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cant wait - it is usually dead in the water at this stage as you say. remember headley and the three and a half hour session at mcg, hope we show as much tenacity and fight, we will be fine if we do.

Yep

Lets hopes so this test match will be excellent
MCG is expecting a record crowd of around 100,000 and all of them will be supporting Australia

I expect excellent TMS commentary as usual
Commentary that keeps us England fans wide awake during the night

I still remember the ending of the said match with thommo snicking towards the slips with only a few balls remaining.I nearly choked on my pizza.That was when i hated the England team.Pontings spill for Haddin to mop up in Perth reminded me of that terrible day.But now the 3 lions have no mongrel Botham or pretty boy David Gower to help them.Maybe it's someone elses turn to rise to the grand olde occasion that is the Ashes Boxing Day Test.

At least someone has Hussey's number;( It's going to be thrilling stuff. Headley and Botham's heroics mean England have at least won two tests at the MCG in the last 25 years. The Aussies have won the other four, however, including in 1990 when Bruce Reid dismantled the visitors. What a poetic action he had! I've found some footage of him in that series and also a surprising stat on the bowler who tops the averages in Melbourne in the last quarter century. You'll never guess!:

Once you have demolished the turkey, opened the presents, watched the Queen on television and perhaps had a short afternoon snooze while the children argue over their chocolate selection packs, there is still the joy of tuning into the radio for the start of the day's play from the MCG.

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This kind of writing rings hollow when you don't live all that far from UK, pay the UK licence fee, yet still can't hear a word of TMS.

Last time I entered a similar post, someone posted back that you can get TMS anywhere in the world if you have the internet. I do (obviously), but I have tried and tried - unsuccessfully. How's thwe trick done? - Anyone? -

Wishing the cricketers, TMS broadcating team, media and the fans a joyful time during the forthcoming Boxing Day Test Match and in the new year 2011.


Dr. Cajetan Coelho

Tom - getting Hussey out is one of many problems for the England team though you can be pretty sure that if he does go cheaply in Melbourne, someone else will make a big score in his stead.

Also, it seems ridiculous to me to concentrate on one player - he has had a very fine Series so far but he is not alone eg Watson and to a lesser degree Haddin have scored well and others must be on the verge of being big thorns in England's side in Melbourne, not least Ponting and Clarks.

As for the Series there seems to be misunderstanding amongst England foloowers and media alike. England do not need to win in Melbourne to retain the Ashes. They don't need to win either of the next 2 Tests as the present holders as long as they don't lose.
The burden is all on Australia but I remain solidly confident they will win this Test and take the Series partly because the force is back with them, many of the fatal old frailties are evident again in the England side and also Sydney, due to weather forecasrs will be a draw result.

closertofine @ 7

I think you're on the wrong blog, mate!

Have yourself a merry cricket Christmas! In hopes for tonight, I've done new lyrics for Wham's xmas classic...


Last Xmas I gave you some darts,
the very next day we learnt how to play,
This year we'll get in some beers & listen to Test Match Special

One win and twice denied
I'll watch the fourth test or listen on 5 Live
Tell me Melbourne, will the urn come back to Blighty?
Well I've seen our world rankings, it doesn't surprise me

We'll win the Ashes! - I posted on my status
Post Adelaide I really liked our chances
Now I know what a fool I've been
And now they've beat us once, I fear they'll beat us again

Broke his finger, but Ponting's still their guy
Out in Perth our batters lost their Eye
My God we crumpled when their bowlers turned the heat on
Strauss - I hope you had a shoulder to cry on
The words of a sledger with a fire in his heart
But was LBWs & catches that tore us apart
Oooh Oooh
If we can find our real form, they'll never school us again

Last test match you gave me a start,
On boxing day please please remember to play,
Tonight we'll get in some beers & listen to Test Match Special

NO. 5 Fleet Jack Hobbs.

You cannot receive TMS outside the UK even online due to contractual rights reasons,however should you wish to and are not upset at having to listen to Channel 9 commentary from the home broadcaster,you can watch live streaming on various sites that are destined for the Middle Eastern and Sub Continent viewers,you can`t be infringing copyright due to the sites being public ones,hope this helps.

what on earth is Ian Botham wearing on his feet??

"Will Melbourne serve up more magic?"

Yes. And how.

One of the best features of this series' TMS has been the contributions from the South African scorer Andrew (sorry can't remember his surname). Any chnace of him being a permanent TMS fixture?

On another note.....and mind, I'm not such a great fan of his anyway, but will someone please send Geoffrey Bloody Boycott home and make sure he never gets hold of a microphone again. He does often come out with some fairly amusing comments - and being a true Yorkshireman, he speaks his mind (just listen to the grilling he gave Stuart Broad in one of the podcasts for proof) and that is fantastic - but for him to say, in the fourth over of a Test match - "I can't see how England can win from here" was positively ridiculous at the time. Looking back, it makes him seem totally and utterly stupid. Boycs, either stop with the daft comments, or shut it.

Stats update after an astonishing Day 1 and they make grim viewing for Australia: 98 is the third lowest first innings total in Melbourne and only the fourth time ever a team has been dismissed for under 100 batting first there (and the first time for 78 years). On all grounds a team has only scored less than 100 batting first and eventually won just five times in history. I've collected some others and some Aussie press reaction too:
...

If Strauss doesn't declare soon I'll have no time to go out sledging.

once again i am frustrated at the lack of detail in giving out the scorecard
I waited until martin jenkins gave the first three or four, and then digressed with boycott over something or other.still dont know how collingwood and bell were out, so its sky highlights for me
Can our producer give out a daily commentators idiot card with the following
"end of over, give out score and not out batsmens score.
Every drinks break and at least once in your session give out the card of the day eg Strauss ct ponting b siddle 65 etc, score 90 for 1 and so on.If you break off to give the next ball, pick it up immediately afterwords and carry on.Tell us the fielding places, tell us what the listener cannot see!Thats the art of a good commentator,not drivelling on about the minnah birds on the balcony!
Bring back Arlott if the present lot cant do it I say
Thanks

Is Justin Langer the most biased, myopic correspondent the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sport website has? All series he has been talking up his Australian team, looking at it in a wholly biased way, but his comments today were amazing. He talked about Matt Prior's dismisal when Aleem Dar called him back a "turning point" and gave the "advantage back to England" Derrrrrr!! I think his useless batsmen handed the advantage to England yesterday and the rubbish bowling they served up.

No mention of Punter's outburst either? Come on Justin, write about the day's play and do it properly, or not at all.

At some point on day 4 England will win this test and thus retain the Ashes and Ricky Ponting will be history. He's been a great player, but now looks shot. After Sydney England will have won the series 3-1 and for once Australia can do the naval introspection!!

Totally agree with Andy, above. Justin Langer and all his mates just can't accept England are the best team. Let's suppose England had been bowled out for 300, they would still have had a lead of 202, an incedibly strong position from which to bowl again at Australia.

So let's get this one won, then finish off in style at Sydney and then watch the Aussies weep! From here England will face India, which will be the true test of the progress this team has made. Can't wait.