The Ashes 2006

In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29th August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances RIP

NB The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia.

Bring it on poms

There has been some discussion here about the Ashes. Not the test series, the actual ones. Apparently the Aussies ( a devious lot) have said that when they win the series (that's IF they do, but they don't think that way) they want to take the small urn from its permanent place at Lord's Cricket Ground back to Oz. MCC say, on your bikes Cobber, because that urn is a gift, not a trophy, and it stays where it is.

What say the Aussies now?

Well i could say possesion is 9/10th mctag

Ashes come home under close guard
October 17, 2006 - 6:35AM
Cricket's much-coveted Ashes touch down in Australia today under close curator escort.

but

The true story is that a group of Australian women gave the urn to Cptn of the Bligh 1882-83 tour of Australia. (Prolly forebears of margo)

its yours you look after it

my opinion? Keep it we'll take the win.

Is there such a thing called English Cricket?

A magical, record-equalling century by Ricky Ponting put Australia firmly in command of England on the first day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Ponting leads Aussie charge

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When cricket tribes go to war

On the eve of the most anticipated Ashes series in memory, John Huxley catches up with the opposing bands of supporters.
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Perhaps it was the calm before the cricketing storm forecast for Brisbane today by the pundits.

But far from yelling abuse or suspiciously eyeing each other off, the two great groups of rival Ashes supporters were yesterday fraternising. And in the most appropriate, affable way.

As their heroes battled for form and fitness in the Gabba nets, Australia's Fanatics and England's Barmy Army were indulging their shared passion, playing their own game of "hit and giggle" 20/20 cricket.

When cricket tribes go to war

SCOREBOARD

Stumps on the first day of the first Ashes cricket Test between Australia and England at the Gabba.

Australia lst Innings score Mins Balls 4s 6s
J LANGER c Pietersen b Flintoff 82 143 98 13 -
M HAYDEN c Collingwood b Flintoff 21 90 47 2 -
R PONTING not out 137 305 206 16 -
D MARTYN c Collingwood b Giles 29 79 62 2 -
M HUSSEY not out 63 177 133 5 -
Sundries (5lb 3w 6nb) 14
Three wickets for 346
Fall: 79 (Hayden), 141 (Langer), 198 (Martyn).
Bowling: S Harmison 12-2-52-0 (2w), M Hoggard 16-2-62-0 (1nb), J Anderson 18-4-88-0 (1w), A Flintoff 16-2-48-2 (3nb), A Giles 18-2-51-1, I Bell 1-0-12-0 (2nb), K Pietersen 9-1-28-0.
Batting time: 390 mins. Overs: 90.

Umpire's nose scratch stops Test match

November 23, 2006 - 5:39PM

Billy Bowden stopped a Test match at the Gabba by scratching his nose - a first even for the world's most animated umpire.

Bowden's show-stopping facial itch came after England had appealed for an optimistic LBW against Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Ponting, on 72, was struck on the front pad when he missed a sweep against Ashley Giles.

Although Bowden first gave a shake of the head, Ponting's heart still would have skipped a beat as the eccentric Kiwi lifted his hand in front of him as though ready to unfurl the trademark crooked finger.

But the digit travelled only as far as the Bowden nose and Ponting was free to continue.

Then as Giles trundled in to bowl the next delivery a replay of the nasal scratch flashed up on the giant screen and such was the indignant roar from the crowd that the spinner was obliged to prop and abort before his delivery stride.

Ponting was unfazed, middling the next ball confidently and not long after celebrated his 32nd Test century, matching the total by his predecessor Steve Waugh.

Hit and giggle result......

........"■ After several drinks breaks the Barmy Army won the match by about 50 runs........."

HOORAH! (only several drinks breaks?)


Personally, I don't really care that much as to what the resulte are, and who wins what. I just love the "edge" to the whole thing, and look forward to seeing some bloody good cricket being played.
(I somehow think we're going to get trounced, but hey ho...)

The other thing I love, is the "sledging" that goes on.

My all time top three, so far, are :-

1. Merv Hughes(?) (con) to Ian Botham (pom) "Hey mate, how's your wife and my kids?"
Botham reply "My wife's fine, but the kids are retarded"

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2. Jimmy Ormond comes out to bat against the Aussies in the winter tour in 2002/03.
Mark Waugh (con) "Oh look who it is. You're not an international cricketer, mate, so what the hell are you doing here?"

Jimmy Ormond (pom) replies "I may not be the best cricketer in the world, but at least I'm the best in my family."

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3. Glenn McGrath (con) and Eddo Brandes (Zim)

McGrath "Why are you so fat?"
Quick as a flash, Brandes replied: "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit."
Even the Aussie slip fielders were in hysterics.

I have to mark the crease on this thread...just to see the sledging that goes on here on a2k.

Bring it on!

Australia declares at end of second session day 2 at 9/602

England 1/28 (Strauss c Hussey b McGrath)

Poor poms.

Gawd, I think McGrath's on a hattrick...

Eng 2/28

Cook 11 c Warne b McGrath

3/50
last man gone:

PD Collingwood c Gilchrist b Clark 5

Pietersen in, strike rate around .5 will he risk a slash or play it safe? Can he play safe? Hope not.

The Aussies won the first one in the last series easily, and then collapsed. It's only the beginning, not the end. But I still hope we trounce them.

Hey hinge, I'm at Figtree Lodge in Sheridan street. Room 312. Going home early in the morning.

Stumps on day 2. England are 3-52, with the batsmen in Ian Bell (12)and Kevin Pietersen (7). Aussies 9-602 dec.

The English face an enormous task chasing Australia's 9-602 declared.

Would the above be an understatement? Hmmmmm?

On sledging............

Merv Hughes v Robin Smith

Smith played and missed while facing Hughes in the 1989 Lord's Test between England and Australia.

Hughes, never short of a word or two, told the Hampshire star: "You can't f***ing bat, mate."

Smith then smashed the next ball to the boundary and replied: "Hey Merv, we make a fine pair.

"I can't f***ing bat and you can't f***ing bowl."

Merv Hughes v Javed Miandad
The big fella popped up again with another classic, this time in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan.

Hughes was less than impressed when Javed called him a "fat bus conductor" as the pair squared up to one another.

A few balls later, Hughes got his man and as Javed walked past, could not resist shouting "Tickets, please!"


Big Merve is a test selector!

5/101 now. Good start for us!

Tufnell has said the Poms are considering "doing a pakistan" and not coming back out after lunch!

I think he was kidding.

Bell tried to "take out" umpire Billy Bowden. Got him full on the hip at square leg. Replay shows the ball hit him on the radio mike Billy's a lucky man.

Warney's last ball went for four and I can see signs that Bell has his eye in.