Cricket

Hilfenhaus has taken 2 wickets for 7 billion runs in this series.

Still a good containment bowler...

Aus bowled OK today. Bells first fail of the series.
If this test is won by us I can see Collingwood being given the thanks very much in tests for Morgan. It is a poor show that Ponting lost his head cause of the example its sets his team and for cricket in general. Trott is a dog and I love him for it.

We did get a bit of luck but we have worked so hard for it.

We should not let then off the hook now and I dont think we will

2 top order batsmen fail and still 444/5 and 350 ahead which is a good score, will be even better if the partnership goes on tomorrow morning and they don't do a strauss/cook.

Weather is meant to be sunny tomorrow so we need to keep batting as long as we can . A lead of 450 odd and putting them in in the evening session would be ideal. Though I'm not sure how many runs we are good for once prior and trott go

Yeah a bit of scoreboard pressure in the last innings is exactly what we need. Just that alone could see to people like Hughes and Haddin who will try and chase everything, especially if we can still get something put of the track. Hopefully Swann will come into his own too. Of course our pathetic media have lapsed back into the mindset that the match is already won.

Tired batsmen who've been in the field for nearly two days coming in under pressure is what we want them to be. Essential that we don't let the last five wickets go cheaply.

Australia will want to polish us off for less than 50 runs quickly, then get in on a sunny day and bat properly. We need to ensure that doesn't happen by batting properly for the first session and not charging at everything, Trott might but prior won't. Just hope Bres and Swanny can make some runs because they ain't rabbits.

Yeah a bit of scoreboard pressure in the last innings is exactly what we need. Just that alone could see to people like Hughes and Haddin who will try and chase everything, especially if we can still get something put of the track. Hopefully Swann will come into his own too. Of course our pathetic media have lapsed back into the mindset that the match is already won.

I hope we wont be chasing anything

Good to see Prior getting some runs. Must say that his keeping has been immaculate recently - he has obviously worked hard on it.

As mentioned above, there is a strong case for having a look at Morgan in the last test. He has made some big scores in the shorter formats, can hit sixes for fun, and is also very good at finding gaps - reminiscent of Thorpe in that regard. Move bell up to 5, and slot him in at 6.

Would be a shame for Collingwood, who has come to England's aid in many a batting collapse, but his form is terrible.

Stayed up until 4 watching that, was really worth it, can't believe how solid our batting is this innings, 5 of the top 7 getting at least 50.

fuck, went today, what a fucking shambles. i've never heard an aussie crowd give soo much grief to an aussie team. rain and showers in the morning cleared to beautiful sunny/windy afternoon. wicket dried out and flat as a pancake.

must admit, its the worst i've seen an aussie side field for a long time.

most entertaining part was watching the 'many' drunken/dispondant aussie supporters getting kicked out. also crzy how a 35,000 crowd seems so empty at the G.

also balki you wet lip, should've come instead of trancing around springvale. still WTF!?!?

If we can make 600, it'd be superb to put them in needing 500 to just make us bat again. They could well crumble at that prospect, though Hussey, Ponting and Clarke have the mental strength if not the form to put up big scores to in such circumstances.

Ponting's hissy fit has probably brought down the curtain on his career, if not after this test certainly the next one. Shame really, he's better than that.

most entertaining part was watching the 'many' drunken/dispondant aussie supporters getting kicked out.

What's even funnier is they only serve light beer at the G.

At the MCG, you drank weak beer,
You got really plastered,
Go back home, and sober up,
You lightweight Aussie bastards!

it doesn't take much to get thrown out of the cricket in Australia though, seems to even become a sport for the fans near the end of days play.

the ranting of a desperate man.

fined 40% of his match fee for being a petulant cock

Another day in the field to get him even more riled up then he'll be in the perfect mindset to come out and bat.

Shame really, he's better than that.

no he isn't. remember him gobbing off at the England dressing room because he was caught by the sub fielder. he resorts to that kind of behavior when loosing.

i will concede that he did clap Priors 50 while the rest of his team remained silent.

What's even funnier is they only serve light beer at the G.

At the MCG, you drank weak beer,
You got really plastered,
Go back home, and sober up,
You lightweight Aussie bastards!

it doesn't take much to get thrown out of the cricket in Australia though, seems to even become a sport for the fans near the end of days play.

its not just the beer, but sitting in the sun all day. it was only 17, mostly cloudy, but my face is glowing even with factor 50+ sunscreen.

still great to be back at the G.

Frustration for Ponting, brought about by his exasperation in his bowlers and fielders, England's attitude and luck.

Captains like Atherton would settle into a quiet resignation with the reality of his side having nothing to give, he would go through the motions (3 slips and a gully, Gough and Caddick) pretending to have a plan when his mind was already in the dressing room with a loser's medal and egg sandwich.

Ponting, not so used to losing, and certainly not so happy about it, under incredible pressure from home fans and media (neither doing themselves any favours), desperately willing things to go his way and staring down the barrel of a sacking.

he's old though. pftt 36. over the hill!!

no he isn't. remember him gobbing off at the England dressing room because he was caught by the sub fielder. he resorts to that kind of behavior when loosing.

He wasnt caught, even better he was run out by Gary Pratt.

The most worrying thing for the Aussies though is they don't appear to have anyone to replace him. Michael Clarke is meant to be the next captain ordained, but his form is just as bad and I honestly don't think he's up to it either.

a bit of sunburn Dale? surely it's a sore throat you should be worrying about what with all the vocal support the aussies give their team?

http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/04/have-aussie-cricket-fans-lost-their-voice/

maybe the "god save YOUR gracious queen" chants from the barmy army are getting to the aussie fans.

no he isn't. remember him gobbing off at the England dressing room because he was caught by the sub fielder. he resorts to that kind of behavior when loosing.

He wasnt caught, even better he was run out by Gary Pratt.

The most worrying thing for the Aussies though is they don't appear to have anyone to replace him. Michael Clarke is meant to be the next captain ordained, but his form is just as bad and I honestly don't think he's up to it either.

He wasnt caught, even better he was run out by Gary Pratt.

The most worrying thing for the Aussies though is they don't appear to have anyone to replace him. Michael Clarke is meant to be the next captain ordained, but his form is just as bad and I honestly don't think he's up to it either.

Ponting was rightly pissed of as Pratt shouldn't really have been on the pitch, it was within the rules but against the spirit IMO. Ponting alway's been a bit of a lame duck captain, as it's common knowledge Warne would've been captain if he could've kept his finger off the send button.

Ponting was rightly pissed of as Pratt shouldn't really have been on the pitch.

Why?

Perfectly legal to have a sub fielder when a bowler is off getting treatment.

1. Pratt was on for Simon Jones, who's to say Jones would have missed the stumps? he had a very good arm.
   
2. It was Damian Martin on strike who called the run, Ponting didn't have the sense to either disagree or run hard, he set off later than Martin and got himself in trouble.
   
3. At no time is it acceptable for a player to act like that following a dismissal or any other time, Ponting was out of order and apologised afterwards.