[Hetan]

I know it's easy to talk with hindsight about the decision Strauss made not to enforce the follow-on but I must admit I thought it was the braver decision to be honest.... and it made the final day a much more exciting prospect as far as entertainment was concerned.
I agree about the umpiring, I thought there were some terrible decisions made both in this match and at Cardiff. I hope we're not going to see this all the way through the next three tests. I would like to see the series won by cricket and not by poor umpiring.

I thought Freddie's bowling display yesterday was one of the best I've seen for a long time.. agressive, accurate, hostile and fast. I thought that Strauss did a decent job in the end and the plans they had worked on as a team appear to have come off generally speaking, Broad's taking of Ponting's wicket being a good example of a plan coming together

I'm hoping Lee will be back for the next test and I'm scared about who is going to be getting the runs for us

[MTS]

*late to the party*
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Bloody umpires lost it for us

/gratuitous winge

Nah, full credit to the English. Some unfortunate decisions for us, but at the end of the day you guys were the better cricketers. Flintoff was a god in those 10 overs, and that ball from Swann was a bloody beauty. Still, why couldn't this have happened at Cardiff? Why did it have to be Lords?

This post has been edited by Mappo's Travelling Sack: 21 July 2009 - 06:48 AM

[Cougar]

I'd still argue Strauss made a very poor decision with the decleration, all the signs were that without those 3 highly dubious decisions Australia could have chased down that total. He should have gone on till lunch.

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was a tactical masterstroke and it gave the Aussies enough hope that they came out swinging. Given a similar situation again he better make damn sure he bats another session and makes the game unwinnable for the Aussies.

I'll give Ponting his due, when asked about the dubious decisions he gave the same response I'd have given: if you are stupid/poor enough to play yourself into positions where the umpire has the opportunity to make mistakes then you didn't play well enough.

Looks like the heartbreak of Cardiff and yesterday might have taught the little Bush-a-like to keep his beal shut before crowing too loudly.

What I found very interesting was watching the interview my wife commented:"aren't they confident, isn't it anoying" Ponting was simply being confident that at 1-0 with 3 to go the Aussies would still win. I replied that the Aussies have this bred into them, they only care about winning and like to do it from the most advantageous position possible, there's nothing better to an Aussie than a crushing 5-0 win. The English and really the British in general, rather foolishly, seem to see something a bit dishonourable about winning when the odds are in your favour or being confident about victory. Historically examples of crushing British victories are played down and the ones celebrated have to be an even contest, but prefereably a victory from the jaws of defeat type situation. If we were dicking the Aussies I think people would lose interest and it would be assumed the Aussies were shite rather than England being good. It's why we do perform appallingly badly when we are expected to win.

[MTS]

Have a team that's been dominant, if not the best, in the sport for the better part of 30 years and yeah, you'll have a lot of confidence, especially when Ponting himself has been a part of that golden era, as has Lee. I think, though, that right now the Aussies may be stepping into the territory of overconfidence. It's by no means a certain thing, nor is it incredibly likely that we'll win. However, you're making an assumption - and in my opinion an incorrect one - that we only care about winning. It's more an indicator of a team's competence - don't destroy England in the Ashes then you're not good enough. It's ludicrous, I know, but that's how it goes, unfortunately. Besides, every team wants to win from the most advantageous position possible, even subconsciously. I for one don't like it when there's a 5-0 belting either - it's just boring and predictable. It's a much better game when there's an actual contest. That's why I loved watching us go up against the Saffers earlier in the year.

[Cougar]

It's the impression I have of all Aussie teams, they are raised to believe that heroic failure is just failure, that there is no greatness in having tried your damndest and come close.

It was a pretty new experience for most of us over here last year when our cyclists were so dominant, it was great actually but as soon as we did it thre was loads of criticism about well they don't have bikes in Africa or it's yet another sport that excludes the masses.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I just have a problem with the spandex and the stupuid, stupid helmets. Plus, all cyclists you see in everyday life tend to be clunges, so seeing them on TV just makes me mad, regardless of win or lose.

[Cold Iron]

Cougar, on Jul 21 2009, 08:59 PM, said:

It's the impression I have of all Aussie teams, they are raised to believe that heroic failure is just failure, that there is no greatness in having tried your damndest and come close.

This is not true, you will always see Ponting (or any other Autralian captain) display pride in his boys, win or lose. The confidence displayed off the field is nothing more than a tactic. It works.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Pietersen's out of the whole Series now!

[Cougar]

I wonder if it'll be Bell, the shit house.

I'd go with Key myself.

[Fid]

Cougar, on Jul 22 2009, 10:09 PM, said:

I wonder if it'll be Bell, the shit house.

I'd go with Key myself.

I guess he has to come good at some point - and playing at home in Brum will help. Though apparently the wicket is the consistency of a sponge pudding (possibly a spotted dick maybe just a treacle sponge) after the rain so goodness knows what it will play like

This post has been edited by Fid: 27 July 2009 - 08:00 AM

[MTS]

Onions make Aussies cry...

[Cougar]

Mappo's Travelling Sack, on Jul 31 2009, 11:22 AM, said:

Onions make Aussies cry...

Quickly, trademark that headline, Rupert Murdoch will have to pay you millions

This post has been edited by Cougar: 31 July 2009 - 11:37 AM

[Corporal Nobbs]

What the bloody hell just happened?

[caladanbrood]

Aura... gone. You did an England special

[MTS]

Bah, that was far too depressing to watch.

[Impirion]

England can also do a England special you know... and they already have two wickets down!

[caladanbrood]

Nah, this will definitely be a draw now, I guess...

[MTS]

Well, whether you win or draw, it's a good result for you. Damn Poms and your rain.

This post has been edited by Mappo's Travelling Sack: 01 August 2009 - 02:35 PM

[caladanbrood]

It's our greatest weapon

[MTS]

caladanbrood, on Aug 2 2009, 12:38 AM, said:

It's our greatest cheapest weapon

Fixed for you.