posted Jul 20, 2009

If ever the stage were set for a sportsman to gain some form of redemption it would be now, with the bat, for Johnson. A century would in fact be the least he could do for the team in his swansong performance, before he is sent away to some sort of Guantanamo-style facility where he is kept awake and made to watch non-stop footage of Flintoff and Anderson bowling with the new ball in this Test, to drum into him once and for all what Test-level fast bowling is all about. Although the narcissism of Flintoff's wicket-taking pose makes me vomit, he is a great bowler.

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posted Jul 20, 2009

You have to give credit to Clarke and Haddin for putting a fight from about 100 for 5 even if they go out cheaply this morning. I don't think they will be able to chase down 550 though.

I reckon England will bowl Australia all out for about 450.

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posted Jul 20, 2009

What must Johnson think, how must he feel, to be on the receiving end of such high-quality fast bowling, when his own efforts were such dross? There is an inter-planetary gulf between what he served up and what he is now seeing come at him. God that must be embarrassing. Only a century would erase it.......yeah, right.

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posted Jul 21, 2009

No but we did see a stunning English triumph!!

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posted Jul 21, 2009

comment by JamesInMelbourne (U1737664)
posted Yesterday

Although the narcissism of Flintoff's wicket-taking pose makes me vomit, he is a great bowler.


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Not quite vomit for me, but it's cringeworthy. I can only imagine the cry's of arrogance if it was an Aussie bowler doing that.

Still, gotta love Freddie, when he's going he's fantastic.

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posted Jul 21, 2009

JamesInMelbourne and Steve_Ireland

Don't think you guys quite get what Freddie's all about. He's not narcissistic James and he's not arrogant Steve.

He has a wicked sense of humour, loves the big occasion and enjoys playing to the crowd a bit (often with a cheeky grin on his face). But he's also a sportsmanlike sportsman - witness his consolation of Lee in 2005.

So don't be precious and "vomit" just because he's a showman and an entertainer. Dear oh dear - I thought Aussies were a bit tougher than that.

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posted Jul 21, 2009

NickTractorBoy, I'm sorry mate but you didn't get it.

I didn't say he was arrogant, I said I find his celebration cringeworthy and suggested that I thought it would be called arrogant if it was an Aussie bowler, and not 'playing to the crowd'. Do you think I'm wrong on that one? But yeah, love Freddie and he plays in the right spirit.

Dear oh dear, I thought you Poms were supposed to be all like clever and sophisticated, adept at nuance and all that fancy stuff ... not like us poor convicts

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posted Jul 21, 2009

Steve

Nah my wife's an Aussie!

So no worries mate - here's to a great Ashes series (and lots of cold beer - love it!).

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posted Jul 21, 2009

Nice one Nick, I knew there was something I liked about you, turns out it was your wife

Yep, hoping for more good games. I prefer a tight lost series over an easy win, and sure, I might even have a warm beer or two as well, best of luck

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posted Jul 21, 2009

>>> I knew there was something I liked about you, turns out it was your wife

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