One of the underappreciated things about reflex is how much repetition goes into creating muscle memory to make reflex actions successful. I respect that sort of dedication to perfecting a craft.
Oh, c'mon mont, you're not stirring up the Libertarians at Catallaxy now. You can't practice reflex catches. M Waugh was just that sort of bloke, naturally gifted. If anything, a bit more dedication and he could have been good as, if not better, than his brother.
Rodger* Waugh wasn't hitting volleys for Mark to catch down at Regent's Park tennis courts for practice.
Lawry and Slatts are going on about it, Pat. They're basically re-playing the tape from Boxing Day. Christ Almighty.
Re: catches, I can see M0nty's argument about training and repetition. That said, I've taken a few catches instinctively in my time and whilst I wasn't Mark Waugh, I always preferred an infield catch to a long, running outfield catch. There's no time to choke when it happens quickly.
You can't practice reflex catches. M Waugh was just that sort of bloke, naturally gifted. If anything, a bit more dedication and he could have been good as, if not better, than his brother.
Sure you can. It's called fielding practice. Another myth, that M Waugh didn't have to work hard to do what he did. He worked bloody hard at it, he just made it look easy.
Luckily I have Kino de Toten on at full blast in the background so I can barely hear the commentary. I did hear someone mention St Ignatius Riverview though.
You're right about Wade's catch. Top class catch. I'd prefer M Waugh as wicky though. You need good reflexes to keep well.
How do you practice reflex catches? Did M Waugh do it differently to everyone else? Were the rest all slack arsing off whilst M Waugh had his head down practicing?
I'd lay a bet that M Waugh did less practice and more TAB punting than just about everyone else in the team. Gifted man. Could've joined the Pantheon with that talent.
Starc is very obviously the new Johnson. He bowls tripe most of the time, but picks up wickets. Cue a public run-in with his Mum, a shortened run-up and then more tripe?
Whether or not we are ahead on points at 5/245 is really beside the point when you consider that we went them in. You would expect them to get at 300 plus from here, and a team scoring 300 when they've been sent in is a major loss for the fielding side. You should only send a side in when you're convinced that you can knock them over for under 200, and there was no reason given the conditions, for us to think that. Now we're batting last on a pitch that will probably turn later on, which plays right into their hands.
Calculated by Clarke. Decides to put them in on a road that could turn later to deflate the team, public and media (and assorted egos) prior to the Ashes.
If we won this in side 3 days, the media and public would have been cock-a-hoop expecting Ashes triumph.
Clarke, ever the thinker, working against that happening... cultivating a loss and reality check.
Tones, seeing as this Test is dribbling out into a fizzer, and the summer's gonna go just as slow-quick, can you link me an album to see through the next 4 days please?
OK - here's a more likely unlikely conspiracy theory that no-one will think let alone say - maybe they want to chase on a wearing pitch against a spin attack for India.
Or maybe he just completely underestimated the opposition and thought they would knock them over for 150 again just by turning up.
I can understand throwing down the gauntlet to your quicks and having a bowl-off for three spots, and I can understand experimenting with giving Johnson more responsibility with the bat when it's a dead rubber, particularly when Watson's injured. What I cannot understand is sending in a side for no good reason - I hate it at the best of times. That said, I wasn't saying it in the first session, so maybe it all comes with the benefit of hindsight. Armchair critic and all that.
BTW, I'd really like to see Lyon get a wicket in this series that doesn't come from a wild village yahoo, to quote Doug Walters. We'll need him to take proper wickets in India.
Carrot, i really think Hard Core has become all Nein sideshow ring-master now. Bowls Wade. Bowls Hussey. Hand in selection chooses 4 quicks with Johnson as all-rounder. Opts to bowl on a batsman's pitch.
Chuckles a hell of a lot.
People come in, people go out. All gravitas is lost.
One of the best things about being at the SCG today is not having to listen to the Nine commentary.
They are selling those earpieces for $20 that get the ABC and Nine commentary. I wouldn't take one if you paid me the $20. I come to the cricket to get away from that.
