the saint Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 England. Brilliant for 2 days (I know I was there). Rubbish for 3. Couldn't catch a cold. On this form, what would the Ozzie batsmen have done to us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I physically broke down into tears yesterday afternoon. Last summer, we hardly dropped a single catch. This summer, we hardly took one. You could see the anguish in the face of Matthew Hoggard when the catches went down. Bowling that many overs is physically exhausting, and you can't fault the effort of the bowlers, who had very little luck. But if you can't bowl a side out in 200 overs, you aren't going to win. Simple as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 All this is true but give some credit to the Sri Lankan batsmen too. They dug in there and they survived. It's a relatively inexperienced side and they did very well to come back after they were run over in the first innings. Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 It's all my fault. I don't go to watch England very often - I think about 7 times in total before last weekend, and on 6 of them England lost. This time, we went on Sunday when England were in a pretty much unloseable position. So they drew. Jeffrey says I'm not allowed to go again for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G_R__E_G Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I really have no clue what any of you are talking about, but I find that at times the sound they make at night can be quite soothing. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 It's all my fault. I don't go to watch England very often - I think about 7 times in total before last weekend, and on 6 of them England lost. This time, we went on Sunday when England were in a pretty much unloseable position. So they drew. Jeffrey says I'm not allowed to go again for a while. I've never seen England lose and every time I've been (barring Aussies last year) we have utterly thrashed the oppo on the day. Frances - you are hereby banned from ever seeing England live again. I hope you understand its for the best... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickf Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Bring on the Ashes baby, bring 'em on. nickfsydney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Sir Geoffrey Boycott is spot on! Read this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/4987450.stm Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Geoff is right about most things ( not that you tell him or his head swells further). IT was noticeable at the ground on Friday that England were swanning along at over 4 an over - good going for a test match - and the crowd weren't really into it. I know Lords is a little quieter than the Oval and the Egg and Bacon tie brigade can be a right miserable bunch at the best of times but we were batting well (especially KP - you don't appreciate just how good his footwork is for a big man) and the team deserved more appreciation from the crowd than they got. The crowd only really got going once Sajid Mahmood had his hot spell, most of the rest of the time being spent cheering everything Monty Panesar did. We would have finished Australia off becuase the focus would have been there and we know how hard the Aussies battle. Credit to Sri Lanka - they fought back far harder than anyone gave them credit for. But with all due respect to them and Pakistan, its all a warm-up for the one that matters over the winter. Nick F is right. Come on The Ashes. Bring it on!! The World Cup is a very distant second in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pokerbids Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Frances if they dont allow u to watch the english matches...go to the windies maaan...watch Iniad vs the West Indies in action and may the best indians win!!!! plus u get to tendulkar, lara in action and think of the rum coke and beaches...it will be a party and full of sixes to....no dount sir geoff who loves India only second to england (ooops well third to yorkshire i guess) will surley be there poker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 I've followed Essex for most of my life and am now banned from 1-day finals. Despite being in many since the early 80s I have a 100% record of 'watch and lose', normally accompanied by rain as well. Stay away and we have won though I had to be 2000 miles away for us to win the first one! Luckily my record for England is a lot better - just as well as I have tickets for the local (well, just over the border at Durham) 1-day international next month and the first day of the next Lords test against Pakistan :angry: Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 I saw Lancashire Lightening's Twenty20 cup campaign, and saw every match in that competition, apart from Finals Day. The one game I don't get to go and see, they lose :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 I've followed Essex for most of my life and am now banned from 1-day finals. Despite being in many since the early 80s I have a 100% record of 'watch and lose', normally accompanied by rain as well. Stay away and we have won though I had to be 2000 miles away for us to win the first one! Luckily my record for England is a lot better - just as well as I have tickets for the local (well, just over the border at Durham) 1-day international next month and the first day of the next Lords test against Pakistan :( Paul Essex - excellent choice of county. Losing 1-day finals? You must be responsible for the catastrphe of 1996 where having skittled Lancs for 180-odd we then succumbed for something in the 50s. I still have vivid recollections of that day. I have a ticket for the Second day of the Oval test vs Pakistan. Assuming I'm not in the US on business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 2nd Test starts tomorrow and England look likely to field the same XI. Opinions people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 I must admit I'm not overly impressed by that decision. OK, it's a shame that Harmison isn't fit yet, but I think that Jon Lewis is worth a place, probably in place of Liam Plunkett. Batting I'd keep as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 I stand corrected. Sri Lanka all out for 141, with Plunkett taking 3 wickets, and Beefy (Ian Botham) saying that he probably bowled the best out of all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 Excellent performance by the boys, although Monty dropped a sitter (so did Straussy) and the umpire could have given Hoggy another lbw. The Ozzie crowd will have a field day with him unless he tightens that up. Took his wicket straightaway mind you. I'd like to thank Frances for not being there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 KP reverse sweeping Murali for 6. Now thats something you don't see every day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 And you are unlikely to see it again according to Pietersen: "The best form of defence in my case is to take it to the bowlers but the reverse sweep for six was naughty. I don't think I'll play that again", he said to BBC Sport. Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Why is it that as soon as I go out to do some revision, 4 wickets drop in about 2 minutes. Just my luck :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I was listening to that in the car today. I'm pleased for Plunkett. The boy has a really sweet action and I think he will go a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulg Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Monty bowled very well too ... if only he didn't throw and catch like a girl :) Paul "Monty Python comes up and bowls"Five Live Sports Extra commentators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finch Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I'd like to thank Frances for not being there!! Not only was I not there, I wasn't even in the country. What a success! p.s. We found that you can get Radio 4 longwave in Switzerland. But you have to be as dedicated as my husband is to try and listen to it over the interference and distortion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walddk Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I assume that Frances has taken notes regarding this summer's international fixtures. Then she will know when to be out of the country. Additionally, she will get to travel much more than she and Jeffrey had anticipated, and that can't be bad. How about Denmark? Fares from Stansted to Copenhagen and/or Malmö are ridiculously cheap. Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint Posted May 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 I assume that Frances has taken notes regarding this summer's international fixtures. Then she will know when to be out of the country. Additionally, she will get to travel much more than she and Jeffrey had anticipated, and that can't be bad. How about Denmark? Fares from Stansted to Copenhagen and/or Malmö are ridiculously cheap. Roland I did Gatwick-Billund last year. Has the additional benefit of being able to go to Legoland. The good news is that I have an excellent success rate when seeing England in action, and I will be going to the Pakistan test at the Oval and possibly to the Sri Lanka ODI there too. If any of the rest of you have tickets you wish to donate so that I may bless the team, do not hesitate to volunteer them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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