Test match at the WACA [Archive]

Gumby

17th December 2005, 08:46 AM

Is it shakey ?

Symonds, should never have been picked in the first place. Not up to it mentally and short on ability.

Hodge, not quite up to Test level. Won't last.

Hussey, good player, perservere with him.

Gilly, tired, needs a break. Asked to be let off the NZ tour and was told he had to go. Now the selectors will reap what they have sown.

Bracken, a good ordinary player at best.

Any more ?

ptc

17th December 2005, 10:08 AM

Hayden ??

Daddles

17th December 2005, 11:25 AM

Hayden ??

I wouldn't worry about Hayden. Opening is a position where you have to expect ducks, particularly on the first day - new pitch, new ball, fresh bowlers, facing the nastiest bowlers in the team, etc.

Symonds, I too wonder why he is lauded as he is, but perhaps I've been unlucky in the innings that I have watched.

The middle order - is it shaky or is Ntini very good? I'm putting my money on Ntini.

Richard

Gumby

17th December 2005, 11:34 AM

Hayden ??

past his prime. :(

outback

17th December 2005, 12:41 PM

past his prime. :(

Suitable replacement?

Symonds, send him back home.

Ntini, good, but not that good.

Otherwise, I think Mr plastercine has it about right.

Daddles

17th December 2005, 02:07 PM

Ntini, good, but not that good.

That's probably fair enough, but he's young and strong. Be interesting to see how he develops ... as long as it's against the poms:D

Richard

redwood

17th December 2005, 02:44 PM

"hayden" past his prime. :(

agree:p had an ordinary ashes in the first 4 tests - but followed up with 4 centuries and a 50 in 4 consecutive tests and 47 and 87 not out in the last test. and 1158 runs this calenar year at an average of over 50 with one innings remaining to play. now thats a player past his prime:D

lesmeyer

17th December 2005, 02:50 PM

Was at the game from lunch time on Friday. Ntini did extract some lift out of the pitch, and our batsmen played some stupid shots to get out. As for Crusty the clown (Symonds), he and Ponting are big mates. Need I say more. When Crusty was a naughty boy staying out late in England, Ponting had to publicly rebuke him, else there would have been a player revolt. Away with Crusty.. and put Michael Clarke back in the side. He has a good future ahead of him.
Les

outback

17th December 2005, 03:03 PM

I have a fair bit of time for Clarke. I think a little time to think about things will do him good. I reckon he'll make a great player, he just needs time to develop, remember some of our best were dropped for a while early in their career.

Gumby

17th December 2005, 03:18 PM

but followed up with 4 centuries and a 50 in 4 consecutive tests

against sub-standard competition.

and put Michael Clarke back in the side. He has a good future ahead of him.
Les

He's been given more than enough opportunity. He needs a lot more than one or two good scores in my opinion.

One of he biggest problems in the Test team is that, once you're in, it's too damn hard to get out of !

craigb

17th December 2005, 04:21 PM

. As for Crusty the clown (Symonds)

More like Sideshow Bob I reckon :D

Grunt

17th December 2005, 04:46 PM

I'm glad Gumby isn't a selector. We'd have nothing but Victorians in the team.

redwood

17th December 2005, 04:54 PM

against sub-standard competition.
!
any test player anywhere who in a year has 1158 runs at an average of over 50 is far past his prime. and remember the first ton was againsed the poms and in that series they were anything but substandard. ans as for clarke he will eventually take over from ponting as captain and the other clark stuart will be heir apparent to mcgrath:)

Gumby

17th December 2005, 05:36 PM

and remember the first ton was againsed the poms

After his failures in all other tests that series meant that there was no pressure in the final test, apart from saving his own skin. It's when the chips are down and a class player is required that the really good players stand up. Not when it's all over.

I'm glad Gumby isn't a selector. We'd have nothing but Victorians in the team.

I'm sure I said Hodge wasn't up to it. He's a Vic.

bitingmidge

17th December 2005, 06:47 PM

I just love the way when Aus doesn't hit 600 everyone starts bagging 'em, wondering how they are going to go, then the other blokes go in full of froth and bubble, and show us all that maybe the batting wasn't that easy after all.

Happens all the time.

And by the way.... they did lose the ashes by TWO RUNS when you get fair dinkum about analysing the series.

