Ponting

[BillyStubbsTears]

BobG wrote:

I'm with you on all of that BLIR. Ponting's almost the last remnant of Australian sides that for 20 years were simply the best in the world. He's still an awesome batsman - but for me his fury is based on the frustration of leading a side that isn't fit to clean the boots of their forbears. Christ! Just think of the batsman they've had over the last 20 years: the two Waughs, Slater and Alan Border are simply 4 of probably a dozen world beaters. As for the bowlers all you've got to do is think of just Warne and McGrath to know that this side now is almost amateur. Ponting can't like playing with lads like that.

Still, our Ricky is, I think, the first Aussie ever to lead the convicts to THREE Ashes series defeats.

Cheers

BobG

Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Taylor, etc, etc, etc. Any one of them is up in the top 50 batsmen in history. A truly awesome conveyor belt of talent and it was a privilege to watch them.

It never lasts for ever. This side is back to being the crock of mediocrity that Australia was in the mid-80s before the golden generation came through.

[CusworthRovers]

Slinger Johnson out already and the bowlers look like they are going to wrap this up early doors. Crowd is full of English only and a great rendition of Jerusalem to start us off.

[CusworthRovers]

BillyStubbsTears wrote:

BobG wrote:

I'm with you on all of that BLIR. Ponting's almost the last remnant of Australian sides that for 20 years were simply the best in the world. He's still an awesome batsman - but for me his fury is based on the frustration of leading a side that isn't fit to clean the boots of their forbears. Christ! Just think of the batsman they've had over the last 20 years: the two Waughs, Slater and Alan Border are simply 4 of probably a dozen world beaters. As for the bowlers all you've got to do is think of just Warne and McGrath to know that this side now is almost amateur. Ponting can't like playing with lads like that.

Still, our Ricky is, I think, the first Aussie ever to lead the convicts to THREE Ashes series defeats.

Cheers

BobG

Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Taylor, etc, etc, etc. Any one of them is up in the top 50 batsmen in history. A truly awesome conveyor belt of talent and it was a privilege to watch them.

It never lasts for ever. This side is back to being the crock of mediocrity that Australia was in the mid-80s before the golden generation came through.

Isn't that when your Captain is meant to turn into a great captain though. Yep, he did it when he had Warne, McGrath and Lee. Add to that Gilchrist. Then add the batters in Langer, Hayden and himself. He had players at his disposal of couldn't even hold a regular place in the test side, yet dominated county cricket here ie Laws, Blewitt, Bevan, Lehman, Elliot and a few more I can't be arsed to type on my iPhone. The Aussies never needed a decent skipper then as they had the best test/one day players in the world that couldn't make the starting 11, so no need to guess how good the selected 11 were. Now the current captain cannot inspire any of his batsmen or bowlers and cannot even set an example with his own performance to lead from the front

[donnyjay]

After extensive research (5 minutes), I have uncovered (stumbled across) the fact that this will be the first time we have secured The Ashes with a test to spare since 1978 (I think).

[Filo]

Pissing hell, these tail enders are being a bit stubborn! come on England, have em out before lunch!

[pkt_drfc]

Get in there well done ENGLAND        

[RedJ]

donnyjay wrote:

After extensive research (5 minutes), I have uncovered (stumbled across) the fact that this will be the first time we have secured The Ashes with a test to spare since 1978 (I think).

If that's 24 years ago, then that's the case. The news says 24 years ago was the last time it happened. Maybe that was the last time we retained them when down under, with '78 being the outright last time it happened, so we may both be right.

[RedJ]

pkt_drfc wrote:

Get in there well done ENGLAND        

*proceeds to bang out the barmy army trademark song*

[BillyStubbsTears]

[The Red Baron]

RedJ wrote:

donnyjay wrote:

After extensive research (5 minutes), I have uncovered (stumbled across) the fact that this will be the first time we have secured The Ashes with a test to spare since 1978 (I think).

If that's 24 years ago, then that's the case. The news says 24 years ago was the last time it happened. Maybe that was the last time we retained them when down under, with '78 being the outright last time it happened, so we may both be right.

