I find myself working from home today. Entirely a coincidence of course

Watson out for a duck!

Lunch! 1/114

Back from lunch, 2/140

Yeah Watson made a duck and Ponting caught for 55...

But Aust still going ok at 2/165..

Yeah, they're doing alright

For now...

muahahahaha

The Windies are playing ok, and it's good to see them making a game out of it...

They're going much better than the media predicted, which is good...

Oh really?

The commentators have been singing praises of the WI players one by one.

The media are weird

Now they're talking about jewellery... 'they love their jewellery don't they?'

*rolling eyes*

Hahahahha....

Those catches the Windies dropped may come back to haunt them...

Yeah

GOrrrrNE!

Katich caught

Oops Katich goorne for 92

Now it gets interesting

Indeed it dooooo...

Gotta leave now, catch you later, Deezee...

Aust 3/240..

Had to step away, but I'm back to resume shift!

4/269

I see it's largely the failed Aussie Ashes team which are trying it on with the Windies.  Given a home (doctored) wicket and everything else (i.e. the experience they gained playing a a very classy and experienced England Test team) they should be on for a win here.  But you never know, their underlying weaknesses could easily come bubbling up and leave them in the wake of a Windies win...

This summer's hot cricket topic - Players' heart rates... It's all the commentators can talk about.

Cos Gatorade is paying for it

6/ 371

Haddin gone

Hey, I posted on here about 10.00pm last night and the post has vanished...wasgoinonere?

Don't remember what I said, but it must have been good..

HAHAHAHAH

Aust 8/480 dec...

Some mysterious umpiring decisions so far. {we mustn't have paid them enough}

Watson's LBW was a bit touch and go, but the biggest mystery was the dismissal of Johnson...So they have all this marvelous technology, but the snicko showed that he had not nicked the ball and there was no hot spot on the bat to indicate that he had nicked it, but they wouldn't reverse the umpires decision...Looks like the  technology is just for entertainment, if they are not going to believe what it tells them...

Anyway, it will soon be tea and we will have the opportunity to grease the umpire's palms a bit more, so that will even things up a bit.....

The people at the BoM have been doing the job they were paid to do, so that is good and the pitch looks good also, so it's all systems GO at the Gabba...

Looks like they've fixed the technology, as both Gale and Chanderpaul (unsuccesfully)challenged their LBW decisions..

And Bravo's out caught..for a duck...

Windies 4/63...

Oh dear, I want Aust to win, but not by a huge margin, I like the Windies...

Nash goorne for 18...5/96..

5/134

Stumps......

Windies trail by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

That's all (for now) from Beautiful Bayside Brisbane....

The tech is to be used in favour of them umps. That's what they were saying yesterday. So the benefit of the doubt goes to them.

Without the system correct calls were at 91% (I think) and with they're 96%.

That's just what they said yesterday during the tea break show

LOL, it's funny reading your score report andro, cos I'm only watching it now, and they're at 0/41

Got confused for a while there... like 'what's he on about?!'

On a more serious note (from my last post).  I don't like this referral business.  I've said it many times and it applies to all team sports.  It's people playing against people and people should be the arbiters not technology. It might be a bit different in a head to head race where there are microseconds between finishers, but we are talking about "games" here.  The outcome may, or may not, sometimes be decided on a bit of poor judgement but by and large the decisions are good enough without technology - unless you are an Irish football supporter of course...

Yes.... it's people against people - with immense amounts of money in play

*That's* why it matter so much to them

and LOL @ that Irish commenter support

All caught up on the cricket now. So sad to see em collapse like that. Wanted to see a good fight

Oh well, the Windies still have 5 wickets left to improve on their score, here's hoping they can at least make it respectable..

Hope so

Oh dear, Windies all out for 228....(246 in arrears) and Ponting has enforced the follow on..

Windies are 0/6 in 2nd innings...

Ah, I was just gonna come in here and ask 'follow-on?'

Still not good. 3/48

This test could finish today!

Yep it could..

Windies are 4/106 ..at tea..

If the Windies are nearly all out at stumps the umpires may play on for a extra half hour..

Yeah, shouldn't be long now

Robbed of two days of cricket!

Yeah, possibly..

5/141

Nash out for 7

geeesas

Barath gets a century. His first I think.

Such joy!

Yeah, and he is only 19...well done..

Windies all out for 187, givimg Aust a win by an innings and 65 runs..

Ben Hilfenhaus got man of the match with his figures of 2/50 and 3/20...

Next test (2nd) is on Fri 4th in Adelaide, I hope the Windies can regroup and give us our money's worth at the Adelaide Oval..