Cheers,

P

Gumby

17th December 2005, 06:59 PM

And by the way.... they did lose the ashes by TWO RUNS when you get fair dinkum about analysing the series.
P

Midge, mate, you are dreaming if you think there was only 2 runs between us and them. :rolleyes:

redwood

17th December 2005, 07:52 PM

After his failures in all other tests that series meant that there was no pressure in the final test, apart from saving his own skin. It's when the chips are down and a class player is required that the really good players stand up. Not when it's all over.
.

two - one and a draw going into the final test and you think thats over:D a win to us and we retain the ashes. hayden being the class he is stepped up and hit a ton in the first innings. and wat about his catch tonight to dismis boucher class again:)

Studley 2436

17th December 2005, 09:24 PM

Sheeze what's everyone moaning about? It is a really good test match. I don't know what to think about Symonds because he has been in so much as a specialist one dayer, he has never been given opportunity to develope as a test player. I did notice today that when Warne was tiring and Ponting took the risk to bring Bret Lee back in Symonds was left to keep on fielding. I would have thought if he is there as an allrounder he should have been given a few overs at least. I wonder why not?

All this time the guy I have felt most for is Stuart McGill. He has been great every time he played but is normally dropped if Warne is fit. Very rarely they get to play together but they work well together when they do. Actually in England Warne was our most successful bowler why not play another like him.

Anyway plenty of cricket left to play in what has been a really good match so far. I think Australia have a tiny advantage at stumps day two but there is plenty of cricket to play and either team can win it.

Studley

lesmeyer

17th December 2005, 09:33 PM

When I was at the game on Friday I said that 258 was enough - well it was almost enough. Remember, the fat girl has not given the performance yet.:D
Les

bitingmidge

17th December 2005, 10:00 PM

Gumby

17th December 2005, 10:30 PM

Oh dear, Matt "only" got 20.

I remember a time when if an opener got 20 he would be a hero.

But then they didn't have something like the third highest batting average in test history either.

Another one for you Gumby! :D

P
:D :D :D

NO BALL !!

I raise the bat and let it go through to the keeper. :D

Can you guys please give me something to hit !!!;)

Andy Mac

17th December 2005, 11:22 PM

I've only heard dribs and drabs on the radio, sounds like a good tight match. They need this to test them after the cushy victories since the Ashes. One thing to come from the English tour is this push to have an all rounder, and maybe including players that aren't up to either task.
That said, I like Symonds, he's shown great qualities in the pyjama version, why shouldn't he be given the chance!

Cheers,

bitingmidge

18th December 2005, 08:46 AM

NO BALL !!
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!

I DEMAND A REFERRALL TO THE THIRD UMPIRE!!!!

:D :D :D
P

Gumby

18th December 2005, 08:54 AM

That said, I like Symonds, he's shown great qualities in the pyjama version, why shouldn't he be given the chance!

Cheers,

How much more of a chance do you want? His top score from 7 Test innings is 24 ! His attitude is pathetic (drunk on the Ashes tour etc). No, he's had plenty. He's not a test class player.

You are right in that we are trying to find our own 'Flintoff' and putting up players who won't make it.

Gumby

18th December 2005, 08:58 AM

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!

I DEMAND A REFERRALL TO THE THIRD UMPIRE!!!!

:D :D :D
P

No need for the third umpire, accept the decision !:D

bitingmidge

18th December 2005, 09:09 AM

His attitude is pathetic (drunk on the Ashes tour etc). No, he's had plenty.
Haven't you just contradicted yourself, or has all of the tradition gone from the game???

P

:D :D :D

Gumby

18th December 2005, 09:17 AM

Haven't you just contradicted yourself, or has all of the tradition gone from the game???

P

:D :D :D

Quite possible. I note that Boony doesn't want to talk about the 72 can plane fight anymore. :D

redwood

18th December 2005, 09:19 AM

Oh dear, Matt "only" got 20.

I remember a time when if an opener got 20 he would be a hero.

But then they didn't have something like the third highest batting average in test history either.

Another one for you Gumby! :D

P
:D :D :D

hope you 2 wernt sitting waiting for him to fail to come back here and say yeh got him "only" 20 runs:D was playing well just a silly shot. and gumbo said haydens 4 tons were againsed ordinary oppasition so dose that meen warnie dosnt deserve his record he just got because they were with some of that ordinary opponents. and symonds should get the flik. bring back clark and use lee as the alrounder:)

ptc

18th December 2005, 09:30 AM

Hayden did it again.!
What about Bevan.

bitingmidge

18th December 2005, 09:32 AM

Watson is the new Bevan.

