So are Australians really Chokers ??

[BoyBrumby]

Lol, if anyone ever reaches the Ranatunga ratings with Ponting still captain it'd be bloody hilarious. Smith seems like the best candidate, but you never know who could come out of the woodwork.

Give Pietersen captaincy, or Boucher can take over

Big Dunc seemed to wind the little chimpy fellow up quite successfully during The Ashes.

That said standing on the balcony with a big grin just after our sub fielder of allegedly doubtful provenance had run Punter out did seem like taking the Mickey Bliss a bit!

 

[steds]

I hear aussie chokes the chicken a bit. Ponting seems that sort, too.

 

[marc71178]

That said standing on the balcony with a big grin just after our sub fielder of allegedly doubtful provenance had run Punter out did seem like taking the Mickey Bliss a bit!

Nothing doubtful about it.

Jones was at the Hospital.

 

[SJS]

It's the only claimed catch I have ever seen where there was absolutely 0 doubt that the fielder knew what was going on and was attempting to cheat,

Well there was Ridley Jacob's claiming the stumping(and getting it) while he was holding the ball in the other hand. That was blatant cheating as well. Yes it wasnt a catch though

 

[honestbharani]

Langer took the bails off while walking past Jayawardene during Australia's tour of SL and Ponting and Warne appealed for hitwicket. LAnger later said that he did it in jest, but why the bloody hell he didn't say something to PUnter and Warne when they were appealing, God alone knows......

 

[Dasa]

Langer took the bails off while walking past Jayawardene during Australia's tour of SL and Ponting and Warne appealed for hitwicket. LAnger later said that he did it in jest, but why the bloody hell he didn't say something to PUnter and Warne when they were appealing, God alone knows......

That was a bizarre incident. It looked as if Langer did it intentionally, but I can't think why on earth he would do that, and then not tell his captain that he took the bails off when they appealed.

 

[luckyeddie]

Nothing doubtful about it.

Jones was at the Hospital.

No he wasn't - he was having a massage.

In order to save face and garner sympathy, England then had to leave him out of the final test match and pretend that he had a long-term problem, tying a weight to his leg in order to make it look as though he had a limp. In order to ensure that the charade continued to convince people, Jones was left out of the India tour, but the final twist in the whole drama came a couple of weeks ago whn he finally had the lead weight removed. His body couldn't take the sudden 're-alignment' and the shifting of his centre of gravity, so as his metabolic system was striving to adjust, his ears packed up.

This is plain as day for the following reason - the England team doctor said 'We are going to pretend that your knee gave out and send you for a mock orthroscopy but really you will be visiting an audiologist' and Jones said 'Pardon?'

See? It all fits. Ponting was right.

 

[Richard]

The fact that Smith still hasnt learnt his lesson raises serious questions about his intelligence

Graeme's an astute enough chap, rest assured about that.

 

[Richard]

I think it is a wakeup call to Australia. They had problems in England with a team that had hardly changed in years and then they go and cut players to fix it up at one day level.

Had problems, yes, but still only on 1 occasion (Headingley) did England beat them comfortably.
But for the Pietersen epic at Nevill Road it'd have been a pretty convincing 4-1 scoreline (might've been 5-1 but for rain at Edgbaston) and that'd hardly have been an unfair one either.

 

[Richard]

They aren't chokers, they were just on odd occasion acting like jokers.

Seriously Australians played terrible cricket even though they still are the best team in the world. the fact that they allowed so many runs to be chased, the fact that bowlers that were being getting thrashing of a lifetime were being persisted and made to complete their quota of ten overs is beyond me.

When the regular players will return, Aussies will be back to their best.

Only 1 regular player is more likely than not to return - McGrath.
Though obviously that 1 player makes a huge difference.

 

[Richard]

Pretty sure the under-arm would take it.

Under-arm was still within the rules, even if it wasn't within the 'spirit of the game'. Claiming dropped catches is worse IMO - it's clearly against the rules (and always has been) and it's knowingly cheating.

Not bad sportsmanship or against the spirit of the game IMO - Chappell has stated his reasons, and I for one completely understand why he did what he did (or instructed his brother to do what he did).

 

[Richard]

Speaking of which, I wonder if Richard doesn't rate that knock (one of the best ever) by Bevan since he was given a chance.

Didn't see it.
But obviously no chancy knock can be as good as a chanceless one, and certainly one with a let-off can't be one of someone's best ever.

 

[Richard]

No he wasn't - he was having a massage.

In order to save face and garner sympathy, England then had to leave him out of the final test match and pretend that he had a long-term problem, tying a weight to his leg in order to make it look as though he had a limp. In order to ensure that the charade continued to convince people, Jones was left out of the India tour, but the final twist in the whole drama came a couple of weeks ago whn he finally had the lead weight removed. His body couldn't take the sudden 're-alignment' and the shifting of his centre of gravity, so as his metabolic system was striving to adjust, his ears packed up.

This is plain as day for the following reason - the England team doctor said 'We are going to pretend that your knee gave out and send you for a mock orthroscopy but really you will be visiting an audiologist' and Jones said 'Pardon?'

See? It all fits. Ponting was right.

So Jones' career really is all over?

 

[Richard]

Big Dunc seemed to wind the little chimpy fellow up quite successfully during The Ashes.

Given the rarity of Duncan smiling I somehow doubt it was deliberate.

 

[social]

Graeme's an astute enough chap, rest assured about that.

The jury is well and truly out on that one.

The guy is still baiting Warne and still hasnt got a clue how to beat Aus.

Eng did the right thing - keep quiet and play good cricket.

Smith is 0/2 on that score.

 

[SJS]

They are NOT chokers , thats clear.

But they ARE having difficulty adjusting to the new reality of their position in world cricket - that they are NOT the 'invincibles' any more. That will take some getting used to and, I suspect, a bit different handling of situations which they havent been used to and are becoming less uncommon with every series.

 

[Jono]

Didn't see it.
But obviously no chancy knock can be as good as a chanceless one, and certainly one with a let-off can't be one of someone's best ever.

I'm sure you've seen footage of it? Ambrose was going nuts, Bevan standing tall, Harper claims a catch he dropped, 9 wickets down, 5 runs off 2 balls needed, McGrath takes a single, Bevan needs 4 runs off 1 ball, hits it over Harper's head for 4, Australia win.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I love the fact that Smith gets into the skins of Aussies so much. Smith is so similar to so many Aussies, most of all Ponting. Yet they seem to hate him while backing themeselves.

Double standards.

To be fair though, Smith is disliked intensely by just about everyone, not just the Aussies.

First I've heard of the Tuffers thing.

 

[Jono]

Really, that's 2 of you now.

Where were you guys during the Allan Border Medal thread? It was hilarious, and made news headlines as well.

Absolutely hilarious, the skit was pure gold

 

[Ikki]

And Ponting isn't?

Yeah but he wins a lot.