If the Australian pie industry, not to mention their cricket ground security and caterers off the pitch were to show the same dedication in the pursuit of quality as the Green Baggies do on, it would be far more of a pleasure even as a pom to watch them put us through the mincer.
Both teams were presented to the assembled throng in honour of McGrath, Warne and Langer, in order of height if not stature. The England team line up under the flag of St George, something possibly inconceivable a dozen years ago, and the rise of English nationalism as an artefact of Welsh and Scottish assemblies.
Everyone has blown hot and cold about the England’s bowling plans, not to say bowling going astray at the MCG last week.
Ian Botham blew hot, probably because he was angry about the England performance.
Angus Frasier blew cold, more important things in the world, probably because he was resigned to England’s performance.
Matthew Hoggard, the different player [...]
A Survival Guide to the Loss of the Ashes, and similar English sporting failures.
Fifty Ways
(after Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon)
It’s bad to be defeated
All too easily.
We travelled here with such high hopes
To end in misery.
It could have been much worse though how
I cannot see.
There must be fifty ways
To lose the Ashes.
A [...]
“Due to no play being required on the fourth day of the Melbourne Test, Ticketmaster will give 100% refunds to all patrons.”
Just before setting off rung by Peter Baxter to appear on Test Match Special at lunchtime. Arrive at the MCG early enough to talk to staff about arranging clearance. Gwenne who takes me to the media centre mentions how she studied Dante at university. The Divine Comedies should be read by more, I say. Maybe the Inferno would make a better bet to describe England’s plight.
Forgot to mention yesterday that Australia finished the day 2 for 48, Flintoff nearly getting a hat-trick. This is because I didn’t have a scorecard. ‘Scorecard? What the XXXX is a scorecard?’ asks Aussie Bloke. In England at any first class match, an up-to-date scorecard is printed and sold at the start of each day’s [...]
Sorry Western Australia, can’t say I was taken too much by Perth.
“Sheffield has never much cared for its history and buildings, and one day it will regret it” Sheffield Telegraph 1907.
“Darkness insists that Sheffield is a city, a metropolis; daylight reduces it to its component parts, to a series of bloated villages, unfolding across the [...]
Analysis of Failure
This is for cricket lovers, especially English cricket supporters, who wonder why the Ashes were lost so readily after taking so long to regain.
Previous Performances
We did better than the last time down under. The 2002-3 team lasted eleven days in their attempt to wrest the Ashes. At least this time it was fifteen. [...]
The MCG is huge. To give you an idea of its size, you could seat a packed-out Derby County, Coventry City and any other Championship Ground and still have room. 105,000 people. Pretty well the population of the Peak District. Fantastic.
