other gets a 2. Effectiveness Rating: 3

Monty Panesar

Surprise selection but maybe England believe Australia have a weakness against spin. Started well in '07 in Perth but fell away rapidly after that first innings. The question is whether Monty has the mental toughness. The Australians will look to get after him so he does not settle but he might not get much game time. Effectiveness Rating: 3

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/pom ... 17r6u.html

[Gob]

When China hosted the Beijing Olympics two years ago, its efforts to master sports not traditionally played by Chinese athletes paid off with a haul of medals for the host nation.

On Friday in the city of Guangzhou in southern China, another major sporting event kicked off - the 16th annual Asian Games.

Making its debut at the games is cricket - a sport that used to be played in China many years ago only by foreigners, but which is now enjoying a revival.

At Shanghai's Tongji university some of the country's first generation of cricketers meet to practice every week after class.

In the middle of a football pitch a coach armed with a cricket bat is testing the mettle of his budding fielders, belting balls towards them to see if they can catch.

It is a scene you would see at cricket clubs and universities in countries across the world - but not until recently in China. The game was revived here only about five years ago.

There is a cheer from his team mates for one of the players, Bill He, as he makes a difficult catch.

The marketing student - tall with broad shoulders - says he likes cricket because of the teamwork involved.

"It's a gentle game," he says. "It's very interesting and challenging, we enjoy it."

But did he not find it difficult to pick up the rules, and master the technique needed to play cricket well?

"I think the important factor is whether you like this game or not. If you like this game you will play well," he says with a grin.

You have to be pretty dedicated to take up cricket here.

The athletes running on the track next to the pitch know that if they show promise China already has a well established system in place to help them achieve excellence.

But for would-be cricketers it is different. They do not have a proper cricket field but have to use the football pitch instead.

There are no nets for batting practice - for that they have to use a volleyball court.

Wang Yuan is a young woman facing off against a line of male bowlers at one end of the court.

A girl jumps to catch a cricket ball Young men and women in the university squad train together

She has been playing for two years. They do not seem much of a match for her.

She insists the basic facilities are not that much of a problem.

"Although the training environment's hard, if we train well here and achieve a good result in competition this makes us very happy."

The young men and women in the university squad train together. Zhang Hong Chang is one of the younger players.

"Cricket at the moment is not that popular," he says, as he watches match practice get under way.

"In the beginning, I was just curious about it, but after I joined the club I made the school team. Now I really enjoy the competitiveness and the rules. The more I train the more I like it," he says.

Soon it is time for him to put on the protective pads, and stride out into the middle of the pitch.

There is a lot of enthusiasm on display around the field, but less technique.

Most of the players of course did not pick up a bat until they came to university. They did not grow up watching the sport or playing it.
A girl throws a cricket ball Most of the university players did not grow up watching or playing the sport

Chinese officials responsible for promoting cricket, like Li Xin, a professor at the university, are optimistic it will take hold here and that in time, it will produce results.

"Although cricket started in China really late, the momentum is building," he says.

"Judging by our players' enthusiasm for the game, we think one day we will be able to play the major cricketing nations as equals."

China's Cricket Association has set itself an ambitious set of targets, including achieving test status - playing test matches against countries like the UK or Australia - by 2020.

Bill He thinks they will not only be playing but winning by then.

"I'm just a student but I think in about 10 years we will beat other Asian countries," he says confidently.

Some observers here say if China chooses to develop a sport, it always gets results.

On the other hand, a team game like cricket needs many years to bed in, attract enough talent among players and coaches, and develop a following.

The enthusiasm here is impressive, but taking it to the next level will not be easy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11718145

[The Hen]

It's not just the traditional English optimism right now though... the Aussie fans are shitting themselves...

Bring it on!

Yes.

We are going to be slaughtered by all and sundry.

At least it will make for far more interesting cricket than has been the case in recent years.

[Gob]

Oh dear....

Australia's Test cricketers have turned to former ''Top Gun'' fighter pilots to help build teamwork as they plot Ashes redemption.

As Cricket Australia prepares to announce today in Sydney the squad for this month's opening Ashes Test, the Herald has learnt CA has employed corporate team builders Afterburner, run by former RAAF pilots, to help improve the team's sometimes fragile dynamic.

Players were put through a series of exercises at the team's midyear camp in Coolum and again on the recent tour of India.

One initiative adopted by Ricky Ponting's team - using the model all fighter pilots follow - is a five-minute debrief after play each day ''without recriminations''.

This means any player, regardless of pecking order in the side, can express his feelings about that day's developments and issues within the side.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/aus ... 17stz.html

[Gob]

Ashes: How to stay up all night without preparation


This year's hotly-anticipated Ashes series between England and Australia kicks off in the small hours of Thursday morning. But the 10-hour time difference presents a problem for fanatical cricket fans who would otherwise be fast asleep during the hours of play.