The worst thing is paying $48 for four beers and two small bottles of water. At least the beer is Carlton.
Here in the cheap seats we aren't trusted with glass. Although they did let me bring in a cooked chicken, which from memory someone once threw at Pat Symcox.
From Wikipedia: During an ODI against Australia at the SCG in late-1997, play was stopped after the crowd pelted Symcox with projectiles, including an entire KFC barbecue chicken.
Wiki doesn't say that Pat called the SCG crowd the "worst in the world" or words to that effect.
As if. Although there was a pitch invasion about 100 years ago during an Ashes Test. And Illingworth took the proms off the field in the 70s. But that's about it.
When we start burning grandstands down Pat will have a point, but not till then.
Ok Let me start diplomatcally
This site is full of whingers
No Let me explain!
1 We want the SL's to be bowled out for bugger all
2. We want the test to go for 5 days(beer testing)
3. We want all the batsmen (esp Huss) to score tons
4. I've lost my train of thought!
You know it makes sense
Lot of activity here today. We must have been doing badly. For what it's worth I don't mind bowling first. Teams have outperformed expectations bowling first since the 90s (and flat pitches). You can win with out declaring bowling first. It is almost impossible to lose with a half decent second innings. Neither are true going first.
The thing that mystifies me is that batting first - assuming that the Sris are pants - is a ticket to the Test not going the full five days, which would not help to fulfil Stakeholder's KPIs.
Russ, with the Shrees offered the first innings and making 300-odd, it means we have to go big batting second to avoid fourth innings awkwardness with a dodgy batting line-up on a pitch the groundy referred to as "you probably don’t want to be batting last".
Disclaimer: the Shrees could still be utter filth batting third.
Tony, which is a perfectly fair enough reason. And if all four innings are likely to be played out then batting first is preferable. If it is a road for the first three days though, there is a fair chance all four innings won't be played, in which case both winning and not losing is a whole lot easier chasing.
What odds on Cowan making the Ashes at this point? Must be struggling unless he can do something in India, despite England being the place where his type of patience would be most valuable.
Australian batsman David Warner said fielding on the long boundary would present temptation.
"It's fantastic, obviously a world-first as a cricketer if you're fielding down here you probably want to slip up there during the afternoon when it's quite hot with that pool up there," Warner said.
Warner must not have seen the pool in the West Indies.
Utter farce. It is astonishing that such a mediocre batting line-up should consider itself good enough to smash itself to a hefty total. Hubris. Lack of discipline. Muddle-headedness. Call it whatever you like, but distill it to one word: dumb.
I still have no problem with bowling first. It is an out and out road, and entirely a failing of shot selection and running if we don't make 500. We still should, but I'll take 360 and assume the bowling will improve.
Ney not a road. The ball is deviating ( no not as in M Petard) but off the wicket. It will be hard to bat on from tomorrow onwards. It is going to spin!
Will be interesting to see how much of a target the Shrees can set. One thing is for sure, Aussie fans will be sweating on every run the Shrees post once they pass our score.
Don, the ball is deviating with the new ball. Give it ten overs. It may be hard to bat on tomorrow, but it is the top-order's fault that it won't be Australia batting on it. They've gift-wrapped four wickets, and Our Phil wasn't much better. And yes, Australia may lose. But not for calling wrong at the toss.
1950s Australia had all-rounders (real ones) all the way down. This one for example where 8 players probably fancied themselves for a bowl and the (better than Halley) all-rounders started at 5 and ended at 11.
"Playing the Ceylsmen is the worst preparation for the Ashes." Playing anyone apart from the Saffers just before the Ashes isn't going to be much use and we have to play all the test teams - if you don't count the Bangers and Zim - at some point in the FTP cycle.
It's legitimate enough considering that we haven't got the batsmen for the Ashes regardless of who we pick.
That's interesting that Hussey is a natural right hander who taught himself to play left because of his admiration for Allan Border. I believe Hughes is a natural right hander who taught himself to play left. The theory being that the right being the stronger, more dominant hand it should be on top for power, rather than below for direction. Or have I got that wrong?
