Conference xtine::cricket_v2

    
    Mike,
    
    Do Australia play non-stop test cricket? They've just beaten the
    Windies in a five match series, now they're in South Africa and in the
    not too distant future, they'll be losing the Ashes in England.
    
    
    j.
    

    Sounds like somebody has been dreaming again of England's past glory.
    As for why so many test matches when your on top your in demand and
    Australia is probably the best side in tests in the world at the
    moment.
    They had another victory again against one of the provincial sides
    where M.waugh retired undefeated on 100 odd including 6 sixes.
    One of the possible scenarios developing is a starting lineup of
    
    	mark TAylor opener
    	Matt Hayden opener
    	Elliot first drop.
    one worry is that Reiffel has a damaged hamstring and it aint loking
    good.
    
    Mike N.

    All credit to you, Mike. Given Australia's gruelling schedule over the
    next few months it must be hard to resist the temptation to make
    excuses in advance for what may very well be an England victory in the
    Ashes series against a spent force.
    
    Cheers,
    Brian

    Yes and Iam sure this "turning point" in English cricket is as
    significant as another Mike Tyson $10 million fight and probably
    last as long.
    
    Mike N.

    You obviously missed the implication in .3, Mike. Although if you have
    the typical Aussie ego it is perhaps understandable. I wasn't
    suggesting that England would be playing well (that would be very
    un-English), rather that Australia would be knackered and playing crap.
    
    Cheers,
    Brian

    
    CRICINFO appears to have been asleep for a while, but there appears to
    be updated reports at the end of the session (so far lunch and tea -
    first day SA - OZ) on Yahoo:
    
    	
    http://sports.yahoo.com/international/970228/cricket/-
        australiatea1stld_1.html
    
    example:
    
    Friday February 28 8:51 AM EDT 
    
    Defiant Cronje holds up Australia
    
    JOHANNESBURG, Feb 28 (Reuter) - South African captain Hansie Cronje
    defied Australia with
    a battling half-century on the opening day of the first test against
    Australia on Friday. 
    
    At tea South Africa were 182 for six with Cronje on 68 and Lance
    Klusener on nine. Cronje, dropped by Greg Blewett in the covers off the 
    bowling of Shane Warne when he had scored 63, has hit nine fours and a 
    six from 133 balls. 
    
    The home side collapsed to 58 for three in the morning session thanks
    to an inspired new ball spell from Glenn McGrath. And McGrath was back in 
    the thick of things in the afternoon, picking up his fourth wicket by 
    having Daryll Cullinan caught behind for 27. 
    
    Cullinan and Cronje had added 63 for the fourth wicket and the recovery
    continued when Jonty Rhodes replaced Cullinan at the crease. 
    But when Rhodes had reached 22 he became the fourth victim for Ian
    Healy behind the stumps, this time off the pace of Jason Gillespie and 
    South Africa were struggling again at 115 for five. 
    
    All rounder Shaun Pollock decided to fight fire with fire and struck
    eight boundaries in a quickfire 35 before slicing the left arm spin of 
    Michael Bevan to point after adding exactly 50 with Cronje. 
    
    
    andrew.

    and South Africa are in absolute heaps of trouble at the end of the 3rd
    day. S.A. all out for 302 and Australia bat on and on and on.  At
    stumps Australia 4 for 479 with S.Waugh n.o. 130 odd Blewett n.o. 150
    odd, thats right sports fans Aust. did not lose a wicket on the third
    day for 280 runs S.Waugh and G.Blewett have an unbroken 300 plus
    partnership. The only question is now when Taylor will declare at Lunch
    or TEA on the 4th day.
    
    Mike N.

    wel Blewett scored 214 and Steve wonder scored 160 and australia
    declared at8 for 626 with a 324 lead. In their second dig S.A. are
    4 for 90 odd with Warne taking 2 wickets so far. Basically it means
    that S.A. have to pray for rain or survive the last day with only
    6 wickets, Cronje is already out and Rhodes is one of the batsmen at
    the wicket I believe.
    
