Ashes 2013/14

[PaulWinch again]

I'll say one thing that's come from this Test, KP still has miles in the tank. He played with good character and basically said 'I'll take Johnson you guys deal with Lyon'. That showed responsibility but then the others failed.

[pooligan]

If Boyd Rankin is not good enough to play in the final test, i can not see when he will ever play

[OzVilla]

Sod the result, let's select our H & V Cricket 11. Please fill in the blanks:

1 steveN
2 aj2k77
3 chris Jameson
4 Eastie
5 taylorsworkrate (cpt)
6 Cheltenham lion
7 paulwinch again
8 paul_e ( wk)
9
10 Villan For Life
11 Plumbutt Cooper

We need a captain and someone to do the most important job of the lot. Carry the drinks.

Batsmen needed - come now Taylor's , I feel you will be the man to produce a big one.

Happy to do it. Although I'll need a loyal vice captain and off course we need to find a H+V coach to implement some fresh ideas into the set up.

Leave that last spot for me.

I'll do whatever for the cause, my only request is that I get to field close to the wicket so the batsmen are in earshot of me, particularly when messers Warner and Watson are batting.

[Villan For Life]

Sod the result, let's select our H & V Cricket 11. Please fill in the blanks:

1 steveN
2 aj2k77
3 chris Jameson
4 Eastie
5 taylorsworkrate (cpt)
6 Cheltenham lion
7 paulwinch again
8 paul_e ( wk)
9
10 Villan For Life
11 Plumbutt Cooper

We need a captain and someone to do the most important job of the lot. Carry the drinks.

Batsmen needed - come now Taylor's , I feel you will be the man to produce a big one.

Happy to do it. Although I'll need a loyal vice captain and off course we need to find a H+V coach to implement some fresh ideas into the set up.

Leave that last spot for me.

I'll do whatever for the cause, my only request is that I get to field close to the wicket so the batsmen are in earshot of me, particularly when messers Warner and Watson are batting.

I like the look of that side. It's got experience, tactical nous and a healthy dose of realism. Pass me a central contract!

[OzVilla]

on a lighter note…

I actually thought Lee was a bit out of order there. I know the background to it butto run through the crease like that and just pepper him was a bit strong IMO.

Ian Healy followed it up straight after on commentary by saying Morgans effort was 'pretty ordinary'.

They are loving getting stuck into us.

[taylorsworkrate]

on a lighter note…

I actually thought Lee was a bit out of order there. I know the background to it butto run through the crease like that and just pepper him was a bit strong IMO.

Ian Healy followed it up straight after on commentary by saying Morgans effort was 'pretty ordinary'.

They are loving getting stuck into us.

Against virtually anyone else I'd totally agree with you. Piers Morgan however, I don't think Lee went anything like far enough.

[paul_e]

on a lighter note…

I actually thought Lee was a bit out of order there. I know the background to it butto run through the crease like that and just pepper him was a bit strong IMO.

Ian Healy followed it up straight after on commentary by saying Morgans effort was 'pretty ordinary'.

They are loving getting stuck into us.

I've got a bigger problem with the crowd if I'm honest, Warne called for them to give him a round of applause and there was nothing.  For a none cricketer to stand there and be pelted like he was (1 of them looked like to got him clean on his right arm behind his back, that will have really hurt) and just get on with it shows a lot of guts and deserved some acknowledgement of that, even if you think he's a wanker (personally I think it's more that he knows being a wanker gets him paid more than being a decent guy).

[OzVilla]

The crowd gave him no acknowledgement because the media has created a complete them and us mentality around this series where England and Australia are concerned.

I'm sure most of that crowd wouldn't have had a clue who Piers Morgan was, but he was just another Pommie Bastard so they flocked to see the unfair fight of him having his head knocked off - very surprised that such a decent bloke as Brett Lee obliged.

Should tell you a lot about the media driven mentality around this series and how it's venom has caught England totally by surprise (despite what they might say).

I could have told them it would be like that before they left England, just read those post UK series comments by Lehmann and Warne about Aussie crowds and media.

[JD]

Sir Richard wasn't amused - from Stuff 29/12

OPINION: As a former fast bowler I was appalled and outraged at what I witnessed during the tea break on the second day of the fourth Ashes cricket test at the MCG when former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee faced off British media host Piers Morgan in the nets.

I am so incensed I felt I needed to make comment.

While there were media jibes and a build-up to this bowling and batting contest on Friday, I could not believe my eyes - Lee's brutal assault on Morgan was extremely dangerous and unnecessary.

It was clear that Morgan could not bat or defend himself against Lee's pace and intimidation - this was an unfair and one-sided contest that could have had severe consequences. Sadly, in the past batsmen have died from receiving blows to the body.

