Tony was right - the person so effusive in his praise of the Barmy Army was Jonathan 'Wildchild' Agnew in an interview with ABC News and the end of the 2002/2003 tour. (Follow the comments box to the link Tony provided for the whole interview - saves me having to do it!)
As I said, no prizes, but even had there been I'd have obviously insisted that it be retained in the UK in perpetuity for Tony to stare at wistfully on his visits to these shores...
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
' Bridge over Troubled Water
Sometimes after a severe trauma like a 5-0 whitewash it's the simple things that can bring people back to reality and make you realise that life WILL go on, and the world will keep turning.
For me, it was the 'Nottingham' postmark on the envelope lying on the doormat. That simple red circle of post office ink said that the Trent Bridge Test Match tickets had arrived. A life-affirming moment indeed.
Despite the abject nature of the performance Down Under, which surely reached is nadir in the 20/20 match a few days ago, you needed some sort of reminder that we do still have quite a decent team - just as long as that team doesn't include the name 'Anderson' anywhere. There's a good arguement to say that below Australia (waaaayyyy below Australia actually!) there are a host of other test sides, full of normal flesh and blood humans, that we can hold our own against - and, glory be, actually beat.
This summer should be a cracker - A resurgent West Indies side and the ever threatening and always entertaining Indians. Possibly the last chance to see Lara and Tendulkar - a new crop of young quick bowlers, Dravid, Sehwag, Gayle ("Sarwan, Hinds & Chanderpaul")- another chance to see the ageless Kumble - can't wait!
We always have a good time at Trent Bridge, make a weekend of it by booking into one of the many cheap hotels in Nottingham and take advantage of the 'lively' nightlife, and the fact that you can enjoy a decent night out without fearing the state of your bank balance by the end of it.
The ground itself has a wonderful charm. It's small by Test Match standards - even after recent developments, but even after all the changes it's still got a lovely old-fashioned atmosphere as there are stands from different eras pieced together with different styles. It's old fashioned in a positive way - the tickets stilll look like they've been run off on a John Bull printing kit, the staff are friendly (the gatekeepers actually welcome you to the ground!!) whilst those working in the bars know what they're doing. The traditional lunchtime wander round always unearths a hidden treasure like a souvenir shop that seems untouched since the days of Larwood and Voce, and tiny counters serving food that is actually edible and tasty - a rare combination in an English sports arena.
The 2005 Test was the best cricket watching experience of my life, but then I've never had a bad one in the place where Gary Pratt went from obscurity to legend in an instant.
For me, it was the 'Nottingham' postmark on the envelope lying on the doormat. That simple red circle of post office ink said that the Trent Bridge Test Match tickets had arrived. A life-affirming moment indeed.
Despite the abject nature of the performance Down Under, which surely reached is nadir in the 20/20 match a few days ago, you needed some sort of reminder that we do still have quite a decent team - just as long as that team doesn't include the name 'Anderson' anywhere. There's a good arguement to say that below Australia (waaaayyyy below Australia actually!) there are a host of other test sides, full of normal flesh and blood humans, that we can hold our own against - and, glory be, actually beat.
This summer should be a cracker - A resurgent West Indies side and the ever threatening and always entertaining Indians. Possibly the last chance to see Lara and Tendulkar - a new crop of young quick bowlers, Dravid, Sehwag, Gayle ("Sarwan, Hinds & Chanderpaul")- another chance to see the ageless Kumble - can't wait!
We always have a good time at Trent Bridge, make a weekend of it by booking into one of the many cheap hotels in Nottingham and take advantage of the 'lively' nightlife, and the fact that you can enjoy a decent night out without fearing the state of your bank balance by the end of it.
The ground itself has a wonderful charm. It's small by Test Match standards - even after recent developments, but even after all the changes it's still got a lovely old-fashioned atmosphere as there are stands from different eras pieced together with different styles. It's old fashioned in a positive way - the tickets stilll look like they've been run off on a John Bull printing kit, the staff are friendly (the gatekeepers actually welcome you to the ground!!) whilst those working in the bars know what they're doing. The traditional lunchtime wander round always unearths a hidden treasure like a souvenir shop that seems untouched since the days of Larwood and Voce, and tiny counters serving food that is actually edible and tasty - a rare combination in an English sports arena.
The 2005 Test was the best cricket watching experience of my life, but then I've never had a bad one in the place where Gary Pratt went from obscurity to legend in an instant.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Quiz Time
No prizes, but guess who said this about the Barmy Army: -
“I mean, there are thousands of down there, all having a very good time and all loving cricket.
They're an extraordinary lot. They’re serious cricket people and their sort of culture has grown up now….
