The Ashes: Let's get the party started

[Alexander's Horse]

Looks like Captain Clarke will be the first casualty.

Michael Clarke is set to retire from Test cricket.

The Australian captain has been told there is no place for him in the side after the Oval Test and will step down from the job.

The Australians are set to lose the Ashes at Trent Bridge tonight and Clarke has been the worst performed batsman with an average of 17.

Clarke’s decorated international career, which started in 2004, will end after the fifth Test at The Oval.

Clarke was never popular, accused of being selfish like Geoff Boycott. A senior team mate, Simon Katich, once threatened to smash his head in. What a happy little dressing room that must have been...

Losing The Ashes is a terrible way to go out. Time for Australia to rebuild.

34 is quite young to be going for a senior batsman of his talent but he has had persistent injury. Maybe Clarke will come back as a player, or make a fortune in India. I wish him well.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2015-clarke-set-to-retire/story-e6frg7rx-1227475615673

[Alexander's Horse]

They should recall Warwick Todd

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

And that's the Ashes won. Thanks for the return of the urn, Australia- and next time remember that the ball moves around in Britain.

I'm actually hoping Australia field a team of pups and win the final test. It'll be good for cricket and keep England egos in check.

[Alexander's Horse]

Shut up. Clarke's nickname is "Pup".

Ponting is talking about coaching.

That would be novel. Ricky is not known for deep thinking.

In the finest traditions of Australian cricket the best thing the team can do in the final test is vandalise the dressing rooms.

[Alexander's Horse]

And attack an English fan or two

[Egbert]

In the finest traditions of Australian cricket the best thing the team can do in the final test is vandalise the dressing rooms.

Umh. What would the English do to punish these vandals. Under the circumstances, "transportation" would be quite useless.

(This lot come from the penal colony).

If they vandalise then I hope they get jailed.

[Alexander's Horse]

The Australian team behaves badly all the time BD, the Brits just politely hush it up.

[Egbert]

Bloody australians. No wonder the Poms transported the lot of them to the ass end of the world.

[Alexander's Horse]

In better news we beat the Kiwis in the Bledisloe Cup

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Is it time for the traditional Ian Chappell/Botham fight yet?

[Alexander's Horse]

oh yes, please yes

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Speculation that Lyth and Moeen will both be dropped. That's overdue for Lyth, but harsh on Moeen. Nobody was under the impression that he's a great spinner, and he's been England's second-best batsman so far.

[Alexander's Horse]

The way things are going you could recall Boycott and Bumble and still win.

Being dropped from a winning team would be very harsh.