THERE WERE ONLY TWO TEAMS PLAYING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME

How long until Spanky lets slip the wild dogs?

War of words heats up

A SPITEFULLY sensational Test is set to reach boiling point today as both sides vowed to keep up the aggression that saw players cautioned.

Johnson said Australia had returned to its bullish best after taking a tamer approach following the controversial series against India two years ago.

Welcome home, boys (the "welcome", of course, is contingent upon research approval):

Fan support for Ashes aggression

AUSTRALIA'S decision to use unbridled aggression and intimidation in a final desperate bid for the Ashes has the blessing of the game's administrators and supporters.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson's admission of calculated sledging was met with tacit approval by Cricket Australia - backed by exhaustive research into what Australian supporters expect from their team.

"The field of play is not a place for namby pambys and the public doesn't want to see namby pambys out there," CA spokesman Peter Young said.

(Thanks, AA.)

Comments

[Alistair]

It's okay, it's CA-sanctioned, focus-group approved sledging with full stakeholder buy-in.

See second paragraph here: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/fan-support-for-ashes-aggression-20101218-1918v.html

[Cameron]

ATT Spanky: sshhhhhhhhhhhh...

[Hangover Black]

In today's Spanky: "Smith more typically Australian than Marcus North, adding character to the side".
And this improves the side in what way exactly?
He had an aggregate for the Test of 40 runs or so, being dismissed (or very nearly) about 13 times. Thank God the pitch had some life in it and we didn't have to throw him the ball.

[Tony]

Smiffy is very much an article of faith. Trouble is, too many pundits appear to be confusing faith with results.

[Yobbo]

Englishmen have a strange idea of what the typical Australian is.

[Tony]

Spanky's idea of an Australian is a character in a Russell Drysdale picture.

[The Don has Risen]

Sledging has no part in cricket.

Just read the preamble.

I would suggest the umpires ask test players , the captains in particular to read the preamble