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Darth_Blader

Listed below are comments made by Darth_Blader between Monday, 20th July 2009 and Friday, 2nd October 2009.

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Champions Trophy surpasses expectations 03:32am on 02 Oct 2009 Amazed that Johnson won it, given his pretty disastrous showing in the most important series of all (4th test aside). Musklifesavers, if you ask Johnson and Australia whether they'd give up the win in South Africa for the Ashes back, I think we both know what they'd say.

Equally surprised at Stuart Broad being included in the test side; I seem to recall him being on the verge of the drop after three and a half Ashes tests. Perhaps he owes this one to Max Clifford...

I've been pleasantly surprised by the tournament as well. The 2007 World Cup was perhaps the nadir of all sporting events, with its endless, turgid, meaningless string of games; shockingly poor organisation by a West Indies cricket board that seems to have given up; and the farce of a final. I had been of the opinion that there is too much cricket (and still am; particularly mickey mouse one-day stuff) and wasn't planning to take much notice of the Champions Trophy, but it has been a genuinely gripping and exciting tournament. Just a shame about the Windies.
Strauss's England worthy winners 11:16am on 24 Aug 2009 The reason Bopara wasn't mentioned is probably because he contributed absolutely b*gger all to the victory. Colly's average wasn't great, but he played an utterly crucial innings to save the game at Cardiff. Even Panesar had a major hand in the first test draw with his dogged holdout at the end. All Bopara did was throw away his wicket and increase pressure on England. It's not as if he's new to the England setup either: he's been in the squad for years. I think with KP returning, the discovery of Trott, and Bell coming through and showing some guts with his first innings at the Oval, Bopara will be out in the cold for the time being at least.

But enough of the quibbling. SA will be an interesting tour, but for now let's just bask in the fact that ENGLAND HAVE WON THE ASHES!!!

(PS #93, in case you missed it, England actually did win the rugby world cup six years ago - no knighthoods as of yet.)
Flintoff a very English hero 00:08am on 24 Aug 2009 I'm not quite sure about the thrust of this article Ben. I actually think we English often appreciate a quiet grafter more than a showman, certainly moreso than other nations; Mansell is a huge cult hero, and Faldo's appreciated more and more now (just because Mark James and a couple of other inferior, cliquey players didn't like him because he focused 100% on his game rather than get drunk at the clubhouse with them, doesn't reflect public opinion).

As for Freddie, in his early years I don't think he had the mindset of a world class professional athlete, but rather saw himself as just a Preston lad playing a bit of cricket with his mates; this is reflected in his weight and inconsistency. Once he got his head together and got serious, he was undoubtedly a great: from the years 2004-2006 he was the world's best. Not only in the '05 Ashes, but the Magnificent Seven summer of 2004; the series victory in SA; and the famous win in India, among others. Sadly, injuries prevented his final three years from being what they could have been.

As with Gazza and Ricky Hatton, he didn't do himself any favours with his prolific booze intake: all three are were incredibly talented sportsmen who are considered one rung below the very, very best. Had they taken the Faldoesque approach, I've no doubt all three could have been the very, very best. I do think alcohol is an issue that holds back British sport. But I suppose you can't change someone's fundamental nature any more than you can change their fundamental talent; and being drinkers certainly helps people identify with all of the above trio, and thus increases their post-career marketability.
A glimpse of life after Freddie 11:03am on 22 Aug 2009 Fair play to Broad, and also to Bell in the first innings, who I was expecting to make about 8, but who hung in well against some serious hostility. We might have found something in Trott: he batted well under immense pressure (very unlucky to get out to an incredible piece of fielding) and took a magnificent catch. I hope he retains his place when KP returns. I feel Collingwood may be the one to go. Along with Cook, he has been seriously under par; Cook's England career seems to have got worse every year since he started.

Back to Broad, he has the height but not the pace to be an Ambrose/Walsh/early Harmison, so I agree that he should model himself on McGrath. That won't be easy, and will require serious patience and accuracy. Good to see his batting coming along as well; he was a specialist batsman when young, and given his father you'd expect he'd know which end of a bat to hold. Incidentally, along the same lines, KP started out as a specialist spinner; I wish he'd take it up again, because on pitches like this he could be very useful.
They think it's all Oval... 01:07am on 19 Aug 2009 Btw fleetjackhobbs, Lily Allen is a trendy, foul-mouthed "urban" singer who largely chronicles societal dysfunction. Her father, without whose patronage it is highly unlikely her "talent" would have been noticed - is the actor Keith Allen.