Should we be teaching our kids to bat left handed if right handed and vice versa?
Posted this earlier but it didn't show up. It's pretty long, sorry about that, feel free to ignore it. Just re-posting for posterity:
This is the Sydley Test thread so, I just want to say, what a great day we had at the cricket yesterday.
Warner's 50 in the 1st session was exciting, the run out of Cowan (Cowan's fault) not withstanding. Hughes then took over the pace with some excellent offside cuts and late cuts. If both could have gone on and got their tons, the afternoon could have really seen some carnage from these two in full flight. But, as it is, frustratingly they both got out.
Both wickets we missed too, having been held up at the SFS pool, a lunchtime break that was refreshing, by someone determined to drink, chat and watch the rest on TV, instead of see real life action. Tempting, we did come to see the cricket - at the cricket! So back we went, in the heat.
Hussey was met with a huge roar, the earlier day's wasted opportunities forgiven in that we could see one of our later year heroes play his last. His run out? Damn you Hard Core!
Hard Core himself looked so good, so easy, so born to it, that again, what a wasted opportunity. Johnson we would have liked to see coming in as tailender, as he was never going to do what he does there, here. Forgone conclusion to that innings.
A crowd of 26K plus produced a happy and enjoyable atmosphere. The Bunnies fans we sat with didn't ruin things as Bunnies fans tend to do, in fact they were good company. The loss of the Noble and Bradman stands would have accounted for maybe another 3K? The day was hot, sweltering hot, just right for plastic cup beer drinking of Carlton piss, the cheapest on offer.
The O'Reilly stand patrons, must be the cheap seats, were in fine form, my boys fascinated with their cheers and boos at beach balls and paper aeroplanes going onto the ground, their mexican waves, the Yoda Benaud section, and the bowler's run up crescendo clapping late in the arvo. They made the atmosphere, and reminded me of what what a joy Test cricket was, in the old Hill days.
On that point, at $141 being the cheapest "bronze" seats for the Brewongle, for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids, is beyond my capacity. These people must be dedicated to shell out for it, unlike me who bludges off members for free entry when I can get it.
Factor in travel, $36 bucks for a day rover for two, beers at $6.50 the cheapest, food (don't even go there, bring your own), there is no way the ordinary man can take his family to see one day, let alone all five. What a pity. Thinking about 26K in attendance, at say, $65 a pop, that's $1,690,000 for a day's revenue, plus food and drinks for the SCG trust. Things are expensive these days but I'm quite sure that this is not justified. If the powers that be want to encourage cricket then they need to reduce their prices for families at least.
And one more thing: as a smoker I know I am not just a blight on all humanity, but worse than a dedicated platoon of Taliban pedophiles. But, I see that back in 1896 they did have the sympathy to at least provide the Smoker's Stand, ("Moved to No. 2 ground 1909. (since demolished)"). Hiding out at the rear of the portaloos, made me and others look like toilet loitering kiddie fiddlers. Perhaps they would be more welcomed there than we were? C'mon Sydney, the thing's gone beyond a farce. Let me die in peace, with some dignity, is all I ask - I've damn well paid for the privilege several times over what with my taxes.
In summary, a fine day at the cricket which my boys completely loved and wanted to do again, today, and tomorrow, till the 5th day if they could. But, no more freebies, so we'll stay at home and watch it on the telly instead. There I can sit outside, drink full strength beer from a glass, have a few durries when I feel like it, with some shade, and chat on the internet to funny, interesting knowledgeable blokes. It's not as good as being at the ground, that's for sure, and what the boys have learned but, that's all we can afford.
Well done to the Ozzies and Lankans, a great day's play, and well done to the crowd, especially those in the O'Reilly stand.
The little master ( all power to the grate one) is left-handed and bats right handed ( like me).
The theory has it that it makes you play straighter and therefore drive better. You can see this in the case of the little master ( all power to the grate one).
With both the boring one and the other one it is silly as the bottom hand are dominant when they bat.
What about Tuggas catch against the Windies, I think it was, when he bounced the ball deliberately to his fore arm, bounced it up and caught it again?
