A_S

Watching an old doco and the simplicity of the away kits of the 80's was what made them so good. The Liverbird was the one thing that stood out (and rightfully so) due to the rest of the shirt being fairly simple. The stupid thing is that FSG have seemingly understood this in bringing back the old bird, as well as doing a fine job with their first two efforts at a home shirt. Unfortunately, as soon as 'away' or '3rd' get mentioned, all fucking sense goes flying out the window. They could do far worse than simply try and recreate a few of the alternate strips of the 80's. I don't think I'd be the only one to try and get all 3!

I actually wish I was in Liverpool just once in the week leading up to a derby. If nothing else, it'd be something of an experience to listen to all the bile! Being in a pub for the game would be interesting too, I'd imagine.

It'd have almost been worth trying it out, seeing as she didn't remember a fucking thing the next day!

Vaughan sums up the Johnson situation well here: I fear Mitchell Johnson could have the last laugh over the England supporters if he can reproduce his one-day form with the red ball. It is a big ''if'' because bowling only 10 overs is very different to bowling 22 overs in a day. But he has his mojo back and if he starts well he could have an amazing Ashes because we know he is a confidence bowler. If he starts badly the old memories will come back and the Barmy Army will be right on top of him. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/funky-clarke-plays-to-win-but-what-has-he-won-lately-20131117-2xp5y.html#ixzz2kwv3pvww

Which still says SFA really. Again though, how does something that is apparently quite sizeable get 'created' without any mention of it anywhere until after the match? Very strange.

My wife went to a party at a friend's house in the next town. Initially she was going to drive herself and another girl home ie. not drink. Turns out she did drink anyway, so not only did I have to drive to get them, she then wanted to stay even later but could i take her friend home all the same, but come back yet again later for her. Given I need some driving favours over the next couple of weekends, I agreed to all without complaint. Upon getting in the car much later, the first thing she asks? 'Did you drive normally with Jen in the car?' You're fucking welcome.

Former Aussie keeper Matthew Wade has been found guilty of pitch tampering- when still batting! Not only that, he made a crucial century to give Victoria an outright victory against title holders Tasmania. No penalty runs were awarded to the opposition, no warnings were issued during the match, nothing was made formal until after the match. How utterly bizarre. Not to mention simply HOW??

Fantastic achievement from Tendulkar to reach 200 Tests. Even playing 15 Tests a year (does any country do that ever??) that is over 13 straight years of playing without missing a single game. Given that T20 cricket is taking up more of the cricketing calendar nowadays, it is hard to imagine anyone else ever remaining at the top level long enough to reach this incredible milestone. He has represented India over 660 times, made over 34,000 international runs, including 100 centuries and even taken 201 wickets and over 250 catches for a laugh. Stupid numbers. Hats off to the Little Master, the best since Bradman.

I can't say Carberry is definitely the answer to the issue of who to open with Cook, but he is in form and has spent his career as an opener, so he is as good a bet England have at this stage. Importantly, it allows Root to find his feet at Test level under less pressure. Another interesting point- I was listening to Matthew Hayden last night highlight Brisbane and Perth as crucial to Australia's chances of winning back the urn. I looked at previous years and since the WACA ground in Perth started hosting Tests at the start of the 70's, England has won there once only in 1978/79, when the Australian team was gutted because of the World Series Cricket split. In Brisbane, they have won twice in that same time, again in the 1978/79 series and also in the 1986/87 series. They are clearly the 2 most difficult sets of conditions for English players to adjust to, given the extra pace and bounce that are characteristics of both. That isn't to say every English player will struggle, as evidenced by England's mammoth 1/517d in the 2nd innings at Brisbane last time around. I'd go as far to say that if Australia are to be a decent chance of winning the series, they must win both of these Tests.

I went back through some I wouldn't go as far as calling Tremlett a shitcunt but....

Fast bowler trying to intimidate batsmen shocker. I'd be pissed off if he wasn't trying to get them hopping around a bit. Do you think that Tremlett and Rankin are in the squad for their looks? Cos they aren't that pretty.

The commentator was making reference to some of the bigger players perhaps being released back to their clubs now that the tie is as good as done. As nice as it would be, I'd be surprised if that was to happen.

