Another England Test Cricket Victory - Huzzah!

[Martin Milner]

We don't discuss cricket nearly enough here on C&F.

England just won another splendid victory, putting them 2-1 up in the Series vs South Africa.

We've won 11 out of our last 12 tests. (It's always we when we are winning, and they when we are losing).

Having grown up during the decades of English Cricket Doldrums, I think a polite ripple of applause, a cup of tea and and almond slice would go down nicely.

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slurp

scrunch munch mmmh lovely.

[Flyingcursor]

Go England!

I'm confused by the word "test" in your sentence. I would consider a test being a precursor to the real thing.

[dubhlinn]

Go England!

I'm confused by the word "test" in your sentence. I would consider a test being a precursor to the real thing.

The "test" is of ones patience as you sit for hours wondering if anything exciting will happen.

My sixteen year old son is a fanatic so I get to see a whole lot of nothing a whole lot of the time... :roll:

Slan,
D.

[Martin Milner]

Go England!

I'm confused by the word "test" in your sentence. I would consider a test being a precursor to the real thing.

We call them Test Matches in the context of a trial of strength. Same in Rugby.

In essence, you're right, because if a team lose a test match, it's not the end. They go away, practise, maybe change players, and try again in the next Test.

What can you expect from a game that lasts five days, stops for rain, bad light, streakers, and regular meal and tea breaks?

I must admit, it's rather embarrassing for an Englishman for our team to be winning against our former colonies. As a rule we support the underdogs, which is usually us. No doubt this is why the news is very quiet about our successes, and we have headlines like

"South Africa Come Second - Give them a cheer"

[GaryKelly]

Yes it was splendid, though there were moments when I feared the worst.

I'm confused by the word "test" in your sentence. I would consider a test being a precursor to the real thing.

Ah, but this is a test in the true and olde worlde sense of the word. A veritable trial, something to be endured over five long days. And none of yer slug-eating lobsters-down-yer-undies Japanese TV endurance nonsense, I should say not. But a *real* test.

[Wombat]

Congratulations England. Jolly good show, what!

England's real test will come later this year, I think. Any predictions, Martin?

[jbarter]

England's real test will come later this year, I think.

Careful there Wombat. We don't really want to have to explain to the Americans just what the prize is for winning the 25 day battle between England and Australia. They'd never believe it.

[Wombat]

BTW, I doubt that many people here would appreciate how big cricket is in quite a large slice of the world.

Last monday, there was a hastily arranged match for tsunami relief played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between an Asian team and a Rest of the World team. Although the ground is currently under reconstruction, a capacity crowd of 80,000 attended with supporter groups from all over the region affected and the rest of the world happily intermingling. Some of the banners from Asians present were touching in their gratitude, to put it mildly. The game was televised live to 122 countries with an estimated viewing audience of a billion. (If that seems excessive, remember that cricket is the most popular sport in India which has a population of one billion.) The proceeds in Australia from that day alone were $A14,500,000 +.

[Wombat]

England's real test will come later this year, I think.

Careful there Wombat. We don't really want to have to explain to the Americans just what the prize is for winning the 25 day battle between England and Australia. They'd never believe it.

True enough. Have you ever seen the true size of that urn?

[Martin Milner]

Congratulations England. Jolly good show, what!

England's real test will come later this year, I think. Any predictions, Martin?

Ah, yes, we are playing Bangladesh in a two Test series.

Then we get slaughtered... unless it rains for three months straight.

[jbarter]

Martin Milner, you are a defeatist and should be ashamed of yourself. :roll:

[Martin Milner]

Martin Milner, you are a defeatist and should be ashamed of yourself. :roll:

I am, without question, ALWAYS ashamed of myself, JB!

Actually, the pundits are predicting it will be very close this time round, and if we can't nab back a small urn containing the ashes of a burnt pair of bails, we might as well, er, insist that the real trophy resides at Lords Cricket Ground, and give the Aussies only a small replica which we got out of a Christmas Cracker.

As my birthday falls during the Third Test, I may be able to persuade Beth to sit and watch a whole day's play on TV, or maybe even get tickets to go up to a game at Lords or the Oval. If they haven't sold out already.

[Wombat]

Martin Milner, you are a defeatist and should be ashamed of yourself. :roll:

So you are expecting rain for 3 months? Will the ashes series be played in Bangladesh during the monsoon season.

Actually I'm expecting the closest contest in about 15 years. Just how close is another matter. Clearly England has its best team in ages.

[jbarter]

Take a whistle with you Martin. There must be a goodly selection of cricketing tunes you can play. (Practice Waltzing Matilda just in case. )

[Martin Milner]

Take a whistle with you Martin. There must be a goodly selection of cricketing tunes you can play. (Practice Waltzing Matilda just in case. )

Which reminds me, The Positively Testcard did a great rendition of the Test Match TV Theme Tune (can't recall the proper name, is it Soul Limbo?, but you know the tune I mean), on their mini-album "The Indestructible Beat of South Norwood", so we managed to drag this thread on topic!