P
:rolleyes:

Gumby

18th December 2005, 11:27 PM

I told you Hodgey would get there. :rolleyes:

and, HE'S A VIC !!! :D :D :D

Grunt

19th December 2005, 08:14 AM

Mmm. When was the last time a Vic made a test century?

Gumby

19th December 2005, 08:16 AM

Mmm. When was the last time a Vic made a test century?

Deano maybe ? :D

HB, BTW. ;)

redwood

19th December 2005, 10:34 PM

What a great knock by hodgey. easy to se how his parents were both south australians:D

Gumby

19th December 2005, 10:50 PM

What a great knock by hodgey. easy to se how his parents were both south australians:D

They were only there on holiday. :p

And Adelaide is living proof that Tasmanians can swim. :p :D

redwood

19th December 2005, 11:05 PM

Tasmanians can swim. :p :D
Two heads add to the bouancy for the marathon swim. but didnt they bob up at albert park beach and wander over and settle in collingwood:eek:

redwood

19th December 2005, 11:20 PM

Question with out notice. why is this thread in "nothing to do with woodworking" when the bat stumps bails and cork in the pill is all made from wood:confused:

Daddles

19th December 2005, 11:32 PM

Question with out notice. why is this thread in "nothing to do with woodworking" when the bat stumps bails and cork in the pill is all made from wood:confused:

Not to mention the bit between the umpire's ears:rolleyes:

Richard

Grunt

20th December 2005, 08:58 AM

What a great knock by hodgey. easy to se how his parents were both south australians:D

At least the parents were smart enough to get out while they could.

bennylaird

20th December 2005, 09:04 AM

Is it possible? Can they get up and win by a run again?

Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

The best thing to come out of S.A.? The wines, the wines, oh for a Langhorne Creek Cab Sauv right now......................

ptc

20th December 2005, 09:14 AM

Borrow a few of the NZ lads
they could have done it.

redwood

20th December 2005, 09:40 AM

The best thing to come out of S.A.? The wines, the wines, oh for a Langhorne Creek Cab Sauv right now......................

Seems all the wineing is comming east of mt gambier:p jellous lot you are of the superiority of the crow eaters:D

bennylaird

20th December 2005, 09:52 AM

I grew up in Kaniva, just 16 miles inside Vic, closer to Adelaide than Melbourne. Play footy in the Tatiara leage so guess I'm partly a croweater and had rellies in Victor Harbour. A lot going for SA, apart from the wines.

redwood

20th December 2005, 07:16 PM

:mad: Ponting:mad:
:mad: got to go:mad:

great little fellow and ripper batsman. but a #### captain. his desition to allow hodge to play on for 20 or 30 minits to get the double ton will cost us the match. 6 - 8 overs from mcgrath and lee just before tea might have given us the edge. we are running out of time

Daddles

21st December 2005, 12:14 AM

Nah Redwood, I can't agree with you. The Seth Effrican's deserved that draw. Any team that can hold the best attack in the world at bay deserves the credit and they did that. I must confess that my first reaction was similar to yours, but consider this - they fought for four sessions and only lost five wickets. Hodge deserved his double ton and it made no difference to the result. The Seth Effrican's deserved their draw. Ponting did okay ... he's still serving his apprenticeship and I seem to recall other captains who copped a hiding when they took over. He's not Chappel, Taylor or Border standard yet, may never get there, but let's give him the chance ... for a bit longer (yes, it smarts losing the ashes)

Richard

Andy Mac

21st December 2005, 12:51 AM

South Africa deserve the result, they put up a good fight despite that innings by Hodges. Maybe the Aussies should have declared earlier, but it livens up the series:)

Cheers,

outback

21st December 2005, 08:30 AM

I don't think delaying the declaration made any difference. Souht Africa played blody well to get out oif jail.

Ponting has a long way to go yet, he just let things amble along. Reminds me of when Border first became Captain, he was a shocker, just stood in the middle and watched the world go by. By the end of his career, cricket had cahnged its whole ethos. From one of losing a test is the end of the world, to be avoided at all costs, to trying anything to win, even if it means risking a loss.

Ponting will grow, Stick with him, at least it hasn't had a detrimental effect on his batting.

