2011/12 Australian Summer Of Cricket (*SPOILERS*)

[The Mad Hatter]

The dropped catch was a sitter...and they've been a couple lately. Anyway...he'll probably take a screamer some time in the next 2 days, so the drop will be moot.

Pity he didn't get a bat.

JOKES heard:
(Clarke's declaration on 329*) : It's not the first time he's given up on Lara.

(When Clarke and Hussey were batting in the morning session): What will be the next wicket to fall? Gambhir, caught at slip (no accurate...but funny at the time).

If Pattinson was playing for India, he'd be called an all-rounder.

Mirthy chuckles at those. Good day all round. As I said, 300+ from a batsman...not sure how many OCTers would have actually seen one in the flesh. You can't fault it at all.

 

[graham]

I batted with a young bloke at Souths in Brisbane who hit 319no in a day. I was with him towards the end of the innings and he was knackered. I was captain and I actually asked him to let me know when he'd had enough and we would declare. He hit a single a cramped up and said that was enough. I'd dare say Clarke was possibly feeling the same way at the end.

 

[Matty76]

To raise your bat six times in an innings is just amazing....still can't believe how well Michael Clarke played.

Further to your story Graham, it got me thinking about the famous 356 that Barry Richards made when playing for South Australia in a Shield match at the WACA against Lillee, McKenzie, Lock and Mann - he made 325 of those on the first day. I also just looked up Brian Lara's 501* vs Durham in 1994 - he scored 390 runs in a day!

 

[kingjack]

As much as I get along with you Jack and find you are normally pretty well informed/opinionated for a younger bloke, this sort of remark really brings through your age.......

Why so bitter...?

Clarke will become one of the greats batting wise, and realistically he has taken over the national side at the crossroads, could go either way for him..... Flat track, poor bowling or whatever other excuse people can find for Clarke getting 300+ are just jealous bitter negative people that really can't enjoy the innings for what it is... FKING GREAT!!! The concentration and fitness side of things along is more then ANYONE on here could ever do.....

I don't know whats more surprising the fact that you believe that I was being serious or the fact that you have called me out? Mate obviously sarcasm doesn't travel through a computer screen but seriously you actually believed what I said? The dude made 300. As much as I don't like him my hat goes off to him a great innings. Now lets hope he can keep this up for the rest of his career.

 

[Matty76]

I cannot recall an Australian batting performance like it - even compared to the '89 and '93 Ashes tours when our blokes knocked out totals of 600+ for fun.

When you think that from the fall of Ed Cowan's wicket at 3/37 to the declaration, we lost 1/622 Compare it to the misery England piled on us last season with the bat, particularly at the Gabba when they made 1/517 dec in the second innings.

I had a chuckle to myself this afternoon - to think that Clarke, Hussey and Ponting made 613 of the 659....not bad for 3 apparently useless buggers

 

[Cobretti]

I cannot recall an Australian batting performance like it - even compared to the '89 and '93 Ashes tours when our blokes knocked out totals of 600+ for fun.

When you think that from the fall of Ed Cowan's wicket at 3/37 to the declaration, we lost 1/622 Compare it to the misery England piled on us last season with the bat, particularly at the Gabba when they made 1/517 dec in the second innings.

I had a chuckle to myself this afternoon - to think that Clarke, Hussey and Ponting made 613 of the 659....not bad for 3 apparently useless buggers

sadly if they all get out for under50 next game the media will want their heads again.

---------- Post added 05-01-2012 at 10:21 PM ----------

To raise your bat six times in an innings is just amazing....still can't believe how well Michael Clarke played.

Further to your story Graham, it got me thinking about the famous 356 that Barry Richards made when playing for South Australia in a Shield match at the WACA against Lillee, McKenzie, Lock and Mann - he made 325 of those on the first day. I also just looked up Brian Lara's 501* vs Durham in 1994 - he scored 390 runs in a day!

That was why I hoped he would go for the 401* and take the international record of lara. He has enough haha.

 

[Matty76]

Speaking of the media Dominik, I notice that Robert Craddock was absent from the News Limited papers (hopefully he is penning a lengthy apology to Punter) this morning and that Malcolm Conn had to half-eat his own words after a wishy washy load of nonsense that he wrote after day 1 where all he did was hedge his bets on our upcoming batting performance.

I really believe that experienced and respected columnists like Richie Benaud are wasted in monthly magazines - I am glad that Chappelli is in the Sunday papers these days, he makes a lot of sense.
In an ideal world, writers such as Mike Coward would do the daily reports (he paints the picture brilliantly), Chappelli/Richie etc the opinion pieces and the likes of Robert Craddock and Malcom Conn the peripheral stuff.

A lot of sports writers make themselves part of the story and wonder why there is such a lack of respect from players. Fair dinkum, if you were being critiqued as incessantly by someone with a worldwide readership (let's face it, all major Australian newspapers are on the internet) who has never attempted to do what you are doing, I reckon I'd be wary too.

