5th Ashes test at the SCG - 3rd to 7th Jan 2011

[Adelaide Hawk]

Typical. For a change Australia on top and we go off ... and it's not raining!!!!

Spoke a bit too soon AH

Had I have spoken later, I would have been wrong.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Watching these clips from the 30s and 40s its amazing to see how far the game has come along, how much its changed including the general etiquette.
Cant imagine too many sides singing "he's a jolly good fellow" and giving 3 cheers to an opposition player these days!

Yes. When I started playing, one of my early captains had this quaint custom of when an opposition captain came in to bat, he'd hold up play and say "clap the captain", and the players would have to offer polite applause. I never did.

One day I was in the middle of a top spell, bowling with good pace and rhythm. I'd just blasted one batsman out and was hungry for more. The new batsman walked in but our captain didn't recognise him straight away. I had started my run up, just breaking into stride when our captain yells out "clap the captain". The batsman pulled away, and I had to apply the breaks. In my frustration I yelled out "F**k the captain!!". Our team laughed, as did the batsman, and our captain never did it again.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Maybe my eyes are failing me but Taylor is talking about Michael Clarke standing up more in his stance and not crouching, but to me he looks almost like Ian Healy he is that crouched!

As i write this Clarke out, fails again.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well, there goes our good start. We'll now rely upon a debutant to pull us out of trouble.

[Jim05]

I see captaincy hasnt improved his crap form.
Any chance of any aussie captain making runs this series

[Vulcan]

Oh dear.

[spell_check]

You'd think Pietersen and Bresnan would be used to celebrations in this series by now that they wouldn't do that.

[locky801]

Well, there goes our good start. We'll now rely upon a debutant to pull us out of trouble.

Need Hussey to do it again, almost into the tail albeit Haddin has had an alright series with the bat

[smac]

Watching these clips from the 30s and 40s its amazing to see how far the game has come along, how much its changed including the general etiquette.
Cant imagine too many sides singing "he's a jolly good fellow" and giving 3 cheers to an opposition player these days!

Yes. When I started playing, one of my early captains had this quaint custom of when an opposition captain came in to bat, he'd hold up play and say "clap the captain", and the players would have to offer polite applause. I never did.

One day I was in the middle of a top spell, bowling with good pace and rhythm. I'd just blasted one batsman out and was hungry for more. The new batsman walked in but our captain didn't recognise him straight away. I had started my run up, just breaking into stride when our captain yells out "clap the captain". The batsman pulled away, and I had to apply the breaks. In my frustration I yelled out "F**k the captain!!". Our team laughed, as did the batsman, and our captain never did it again.

So you are personally responsible for declining standards in the game?

[Jim05]

Sick of peopke bagging watto. He is our best opening option and whilst he doesnt go on and get the big ones at least he gets to 50 unlike the duds we have had at 3 and 4 this summer. Id take a 50 average as an opener anyday. He is one of our few success stories this summer

[Chuck Wepner]

I see captaincy hasnt improved his crap form.
Any chance of any aussie captain making runs this series

Not while it's Clarke "leading" the team

[locky801]

Sick of peopke bagging watto. He is our best opening option and whilst he doesnt go on and get the big ones at least he gets to 50 unlike the duds we have had at 3 and 4 this summer. Id take a 50 average as an opener anyday. He is one of our few success stories this summer

I'm not bagging him Jim, I am frustrated by him, yes at the minute he is our best option opening but I believe if they batted him at 5 or 6 he would become one of the best middle order batsman in the world, his only fault since opening is he doesnt go on with his great starts, in saying that I'm sure no-one is more frustrated than Watson himself

[Adelaide Hawk]

Anderson's got that leg cutter going beautifully.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Sick of peopke bagging watto. He is our best opening option and whilst he doesnt go on and get the big ones at least he gets to 50 unlike the duds we have had at 3 and 4 this summer. Id take a 50 average as an opener anyday. He is one of our few success stories this summer

I don't think anyone's "bagged" him have they? We're just making the point he doesn't go onto the big scores and may be better suited down the order. That's not bagging, it's constructive.

I've made the point he has done a great job, but the reality is if we had guys like Hayden and Langer still around the place, Watto would not be opening. I really don't think thats "bagging" him.

[RustyCage]

Sick of peopke bagging watto. He is our best opening option and whilst he doesnt go on and get the big ones at least he gets to 50 unlike the duds we have had at 3 and 4 this summer. Id take a 50 average as an opener anyday. He is one of our few success stories this summer

And I'm sure the Aussies would be happy if Strauss and Cook only made 50s this series. Consistant 50s are good, but not good enough. When the other opener and numbers 3 and 4 aren't making runs, Watto being in pretty good form needs to make sure he stands up and make a decent score. He isn't doing that.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Once again, Prior is totally convinced one that flicked the shirt is out. He's a dead set cheat.

[CoverKing]

Once again, Prior is totally convinced one that flicked the shirt is out. He's a dead set cheat.

Don't think it's cheating, he is just a blind idiot

[locky801]

New fella gones, probably pressured out, great captaincy by Strauss

Aust 4/134 and in trouble yet again

[Adelaide Hawk]

Here we go ... all out for 200.

[Jim05]

All his good work undone by a stupid shot. Plenty of positives though, will be a star