SydneySox said:One day he will join fuckwits like Shane Watson and Jimmy Anderson in ex-player fuckwit hell.
Lowrielicious said:Grade A fuckwit no doubt.
Retiring mid-tour, mid-ashes is a cop-out in my opinion. "Going out on your own terms" can only be done if you are a) performing at a level that you would still be selected or b) not performing and probably not going to be selected, but you are in between tours/series.
Jumping ship mid-series literally days before the next test is the epitome of selfishness. You are getting knocked around all over the place, the team is getting smashed, but you chose to be available for the tour and if you are to get dropped for the next game you take your lumps and carry the drinks (or watch from the pavilion) and retire after the series. To just throw your hands up and say it's all too difficult I'm going home leaving your team short handed to try and salvage some of the mess that you helped create is a dick move.
Making unspecific digs publicly on the way out the door reinforces the fuckwit and selfish attitude too. Particularly if you are going to back away from them immediately (or be more vague about them immediately).
SydneySox said:srsly?
He's a total cockbag, one in a long line of international cockbag tough talking fast bowlers.
He's one of the more disliked players in Test cricket, by other teams.
Lowrielicious said:My money would be on Prior, but I don't know that they even have another gloveman in their touring squad do they? He has been bad with the bat for an extended period now and his keeping has been horrible.
Jimmy Andersen is well known as the biggest sledger in the English team. As sledgers tend to be, he's loathed by other players; Australia and South Africa at the least. Can't speak for the sun continentals. I can't help that you aren't aware of that, but its true.cjdmadcow said:
Seriously?
I get the fact that it's time to take advantage of having a winning side for the first time in a while, but I find this very difficult to believe. Jimmy is one of the quietest members of the team, has always let his bowling do the talking and is highly respected worldwide. I'm not aware of him being loathed to the extent you suggest. Maybe that's just an Aussie perspective but whatever it is, I don't think there'd be many agreeing with you.
On the Swann issue, I'm not sure what the problem is really. The series is over, he can't add to the 3 Ashes series wins he already has - yes, 3 - and his shoulder is fucked. What's the point in carrying on and potentially taking a place from someone more deserving? If the series was still in the balance he wouldn't have announced anything yet. That doesn't mean he would have been picked.
He gets plenty of thanks from me and and I look forward to hearing his forthright views in the future. Strange, isn't it, how an Englishman with an opinion is a whinging Pom yet a similar Aussie is a good bloke. Anyway, congrats on the series win.
cjdmadcow said:
Strange, isn't it, how an Englishman with an opinion is a whinging Pom yet a similar Aussie is a good bloke.
Apparently not.ConigliarosPotential said:Bairstow can keep wicket.
Even easier than 7 in the end. I was guessing more in the 4 or 5 range as well. But as mentioned many times unanimously by the commentary teams Cooks field placements and Englands overall body language and effort pretty much ruled that out pretty early on. They are counting down the days to the flight home by the looks of it. Only weather or the aussies taking the foot off the gas can stop the sweep now I'd say as the English are a broken team.SydneySox said:So it's basically a race to 200 today. Pretty exciting stuff.
You say Aus by 7? I think that's generous... total crystal ball stuff but I honestly think it'll be very close. I'll go with my heart and say Aus with 3 or 4 left, Smith and Haddin doing a reclamation job after another middle order fail, Mitchell Johnson scoring the winning runs.
Nice! Word is it's the biggest and earliest crowd for an SCG test ever. Should be a great day, enjoy!SydneySox said:Got here at 4.30am this morning, but people were lining up for realz at 3am this year, which is about an hour earlier than 'normal' ... Interest is high!
CSteinhardt said:That might be the worst session I can remember seeing this English group play.
SydneySox said:Can't believe England couldn't get to 4 days.