Gumby

21st December 2005, 08:54 AM

The declaration made no difference ??? Rubbish ! :eek:

491 to get in the final innings is a joke. 350 would have been plenty on that wicket. Give them a total to chase and the result would have been different. Give them no hope and they have no alternative but to hold on, which is exactly what they did. He waited way too long and cost us any chance with an attack limited by a sick McGrath. he only gave Simmons a few overs late. He was the only bowler who spun the ball AWAY from Rudolph but by the time he got a go, it was all but over.

A good captian would have done it much better. I think we are so used to setting huge targets and then bowling out the opposition with a session anf 150 runs to spare, he just thought we'd do the same again.

Make Hodge captain. :D

Gingermick

21st December 2005, 09:44 AM

. Maybe the Aussies should have declared earlier, but it livens up the series:)

Cheers,

The way the SA lad was batting they wouldn't have gottten him out in another day.

outback

21st December 2005, 09:54 AM

If ateam can't bowl the opposition out in the fourth innings in 5 sessions then they sure as hell won't do it in six. :p

If Symonds is supposed to be an all rounder why did he only bowl a hat full of overs?

Why didn't Lee and Bracken swap ends so the breeze would help them swing the ball away?

Why were such mundain field settings used?

Much more important questions for Mr Ponting to ponder I feel. I still think and hope he learns his trade.

redwood

21st December 2005, 11:05 AM

Make Hodge captain. :D

Pontings major stuff up was winning the toss in edgbastion and electing to bowl and that cost us the ashes. and as gumby pointed out 491 final innings was a joke and it was his next big stuff up and may cost us this series.
:D Make Warnie captain:D . He has a fantastic cricket brain and the snooty stuck up selectors are more concerned with their image than what was best for australia:(

Milgun_le_Kurr

21st December 2005, 01:01 PM

If the Govorner General can sack the Prime Minister then surely he can sack the Australian Cricket Captain.:rolleyes:

I propose mass rallies in every capital city of the likes never seen before. Severe pressure must be placed upon His Exelency Major General Michael Jeffery, to place a call directly to Lizzie herself and seek formal aproval to terminate the services of Ricky Ponting as Captain of the Australian Cricket Team. She may have a conflict of interest given the rumors regarding her and Freddy Flintof, but even she could see whats best for our great nation.

It would then be appropriate for Ricky Ponting to emerg from the enterance to the Bourbin and Beefsteak and issue the following statement - "Well may we say 'God Save the Queen'; because nothing with save the Governor-General. The proclamation you have just heard was counter-signed 'Shane Warne' - who will go down in history as 'Jefferys Mongrel":o

sinjin1111

21st December 2005, 04:45 PM

I would bring back....Lillee, Thomo...and Paul Keating in that order...

I hate the way Sth Africa applied themselves to the task.....whatever happened to the old relaible..batting colapse.

Sinjin

Gumby

21st December 2005, 04:51 PM

The way the SA lad was batting they wouldn't have gottten him out in another day.

They would have if he had to chase a realistic target in more time. It changes the game comlpetely.

Daddles

22nd December 2005, 12:08 AM

They would have if he had to chase a realistic target in more time. It changes the game comlpetely.

Nah Gumby. Not in this case, because with the time frames involved, any reasonable total (based on time left to play) would still have been too high to provoke an attempt to reach it. Ponting made the right decision in letting Hodge get his double ton. The problem he faced was good batting on a good batting track and many a gritty draw has come from that scenario.

Richard

redwood

22nd December 2005, 12:18 AM

Nah Gumby. Not in this case, because with the time frames involved, any reasonable total (based on time left to play) would still have been too high to provoke an attempt to reach it. Ponting made the right decision in letting Hodge get his double ton. The problem he faced was good batting on a good batting track and many a gritty draw has come from that scenario.

Richard

Nuh richard. Not in this case because the time frames involved (based on time left to play) would have ballanced out with a smaller target to chase. smith himself said they had no intention to try and that ponting batted on to long. 330 would give them a win option instead of draw option and we could have had up tp 20 more overs to bowl. completly different game would have taken place:)

Daddles

22nd December 2005, 03:23 AM

Nuh richard. Not in this case because the time frames involved (based on time left to play) would have ballanced out with a smaller target to chase. smith himself said they had no intention to try and that ponting batted on to long. 330 would give them a win option instead of draw option and we could have had up tp 20 more overs to bowl. completly different game would have taken place:)

There was no way Ponting was going to leave a target of 330 - you'd might as well say if he'd declared at 200 it would have been better. And even at 330, the chances of the final innings getting up are remote and I doubt the South Africans would have made the attempt.