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:43 PM
One of the underappreciated things about reflex is how much repetition goes into creating muscle memory to make reflex actions successful. I respect that sort of dedication to perfecting a craft.
Oh, c'mon mont, you're not stirring up the Libertarians at Catallaxy now. You can't practice reflex catches. M Waugh was just that sort of bloke, naturally gifted. If anything, a bit more dedication and he could have been good as, if not better, than his brother.
Rodger* Waugh wasn't hitting volleys for Mark to catch down at Regent's Park tennis courts for practice.
*True. That's how he spells it.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:50 PM
Lawry and Slatts are going on about it, Pat. They're basically re-playing the tape from Boxing Day. Christ Almighty.
Re: catches, I can see M0nty's argument about training and repetition. That said, I've taken a few catches instinctively in my time and whilst I wasn't Mark Waugh, I always preferred an infield catch to a long, running outfield catch. There's no time to choke when it happens quickly.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:52 PM
Sure you can. It's called fielding practice. Another myth, that M Waugh didn't have to work hard to do what he did. He worked bloody hard at it, he just made it look easy.
Posted by: m0nty | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:55 PM
Luckily I have Kino de Toten on at full blast in the background so I can barely hear the commentary. I did hear someone mention St Ignatius Riverview though.
You're right about Wade's catch. Top class catch. I'd prefer M Waugh as wicky though. You need good reflexes to keep well.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:56 PM
How do you practice reflex catches? Did M Waugh do it differently to everyone else? Were the rest all slack arsing off whilst M Waugh had his head down practicing?
I'd lay a bet that M Waugh did less practice and more TAB punting than just about everyone else in the team. Gifted man. Could've joined the Pantheon with that talent.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:58 PM
This is pure Mark Waugh reflex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcjHbDz76Us
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:00 PM
Steve Waugh's catch in the Windies which he dropped, the ball bounced, and he hugged it on the rebound was off Lara.
Mark Waugh's catch off VVS was not bread & butter or like shelling peas, but it was certainly a catch a Test fieldsman should have taken.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:01 PM
Steve Waugh's catch in the Windies which he dropped, the ball bounced, and he hugged it on the rebound was off Lara.
How dare you!
Definitely came off his forearm. Deliberate too. To take the steam off it. Reflex par excellence!
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:03 PM
It seemed like it came off the ground. It's typical Tugga mental disintegration, right there and then.
Mark Waugh should have been given, btw.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:05 PM
Lara walked, btw.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:06 PM
Riveting this test, if you blokes want to debate catches from a decade or more back.
Posted by: @TKYC | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:07 PM
Debating catches from 1995 is what cricket is all about. And private schools.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:10 PM
This takes guts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS703gGoq6Q
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:11 PM
Four quicks announced two days before a Test. Send the Shrees in to bat. On a road. Still shaking my head.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:16 PM
At least I'll be assured of seeing Mr Cricket tomorrow.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:18 PM
The New Mitchell is better than the Old Mitchell.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:21 PM
Starc is very obviously the new Johnson. He bowls tripe most of the time, but picks up wickets. Cue a public run-in with his Mum, a shortened run-up and then more tripe?
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:23 PM
Carrot, you forgot the sleeve tatts.
Posted by: @TKYC | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:27 PM
I watched Dynamo Magician Impossible on Seven last night. He removed tattoos with a rub of his thumb.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:33 PM
Whether or not we are ahead on points at 5/245 is really beside the point when you consider that we went them in. You would expect them to get at 300 plus from here, and a team scoring 300 when they've been sent in is a major loss for the fielding side. You should only send a side in when you're convinced that you can knock them over for under 200, and there was no reason given the conditions, for us to think that. Now we're batting last on a pitch that will probably turn later on, which plays right into their hands.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:41 PM
Calculated by Clarke. Decides to put them in on a road that could turn later to deflate the team, public and media (and assorted egos) prior to the Ashes.
If we won this in side 3 days, the media and public would have been cock-a-hoop expecting Ashes triumph.