86-87 we won the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne to clinch the series and retain the ashes. We then lost at Sydney but still won the series 2-1.

In 1978-79 Mike Brearley's side beat the Aussies 5-1 to retain the ashes. The Aussies were below strength due to defections to Packer's WSC- although they were probably as strong as the current side!

A particular favourite of mine was 1977 when we beat them 3-0 at home and I attended every day of the Trent Bridge and Headingley tests- both of which we won. The latter contained Sir Geoffrey's 100th ton. Happy days!

[GM-MarkB]

I distinctly remember a certain Summer's afternoon in 1981 when we should have been outside doing PE...but there was a fairly hefty audience of teachers and pupils crammed into a TV room at Adwick School watching RGB Willis rip through Kim Hughes' side  

[The Red Baron]

GM-MarkB wrote:

I distinctly remember a certain Summer's afternoon in 1981 when we should have been outside doing PE...but there was a fairly hefty audience of teachers and pupils crammed into a TV room at Adwick School watching RGB Willis rip through Kim Hughes' side  

I saw that on TV- absolutely fantastic. I then had the privilege of watching the next test- at Edgbaston- in person. The final afternoon when Botham took five for one is something I'll never forget.

[Filo]

GM-MarkB wrote:

I distinctly remember a certain Summer's afternoon in 1981 when we should have been outside doing PE...but there was a fairly hefty audience of teachers and pupils crammed into a TV room at Adwick School watching RGB Willis rip through Kim Hughes' side  

Was that the same test that Botham knocked the Aussie bowlers all over the ground and outside on occasions?


I think the Bookies were quoting England to win at 500/1 before I.T.Botham came into bat!

[I-was-there1976]

Filo wrote:

GM-MarkB wrote:

I distinctly remember a certain Summer's afternoon in 1981 when we should have been outside doing PE...but there was a fairly hefty audience of teachers and pupils crammed into a TV room at Adwick School watching RGB Willis rip through Kim Hughes' side  

Was that the same test that Botham knocked the Aussie bowlers all over the ground and outside on occasions?


I think the Bookies were quoting England to win at 500/1 before I.T.Botham came into bat!

That was Headingley. Some Aussie players took the odds as well

[Filo]

I-was-there1976 wrote:

Filo wrote:

GM-MarkB wrote:

I distinctly remember a certain Summer's afternoon in 1981 when we should have been outside doing PE...but there was a fairly hefty audience of teachers and pupils crammed into a TV room at Adwick School watching RGB Willis rip through Kim Hughes' side  

Was that the same test that Botham knocked the Aussie bowlers all over the ground and outside on occasions?


I think the Bookies were quoting England to win at 500/1 before I.T.Botham came into bat!

That was Headingley. Some Aussie players took the odds as well

I`m sure it was the same test, Bothams innings brought is from the brink of defeat and gave our bowlers a meagre total to bowl at, Willis charged in like a man possessed to rip through the Aussie batsmen

[CusworthRovers]

I appreciate Willis's efforts but Botham was something else. England had followed on and in doing so managed a 129 run lead with the Aussies to start their 2nd innings. As the stat at the bottom (not sure if it's now out of date) only 2 sides in history have won  a test after being forced to follow on. Looking at this link it makes you want to follow through. Enjoy reading

Perfect Reading

[GM-MarkB]

I also remember Graham Dilley playing the innings of his life with 56 to support Botham.

It was the way the curly locked Willis steamed in over after over that sticks in my mind though

[Filo]

Looking at that scorecard,Botham and Willis may look like they were the main men but it was Sir Geoffrey`s 46 in the second innings that created the platform for victory  

[BobG]

Did you spot just how long he occupied the crease for? He was made for test cricket was Geoffrey. Fabulous stuff.

BobG

[Filo]

BobG wrote:

Did you spot just how long he occupied the crease for? He was made for test cricket was Geoffrey. Fabulous stuff.

BobG

Exactly Bob, he wore the Aussie attack down for Botham to bludgeon them to death