OK flopsymopsy, you asked for it.

To the tune of Peter Allen's 'I Still Call Australia Home'


I've watched some cricket and golf in my time
Rugby and tennis and blokes riding bikes
While at present you Poms might be better at sports
Our weather's much warmer than yours.

I tried watching soccer but soon gave it up
When the players fell over at every slight touch
You can call it the world game, I call it a bore
At least Aussie Rules brings a score.

When all the sons and daughters of the Southern Cross
Men, women and girls and boys
Head out to the paddocks to watch the coin toss
You'll hear them shout out Oi Oi Oi!

And one day we'll dominate the Poms once again
And the Ashes will go to much worthier men
But 'til then there's something for which we can cheer
In Australia we don't drink warm beer.

So today being day 4 of this test match i reckon England will declare before lunch then bowl Australia out after tea the way Australia has been batting the only luck they would have if it rain for the next 2 days

Is it possible for an Aussie to be Poet Laureate? I nominate Aussiedrongo!

LOL, excellent.

I'll refrain from mentioning that you stole "Oi Oi Oi" from Devon, I'll mention it some other time.

Oggy Oggy Oggy!

Your prediction is working so far, wwe84. Any suggestions for next week's lottery numbers?

No need for me to remind you that we are a nation of thieves, rogues and ruffians in that case then, is there?

Nope, no need. We'll just draw a veil over the fact that one of them was my great-great-great-uncle Bill... but he was pardoned and came back!

Neat fourth wicket partnership going on at present. Making things more respectable. And Agar yet to come - I'd almost like him to get his ton this innings. But note the word 'almost'.

England has just won the 2nd Ashes test by an 347 runs with 3 balls left on day 4

England leads the 5 match series 2-0

That was a bit close for comfort, let's do better next time!

Considering the new royal baby will also be the monarch of Australia, I'm surprised it's not out by now!

Australia's fast bowler James Pattinson has been ruled of the rest of the Ashes series with a back injury

One of your better batsmen, too...

After 2 Tests, only 3 batsmen are averaging over 30 - Agar, Khawaja and Pattinson!

Pattinson and Agar's batting averages are certainly respectable. Pity their bowling averages to date are even higher!

On Cricinfo, there is currently a poll to decide who would be the best player to bring into the Australian side to turn their fortunes around.
The nominees are - David Warner, Ed Cowan, Nathan Lyon and Simon Katich. And guess who gets the most votes. Yep, The nearly-38yo Simon Katich, who wasn't even thought of as good enough until Langer retired 6 years ago!

David Warner just made 193 for Australia A against South Africa A and get this one day player Glenn Maxwell made 100

I guess the selectors have 193 reasons now to pick David Warner

My question relates to the game v Sussex. After copping the father of a hiding in the 2nd Test, no fewer than 6 players are rested, rather than having some well-needed match practice, including Watson and Rogers, who both need runs under their belt. Agar has to play, even though he's carrying an injury. And more bizarrely, two guys have been called in to make up the numbers who aren't in the squad, one has not even played a First Class match in his life!
Ashton Turner, 20, is a West Australian allrounder who has played one one-day domestic match. He is suddenly viewed as Australian Test material? At least they only brought Travis Head in as 12th man!

I've never heard of those 2 before today & if the selectors want to pick someone pick Glenn Maxwell he is an all-rounder

The second Test brought no great joy to me so I stopped watching and did some reading instead. I was interested in learning more on the history of cricket between Australia and England but wasn't expecting to find what I did. It turns out the first game of cricket between the two was much earlier than what most believe and the result much different to recent matches. I found a poem commemorating this game of cricket written by a certain Susie A. Gordon which reads thus:


'Twas in the month of April
Back in seventeen-seventy,
When Captain Cook made landfall
At the bay called Botany.
He spied himself some natives
And thought "I've just the ticket,
I'll teach these naked savages
The noble art of cricket."

So Cook he cut some branches
From a eucalyptus tree,
And carved them into cricket stumps,
Not one, nor two, but three.
Then from a canvas haversack
He took a bat and ball,
For Englishmen do come prepared
For whenever battle calls.

"Good day old chaps," said Captain Cook,
"Pleased to meet. I'm James.
I'd be obliged if I could teach
You all a little game.
Now one of you go stand up at
That end of the wicket,
I'll stay down here and toss this ball
Then you just try to hit it."

Off two steps did Captain Cook
Send the first ball down,
The native hit it back at him
But kept it on the ground.
A little quicker was the Captain's
Next delivery,
The native hooked, the ball it hit
A grazing wallaby.

"Not bad old chap!" said Captain Cook
"At least for a beginner.
But watch the ball more closely now,
This next one is a spinner."
Now Cook he took a run up,
Of nine yards, maybe ten,
The native whacked the ball back flying
A mile above his head.

Well Cook he was dejected,
His bottom lip did pout,
"I think I'll have a bat," he said,
"You try and get ME out."
The native bowled a yorker
That made the Captain jump.
He followed with a googly
That found the middle stump.

A dozen balls the native bowled
And each one found the wickets.
"Give a man a chance." Cried Cook
"I say, it's just not cricket."
He took his bat and took his ball
And doffed his hat and then,
He went back to his ship and sailed
And was never seen again.

The natives well remember though
The pale man from the sea,
Who once provided them such mirth
With his frivolity.
They still immortalise this man
In traditional dance and song,
At corroborees when they perform
'The Bloody Whingeing Pom.'

 

Oh man, I had the same thought when they said about Watson having the week off. If anyone needs some match practice it is him. It's giving the likes of Warner and massive foot in the door. I just don't understand the whole selection thing ... the team is getting changed around all over and not getting the chance to settle into being a cohesive unit.

If anyone reads Cricinfo, the main pic today was of Darren Lehmann in the nets getting batting practice.
Perhaps Boof is thinking, "If these blokes can't do the job, then I'll just have to go out and do it myself!"

The 3rd Ashes Test is about to get under way

England has named unchanged side from the 2nd test


Australia changes

In:
David Warner(He is batting at no 6)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon


Out:
Phil Hughes
James Pattinson(Injured)
Ashton Agar

Well Australia has learned how to bat Chris Rogers with 80+ Michael Clarke getting a century & Steve Smith passing his 50 aswell

Well, Australia has outplayed the England XI, but their twelfth opponent - the English weather - has been too much for them. This is a very disappointing way for the fate of the Ashes to be decided.