you have been informed! ...and, getting closer!

26-10-2010

you know what that means?

2 months today until boxing day!

...and only 1 month to go until the first test!

so with that in mind i thought i should move away from high fashion and get back onto this blogs actual subject; CRICKET.

smarmy bastard Jimbo Anderson is reportedly 75% fit and bowling again after being beaten around the ring in the now not-so-secret training camp in Bavaria.
Sustaining a cracked rip in a boxing session, Anderson is still completely in the mix for the first test stated African Andy#1 (Flower). If the recovery process takes longer than expected, i would imagine that the undisclosed perp (Chris Tremlett) may not get a look in until his extra height and bounce is required in Perth. This by way of having his wrist slapped for what is clearly a bad judgement call for hitting Jimbo in the body when the obvious target is his smirky bonce!

African Andy#1 has also seen the need to side step KP's PP performance back at home (SA) in what was meant to be his get-back-to-form trip playing for Kwazulu Natal Dolphins. In 2 knocks KP made 36 in the first and in the second, only required the scorer to put a dot and then a 0.
Now i'm not going to join the queue of people saying KP is D.O.A- i like his exciting style, but if he fails to find form it is a BIG psych advantage given how well he played over here last time.

Pistol Pete hey-diddle-diddle is pushing hard for a test recall after banging up his back in January.
He has steadily increased his work load with the Bushrangers and is now lined up for the Sri Lankan short form games. For mine, it is also good to see Haddin back in this squad, one made up entirely of Vic's and NSW players... not a little retrograde ACB?... i mean CA.

The Redbacks must be wincing a bit at the moment with Cosgrove getting his considerable weight behind his good eye and belting 159 for Tasmania against Victoria. Called a chronic boombar last year and asked to leave Sth Oz, Cosgrove's innings has kept the Tigers in the mix against a Bushrangers side that appears well on the way to continuing last seasons successes.

Australia's batting Lazarus Matt Haydos Hayden has come out publicly saying he sees a lot of himself in Phil Hughes. Fair point, but for mine the only way Hughes can cement his place back in the side is to show that he has the technique and mental edge this summer against the Poms. Found suss against the mind games more than the lifting balls last time in Blighty, Hughes must dominate the touring quicks on tracks that he should be familiar with, but will also allow the ball to get big on him more if the England bowler continue on with their theory.

Pup is adamant he is up to the challenge of a full dance card for the summer and that is the best way for him to get back in the runs. So who should we blame if his back goes again? Or should Cosgrove get Pups spot if that situation arises?

you have been informed.
stoph verismo
down the wicket

the war before the war

the buzz is on as to where the England team are planning to go as a bonding/educational pre Ashes trip now that a leak as emerged that potential squad players have been told to keep a window of time available at the end of the month.

after last years WW1 Flanders experience preceded an Ashes victory, it is any ones guess as to what the 2 African Andy's are up to this time around.

the only real information suggests the time frame- 24-28/9, and the fact it not a training camp, but more a bonding experience and it is suggested also educational.

With Warne no longer in the Aussie squad to say NAY to any form of extra exertion, is it too late to do a quick lap of Kokoda? or more realistically, a jump on a plane after the Mumbai or Dehli test to Gallipoli to see where poor British leadership put ANZAC soldiers in it.

Or even better still, get to Brisbane a few days earlier than normal and educate the team on The Brisbane Line and the alleged sell-out of the top of our island by Menzies and British and American High Command.

While it was supposedly mainly MacArthur and Menzies idea, why let that get in the way of building up some anti-English sentiment given so many of our troops were away "defending Mother England".
Surely this will help bend the backs of any patriotic fast bowler!

Irrespective of my suggestions, i think African Andy #1 should be complimented on his ideas and direction for the England team; he has been quoted as saying that last years trip to the battlefields was about, "broadening the players horizons and putting their sporting careers in perspective."
Admirable objectives when faced with the horrors of the western front.