Ponting left himself plenty of time to bowl them out. On that pitch against stubborn batsmen, it didn't happen. Such is test cricket.

Richard

bennylaird

22nd December 2005, 07:57 AM

Roll on Boxing Day!

Gumby

22nd December 2005, 08:53 AM

And even at 330, the chances of the final innings getting up are remote and I doubt the South Africans would have made the attempt.

Therefore, he should have declared at that point, or 50 runs past it anyway.

Richard old friend, you just shot yourself in the foot. :)

redwood

22nd December 2005, 09:02 AM

There was no way Ponting was going to leave a target of 330 - you'd might as well say if he'd declared at 200 it would have been better. And even at 330, the chances of the final innings getting up are remote and I doubt the South Africans would have made the attempt.

Ponting left himself plenty of time to bowl them out. On that pitch against stubborn batsmen, it didn't happen. Such is test cricket.

Richard

i know ponting wouldnt have given them a chance because hes got no balls. steve waugh would have made a game of it, so to tubby and even ab would have and im sure if warnie was captain he would have given them a big chance and attacked them. 332 was the highest 4th innings chase in aust test history and that was 76 years ago so why bat on for a lead of 491. to many blunders from some one so experienced. just not captain material:(

outback

22nd December 2005, 04:08 PM

Didn't Bill Lawrie bat on for a lead of nearly 600?

In his defence he did leave almost 2 session to bowl the oppositon out, WI or England, I can't remeber one of you lot will have to fill in the details.

Gumby

22nd December 2005, 04:41 PM

Didn't Bill Lawrie bat on for a lead of nearly 600?

.
He must have really had his nose to the grindstone that day :rolleyes:

Studley 2436

22nd December 2005, 05:36 PM

Ian Chappell has often said that he thinks you need to leave the other team with a sniff of victory. He thinks taking a risk is the best option. Ponting didn't really do that this time but give him the chance to learn his trade. Steve Waugh had a pretty poor start to his captaincy as I remember but went on to become one of Australia's better captains.

With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to criticise Ponting although it is a fair point. After all if he had 491 in the first innings everyone would have been saying can South Africa save the match and draw. I think 380 or 400 would have been a good declaration but anyway I can't bat or bowl and my throwing is rubbish. I wonder if you can be captain and 12th man at the same time. Thesedays I could just use my substitute fielder for carrying the drinks etc.

Studley

bitingmidge

22nd December 2005, 05:57 PM

bitingmidge

22nd December 2005, 06:09 PM

Won Lost Drawn Tied
93 AR Border Australia 32 22 38 1
48 GS Chappell Australia 21 13 14 0
30 IM Chappell Australia 15 5 10 0

So Border won 34%
Chappell G 45%
Chappell the grand pooh bah and expert on what Ricky's doing wrong 50% of only 30 matches of course.

Now, how's Ricky looking???

P:confused: :confused:

Gumby

22nd December 2005, 06:23 PM

So Border won 34%
Chappell G 45%
Chappell the grand pooh bah and expert on what Ricky's doing wrong 50% of only 30 matches of course.

Now, how's Ricky looking???

P:confused: :confused:

I don't think you can compare them that way. Greg had the Windies at their best, Ian had Lillee and Thommo at their peak, etc etc

Grunt

22nd December 2005, 06:26 PM

I think Ponting is a victim of being in a successful side for too long. Almost any time in the last 10 years we would have knocked over any side in the last 4 sessions of a match if they were chasing such a target.

Studley 2436

22nd December 2005, 06:30 PM

P W L D
I think Ponting has 23 15 3 5

so a 65% winning percentage. Anyway don't think you can compare teams across eras like that. I am pretty sure that Viv Richards has a better percentage than Clive Lloyd but Lloyd is the better captain for my money.

Studley

bitingmidge

22nd December 2005, 06:33 PM

I don't think you can compare them that way. Greg had the Windies at their best, Ian had Lillee and Thommo at their peak, etc etc

If you can't compare them that way, you can't compare them anyway. You can't knock off "captain's" points because he's got a glamour team full of Haydons and Symons's. ;)

The only difference between Windies then and now, is that then we couldn't beat them.

