Well the Ashes are over no but we still have a few 1 day international games to go down under involving England, Australia and New Zealand. There is an England v Australia Twenty Twenty game tonight which I’m looking forward to. Vaughny is back in the captain’s role for England so let’s see what happens.
As a nice lead up towards tonight’s game I found this very interesting video on YouTube involving a certain Mr Brett Lee of Australia. Now England may of lost the Ashes 5-0 and been totally humiliated but this takes some beating - what a TOSSER!. It seems more like Monty should be in his role.
You heard it it here first on www.APomsAshes.com when I suggested that England should turn to Warne. The latest news is that England are considering it:
Well it’s been a few weeks since I last did some posts on life down under during the Ashes – I think you can all guess why! Well after we played so bad in the 3rd test and lost the ashes I kind of lost a lot of interest and with Christmas just round the corner and various work do’s, etc. I haven’t had a chance to blog. I also had my in-laws out for Christmas so with a full week off work over the Christmas break I took a break (well a bit of one) from the net. The weather here during the Melbourne test (4th test) was miserable so I did get to watch a lot of that test – it wasn’t pleasant viewing from a England point of view and was more like the Shane Warne show.
So today England had the whitewash completed on them by losing the 5th test in yet more glorious fashion. That’s only the second time England have been white washed 5-0 and the last time was in 1920/21 series – I sure did pick a good time to move over to Australia! The mickey taking at work hasn’t been too bad. The Aussies I think have just moved on and simply state that English players are not good enough. ‘Bruce’ hasn’t been in work since Christmas with some annual leave so I think the majority of the stick will begin in a week or two.
I must admit I am glad we lost the final test today. If England had won it then everyone would be going on about how we have turned the corner and that England is getting better. With the whitewash complete it paves the way for a huge backlash against the team and those people who picked the squad, tactics and helped ‘counsel’ them. The simple fact is that the team was very poorly prepared and too inferior to the Aussies. All I can say is the 5-0 score line doesn’t lie and the green and gold of Australia fully deserved to spank us.
It is going to be strange to see how Australia copes without the three retiring players. The biggest loss will undoubtedly be Warney and cricket is going to be a poor place without him playing. The Aussie TV had a show dedicated to him and it was brilliant viewing. Maybe England could install him as the next coach – now wouldn’t that be good!
Well what a day yesterday – Shane Warne has announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of ashes. Hot on that announcement is the rumours that Glen McGrath will also be announcing his retirement after the world cup series in spring.
From an England point of view it is a shame these didn’t come before the Ashes tournament but doesn’t this have shades of when Glen Chappell, Rodney Marsh and Dennis Lilley all retired for Australia in 1984? I think with McGrath and Warney gone by the time the next Ashes come around will be major loss for Australia. I guess we wait and see who comes into the fold between now and then. I think the retirement of Warney is going to leave a major hole and a big loss for cricket. The TV here in Australia is full of images of his career including the highs and lows. Most Aussies I have spoke to are going to miss him like crazy but I think most England fans are as well - he’s sums up a typical Aussie – Blond, Charisma, party animal and great at his sport under pressure.
With Warney gone for the up and coming one day series I think we have a real even contest on our hands with England V Australia which is what we all want and especially all us Poms living down under!
Well I haven’t much of a chance to blog over the last few days and with the outcome today of the third test and ashes series who can blame me!
It has been a fun few days at work. ‘Bruce’ said of England’s first innings that the only way we could get in the runs was for Monty to do one of his special curries. I also had my works Christmas do on Saturday night at a local restaurant, which just happened to have a TV showing the cricket. At the exact point I was there with everyone Gilly was whacking poor old Monty for non-stop sixes. I got up as we sat down for our meal and turned the TV off to a loud chorus of boo’s
Well England tried to fight yesterday and today but all to no avail. The Aussies have won the ashes back in 15 days and England is in disarray.
