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Conference xtine::cricket_v2

Title:The new Cricket conference
Moderator:XTINE::HARDING
Created:Fri Dec 20 1996
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:25
Total number of notes:153

23.0. "1997 Ashes series - preamble" by SNOFS1::PENNYSIMON (Simon Penny - Storage BS, Sydney, Australia) Fri Apr 18 1997 02:14

    Australia yesterday announced their team to defend the Ashes in England
    this (northern) summer
    
    The team is as follows:
    
    Mark Taylor (c)
    Steve Waugh (vc)
    
    Mark Waugh
    Michael Slater
    Greg Blewett
    Matthew Elliot
    Ricky Ponting
    Justin Langer
    
    Michael Bevan
    Ian Healy
    Adam Gilcrest
    
    Andy Bichel
    Jason Gillespie
    Glen McGrath
    Shane Warne
    Michael Kasporwitz (sp?)
    Brendon Julian
    
    
    Notable choices here were - Steve Waugh replaces Ian Healy as vc,
    Slater and Ponting recalled, Reiffel dropped, no places for DiVenuto,
    Law, Dale, Stuart, Hayden. 
    
    I think it's not too bad, although I would have taken DiVenuto instead
    of Ponting and Stuart or Dale instead of Kasporwitz. I would have
    serious reservations about Taylor reversing his form slump. Julian can
    nconsider himself very lucky to be going ahead of Reiffel, but since I
    can't stand Reiffel I have no problem with that. Also Stuart Law is
    unlucky, but I hate him as well!
    
    Let the hostilities commence....
    
    Simon
    
    PS. I predict 3-1 to Australia
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23.1All even with a month to go.:*)GIDDAY::MORETTIDeath is just a formalityFri Apr 18 1997 02:5419
    
    Very generous Simon (for a 2n'from) but there is NO way England will
    win even one test, even with Oz's penchant for switching off after they
    have demolished the opposition which in England's case started the
    second the team was announced.
    
    My prediction :
    
    	5-0
    
    should be 6 but weather will save them in one of the tests.
    
    On another tack do we know who is televising the tests (7-9-10) and
    which pay TV is doing it (Optus/Foxtel)
    
    I must have read the selectors memo before I wrote my reply to the
    Atherton diatribe as almost all I asked has been granted.
    
    CRIM
23.2my op.SNOFS1::NANCARROWMon Apr 21 1997 07:3111
    Actually
    I think they will probably win one test too as the Aussies really turn
    off after the series is won nowadays and the poms will be desperate to
    recover some pride and pay checks. Weather permitting I think it will
    be a 3 straight tests to the Aussies with England winning one of the
    last two and hailing a new beginning in English cricket and the turning
    of another corner. Mind you if you consider how many corners they have
    turned I think they would be back to where they were 5 years ago.
    Mike N.
    ( reiffel was dropped because he was considered to unreliable for a
    long tour with injuries.
23.3Old Bores AlmanacCHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FMon Apr 21 1997 15:0513
    
    What a load of old cods! England, with the new "supremo" in place, a
    brand new county format (4-day games will now begin on Wednesdays), and
    a highly-motivated team of eager young bucks ready to do battle, will
    wipe the floor with this tired old team of Aussie has-beens and
    never-weres.
    
    Incidentally, Reading will win the European Cup next season and
    scientists will announce that, after years of research, they have found
    intelligent life in Yorkshire.
    
    Jeff
    
23.4I like your personal nameGIDDAY::MORETTIDeath is just a formalityTue Apr 22 1997 23:4016
    
    Jeff,
    
    Now I was "really" believing your note until I read the "intelligent
    life in Yorkshire" diatribe :*(
    
    I have an ex who was from York and she was as smart as a whip.....
    unfortunately whips IQs are only 2.....
    
    Also I heard on the radio Mark Waugh is already sticking it to your lot
    on the BBC.
    
    Should make the pom team come out fighting for at least the first
    session.....
    
    CRIM
23.5Waughle.CHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FWed Apr 23 1997 18:3818
    
    	
    Waugh apparently said that on paper England looked a good side but they
    have no hunger on the pitch. Is this man appointed by the county
    committees to peddle that old nonsense? That is exactly the kind of
    argument used by old duffers up and down the country who desperately
    wish to maintain the status quo i.e. their access to the sponsor's gin
    and free parking place.
    
    Attributing England's miserable cricketing efforts over the last few
    years to "not trying hard enough" breeds an easy complacency; after
    all, we're bound to find someone who "tries" eventually! You may as well
    claim that the peculiar mix of Anglo-Saxon and Norman blood is
    genetically pre-disposed to being bad at cricket.....hang on a mo...by
    jove, I think I might have got something there!
    
    j.
    
23.6so far ...SNOFS1::NANCARROWMon May 19 1997 04:329
    Well,
    	after 3 one day games Australia has a 2-1 record having lost to
    	a county starting with G(something) captained by Tom Moody. This
    probably is good in that there is now no pressure to win everything
    and just play good cricket. Taylor has had a decent run with a 40 odd
    	and 70 odd so maybe he has some form comming back for the Ashes,
    	mind you they were pop-gun attacks.
    
    Mike N.
23.7sorry missed the news fullySNOFS1::NANCARROWTue May 20 1997 03:307
    actually minor correction
    Australia scored 121 all out and Worcestershire (?) beat them by 5
    wickets on a green and seaming wicket for a nice welcome to England.
Should do their egos a world of good and will probably give the English
    curators a whiff of success if they put on a green top.
    
    Mike N.
23.8Boggling mindsCHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FWed May 21 1997 10:1927
    
    Well, that settles it - the Aussies truly have no chance this summer.
    The latest great innovation from England's cricket authorities is that
    players must wear the offical England clobber, with the insignia (three
    lions) prominently displayed. I suspect that this insignia also
    includes the sponsors name, given that we are now a nation beholden to
    tradition, except when it comes to money - take a bow, Margaret
    Thatcher.
    
    This means that Jack Russell, for instance, would not be allowed to
    play in his "lucky" sun-hat; Alec Stewart has already conceded that he
    will be wearing the nice new blue helmet, in place of the white one he
    has always worn before. 
    
    This innovation will no doubt terrify the opposition - imagine the
    pyschological effect of facing eleven men, all kitted out exactly the
    same, with three lions and "Tetleys" staring you in the face for eight
    hours a day; it's enough to make you throw your wicket away and weep at
    the damned brilliance of it all.
    
    Future plans include height and weight criteria (no-one under six foot
    or weighing less than 12 stone); everyone to have mousy brown hair; all
    players to be called "Michael".
    
    Hurrah.
    
    j.
23.9starting soon.SNOFS1::NANCARROWThu May 22 1997 05:1610
    after Michael Atherton or Michael Jackson. Probably the latter as
    with McGrath and Gillespie on line I can see a lot of moonwalking
    comming up.
    
    another Michael 
    N. that is.
    p.s.
    First one dayer is due soon with no surprises in the side except that
    Greg Blewett has an injury cloud and apparently Ricky Ponting is on
    standby.
23.10CHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FThu May 22 1997 11:488
    
    Re. First one dayer is due soon
    
    Today in fact. If anyone has access to the scores, please update.
    
    
    j.
    
23.11England 1 Asutralia 0SNOFS1::NANCARROWFri May 23 1997 02:156
    Heard on the news that Australia lost the first one dayer by 6 wickets,
    apparently they scored 173(?) and the English scored it with overs and
    wickets to spare. But apparently England were 4 for 40 at one stage
    sounds like Australia turned off a bit.
    
    Mike N.
23.12Start as you mean to go on..CHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FFri May 23 1997 11:479
    
    > But apparently England were 4 for 40 at one stage
    > sounds like Australia turned off a bit.
      
    
    Nice to see the Aussies are keeping up their record of never losing a 
    game they were trying to win.
    
    j.                
23.133-0 to England in the 1-dayersEVTSG8::TOWERSMon May 26 1997 09:448
    re .12
    
    Surely you don't think the Crims tried to lose all three one-dayers?
    Are they on a lose-bonus or something? Mind you, England cheated in the
    last one by selecting someone under 25.
    
    Cheers,
    Brian
23.14Unfair dinkumCHEFS::KIRKPATRICKJLuck with a capital FTue May 27 1997 14:2113
    
    Re. last 
    
    Brian,
    
    I was directing my comments to Mike who seems to have decided that it
    is logically impossible for Australia to lose a game fairly - any loss
    can be attributed to the umpires, cheating, Australia not really trying
    to win or some combination of these factors. This interesting
    definition of "lose" was much prevalent in the last, now-sadly defunct,
    cricket conference.
    
    Jeff  
23.15We played like s*&t !!GIDDAY::MORETTIDeath is just a formalityWed May 28 1997 00:0526
    
    Now now Jeff, some of us can lose gracefully (not me but others I have
    known).
    
    I watched the first 2 games and thought England were really committed
    and it was also obvious that although I think Taylor is the best
    captain we have ever had he may have to go because if England remains
    this committed we will need to have a "full team".
    
    Gough was outstanding and his form was relayed to the rest of the team. 
    
    I must admit I thought the first game was going to be a one off as
    evrything went Englands way, but it became obvious Englands form is
    better than we thought and I just hope Slater and the Waugh boys take
    note. For some strange reason it seems to be our bowling that is
    letting us down so maybe McGrath needs a boot in the bum to get him
    going and Gillespie is also below form as he is normally right on the
    pace.
    
    With the replays of the runouts we now have no arguments with the umps,
    only our batsmen as they seem hellbent on running themselves out.
    
    Then again maybe this is just an abberation and all will return to norm
    when the tests start.
    
    the real CRIM
23.16EVTSG8::TOWERSWed May 28 1997 14:1313
    Marsh, in an attempt to help Taylor sort out his batting, started
    setting up a camera to video his batting in the match against
    Gloucester yesterday (Oz 249, Gl 55-1). Unfortunately Taylor was out
    4th ball, before the camera had even been set up.
    
    It's a bit of a problem as the selectors are Marsh, Steve Waugh and
    Taylor himself, all of whom have an interest - Marsh is an old pal and
    Steve W gets the captaincy if Taylor is dropped.
    
    Still, 249 all out sounds like the batting was generally pretty poor.
    
    Cheers,
    Brian
23.17Why no gloating from you poms over the onedayers?GIDDAY::MORETTIDeath is just a formalityThu May 29 1997 02:3925
    
    Being a Taylor fan and considering how good a captain he is I think we
    gamble and take him into the first test and lay it on the line that he
    either contributes or stands down.
    
    Cricket is a very psychological game at this level and if one side gets
    a sniff of superiority over the other then things tend to go wrong for
    the struggling side.
    
    However there is an exception to every theory and Oz is the exception
    here, :^)
    
    If Tayls fails (hey I'm a poet and didn't know it !!)AND we lose the
    first test (of course hell freezes over) then MT is out Waugh in, he
    bats like a man possessed, his brother doesn't want to be over-shadowed
    and the Waugh boys destroy Eng .
    
    To tell the truth I'm more worried about our bowling which I consider
    to not be up to full stretch at the mo as McGrath and Gillespie seems
    to be taking a backseat to Kasper and he's only an average bowler at
    best.
    
    CRIM
    
    (fingers crossed)
23.18EVTSG8::TOWERSThu May 29 1997 10:2110
    re.
    >Why no gloating from you poms over the onedayers?
    
    If you look at our home 1-day record it's very good. By comparison our
    home test record is shabby to say the least. Hence, thrashing Australia
    3-0 in the 1-dayers isn't something to get too excited about. The
    crowing will start after we beat you in the first test :^).
    
    Cheers,
    Brian
23.19WOTVAX::claire.lzo.dec.com::hiltong[email protected]Thu May 29 1997 12:536
I read in the UK papers that historically whoever wins the 1st test 
goes on to win the series.

Could be England's biggest chance for some time!

Greg
23.20Still 3-1 to AusPASTIT::UWINSVoicesThu May 29 1997 15:3725
	I saw the highlights of the first two Texaco one-day matches and was
	lucky enough to be at Lords for the third. There is no doubt that
	England were the better side in all the matches; Gough was 
	inspirational at Lords and England's fielding and overall attitude
	was better than Australia's in all 3 matches. England were struggling 
	when batting in the first few overs on Sunday, but once Ben Hollioke 
	came and and rode his luck a lot, the game was as good as over.

	You really cannot use the 1-day results as a guide to the tests. For 
	a start Aus only had 4 bowlers for the 1-day matches. None of the 
	pitches really suited Warne; Mcgrath bowled quite well and Kasper may 
	well find a wicket or 2 to his liking in the tests. Gillespie will 
	improve when he becomes acclimatised to the conditions - if he does 
	this soon I think he'll be the best of the bowlers as he's *fast*. 

	Taylor is out of form, but I believe Aus must stick with him. Mike
	Atherton was badly out of form at the start of the last winter tour,
	but he's managed a few good knocks since, so hopefully Taylor will
	be able to get a few runs soon. The Waugh's will get loads of	
	runs and Slater, even Healy/Gilcrest should score against England's
	average bowling attack.
	
	I hope England win 6-0 of course, but realistically a drawn series 
	is the best we can expect. The bookmakers still have Aus at short 
	odds-on to win the series and that seems about right to me.
23.21waiting for the test SNOFS1::NANCARROWMon Jun 02 1997 04:5411
    Taylor's form seems to get worse and worse where as Blewett and Elliot
    seem to be blossoming with centuries and 50's. Maybe it is a time for a
    changing of the guard as for Slater has he had a bat yet???
    I think Taylor should go why take a negative into a test match the best
    we can hope for him to do is last the first hour or maybe as a night
    watchman. Truth is he should have been dropped after Sth Africa and
    the team given a chance to get used to the new captain.
    Even Greg Chappel a strong supporter of Taylor has come out and said
    drop him .He went through something similar and says that it will take
    more than one innings to get out of it.
    Mike N.
23.22ticket for LordsCHEFS::GRIFFITH_DMon Jun 02 1997 17:156
    I'm interested in attending the Lords test match.
    How does one go about getting tickets?
    Just turn up early and hope?
    
    Thanks in advance.
    Des Griffith                                     
23.23sold outKERNEL::SUPPORTAutomatic Patch Entry SystemTue Jun 03 1997 10:498
    
    
    	NOT A CHANCE !
    
    It was sold out before Christmas....
    
    There are only one or two days with vacancies at the (non-london)
    tests.