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As at the time of posting, Ben is only 299 posts short of 10k posts. What do we think 10k posts should be called? (Apart from insane) <_< Sean

I would also add probably Bush, Rumsfeld and Powell to the list of people that should perhaps be on trial for war crimes. Sean

If Australia wins the Sydney test it will be 12 in a row, but what a different side it might be. Australia don't play a test until October 2007 or so. Sean

I would have bid 3♣ instead of 2♠ also since when partner has the right hand for 5♣ they will just bid it. With the minor suit fit partner is still going to try for 3NT which means I can bid 3♠ on the way. Sean

There are other ways to cheat as a bowler but this is the one we aretalking about. The other way to cheat as a bowler is to modify the ball (tamper) in a non-legal fashion. The definition of illegal on this one is even more confusing :) Sean

I have a feeling the test attendance record will not be borken, the test won't last long enough. :) Sean

Yes, he was suspended for 12 months, for using a masking agent that he claimed was to make him look better on TV. He probably should have got 2 years under the WADA policy rather than one year as he recieved. Yes there was a vague gambling scandal involving him and Mark Waugh also in India. Yes he has innumerable tabloid scandals also. The fact I come down to is that the way he bowls can be taught, it requires no genetic efficiencies or deficiencies. It is pure. No child can be taught the way Murali bowls, and that child may not have the laws of cricket changed for them. Sean

I don't really want to get into a Murali discussion. He is being investigated yet again and this is after they have changed the laws of cricket for him twice. Sean

North has made an undisciplined bid and needs to pay the full price. As Ben said, some research here might work well. However, this could just have been a brainfreeze where you look at your hand and say that looks like a NT opening, you click it and then it is out there before your realise you are playing 13-15. EW need to be asked quite a few questions, but there is no way N is getting a double shot here. In real directing I could see NS result standing, (and depending on history for EW), a possible procedural penalty for EW if some fielding in the past was evident. My outsider looking in perspective is E had a brainfreeze and tried to recover and when N bid 3♠ the recovery got a lot easier. Sean

Add me as a TD jb, assuming I wake up on time. Sean

After the first day in Melbourne Warne has a chance to do something else unique, he is (I believe) now 9 wickets away from 200 test wickets against England with potentially 3 innings left to bowl. Sean

Not exactly, I am claiming he is a %*^%^&$&^. ;) Sean

Can we all just admit this is a troll-fest and we are all being sucked in? He has said last post many time already but re-ignites the fire when it is getting low. Let him speak to himself for a while. Then this thread with the crap in it will end. Sean

sunday 5am, should be able to make that Sean

And now confirmed, McGrath gone after the World Cup. Sean

After reading the posts in the thread Ben cited, it really brings to light what I read in Cathy Chua's book "Fair Play or Foul? Cheating Scandals in Bridge". The worst thing about public accusations is that it is impossible to prove your innocence. Sure you might do it in a court of law, but the fact is every single player that has heard that you were reported for cheating will consider you a cheat for life. I still remember always not sorting my cards against one opponent because someone mentioned he was a slotter once. (Slotting being watching where the cards come from in the hand to determine suit lengths and strengths etc) And this was from one comment, I did this for years against him because of one idle comment. Cheating accusations must be private and to people that will never say a word to anyone about it unless it can be proved conclusively. We live in a litigious world where false accusations can be costly, even Culbertson settled out of court to someone he accused of cheating, but this is less well known. Sean

I like to able to chat with some of the good players I know while they are playing the hands. (Of course not at an important time) That way I can get some feedback while the action is happening, Sean

If opener had bid anything apart from pass at their 3rd bid, 100% forcing. In this example, 100% non-forcing. Sean

In some ways removing kibbing would be of great detriment to BBO, How many times have you logged on and not really wanted to play but want to watch some top-class bridge? As Ben said, prove someone is cheating before you make these accusations. You are saying it is a "serious problem", BBO investigates cheating reports, are you also saying that they are not serious about removing cheats Wayne? Sean

I agree with 6♥ and Dbl, another post slipped in. Sean

Well, Warne is irreplaceable. We have a short term replacement in Stuart MacGill, however he is no Warne, he usually averages a 4-ball per over so doesn't maintain the pressure that Warne can. Whilst MacGill's figures seem impressive, they are inflated; when he played in Australia it was always on the spin-friendly pitches, likewise overseas. The long term replacement is most likely to be Dan Cullen, a leg-spinner that Warne rates as a very good prospect and that is coached by Terry Jenner. Whether he makes it or not we will have to wait and see. This may sound strange, but we will also miss Warne's batting as he averages about 17 and in recent years has been quite dependable rather than the slogger he was in his early years. Another possibility is a name that the English will know well, Cameron White, but his bowling would need to improve considerably, although he would provide an allrounder option. McGrath is an interesting problem since we now have a ready-made replacment in Stuart Clark who has had an outstanding "start" to his career (he is 30 years old). Some of the question about losing McGrath is closely related to Brett Lee. When is he going to start taking wickets? In some ways losing McGrath and Warne may also prove Lee's undoing. When they are both in the team they can afford to "carry" Lee, with them gone I think he may have a problem. So let's look at the prospects: Shaun Tait Mitchell Johnson Ben Hilfenhaus Nathan Bracken These are probably top of the list, but yet again it comes back to Warne, with him bowling non-stop from one end they could afford to maintain 6 batsmen, Gilchrist, 4 bowlers. Maybe they will now need 5 bowlers. I have a feeling they will cheat here and start praying Shane Watson gets over his hamstring problems, this will allow them to have a 140-145kph (85-90mph) as their 5th bowler. I haven't really answered the question, have I? Luckily we have the strongest first class cricket competition in the world, and the recent strength of the test team means that there are some excellent cricketers that are yet to play test cricket despite having years of experience. Hussey is a very good example of this, about 15,000 first class runs before making his test debut. In conclusion I think we will still be the best team in the world, but, we will draw a lot more matches than we do now. Declarations with a 300 lead won't happen etc. There will be a lot more safety first cricket when you can't throw the ball to McGrath and Warne. It might also mean Australia will be less cavalier with the bat and that the run rate in test cricket will fall. It has been an interesting time with these two in the test team, what happens after noone knows. Sean

Wow! We overtook the Book Review thread :P Sean

I would like to nominate this for a "Sticky" until the process changes. Sean

I'll play in either event if possible. (With family in from interstate this might be difficult depending on what time of day it is for me in Australia) Sean

Merry Christmas to all. For those not of that belief, happy holiday season. To all, Happy New Year. For those that have a different New Year, Happy New Year for when that happens. Sean PS: Damn it can be hard to try and cater for everyone :P