I only hope that Brett takes a few minutes to reflect on his stupidity - this was a brain explosion of the highest order - it was a deliberate attempt to hit, injure, hurt and maim his opponent that I viewed as a form of grievous bodily harm or a human assault that could have proved fatal. Morgan, aged 48, was hit four times on the body and if he was hit on the head or across the heart the result could have been devastating.

Lee bowled only one ball at the wickets, and the other five were directed at the batman's middle to upper body and head.

Morgan had only 0.4 of a second to react and play a shot or try and defend himself against a hard, 156-gram flying missile hurled down at him from 20.12 metres at 140kmh - believe me this is not an experience the common man or players wants to endure.

I have always admired Lee as a person and as a quality fast bowler but yesterday his bowling exhibition damaged his reputation and credibility - in fact I believe he has brought the game of cricket into disrepute.

If an umpire had been standing or controlling the encounter, Lee would not have been allowed to complete the six-ball over such was his brutal assault on Morgan - he would have been removed from the crease for persistent intimidating bowling.

The ICC has an edict of fair play and upholding the spirit of the game, but that exhibition compromised those values.

I only hope that officialdom will review the incident and if necessary take some action against Lee's behaviour - perhaps a censure, fine or even a suspension for his act of stupidity and misjudgement.

Lee will have to accept there are no words than can be used to justify his decision-making and how he executed that six-ball over - it was beyond comprehension.

Given the same situation, if I wanted to embarrass Morgan for tweet jibes I would have taken more pleasure out of trying to hit the stumps six times than deliberately trying to hit him.

I believe Lee has erred badly and on reflection may realise that he has damaged the image of the game of cricket. There will be many mums and dads around the world who saw that exhibition and may decide to stop their kids from playing the game, such was the brutality and the risk to someone's life.
   
This should not have been shown on live television - people could have witnessed a tragic accident that the game of cricket never wants to see. Some people may have viewed this as fun and entertainment but it was not cricket - that sort of bowling against an inexperienced opponent was unacceptable.

To me there is no skill as a fast bowler to run in from 20 metres and bowl the ball halfway down the pitch, directing the ball at the batsman's body - especially when he is backing away to protect himself.

In fact I would suggest former players Mark Nicholas, Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan, who compered the exhibition, would not have enjoyed or even handled the way Lee bowled to Morgan - with all the batting experience they have had, I am sure they would not have placed themselves in that situation.

Perhaps Morgan needs to ponder whether he should have accepted the invitation to face off - he certainly has the battle scars and body blows to prove that this was "bodyline" bowling at its best, or should I say worst.

Whatever people may think, I can guarantee that most cricketers (if not all) who have played the game at the highest level would say that Lee's actions were dangerous and very wrong.

Fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee played 86 tests for New Zealand, taking 431 wickets and scoring 3124 runs. He is recognised as NZ's greatest cricketer.
 
 - © Fairfax NZ News

[Villan For Life]

A gentleman

[PaulWinch again]

Flower sounds like he wants to stay on.

[eastie]

Sod the result, let's select our H & V Cricket 11. Please fill in the blanks:

1 steveN
2 aj2k77
3 chris Jameson
4 Eastie
5 taylorsworkrate (cpt)
6 Cheltenham lion
7 paulwinch again
8 paul_e ( wk)
9 Ozvilla
10 Villan For Life
11 Plumbutt Cooper

We need a captain and someone to do the most important job of the lot. Carry the drinks.

Batsmen needed - come now Taylor's , I feel you will be the man to produce a big one.

Happy to do it. Although I'll need a loyal vice captain and off course we need to find a H+V coach to implement some fresh ideas into the set up.

Leave that last spot for me.

I'll do whatever for the cause, my only request is that I get to field close to the wicket so the batsmen are in earshot of me, particularly when messers Warner and Watson are batting.

I like the look of that side. It's got experience, tactical nous and a healthy dose of realism. Pass me a central contract!

[eastie]

Flower sounds like he wants to stay on.

Surprised by his comments but he did say he will discuss the future with downton so may yet be a twist in the tail.
I see sir geoffrey has called for cook to be stripped off the captaincy - bit strong that .

[eastie]

Regarding Morgan - I thought it was over the top as lee was bowling to hit him and not the wickets - that said Morgan chose to do it so must accept that those are the risks you take against fast bowlers .

[PaulWinch again]

Flower sounds like he wants to stay on.

Surprised by his comments but he did say he will discuss the future with downton so may yet be a twist in the tail.
I see sir geoffrey has called for cook to be stripped off the captaincy - bit strong that .

Yep I think it's a bit strong, but I think Cook needs to explain to Downton and Flower how he's going to improve. England need to be a much more positive team, all this time wasting and negativity with run rates has led us to the difficulties we are having now.