As the third test comes to an end I must say how refreshing it has been to see Monty Panesar playing cricket. Everything Monty does is with a smile and even when Gilchrist hit his bowling all over the park he still had a smile. Apart from Monty I guess everyone’s thoughts are with Ashley Giles wife Stine who a few days ago was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I haven’t been a huge fan of Ashley in this series but things like this are more important than the game. Get well soon Stine
Well the first day of the 3rd test is over and what a day!
The day started with one of Bruce’s mates at work saying that it’s a very important day today and I started the question why and he said that its when England lose the Ashes – oh dear this was going to be a interesting. Bruce turned up a little late today but whilst I was doing some work he started to put on an impression of the Queen doing her Christmas speech and saying how sad that England lost 5-0 in the Ashes. I started giving him some banter back and told him that Monty Panesar would give them one hell of a beating today – how right I was!
Throughout the afternoon I watched as Australian wickets fell and wound all the Aussies in the office up. Its so funny seeing how they go all quiet when they are doing badly at sport. By late afternoon when I was leaving England had Australia with 5 wickets down and ripped into Bruce and his mates. Leaving the office Bruce said in a funny way:
“Go and bloody enjoy it†– How I did on the way home!
By the end of the day we had Australia all out for 244 but England didn’t make a great start with the bat at 51-2. The 2nd days is going to be very interesting and let’s hope England can stay in and bat and take their time.
Well it’s been rather quiet here on the cricket front since the 2nd test finished and the banter died down. ‘Bruce’ did tell me of a funny story of some Barmy Army England fans who were so desperate for a good English curry that they have ordered one and the chef to be delivered from their favourite curry house in the UK. Read more here.
I did notice a funny thing here in Oz the other day though. In the UK we refer to Aussies as ‘Bruce’ and ‘Sheila’ but here in Oz they didn’t know what I was on about when talking about a stereotypical Aussie block as ‘Bruce’. The Aussies recognised ‘Sheila’ as a term but not ‘Bruce’ which I found funny. I then raised the Bruce highway which goes north from Brisbane and asked who this was named after and no-one knew! Good old BRUCE whoever you are!
Well ‘Bruce’ was out of the office yesterday but today’s he’s back and rubbing it in about the 2nd Test!. He sent me the following jokes about England’s players – which is very good!
This arvo we have a works Christmas do outside so hopefully I wont get attacked by any ‘Roos out there (there are actually a lot outside my building). I did challenge ‘Bruce’ and his friends to a game of cricket but it seems as though they talk the talk but don’t walk the walk
Anyway here are the jokes:
Q. What do Geraint Jones and Michael Jackson have in common?
A. They both wear gloves for no apparent reason
Q. What is the height of optimism?
A. An English batsman applying sunscreen.
Q. What does Ashley Giles put in his hands to make sure the next ball almost always takes a wicket?
A. A bat.
Q. What would Glen McGrath be if he was an Englishman?
A. An allrounder.
Q. What advantage do Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Strauss and Geraint Jones have over the rest of their team-mates?
A. At least they can say they’re not really English.
Q. What is the English version of a hat-trick?
A. Three runs in three balls.
Q. What do you call an Englishman with 100 runs against his name?
A. A bowler.
Q. What is the most proficient form of footwork displayed by English batsmen?
A. The walk back to the pavilion.
Q. Who has the easiest job in the English squad?
A. The guy who removes the red ball marks from the bats.
Q. Why is Andrew Flintoff the unluckiest English player?
A. Because he was born in England.
Q. What does “Ashes” stand for?
A. Another Sad Horrific English Series.
Q. What’s the English version of LBW?
A. Lost, Beaten, Walloped.
Q. Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone in the English team?
A. The person who ironed the cricket whites.
Well there is not much you can say after that end to the game. I have to take my hat off to Australia and congratulate them on winning that test match. After day one who would of thought that was possible - apart from England fans!
Anyway quickly moving on and this image made me laugh. I know the Aussies love sport but this taking it a bit too far (Taken from the ‘Cairns Post’ )!