Imagine a first-day Office Clerk telling a 10-year CEO where he's going wrong in life and questioning his employment! End rant

 

[aussiemjfreak]

I don't know whats more surprising the fact that you believe that I was being serious or the fact that you have called me out? Mate obviously sarcasm doesn't travel through a computer screen but seriously you actually believed what I said? The dude made 300. As much as I don't like him my hat goes off to him a great innings. Now lets hope he can keep this up for the rest of his career.

Hahaha Jack! Sarcasm doesn't show through in written words!! That's what emoticons are for!!!!
I knew you also disliked him so thought you were legit mate!!!

use a bloody emoticon next time FFS!!!

 

[The Mad Hatter]

You can't blame people for thinking it was time for Hussey and Ponting to move along.

Both had lengthy dry spells, have had age creep up on them and sections of the media & public do get on to hearty debates about dropping someone and who to bring in. It's great they all batted so well. Lucky for people like me sitting in the crowd to witness it. Credit where credit is due, they did well.

 

[bo3197]

Great innings by Clarkey!!!! It was the best innings I've ever seen!!! He, Ponting and Hussey gave me a reason to watch every single delivery this test match

Great to see Gambhir go early in the morning!! Gives us a better chance of an innings win.

Madhatter, You say Hussey has had a lengthy dry spell before this series, I think you're forgetting that "lengthy" dry spell is the two test matches against South Africa and New Zealand

Before those 4 test matches, Australia played Sri Lanka in a 3 test match series and Huss was Man of the Match in all 3 matches and of course man of the series.

But still, WHAT AN INNINGS BY MICHAEL CLARKE!!!!

 

[Harsha_12]

A Great from Michael Clarke to dismiss The Little Master! (I feel for Sachin Tendulkar everyone is expecting that 100 from him every innings!)

Haddin sort of dropped it but Hussey came to the rescue with the catch. It looks to me like Haddins losing his Confidence and Quickly. A bit Like When Australia played Pakistan in 2010 at the SCG i think when Kamran Akmal had shocker of a test Match.

 

[BLOWN8]

A Great from Michael Clarke to dismiss The Little Master! (I feel for Sachin Tendulkar everyone is expecting that 100 from him every innings!)

Haddin sort of dropped it but Hussey came to the rescue with the catch. It looks to me like Haddins losing his Confidence and Quickly. A bit Like When Australia played Pakistan in 2010 at the SCG i think when Kamran Akmal had shocker of a test Match.

So Haddin actually dropped another one, he's GONE. come on selectors, he's had enough chances, not only is he not scoring runs but he's dropping catches. Brad Haddin, you are the leakest link, Goodbye lol
im not hoping Sachin gets his 100th century, coz ive got money on him not getting it in this series. but when i placed the bet i actually thought it was a two test series, not 4 tests. probably wouldnt have put the bet down had i known that!

 

[Harsha_12]

So Haddin actually dropped another one, he's GONE. come on selectors, he's had enough chances, not only is he not scoring runs but he's dropping catches. Brad Haddin, you are the leakest link, Goodbye lol
im not hoping Sachin gets his 100th century, coz ive got money on him not getting it in this series. but when i placed the bet i actually thought it was a two test series, not 4 tests. probably wouldnt have put the bet down had i known that!

It was sort of a Drop. A Gem of a Ball by Ben Hilfenhaus!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hilfenhaus get another now thats a 4fer!

 

[carlton91]

Ashwin was just so lucky with those shots feel sorry for Siddle and Patterson and Hilfenhaus they were balling gems and were getting hit for sixes (they were all luck shots no technique)

 

[BLOWN8]

its all over, hilfy got 5 for the innings and 8 for the match. well done punter, clarke, huss and others. no thanks to marsh or haddin lol.

 

[Dalbs]

Well done to Clarke and the Aussie team, credit where it's due for sure.

 

[Matty76]

Terrific performance by Australia, attention now turns to the make-up of the team for the WACA.

I doubt that Nathan Lyon will hold his spot in the XI due to the nature of the pitch, but it will be really interesting to see if the selectors swap him for Ryan Harris as their only change or if Shane Watson will be fit as well.

My personal preference would be to allow Watto a bit of T20 or Club cricket to return to match fitness, which would mean that he misses out in Perth. It is why I think Ryan Harris is a certainty for the WACA as the selctors have been releasing him for the Big Bash and then getting him back to do 12th man duties.....which is in some ways confusing as the Heat are playing tonight against Hobart and I'd have thought another 4 overs and a run around in the field would have been useful for him.

The Watson return will be interesting - I think it might knock Dan Christian's chances on the head temporarily, particularly with No's 4, 5 and 6 ("the useless hacks" as some have called them ) scoring so heavily in this Test. I think that either Ed Cowan or Shaun Marsh will go when Watto is right to play, can't see him moving from the opening spot.

 

[rishgoon]

Bob Hawke.
That is all.
[video=youtube_share;o5mBShX9fdU]http://youtu.be/o5mBShX9fdU[/media]

 

[BLOWN8]

Bob Hawke.
That is all.
[video=youtube_share;o5mBShX9fdU]http://youtu.be/o5mBShX9fdU[/media]

what a legend this bloke is, best PM this country has ever had.

 

[Dalbs]

No change for the Waca? Or Lyon out for Harris and Haddin out for Wade? Can we really drop the Vice captain but?