If you take out Barath's magnificent 104, then the rest of the Windies only scored 83 runs between them..

This gives Aust just 5 days to doctor the pitch, pay off the BoM and umpires, recalibrate the techno machine, and produce a new insult handbook for the fans...

Geez... that's a terribly shocking performance by WI

Hope it isn't the same the rest of the series, or this is gonna be one boring summer!

Well the Paki's are coming and the Boxing Day test will be against Pakistan, at the MCG..

Then there's 10 one dayers and 3 Twenty 20's, betwen Aust, Pakistan and the Windies...

Yes, but it's the WIndies I wanna see the fight from!

Well Hilfenhaus won't be there to bother them in Adelaide (due to injury) I imagine Bollinger will replace him..

Phew....

Now can we do something about the rest of the team?

What, give em a bait or something?

Aust are just warming up to give the Poms a thrashing in the Ashes next year..

Replace them with the Aust A team

Oh no wait....

You guys got a B team?

We've even got  X Y & Z teams..

Hmmmm.... judging by the first test....

Aust are just warming up to give the Poms a thrashing in the Ashes next year..

Nah, that just means that the Umpires are on nice holidays and moving into big houses while the ground-staff are getting "special" training...

LOL!

Ooh yes, the exact wickets to be used for the Ashes tests have already been identified and the various curators will be having joint meetings to come up with the best wicket to suit the Aust team at that particular time..

Also in a slight break with tradition, the umpires will be selected by the Aust captain on the morning of the first day of each test, this will add another level of interest and excitement to the game..

Hope you have a team by then. Was reading something about Brett retiring, Hussey being on his way out, Clarke not being favoured as captain by fans...

According to the media, Aust has a Z-class team!

Yeah well Lee is injured and out for a while and is is getting a bit long in the tooth, so you would have to ask yourself, "Which one of our current bowlers would you leave out to slot a (past his use by date and injury prone) Brett Lee back into the team?

Last time I looked, the fans didn't have a say in who the Aust captain would be and Clarke has done a reasonable job whenever he has been asked to.. If you ask me, it's the selectors who need a shake up, particularly the chairman..

And finally, the media is generally comprised of people who have never played the game or (with a few notable exceptions) old retired hacks, who should just shut up and let the players get on with it.. (similar situation to F1)

As for Aust having a Z-clas team, well this is true, but as previously mentioned (6 posts back) we also have some ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY&Z -class teams as well...

hmmm maybe I shoulda said 'according to the media they ARE a z-class team*

So what class will that make the poms when we thrash them next year?

*shrug*

Ask the media

Or Mr Dent

1. The media don't have a clue..
2. Arfur's answer would be compromised, by where he resides..
3. I don't really need to ask, I know the answer already..

LOL!

We always send a sub-standard team down-under.  It's less hassle to let the Aussies win on their own turf.  Just imagine if they were to lose at home.  There would no longer be a water shortage, simply catch all the tears. Those tears that are not caught would be dangerous though, they'd probably find their way to the sea and put a couple or three feet on the sea level.

So it's out of the kindness of your hearts and a care for the environment....

So sweet.

So you guys have given up 12 months in advance, Arfur?

And how might the Windies be doing this fine day?

Windies are batting...

3/186 at the moment...

Gayle out for 26, Barath out for 3, Sarwan out for 28, Nash ret hurt 20...

Chanderpaul not out 51 and Bravo not out 39......17 extras..

10 mins before tea...

TEA...

Chanderpaul, 54.... Bravo,46

3/194

Nash was struck on the elbow, but apparently there is no break and he will resume batting at the next fall of wicket..

AIYOH....

Okay, better than last test at least

Yeah, especially since the Windies were 3/84 at one stage this morning..

Gayle has found out who Doug Bollinger is at least....Apparently he said "Doug who" when told that Bollinger was to bowl..

Then Bollinger took his wicket...

HAHAHAHA Oh dear

Good thing I'm recording all of this

It will keep you out of trouble tonight..

Yesh.... plus there's that small World Cup thingy...

At 2.45am ...

That's gettin a bit late, even for me..(just to watch the draw)..

Yeah.... But I'll be up tossing and turning if the rest of this week is any indication...

Chanderpaul goorne for 62 after an Aust appeal against the umpires (not out) decision..

Ramdin bowled middle stump by Watson for 4...

Aiiii

5/258

Bravo goorne, bowled Hauritz for 104...

6/ 273

6/336 at stumps...

Nash, not out 44.

Sammy, not out 44.

Extras, not out 21...

Just starting to watch post lunch session.

They are playing more confidently, despite the early losses

WI did well! All out for 451.

Their last two hung on for quite a while too.

