Cricket

[Giles]

After a good stand, which of course got me worried, and of course Root took them both out, the humiliation continues.  Sorry Aussies, this is not Cricket this is the Ashes….

[Maynard Friedman]

I love cricket right now. 2 down, 3 to go and then we start again.

[RocknRoll]

Fucking 3rd umpire….what fucking good is he??

Worst decision ever to give Khawaja out.       

[Giles]

Seemed fine from here…....

Ginger Magician is at the match, and I am sure he would agree......

[RocknRoll]

Smartarse! I'm sure it looked fine to an Englishman!  Maybe GM can give us a spectator's perspective when he gets back. Lucky fellow!

Yeah I know the Aussie team is pretty bad these days, but seeing an umpire make such a poor decision still hurts.

Clarke better fire today, or we're fucked (again)!  :o

[RocknRoll]

Australia 427/5 as I write this…..it's been quite some time since I've seen Aus in this position!

Go Clarkey!

[Giles]

Whoops, that was the kiss of death - sorry R&R.

Go Broady….

[RocknRoll]

Fuck. I cursed him, eh.

Dammit 

Ps. Your mate Broady is going to cop it from the crowds when he comes out here in a few months. That "non-walk" in the first test (when clearly caught behind) has not been forgotten!

[Giles]

This effing walking thing is a modern invention.  Pre WWII no one ever walked, the umpires are there to make the decisions…..WG Grace would never walk "The crowds have come to see me bat" was his attitude.....

[RocknRoll]

And that's why WG Grace hasn't been selected in the English side for quite some time.

Its a gentleman's game, supposedly.

[Giles]

@RocknRoll:

Its a gentleman's game, supposedly.

No it's not.  If it were you lot would not be able to put a team together….

On a more level headed basis.  Go out there and read as much as you can about Broad not walking.  Funnily enough, most of the most critical and vociferous articles are from the Australian press....

[RocknRoll]

So now you want me to be level-headed?

Why can't I be one-eyed? It's our tradition. 

[GingerMagician]

I was lucky enough to get an invite to Old Trafford for day 1 yesterday.  Only managed a couple of half-decent pics - probably due to the drinking starting at 10.30am…

816s at the start of play...

Quick panorama…

[Giles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23555889

[RocknRoll]

Nice photos there GingerMagician. Makes me wish I was there!

Like many people, I can't believe how poor Australia's use of DRS has been in this series. Warner yesterday provided another good example of this, and that Clarke let him review it - despite (as he admitted after play) thinking that it was out - is amazing as well.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm tipping a draw for this game.

And Giles, I have strong feelings regarding walking. I don't care if its a post WW2 thing or whatever, I have much more respect for players who do it - which isn't many of them. I've got no issue with guys hanging round to wait for a close LBW decision, but when you're clearly out caught I believe you should walk. Not doing so is like saying its ok to steal so long as you don't get caught.

[Giles]

I actually do not have strong views one way or the other.  It's a personal decision and that's it as far as I am concerned….

[Giles]

Bloody hell.  Unless we find a batsman who can actually bat today, we will be humbled…...

[RocknRoll]

Saved by the rain in the 3rd test.

Likely to be saved by Aussie mediocrity in this test.

…or maybe I just have to admit the Poms have a decent team...

[Winchy]

Some high scoring overs and now a lead approaching 270. Go Bresnan!

[RocknRoll]

@Winchy:

Some high scoring overs and now a lead approaching 270. Go Bresnan!

You have no idea how painful it is to watch this! Smith drops a skyer and now Swann is making hay…..I can see your English smirks from here