NationStates Jolt Archive

The build-up to this year's Ashes series has been bigger than any that I can remember (not an awful lot), so I'm wondering what the NS General cricket fans think about the upcoming test series.

Don't know whether they will win but its going to be one of the best ashes series in a while.

Don't know whether they will win but its going to be one of the best ashes series in a while.

So say the English...

Hell yes they can! Go poms!

*slowly waves English flag*

Hell yes they can! Go poms!

*slowly waves English flag*

Traitor! I thought you were Aussie! :mp5:

Traitor! I thought you were Aussie! :mp5:

I am an Aussie. I just hate our cricket team. And the state of South Australia.

The law of averages says they must manage to get a good enough team together to take back the ashes sooner or later.

As an Aussie I hope they don't, but as a cricket fan who likes good, close, well fought out tests, I hope they do give us a run for our money at least :D.

I am an Aussie. I just hate our cricket team. And the state of South Australia.

Then go somewhere else. You'll make a lot of people happier. :sniper:

I am an Aussie. I just hate our cricket team. And the state of South Australia.

I understand the latter...

The law of averages says they must manage to get a good enough team together to take back the ashes sooner or later.

As an Aussie I hope they don't, but as a cricket fan who likes good, close, well fought out tests, I hope they do give us a run for our money at least :D.

We'll slaughter them in the live tests, then they'll give us a run in the dead rubbers, and everyone will say that the English are improoving. Happened the last couple of times...

Then go somewhere else. You'll make a lot of people happier. :sniper:

CC, i would leave if i could.

CC, i would leave if i could.

What do you mean 'If I could'? Just start digging a hole. You're bound to end up somewhere other than here.

I am an Aussie. I just hate our cricket team. And the state of South Australia.

I am originally a South Australian and and have only one thing to say....if you think SA is bad, try living in Queensland, especially around state of origin time. Its pure hell up here :p:D.

I know nothing about Cricket, but that advert on TV about the Ashes is really naff, dont you agree?

What do you mean 'If I could'? Just start digging a hole. You're bound to end up somewhere other than here.

CC, are you 10? Do you think i'll dig all the way to China?

I am originally a South Australian and and have only one thing to say....if you think SA is bad, try living in Queensland, especially around state of origin time. Its pure hell up here :p:D.

*gives pitty*

CC, i would leave if i could.

Don't go, we love you :(

I am originally a South Australian and and have only one thing to say....if you think SA is bad, try living in Queensland, especially around state of origin time. Its pure hell up here :p:D.

Ok, i don't think the whole state is bad, just the portion of it who support The Crows or The Power.

I know nothing about Cricket, but that advert on TV about the Ashes is really naff, dont you agree?

it was ok

Ok, i don't think the whole state is bad, just the portion of it who support The Crows or The Power.

And how did Carlton do?

Don't go, we love you :(

I love you too EBH.

:fluffle: :fluffle: :fluffle:

And how did Carlton do?

Mate, i don't care that we lost. At least Carlton supporters aren't a bunch of pricks.

I love you too EBH.

:fluffle: :fluffle: :fluffle:

*batters eyelids*

I would fluffle you, but I have made an oath not to use that smilie until someone can tell me whether its a no-suss hug or two wildly infatuated tennisballs snogging each other's heads off...

Mate, i don't care that we lost. At least Carlton supporters aren't a bunch of pricks.

*shocked*

How dare you!

Compared to the last 8 or so Ashes series we have a full squad to pick from (except Giles at the mo) though we will get thrashed in the ODI's as can't play that form of the game or even pick the best team. So I think it'll be the closet Ashes series in a while and if we are at the top of our game we will win (plus if we pick the BEST Wicketkeeper in the country, not the Wicketkeeper who can bat the best!)

CC, are you 10? Do you think i'll dig all the way to China?

I was thinking more Germany.

*batters eyelids*

I would fluffle you, but I have made an oath not to use that smilie until someone can tell me whether its a no-suss hug or two wildly infatuated tennisballs snogging each other's heads off...

lol... snogging tennisballs... lol

I love you too EBH.

:fluffle: :fluffle: :fluffle:

Any chance I could join this love fest?

Compared to the last 8 or so Ashes series we have a full squad to pick from (except Giles at the mo) though we will get thrashed in the ODI's as can't play that form of the game or even pick the best team. So I think it'll be the closet Ashes series in a while and if we are at the top of our game we will win (plus if we pick the BEST Wicketkeeper in the country, not the Wicketkeeper who can bat the best!)

We have the world's best glovesman, and he just happens to be one of the top five batsmen too! And guess what?

We can afford to play him at seven!

Any chance I could join this love fest?

