Australia snatch T20 defeat from the jaws of victory

Jimmy is deserving of all the plaudits that come his way - he's a genuine great of the game, and always good to watch (though equally infuriating when he's taking bags of wickets against Australia). And you're right - watching a long innings is always interesting in that respect. I was lucky enough to be at the ground for every minute of Warner's triple in Adelaide, and his ability to just go on the charge after he got to 300, along with his capacity for concentration and his sheer endurance running between the wickets was quite something to witness.

When I wrote my review of the Test summer, there were many people in the comments sectiom who put aside rivalries to acknowledge what a brilliant milestone Anderson had achieved, which was great to see. And Crawley's double century was the first double century I've watched live (I've just finished school so have more free time) so that was also great to see the way he got there and how he went up and down through the different gears.

:stoked: I liked the first test against Pakistan too though, purely because it was a quality game. And the third test - Crawley showed the kind of ability that I thought he might be able to, and it was genuinely good to see Anderson's 600th.

I wonder why you enjoyed the first Test against WI? :laughing:

Indeed it can. No matter, your reply to Cari basically covered the same points I made anyway. And yep, the lack of matches for Australia reasonably means that they’re focus of a lot of people, at least for the first couple of matches. I know more about the form of the English team at the moment, because they’re the only team I’ve been able to watch for the last six months, and even watching England win is better than not watching any cricket at all (said like a true partisan Australian)! Though I did particularly enjoy the first test against WI.

No worries. If it's a long thread, it can get confusing as to who's talking to who! Completely agree with what you're saying though because we know about England, they've been playing for two months, so even I've had a closer eye on Australia to see how they get back into things.

It was intended for Cari, but the comments system here is a little buggy sometimes (I know I've had replies directed to somebody else delivered to me, as it were, and at other times not had notification of replies, which I assume means they were directed to somebody else by the system). All good :thumbup:

You tell me what article it was and I’ll find it tonight when I get a minute. I’ve got no idea what article it was. No idea whether it was two months ago or 6 months ago. I promise though if you can tell me which one it was I’ll get back to you. Be careful though, cause you’ll get found out twice.

but with the plethora of other openers in the side and Australia, surely Finch (as the captain) should be thinking - maybe I should have a go at 5 and see if I cant help fix the middle order issues??" isnt part of being a captain doing whats best for the team... not just for yourself. Maybe he is also the right man to come in with Maxi and get the best out of him?!?

Oh yeah, for sure, mate, anybody would hate that. That's why I'm a bit annoyed at myself for jumping in because I completely see where you're coming from. But, as you say, best leave it at that. "low tax - can't beat it." I love your honesty! :laughing: Do you catch the GP when it's in town? "it's equally good for the economy for thousands of other people to be able to board planes and leave. Not just the Australian team." We'll probably be seeing it from different angles because, in the UK, as long as the place you want to go is on a quarantine-exemption list, go for it! And helped by our proximity to mainland Europe. But Australia is being more sensible than we are and there's different problems for Australia to sort out. "Nonetheless, enjoy the matches!" Cheers, Spruce, will do! Live blogging three out of the four remaining matches which is always great to do :thumbup:

Quite so. All good. I just despise being called a liar without any proof behind the call. Most people would be the same. I'll leave it at that. Yes, Singapore based. Have been for a while now...low tax - can't beat it. Yeah, I see an economical argument to the games, but at the same time, it's equally good for the economy for thousands of other people to be able to board planes and leave. Not just the Australian team. Nonetheless, enjoy the matches! :thumbup:

Was this in reply to me HR or somebody else? No worries if it was directed to somebody else :thumbup:

Cheers Spruce. Yup, I'm a bona fide Englishman but I'm pleased that you thought I was an expat living here because that shows that I've been doing my job right! I can't stand bias and partisanism, particularly when I believe it blinds people's judgements, so I try to avoid that as much as possible.

Cheers Spruce. Always more than happy to hold my hands up and say that I got something wrong. But I will not comment any further on the fracas between you and Nudge because I have realised that it is not my place at all to do so. That's something for you two to sort out, if you so wish. Re. whether this series should be played, I can see your point about your family not being able to see you (I understand you don't live in Australia, correct me if I'm wrong), but, having sport up and running is keeping people in their jobs and keeping boards, clubs and teams out of yet more financial strife (yes, there are probably some fat cats somewhere but just commenting on what the overall picture should look like over the coming year or so). Glad you have no qualms about everyone else enjoying it all though. I've had some misconceptions about you Spruce, but I'm glad we could clear things up. Cheers :thumbup:

Lol. Tut tut tut. Just see if you can answer the question you keep skirting around... Tell ya what, I'll gladly answer your question if you answer the one I've dangled for a few months now: show me where I "lied", and "made up stats" and I'll happily sign the ledger and answer your question. I really will. You several months ago called me a "liar". You to this day have furnished zero evidence or proof. That is called making something up. I'm now simply playing by your rules I would have thought. So, as it stands, I asked you a question months ago and you haven't answered it. The question was show me where I made up the stat. So, fair is fair that I shouldn't be obliged to answer yours until you answer mine, no? That's a fairly reasonable position to take I would think. Do you not agree? It's not hard, mate. You going to call someone out - back it up. I'm a reasonable person, I have a history on this website of conceding when the evidence is put in front of me. Equally so, I have a history on this website of ensuring people like you don't get away with calling people out with nothing to back it up. How did your research of Kusal Perera's innings go? It was a fantastic knock. Probably slightly better than Stokes only because Perera's was chanceless, but Stokes certainly had the better stroke play. Must have stunned you that non-Ashes tests can make highlight reels.

Just see if you can answer the question you keep skirting around. Just try. This is what you have said. “This despite him freely admitting that he doesn’t watch games that Australia aren’t involved in” are you able to answer that spruce? If you can’t then you have clearly made it up. And that is what this discussion is about. I know you can’t because you made it up. And that’s what’s what I have accused you of. Making things up. You’ve proven my point in this discussion. Just give it a crack anyway.

Australians will be more interested in the performance of their own team, especially in this situation. Australia has returned from a six-month hiatus, so their form is uncertain, while England have been playing all winter and are more or less a known quantity. Australia's performance was somewhat unexpected, as most assumed they would be rusty, but they took the game to a position from which they would usually win it, and then did not - such a performance offers scope for critique and analysis. Your own comment on the game itself (as distinct from this conversation, where you're just carping about the commenters here) was an analysis of Australian players. You're on a hiding to nothing here.

Hahaha...actually I don't need to prove it, cause I'm playing by your rules, right? No need to back up any claim, no matter how ridiculous, right? Its called "doing a nudge". You can call me a liar, I can call you an ignorant fan to the wider game. Neither of us need to provide any proof to these claims. I'll bet when stokes hit his 135* last year and people compared it to Kusal Perara... you were the one who frantically had to Google who he was. And then possibly even Google Sri Lanka... lol, ok, that's probably a stretch. You're just a typical one eyed Aussie aussie Aussie. And that's your right. Good luck to you.

“This despite him freely admitting that he doesn’t watch games that Australia aren’t involved in”. That’s what you said mate, and I’ve never said that ever, because if I did it would be a lie. I do watch a lot of international cricket that Australia isn’t involved in. You completely made that up, “again”. So that’s my proof. And if you think you won the argument, and it makes you feel better putting it in writing, then I don’t object. Next time state truths, and I won’t argue

Wasn't aware you are English, Josh. Thought you were an expat in England. Glad to see some objectivity.