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A win by an innings and 71 runs is as comprehensive a win as you could imagine really.

Not only did the Aussie fans not show up, the bad weather didn't either... :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9262492.stm

Well done England for pressing home their advantage but we've been here before so let's hope this team really has the killer instinct so many before them have sorely missed.

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Interesting - the 70 quick runs they added yesterday proved to be the difference. Good captaincy or luck?
Anyway - well done lads - keep up the pressure.

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It was very decent of those Aussie chaps to capitulate so easily, how thoughtful of them to let me get to bed early this morning.:D

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Yes, there's usually an element of luck in sporting events like these and there are so many variables which can affect a result in cricket. From what I saw of the highlights, so there were so many chances and near misses yesterday that, if taken, would have ended the game that much earlier.

Having said that, the technology they now use (e.g. the snickometer, hot spot camera, hawkeye) goes a long way to eradicating the sort of bad decisions (sometimes very difficult & sometimes just plain awful) which used to cost matches and indeed, series. In this respect at least, the old farts at the ICC really do put their FIFA counterparts to shame.

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It did after lunch, the heavens opened apparently, which makes it even more sweeter that we finished them off in the first session :)

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Strewth mate !!! :)

Rumours of the Aussies calling on Warne to come out of retirement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...ia/9270927.stm

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They really are desperate! :D

http://www.bringbackwarne.com/default.php

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Not THAT desperate it seems... ;)

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-displ...ies-Test/23127

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Come on England, just one more game will clinch it.

Here's hoping :tu:

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There's every chance...

Australia: 62-4

I love this, after 20 odd years of being beaten by an innings and 5-0 white washes it's so sweet.

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Aussies 189 for 7 now

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9 down!

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All in all a very good day for England. Pity they let the Aussie tail wag again though - that sort of thing can come back to haunt you. 29-0 at the close after a tricky spell late in the day is very nice.

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On the positive side it does show that this is not a sub 300 AO wicket once you get past the new ball.

I knew the Aussies had recalled Johnson for something, must have been his batting.:D

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or his sledging..... :D

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Oh dear.....

England 157 for 6

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/engli.../scorecard.stm

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Maybe his bowling ;)

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There was always a danger that his 60 odd with the bat would restore his confidence, a superb spell of bowling makes for a proper test match now.

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Yup, could be very interesting.

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Well it did come back to haunt us - England 5 down just before the close and some pretty poor shots played in the process.... :confused:

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What on earth is going on.
I woke up this morning to find England on 147 - 0, thinking, thats a fairly low score, only to find the Aussies had already been bowled out for 98.
Good stuff :D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...rd/default.stm

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Yep - great start. I had a good feeling when they decided to bowl but never expected that good.

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The next session will be key. If England can build on their opening and avoid the silly shots which characterised their last batting display they ought to be able to build a big enough score to see them through - hopefully without needing to bat again.

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Boxing day sale! 10 aussie wickets for just 98 runs! :)

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England are 444 - 5 at the close of the second days play at the MCG, a lead of 346

Trott 141 no.
Prior 75 no.

:tu:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/engli.../scorecard.stm

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Ponting should have had a 100% fine & possibly a suspension.

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Well it's looking good but we've been here before so I won't be counting any chickens just yet. Traditionally England have often lacked a killer punch so I'm hoping tomorrow will show that they've well and truly acquired one.

As regards Ponting's antics and some of the other goings on, I'm beginning to wonder if cricket should follow Rugby and adopt a yellow card system whereby unsavoury incidents on the pitch could result in a player being sent off for a period of time. Cricket can well do without this sort of thing and an instant penalty as opposed to an 'after the event' fine or ban might better focus a few minds.

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Well, another good day for England. Let's hope we can wrap this up before lunch tomorrow and then concentrate on winning the series.

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I might stay up for this, as we have got a wicket already :) 172 - 7. Johnson out b Tremlett 6

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It shouldn't be too late a night :)

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Ryan Harris apparently won't bat, so we only need 2 more wickets ...

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I can never understand how the test set up works.

I know if we can get them out before they reach 415 (98 + 415 = 513) then we win, but how do the overs come into it? If they don't reach it before 159.1 overs then we win? Or if they go over that do they force another day?

