K.R.O.

Lets not beat about the bush here! Jim catorgorically stated that Broad and Strauss were not good enough, I have argued against him all the way. Nice to be right sometimes innit.

I've just walked into the office, I've had 3 hours of sleep, I look and feel like shit.

First comment goes like this: "Well, the Ashes are over, can't say that England deserved to win it though."

Red Rag!

Me: "What part of being thrashed at Lords, The Oval and being bettered at Edgbaston don't you lot understand. Perhaps if you could've got out the batting genius that is Monty Panesar, you might've had 'em. They stay at Lords! (repeat ad nauseum)"

It's going to be a long yet fun I day I reckon, provided I can stay awake.

These pathetic whingeing Aussies make you puke, eh Ray? Tell them to take it like men, mate.

Its been quite an enthralling series ,one real key issue of the series was us batting to make a draw in the first test ,it could have been had we lost that we might have lost another couple but we were resolute and came back to go one up in the next test, the fourth test was a major disappointment but we came back with all guns blazing knowing we had to win to snatch the Ashes,(a bit like the Blues 'blowing automatic promotion v P.N.E. then knowing we had to win v Reading and we done the business').
I've never had no issues at at all with Strauss has a batsman for he had a fine series with the bat, thought he made a few errors of judgment along the line in the series but that could be down to the learning curve ?, don't fully know what input the skipper would have in team selection but ...Bopara after scratching around like an old hen pecking away at a concrete floor in the first two tests he should have been left out but they picked for the third and then defied all logic with a cretinous decision to pick him for the fourth... .at least Trott came in at long last and showed a cool disciplined assured head to get an excellent century, thought Broad improved as the series went on and 18 wickets at just under 30 apiece is a good return plus an average of about the same batting shows he could be reaching 'all rounder status' and our new number 7..?,Swan maybe not in the Edmonds/ Embury class but a useful series and he can certainly bat a bit,Cook,Bell and Collingwood had their good moments but overall only run-of-the-mill,Onions maybe a shade unlucky to miss out at the Oval having a fair strike rate,Anderson was reasonable no more, Harmison may still have a bit more to give for England but Panesar, must be a question mark there, Prior's keeping has improved and got some decent runs in the middle order,well good luck to Freddie and a 100% fit again K.P has to be a bonus.....now this time next year....England number 1 in the World....
K.R.O.

Just wondering Ray, if above all the wailing and wingeing going on can you hear the sound of knives being sharpened...
K.R.O.

I agree, Sid, it was an enthralling series but in my view nowhere near as good as the 2005 shebang with the quality being way down on both sides; on the other hand it could hardly be expected to have matched that sublime series which was simply the best cricket I have ever witnessed. I do think England were rather fortunate to come out of this one with a win but hey! who's complaining?

I can't see this England side going very much further and clearly Flintoff will be a huge loss. Cook, Bell, Bopara, Collingwood are not quite up to the mark as Test batsman but the question is do we have anyone better? My hope is that Rashid can progress- we desperately need a spinner who can turn it both ways but a cool assessment suggests that there doesn't seem to be very much in the locker. Certainly Broad made great strides as the series progressed but once again almost every unit suffered from that most English of malady's- inconsistency. Anderson, for instance looked unplayable at Lord's but for the rest of time he was distinctly ordinary.

But wasn't Trott wonderful? He looked composed throughout this most demanding of debuts; obviously the answer to any future problems is to Anglesize more South Africans. It makes a man proud of his country's colonial dabblings, so it does.

Well as I said BP, Cook ,Bell and Collingwood all had 'a modest test series' but to suggest ''they are not up to test standard'.... ....I believe that are all still averaging around 40 odd in test matches which is good overall,but of course they all need to improve over the next year or so and keep that average up.
K.R.O.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; A Captain is only as good as his bowlers, and the Aussie bowlers for the main part of this series were a hyooge let down, woeful. Johnson has been better, in fact he was the star wicket taker when the Aussies beat South Africa in their backyard earlier, but for the whole five tests here he was absolutely terrible, and Siddle and Clark weren't much better, the Australian selectors have a bit of a headache coming towards them as theytry to find some bowlers who can bowl us out twice in 18 months' time.

As for England, Rashid will be a welcome inclusion as early indications are that he can rip it a bit (something Swann can't do) and he's a decent batsman as well (something Swan can do), Collingwood may be near his sell-by-hyphenated-date so I'd like to see Trott take his place with possibly Key coming in at 3 to replace Bell and guard Cook who's having a bit of a bad run..

Strauss
Cook
Key
KP
Trott
?
Prior
Broad
Rashid
?
Anderson

Who fills Freddie's boots is a difficult one and I don't think Onions or Stevie H are good enough, so maybe Sidebottom gets the question mark in the bowling dept.

That is all..

For Ponting? No, I think they realise that Clarke isn't up to the job yet so they'll stick with Ricky which is great because he is a dud captain.

Anyway, another classic from today:

Aussie Bogan: "It doesn't matter if you win a home Ashes series, it means fuck all unless you back it up by winning away straight afterwards.

Me: "So, that whole 2006/2007 5-0 deal that you've been rabbiting on about endlessly since, well, 2007 meant fuck all then? Brilliant!"

Seriously, Aussie Cricket fans, not that bright!

I'm not a Flintoff fan...look at his stats and they will tell you he is shit and shouldn't have even been in the squad.He is the Frank lampard of cricket.....with his new i am jesus pose every time he takes a catch or wicket..

Stick to something you know about Scoobs (not a lot to feckin choose from Id guess) because you obviously know feck all about cricket.

his stats aren't shit?




enlighten me oh wise one from the hodges of hill

NO! If you knew anything about what you were commenting on, there would be absolutely no need for me to enlighten you. I suppose you also think that Strauss is a crap captain and that Broad needs a haircut?

Fred played in 79 tests scored over 3,800 runs at at average of just under 32,he took 226 wickets at an average of just under 33 not quite up to the level of Ian Botham with the bat or the ball but nevertheless quite a decent average.
K.R.O.

So to 2011 when we defend the Ashes down there: Aussies 8/11...England 3/1...Draw 5/1...
K.R.O.