Comments on: It’s time to go for the jugular in Hobart, Punter!

By: Graham Ross

Graham Ross — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:52:16 +0000

In the early 80′s i was planning to take my eldest son, Greg (about 12 at the time) to a test at the MCG and he wanted to make a banner. I said I would make him one if he came up with something suitable. When he suggested “Viv whacks, greg quacks” i ran out of excuses so we whipped a sheet off the spare bed and put a spray can to good work. We displayed the banner proudly but when we sent Greg to buy some hotdogs Greg Chappell came to the crease, was out for a duck and Greg missed seeing it. Something he often reminds me of often.
The Sunday Observer” was running a competition for the best banner for the test and Greg’s banner was selected for the winner on that Saturday so we decided to stay in Melb, go to the test again on Sunday to see if we won the comp. On the Sunday we proudly hung the banner from the second or third deck. During the match Greg came to me very upset because someone from below had stolen his banner. I stormed off down the stairs to retreive the banner when a policeman who must have noticed the fire in my eyes grabbed me and asked my intentions. He told me to stay there and he would investigate. I waited until he was out of site and then went to the lower deck. I could see the banner being thrown about so I wnt to the area and grabbed the poor bloke who was holding the banner by the throat. Now i am not very big but my bluff was being very effective until the bloke’s mates decided to support him. Fortunately for me the police arrived and the banner bandits melted into the crowd. No, we didn’t win the big prize, but we did gain some lasting memories.

By: Greg Ross

Greg Ross — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:43:40 +0000

Great to see my banner is remembered among cricket fans. It was only last week I threw it out after using it for a paint cover for protection of our carpet. The actual day I put it up, my dad and uncles asked me to get them some hot dogs, so I missed Greg’s actual duck on the day, which I am still dirty on today.

By: Fisher Price

Fisher Price — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:53:22 +0000

Mark Waugh – pah!

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:11:23 +0000

Vinay, God made few perfect batsmen. The rest He made right-handed

By: Kersi Meher-Homji

Kersi Meher-Homji — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:19:33 +0000

I would place Warne, Tendulkar and Gilchrist on top for the decade, then Ponting, McGrath, Murali, Kallis, Dravid, Kumble, Lara, Sangakkara, Jayasuriya, Hayden, the Waugh twins, Dhoni and Flintoff.

By: vinay verma

vinay verma — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:25:33 +0000

Kersi, yesterday Ponting was voted THE PLAYER OF THE DECADE by Cricinfo. This is an award voted on by writers and former cricketers. For the record Kallis was a distant second and Gilchrist was third. Tendulkar Mc Grath and Warne all made the top ten.

In watching cricket for 50 years I find it hard to split Tendulkar,Ponting,Greg Chappell ,Dravidand Viv Richards. There is something to be said for Right handers. Before Roarers jump on me,I have deliberately not mentioned Garfield Sobers in the above list. For me he stands alone as the Greatest Cricketer that ever played the game.

By: formeropenside

formeropenside — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:29:51 +0000

I thought Chappell was having a rough trot before the 201 also, and didn’t check the scores you had cited as all falling after the double ton.

By: Kersi Meher-Homji

Kersi Meher-Homji — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:23:06 +0000

Just proves that everyone important reads The Roar, Punter included, don’t you think, Brett?!

Formeropenside, Greg Chappell scored a double century BEFORE his duck spree. After scoring 201 v. Pakistan in November 1981 in Brisbane, he made 22 and 0 in the next Test on the MCG. Then in the first Test v. WI, he scored 0 and 6 again on the MCG in December 1981 then 12 and 0 on the SCG in January 1982.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:53:24 +0000

Well, it’s worked Kersi, Ponting currently 100*, and after taking 111 balls to get to 50, he’s brought up the next 50 off 48 balls….

He’s going to have wished you wrote this article two months ago!!

By: formeropenside

formeropenside — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:07:59 +0000

I think GS Chappell picked up a double hundred in the midst of that lean trot somewhere. Punter should probably go to 5, with Hussey to 6. I imagine that for both, the attempt to recover the Ashes next season will be the last hurrah.

By: Kersi Meher-Homji

Kersi Meher-Homji — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:00:59 +0000

Brett, the only time I can envisage Ponting not batting at no. 3 would be in an All-time great Australian team. Don Bradman would be the selectors’ choice. But I don’t think this will happen in a real life situation in near future.

In his Test debut Ricky did bat at no. 5.

Enjoyed the “Viv whacks, Greg quacks” banner. But for poor fielding, Ricky would have quacked for the second time in eleven days.

Pak fielders are Oz’s best mates.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:07:28 +0000

Kersi, it was interesting to read yesterday of Ponting’s thoughts about going down the order if necessary. Jameswm (I think, James?) and I wondered last week when the last time was that Ponting didn’t bat at 3 in a First Class game (night-watchmen aside, obviously). I wonder if he’s opening the door for Shane Watson (who on technique alone, would make a very good No.3)? Could Ponting and Mike Hussey become the experienced pros at 5 and 6 before too long??

Glad to see him batting in the nets without the armguard though, and I agree, he should go all out in his home Test.

Juat as an aside, you’re mention of Grag Chappell’s run drought in the 80s brings back memories of that classic crowd banner, “Viv whacks, Greg quacks!!”