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In a test match the number of overs doesn't matter, that only comes into play in one day matches. The match must finish in five days or less though.

---------- Post added at 00:56 ---------- Previous post was at 00:53 ----------

And there it is, England Retain the ASHES!!! :D

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England have retained the ashes :)

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IIRC a certain minimum number of overs have to be bowled in the available time so if they'd survived for that number of overs then the match would have been drawn at that point no matter what the scores were. If they'd scored more than 415 and been all out with time/overs to spare then then England would have been forced to bat again to try to make up any defecit.

Anyway, well done England on a thoroughly professional display and a great win achieved without any nastiness or dubious tactics!

Apart from a small number of days in the series so far England have outplayed Australia and that's a comforting thought too. The loss in Perth was, hopefully, a blip and Sydney will see us win the series as well as retaining the Ashes.

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Just the use of "The Sprinkler" :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVUCiWDLavY

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To be fair that was after the game not during it. ;)

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Well another good day for England. :) Trott was unlucky but Pietersen once again gave his wicket away for reasons best known to himself. He really should be thinking about all the easy runs he's been missing out on against a weak Australian attack he ought to be destroying. Collingwood needs to drop down the order at the very least - luckily for Bell he had Cook to rely on at the other end and it's ridiculous that someone in his form is reduced to batting after a guy with a series average of about 13 and relying on tail-enders for support. So 200 ahead with 3 wickets in hand. Hopefully we can add another 50-60 runs tomorrow and get stuck into the Aussies with a lead of 250 or thereabouts.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/9343026.stm

barmy army, barmy army ...

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Three victories by and innings plus change... I'd call that pretty comprehensive! :D

One of the best things about this series for England has been the way in which they've kept their focus and nerve, especially in recovering from their loss in Perth. After playing so well in the first match and going one up after the second, to lose so badly could have knocked them for six (pardon the pun) but rather then crumble as have so many of their predecessors have, the team got their act together and won the next two convincingly. We all know this Australian team is far from great but, nonetheless, to win so well over there is remarkable IMHO.

Well done lads and well done the Barmy Army!

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A great moment to savour :) Better than 2005, imo.

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Hurrah and huzzah - YES! :D

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I agree, winning away from home especially after 20 odd years is great, no matter how poor the Aussie team is (which cannot be that bad looking at their performance in the second test).

I thought the Aussies were very poor in defeat though, the presentation at the end of the match was disgraceful. No indivdual medals, no champagne and they even forgot to give Cook his man of the series medal! I'm sure it would have been very different had the scores been reversed!

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Totally agree, i think the Aussies `sporting` behaviour was an absolute disgrace with maybe the exception of Hussey and Haddin possibly Clarke when he was captain.
The rest can just :PP: :upyours:
They set a plan to try and nullify Swann http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0aV54u9qj0 and it totally backfired on them when their bowlers just weren`t consistent enough. Englands on the other hand where magnificent continually putting the ball in danger areas where the batsman has to play and eventually getting a wicket. Some of the Aussies shot selection was very poor though.
Massive thanks to Strauss and his boys for making this series a thoroughly memorable one :clap:

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Can Ireland do it?

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 16:41 ----------

whoop!

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quite amazing considering how well organised and prepared England were for the Ashes compared to the shambles building up to this tournament.

Well played Ireland though - superb innings by O'Brien

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Wow, this is some innings...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/13035935.stm

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I like Watson, he comes across as a 'nice guy' not your typical Aussie stereotype for sure.:)

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Great win for England today. One more win & no losses in the series & we're world number 1!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14282488.stm

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A good start, if Zaheer Khan is unfit for Friday then I can't see them bowling us out twice.

Its about time the ICC stood firm and insisted that all test matches use full DRS though, a couple of howlers from Billy today.:rolleyes:

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The whole DRS thing is a joke. It just further proves that the Indians are running cricket not the ICC.

One of the best things to come out of this test was to see that Suart Broad still remembers how to bowl, after forgetting how against Sri Lanka.

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Fantastic day for England & all credit to India re the Bell incident! :)

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Over 400 runs in a day, lots of incident, who says test cricket is boring.:cool:

As for the Bell episode, I do hope Paul Collinwood was watching.:rolleyes:

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To be fair on Collingwood, India had a 20 minute break to make the decision whereas Collingwood did not. If India didn't have that tea break, Bell would have been out.

