3rd Test Aus v WI

[Grunt]

Bracken released to play for NSW in Pura Cup.
Hope the windies give it to Symonds when he comes on as 1st change early on when the conditions dont suit the spinners early. I think that they should lose the alrounder when conditions say play 2 spinners. As has been said before Australia don't need to score 500 runs in each innings they need to get 20 wickets and if they were playing a stronger side they would try to hold out McGrath and Lee then attack the loose balls of Symonds.

[jaster]

After last week please tell me why Andy Bichel is not in the team??? FFS!!!

[Fishman Dan]

Symond's won't bowl more than 20 overs for the match. We should see spin before lunch on day 1 if we're bowling.

A bit stupid last test bowling Warne for 40-odd overs with a crook back.

[clikchic]

Bichel is out of the minds of the selectors now. Especially since they didn't renew his contract. A great team man and reputed to be one of the nicest guys in aussie cricket. I honeslty think he always new where his place would be and accepted it.

What I hate to see now is how often players not picked in the starting 11 being released to play for their state when Bichel was not allowed. You can work as hard as you want in the nets, but there is no substitue for match fitness and he missed a ton of this bringing out the drinks. But that's the way it goes.

[markTHEblake]

What I hate to see now is how often players not picked in the starting 11 being released to play for their state when Bichel was not allowed. .

wasnt it Bichel that received the biggest 12th man shafting of all time?

Played the entire world series cricket season for Australia A, and was obviously the star bowler. In the 3rd and deciding final, one of the Australia's bowlers was injured and the idiots called up Bichel, and was subsequentially relegated to 12th man for the game.

What a farce that was.

[Jarro]

i think Bichel and Kaspa hold the record for most games as 12th man

[Moe Norman]

Played the entire world series cricket season for Australia A, and was obviously the star bowler. In the 3rd and deciding final, one of the Australia's bowlers was injured and the idiots called up Bichel, and was subsequentially relegated to 12th man for the game.

What a farce that was.

yep, that was a case of the selectors not wanting to be embarrased by the 2nd XI beating the 1st XI. From memory they also called up Blewett to the top side after he scored two tons.

[Ducky]

I enjoyed having Australia and Australia A playing in the same tournament, it definitely made things more exciting. I would love to see it happen again someday in the not too distant future.

[Fishman Dan]

i think Bichel and Kaspa hold the record for most games as 12th man  

Think you'll find that's Brett Lee. Kaspa only got his break because Lee got injured and lost his place in the team. He was 12th Man for over a year.

But he did his time, went on tours and did the team thing, and is now a better bowler. Better than he was before... and better than Kaspa and Bichel ever were

[AndyP]

After last week please tell me why Andy Bichel is not in the team??? FFS!!!

One good match doesn't get you into the Aussie side (although Symonds seemed to manage it).

[Vas]

Think you'll find that's Brett Lee. Kaspa only got his break because Lee got injured and lost his place in the team. He was 12th Man for over a year.

But he did his time, went on tours and did the team thing, and is now a better bowler. Better than he was before... and better than Kaspa and Bichel ever were

Bichel holds the record. Also Bichel and Kasper at their prime are far better bowers than Lee will ever be. Compare first class and/or test records to confirm this.

[jaster]

After last week please tell me why Andy Bichel is not in the team??? FFS!!!

One good match doesn't get you into the Aussie side (although Symonds seemed to manage it).

1 good match?? Better go have a look at Bichs batting and bowling averages AP

[Matt 3 Jab]

2/25, Lee ripping them a new...................
should be a great game!

[Bruce]

Bugger!! Billy Clownden is officiating. Will it be 1, 2, 3 or more ridiculous LBW decisions from him for the match?

[Jarro]

Lara certainly was lucky to survive that LBW appeal from Symonds

[AndyP]

Better go have a look at Bichs batting and bowling averages AP

Bowlers don't get picked for their batting skills, so I'm not going to bother looking at his batting stats.

Bowling figures: 6/80, 1/64, 1/22, 1/79, 7/56, 1/25.
Nah, I wouldn't call him back into the test side.

[AndyP]

Lara certainly was lucky to survive that LBW appeal from Symonds

Appeared to pitch outside leg. Benefit of the doubt.

[Bruce]

Lara certainly was lucky to survive that LBW appeal from Symonds

Appeared to pitch outside leg. Benefit of the doubt.

Finally Lara gets the benefit on an LBW decision. I want to see him bat - not gunned down.

[Jarro]

Lara certainly was lucky to survive that LBW appeal from Symonds  

Appeared to pitch outside leg.  Benefit of the doubt.

you're sure about that.

Looked to pitch pretty much in line with leg stump to me.

[Webster]

200 up for Lara in a day - what a player he is when he doesn't get shafted by dodgy LBW decisions.

[AndyP]

200 up for Lara in a day - what a player he is when he doesn't get shafted by dodgy LBW decisions.

Only 12 away from Border's record. Didn't look like he would get there on this tour.

Alright, he's batted enough.
Now can we start hoping for his dismissal?

[Ducky]

Was a good day at work today watching Lara bat.

[Jarro]

interesting to see just how good lara's batting is when you stack it up against other leading test run getters.

Name Mat I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Team

AR Border 156 265 44 11174 205 50.56 27 63 156 - AUS
BC Lara 120 212 6 10961 400* 53.20 30 46 148 - WI/ICC-XI
SR Waugh 168 260 46 10927 200 51.06 32 50 112 - AUS
SR Tendulkar 123 198 21 10134 248* 57.25 34 41 77 - IND


he's played a lot less tests than both Border and Waugh .. even less than Tendulkar.

[Grunt]

Lara is an out and out Champion =D> , congratulations to him, he would have had the record by now if it were not for dodgy umpiring decisions.

[cazandpaul]

Got a good one today though