    Mike N.

    
    Gee, I haven't been here for ages and very little has changed.....Poms
    still upset with their team, Oz still winning, Mike N still raving... 
    
    The only thing I really miss is that lunatic Ica getting drunk and into
    Notes typing maniacal statements...always worth a laugh that boy!!
    
    On the current Oz v SA situation it looks like Mark Taylor is in the
    same situation Mike Brearly was with England, great captain but not
    contributing with the bat.
    
    And as Ica ain't here anymore I'll say it for him......SUPER STEVEY has
    done it again, 160 runs and he is now running out and bowling the SAers
    out of the match. Blewett has done really well and I think he should
    have been bowling as well.
    
    I have some real doubts about Oz being able to keep the pressure up for
    all the tests and expect Sa to get close for a couple of the tests.
    
    As for the Ashes tests later in the year I think England could save
    themselves the embarassment and just forfiet, we only use the Ashes
    series to improve the batting and bowling averages for the boys.
    
    Cheers
    
    CRIM

    
    Crim,
    
    the Ashes are necessary as Taylor needs some easy bowling to get his
    confidence up again.
    
    SA should have MacMillan and DeVilliers back, though if the next test's
    pitch is as dead as this one was then their bowling will only look a
    better type of single dimension (Adams apart).
    
    They also just Demolished Border (not AB) in just over half the time of
    a 3 dayer -  another innings win.  Blewett is now averaging 150+ and
    has already scored 450 runs.  
    
    Next test will be closed but SA may have been psycologically holed
    below the water line.
    
    (nice to NEAR some familiar voices, though some missed (not Sunil))
    
    
    andrew

    Yeah, it is nice but where is everybody !!!
    
    Anyway Mark Taylor is considered to have a better than 50/50 chance of
    playing in the test starting Friday, another late night with bad
    coverage by channel 7 in oz. I hate to say this but I hope he does not
    make it as I think he really needs to be left out to get back into form
    again and pound some province sides.
    Mike N.
    p.s. apparently McGrath has a sore foot is a possibility of not
    playing as well. That puts a dent in the bowling line up.

    
    What is the Ch 7 coverage like compared with 9 and who are the
    commentators ?
    
    Cricinfo again has nothing and the first session is nearly over.  Are
    there any OZ or SA news agencies which are doing ball by ball coverage
    on the net ?
    
    andrew.

Try
http://iafrica.com/features/sport/cricket/scoreboard.htm

Gerry

    
    Andrew,
    
    I suppose you're going to go to all the Ashes tests and give the poms
    an ear-bashing :^)
    
    As for the second test each day has had a dramatic outcome.
    
    Day 1 had us looking good by putting the Saers in and bowling them out
    for 209...looked good for us right ?
    
    Day 2 we are ALL out for 108, they are 0/83  looks good for them right?
    
    Day 3 they are all out for 168 we are 3/145 looks pretty even.....
    
    I think MT has to do one of 2 things :
    
    	o bat further down the list like AB did (prefered option for MT
   	 fans like myself)
    
    	o captain from 12th man position
    
    I personally think his form has hit a slump since Slater was dropped by
    those idiots we call selectors. If Slats was at the other end Tayls
    would be more at ease and we would be back to those large opening
    stands we all got used to.
    
    I've been watching the tests on channel 7 and find Dean Jones commects
    woeful and Dennis Commentie (sp) as painful as any other bloody Vic !!
    Hooksey is good and Stacky not bad for a Vic but the rest should be
    into mime.
    
    The coverage starts at 2230 for Qld and 2330 for NSW and that is just
    before the tea break which leaves 2 miserable hours into the early
    hours of the morning. I hope the Ashes series has been sorted out and
    we get some real coverage from Richie Benaud and they leave Lawry at
    home.
    
    I feel that if Oz get 50 more runs without losing either of the Waughs
    we should sneak this one in.
    