Clarke, ever the thinker, working against that happening... cultivating a loss and reality check.
(said no-one)
Posted by: @TKYC | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:44 PM
"(said no-one)"
Wall, aacctuallly, I like where you're coming from.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:46 PM
Tones, seeing as this Test is dribbling out into a fizzer, and the summer's gonna go just as slow-quick, can you link me an album to see through the next 4 days please?
All out of inspiration here.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:50 PM
Now that's! a great catch, from Warner.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:51 PM
OK - here's a more likely unlikely conspiracy theory that no-one will think let alone say - maybe they want to chase on a wearing pitch against a spin attack for India.
Or maybe he just completely underestimated the opposition and thought they would knock them over for 150 again just by turning up.
I can understand throwing down the gauntlet to your quicks and having a bowl-off for three spots, and I can understand experimenting with giving Johnson more responsibility with the bat when it's a dead rubber, particularly when Watson's injured. What I cannot understand is sending in a side for no good reason - I hate it at the best of times. That said, I wasn't saying it in the first session, so maybe it all comes with the benefit of hindsight. Armchair critic and all that.
BTW, I'd really like to see Lyon get a wicket in this series that doesn't come from a wild village yahoo, to quote Doug Walters. We'll need him to take proper wickets in India.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:56 PM
And another!
7/256
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:57 PM
Pat, here you go: Rough Mix.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 04:57 PM
Look up Rough Mix on Wiki, then play the tracks one by one on Youey. Best tracks are 1 and 5 on side one, and 1 and 3 on side two.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:01 PM
Thanks Tones. Interesting. Different.
Carrot, i really think Hard Core has become all Nein sideshow ring-master now. Bowls Wade. Bowls Hussey. Hand in selection chooses 4 quicks with Johnson as all-rounder. Opts to bowl on a batsman's pitch.
Chuckles a hell of a lot.
People come in, people go out. All gravitas is lost.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:05 PM
Full album here.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:12 PM
I commend Pup for showing us why we should never not bat, in a dead rubber.
Posted by: m0nty | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:12 PM
I cannot believe we would send a side in again after the farce that was Perth 2008 against India.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:13 PM
Well I come back from the doctor's and i see The Ceylsmen are almost all out. I clam credit for that prediction.
only about a session and a half out.
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:23 PM
Theit no 11 has come in early! was the no.10 in the toilet?
Herath needed to go
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:29 PM
All out in a day for under 300. After sending them in, you can't take it away from Hard Core. Still, it is only the capitulating Sri Lankans.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:32 PM
One of the best things about being at the SCG today is not having to listen to the Nine commentary.
They are selling those earpieces for $20 that get the ABC and Nine commentary. I wouldn't take one if you paid me the $20. I come to the cricket to get away from that.
The worst thing is paying $48 for four beers and two small bottles of water. At least the beer is Carlton.
Posted by: The Mongrel | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:36 PM
we will declare 0-650 at lunch tomorrow
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:36 PM
I heard today the Crownies are $7.50 and the Carltons in a plastic cup are over $6.50.
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:37 PM
egads beer for the plebs but what about the hoi polloi?
what idiot told koo to bowl around the wicket?
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:42 PM
Here in the cheap seats we aren't trusted with glass. Although they did let me bring in a cooked chicken, which from memory someone once threw at Pat Symcox.
Posted by: The Mongrel | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:42 PM
ha ha
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:43 PM
From Wikipedia: During an ODI against Australia at the SCG in late-1997, play was stopped after the crowd pelted Symcox with projectiles, including an entire KFC barbecue chicken.
Brilliant!
Posted by: M. Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:45 PM
It wasn't really KFC, it was Coles Free Range ambush marketing.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:46 PM
Wiki doesn't say that Pat called the SCG crowd the "worst in the world" or words to that effect.
As if. Although there was a pitch invasion about 100 years ago during an Ashes Test. And Illingworth took the proms off the field in the 70s. But that's about it.
When we start burning grandstands down Pat will have a point, but not till then.
