Ireland looked very strong. I guess we got the telecast late here, 'cause we don't have daylight saving. No idea what's going to happen. I was really wrong in the 2003 world cup. I was living close to Suncorp Stadium. That was an exciting time. Could actually hear the roar of the stadium crowd mixed in with the cheers from the neighbourhood. I really thought New Zealand was going to win the World Cup, and that's saying something coming from an aussie.

Yes. I'm a die-hard cricket fan. My father played for South Australia. Unfortunately a war got in the way of his career. He was a googly bowler. Long story, but the Chappell brother's grandfather was his sponsor when he got back from POW camp in Burma.

Just heard on the news that the Balmy Army has arrived in Queensland in preparation for the Gabba match. lol

Meanwhile, the Ashes sit in the Queensland Museum under high security. Ashes Exhibition Link - Qld Museum
I'm living further south near the border these days, so wasn't able to get up to see them. I should have though.

Aftermathman,

England continued on their downward slide against Sth Africa. (the cricket in Australia for England is not much better) 2003 seems such a long time ago.

Wales were making a lot of noise during the week on how competitive they would be against the All Blacks and that proved to be all blunder and bust with no substance as we hammered them 45---10.

The big news on this side of the planet is the clamp down on the Haka by the Welsh rugby union who broke with 100 years of tradition by demanding the Haka be done before their national athem was played. The All Blacks ended up doing the traditional (rugby challenge) Haka in their changing room much to the disapointment of 77,000 Welsh fans, the All Blacks themselves, and the millions watching around the world.

The world cup next year looks to be a battle between NZ, Australia, South Africa, and maybe France. I can't possibly see any other team getting a look in. Ireland and Argentina look likely dark horses.

The countdown begins.

Who will replace Robinson as England coach? Do I hear bring back Clive? There does not look to be anybody putting their hand up. A shocking state of affairs from the worlds richest rugby union.

GO HARD ALL BLACKS

and a bandwagon is growing to bring in Martin Johnson and / or Lawrence Dallaglio. Great players but precisely zero days coaching experience so jurys out there.

This world cup is over for us, we need to bring in the kids and prepare for 2011. In the meantime the Irish look the form team of the northern hemisphere however it will take your guys missing the plane to look much further than the ABs.

Will let you know when AR goes and who the replacement is as well as passing my learned opinion

Take care,
Aftermathman.

don't count us out, we lost the first test in the last Ashes series. This is a better English team than you might think.

G'day,
Aftermathman.

CRICKET to me. (If indeed it is explainable??)

Charlie

Cricket is the same sort of bat and ball game as Baseball. They have a lot in common. However.......

PLAYERS : Cricket has 11 players instead of 9

BASES : Cricket has 2 bases instead of 4

INNINGS : Cricket has 2 innings instead of 9

PITCHING : In Baseball the ball must be pitched through the air at the batter, but in Cricket the ball is usually pitched so that it hits the ground before reaching the batter.

BATTING : In Baseball, the bat is rounded, but in cricket the bat is flat on one side. So the ball is easier to hit.

FIELD : In Baseball, the pitcher and batter are near one end of the baseball field, but in cricket the pitcher and batter are in the middle of the cricket field.

HOME PLATE : Instead of the pitcher in Baseball trying to hit an imaginary area above the home plate, the pitcher in Cricket has to hit a similar sized area called a wicket, that consists of three upright sticks.

RUNS : Runs are scored in Cricket just as they are in Baseball. However, the equivalent of home runs in Cricket score 6, or 4 if they hit the ground first.

Apart from a few subtleties and oddities they are otherwise much the same.

They are both of course English games, as baseball was played in England long before it reached America.

G'day!
Don't worry about me, I never count anyone out, unless they're out. [I'm probably the only Aussie who thought that New Zealand should have won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.]

chasmo, cricket is difficult to explain in less than 5000 words and then it's still not really explained.

LOL Santa. Your description is intriguing!

One explanation of Cricket- click here

cricket is yet another game originating in Britain, (soccer, rugby, etc), what you missed off was how we benevolently export these sports and then watch helplessly as the rest of the world gets better at them than us.

Chasmo, you must see the picture of Freddie Flintoff (England cricket hero), at this link :

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...778839,00.html

after we won the Ashes.

Take care,
Aftermathman.

You didn't explain to those not familiar with cricket what the Ashes were : Teams travel to the opposite side of the world to play for a few burnt ashes of a ball, or bail or stump - they're not sure what. They don't care either. It doesn't matter who wins the ashes as they stay where they were anyway. They instead get a piece of carved Irish glass. Make sense ?




I preferred watching Trobriand Cricket which is played in the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea. When cricket was taught to the islanders they didn't quite grasp the rules. A curved bat, no wicket, as many as 50 a side, exotic costumes and war paint. The score is kept on a large leaf from a coconut tree. They have a dance when they enter the pitch, another dance and song every time they score, including one in which the entire team imitate a plane taking off.



That's how cricket should be played.