Originally posted by Havak
And for all that energetic and largely accurate defence the reality is that this is not as good an Australian side as five years ago and that it is not currently playing well.
And for all that energetic and largely accurate defence the reality is that this is not as good an Australian side as five years ago and that it is not currently playing well.
But I'm not sure what all the sudden fuss is about reverse swing. It's been around for years and the Australians have faced some masters of it without this sort of apparent fragility. Maybe it's just a symptom of the wider problem.
They may return to form at trent bridge but who knows? I think you over rate the bowling – McGrath has been excellent, as has Warne. But the support bowling has been poor (one innings from Lee aside) – poorer than Englands certainly.
And if we have to talk about gifts there were enough dropped catches and missed throws that Australia should have lost by tea on the final day.
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I’m not convinced you can write off good innings saying it was because the Aussies dropped catches – that is almost a universal truth after all? And bowling someone with a ‘no ball’ is a ‘no ball’ and not a wicket.
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What Hysteria?
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Did we touch on the fact that whilst your boys claiming five nil slams (thanks Glen – mind that ankle now son shine) might be seen as realistic in a success-glutted Oz it is simply seen as uber-arrogant here and turns everyone strongly against them? Perhaps this is their motivational tactic?
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Plus everyone else wants the Aussies to lose at cricket – you occupy the role in cricket that England do in rugby – others love to see you fail.
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And when that rights holder has expressed disappointment with the viewing figures things tend to change?
Though god knows how they expected huge audiences from the combined pops of the three countries involved. Perhaps they honestly thought that 8am and 10am kick offs would find an NH audience as well (note: UK bars currently need a special licence for this time – but that changes in November)?
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He has also offered his resignation I see. Was he serious?
The interesting vein that keeps surfacing in the Eddie saga is the turnover of support coaches. Eddie's an utter obsessive who seems to be incredibly tough on and demanding of his support. The batch before this current lot lasted a total of about a month. I don't think it's a case of wanting yes men, more a case of paying out on them if their area of responsibility has - in Eddie's opinion - fallen short. The lot prior to the incumbents couldn't hack it. And I don't think it amounts to Eddie blaming others rather than taking the blame himself. I suspect he just applies too much pressure.
I see Flatley has made it.
Wasn’t he a great referee last weekend by the way – star ref of the tournament so far without a doubt? There is just something wonderful about seeing Wallabies and Kiwis b******** in a Somerset accent.
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