Posted by: The Mongrel | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:52 PM
except Nein put a KFC label on it when televising and of course Tawny then told everyone of their special offer!
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:53 PM
Proms? I mean Poms. Although a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory has a certain appeal.
Posted by: The Mongrel | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:54 PM
I was part of the crowd in 1971 when illie tried for his night at the proms
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:55 PM
Good timing to dismiss the Shrees right on stumps.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 05:58 PM
Just as I predicted
Posted by: The Don has risen | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 06:08 PM
Ok Let me start diplomatcally
This site is full of whingers
No Let me explain!
1 We want the SL's to be bowled out for bugger all
2. We want the test to go for 5 days(beer testing)
3. We want all the batsmen (esp Huss) to score tons
4. I've lost my train of thought!
You know it makes sense
Posted by: chrisl | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 07:08 PM
Lot of activity here today. We must have been doing badly. For what it's worth I don't mind bowling first. Teams have outperformed expectations bowling first since the 90s (and flat pitches). You can win with out declaring bowling first. It is almost impossible to lose with a half decent second innings. Neither are true going first.
Posted by: Russ | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 08:46 PM
I don't have a problem with bowling first if the conditions warrant bowling first, but today's conditions were bat first.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 09:34 PM
Scorecard says otherwise. Australia is better off with the shrees all out 300 than 4/340 as long as we're not all out at stumps tomorrow.
Posted by: Russ | Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 10:28 PM
The thing that mystifies me is that batting first - assuming that the Sris are pants - is a ticket to the Test not going the full five days, which would not help to fulfil Stakeholder's KPIs.
Posted by: m0nty | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 07:17 AM
Oh, yeah well, I've given up on the summer of international creak-it. Too bloody grey and miserable to even wake up on time for the last session now.
When does Shield cricket start again? I'm missing following the Warriors' godawful season.
Having Alfonso Thomas in the Scorchies makes it all seem too, I don't know, professional somehow.
Posted by: lou | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 08:12 AM
Russ, with the Shrees offered the first innings and making 300-odd, it means we have to go big batting second to avoid fourth innings awkwardness with a dodgy batting line-up on a pitch the groundy referred to as "you probably don’t want to be batting last".
Disclaimer: the Shrees could still be utter filth batting third.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 09:16 AM
Tony, which is a perfectly fair enough reason. And if all four innings are likely to be played out then batting first is preferable. If it is a road for the first three days though, there is a fair chance all four innings won't be played, in which case both winning and not losing is a whole lot easier chasing.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 09:35 AM
What odds on Cowan making the Ashes at this point? Must be struggling unless he can do something in India, despite England being the place where his type of patience would be most valuable.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Ed Cowan's Summer
v SAF
136 (run out), 10 and 29 (bowled), 0 and 53
v SL
4 and 56 (bowled), 36, and 4 (run out)
Average 36.4
Nice work getting run out in two series.
Discuss.
Posted by: @TKYC | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:06 AM
That was a terribly lazy run out. Cowan should be embarrassed.
Posted by: David | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Russ, I made exactly the same comment at Tweeter. Cowan needs oodles in India. TK, that "run out 136" was ominous.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:16 AM
What the hell was Cowan thinking strolling the first run?
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:20 AM
57, 68, 62, 51*, with heaps of fours. Cow Corner Warner is The New Shane Watson. Cow Corner Watto
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:41 AM
That the SCG installed this, complete with girls, says all you need to know about the depth of Sydernee's sporting culture.
Posted by: @TKYC | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Warner must not have seen the pool in the West Indies.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:49 AM
been busy.
I see my accurate forecasts are going to fore.
to be honest I won't watch a lot of the AWZies bat. the Sris only have one bowler.
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Dilshan and Herath running through Australia's batting is not out of the question.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 01:45 PM
Watto Lotto, Warner Forlorner.
Posted by: m0nty | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 01:48 PM
Warner is an idiot. What sort of peanut is set and hits it straight down the trap-fieldsman's throat - twice?
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 02:10 PM
talking bout idiocy I see Sinclair Davidson has invented a whole new accounting standard in regard to your question.
