2 minute readOn balance, we still think that they already had. Others will argue that being bowled out by New Zealand for 136 represents a further low, but we think it’s an improvement on being bowled out for 47. That’s how bottoming out works. It’s not like bouncing back. When you bottom
Continue readingCategory: Australia
Technically we haven’t seen Phil Hughes’ latest dismissal
< 1 minute readBut only technically. “I’d love him to be in the team,” said Ross Taylor before the second Test. “I think his technique has improved out of sight,” said Michael Clarke. “If Hughes plays in Tasmania then obviously Chris Martin will be bowling at him and hopefully Martin Guptill takes a
Continue readingAndrew Symonds – reality TV star
< 1 minute readAndrew Symonds: he’s just a hard-drinkin’, fishin’, pig-wrestlin’ Aussie who’s only happy doin’ outdoors things in the bush. He loved cricket, but life in the public eye was too much for him. The intense glare of the media made him crack. Thankfully, all that’s behind him now and he can
Continue readingThe ball is coming out of the hand well
< 1 minute readWe were reading about Australia’s latest call-up, Daniel Trevor Christian today. Aside from wondering whether a West Indian cricketer could trade him a surname for one of his first names, we were also struck by his use of the phrase ‘the ball is coming out of the hand well’. We
Continue readingJames Pattinson and Australian desperation
2 minute readIt’s been a great period in Australian cricket. There have been so many poor performances that the nation attained that blissful state where everyone’s running around screaming ‘do something!’ without any agreement as to what that something might be. It didn’t matter who was right and who was wrong, just
Continue readingDavid Warner’s Twenty20 reputation
2 minute readWe’ve some sympathy for the young, millionnaire cricketer, David Warner – and it’s not just because he’s Australian. We feel that sympathy – just a small amount – because he’s been branded a Twenty20 player. Warner’s done well off the back of Twenty20, but he’s always going to have to
Continue readingAustralia pick the wrong bowlers
< 1 minute readWith New Zealand 176-5, you may disagree with that. That’s not really our point. Our point is that we haven’t got anything to say about James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc. We were hoping Ben Cutting would get the nod. His training revolves around distance running, not weight-lifting – an approach
Continue readingMichael Clarke’s support for Mitchell Johnson is getting ridiculous
< 1 minute readMichael Clarke concluded early on in his tenure that his man management of Mitchell Johnson would involve unconditional love, no matter what the tufty-haired purveyor of left-arm ineptitude did with the ball. Johnson hasn’t taken many wickets recently, but Clarke’s been steadfast in his support. Someone should tell him he
Continue readingBack to what’s important
< 1 minute readWe’ve got behind Australia to a quite sickening degree in recent days. We’ve intimated that South African defeats can be enjoyable and we’ve sympathised – SYMPATHISED – with Australians when they weren’t able to win a Test series after one little catastrophe. Well enough of that. Let’s get back to
Continue readingA two match Test series that was a success on every level
< 1 minute readAustralian defeats, South African defeats, brilliant fast bowling, feisty batting, 47 all out and everyone feeling profoundly irritated at being massively short-changed by there only being two matches – this was the perfect Test series. It was better than anything. It was better than turning up at a restaurant and
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