The Ashes: England vs. Australia

[Melcheor]

Thirded. As much as i love Flintoff, (and I don't, he's Lancastrian) Warne should have got man of the series really.

[Sever]

Originally posted by Melcheor: Thirded. As much as i love Flintoff, (and I don't, he's Lancastrian) Warne should have got man of the series really.

It was always going to be close between the two. IMO Flintoff just pipped Warne for the title. Congrats to him. And the rest of the pommy team. I held on to the slimmest of hopes that the aussies were actually going to pull something out. But it wasn't to be...

Now sod off. I've got sulking to attend to... [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img]

[Target]

Warne was amazing, 40 wickets in the series. Outstanding!!!
England (and Wales) Time is coming.
Well done England.

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by Davros: In our case it won't be 18 years between victories though - just 24 months to live through .

I have no idea what you are basing this opinion on Davros. It can only be blind hope!

Let's talk seriously for a minute mate!

1) We have a young, settled and focused side. Your team has a number of players who are either coming to the end of their careers or past their best. I haven't seen much in the way of young talent coming through. You are almost totally reliant on Warne, with McGrath giving some support. We have four fast bowlers who can bowl you out twice, in addition there is such variety in the bowlers that they can take advantage of all conditios. We have the world's best all rounder. Our batting is not centred on any one player. In the past Australia have targetted the likes of Atherton or Hussain, in this team however there is no obvious star. If Trescothick doesn't do it Strauss will, if not it will be Flintoff, or Vaughn or Pietersen; and we bat well down the order with all of the tail enders able to get a score when necessary.

2) Although on the surface the series appears to have been tight we were on top in all four games after Lords and if the rain hadn't affected Old Trafford we would have won 3-1. I daresay you will point to the weather affecting the Oval test but in the long run it may well have saved you from another defeat.

3) Your captaincy is in disarray. Ponting has been clearly out thought and out fought by Vaughn. A calamatous decision to insert England at Edgbaston followed by defensive fields and tactics shows a captain unsure of his players. Warne has shown open dissent on the field (at Edgbaston)and appears to be making most of the decisions.

4) You have lost that "air of invincibility" that has carried Australia though the past 16 years. We know we can beat you, you know we can beat you. In the past England would have crumbled in matches like those at Tren Bridge and The Oval. This team has buckled but never cracked, that experience will carry them forward. The team spirit that Fletcher and Vaughn have engendered is clearly seen.

All in all we have far more to look forward to that you.

BTW - I was in my local last night having a celebratory pint and a number of people asked me "have you spoken to Dave?". I had no idea you had made such an impact on them!



D

[burnzey boi]

You do relise that, even though they have won the ashes we have had it the most years, and next year it is ours for the taking. Plus those mungrell umpires, especialy Billy..

[Davros]

Originally posted by Melcheor: quote: Originally posted by Davros: To T - naff off - you have achieved a slim result whilst playing the world champion Aussies. That places you somewhere like 2nd or 3rd in the world - don't get ahead of yourselves now

ICC world rankings (points).

1 Australia 127
2 England 119
3 India 111
4 South Africa 100
5 New Zealand 100

This was before we beat you, aussie team is old. How many players won't be at the next ashes in england in four years. Warne, McGrath, Langer, Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Gillespie. All well into their 30s. England is a young team compared. This victory is just the start. (Jinx Jinx Jinx...)

Edit - Oh and lay off Greig. He's cool. [/QB][/QUOTE]OK - starting my replies with this one. The news just broadcast that this series has bought you from 17 points behind in the rankings to only 8 points, so you may find that that table was AFTER your last victory and not BEFORE. Not sure myself - only passing on what the media was musing about today so I might have a crap source.

I suspect Shane and Glen will go on till at least the next series in OZ (only 18 months to go). Hussey will no doubt force a way into the batting line up, and I suspect he won't be the only one. People talk of Langer, Hayden, Gilchrest and Ponting, but the batsmen that has disappointed the most I think was Damian Martin. Caravan man will retire I expect, so you will have to come up with a new chant for his replacement.

[Davros]

Originally posted by Melcheor: Thirded. As much as i love Flintoff, (and I don't, he's Lancastrian) Warne should have got man of the series really.

Well said, and quite correct [img]smile.gif[/img] - but you can understand a bit of local emotion getting Flintoff over the line. He had a great series - even blind Freddie could see that.

[Davros]

Originally posted by Lanesra: quote: Originally posted by Davros: In our case it won't be 18 years between victories though - just 24 months to live through .

I have no idea what you are basing this opinion on Davros. It can only be blind hope!

Let's talk seriously for a minute mate!