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 02:13 PM
What question was that?
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 02:26 PM
How long until it is against the Spirit Of Cricket NOT to give a Guard Of Honour? Everyone gets a prize.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 02:34 PM
India never gave Chris Rogers a guard of honour.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 02:48 PM
Typical.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 03:04 PM
how about Ken Eastwood? Les joslin?
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 03:41 PM
M0nty anymore on that accounting discrepancy?
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 03:45 PM
How many run outs have the Aussies managed this series?
Posted by: lou | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 03:49 PM
What a fucking disgrace the dismissals in this innings have been. At least make them earn one of them.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 04:21 PM
Utter farce. It is astonishing that such a mediocre batting line-up should consider itself good enough to smash itself to a hefty total. Hubris. Lack of discipline. Muddle-headedness. Call it whatever you like, but distill it to one word: dumb.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 04:37 PM
Range of shot selection from Tone quite limited this test... the old 'hubris' has got quite a run!
Posted by: @TKYC | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 04:39 PM
Hubris is the key word when Test teams think they are good enough to premeditate selections, which then trap them into a corner vis-a-vis the toss.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:11 PM
Ohh, and use a Test as a practice match.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:11 PM
I still have no problem with bowling first. It is an out and out road, and entirely a failing of shot selection and running if we don't make 500. We still should, but I'll take 360 and assume the bowling will improve.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:27 PM
I always knew Tony was a classical greek scholar. me i prefer koine greek.
how is our all rounder going?
out!
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:27 PM
Ney not a road. The ball is deviating ( no not as in M Petard) but off the wicket. It will be hard to bat on from tomorrow onwards. It is going to spin!
One all rounder out another in!
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:30 PM
Will be interesting to see how much of a target the Shrees can set. One thing is for sure, Aussie fans will be sweating on every run the Shrees post once they pass our score.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:32 PM
Has there ever been a team in test cricket to have every player an all-rounder like this team?
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:33 PM
Don, the ball is deviating with the new ball. Give it ten overs. It may be hard to bat on tomorrow, but it is the top-order's fault that it won't be Australia batting on it. They've gift-wrapped four wickets, and Our Phil wasn't much better. And yes, Australia may lose. But not for calling wrong at the toss.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:34 PM
Playing the Ceylsmen is the worst preparation for the Ashes.
We will pick batsman who wil fail and forget all about Perth.
Even the Dill is spinning it quite a bit if they bowl in a second innings I can see plenty of pressure and wickets.
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:38 PM
1950s Australia had all-rounders (real ones) all the way down. This one for example where 8 players probably fancied themselves for a bowl and the (better than Halley) all-rounders started at 5 and ended at 11.
Posted by: Russ | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:47 PM
which is why we lost the series!
Posted by: The Don has risen | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:51 PM
The South African one-dayer side seemed to be full of all rounders.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 05:53 PM
"The South African one-dayer side seemed to be full of all rounders."
So which sport are they best at, Tony?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjJIqyXiqG4
Posted by: Big Ramifications | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 07:26 PM
"Playing the Ceylsmen is the worst preparation for the Ashes." Playing anyone apart from the Saffers just before the Ashes isn't going to be much use and we have to play all the test teams - if you don't count the Bangers and Zim - at some point in the FTP cycle.
It's legitimate enough considering that we haven't got the batsmen for the Ashes regardless of who we pick.
Grand, isn't it?
Posted by: lou | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 08:09 AM
I just luv channel nein before the test starts.
I always wondered why the mute button was invented.
They had the prescience to understand nein comontary.
Interviewing Hussey. the boring interviewing the boring.
just because of this I gunna give 11 LBWs, in a row and het in the Guibess book of records!!
Posted by: The Don has risen | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 10:21 AM
That's interesting that Hussey is a natural right hander who taught himself to play left because of his admiration for Allan Border. I believe Hughes is a natural right hander who taught himself to play left. The theory being that the right being the stronger, more dominant hand it should be on top for power, rather than below for direction. Or have I got that wrong?
Should we be teaching our kids to bat left handed if right handed and vice versa?
