Anyone for cricket...?

Not good, but I'm not too surprised. He was struggling with fitness only yesterday and didn't look his best today.

Goodnight Hinge and DP - I just figured it must be past midnight in Oz. When you wake up, your side might be out of the Cup. Brace up.

Yay! I need the sleep, and I don't need the existential angst of watching them constantly under achieve.

I'm now 2 for 2 in my prediction game!

Steady on, you're starting to sound like a soccer fan from England.

But Hinge actually does follow the Barclays Premier League, Oylok. He's a staunch supporter of Sunderland, or the Black Cats, who were recently drubbed by my former favourites, Liverpool.

Your new favourites being ... Chelsea?

My favourite approach to sport is to avoid cheering for anything English. It conditions the mind into thinking one's team (in sport or in life) is always going to lose.

I'm new to cricket, so I'm wondering whether the following is generally deemed a respectable showing in an ODI:

YOUR TEAM 229/6 -- THEIR TEAM 231/0 (39.3 overs) ???

Correct me if I'm wrong, but England's performance seemed about as respectable as losing a game of lawn bowling to a cricket.

How did ya know that?!



While 230 used to be considered a respectable total two-three years back, these are the post twenty20 days where 300 is the new 250, and a top-rate (ok, that is debatable) team like England is expected to post at least something on the boundaries on 250.

But in this particular match, they were up against a highly consistent team, which boasts a world-class spinner like Murali, and that particular pitch (I forget what the location was) is known for low totals, so 230 was a pretty solid score, IMO.

But England's problem is they play cricket only for the Ashes. I think they need to get over it, and look beyond.

English cricket teams are certainly consistent. I'll give them that much.

D'ýa realise that the Kiwis did better than us! They actually won their quarter final. ****!

Whatever happened to "as long as we beat New Zealand"?

Should we shoot Ricky Ponting now? Can the Pup do better?

Ricky's been great, yes, but I think it's time for him to hang up his boots now.

Clarke's faults: young, good-looking, with a touch of celebrity
Matt Smith
March 31, 2011
yesterday's announcement that 29-year-old Michael Clarke would be taking the post (Australian cricket team captain) was always going to be met with a bit of scepticism. Does someone so ''young'' have what it takes to claim such an important position?

He poses in his underwear, dates supermodels, knows his way around Twitter and is covered with tattoos. Love it or hate it, these are common themes today for those who tread a fine line between celebrity and sportsman.

Alexander the Great led his troops to victory and conquered the known world before he was 30. Just because he looks half-decent in his underwear, don't think that Michael Clarke can't do the same.

full article 'ere mate
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/clarkes-faults-young-goodlooking-with-a-touch-of-celebrity-20110330-1cg7y.html

At least he got rid of Lara Bingle - probably wouldn't have made it with her in tow!

Prolly regrets the tattoo now.

and he does look good in his underwear (I hear!)

Nothing wrong with your eyesight margo. (I hear!)

I think he forgot to remove his protector.

Girls die for those kind of thighs.