Awesome. We have a test on our hands!

Yep, and Aust are off to a good start as well...great to see...

Yeah!

Day 4, W.I leading by 50 runs

0/38

Barath gets run out by a shot from Gayle
Awwwwww

In other news, I've just realised how huge Chris Gayle is.... he towers over EVERYONE else on field!

Gayle just made his 100..

Windies are 3/181..

So far so good!!

Oh noes! Chris' arms are cramping up!

4/207

Gayle and Bravo are at the crease now.

And stoopid Ch 9 will be crossing to news soon

4/225..

This has become a boring slow slide to a draw...

Bloody hell Windies, either get some runs or declare..

5/251  ..  Bravo goorne for 22..

Looks like the Windies will be happy with a draw..

6/270.. only 25 mins to go...

8/284..in.last over...

Windies 8/284  at stumps..lead by 296..

Looks like they intend to bat again tomorrow..

I know... what's up with that?!

Highly unlikely they'll bowl Aust out in a day

Not gonna happen at all - they hope for the draw though...

Ok, we're starting the last day.....

YES!!

9/302 

Windies all out for 317...

And onlyb minutes before they declared too!

Not bad...

I did think they were waiting to get to 300, and then decided to just keep going till they lasted.

C'mon WI! Bowl em out!!!

Aust 4/133...

I can feel a draw coming on..

Darn

No worries! The collapse will happen in the next 1/2 hour!

Oops 5/139....North out...

We can still force a draw though..

hahaha I told you so!!

Who is at the crease?

Haddin and Clarke..

Ah.... can be done

5/155....Sloowwww

dARN....

And only an hour to go

3 more overs to go and then we get 15 overs that must be bowled in the last hour..

5/165...drinks being taken...

1 hour to go...

Very disappointed in Australia today.

Windies have just conceded that there was no chance of them winning and have called the game off...

So it's a draw...

Stupid draw I hate that.

Darn!

Still, glad to see a better show from WI

Yesterday's play was good viewing

I've just realised how huge Chris Gayle is.... he towers over EVERYONE else on field!

Next time, have a look at Suliman Ben, the Windies main spinner...

I will.... haven't gotten around to watching today's play yet

Gayle - 6' 2"

Benn - 6' 7"

And you can't tell me that 5" doesn't make a difference...!

...of course it does...it would, for instance, make old (very old) andro a very proud seven-incher

...though some of us don't need it

Yeah... Suleiman *is* tall.

I think Gayle has more presence than him because of his build. Ben is leaner

Seriously, they shouldn't be cricketers, someone tell 'em to go play basketball instead 

...and it's a shame that that has been one of the causes of the demise of West Indian cricket and why they no longer rank number one.  The American universities have been taking them in and out of their relative poverty.

The current team is looking like it might have a future, no?

Well some of the bowlers may have a future, but their batting still remains fragile, with one or two exceptions....But then again the same can be said for Australia... Some of our bowling was woeful...

They'll win the last test, you'll see

I know we will! (in spite of Andrew Hildich)

I'm bored... when's the last test??

It starts on Wednesday..(16th)..

Oh yay! Two more days!

Typical. I get two days off this week and the cricket starts the day i go back. 

Oath

Always happens that way doesn't it?

When do the one-dayers start?

Next year I think.

Poo

Double poo

Next test is Boxing day test..Aust V Pakistan..

One dayers start 22 Jan

Twenty20 start 5 Feb

Oh yeah, the boxing day test - the favourite aussie pastime where people either hungover-ly watch the cricket, or we play backyard cricket with the kids, or invite the whole street for the game.

That's the one!

Yeah, I'm gonna be working then too 

I plan to lie back and enjoy it all day....  but I have a sneaky suspicion I will ending cleaning the house

Yeah... having visitors sucks that way

As I left my pub lunch, I saw that Aust had elected to bat first, and they had something like 100+ on the board already

1/148...Watson is gone...Katshit has 50

geez... finally

Aust 5/477..

Aust 6/518

7/520 declared..

Windies 0/69

Gayle 52

Dowlin 15

TEA

Goodbye and good luck to your family..

Gayle made the fifth fastest 100

....and then, as I expected, promptly got out

D'oh

That was the plan..

No worries! Least they haven't collapsed... yet

Great cricket, still anyone's game..

Aust 7/125..

Ponting is coming out to bat at # 9.. (injured elbow and all)

No arm guard either..

Wounded Ponting out for 2..

Aust 8/134 lead by 342..

Oops...

8/137 lead by 345..

STUMPS

Goodbye and good luck to your family..

WHAAAAT!!!?!!?

