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UNBELIEVABLE... NOT
MUCH MORE TO ADD!
Well of course there is more to add otherwise I
wouldn’t be the Australian Ashes scribe!
Rather than bore you with the numbers of the game,
I’ll just part with a few comments.
 Its very rare when Australia are utterly dominated
in a test match but this is one such occasion. The
only period of Australian ascendancy was our adaptability
to finding things to do while it was pissing rain
on day 3, as well as the 15 odd overs for the days
play that Warney belted all over the park.
I guess the Australian demise started at the selection
table, picking a team made up predominantly of out
of form and injured players. Just as my countrymen
that follow Australian rules know, finals football
isn’t won with a team short on form and fitness.
These Ashes battles have stakes even higher.
Adam Gilchrist has been excelling in ordinariness
so far this tour, and his woes were increased when
he managed to drop Trescothick on a dozen and Vaughan
on 40 odd. Those two drops cost around 170. So he
basically needed to make around 200 before he could
say he had a good game…needless to say…he
didn’t have a good game!
 His English counterpart isn’t actually making
Gilly look bad cos he has no keeping talent whatsoever,
and blaming the sun (when wearing sunnies) is a lame
excuse. He didn’t cost his team as much on
the scoreboard, but when put into perspective, he
cost the Poms the test, and quite possibly, the Ashes.
Despite centuries to both Vaughan and Strauss,
I’m still not convinced of their form, both
were given lives early on. Must admit though that
they were good enough to make use of their opportunity.
Warney continues to be the Australian’s most
consistent with the bat and the ball. Remarkable
given his off ground traumas, but the true mark of
a champion. Hats off to the Aussie tailenders who
managed to save the country from embarrassment in
both innings.
ONE FOR THE RECORDS, I'M GONNA
GIVE THE POMS CREDIT!
Yes believe it or not, this reporter
will give the Poms some credit, they have played
fairly entertaining cricket thus far, and have been
far more consistent. This has come as a bit of a
shock to me  as over here we basically respect no
cricketing opposition, just the few shining lights
that each team has. The Kiwis have Fleming and Bond,
Indians with Kumble, Tendulka and Dravid, Lara for
the Windies and the Saffas?????? Well bugger all
for them, we pump them every time we play them.
The Poms are looking far more prepared for this
series and have the hunger for success, while the
fat old Aussies just seem as though they are going
around for the money.
WHERE TO FROM HERE…
Well the Ashes are 60% done so lets look and see
where things may head in the 2 remaining tests.
On the Australian front, it is clear that changes
in both personnel and attitude are required. Careers
are on the line here and one must think that Dizzy
Gillespie is done. Hayden looks as though he will
keep the gig for the rest of the tour, but changes
must be imminent for the Australian summer.  Katich
too looks set for the scrap heap, he hasn’t
seemed interested in the past 2 tests. Hopefully
Hodgie or Hussey fill the void.
Good to see Ponting find some form,
and hopefully Gilly and Marto manage a big score
in the next couple of tests.
Despite quality bowling efforts from McGrath and
Warne, there hasn’t been much else to get the
Poms quaking in their boots. As a result, there have
been plenty of high scores. I’m hoping that
Shaun Tait gets his go in the 2 remaining tests.
His raw talent and enthusiasm is just what the Aussies
need to propel themselves back into the battle.
On the flip side, its relatively plain sailing
for the Poms, all of their batsmen have managed some
scores so far, so one would think there isn’t
too much pressure on them to retain their position.
Fair play to Ian Bell putting together a handy test
match tally of a 100 odd runs, its more than most
of the Aussies have been able to manage.
Will be interesting to see if Hoggard is replaced
by Bronco Lane lookalike Tremlett. Personally I don’t
think its worth it cos Hoggard provides the valuable
new ball swing and the others can look for movement
off the deck and reverse swing at later stages.
DAMO’S OBSERVATIONS
 Its interesting to still see troubles with umpiring
decisions rearing up again. Plenty of bad LBW decisions
continue to raise the question of the use of higher
intelligence/technology. Those purists piss me off
when they try saying the game is better off having
these idiosyncrasies…..I say bollocks! What
price do we put on accuracy….obviously not
enough if we aren’t willing to try to improve
the situation.
Simon Jones continues to run the
border finely with his antics to umpires and running
on the protected area… could be a suspension
coming up?????????????
Poms missed a golden opportunity to seize ascendancy
for this series by not completing the victory in
the 3 rd test. I think they are going to rue it and
that little urn (or the replica at least) is going
to be coming back with us again.
 Undecided if it will end up tied at 2-2 or will
be a clean win for the Aussies though.
Anyway, its back to bed for me cos it was too many
late nights watching one of the most entertaining
tests of all time.
Hope everyone is well and the 69 th Annual Kent Tour
went well. Hope to see some reports of who went best
with the drinking, the singing, the cricket, and more
importantly, the pull at ladies night at Frankies on
Tuesday!
Damien Devola, LhB (Aus)
Email Damo
[Damo's
views are not necessarily those of APCC and are
probably just the result of too many tinnies
in the midday sun. MB]
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