Fifth and Final Test thread: 8-12 September at the Oval

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:20 pm

Congratulations England on a well-deserved Ashes win. It was harder fought and more closely contested than any other Ashes series I can remember. You don't dominate world cricket for over a decade without having a strongly competitive team but England answered almost every challenge, and today they answered their last one. They are a very fine side and will be hard to beat for everyone over the next few years.

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:57 pm

Wombat wrote:Congratulations England on a well-deserved Ashes win. It was harder fought and more closely contested than any other Ashes series I can remember. You don't dominate world cricket for over a decade without having a strongly competitive team but England answered almost every challenge, and today they answered their last one. They are a very fine side and will be hard to beat for everyone over the next few years.

And what sporting spirit. Football could learn a lot. Ferguson and Wenger won't even talk to each other after a match, then they spend the next day in the press slagging each other off!! I'm uplifted.

Steve

Dominic Allan · Post by **Dominic Allan** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:23 am

I know they say that size isn't important, but I was expecting a bigger urn.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:03 am

ectophonic wrote:I know they say that size isn't important, but I was expecting a bigger urn.

It only had to be big enough to hold the remains of one burnt bail.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:20 am

I rather enjoyed the mounting frustration of the commentators when the Aussies came off for bad light after four balls, but the match could not be declared drawn immediately.

I cycled home with their whinging in my ears through my pocket digital radio, and just got through the door in time to see the bails lifted.

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:32 am

With Richie gone I despair for the future of cricket commentary. None of the others seem capable of just having a conversation to pass the time. I suppose I've been spoilt being raised on Arnott.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:29 am

jbarter wrote:With Richie gone I despair for the future of cricket commentary. None of the others seem capable of just having a conversation to pass the time. I suppose I've been spoilt being raised on Arnott.

He was so good at soothing rambling that you can't even remember his name: Arlott. I must say that I miss his Hampshire burr too.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:39 am

Wombat wrote:
jbarter wrote:With Richie gone I despair for the future of cricket commentary. None of the others seem capable of just having a conversation to pass the time. I suppose I've been spoilt being raised on Arnott.
He was so good at soothing rambling that you can't even remember his name: Arlott. I must say that I miss his Hampshire burr too.

John Arlott, the best commentator EVER. I have a 2 hour tape "The Voice of Cricket" featuring some of his best - the poetic way he deals with a streaker has to be heard to be believed. Also he gave the score after EVERY BALL, not just at the end of the over, so you never had to wait for long.

Generally I prefer the radio commentary to the TV, though Ritchie was good. We'll still get to see him though, apparently he's off down under to commentate there for a while, so the cheese and coffe has yet to be served.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:47 am

Martin Milner wrote:
John Arlott, the best commentator EVER. I have a 2 hour tape "The Voice of Cricket" featuring some of his best - the poetic way he deals with a streaker has to be heard to be believed. Also he gave the score after EVERY BALL, not just at the end of the over, so you never had to wait for long.

Generally I prefer the radio commentary to the TV, though Ritchie was good. We'll still get to see him though, apparently he's off down under to commentate there for a while, so the cheese and coffe has yet to be served.

And he did it all without calling anybody a dear old thing.

Was that streaker incident the famous 'leg over' episode in which the whole box dissolves into giggles?

Perhaps my favourite, actually heard live, was the deadpan 'The bowler's Holding; the batsman's Willey.' It took me several seconds to realise I'd actually heard that one on radio. Can't remember who it was who said it though.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:21 am

Marvellous.

What a great series. Two brilliant sides with some great characters. I would say that it was so good that it almost didn't matter who won...

But what's the point in lying when EVERYONE knows it?

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:44 am

Wombat wrote:He was so good at soothing rambling that you can't even remember his name: Arlott.

I've been staring at my keyboard for twenty minutes now and I still can't see how I managed a typo as bad as that.

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:48 am

Cricket is not my thing but Arlott sure had a way with words.

Slan,
D.

oscartherabbit · Post by **oscartherabbit** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:00 am

Wombat wrote:Was that streaker incident the famous 'leg over' episode in which the whole box dissolves into giggles?

That was Aggers describing a freak dismissal for Ian Botham when he fell over his own stumps. "Couldn't quite get his leg over...".

There is a clip of the "leg over" incident at http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sport/bestcommentary/.

Enjoy.

(edited to add)

"The bowler's Holding..." was Johnners.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:14 am

Thanks Oscar. Those two were priceless but especially funny if you just happened to be listening at the time.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:17 am

jbarter wrote:
Wombat wrote:He was so good at soothing rambling that you can't even remember his name: Arlott.
I've been staring at my keyboard for twenty minutes now and I still can't see how I managed a typo as bad as that.

Relax, John. It happens to all of us from time to time. I had a much worse brainstorm on another board yesterday and no, I'm not going to tell you about it.