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Some very good results for England. I particulary like the way in which when they've wobbled the tail has well and truly wagged. Not that long ago it only took a couple of early wickets to fall and there'd be the inevitable batting collapse. This team is starting to look very good but a truer test of their quality will probably arise in the next match when some notable Indian absentees will return. Also I rather hope that wonderful batsman Sachin Tendulkar will get his 100th international century and be able to celebrate a well deserved and historic achievement.

Well done to England anyway!

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Yes a wonderful win by England and a great gesture for the good of the game by India.:clap::clap::clap:

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Zaheer Khan out for the rest of the series and beyond. I wish England would replace Trott with Tremlett but I fear that Bopara may get the nod.:rolleyes:

England should do like the great Windies side did and hit them relentlessly with four fast bowlers. The current Indian bowling attack is so poor England should not need seven frontline batsmen given the form that Broad and Bresnan are in with the bat.:cool:

Jim.

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Whats wrong with Bopara as he is a talented player and also why change the make up of our side when we are winning and also if you relentlessly play 4 fast bowlers then sooner rather then later they will break down so l think it is better to have one or two fast bowlers you can call up when needed if one of the main fast bowlers does gets injured.

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He might be talented but his record for England is rather poor overall.

Mark Ramprakash was also talented but was equally inept at test level.

Bopara has been tried and found wanting on more than one occasion.:(

His last test was in 2009, he scored 1 in the first innings and 0 in the second.

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So you don't think he deserves another chance then and remember he scored 3 centuries early on in his England career.

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Three concecutive 100's against a rather average West Indies bowling attack, followed by a series against Australia were he averaged 15.

Bopara may well come off against this current Indian side but Boycott, Botham, Gower et al are all clamouring to get their pads back on to play them as well.

If Tremlett is not going to be fit as seems likely then I would like the selectors to give a new batsman a chance.

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You obviously are not keen on Bopara so who would you have as the new batsman then.

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J Taylor from Leics should be given a chance IMHO of course.;)

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Yes he is a very talented player.

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I may be wrong and if so no doubt someone will correct me but I can't think of many, or even any England cricketer that has made a really successful return to test cricket after being discarded in the last 10 years or more.

You could count Swann but he wasn't excluded for cricketing reasons alone.;)

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Chris Tremlett?

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Naw, wouldn't say he was ever discarded. He played one test against India but due to injuries and the good form of the other bowlers didn't get much of a look in although he was selected in the squads most of the time when he was fit.

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Quite a total by England, with thanks to a mammoth innings by Cook.
Lets hope for a tumble of Indian wickets tomorrow to put England ranked as the worlds number 1.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/engli.../scorecard.stm

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Thinking about it both Bell and Anderson could qualify.

In some ways I feel sorry for Bopara, he was on a hiding to nothing today and he looked very nervous. Sadly he is unlikely to get a second innings and get replaced by Trott for the next match.

Morgan, who has more or less taken Bopara's place could have been out for very little, being dropped off dolly catches twice in this match before he reached 50.

Jim.

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It just goes to show that being patient with players who struggle for form for a while pays off as Cook was close to being dropped before the away ashes series and here he is now with a average close to 50 and now being compared in his run getting to that little master Sachin Tendulkar.

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Well India in trouble already this morning as they are 40 for 3 with Dravid just losing his wicket.

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England have become the number one team in the world, we sure showed those 8 other teams.... :D

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Quite so, England have won 8 out of the last 9 test series home and away. They drew the other one in South Africa so No: 1 is were they should be.:cool:

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With a little help from our south african friends who qualify to play for england.;)

But we have done well there is no doubt england under andy flower have reached the next level now,andy flower is a tough cookie i remember seeing him play at Essex and now as England coach.:)

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Another wonderful day by England in the cricket with England 457-3 with Pietersen making 175 and Bell not out on 181.

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England have done well today,but lets give credit also where its due to the woeful ill prepared indian bowling attack,though the oval batting strip is its usual flat batsmans paradise.

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And Andy Flower is from where ?