More and more are enjoying the sunshine, and dare I say the Aussie dollar as it is at the moment, and lots of beer… having a really good time and enjoying the cricket.”
Answer tomorrow.
“I mean, there are thousands of down there, all having a very good time and all loving cricket.
They're an extraordinary lot. They’re serious cricket people and their sort of culture has grown up now….
More and more are enjoying the sunshine, and dare I say the Aussie dollar as it is at the moment, and lots of beer… having a really good time and enjoying the cricket.”
Answer tomorrow.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
The Return of Captain Fantastic
It's official, the cavalry is on the way - only the England version is coming over the hill on a gimpy knee rather than horseback.
It's the equivalent of being in a bar, absolutely hammered, and knowing that you're going to have a hangover the next day that is likely to make you want to tear your teeth out - so you think "well, what the heck - a large double scotch isn't going to me me feel any worse tomorrow is it - barman, start lining them up..."
England have sunk so low in the ODI world, and have plumbed the cricketing depths in general over the past few weeks that the recall of Vaughan is that double scotch.
On the face of it, it doesn't inspire confidence - his one day record hardly sets the world on fire - and there must still be some doubts over his fitness, especially as he'll be jumping into a format of cricket where there really is no hiding place in the field, and batting is all about constant motion.
But - being an England supporters these days means always being prepared to cling to blind, irrational optimism as our final solace . For example, on the fourth morning at the SCG I bet I wasn't the only one thinking 'well, if KP can get going and Read can hang around for a time and the tail can wag we might be able to set a tricky 150 target, and then with Monty on a turning wicket, who knows what might happen...' (Was I?!)
So I will say that Vaughan's leadership does give you a general sense of well-being. You always got the impression, watching an England side skippered by Vaughan, that he was very much in charge, and was always in complete control of events going on... even when England were on the end of a terrible shoeing with the opposition 450-5, you could look over and see him motivating his team, a quiet word here, a shake of the fist and quick handclap there - and also see that they took strength from that.
At Edgbaston in 2005, he single-handedly managed to hold the side together on the last morning when most of them were wearing facial expressions which suggested that they'd ingested more amphetamines between them than the entire audience at a Motorhead gig and Freddie was wandering around looking as though he was a step away from mass murder or chewing his own arm off.
Of course, the logical move would have been for Vaughny to sit out the rest of the winter, make a few warm up starts for Yorkshire in April and early May ready for a trumphant return at Lords against the West Indies on May 17th - but it seems to me that this England set-up stopped dealing in 'logic' some time ago. Instead, the management team are going for the 'stick it all on 26 black' option.
Here comes that large scotch - be ready with the Alka Seltzers.
It's the equivalent of being in a bar, absolutely hammered, and knowing that you're going to have a hangover the next day that is likely to make you want to tear your teeth out - so you think "well, what the heck - a large double scotch isn't going to me me feel any worse tomorrow is it - barman, start lining them up..."
England have sunk so low in the ODI world, and have plumbed the cricketing depths in general over the past few weeks that the recall of Vaughan is that double scotch.
On the face of it, it doesn't inspire confidence - his one day record hardly sets the world on fire - and there must still be some doubts over his fitness, especially as he'll be jumping into a format of cricket where there really is no hiding place in the field, and batting is all about constant motion.
But - being an England supporters these days means always being prepared to cling to blind, irrational optimism as our final solace . For example, on the fourth morning at the SCG I bet I wasn't the only one thinking 'well, if KP can get going and Read can hang around for a time and the tail can wag we might be able to set a tricky 150 target, and then with Monty on a turning wicket, who knows what might happen...' (Was I?!)
So I will say that Vaughan's leadership does give you a general sense of well-being. You always got the impression, watching an England side skippered by Vaughan, that he was very much in charge, and was always in complete control of events going on... even when England were on the end of a terrible shoeing with the opposition 450-5, you could look over and see him motivating his team, a quiet word here, a shake of the fist and quick handclap there - and also see that they took strength from that.
At Edgbaston in 2005, he single-handedly managed to hold the side together on the last morning when most of them were wearing facial expressions which suggested that they'd ingested more amphetamines between them than the entire audience at a Motorhead gig and Freddie was wandering around looking as though he was a step away from mass murder or chewing his own arm off.
Of course, the logical move would have been for Vaughny to sit out the rest of the winter, make a few warm up starts for Yorkshire in April and early May ready for a trumphant return at Lords against the West Indies on May 17th - but it seems to me that this England set-up stopped dealing in 'logic' some time ago. Instead, the management team are going for the 'stick it all on 26 black' option.
Here comes that large scotch - be ready with the Alka Seltzers.