I was so impressed by the cricket and our big 500-score,and then the windies fought back viciously - I didn't realise we were back to batting, but it's that bad!?!? wtf...

Yeah man, that collapse was unbelieveable...

But then that doesn't bode well for WI either.

Wonder why Aust didn't enforce the follow on and give Ponting's arm a longer rest.

Aust didn't enforce the follow on because the pitch was deteriorating and they didn't want to bat last on it..

Aust all out 150, lead by 359...

Windies are 3/64 at lunch in second innings..

Gail was out for 27..

Bollinger has supplied some champagne bowling..

LOL

They might have hope if the two of em on now stick there for a bit.

3/129.... (time for a collapse)..

Need another 230 to win..

Still going ok

*fingers crossed*

3/174...

TEA.......(or in my case lager)

News here *grumble grumble*

Might be a good time to scramble up some din din

News here in ½ an hour...

stoopid news always gets in the way, but it kinda works out better when the game's in Perth

Yeah, you get to watch it later too..

It's been finishing around 8.00pm up here in Brissie..

Yeah

D'oh. Deonarine bowled

HAHA

I thought Ponting was talking to a seagull until Clarke walked into frame

4/197

Clarke was framed..

hahaha

Arrrgh. Another one out

Bravo Goorne for 1

Big loss

Yep, sure is..

They're all havin a beer now..

Arrrgh

Another wicket?!

Nearly...?  waiting

C'mon, that's not out!

Not out...

W00t!!!

*phew*

Woulda been all over then

5/249

Don't think it will finish today..

Hope not

ooouf, that was close

was indeed

Poor old Clint still hasn't got a test wicket..

That's the new guy?

Yep, Clint McKay..

Didn't he get one yesterday?

Don't think so.. but mebbe I'm wrong..

Oh yes, you're right.

Arrrrrrgggghhhhhh

Ramdin out

6/231

Only about ½ an hour to go and 4 wickets remaining..

looks like we will be back tomorrow..

Hope so

Not that it matters... big ask now

Of course if Aust get another wicket, the umps can allow another ½ hr play tonight

Well at least Clint McKay got his first test wicket wicket at last..

Ben goorne...????????

hahah this is all so confusing

Oh! That ball hit the ground!!

Dunno?????

It did!

Not out!

YES!

Nooooooo

6/244

Nash Goorne

Champagne bowling from Dougie Bollinger..

LOL!

Wonder will they play the extra ½ hr?

Looks bright enough to

They're playing the extra ½ hr..(minimum 8 overs) I think

7/273....86 to win..

Bennnn out...

8/279 ....WI need 80 to win

The end is nigh!

Rampaul out....10,,,

oh geeesas

This is stopping me from watching 'The Bill'...

OMD!! I forgot to watch Mythbusters and Iron Chef!

hahahaha

9/300

1 more over left...(I think)..

I wish they could go on today

Might be all over in the first over tomorrow

Wow... can't believe they survived today

Yeah at 9/308 they need 51 more...

This has been one of the best matches to watch in a long time..

Yeah, good entertainment for sure.

Woulda been better if Bravo had hung around longer

Free admission at the WACA tomorrow, so I'll see you over there..Right??

hahaah sure. Should be there if I leave early enough

I should be awake by then..

I hope to be

Don't think it will last long tomorrow....

Yeah, unfortunately, neither do I

Would be great if WI make it though!

For the windies fans anyway,,,But win lose or draw they have done a great job..

I'm off to watch The Bill no so bye bye Deezee...
 catch you tomorrow,,,

Night andro!

Aust win by 35 runs...

Gayle is man of the match and man of the series...

In my opinion, Gayle cost the Windies the chance to win the second test by hanging around to make a big score himself and not allowing enough time to bowl Aust out...(but that is something for the Windies to address).

A very enjoyable series though and it's good to see a resurgent Windies again..

As expected >[

But yeah, they did alright after the first test

5th (and last) one dayer Windies V Aust on at MCG tomorrow. (Fri 19th)

Telecast starts at 1.15pm on Ch9..(AEST)

Maybe Aust will make a clean sweep of the whole series?

C'mon windies!

C'mon the whitewash..

grrrrrrr

20Twenty was invented so woeful teams with short attention spans like the Wingies could be competitive.

Aust 4/236, 41.4 overs

It's all over

Good to see you've overcome your case of denial

Ja.

Dek ...

fancies

Oh gawd

Gonna have nightmares tonight

That's him

ewwwwwww

Think it's spelt God though

It's spelt G R O S S

Wait a min... has that been photoshopped?

Shahid impersonation

... except Acheati - ball. Obviously.

mmm hmmm