1) We have a young, settled and focused side. Your team has a number of players who are either coming to the end of their careers or past their best. I haven't seen much in the way of young talent coming through. You are almost totally reliant on Warne, with McGrath giving some support. We have four fast bowlers who can bowl you out twice, in addition there is such variety in the bowlers that they can take advantage of all conditios. We have the world's best all rounder. Our batting is not centred on any one player. In the past Australia have targetted the likes of Atherton or Hussain, in this team however there is no obvious star. If Trescothick doesn't do it Strauss will, if not it will be Flintoff, or Vaughn or Pietersen; and we bat well down the order with all of the tail enders able to get a score when necessary.

2) Although on the surface the series appears to have been tight we were on top in all four games after Lords and if the rain hadn't affected Old Trafford we would have won 3-1. I daresay you will point to the weather affecting the Oval test but in the long run it may well have saved you from another defeat.

3) Your captaincy is in disarray. Ponting has been clearly out thought and out fought by Vaughn. A calamatous decision to insert England at Edgbaston followed by defensive fields and tactics shows a captain unsure of his players. Warne has shown open dissent on the field (at Edgbaston)and appears to be making most of the decisions.

4) You have lost that "air of invincibility" that has carried Australia though the past 16 years. We know we can beat you, you know we can beat you. In the past England would have crumbled in matches like those at Tren Bridge and The Oval. This team has buckled but never cracked, that experience will carry them forward. The team spirit that Fletcher and Vaughn have engendered is clearly seen.

All in all we have far more to look forward to that you.

BTW - I was in my local last night having a celebratory pint and a number of people asked me "have you spoken to Dave?". I had no idea you had made such an impact on them!



D [/QUOTE]Now for the biggie - time to tackle the Dublin Grocer, or as I like to think of him - Blind Freddie .

Yes, let's talk seriously now mate [img]smile.gif[/img] .

1)As Mikey Vaughan stated quite openly, Australia remain the benchmark for other teams to try and attain. There was no false modesty to his claim - he wants his side to be every bit as good as our is, and he has things moving in the right direction. Your 4 fast bowlers are an excellent postion to have - countries would give their eye teeth to have an allrounder like Freddie. But they won't match teams on the subcontinent or down under if they aren't adequately supported by a spinner who can bowl through the heat of the day and be effective. Thus far, Ashleigh dear has not proven to me that he is the man that can meet those requirements. Our batsmen treated your attack to lightly - that happened in India a while back and we lost a series - it won't happen next time.

2)On top in all 4 tests after Lords. Of dearie me - you have been at the gin again haven't you [img]smile.gif[/img] . A couple of things went your way in case you hadn't noticed - like batting first in all 4 tests (yes, we will shoot Ricky for the first one). Now in Edgbaston you built a fantastic position - and saw it whittled away to the point that for the last 10 minutes or so we became the favourites to win it. A shonky decision got you over he line. At old Trafford you were on top on the last day because we elected (as Aussie teams usually do) to try and chase the target. Your Mr Vaughan could have won that test if he had the balls to declare about an hour earlier - but that might have opened up all results. A draw was the deserved result of his timidity, but congrats to Punter and Warnie for trying to swing the result our way in the last session. Lets give credit for Trent Bridge - the game you did dominate - at this stage the run of winning the toss just seemed inevitable. Even then you got a huge case of the staggers with victory in sight, and he target didn't need to be much more than 130 to reverse the result. And at the Oval - after watching the first 3 days I can only say that the light conditions on the 3rd day saved your bacon. A stirring partnership from Badger and the King on the last day to save the match, but dominate - not likley pal - you must be watchin through them rose coloured glasses.

3) You're takin the piss - Ricky will be in the job the next time I come over and visit the Wheatsheaf - just you wait and see.

4) Air of invincibility - no worries mate - that will just shake a few players to go outand earn their victories rather than sitting and waiting for the opposition to crack open like England chasing a target of 130.

I am glad that I made so much of an impact on the boys down at the pub. Tell them I said hello, and that I am going to win the manager of the month in February .

Cheers

[ 09-13-2005, 08:08 AM: Message edited by: Davros ]

[Lanesra]

Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Cathy Freeman, Lleyton Hewitt, Steve Irwin, Banjo Patterson, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Chips Rafferty, Skippy, Rolf Harris, Edna Everidge, Barry Humphries, Les Patterson, Dawn Frazier, Charles Kingsford Smith, Allan Border, Jack Bradman, Margaret Court, Lillian Thompson, Herb Elliott, Rod Hull, Germaine Greer, Percy Grainger, Paul Hogan, Danni Minogue, Ned Kelly, Clive James, Rod Laver, John Landy, John Newcombe, Rod Marsh, Kim Hughes, Dame Nellie Melba, Kerry Packer, Pharlap, Simpson & his donkey, Geoff Whitlam, George Gregan, Dave McDonalb, Hugh Wilson, Derek Wilson, Mario, The Bee Gees, Muriel, Elle Macpherson, Ian Thorpe, John Howard, Gough Whitlam, Robert Menzies, Paul Keating.

YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELLLLLLLLLLLL OF A BEATING!!!!!

D

[Aragorn1]

You lost to Bangladesh...