You're OT and you know you are...

Generali

Well the Aussies are in some disarray.

They've dropped Bollinger (their best test bowler this year) in favour of Siddle who has a respectable average of about 28 but hasn't played a test for 11 months. They've also picked a untried spinner, Xavier Doherty, who I really don't rate at all. He averages 48 in the Sheffield Shield and wouldn't get a bowl in a Chinese Restaurant. He's their 8th spinner since Warne stopped playing in 2007 and possibly the worst they've picked so for.

They've picked Clarke who has a recurring back problem and was unable on Tuesday to bend down to pick up a cricket bat ahead of an excellent rising star Khawaja who I think has earned his place on class and form despite low scores in the Eng XI vs Aussie A match.

It's worth remembering that this isn't the normal Gabba. Usually the Gabba is rock hard with lots of bounce, pretty much no movement in the air and some off the seam. It looks like you want to bowl short of a length but really you need to pitch it up unless you can really bang it in hard (Anderson should be pitching it up but I have a horrible feeling he won't).

For me, this series is the reverse of 2005 in England. Back then, the Aussies had a slightly better side (they had Warne and McGrath) but the Poms had the home advantage. Now I reckon the boot is on the other foot.

Their batting is slightly better, the Pommie bowling is streets ahead though as long as they remember they're not bowling at Hove on an overcast day in early June.

My guess? 1-1 so England retain the trophy. I think both sides will struggle just to take 20 wickets. Swann will be the key man.

For anyone interested, I will be in the Verrandah Bar, Castlereagh St from the start of the second session.

Generali

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

David Lloyd aka bumble has fond "memories" of that tour - my god they had no helmets either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8tFgtzeA2M

Imagine facing Holding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhYnYbvF9fo&playnext=1&list=PLF52D456B1ADC2F08&index=8

nomoreboomandbust

Generali wrote: »

Well the Aussies are in some disarray.

They've dropped Bollinger (their best test bowler this year) in favour of Siddle who has a respectable average of about 28 but hasn't played a test for 11 months. They've also picked a untried spinner, Xavier Doherty, who I really don't rate at all. He averages 48 in the Sheffield Shield and wouldn't get a bowl in a Chinese Restaurant. He's their 8th spinner since Warne stopped playing in 2007 and possibly the worst they've picked so for.

They've picked Clarke who has a recurring back problem and was unable on Tuesday to bend down to pick up a cricket bat ahead of an excellent rising star Khawaja who I think has earned his place on class and form despite low scores in the Eng XI vs Aussie A match.

It's worth remembering that this isn't the normal Gabba. Usually the Gabba is rock hard with lots of bounce, pretty much no movement in the air and some off the seam. It looks like you want to bowl short of a length but really you need to pitch it up unless you can really bang it in hard (Anderson should be pitching it up but I have a horrible feeling he won't).

For me, this series is the reverse of 2005 in England. Back then, the Aussies had a slightly better side (they had Warne and McGrath) but the Poms had the home advantage. Now I reckon the boot is on the other foot.

Their batting is slightly better, the Pommie bowling is streets ahead though as long as they remember they're not bowling at Hove on an overcast day in early June.

My guess? 1-1 so England retain the trophy. I think both sides will struggle just to take 20 wickets. Swann will be the key man.

For anyone interested, I will be in the Verrandah Bar, Castlereagh St from the start of the second session.

If we pop in for a swift one, any distinguishing features ?

I concur with pretty much everything you say, which begs the question- why are the odds Australia 11/10 and England 2/1 for the first test, I can only think its the aussies great record there, nothing else.

Does anyone know if they are using the UDRS system, I do hope so , it adds another dimension to the game for the viewer.

Generali

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

If we pop in for a swift one, any distinguishing features ?

I concur with pretty much everything you say, which begs the question- why are the odds Australia 11/10 and England 2/1 for the first test, I can only think its the aussies great record there, nothing else.

Does anyone know if they are using the UDRS system, I do hope so , it adds another dimension to the game for the viewer.

It's because the Aussies haven't lost their since 1988 I think.

I'm doing Movember so I'm the one that looks like a Dutch !!!!!! star.

nomoreboomandbust

Generali wrote: »

It's because the Aussies haven't lost their since 1988 I think.

I'm doing Movember so I'm the one that looks like a Dutch !!!!!! star.

Surely not a dodgy tache and a mullet

Generali

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

Surely not a dodgy tache and a mullet

Haha. Short hair, balding. Will be with a tallish bloke with curly longish hair. Probably I'll be wearing an RM Williams business shirt with white and green vertical stripes.

Probably I'll also be with a tallish Kiwi with mostly grey hair.

Shout, 'Oi, Chatsy' and you'll get me.

nomoreboomandbust

I wish I could join you for a pint ! or even better still at the Gabba

I do envy you in (presumably) warm Sydney, here in London its sunny but cold and about to get colder as we might get snow at the weekend to boot, I will have to make do with Sky sports although I prefer Channel 9 coverage-Mark Taylor,Ian Chappell, Tony Greig, Ian Healy are all great, but my favourite has to be Bill Lawry he is so excitable.

Don't know how long I can keep awake, I might have to call it a night just when you are tucking in to your liquid lunch

Generali

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

I wish I could join you for a pint ! or even better still at the Gabba

I do envy you in (presumably) warm Sydney, here in London its sunny but cold and about to get colder as we might get snow at the weekend to boot, I will have to make do with Sky sports although I prefer Channel 9 coverage-Mark Taylor,Ian Chappell, Tony Greig, Ian Healy are all great, but my favourite has to be Bill Lawry he is so excitable.

Don't know how long I can keep awake, I might have to call it a night just when you are tucking in to your liquid lunch

28C today and sunny. Summer is here at last. It's been very wet though so there are bloody spiders everywhere.

Masomnia

Generali

Strauss walking off after one of the poorer shot selections you'll see has to be the new facepalm: