Ready for some pro cricket in America?

[inari]

While I haven't followed it much since leaving Australia, Australian cricket was a massive disappointment earlier in the year. I'm sure the Aussies will be happy to have some success against England.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

While I haven't followed it much since leaving Australia, Australian cricket was a massive disappointment earlier in the year. I'm sure the Aussies will be happy to have some success against England.

 

This is the biggest tournament in cricket. If they win this match, which there is almost no chance they could fail to after bowling England out for 102 in the first day, they just need in the final test to hold on to the Ashes as the defending champs.

 

I'll admit, it may be a tough sell to convince people that it's an awesome sport when they play 25 days of cricket over almost two months, and we're looking at a tied series.

[wvcbxl]

they really don't want to be going into the last test needing the win.

 

Especially at the Oval, where this Ashes rivalry started in 1882.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

they really don't want to be going into the last test needing the win.

 

Especially at the Oval, where this Ashes rivalry started in 1882.

 

This is still one of the coolest stories in sports. Even people who can't get into the game have to appreciate this.

 

In 1882, when international test cricket was still fairly young, Australia were playing England at The Oval (in England) and won a spectacular match that no one thought they could win.

 

Sports journalism and English sports fans being what they are, this caused much crying and wailing, culminating in this appearing in a publication called The Sporting News, in the style of an obituary from the time:

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/DeathofEnglishCricket.jpg

 

When England were due to tour Australia the next summer, the English captain promised to go down there and "recover those ashes." The idea grew from there, and now whichever teams wins the biannual series is said to "hold the Ashes."

[wvcbxl]

Sports journalism and English sports fans being what they are, this caused much crying and wailing,...

 

Sounds like NSBB after a Cubs loss. :-)) :-))

[cardinalsfan]

Man, Ponting is raping England.

[wolf stansson]

Maybe if England didn't dress so slutty and drink so much, Ponting wouldn't do that. England really was begging for it though.

[Marco4]

Man, Ponting is raping England.

 

Yeah, thanks for that. :cray:

[Marco4]

The problem for me here is that this is a pretty shabby Australia team compared to the ones that have lorded it over England for the last 20 years or so. Missing McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist and going back through to the Waughs; yes, Ricky Ponting is a pantomime villain, but Stuart Clark's a nice guy, Michael Clarke, too. They're pretty grounded and, seemingly, good enough to win the Ashes. Its tough to despise them even though, as an Englishman, I've got to do.

[wvcbxl]

Well that was an emphatic win by Australia. Now everything hinges on the final test at the Oval.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Well that was an pathetic embarrassing pee-down-your-legs performance by England. Now everything hinges on the final test at the Oval.

 

FYP

[wvcbxl]

They're pretty grounded and, seemingly, good enough to win the Ashes...

 

Or not. :-))

 

Who could have predicted such drama at the Oval?