Australia’s Ricky Ponting, left, rubs his chin as England’s captain Andrew Strauss applauds teammate Alistair Cook. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft
My wounds and psychological scars from watching Australia wallop visiting teams on our golden soil have me unable to accept we are in for a hiding like others suggest. And where does that term come from, golden soil?
Australian soils are crap, with a few exceptions. Fact! No point refuting that one all you patriotic types.
But I like to admit I’m wrong, especially when wrong is better than right.
It’s an interesting facet of the human mind how what one feels may not be reality. Knowing that sometimes gives us hope that things might work out in the face of adversity.
But it’s looking good, Australia looked pretty bad. Watching Watson bowl was fantastic, lobbing it down, hoping it would make the other end before it bounced twice, it looked fantastically poor.
Is the Australian self belief wavering? They circle before the start of the day in the field, grabbing each others arses to pep themselves up.
Now what is that all about? I’m a sport loving Aussie male, and I’ve never considered grabbing another mans arse in camaraderie.
But Aussies were obsessed with Diego Maradonna kissing at the World Cup. Should I now be thinking, “What are you doing Diego, grab their arses you weirdo, don’t kiss them!”
I’ve spent a bit of time in Argentina so the kissing doesn’t surprise me, and I’ve kissed many an Argentine male myself. But next time I go to Argentina, should I grab the arse as they give me a welcoming kiss and explain, “It’s our culture mate.”
It’d be good actually, generally when I’m asked about Aussie culture I don’t really know what to say. Now I do.
The negative psychology surrounding the new Aussies is amazing. Fox Sports news commentators state, “They’re killing us in the cricket.”
Australia have won two innings and England have now won three, so maybe it is fair enough to say. Then again, it’s just exactly the opposite of the first test, a carbon copy in fact, eerie, surreal, so I don’t think you can state that yet.
The big Test comes tomorrow. Will Australia be able to bat it out like England did in the first Test?
If they can it evens it up and my scepticism that they haven’t sunk will return.
And they should be able to bat it out, the pitch is pretty flat again. But it may turn a little, may, and that English lad should be able to make use of it.
One can only hope. If the Aussies can’t do it and they keep putting those lovely thick edges to the slips like they did in the first innings, I’ll accept I was wrong, the Australians will be dubbed rubbish by my royal sword, and as I’m whipped for my sins, I’ll be smiling like a B&D addict.
I’ve never looked forward to the morrow like this in years, but I’d better find that gimp mask I think.
Phil Osopher
Guest
It refers to our beaches? I didn't know that. Interesting. Poets, why do they do it, I guess its hard to rhyme beach? But no, our soils are not good at all. It may appear we do because of our agricultural industry, but no. Read any soil textbook it will tell you that very quickly. We have two areas of good soil, the liverpool plains and the darling downs, genuinely good soil, where they grow the produce you might be talking about, and a few areas of basalt derived soils which are pretty good, in a few spots. The rest are average to poor at best, and then very bad, that only produce due to copious fertlizer use. In years to come, many to go yet but they will come, west of the dividing range will look like the old countries, Egypt, Greece, etc who destroyed their soils, because our soils on the plains are thin, and blowing away year by year. But anyway, sport and natural resources dont mix.
mickh
Guest
Rod, for a start we haven't lost the Ashes (yet!) Secondly, If you are 8 years old I will read your post in a different light. If you are over 18 then please don't embarrass your self like this again.
JF
Guest
Just looking at the future tours program, after the ashes and the world cup, we go to Bangladesh for 2 tests, then we host Zimbabwe for two tests (in the middle of winter?) What a perfect opportunity for a new young team to step up!
Albert Ross
Guest
Ponting must go.
tommy
Guest
phil proof enough now that Australia are no longer this team you thought they were ? the sick thing is you won the toss as well !
Rob McLean
Guest
huh?
rod
Guest
im sick of pathetic people who run our cricket i blame the coach and the selectors for loosing the ashes on home soil you knew that ponting hussey katich where to old you knew clarke was injured you new north was pathetic you new bollinger harris was injured .but you still put them in what is wrong with them .they should be ashamed of them selfs im ashamed .my god we are the largthing stock of the cricket world you new more than 12 months ago this was happening you should have started blooding the team then weve got plenty of youg and i mean young players around not 30+look what youve dont this is what i want there is a plane leaving for england some time soon sir selectors be on it because you are not aussies no way this side has no hart spirit guts bls as yous dont the selectors dont get it the fans run this there the ones who pay the money to go watch the tests as far as im concerned your all fired
Lillian
Guest
Golden soil refers to our beautiful beaches..and the fact that we can grow such great produce on our land !!
Phil Osopher
Guest
okay, for all who notice the now inaccurate innings count, yes your'e right. I'm an insomniac and scribe words at late night and like a true non-professional some times I don't make the copy and submit things at un-godly hours when genuine people sleep. I apologise to the roar staff. But funnily enough, the notion of the artcile still almost applies. It's a good test match yes?