I'd say this window of the first 3 Tests (perhaps even less) could be the last hurrah for Mitchell Johnson as a Test bowler. I'm fairly sure he'll be around at least until the ODI World Cup in Australia next summer, but with Pattinson, Starc, Cummins, Bird and Hazlewood all ahead of him in the queue but for injury and all bar Bird are 23 or under (Bird is 26) then he'll have to hit the ground running and make a real impact early. Brisbane is his best chance of doing that, given its conditions favour his bowling (he also played FC cricket there for a decade for Queensland), not to mention that if England go 2-0 up before we reach what would be a critical Test in Perth, he could be out of the side already.

He's a twat, no doubt. Look at his fucking shit hair. BUT when he is on his game, the cunt can be fucking scary. As LFD said, he can be lots of miss but his hit can be devastating.

i completely understand managers seeing things in a biased way, like anybody that is emotionally invested in something, it's human nature. Simply, I'd just love a journo to ask him if he feels that Ashley Young is turning people off the game with his antics. The bog-eyed glare in response would be worth asking the question alone!

I can't say I'm overly optimistic, but Australia will definitely rate their chances here better than in England. Re Johnson, don't forget all of Pattinson, Bird and Starc are injured, so it isn't like he was first choice. Also, i can sort of see the selectors point of view that if Johnson is going to do well anywhere, it'll be in Brisbane for this 1st Test and in Perth for the 3rd Test, given they both offer plenty of pace and bounce. Obviously, given the types of bowler England have brought out, they are thinking the exact same thing, so it'll be good watching from that point of view.

I used to cry every fucking time I watched this as a young lad. I found it completely unnecessary at the time!

So the only thing I got wrong was that I thought they picked a 13-man squad, but they've only gone 12, which is the first 12 I named. No surprises at all. Not the most inspiring team I've ever seen don the baggy green cap either. Ah well, it is what it is. Let's see what happens.

Fuck it, I hope the cunt tears strips off Luis before the OT game next year if the Uruguayan's reaction is anything like the last time he tried spouting his hypocritical bollocks.

Anyways, back on topic, the Australian squad is due to be named for the 1st Test today. Here's my guess: Rogers Warner Watson Clarke Smith Bailey Haddin Johnson Siddle Harris Lyon Faulkner Hughes Personally, I'd love to see Faulkner getting games now as I think he is the real deal and is ready. However, there has been a lot of bigging up Johnson and Bailey on the back of good performances in India, so I expect them to get the nod. I think this is a ridiculous way to do it, given the conditions are as foreign to each other as you are likely to get, plus the quality of the English attack on good, bouncy Australian pitches is miles away from the medium clogger shite on low pitches with two new balls that don't swing in Indian conditions. All this forgetting that that was ODI cricket and this is Test cricket. That said, you could use that as a plus for Johnson, who managed to bowl well despite the conditions.

So I am trying (with very moderate success) at growing a mo for Movember, raising funds and awareness for men's health. This is something we are doing at our cricket club to raise money for both the cause and the club, culminating in a big fundraising dress-up party (70's theme) at the club at the end of the month. This tash-off is one of the highlights of the year, a cracking social night and a shitload of money is raised annually. Here's the issue. My wife's best friend has her wedding on the 23rd, one week before the fundraiser. Neither my wife nor her friend want me to have a mo for the wedding, so I suggested a compromise and said I'll keep my beard too until the wedding is done and then shave down to a mo only for the final week. This friend did a pile of work helping us for our wedding last year (outside of the usual bridesmaid shite, that is), so I feel obliged to not make a huge deal out of it. They were ok with this beard compromise, but then yesterday my wife said that her and her mate will match any funds I raise for a mo up until the date of the wedding, then I have to go clean shaven, thereby sacrificing my hard-earned mo for extra dollars. So do I go the beard/mo compromise and keep my tash for the fundraiser or do I cave in but make some more $$ for the cause? Help needed, ta!

Man Of Steel. 8/10 Bit of a man-crush on Henry Cavill too, the bulked-up, handsome bastard!

I fucking hate spinners, me. I think it sums up my cricket in general that I do my best work when I act on instinct and don't have time to think too much about shit. Like I prefer fielding at bat pad/short cover and have taken some top catches in there, but have dropped a few sky balls as well. Me, I much prefer the quicks. Give me the ball coming onto the bat any day of the week. In fact, there is nothing better than facing a medium-fast bowler that thinks he is Andy Roberts and Jeff Thomson rolled into one. That is, the 'nothing better' bit is when you've just put him over the trees at deep backward square!

Bastard! Beat me to it.

Y'know the saying, women don't want to hear your opinion, they just want to hear theirs in a man's voice.