Burning Desire
Superb article by Kevin Mitchell in the Observer today.
I agree with his sentiments - the Ashes should be moved from Lords to Melbourne forthwith, for two good reasons: -
1) It will annoy the reactionary buffoons at Lords (always a plus), and
2) The Australians deserve them.
They should only return to the UK when England manage to win them again... and judging by Mitchells article and the evidence of my own eyes, it could be sometime.
I agree with his sentiments - the Ashes should be moved from Lords to Melbourne forthwith, for two good reasons: -
1) It will annoy the reactionary buffoons at Lords (always a plus), and
2) The Australians deserve them.
They should only return to the UK when England manage to win them again... and judging by Mitchells article and the evidence of my own eyes, it could be sometime.
Brimfull of Brett
One thing I noticed watching Aussie TV was the number of ads featuring members of the Australian Cricket Squad happy to whore themselves for a few dollars. (And before any English fan starts getting too judgmental and smug, do you reckon that KP, Freddie & Co wouldn't do exactly the same given the chance?)
Brett Lee has taken the idea to a whole new level however...
(Thanks to Tony at After Grog Blog for that one!)
Brett Lee has taken the idea to a whole new level however...
(Thanks to Tony at After Grog Blog for that one!)
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Memo to Paul Collingwood
There's a very honorable tradition of people refusing to accept honours like knighthoods, peerages, MBEs etc - for a variety of reasons.
For most, it's political principle that leads them to reject whatever petty little bauble Downing Street feels appropriate - and for others, it's the feeling that maybe they don't actually deserve it.
You didn't have to accept the MBE you were granted last year, so it's a bit rich to start mouthing off to Shane Warne when he, correctly, points out that maybe 17 runs and a few overs is scant justification for the letters after your name.
Of course, you could always send the damn thing back - and maybe persaude the others with you in Sydney to do the same.
For most, it's political principle that leads them to reject whatever petty little bauble Downing Street feels appropriate - and for others, it's the feeling that maybe they don't actually deserve it.
You didn't have to accept the MBE you were granted last year, so it's a bit rich to start mouthing off to Shane Warne when he, correctly, points out that maybe 17 runs and a few overs is scant justification for the letters after your name.
Of course, you could always send the damn thing back - and maybe persaude the others with you in Sydney to do the same.
Oh Dear...
The feeling amongst England supporters I've met over the past couple of weeks is one of total let-down and humiliation, so for Duncan Fletcher to start coming out with stuff like this is simply rubbing salt into a self-inflicted wound.
Yes, there probably is a case for Shane Warne to be used in an advisory capacity over the next year or so, but what is the point of mentioning it at the post-mortem press conference?
I'd suggest that the strange gurgling noise you can hear in the background to this is the Australians pissing themselves laughing.
And did anyone else's blood run cold at the "can you imagine the help he could give to a very, very experienced spinner in the side" reference?
Yes, there probably is a case for Shane Warne to be used in an advisory capacity over the next year or so, but what is the point of mentioning it at the post-mortem press conference?
I'd suggest that the strange gurgling noise you can hear in the background to this is the Australians pissing themselves laughing.
And did anyone else's blood run cold at the "can you imagine the help he could give to a very, very experienced spinner in the side" reference?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Beer Match
I'd intended to post an article extolling the wonders of the MCG as a sporting arena, but over the years I've read quite a few articles like that, so there's no need to go over the same ground again.
Suffice to say that everything you've read about it is true - it's an extraordinary place.
Here's one factor that not every cricket ground reviewer takes into account, but is, nonetheless, a critical issue in enhancing the cricket-watching experience: -
Everytime I wanted to buy a beer, it took me less than an over to leave my seat, get to the bar, buy the beer, and return to my seat.
Compare that to grounds in England, where trips for alcoholic refreshment can result in you missing out on at least half an hour's play. In fact, on one occasion at an ODI against New Zealand at Bristol, I stood in a beer queue whilst Freddie Flintoff took his score from 17 to 106 - the incompetence of the bar staff had to be seen to be believed.
Admittedly, the beer at the MCG had all the alcoholic strength of Top Deck Shandy, so that a lot of the lads were drinking red wine by the second day, but that's a minor quibble.
Suffice to say that everything you've read about it is true - it's an extraordinary place.
Here's one factor that not every cricket ground reviewer takes into account, but is, nonetheless, a critical issue in enhancing the cricket-watching experience: -
Everytime I wanted to buy a beer, it took me less than an over to leave my seat, get to the bar, buy the beer, and return to my seat.