Posted by: M. Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Posted this earlier but it didn't show up. It's pretty long, sorry about that, feel free to ignore it. Just re-posting for posterity:
This is the Sydley Test thread so, I just want to say, what a great day we had at the cricket yesterday.
Warner's 50 in the 1st session was exciting, the run out of Cowan (Cowan's fault) not withstanding. Hughes then took over the pace with some excellent offside cuts and late cuts. If both could have gone on and got their tons, the afternoon could have really seen some carnage from these two in full flight. But, as it is, frustratingly they both got out.
Both wickets we missed too, having been held up at the SFS pool, a lunchtime break that was refreshing, by someone determined to drink, chat and watch the rest on TV, instead of see real life action. Tempting, we did come to see the cricket - at the cricket! So back we went, in the heat.
Hussey was met with a huge roar, the earlier day's wasted opportunities forgiven in that we could see one of our later year heroes play his last. His run out? Damn you Hard Core!
Hard Core himself looked so good, so easy, so born to it, that again, what a wasted opportunity. Johnson we would have liked to see coming in as tailender, as he was never going to do what he does there, here. Forgone conclusion to that innings.
Posted by: M. Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 10:30 AM
A crowd of 26K plus produced a happy and enjoyable atmosphere. The Bunnies fans we sat with didn't ruin things as Bunnies fans tend to do, in fact they were good company. The loss of the Noble and Bradman stands would have accounted for maybe another 3K? The day was hot, sweltering hot, just right for plastic cup beer drinking of Carlton piss, the cheapest on offer.
The O'Reilly stand patrons, must be the cheap seats, were in fine form, my boys fascinated with their cheers and boos at beach balls and paper aeroplanes going onto the ground, their mexican waves, the Yoda Benaud section, and the bowler's run up crescendo clapping late in the arvo. They made the atmosphere, and reminded me of what what a joy Test cricket was, in the old Hill days.
On that point, at $141 being the cheapest "bronze" seats for the Brewongle, for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids, is beyond my capacity. These people must be dedicated to shell out for it, unlike me who bludges off members for free entry when I can get it.
Factor in travel, $36 bucks for a day rover for two, beers at $6.50 the cheapest, food (don't even go there, bring your own), there is no way the ordinary man can take his family to see one day, let alone all five. What a pity. Thinking about 26K in attendance, at say, $65 a pop, that's $1,690,000 for a day's revenue, plus food and drinks for the SCG trust. Things are expensive these days but I'm quite sure that this is not justified. If the powers that be want to encourage cricket then they need to reduce their prices for families at least.
And one more thing: as a smoker I know I am not just a blight on all humanity, but worse than a dedicated platoon of Taliban pedophiles. But, I see that back in 1896 they did have the sympathy to at least provide the Smoker's Stand, ("Moved to No. 2 ground 1909. (since demolished)"). Hiding out at the rear of the portaloos, made me and others look like toilet loitering kiddie fiddlers. Perhaps they would be more welcomed there than we were? C'mon Sydney, the thing's gone beyond a farce. Let me die in peace, with some dignity, is all I ask - I've damn well paid for the privilege several times over what with my taxes.
In summary, a fine day at the cricket which my boys completely loved and wanted to do again, today, and tomorrow, till the 5th day if they could. But, no more freebies, so we'll stay at home and watch it on the telly instead. There I can sit outside, drink full strength beer from a glass, have a few durries when I feel like it, with some shade, and chat on the internet to funny, interesting knowledgeable blokes. It's not as good as being at the ground, that's for sure, and what the boys have learned but, that's all we can afford.
Well done to the Ozzies and Lankans, a great day's play, and well done to the crowd, especially those in the O'Reilly stand.
Posted by: M. Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 10:31 AM
The little master ( all power to the grate one) is left-handed and bats right handed ( like me).
The theory has it that it makes you play straighter and therefore drive better. You can see this in the case of the little master ( all power to the grate one).
With both the boring one and the other one it is silly as the bottom hand are dominant when they bat.
Posted by: The Don has risen | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 10:39 AM