I don't have a problem with "celebs" per se: the Russell Crowe interview was great, because the man clearly has a longstanding love of, and family link to cricket. But getting some singer in who only heard of the game 15 minutes ago, and whose main attraction appears to be the name and stance of Graham Onions, is rather demeaning to the national treasure that is TMS.
They think it's all Oval... 01:00am on 19 Aug 2009 Graemenix, sorry, I can't let you get away with saying that Boycott has "little wisdom about the game"; that is as ridiculous a comment as I have ever seen on these boards. Yes, he is an abrasive character, and was somewhat selfish as a batsman and player, and you clearly don't like him. But his knowledge and experience of the game are second to none, and he is never dull: surely these are the two most important qualifications for a seat on TMS.
They think it's all Oval... 12:41pm on 18 Aug 2009 Really am excited about this, especially after watching YE Yang do the impossible against Tiger Woods on Sunday!

Disappointing commentary lineup though: no Blowers or Boycott. Can't imagine what other commitments Blowers would have in the week of a deciding Ashes test! If he's there, get him in. As for Boycs, he's the best, most incisive and brilliant commentator in the world: he's inevitably fifteen minutes ahead of the game, and is never dull. He should be there every test.

I agree with cynicalyorkie that Warne is very good in the box; I still mostly watch the TV with the radio on, but the gap is closing. A dream team would be him, Boycott and Blowers: Warnie and Boycs for the expertise, comedy ("my grandma coulda 'it 'it wi'a stick o'rhubarb"), and in the latter's case occasional magnificent rant; and Blowers for his otherwordly charm and impeccably timed wisecracks about Boycott's selfishness!

As for Lily Allen, I'm in my 20s but I don't believe she belongs on TMS. Putting aside the fact she'd be nowhere if not for her famous father, her latest song is titled "***k you", and elsewhere she sings about crack whores and drug use. Yes, yes, I know all these things do happen out on the mean streets of real life, but do we really have to bring such a world into TMS? I'll take chocolate cakes, Boycott anecdotes and Stephen Fry's handwringing instead, please.
Ponting left laughing as England get the script wrong 01:54am on 10 Aug 2009 Our bowling is not the problem: it's been reasonably good over the series, and I don't agree with those who advocate dropping Broad (even though his good performance in this test came only once the pressure was off). The Oval should have pace and bounce, which will suit Harmison and Flintoff, and Swann will be an important factor in the second innings. Hopefully Jimmy Anderson will get over whatever physical problem he had in this test, and there will be some cloud cover for he and Onions to get some swing. I feel sure that we can take 20 wickets.

The batting, however, is disastrous. The bottom five have scored nearly as many runs as the top five over the series (something like 930 to 910). Bopara is just not up to it: it's not as if he's some wide-eyed newbie - he's been in the England setup for years (remember the Sri Lanka game at the World Cup in earl 2007?) He seems a flat-track bully - useful against dead wood, useless against high-class opposition; and mentally weak as well, given how often he throws away his wicket.

Bell reminds me of a terrified little mouse, surrounded by streetwise, sledging Australian cats; I actually feel sorry for him when I see him walking in to bat, as I might for a bullied runt walking into school. And what about Cook? He has gotten steadily worse since his test debut some years ago now. Time for a change.

Trescothick to open with Strauss. Don't announce it until the day before so the pressure won't be able to build up on the guy. Make it clear that it's a one-off thing, to keep his mind at ease: no gruelling tours, just five days of cricket at home.

Ramprakash in at 3. He's 39 but clearly in great shape and great form. Forget "planning for the future" - this is the Ashes, here and now, and we must pick the best today, not potentially in 2012.

Vaughan in at 4. Again, a last hurrah against the old enemy; Vaughan has several centuries against them, and led England magnificently in 2005. You can be sure that the Aussies would rather face Bell than him.

Collingwood stays at 5. He's not particularly talented, but grittily makes the most of it, and I would be very surprised if he throws away his wicket at The Oval. A great fielder, experienced, and good, fighting attitude (markedly unlike Bell and Bopara).

Oh, and if Jimmy Anderson doesn't make it, get Hoggard in there. The way he was discarded last year after a single bad performance was disgraceful, and he deserves redemption.
Lily for Leeds? 4:20pm on 07 Aug 2009 I'd like to agree with bagginsbilbo and others about Geoffrey Boycott; he's the best thing about TMS and I too would love to hear more of him. Opinionated, yes, but that's what you want in the commentary box, particularly when those opinions are based on decades of experience of top-level cricket, and are invariably insightful and correct.
Flintoff - England's gladiator supreme 8:38pm on 20 Jul 2009 Retrogirl, I don't think Freddie's knee and ankle injuries can be blamed on his drinking. They are degenerative injuries that could have happened to anyone - he's just unlucky.

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