The Ashes

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Possibly the greatest sporting rivalry of all time is under way in Australia at the moment. England haven't won in Australia since 1986-7 but for once it looks like we should do it. I say should because you never know with Australia and England - the Aussies are the most competitive bunch of people in sport and defeat on home soil is almost unthinkable.

If you love baseball you should love cricket. It's one of the most complex and subtle sports there is and rewards the spectator in so many different ways. Five days to complete one test sounds a lot, but it's almost always riveting stuff. There are five matches in an Ashes series and after the first test was drawn in Brisbane England won the second test in Adelaide yesterday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes#2005_to_present

Trying to condense a full days play into highlights is difficult. But here are some from days 1 and 5 with the Aussies on the rack. Watch Ricky Ponting, their Captain and one of Australia's greatest batsmen ever, dismissed first ball:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nKZ43ciQh8[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFpDUs_Q_A[/media]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nKZ43ciQh8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFpDUs_Q_A

[weeniebeenie]

I say should because you never know with Australia and England - the Aussies are the most competitive bunch of people in sport and defeat on home soil is almost unthinkable.

Damn straight! ;)

[ralph]

I have never seen an Australian cricket team be so uncompetiive. It's embarrassing. I usually go to day 3 of the boxing day test in Melbourne each year, but I don't think I'll bother this year.

Unless something remarkable happens in Perth next week this series is all over.... And there is nothing worse than getting beating by the Poms. Nothing...

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Why is there nothing worse than getting beaten by the Poms?

Surely if you are a cricket fan you will be enjoying the wonderful performances of great sportsmen in their prime? And how can you abandon your team already? It's only 1 - 0 with three games to play!

[ralph]

Were taught from a very early age that it doesn't matter where you finish as long as you beat the mother country! It's instilled in us!!!

Unfortunately Australia is out of options for this series unless Warnie comes out of retirement! Just look at the stats from Adelaide. We took 5 wickets for the match to your 20, and our top 6 made a total of 460 over two innings to your 620 over one. We have no one to bring into the side that will change that.... It's not abandoning the team, just more a realization that we just aren't good anymore. And you don't know how painful that is. (oh, hang on a minute. You follow the English cricket team. You'd know that feeling all too well!!)

[Paulie_Walnuts]

So you don't mind getting whupped by New Zealand in both rugby codes as long as you beat England?  ;)

[ralph]

Don't follow rugby! But I'm sure it probably is pretty bad too! But it's New Zealand, you gotta give something to be happy about!

[Paulie_Walnuts]

You should have kept the faith Ralph.......Mitchell Johnson is back!

[MarkW]

It's going to be an interesting weekend.

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Sure will. I'd be surprised if England can come back in this match, unless they have a blistering morning tomorrow. Either way, it's a real turnaround from an Aussie team who were looking decidedly shaky!

I have to post this. What about this for a catch for all you baseball fans out there.....no need for a big glove in this game!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwvVxhG-HAQ[/media]

And it's not the first time he's done it:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiAx4mDIPqk[/media]

[ralph]

What a turnaround. Looks like it will go to the boxing day test all square. May have to go along now! Wow is all I can say at this point...

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Fair weather supporter is all I can say at this point........ ;)

[ralph]

or was I right all along? All out in the first innings for 98...  ??? Aussies in deep deep trouble.