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Born in south africa of course,although his family hail from Zimbabwe,hence why he played international cricket for Zimbabwe.

He does not actually play for England though just coaches them.

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But they cannot be that bad Richard as they were ranked no1 in the world and you don.t get there with a popgun attack but yes the Oval is a good pitch but lets see how the master Indian batsmen bat on it.

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India are not that bad denphone statistics do not lie however they are under prepared for this series Mike Atherton mentioned this on air and Shane Warne commentating for sky sports said he was shocked, some of indias top players did not travel to the carribean for their pre england tour meaning not much match practice,and did you see Rudra Pratap singh well he had not played a test for about 3 years if my memory serves me correctly! and it showed !indias bowling attack or lack of it is probably to blame for much of the problem (some of the top bowlers seem to be carrying injuries),certainly so far in this tour they do not look up for it. Hope the one dayers show more of the india of old.

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There is some truth in what you say Richard but also we have to give praise to England relentless rise under Andy Flower.

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Yes Andy Flower has done well denphone brilliant coach and so have England, but having watched cricket for a few years this is just about the most badly prepared india team i can re-call for a long while fill yer boots England which is exactly what they have been doing.

Incidently on a different tack we could do with Flower back at Essex to put some backbone into the side will not happen though LOL.:D

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They rely far too heavily on Zaheer, the rest of their pace attack is awful. In comparison England have so much strength in depth, theres about 5 or 6 fast bowlers who haven't played in this series for England that would walk into India's team at the moment. It will be interesting to see what happens when England tour India, on spinning wickets, because Indias lack of pace bowlers won't be such a big issue.

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You can't put all the blame on the Indian bowlers, their four or five 'World Class' front line batsmen have also failed with the exception of Dravid early in the series.

They have yet to pass 300 in an innings this series, they have been outbowled,outbatted, outfielded, out captained and outcoached..:cool:

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And l will second that.

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Thats more like it, a 'proper' days test cricket.:)

Hopefully the one day series will be a better contest.

Jim.

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Well one more day to go and a likely English whitewash but the one day series should be interesting.

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This series against India turned out to be a bit of a cakewalk in the end.
Let's hope that Strauss & Co can keep us entertained as the World's no. 1 team for a few years at least. :tu:

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Yes a wonderful test series by Strauss and company and fully deserving of the no1 test status.

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Well done England, ephatic to say the least, but as Michael Vaughan said on TMS:

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Im looking forward to England v SA. I do think England will beat Pakistan in the UAE(might try and get out there for that tour), and I think the India series will be very close.

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Yes l am looking forward to these series and l do think England have a very strong bowling line up and also have several bowlers in reserve to come in as well.

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Cracking series, nice to see for once an English team dishing it out instead of taking it.

Fearsome batting, Fearsome bowling. Anderson was supreme IMO.

India didnt ever look like they were up for it though, their heads dropped far too quickly in all of the tests.

SA should be cracking.

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Yes the SA series should be very good with the legendary Jacque Kallis and fine bowlers like Steyn and Morkel on the SA side.

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I see that the Indian media are taking the 4 - 0 whitewash in their stride.....

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/08/10.jpg

http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2011/a...-whitewash.htm

:)

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I think England have performed very well and deserve every shred of credit for their results. The played well and thrashed the team they were up against. That's all any team can do and having seen England teams snatch defeat from the jaws of victory so many times over the years, it was great to see a thoroughly professional outfit who took total control, kept it and never let India back in the series.

There's no doubt in my mind that India looked a bit jaded at times - a bit too much cricket possibly - but we mustn't overlook the part that the England team played in making them look lacklustre. During the first test England wobbled seriously and only the tail end got us out of real trouble. The Indians didn't look too shabby then did they.

Whatever England achieved and no matter wild/exaggerrated claims the media may make about who's best etc., I don't think Strauss and Co. are going to let any of that go to their heads. They realise how tough it's going to be to hold onto top spot but won't give it up easily.

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Oh lovely seeing other cricketing nations having a bad press instead of us.

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Indians seem to take everything to the extremes, they're either the best side ever and have the best players ever or the worst team in the history of the game. Talk about an overreaction.

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Thats the Indian media for you.

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Kent & Glamorgan to trial pink ball... :erm:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14797662.stm