The Ashes – First Test: More cricket snicks with Citrus Bob
The Ashes – Image: Wikipedia
CRICKET SNICKS with Citrus Bob
• The most puzzling thing to come out of the two day Test is surely what are the Barmy Army going to do for the next twelve days before the second test starts in Brisbane. I opine that they would have not taken into their budget ‘three days of nothing to do’. Perhaps Sunday was a lost day anyway as they would have been drowning their sorrows.
• Seriously though, I must get to a couple of them over the next six weeks to ask them what they budgeted for on the tour. There is no doubt that the various States in Australia would love the Army out here every summer and then go home.
• The real irony is that fellow convicts will be going all out to find some tickets that may have been lost in the maelstrom. Another win in Brisbane will see the price of tickets in Adelaide sky-rocket. Will make up for the disastrous World Beach Volley ball championships at memorial Drive. ‘Memorial Drive’ for beach volley ball? They might as well play it in Mickey Randall’s back yard!
• Had to find a question for Brisbane day-nighter that the media scrum will get hold of, if they already haven’t. Is Uzzie gone? I would think so. The back spasms, his fumbling in the slips, the annoyance of his captain, upsetting the balance in both innings (spare a thought for Jake W) all tally up to “sorry Uzzi your time has come”.
• At 39 years of age Khawaja he is, in Peter_B’s words, “no place for old men” and it showed clearly when he was on the field. Ahh but who will his replacement be for Brisbane?
• Nobody in my book. Head will stay at 1 and Webster who was dropped for no reason will come into the side. Has not failed in his seven matches. I would even suggest for Captain Pat stay out for another game and count your money.
• Speaking of Travis Head. Extraordinary, one of the greatest ever, unbelievable et al one could go on for ever. Channel 7’s Aaron Finch had the perfect answer “he just fried the English plans”. I wonder where The Guardian had him positioned in their ‘Best 100 Test Players’ before this knock.
• Some of our most eminent cricket writers have gone in boots and all. It really is fun reading what they have to say. Lord knows what the English press have written.
• Sir Geoffrey , not prone to being a wall flower suggested “They (the English never learn, because they never listen to anyone outside their own bubble, because they truly believe their own publicity”. I think he has a point there and the perfect example is Crawley. One knows exactly how he is going to get out.
• The brilliant up-and-comer Geoff Lemon “To the self-appointed heroes of the present, the past is the country of losers”.
• It is not a fact but it could come to fruition that Travis Head alone will in all probability cost CA millions of dollars if two day tests become the format for the next six weeks.
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
Loved the fragments Citrus Bob. Fine story telling.
A very enjoyable read, Citrus Bob, and it was good to touch base with you late last week.
It will be interesting to see what the selectors decide regarding Usman Khawaja’s future and whether there’s room for sentiment in an Ashes series.
On the one hand, a Test match farewell for Uzzie (if fit) at his adopted home ground, the Gabba, would be apt.
However, the selectors (and perhaps also Uzzie’s teammates) would be lambasted if he failed twice and we lost at a venue that, until five years ago, was seen as something of a fortress.
The in-form Matt Renshaw is the obvious heir apparent but I notice that the “forgotten” Josh Inglis also scored a century, at better than a run-a-ball, as an opener in the Cricket Australia XI’s eight-wicket win over the England Lions.
Of course, Travis Head might be happy to open the batting on a permanent basis (and what a privilege it was to be at Perth Stadium on Saturday).
Given the combination of the Gabba Test being a day-nighter and his hip injury, Nathan Lyon must also be considered a doubtful starter for the Second Test.