    CRIM

    Just an addendum
    	Mark Taylor was out for 8, I do not know what elliot and Hayden
    scored but the pair at the wicket were M.Waugh NO 53 and S.Waugh NO 11.
    Of course as a banana bender Crim got his times wrong, the coverage
    starts at 10:30 in both states because I hear after an hours play,
    "Welcome to our Qld viewers". So daylight savings does have it's
    advantages.
    as for the coverage the only thing I think worthwhile is that they
    occassionally give you a nice statistic on the bowlers as to how many
    bowls were played at and how many left alone. Commentators are ok and
    you can still get the match on 2BL in sydney to override the TV's
    commentators.
    One problem with Taylor moving down the order is who comes in at 3 if
    we have Elliot and Hayden opening. I would prefer Ponting at 3 and
    Taylor dropped to get ready for England, but alas Ponting is not on
    tour.
    
    Mike N.

    Has Taylor done anything about his form? Extra nets/bowling machine?
    
    Greg

    
    well I have tickets for the 2nd day (friday) at the Oval.  This was
    sold out before XMAS and you could only get them if you were already on
    the mailing list (bought some last year).  Lords is also sold out but
    Headingley will be half empty as usual, but I don't wan't to go to
    Leeds for the day.  may go up to Old Trafford or Trent Bridge for a day
    away from DEC (Bliss).
    
    Well we just won by 2 wickets and by the time you read this will be
    aware that Ian "nerves of steel" Healy hit a six to win.
    
    r.e. the coverage, I have caught some of the coverage on Sky here and
    they must be picking up Channel 7's commentary.  Cometti sound like the
    Oz Rules bloke that he is, and has the usual rent-a-commentator voice
    and could be covering netball,bowls, or swimming etc with his silly
    over emphasised vocal pitches (our version of Howard Kosel (RIP)).  Crap.
    
    He doesn't sound like he has ever picked up a bat and as you have
    pointed out, he is Victorian.
    
    
    andrew.

    That has to be the most nail biting test match I have watched. I have
    just calmed down a bit, with Australia less than 20 runs to go M.Waugh,
    M.Bevan and Warne got out within 10 balls of each other leaving Healy
    and Gillespie in with 5 runs to score. Kallis for S.A. had come on and
    taken a wicket in each over and Cronje was bowling and had taken a
    wicket as well. If Healy had not won the match with that shot then I
    feel sure that the way Kallis was bowling he would have had both
    Gillespie and Mc Grath out next over. Even I was saying when Healy
    was facing Cronje that they would probably loose the game, how Cronje
    could not have brought Kallis earlier into the attack for the variety
    and upset the batsmen I will never know but probably very grateful.
    
    Mike N.
    p.s. I think even Ica would be speechless, give me a test match anyday.
    p.p.s I think the same way as the commentators that this was the best
    innings played by M.Waugh in his test cricket career.

    Very exciting, but I have to say that it was a pretty woeful track.
    On day 1 it looked like someone had just set up stumps in the middle of
    a vast green field. Talk about a green top! Looks like this was a home
    side prepared pitch to counter the Aussie spinners. Unfortunately SA
    lost out (narrowly). I wonder if England will take a lesson from this
    and see if they can improve the odds of beating Australia by trotting
    out a few ropey pitches that won't turn much (although I reckon that
    Warney could turn the ball on glass)
         
    The commentary has been pretty ordinary (esp Deano and Commetti) and I
    missed Richie and even (to an extent) Bill (it's all happening) Lawry.
    The solution to Channel 7's coverage is to get Foxtel. I did and have
    watched every ball live and no adverts, with the added attraction of
    classic Simpsons episodes during the lunch break (plus another 30 odd
    channels of cr*p - apart from UK TV)
    
    Cheers,
    Simon

    
    Well I have to say for once I agree with MikeN about Ponting being at
    number 3 but we have to have Taylor as the team feel confident when he
    is in the side and we all know that once sportsmen get to this level it
    becomes more of a confidence thing than technique.
    
