With a fairly inexperienced bowling line up, we were always going to be relying heavily on our battle hardy batsmen but, once again, they wobbled like jelly. Most got a decent start, but couldn't settle and we had to wait a while for a strong partnership - and even then it wasn't really a world beater. Clarke held it together with Mussey for a bit and then picked it up with Jimmeh, but everything was moving so slow I felt like I was watching a bloody test match at times.
We knew we were going to miss Mitchy's bowling in this series, but how many of us forgot how important his batting styles could be out there? Yet again, the middle and lower order was called upon to bail out our boys at the top. Jimmeh did pretty good and, despite Anderson's attempts to mess up his pretty face (he'd be smack-list bound if he didn't play for Lanchashire), My Lord handled the bat pretty swiftly as well.
It was nice for Clarke to put some runs on - he definitely needed them - but the look on his face as Australia's innings ended suggested that even he knew 87 from 97 balls was probably not good enough. And he was right.
As it happened, England's batting was just about as ordinary as ours but they had Eeeeuwin Morgan in place of Pup and it made all the difference.
We lost.
Can I stop writing now?
9 thoughts on this post:
As soon as we were 5 down, I was like, 'I can't believe it, but I wish MJ was coming out to bat'. It's just that every now and then he comes out and just starts swinging and he does it when everyone else has been scratching around like an old hen. And for all his weirdness, soft-centre, hair and mum issues, he does have a real presence at the crease.
And we don't seem to have anyone else, apart from Mussey and White, who can do the 'I'm gonna just muscle the freakin' ball the boundary' rountine. Now that I think of it, Brett Lee could do that too, like MJ.
For once I felt sorry for Clarke. His limitations were so exposed in the final overs when as usual he just couldn't score fast under pressure. He couldn't even put full-tosses away for more than a single, that was kind of embarrassing. But he did as well as he could, he just can't 'have a go' these days. And yes, Hauritz did at least have a real go.
This could be a long series.
Gawd, I feel all protective about my namesake, even if I am English. Look, he only got one wicket but Kies is hopefully the first of many victims for him.
Twatto had a twatish game being a twat. I hope everyone liked the Rose Bowl, you got a decent wicket this time. I struggle to hold any affinity to England based on the fact that more of the Aussie team have played for Hampshire than in the England team.
Oh and Sid, I did not eventually streak at the match, partly because I wasn't there and partly because of the warning I got for doing it at Ascot last week. Sorry and all that. Maybe the next game?
Fuck. I'm glad I'm in Oz at the moment. The rest of the world XI is looking like they're going to have some fun this series. Oh for Mitchy.
@Lou I was very excited when My Lord was batting, but he ain't Mitchy that's for sure. We were rudely reminded last night that last year, during the 6-1 routing, it was often Mitchy who came to the crease and made all the difference.
@HT I'd gathered you weren't at the game on twitter last night, but I'm holding you to a streaking at some point even if it's at Lancs v Hamts. You promised.
@Adrian fuck I'm not glad I'm in England at the moment. I'll be wearing it today at work. I am being all mean, but I really hope Slovenia win the football today.
I like Morgan but I hate that he plays for England and wins games for them. I would have him win games for any other team. I like him but I hate him at the same time. Does that make sense?
It makes perfect sense, Purna. I feel exactly the same. He is a class player but why must he play for them? It annoys me more than it does that they have the south africans.
Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Cheers, Pete. I'll see you in hell.
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