I don't like Cricket

I'm so excited...

...That I am going to deviate from my usual Aussie baiting to actually talk about the issues.

We are British so it is in our mentality to do ourselves down, be phlegmatic and lack genuine confidence and assertiveness so I think it is worth bearing in mind the following points.

1) We are the holders of the Ashes. Because. We. Deserve. It.
2) In the run up to the last series we had a huge debate about KP vs Thorpe. This year's Monty vs Gilo debate is just the same. Once we get going we will be fine.
3) Ian Bell has become the great Test batsman we all expected him to become.
4) Never forget the first morning of the first Test - Ponting bleeding, Harmy hitting them. Harmison wants this. (And if you can't remember, I urge you all to read the Guardian's OBO coverage which I can no longer find online but is available in book form here)
5) Remember your nervousness on the morning of 12 September 2005, but also remember your inner confidence that we were not going to blow it. And remember what it felt like to be singing Jerusalem in your office as play started.
6) Remember that without Shane Warne they were rubbish last time round (40 wickets and some innings' saving batting). Shane is a year older and fatter. And apparently has got his flipper going again (so that would be the one that doesn't do anything).
7) Glenn McGrath is about 75 years old now and hasn't played for nearly a year.
8) Shane Watson is out.
9) Shaun Tait has been dropped.

And most importantly
10) Andrew Flintoff is the Greatest Living Englishman.

See you at Midnight around a radio or TV.

Signed
The Collective.

posted by wes @ 1:24 pm