by Arthur Crabtree » Fri Jul 17, 2015 7:56 pm
The extra ODI series isn't the one that we'll remember the summer for I expect.
You can have too much foreplay, fellas.
Time we got this summer where we know it was heading all along. It's the Ashes, and it starts in four days time. We'll be locked in a passionate embrace for real. As Marvin said, Let's Get it On.
Do I sound a bit forced? Losing the extra ODI series was a bit of a downer. We didn't bat well, apart from Trescos ton. Colly was out best bowler and he won't be playing. But then Hussey (Mr Cricket!) was their best batter, and he won't be playing either. I think we've had enough fifty over cricket. Powerplays. Subersubs. Death overs. Ephemera.
Sadly England have dropped one of their great bats of recent times, in Graham Thorpe. KP is in. It's the right thing to do, but it's a bit ruthless. Thorpey was a main reason behind England's resurgence under Fletcher. Thanks and goodbye. I won't forget Colombo, Bridgetown, Christchurch. Averages 46 against Australia, against great bowlers.
A good warm up for the visitors against Leicestershire. Top scorer for Leics was an Aussie, Chris Rogers. Fifty in the first innings, and a double ton in the second! Everyone took wickets for the Aussies, Stuart MacGill a little pointlessly. Like we're going prepare pitches for their spinners. Weird attack for Leics. Ottis Gison, ex West Indies. Charl Willoughby who played for South Africa against England in 2003. Jason Krejza, from New South Wales. England under 19 bowlers John Maunders and Stuart Broad (son of Chris). And David Masters. Australia 582-7.
Umpires for the first Test: Aleem Dar and Rudy Koertzen. Hope they don't get pushed around by Ricky Ponting. Shut it, Ricky.
I always say that everybody's right.