I don't know NO in enough languages... ;)

I don't know NO in enough languages... ;)

A simple nyet would suffice.

A simple nyet would suffice.

No, I don't think it would...

We have the world's best glovesman, and he just happens to be one of the top five batsmen too! And guess what?

We can afford to play him at seven!

Yeah we try and copy, get an Aussie Import who can't catch but can bat. And as the cliche goes "Catches win matches".

Yeah we try and copy, get an Aussie Import who can't catch but can bat. And as the cliche goes "Catches win matches".

I hope your not implying that Gillie can't catch...

I hope your not implying that Gillie can't catch...

No i'm implying Jones (England's Wicketkeeper) can't catch! I can't ever remember seeing Gillie drop one lol!

No i'm implying Jones (England's Wicketkeeper) can't catch! I can't ever remember seeing Gillie drop one lol!

There was this one time a couple of years ago...

There was this one time a couple of years ago...

Lol! Was it costly?

Lol! Was it costly?

I think it was against the Kiwis,

so no, it was definitely not costly! :D

I think it was against the Kiwis,

so no, it was definitely not costly! :D

Yea Jones dropped a few last year against the Kiwi's! We still managed to Whitewash them 3-0!

Yea Jones dropped a few last year against the Kiwi's! We still managed to Whitewash them 3-0!

That really irritated me. You English win a couple of easy test series and all of a sudden you could be as good as us! :rolleyes: We beat India in India.

That really irritated me. You English win a couple of easy test series and all of a sudden you could be as good as us! :rolleyes: We beat India in India.

We beat SA in South Africa and we played poorly! SA like India rarely lose a home series! But I still think we are a year or two away from getting to the Aussies level but if are players perform this time we can win!

We beat SA in South Africa and we played poorly! SA like India rarely lose a home series! But I still think we are a year or two away from getting to the Aussies level but if are players perform this time we can win!

SA are crap, they are no-where near as good as they were five years ago. And if you guys had played like that against us we would have crucified you.

SA are crap, they are no-where near as good as they were five years ago. And if you guys had played like that against us we would have crucified you.

I wouldnt say crucified maybe a 3-1 loss but not crucified.

I know nothing about Cricket, but that advert on TV about the Ashes is really naff, dont you agree?

What the Channel 4 one? As that one is naff! But the Sky Sports one is good!

I can't see Australia not winning at least 2 tests, and I can't see england winning 3. At best Enland might get a 2-2 draw.

1-0 England rest rained out is the only way.-Not entirely true but you know...

I resent these NZ is lame comments if the 3rd Day and Generally the 3rd ininngs were abolished things would be alot different.

Since South Africa and Pakistan toured here in late 2003 early 2004 In both series we had them by the balls bar 1 day the dreaded 3rd we fell apart England we were in control until the 3rd day and we fell apart seriously the last 9 Tests weve played excluding Bangladesh weve shown an upperhand including two or 3 against Australia until the 3rd day or 3rd innings and we went to shit!

1-0 England rest rained out is the only way.-Not entirely true but you know...

I resent these NZ is lame comments if the 3rd Day and Generally the 3rd ininngs were abolished things would be alot different.

Since South Africa and Pakistan toured here in late 2003 early 2004 In both series we had them by the balls bar 1 day the dreaded 3rd we fell apart England we were in control until the 3rd day and we fell apart seriously the last 9 Tests weve played excluding Bangladesh weve shown an upperhand including two or 3 against Australia until the 3rd day or 3rd innings and we went to shit!

You should start a petition, BAN the third day of a Test! lol! I don't know why you have thayt problem as NZ do have some World Class cricketers in Fleming (Whose playing for my team Nottinghamshire at the mo), Styris and Chris Carnis(Played for Notts too! Though is now past his best!)

I have to put in my 2 cents here. Australia will win 4-1, Damien Martyn will be MOTS at an average of 324.45 and Michael Clarke will break his leg in the morning session, day 1, test 1.

Marto, you were robbed of the Allan Border Medal!!! :mad:

I have to put in my 2 cents here. Australia will win 4-1, Damien Martyn will be MOTS at an average of 324.45 and Michael Clarke will break his leg in the morning session, day 1, test 1.

Marto, you were robbed of the Allan Border Medal!!! :mad:

I guess your a Damien Martyn Fan lol ;) !

Na, Aussies will win the Ashes again. You Poms aren't going to get it back! :)

Damien Martyn is the personification of Sublime nothingness!
He is just in the team he dosent seem to be World class like the rest!

Bring back the 3 day test!