    So the team for Eng should be :
    
    Elliot
    Slater (yeah I know I'm a closet NSWer)
    Ponting
    Waugh M
    Waugh S
    Taylor
    Blewett
    Healy
    Warne
    Gillespie/Reiffel/Stuart
    McGrath
    
    12th Bevan
    
    I think once Tayls gets his confidence back he could go back to opening
    with Slater.
    
    As for the finish of the second test I only watched it because of my
    wife, I wanted to turn the set off as I thought they were going to blow
    it and I really hate seeing the SAers gloat as the poor sports they
    always have been. (see comments in RUGBY conf)
    
    >>I wonder if England will take a lesson
    
    Simon, we dish out the lessons but they never learn anything :^)
    
    CRIM
    
    BTW I live on the border where we get the Sydney and Qld time zone
    channels which means we also get the "early" addition of the coverage.
    The hillbillies in Brisbane are an hour behind but the 'Coast crims are
    on the same timescales as the slickers.

    The SAers are giving the Aussies a good hiding at the moment in the 
    third test. Aust. all out first inngs for 227, S.A. scored 350 + in
    their first inning, Aust. are now 4 for 96 and looking at an innings
    defeat for the match. I think this will get them in the right
    mood for England, i.e. never ever let up.
    Mike N.

    
    in the end it was a good hiding.  Appears that they played but didn't
    care especially the loose shot that MW played late yesterday - couldn't
    quite understand why he tried a swipe through covers with only about 30
    mins away from bad light/end of day.  Should be castrated for that one,
    but the others didn't do much better.
    
    now for the meaningless one dayers which the Boks will treat as being
    more important than the tests (sounds like NZ - crowds included in this
    too) especially if they are winning.  Cries of we are the real "world
    champions" will be heard throughout SA.
    
    Looking forward to see the boys here on holiday - oops sorry - on the
    Ashes tour.
    
    
    andrew.

    Just in for one day.....
    
    Can't not be in the office without passing comment on the South 
    African bowling against the Aussies in the last Test. I was personally
    disgusted with the behaviour of their bowlers on the 4th day which 
    involved persistent short-pitched bowling at Steve Waugh. Apparently
    Waugh took numerous blows in 'his one-man stand' - I think spinner
    Pat Symcox should be repremanded for this type of intimidation.
    
    Andy
    

    well the umpires made to very bad decsions, one against S.Waugh in the
    first innings and one against Healy in the second. But overall
    Australia were outplayed. Interestingly enough the selectors informed
    Matt Hayden, Justin Langer and Mathew Elliot BEFORE the game that they
    were already on the way back to Australia so really why should they give
    a damn for a dead rubber anyway, really bad psychology that. Apparently
    nobody in the team was really happy about that and S.A. were thanking
    their lucky stars that Elliot was going home.
    Heally has got a 2 match suspension for disension of the umpires
    decision to so he will miss the first two one-dayers.
    Mike N.

    very quiet in here of late but anyway Australia lead the one day series
    3-2 after it being 1-0 S.A., 1-1, 2-1 S.A., 2-2.
    Noticeably Mark Taylor has not played in the last two matches and
    neither has Mark Waugh (injured hand).
    Mike N.

    And Australia have won the one day series by winning the 6th match with
    an over to spare.
    
Peter.

    and then lost the last one-dayer by 109 runs to win the series 4-3.
    I would have expected a better effort, Steve Waugh was captain after
    Healy, Gillespie and Warne were rested for the last game. S.A. amassed
    a massive 6 for 310 with to all accounts some extremely poor bowling
    for the backup bowlers and some early loss of wickets trying to get off
    to a flying start. Notably Waugh S scored 90 odd but apparently there
    was a lack of interest from the Australian team overall. This is of
    cause a real pain in the butt when you consider the ashes as we always
    want to give the English a bashing and I feel they may win a couple of
    games  if Australia win the first 3 tests.
    Mike N.