Cricket, lovely cricket

[Steven Russell]

Adam: You are correct: it was Bill Woodful who got hit over the heart. But as with Oldfield, this was while a traditional off theory field was in place. With hindsight, Jardine's remark of "Well bowled, Harold" may have been a little undiplomatic though.

I am quite envious of your ability to label the Ashes thrashing as ancient history. For those of us who have seen a few more summers (and winters) than you, It still seems oddly relevant.

And with regard to the ODI currently in progress, let me pre-empt your inevitable response:
If Australia win - Strewth! Even our second eleven can beat you pommy no-hopers. We are great and you are rubbish.
If Australia lose - Aw, look mate. It's a dead rubber and we couldn't even be bothered to field our best team. If we had picked blah blah blah etc. etc.

Don't do it, Adam. You're better than that.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[martin wilson]

Hi all
Jardine,aye he was a strange one,its one thing to hate the Aussies on the cricket field but I get the impression he hated Australians full stop.
I read that fielding near the boundary,he spat at the crowd,perhaps like Monty the first he was suicidal.
You need to get a sense of perspective Adam, you had a great great side,you dont now,cowboy up and admit it.
Stephen posted that we dont put too much value on beating the side missing the Packer rebels.
As for the 80's side, we had some great players,Goochie,Gower,Beefy et al
The past 15 years or so though,all we have heard about is the superiority of Aussie fitness training, coaching,player development and the general greatness of the Aussie nation.
Its funny though,since you have lost Hayden,Langer,Gilchrist,MGrath and Warne none of that stuff seems to be working any more!
I will admit our fitness levels are light years away from what they used to be,and I for one regret that.
When the 80's side took the field,you could tell just by looking at them that they varied in their level of fitness,and more impressively,sobriety.
All the best.

[Monty]

Adam,

We currently hold the Ashes, crushing your team last month. Tis the now, the reality. Live up to it Son.

As for the rest of your post, not very good was it? Poor personal insult, play on my surname. What? You think Ive not heard that one before? I have, when I was 5.

Like the England team all summer, Ive whooped your ass over this series. Ive been sharper, funnier, sexier and far more hansome.

The games over son, youve been beaten. You are now a jabbering wreck, go home to Mum.

Monty

[Nothing to see]

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2004/s1217825.htm

Cricket legend Keith Miller dies
Reporter: John Hayes Bell


TONY JONES: One of Australia's cricket greats, Keith Miller, has died at the age of 84.

One of the game's best all-rounders, Miller played in Don Bradman's 'Invincibles' team of 1948 and captivated crowds around the world with his flamboyant approach to the game and to life.
His family announced today he'd died peacefully at a Victorian nursing home.

John Hayes Bell reports.

JOHN HAYES BELL: As a young man, Keith Miller had eyes for the track.

If he'd stayed small, he had his heart set on being a jockey, A fighter pilot in World War II, like so many others, he had to put thoughts of a cricket career on hold for five years.

SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON, MILLER'S FRIEND: "Pressure," he said.

"I'll tell you what pressure is."

He said, "Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse," he said.

"Playing cricket is not."
JOHN HAYES BELL: But he went on to become one of Australia's cricket legends, arguably the best all-rounder the country has ever produced.

Miller scored a century on first-class debut for Victoria.

Later, he moved to NSW - he said as a matter of economic necessity.

Yet his passion for football may have robbed cricket of his talents.

KEITH MILLER: I was a better footballer than a cricketer.

Thank you very much.
JOHN HAYES BELL: Without question the greatest all-rounder of his era, Miller made his Test debut against New Zealand straight after the Second World War, before he toured England as a young man under Don Bradman in 1948.

A magnificent attacking batsman, he played 55 Tests, averaging 37.

But it was his lethal fast bowling combination with the late Ray Lindwall which helped put Australia on top in Test cricket.

He claimed 170 Test scalps at 22.97.

He never faded from public life.

A noted public speaker, journalist and raconteur, Miller also made a name for himself as a cricket commentator, working alongside staff at the ABC and in commentary boxes around the world.

He would have turned 85 next month.

