5th Ashes Test, Sydney

First topic message reminder :

January 3-7, Sydney Cricket Ground
Start time 1030 (2330 GMT)

Australia:
CJL Rogers, DA Warner, SR Watson, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, GJ Bailey, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, RJ Harris, NM Lyon

England:
AN Cook*, MA Carberry, IR Bell, KP Pietersen, GS Ballance, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow†, SG Borthwick, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, WB Rankin


The grassy SCG pitch should offer some assistance for the pace bowlers early on. Some grip there for the spinners too. It's not going to be too hot and there is the chance of a few showers over the 5 days - but nothing too substantial. Some cloud cover and high humidity though.

I doubt he'll even make the plane to SA, Pete.

Thanks for all of the kind messages of congratulations to the Aussie team everyone.

My sincere condolences to the England cricket team, their Management, the fans, the media, family pets and all of the Members on here.

It must be a hell of shock really but you've all handled yourselves very well.   

P.S.
It's a water-based whitewash... it should easily come off with a wet sponge.
All the best in the Summer, lads. Hopefully, England can bounce back again.  

Linebreaker wrote:I doubt he'll even make the plane to SA, Pete.

 

Yeah ..it was more a joke about the over reaction and level of self congratulation we got here when the team won. Open top bus parades, honours for Collingwood etc.

For all the Aussies are having a few beers and milking the folk hero angle its nothing compared to how overboard we all went after reversing a two decade trend.

Its good though. The Ashes needs to matter. We want teams excited to have won, it rubs off on the fans.
Its also much more preferable to the kind of nasty media coverage and sniping comments that preceeded the series. The irnoic thing was the main target was the only guy who didnt go into meltdown.

Yeah, there was a small gathering (about 3,000) on the harbour side of the Opera House yesterday. (The steps on the other side can hold a lot more people)

It was televised... but still low key nonetheless. A few pats on the back here and there but the main focus was on the upcoming SA tour and the job ahead.