posted Feb 15, 2009

There are 3 likely results:

1. England get the rub of the pitch, win the game, and remarkably claim they are the best in the world again.
2. England lose and blame the pitch, the ground, the change of venue, the West Indies, climate change, food poisoning etc... evrything and everyone but themseles. After all, they are all "real men" according to the numpty of the North East.
3. The match is abandoned at some point and England try to take some moral highgound. Every season there are County games blighted by poor curators and dodgy wickets. England's comments are laughable. Some of the test wickets in the UK, and the use of a different cricket ball, have been decidely suspect.

England will complain whatever happens and take all the glory if they get lucky. Because its not talent that will win a test match. England have very little of that at the moment.
The Aussies must be relishing the opportunity to come to the UK as underdogs with the English side in such complete and utter disarray.

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posted Feb 15, 2009

There's NO WAY that Australia are coming to England as underdogs!

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posted Feb 15, 2009

The Rec:
http://www.pbase.com/cricket/image/44989503 (2005)

http://www.pbase.com/cricket/image/43544012 (2005)

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0bmbbZwaebdhZ (2007)

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00066/antiguan_beach_66462b.jpg (2009)

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posted Feb 15, 2009

It's always good to read a reasoned oppinion from Trevor Barking. As if no other side puts spin on bad results:

1.) India - we really won the series in Australia, even if it was 2-1 to them, therefore we are the best in the world.

2.) Pakistan - we would show that we are the best in the world if anyone would play us.

3.) Australia - recent results are irrelevant. Our win in the dead rubber v South Africa shows the we are still clearly the best.

4.) New Zealand - if Shane Bond had played we would have beaten them.

5.) Sri Lanka - Play Murali and Mendis in Sri Lanka and we'll beat everyone.

6.) Bangladesh - we have the most talented youngesters in the world and will clearly soon be the best.

7.) Zimbabwe - it's all a colonialist conspiracy to hold back Zimbabwe cricket because they are frightened of getting beaten.

Have I missed anyone??? Yes, South Africa... well, the can actually brag about being the best now, after years of having to explain how they somehow managed to lose when only winning seemed possible.

Really! Why suppose that England are any different, or even anything near as bad as some of the others?

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posted Feb 15, 2009

Schrodinger, nice post, but the second photo is actually from 2004. The last one appears to be of the abandoned 2nd Test. Am I right?

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posted Feb 15, 2009

Incidentally, no offense intended by my post. I just wanted to point out that the fans that whine most about whingeing tend to be the most whining whingers of all.

40 years of supporting England through thick and a lot of thin has taught me to be realistic: especially about the claims of rival fans.

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posted Feb 15, 2009

"The last one appears to be of the abandoned 2nd Test. Am I right?"

That's what I initially believed, stargazer. But on closer inspection it actually turns out to be the Aussie team having one of their renowned 'Pom beater' practice sessions, which I understand are specifically designed to give them the edge over the England team, in advance of their upcoming Ashes tour.

Not sure what Andrew Symonds is doing playing wiki but I'm sure Punter (cooling his feet at mid on) knows what he's doing.

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posted Feb 15, 2009

Wicked!

And so close to the truth!

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posted Feb 15, 2009

"Looks like an interesting pitch! I thinks this game could end up being abandoned after 2 or 3 days."

How wrong could you be?

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posted Feb 20, 2009

Get the tests back at the ARG permanently, it's got the history, it's got the atmosphere. Yesterday was the best test cricket day I've seen in a while made more so by the crowd that began to develop as the day neared the end with WI holding on.

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