Ashes in Australia 2013/14

[markis10]

News just in from the ICC, where a specially convened panel have introduce a new rule with immediate effect. Two points will be awarded for a Test Match Win, one for a draw and 0 for a loss. this replaces the older system where just one point was awarded for a win, and nothing for a draw or loss.

LOL, pity the ICC does not preside of the rules/laws of the game.

 

[TonyHancock]

LOL, pity the ICC does not preside of the rules/laws of the game.

mmmmm well actually they do. Whilst the The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code (5th Edition 2013) do apply to Test Matches, the ICC issues it's own "Standard Playing Conditions" for the various forms of the game. The laws in these documents override the The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code (5th Edition 2013).

An excellent example is the use of runners in Test matches:

From the ICC Publication "Standard Test Match Playing conditions" (October 2013)

2.1 Law 2.1 Substitutes and Runners
law 2.1 (a) (ii), 2.7 and 2.8 shall not apply. a runner for a batsman when batting is not permitted.

There are many other instances where the ICC Laws override The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code (5th Edition 2013)

 

[Shelf]

News just in from the ICC, where a specially convened panel have introduce a new rule with immediate effect. Two points will be awarded for a Test Match Win, one for a draw and 0 for a loss. this replaces the older system where just one point was awarded for a win, and nothing for a draw or loss.

This directly impacts the current Ashes series which is now wide open. Australia has 3 points, but a draw and a win for England would see the series levelled and the Ashes retained. Two wins for England would see a series victory. If Australia wins the next test the ICC panel will reconvene.

I fear you've spent too much time inhaling Avgas

 

[Warks]

Plenty of people already saying "Aussies aren't that good" but they won so give them their time in the sun. Lots of sides win through the rub of the green over the years. It seems to come with confidence. Even the great Aussie and Windies sides were often down and almost out but such was their strength, and possibly their mental hold over the opposition, that they usually came back to win.

India playing SA at present 2-75 with India batting. Will be interesting to see if India can make a fight of it away from home.

 

[rogerkambah]

I fear you've spent too much time inhaling Avgas

I wouldn't think TH flys on Avgas fuelled a/c. Don't usually have F seating. Avtur definitely.

 

[anat0l]

Plenty of people already saying "Aussies aren't that good"

Maybe they aren't, but that would mean the current state of the English team is absolute <expletives> sh**e... to put it nicely! I doubt that is the case.

Of course, one could say "one trick pony". They all are looking to the South Africa tour as the real acid test (the acid test "lite" will be if they can whitewash the English).

but they won so give them their time in the sun.

Guess it depends. Some still believe the Aussies are God-given or predisposed to win the Ashes - the fact they lost them to the English for a few years is not a statement of English dominance, it's one of scarlet Australian embarrassment.

Credit to the Aussies, though, because there's been displays of skill and attack which I have not seen in the team for such a long time. I'm still confused as to what is the cause of such a reinvigoration. I'm dubious on pinning it on Boof (not that he deserves no credit).

 

[Warks]

I was reading an article on the win a couple of days ago on the SMH site when I saw a related story at the bottom of the page. I can never work out why they always seem to have stories from months earlier down there but on this occasion I'm glad I clicked.

Read on and enjoy how wrong someone can be:
Australia's Ashes confidence doesn't stack up

 

[turtlemichael]

OT (can you be OT on a Playground thread-? guess so ) but as a matter of comparison I have three days at the Melbourne Test next week in premium seats which have cost me $450.00++ in total per person (or $150.00++ per day). I'm off to South Africa in February to see a day of Test Match 1 SA v. Aus at Criterion, three days in Port Elizabeth and three days in Cape Town. Seats are best available under cover in the stand. The total cost of the 7 tickets as charged to my Visa comes out at $59.00 or a little over $8.00 each. It's a different world there. Almost worth the airfare if anyone else wants to come!

 

[JohnK]

Just goes to show how overpriced everything is in Australia.

 

[Warks]

Just goes to show how overpriced everything is in Australia.

Yes I love to hear the commentators trying to talk people into coming down when there are empty seats but the prices for the worst seats at the SCG are completely over the top. I think it would be close to $100 this year. Cricket Australia always pats itself on the back after an Ashes series as the ground is pretty much guaranteed to be full or close but when other teams are here the ground (apart from day 1) is half full a lot of the time.

The other thing the commentators say is that "some people might be coming down a bit later" - ha! If you've paid $100-150 you'd be there for the first ball to the last. It's only the corporate w@nkers who don't show up because they aren't paying.

 

[JohnK]

Swann calls it a day!

England bowler Graeme Swann calls it a day as he retires from cricket | Mail Online

One of their best players the past 5 years. Can things get any worse for England?

 

[turtlemichael]

Swann calls it a day!

England bowler Graeme Swann calls it a day as he retires from cricket | Mail Online

One of their best players the past 5 years. Can things get any worse for England?

Yes. Given his form it might have been worse if he hadn't retired. But he has been a great asset and plays the game in tremendous spirit so I'll be sorry to see him go.

 

[HarryB]

Yes. Given his form it might have been worse if he hadn't retired. But he has been a great asset and plays the game in tremendous spirit so I'll be sorry to see him go.

Yeah, I agree. It's a shame for England that none of that spirit rubbed off on KP who should also consider pulling the pin.

KP = the Fabrizio Ravanelli of cricket. Awesome when he and the team are going well but lazy and selfish when the chips are down. At times like now they need players like him to step up.

 

[whatmeworry]

Retired English off-spinner Graeme Swann has sparked speculation about team disunity by accusing unnamed players of being "up their own backsides".
Swann did not specifically name anyone, but his comments have been interpreted as referring to England teammates. Telegraph writer Derek Pringle wrote that it "is well known that he and Kevin Pietersen do not send each other Xmas cards".

Graeme Swann accuses players of being up their own backsides

 

[erkpod]

I read a good quote earlier. It went along the lines that various English cricketers can be considered English after living there for a couple of years but Rolf Harris has been living there for many decades but is still called Australian.

 

[JohnK]

Stuart Broad injured? Assume Stuart Broad out. Swann out. Trott back in England.

One good thing to come out of this turnaround is I get some bragging rights in Thailand. I copped heaps back in July.

 

[JohnK]

England batting, Broad in the side and Prior dropped. Can they score some runs? I dont think so.

In other sad news to hear Jacques Kallis has decided to retire after the current test against India. Would have been good to watch him play against Australia in a few months but that increases our chances somewhat in that series without Kallis.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed Day 1 of the test. Proper test cricket, hard fought, gritty batting, and tight bowling. I know I'm going to be in the minority but I'd much rather watch that than the bush bash bosh of one day cricket.

It was fascinating watching Pieterson rein in his natural game and show some real grit. I thought Harris bowled superbly and then Johnson with the second new ball was devastating. Lyon didn't give much away either.

I'm unsure about the pitch though, there were't many well timed strokes yesterday or today.

 

[serfty]

Bit quiet on this thread this morning ...

Will the Oz last wicket "wag" enough to overcome England's total?

 

[cove]

Yesterday we were near a group of beer drinkers on level four so we had a good view of those being taken away by the security folks down on level one. The smartest move was getting the drinkers mostly on to mid strength beer but after about 15 of these beers (or was it 20) they became hecklers.
We are so used to being WACA members that being nobodies in Melbourne introduces us to the rich fabric of life Victorian style.

I hope Haddin ends up not out to make his batting average look fantastic. And today the heat will be on....who opened the oven door?