Yep, England can win...
Also, West Ham are going to win the Premiership next season, Everton the Champions League, Jamaica the World Cup, and Blair will resign as Prime Minister by next Thursday.
Either 2 or 3-1 to Australia.

Yep, England can win...
Also, West Ham are going to win the Premiership next season, Everton the Champions League, Jamaica the World Cup, and Blair will resign as Prime Minister by next Thursday.
Either 2 or 3-1 to Australia.

hey the first two are realistic but Everton, Jamaica and Blair, there i think your pushing it ;)

Yep, England can win...
Also, West Ham are going to win the Premiership next season, Everton the Champions League, Jamaica the World Cup, and Blair will resign as Prime Minister by next Thursday.
Either 2 or 3-1 to Australia.

You forgot about Nottingham Forest winning the FA Cup!

You forgot about Nottingham Forest winning the FA Cup!
Nah, Barnet are going to win that.

Nah, Barnet are going to win that.

Can we have the LDV Vans Trophy then?

Can we have the LDV Vans Trophy then?
If you must...

Damien Martyn is the personification of Sublime nothingness!
He is just in the team he dosent seem to be World class like the rest!

Bring back the 3 day test!
Dont worry the tests will probably only last three days

England is going to win. (Well not really, but they probably have the best chance they have had for a while. What is it now, something like ten years since they last won?).

Plus anything can happen.

Oh funny FC

The way Strya played against Somerset? it could be a clean sweep for England!

I see in the poll most people have taken the joke option in the poll (yes). :p

England won the twenty20 today. Proof that the three lions are going to roar. (or something).

I'll be over there for two of the tests. Can't wait.

If they play well the Poms can win, if not we'll walk all over them again. I think it will be the closest series for some time & England have a real chance.

Can they? yes

Will they? no

Still we can have a giggle at the 20/20 then suddenly realise it was for only 40 overs in total and so we are gonna get annihilated at the tests...

England won the twenty20 today. Proof that the three lions are going to roar. (or something).

I'll be over there for two of the tests. Can't wait.

Cool. They won a hit and giggle game that they've had loads more practice at playing.

Hell, england might even win the one day series. They have a much better chance of that than they do of beating australia over 5 tests.

Australia lost a One Dayer!

Australia lost a One Dayer!


Also note that in all tour one day games Aussie batsmen have been retiring after 80 or so runs. They could have put up more than they did probably. Hayden had hit 80 runs off 53 balls when he retired and Ponting had hit a run a ball 76 when he retired. That could have been 400+. Their bowlers got absolutely carted by Jayas and Smith, though.

Also note that in all tour one day games Aussie batsmen have been retiring after 80 or so runs. They could have put up more than they did probably. Hayden had hit 80 runs off 53 balls when he retired and Ponting had hit a run a ball 76 when he retired. That could have been 400+. Their bowlers got absolutely carted by Jayas and Smith, though.
oh...
Still a loss is a loss..
Well its not but..
Cronulla Won so yeah!

oh...
Still a loss is a loss..
Well its not but..
Cronulla Won so yeah!

Match bulliten that pretty much describes it:


Somerset v Australians, Taunton

Australians crash to humbling defeat

Andrew Miller

June 15, 2005

Somerset 345 for 6 (Smith 108, Jayasuriya 101) beat Australians 342 for 5 (Ponting 80, Hayden 76)


On Monday it was Australia's batsmen who imploded in spectacular fashion. Today, as if to prove a point, it was the turn of the bowlers. Somerset, powered by two brilliant centuries from their international imports, Sanath Jayasuriya and Graeme Smith, chased down a monumental target of 343 to win by four wickets with a massive 19 deliveries to spare.

Two days ago, Ricky Ponting tried to laugh off the relevance of Australia's 100-run defeat in the Twenty20 international, but he will have to come up with a better excuse this time around. This was a bona fide humiliation for Australia. Michael Kasprowicz looked every one of his 33 years as he was belted for 89 runs in eight innocuous overs, and the management's worries were compounded when Brett Lee left the field with a shoulder problem. But he will have ended the day cherishing his relatively economical figures of four overs for 26.

All of a sudden, Australia are being forced to face up to a crisis situation. In years gone by, they have had merely to step off the plane and their opponents would prostrate themselves at their feet. Not any more. Where once Somerset might have been tempted to rest several key players to save them for the Championship, today they fronted up in the manner that any self-respecting state side would do if England came to call.

Those local favourites "Gray-bags" Smith and "Farmer" Jayasuriya caught the mood magnificently, and had elderly members recalling the days of Gimblett and Alley as they clobbered 26 fours and four sixes between them while adding 197 in just 23 overs. They each brought up their half-centuries in a mere 42 balls, and then accelerated on from that point, flogging Kasprowicz for 61 runs in his first six overs. Smith was eventually stumped for a superb 108 from 74 balls, and Jayasuriya was scarcely any slower, rattling along to 101 from 79 until he was caught at fine leg off Glenn McGrath.

