F A Cup 3rd Round / Ashes / etc

Root 150?!

The lad's out of his depth. I've not seen a more nervous batsman since Bell faced Warne. Of all our top order, Root is the biggest concern. His shot selection at times is ludicrous at this level of cricket. We need a Graham Thorpe kind of batsman at 3, someone who picks the right shot and doesn't allow himself to be bullied by a pacy attack. Bell was the obvious choice to everyone for number 3 (my bloody Mrs has been going on about it for years!) but the selectors know best

At least Australia are giving us some good cricket to watch. Clarke is a different gravy.

He did get 180 in the 2nd ashes test earlier in the year....

He's only 22 and a bit up and down, but pushing him down to 6 in the order was a bit naff, leaving him batting well but running out of partners...

I think he is a class act, but needs more test experience...he can also bowl a bit but wasn't given a chance yesterday..even though he had Clarke out earlier in the summer.

Think he's being messed around a bit to be honest.

While you're all asleep .

105 for 3 & Greg Chappel comments that since Bell has come to the crease the run rate has picked up

FFS !

Am I the only one with my feet on the ground here ?

run rate ! This is not some layman talking, One of the so called cricketing greats.

Fork the run rate.
All we have to do is 'survive'..& hope for the draw.

Clarke's intent was laid bare.
In essence they went on too long...But,
have the confidence to bowl us out twice....& knock off any lead we might have acquired over the two innings.

I'll say again.
Leave all the wide (& High) stuff.
block the wicket..
Hang on.
We must get a draw to give us a fighting chance in the remaining 3 tests.

"Think he's being messed around a bit to be honest."


I think he's the one messing us around Jacko. Plays a blocker's innings (fair enough) but then gets out trying a slog sweep

England are absolute dog toffee.

Well !.

4 clean bowled.
3 'ducks'
4 scored less than 5.

This is not an Ashes defense. They are on Holiday

10 & 11 in the batting order for them...(& they do it all the time)
Harris 55 not out.
Lyon 17 not out. Lyon would have been 3rd top scorer on our score sheet & NOT OUT.

Bailey & Haddin 55 & 118 respectively ...

I rode passed two local ovals (recs) this morning.
Two games in progress. Looked like under 12/14 year olds.
All the kit.
two umpires, padded up, good gear, coaches involved,
people watching....

KFC have even changed the colour of the buckets from Red & White to Green & Gold for the duration of the Tests.. It's full on at all levels.

We are a Nation of weaklings these days...great on the PS2 & X-Box..terrified of the real world outside.
inept.

The future is mapped out now.
Just like Rugby league.. we'll win the odd game now and again...
other than that.
series, tournaments, World Cups....
Forget it.

What did Stephen Boyd say to Charlton Heston through gritted teeth ?

"It goes on Judah, it goes on"

Oh dear oh dear oh dear

what a shambolic effort

Champers...was listening on the radio to Boycott..he went totally mental..they had to drag him away from the mic he was so angry....

Root. diabolical shot to Lyons' first ball...

Pieterson...another shocking stroke and caught in the same place as first test match..

Boycott was steaming ..never heard such a rant...think he was off to give Root a good thumping..

Lack of bottle...technique...discipline...courage...take your pick....

Oh dear ....

Our bowler/batsmen...both out first ball for hairy ones.

8 England players got 17 runs between them

The Umpires should call it off..it's a mismatch

Save us from 'further punishment'

It's the kind thing to do....come home lads...

Boycs should stand on the England balcony during tests. Root wouldn't have played that shot if he knew he had to face purple-faced Geoffrey upon his return to the pavilion

Fork it. Go the whole hog and pad the old boy up for the third test. Might take him & Bell 4 days to post 200 but it would be better than the current shambles

Agree 100% with Darn. The merchant bankers think they're on their jollies

I think their match fee for the first two tests should be given to the fans to compensate them for wasting their money travelling. It should happen every test until they play in a manner worthy of the national team!!!

Brett Lee has commented that they know the English players are SCARED..
And they are thriving on it.

Justin Langer has described the W.A.C.A. wicket as the fastest hardest he has ever known ! (his 'home' state wicket)

Was it Warner who called out to Anderson "Weak as 'peace' " & laughed at him as he trudged away after being given out ...
Johnson just Stared

it's beyond 'cricket' now
It's about Grind, Grit & Guts.

No more being 'nice'
No more being polite.
Forget 'Sportsmanship'

Obnoxious,
Arrogant,
Boastfull.
& Mean. ...the winning combination,

You might find this bizarre But the Ozzie media & public would be quite impressed & acknowledge such behavior

Completely different mindset,
But that's how it is.
See South Africans & Kiwi's for further details.

I agree we need to get more aggressive. Plus when they come over here next time we need it with some football chants, get personal and offensive and wind them up. The Aussie crowd have given up on sportsmanship so we should too