Australia went into the third day of the Fifth Test looking down the barrel. The Poms, who cling to the weapon that can blow us away, are as surprised as anybody that they indeed hold the upper hand. As the third day begins England is 3/58 with a 230-run lead. Before this Test got under [Read more]
Cricket: My top five memories of the 1997 Ashes series
August 23, 2009 by 3 Comments
In a moment of melancholia over the recent fortunes of the Aussie XI, nostalgic reminiscences of the 1997 Ashes series have offered some solace. So, in the spirit of Hornby, I list my top five moments from the 1997 Ashes series. Peter Flynn
Cricket: Twenty20 might just save Test cricket
August 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Some of us fear that Twenty20 cricket might kill Test cricket. It will almost certainly kill 50-over cricket, and there is a plausible argument that it will get Tests as well. But while the last rites of ODIs are probably inevitable, twenty20 cricket might just save Test matches – and only Australia and England have [Read more]
Fifth Test, Day 2: Australia set to fall from perch
August 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Hamish Townsend All the talk of pitches and selection were put to bed by a spell of line and length by Stuart Broad that saw eight Australian wickets fall in the middle session and may have seen the little red urn returned to English hands with three days to play. Hamish TownsendHamish Townsend was [Read more]
Fifth Test, Day 1: Gasometers and elephants make for intriguing final Test
August 21, 2009 by 5 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz The Oval is a ground that always makes me think of the North Melbourne Footy Club. It was the scene of the so-called “Battle of Britain” in 1987 when Donald McDonald, Alistair Clarkson and their North mates “went the knuckle” in the post-season exhibition match against Carlton. Ian Aitken’s jaw is still [Read more]
Cricket: Amid scandal and despair, Stephen Fry finds reason to toast England, Australia and cricket itself
August 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment
This is an edited version of Stephen Fry’s speech at a dinner for Andrew Strauss at Lords before the second Test … Thank you ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much indeed. It is an honour to stand before so many cricketing heroes from England and from Australia and at this, my favourite time of [Read more]
Fourth Test, Day 4: RavBop and The Bells: ‘Dead at Leeds’
August 11, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Tony Roberts This report on Day 4’s play at Leeds is perforce brief, on account of the match having been already concluded. (Unlike the three days of actual cricket, Monday’s weather in Yorkshire has reverted to type, from Balmy Mediterrannean to Nowth’n Grit i.e. it’s raining most of today – Eric Oldthwaite would be [Read more]
Fourth Test – Day 3: Australia home as all eyes turn to The Oval
August 10, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Peter Flynn Australia levelled the five match series one all after wiping The Old Enemy like a dirty backside in the 4th Ashes Test at Headingley. Their innings and 80 run dismantling of a largely shambolic and Flintoffless England represents one of the more extraordinary momentum shifts seen in a recent Ashes series. What [Read more]
Fourth Test, Day 2: Aussies take winning position while I have a wonderful day in the West Stand. Cheers!
August 9, 2009 by 2 Comments
Off to the cricket it was for our second day of Test cricket this season. Beautiful train ride from Edinburgh down to Leeds if you overlook the 6am start. The vibes of Headingley were so obvious as we got close: loads of good spirit, which would have been difficult for those English folk after yesterday; [Read more]
Fourth Test: Australians dominate as ‘Marto’ has eyes only for victory
August 8, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Andrew Gigacz With Australia one-nil down, and two Tests to play, in preparation for day one at Headingley I asked myself what are the important issues confronting us? I came up with four. Will it rain? Will Freddy Flintoff be fit enough to play? Will the Aussie selectors finally see the [Read more]
Cricket: It’s Headingley 1981 and I want to be sedated
August 5, 2009 by 8 Comments
By Tony Roberts The gloomiest roommate I ever endured was Bernard Disken. At the time we met in September 1983, Bernard was only 23, but he’d already mastered the full Eeyore to an extent that must have made his fellow disciples of the defunct House of York grey with envy. Tony RobertsFavourites list: Food: whatever [Read more]
Third Test, Day 5, Parts 1, 2, 3: Credit to the Australian batsmen. Now about the bowlers …
August 4, 2009 by 20 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz It’s a seemingly lost cause for Australia as Day 5 begins: 25 runs behind, 2 wickets down and 28 overs gone, which means it’s going to be Swing O’Clock for the English bowlers as soon as play gets under way. PART 1: TWELVE HOURS BEFORE STUMPS I’m writing this at 3:45 pm, [Read more]
Third Test, Day 4: Painful memories of Hollies Stand flood back on day of Rudilotto
August 3, 2009 by 7 Comments
By Peter Flynn After play was delayed by one hour due to a damp outfield, Australia finally dismissed England for 376 and were a precarious 2-88 in reply at stumps on day four. With the prospect of fine weather on day five, England will fancy their chances of going up two up with two Tests [Read more]
Third Test, Day 2: Memories of glorious day at 1975 series get crowded out by tumble of Australian wickets
August 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Sam Steele I chose to do the “wrap” of this day not because of any sense that this would be a particularly significant day (although more of this later). Rather I picked it because it was 34 years ago to the day that I attended Day 1 of the Ashes Test at Lords with [Read more]
Third Test, Day 1: Watson’s prospects seems as good as the bream’s in our frypan
July 31, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By Justin Kruger Some days have a surprise in the tail. It’s the same way with emails. A few days ago I get 2 emails from John Harms about a possible roster for coverage of the third test. They are clearly the sort of emails that might have attachments. Neither does, and I don’t think too much [Read more]
Cricket: Why I deplore Victoria’s pursuit of Murali
July 29, 2009 by 16 Comments
By Chris Riordan “Fourteen years after suffering the trauma of being labelled a chucker by umpire Darrell Hair at the MCG, Muthiah Muralidaran is poised to return to the ground as a home-town hero.” (July 3, 2009, The Age) Are we that pathetic? crio
Second Test – Day 5: Freddy
July 21, 2009 by 1 Comment
By Ben Santamaria, with Tim Santamaria. July 20 was always going to be a famous day; however, who in the crowd at Lord’s in 1934 would have thought then that man would walk on the moon in less than half the time it would take their nation’s cricketers to next beat Australia at the home [Read more]
Cricket writing: a winter international at Valleys
July 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Justin Kruger We’re talking cricket…July…Albion, Brisbane. ‘Perfidious’, you might think, is the missing word here; maybe a few tales of procrastinating physiotherapists, batting glove changes and other dastardly deeds. But no, it’s mid-July in Brisbane, and I’m off to the cricket. A one day game at the Allan Border Field, Australia A v [Read more]
Second Test – Day 4: Australians still in it
July 20, 2009 by 8 Comments
Second Test – Day 4 Test cricket is just brilliant. The elements are mixed so perfectly. The English brains trust was probably thinking of batting for a few more overs on the fourth morning just to grind the Australians into the Lord’s dirt, but the clouds gathered, the trust was re-convened and Andrew Strauss declared. [Read more]
Second Test–Day 3: Punter’s tactics work on me as well
July 19, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Andrew Starkie It seemed like a good idea at the time. When Daff made the pre-series call for volunteers to write daily Ashes reports, I thought, yup, sounds easy. I put my hand up for Saturday at Lord’s, marked the date on the calendar and looked forward to a relaxing evening in front of [Read more]
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