John Hayes Bell, Lateline.

And I'm gonna show my age here but I remember Miller commenting on ABC. In glorious B&W. It's a bit like Richie Benaud. The elder statesman.
Thommo was the best fast bowler the world has ever seen. He was sheer pace and his sandshoe crusher - sorry, Yorker - was the best ever bowled. Thommo down one end, Lillee down the other. The mighty Aussie side of the 71/72 Ashes. No WAGS, no BS. Just cricket. And Marsh drinking more beers on a flight to London than anyone else.

[martin wilson]

Hi all
Better footballer than a cricketer? He must have been some football player then.
I never knew too much about him other than he always seem to get picked for Australia's all time XI, I skimmed rather than read his biography properly but it was obvious he was a huge talent and a great character.
I suppose thats why I like Warney, who wants robo players?
Its difficult these days when sportsmen become slebs to seperate what they do with who they are,perhaps it was better in the old days when all we saw of them was what they did on the field.
All the best.

[Steven Russell]

Hi all
Its difficult these days when sportsmen become slebs to seperate what they do with who they are,perhaps it was better in the old days when all we saw of them was what they did on the field.
All the best.

Not sure I agree there, Martin. In these celebrity-obsessed days, it's good to see some who are deserving of their fame rather than those who appear to be famous for being famous. It also adds to enjoyment of the cricket, in my view, to know a little of the personalities of the players. And we certainly cannot blame the players themselves - who among us can honestly say that blessed with a talent like Warne's we wouldn't milk it a bit?

It's not too long ago that sportsmen, idolised by schoolboys all over the world, wondered if they wold have enough money on retirement to open up a sweet shop. So if it grates a bit to see Warney grinning over a box of chicken nuggets, tough. He's earned it through talent and hard work.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Adam Went]

Steven:

Actually, my response was going to be a bit more along the lines of: what went wrong? The UN had the game in the bag half way through our innings, and they let it slip.

Surely even you most ardent of UN supporters must admit that it would have been nice to end the series in Australia on a more positive note than a 6-1 smacking?

Monty:

Doesn't sexy and handsome (yeah that's right, there's a D in there - we're not talking about Victorian era cabs, are we?) mean the same thing?

$500 on the Ashes 2013. Take it or leave it. Just how confident are you really?

See your ODI team at the World Cup....

Cheers,
Adam.

[Monty]

Cant spell and Im still funnier, bet yer Boyfriend loves you Poindexter.

Come back to me when youre willing to make it £2000, no £3000. Im being serious so dont jerk me around. And I choose the charity this time.

Monty

[Steven Russell]

Steven:

Actually, my response was going to be a bit more along the lines of: what went wrong? The UN had the game in the bag half way through our innings, and they let it slip.

Surely even you most ardent of UN supporters must admit that it would have been nice to end the series in Australia on a more positive note than a 6-1 smacking?

Cheers,
Adam.

Yes, of course it would have been nice but as I said before, I would have taken a thumping in the ODIs and an Ashes victory of any kind before the tour started so on balance I'm well pleased.

The pyjama game is fine but it doesn't compare to test cricket (or cricket at the highest level as it is often called). So I've got no problem with us getting hammered in the ODIs. Plus, it annoys me the way our selectors insist on picking bits and pieces cricketers or "one day specialists" who wouldn't have a hope of getting in the test side for the one-dayers. The commentators too are always on about taking pace off the ball yet Australia played Tait, Lee, and Johnson and won 6-1! Still, we are T20 world champs so what do I know?

Anyway, well done Australia for a well deserved victory in the ODIs but our chaps came home with the real prize.

Best wishes,
Steve.

PS Put me down for £3.

[martin wilson]

Hi All
Stephen
You make a compelling argument,particularly where cricketers are concerned,it wasnt that long ago that they were paid peanuts, and its certainly true that they are more deserving than somebody who has become famous by making a sex tape for example.
Perhaps its a subjective thing in as much that along with that fame comes the inevitable intrusion into their private lives, for some its of no interest and of no consequence, for others it may taint the view they held of a once much admired player.
I couldnt care less what Warney does with Liz Hurley or any other sportsmans private life, I think that when a scandal gets blown out of all proportion some of the past players must have a chuckle to themselves, thinking its a good job the press didnt take such an interest in their private lives when they were playing.
So,for me,I'm only really interested in what they do on the field, but I agree that the game needs characters, its a fine line maybe.
All the best.