Now we can.

And we're bitching about it :o.

:D :D :D
P

Grunt

22nd December 2005, 06:47 PM

The ABC has been playing highlights of the Windies tour of '84. I've watched a few hours of it. Two things that really stand out is that our fielding was complete and utter crap, 9 catches dropped in an innings, most complete sitters. Secondly was they got hit in the head alot and they didn't wear helmets.

The West Indies had the most lethal bowling attack I can remember. They were just awesome.

I feel sorry for Kim Hughes. He basically played the West Indies at their peak, 3 series in a row.

lesmeyer

22nd December 2005, 10:52 PM

If you can't compare them that way, you can't compare them anyway. You can't knock off "captain's" points because he's got a glamour team full of Haydons and Symons's. ;)

:D :D :D
P
You call Crusty the clown glamorous !!!!!!:D :D :D
Les

Studley 2436

23rd December 2005, 12:05 AM

That Windies team of the 80's was something, incredible deadly fast bowlers, Grenidge and Haynes opening Lloyd and Richards. Gus Logie too was a good bat and a great fielder usually picking the batsmans pocket.

We might have been rubbish then but that was one of the all time great teams. Remember too that we were getting over players being banned for touring South Africa. No more Lillee and Thommo or Chappell both of them and Marsh too had gone was a big empty patch until Border came along and got things happening again.

Studley

Daddles

23rd December 2005, 01:47 AM

Ian Chappel was a better and more attacking captain than his brother, not that Greg was all that bad come to that. Both of them, and Border, and Tubby, and Steve, all suffered in their early days in the job. Ponting's doing alright. Sure, he's not a glamour captain yet, but give him time. How many of you knockers saw Gilchrist's and Warne's (I think it was Warney, might have been one of the other senior players) defence of him tonight? Gilly wasn't being politically correct - he was too incoherent for that, just confused by the criticism.

We aren't the great team we were a couple of season's back AND our opposition has improved since them. In reality though, all that means is that we now have to earn our wins AND wear a few draws. Test cricket is supposed to be played over five days, not the three or four we became used to under Steve Waugh. And, believe it or not, draws, often gritty, drawn out draws like this one, are part of test cricket, as big a part as victories.

Ponting isn't the greatest captain we've ever had. He may never become as good a captain as the three great men that preceeded him, and to be honest, that is no cause for criticism as they were great captains. But give him a chance to grow into the job. Sure, he's nearing the end of what could be considered his apprenticeship and hence will have to start producing series wins soon, but every captain needs time to learn the job. Hell, even Bradman stuffed up his first two series as captain, and that comment was made by the great man himself.

Give Ponting a chance ... and having a few players fullfilling the role they've been asked to play would help. We aren't like England or Pakistan who like to change leaders every time they lose a game and it's a policy that has resulted in stable leadership and men of the stature of Border, Taylor and Waugh, all of whom did no better than Ponting in the early days of their career. Ponting may not make it long term ... but it's too early to tell by Australian standards, though I must admit that it is frustrating waiting.

Richard

Tikki

23rd December 2005, 01:49 AM

Richard, what's cricket????? :p :p :D

Daddles

23rd December 2005, 02:02 AM

Richard, what's cricket????? :p :p :D

It is organised abuse of an inoffensive structure of leather and other unknown products by the use of a standardised club, typically made of willow. It is a game of skill, chance and outright frustration developed by the men of England in an attempt to escape the constraints and rigours of the Victorian era family. The result is an elegant dance of skill and chance that can only be understood by the truly insane and appreciated by ... the truly insane. Sociologists have long noted and pondered the immense consumption of mind altering beverages by supporters of the game - at least one of these learned men noted that upon consuming enough of said mind altering substances, the game actually can appear to make some form of sense - that man will be released within ten years ... assuming his doctors is satisfied that he will be safe within the community.

I think that the best approach is to assume that it will never make sense to the disinterested observer, that it will suffer as a spectacle against other seemingly intelligent sporting activities and that spouses of cricket fanatics (be they male or female) are doomed to a twilight zone as the dance of the flannelled fools is performed upon the idiot box.

A wise man once observed that the non-cricketting buff is well served by several large glasses of something intoxicating (but usually served in small glasses) and by not listening to the commetary of Tony Grieg.

Richard

if the above helped, I can recommend a good doctor:D