The first Ashes test at Brisbane's Gabba starts at 0000 GMT on Thursday, with the action finishing round about breakfast time.

Cricket fans in the UK will be facing some tough decisions about how much of it they can watch or listen to live.

As anybody who has ever done a job which involves sudden switches from days to nights will know, it's rather hard to stay up all night.

But the sleep experts suggest you can give yourself a fighting chance with the the help of carefully-timed naps, caffeinated drinks, avoiding certain foods and keeping yourself stimulated.

By far the best way to prepare for a night shift, whether eight hours of work or eight hours of leather on willow, is to shift your sleeping pattern over a matter of days.

If a would-be night worker stays up until 5am the night before a shift that finishes at 8am he's half way there.

It takes anything up to a week to get used to a new sleeping pattern, says Prof Jim Horne of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. But there are certain things you can do if you've got no time to ease into the switch.

The Answer

* Take a 15-minute nap some time around 2am and again after 4am
* Immediately before the nap have a coffee or other caffeinated drink
* It will kick in just after the nap finishes
* Avoid naps longer than 15 minutes - deeper sleep is harder to awake from
* Keep mentally stimulated during periods of dull play by talking to friends
* Avoid heavy meals, sugary drinks and alcohol

A 15-minute nap during lulls in the play - if Paul Collingwood is required to defend for example - might help.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, Prof Horne says you can combine these two tactics for maximum effect. Drink a cup of coffee and in the 20-minute interval before the caffeine really kicks in, have a nap. You will awake and get a double boost from the caffeine kick.

Don't sleep any longer than 15 minutes as a deeper sleep will then set in which will leave you drowsy.

And as any night worker will testify, there's a period about 4am where you can feel agitated, fidgety and really rather unhappy to be awake.

"The body clock reaches its 24-hour trough about 3-5 in the morning," says Prof Horne. "Once you are after the trough you will start to perk up."

You might, he suggests, want to time naps for 2am and 4am - the latter helpfully coinciding with the players' lunch break.

Then there are some things you will want to avoid. A heavy meal will make you sleepy. Very sugary foods or drinks can also be problematic, says Prof Horne. They can produce a short-term high but a longer-term, sleep-inducing lull. Alcohol will also make you sleep, and will have an exaggerated effect during the 3-5am lull.

Other tactics include keeping all your lights on, avoid overly comfortable furniture, as well as making sure you speak regularly to friends during the night. Stimulus is vital during slow patches in play.


And there is an important safety message. Anybody going without sleep and then trying to go to work should not do anything like driving or other tasks where an accident could be dangerous.

But there are no long-term health risks from the odd night without sleep.

[oldr_n_wsr]

keeping yourself stimulated.

That I can do, but somehow cricket is not what I want to be watching at the time.

[Gob]

It's here!!

The Ashes kicks off today, and I'm on my day off!!

7 /12 hours of cricket heaven, I'm not planning on moving from the sofa.

I'm hoping I'll be on my days off for some of the other matches too, it would be great to be off on the final day of the series. Too much excitement!!

I'm in work for the other four days of this first match, but will have the online score sheet running at the office, and a radio in my ear.

FINALLY, the two captains found common ground; the time for talk is over. For all the changes in fortune experienced by Australia and England since last July, their build-ups to this first Ashes Test of 2009-10 have followed old routines.

Ricky Ponting and his team have been aggressive, baiting the opposition and questioning their fortitude.

Andrew Strauss has waved the troops behind him to be still and quiet. Australia have enough ammunition from the burning loss at The Oval, they don't need more from us, has been the key message from the captain and coach Andy Flower.
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Ponting and Strauss came together for the first time in a while during a photo opportunity yesterday, each holding a side of a replica urn. There were no wide smiles or small talk, just a firm handshake and meeting of eyeballs, although Ponting insisted the encounter ''wasn't frosty''.

They could not agree on where the real urn should be based, but after interminable preparations each exhaled relief at the thought of bat and ball answering the remaining questions.

''It doesn't matter at all what's happened in previous series, it's about what happens [this] morning and the next few weeks,'' Ponting said. ''The feeling around the group is great; there's a lot of confidence around the group. I've done enough talking, enough training, enough preparation. It's game time now, and I'm really excited about that.''

[Sean]

Jammy sod. I'm relying on stealing glances at the text feed from the Beeb.

Here we go, England in first!

[Gob]

Strauss (captain) gone for a duck first over..

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a match on!!

[Sean]

Tweren't a duck, it was his second ball!

Anyroad, Cook and Trott seem to have settled in a bit now... <=== famous last words...

[Gob]

Out for no runs is a duck.

A golden duck is out first ball...

45 for two, England not looking good..

Peterson in now...