[martin wilson]

Hi all
Adam
Congratulations to Australia for winning the ODI series.
See you in 2013,but dont kid yourself,the only thing that will have changed is that Australia will be two years crapper.
I dont know your schedule,when are you playing Serf Effrika?,if its anytime soon,do us a favour and wallop 'em,.
I love the Aussies/hate your cricket team, but I dont like SA full stop,they really are a people who appear to have been made out of reconstituted arseholes.
All the best.

[Phil Carter]

An opposing team likely to chase down 450?

Hello all,

Here's an interesting one for us all to peruse perhaps... how about the English people on this thread make up a "Most feared Aussie team" and the Aussies on this thread do the opposite..namely make up a "Most feared English team".. from any era.

The criteria are these...

We presume it is the last day of a Test Match. We also presume it is a fairly good batting wicket. There is early morning swing and bounce, that flattens in the afternoon. There are cracks starting to appear. The weather is a balmy 26C, and there is only a very very light wind, blue sky overhead and no clouds at all, with the wind travelling across the wicket at right angles to the batting strip. The venue for the game is Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

The team you pick have to chase down 450 to win the Test match and the series. You must presume that the opposition has the best bowlers and fielders available to try to bowl your team out. There are 90 overs to be bowled in the day. No team is allowed to bat through the day for a draw. It is win or bust. Your batting team must have at least 2 known fast bowlers and a wicket-keeper.

What Aussie team would I pick, from all time, to achieve the feat of 450 runs in a day on the last day of the series?
Here's my attempt to find a line up that bats as far down as possible to get the runs, yet still is a Test team with some balance...so it isn't just filled with batsmen.
But those batsmen have to have the ability to play all types of bowling on this wicket..remember they are facing the best English team of players ever.

1. M. Hayden
2. M. Taylor
3. D. Bradman
4. G. Chappel
5. S. Waugh
6. M. Waugh
7. A.Gilchrist
8. R. Benaud.
9. S.Warne
10. B.Lee
11. D.Lillee

That line up, as opposing non-playing team selector, would in my view make me think very carefully of how my captain would restrict them to below 5 per over during the course of a long last day in a Test match.

I welcome any other line-ups to "achieve" this feat, both English and Australian.

Thinking that I have left out Ponsford, Walters, Langer, Marsh (both of them), Ponting and a few others, it took quite a while to find my team. I wish you all the best of luck!

best wishes

Phil

[Steven Russell]

Good game, Phil. I would replace Lillee with Miller, an all rounder but worth his place as a bowler alone so he should count. And Chappell would have to make way for this fellow, the legendary Victor Trumper, who looks as if he didn't mind giving it some pongo.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Phil Carter]

Hello Steve,

Yes, I entirely agree. My (and your) revised line up is therefore:-

1. M. Hayden
2. M. Taylor
3. D. Bradman
4. V. Trumper
5. S. Waugh
6. M. Waugh
7. A. Gilchrist
8. R. Benaud.
9. K. Miller
10.S.Warne
11.B.Lee


I'd thought of Trumper strangely enough, but didn't think of Keith Miller, for unknown reasons.

The omission of Chappel, Walters and Co really does put the 70's Aussie side into the shade compared with before and afterwards. Also, without Ponsford and Armstrong for example, the only pre-war players are Trumper(1900s) and Bradman(late 1920s to late 1940s). From the 50/60's Benaud and Miller, 6 (mainly) x 1990's players and one, Brett Lee, mainly from the 2000's.

Yup..I like that line up. Any better? And can our Antipodean friends come up with the same sort of side for England to "achieve" the feat?

best wishes

Phil

[Steven Russell]

I like it! Armstrong could be our twelfth man and spare heavy roller.

Best wishes,
Steve.