Compare that to grounds in England, where trips for alcoholic refreshment can result in you missing out on at least half an hour's play. In fact, on one occasion at an ODI against New Zealand at Bristol, I stood in a beer queue whilst Freddie Flintoff took his score from 17 to 106 - the incompetence of the bar staff had to be seen to be believed.
Admittedly, the beer at the MCG had all the alcoholic strength of Top Deck Shandy, so that a lot of the lads were drinking red wine by the second day, but that's a minor quibble.
Operation Phoenix?
In the scheme of things, losing an Ashes series 5-0 to a side skippered by Ricky Ponting must rank up there alongside 'losing a General Election to a party led by John Major' or 'having one of your masterpieces kept out of the number one spot by Please Release Me by Engelbert Humperdink' - the history books will show it happened, but it's not something you're going to be particularly proud about.
Actually, Ricky and his boys have probably done English cricket an enormous favour though admittedly it might not seem that way at the moment. but the shear comprehensiveness of the whitewash means that the authorities to to take serious note of what went wrong, and start putting together a proper action plan to start putting things right and building a framework within which the team can start developing for the 2009 re-match.
Australia started their preparations for this series around 7pm on Monday 12th September, 2005. There's no shame in copying good practice, so I'd therefore suggest that England do something similar starting later today when the curtain falls on this series.
The biggest mistake England could make (and it was something that was coming up in conversations around the MCG last week) would be to assume that an Australian team without Warne, McGrath, Langer, Martyn - and presumably Hayden & Gilchrist, is simply there for the taking. There is a huge crop of hungry cricketers in Australia who have been fighting for their opportunity over the past five years or so and have, until now, been frustrated by the continuity in the Aussie side during that time. Michael Hussey, for example, has been waiting patiently for some time - and there's plenty more like him with a point to prove a few years down the line. The faces may well be different, but the attitude will be exactly the same.
To begin with, they need to come up with some answers to a few questions...
1) Why, with all the experts that England have available, were two of our frontline bowlers psychologically unprepared to perform in the first Test Match - and what can be done to prevent a repeat occurance?
2) Why was one of our key batsman picked for the tour when he was patently not mentally prepared for it?
3) What was the thought process that led to Freddie declaring at 550-6 at Adelaide?
4) Is it right that one person (Duncan Fletcher) had control over both the touring party as a whole, AND team selection?
5) Is Fletcher the right person to take England up to the 2009 series?
6) Who is going to be captain in 2009? Or maybe, who would we like to see as captain in 2009?
7) Who at the ECB agreed to the farcical tour itinerary? (And why does he still have a job?)
8) Does the 'central contract' system give players sufficient playing time to prepare themselves effectively for Test Match cricket?
The answers they come up with, and the actions taken to address the serious issues raised by those questions could well decide the 2009 series before a ball is bowled.
Actually, Ricky and his boys have probably done English cricket an enormous favour though admittedly it might not seem that way at the moment. but the shear comprehensiveness of the whitewash means that the authorities to to take serious note of what went wrong, and start putting together a proper action plan to start putting things right and building a framework within which the team can start developing for the 2009 re-match.
Australia started their preparations for this series around 7pm on Monday 12th September, 2005. There's no shame in copying good practice, so I'd therefore suggest that England do something similar starting later today when the curtain falls on this series.
The biggest mistake England could make (and it was something that was coming up in conversations around the MCG last week) would be to assume that an Australian team without Warne, McGrath, Langer, Martyn - and presumably Hayden & Gilchrist, is simply there for the taking. There is a huge crop of hungry cricketers in Australia who have been fighting for their opportunity over the past five years or so and have, until now, been frustrated by the continuity in the Aussie side during that time. Michael Hussey, for example, has been waiting patiently for some time - and there's plenty more like him with a point to prove a few years down the line. The faces may well be different, but the attitude will be exactly the same.
To begin with, they need to come up with some answers to a few questions...
1) Why, with all the experts that England have available, were two of our frontline bowlers psychologically unprepared to perform in the first Test Match - and what can be done to prevent a repeat occurance?
2) Why was one of our key batsman picked for the tour when he was patently not mentally prepared for it?
3) What was the thought process that led to Freddie declaring at 550-6 at Adelaide?
4) Is it right that one person (Duncan Fletcher) had control over both the touring party as a whole, AND team selection?
5) Is Fletcher the right person to take England up to the 2009 series?
6) Who is going to be captain in 2009? Or maybe, who would we like to see as captain in 2009?
7) Who at the ECB agreed to the farcical tour itinerary? (And why does he still have a job?)
8) Does the 'central contract' system give players sufficient playing time to prepare themselves effectively for Test Match cricket?
The answers they come up with, and the actions taken to address the serious issues raised by those questions could well decide the 2009 series before a ball is bowled.
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