McGrath, as usual, was the pick of the attack, but he was still dispatched at nearly five runs an over, and such was Australia's disarray that he had to bowl all ten of his overs long before the end of the innings. He added the wicket of John Francis as well to peg Somerset back to 254 for 3, and when Ian Blackwell's potent innings of 25 was ended by Shane Watson, Australia began to believe they could haul the match out of the fire.

But they had reckoned without the nerveless 20-year-old, James Hildreth, who climbed into Kasprowicz's second spell and turned a taxing run-chase into a cakewalk. The wicketkeeper, Carl Gazzard, chipped in with 21 from 12 balls and Australia were a beaten outfit well before the end.

The day had started so well for Australia. After Ponting had won the toss on a belter of a pitch, Matthew Hayden laid into a Somerset attack lacking the services of the injured Andrew Caddick, and did his utmost to erase the memory of that 79 all out at The Rose Bowl. Of the top six, only Simon Katich - opening in place of the rested Adam Gilchrist - failed to make an impact as he fell for 12, and while Hayden was crashing along to 76 from 53 balls, the sky seemed the limit of Australia's ambitions.

But, in a gesture that seemed contemptuous at the time and later proved utterly hubristic, both Hayden and Ponting (80) chose to retire when well set. It enabled Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey to gain valuable time at the crease, but after an embarrassment of the magnitude they suffered on Monday, Australia's primary aim should have been to ramp up the highest total imaginable.

In the event, 342 seemed formidable, but it proved to be some 25 runs too few. Australia's opening encounter of the NatWest Series takes place at Cardiff on Saturday, and on this evidence, even Bangladesh might fancy their chances of landing a punch or two. In the week that one aging pugilist was put on the canvas for the very last time, Australia are also showing signs of going weak at the knees.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

Bangladesh beat Australia by 5 wickets

Australia Innings
249 for 5 (50.0 overs)
Bangladesh Innings
250 for 5 (49.2 overs)

OK it was only a onedayer, but come on, this is the the day a new set of ashes should be created to commemerate the death of Australian cricket.

Australia LOST to bangledesh? WTF? Were they on crack?

Go England

PICK UP A CRICKET BAT AND HAVE IT!

well england have a good chance at it this time, since they can probably put together a half decent team together this time round

more to the point...who cares? Once the football (or soccer for all you Americans out there) season finishes..sport in Britain becomes rather shite. Cricket, golf, tennis and the gee gees are all really boring...bring back the football and the rugby!!

Obviously, by the existence of this thread, there are tjhose that find cricket intersting, including myself.

You probably have no idea how boring football can get if it is there 12 months a year. It is here in Brazil, there is no off season. It goes from State championships, to interstate cups, to national league, to national cup, with the Copa de Libertadores mixed in, as well as the junior championships, and the Confederation cup etc etc. It never ends, and it gets tedious.

To make a sport interesting it needs a break. If you don't like the alternative sports then go read a few books or do something useful, but don't complain the football stops for a while.

Bangas Beat Strya!
Wheels falling off?

A distinct silence from the Aussies here. This is the quietest I ever ever heard them. Mourning I suppose.

AUSTRALIA: 249/5 (50 overs) Martyn 77, Clarke 54, Baisya 3-69

BANGLADESH: 250/5 (49.2 overs) Mohammad Ashraful 100, Habibul Bashar 47



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA




seriously, what the fuck? silly aussies.

AUSTRALIA: 249/5 (50 overs) Martyn 77, Clarke 54, Baisya 3-69

BANGLADESH: 250/5 (49.2 overs) Mohammad Ashraful 100, Habibul Bashar 47



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA




seriously, what the fuck? silly aussies.
What say you now MR Doubting Thomas?

It just gets better and better. :)

I shall continue to wear my english cricket cap around NYC. It appears to be working.

What say you now MR Doubting Thomas?

If it was done by challenge, Bangladesh would be the best team in the world now.

If it was done by challenge, Bangladesh would be the best team in the world now.

But only until they played a team that has some ability, such as Holland or Scotland for example :eek:

But only until they played a team that has some ability, such as Holland or Scotland for example :eek:
Or Canada or Ireland or Wales or United Arab Emiretes Central African Republic Samoa Singapore Fiji.....

But only until they played a team that has some ability, such as Holland or Scotland for example :eek:

Hamilton Academical has an excellent third class team. Wash your mouth out with soap young man.