Sorry im not implying he quit because he was going to be dropped. According to some press reports Swann told Cook and Flower of his decision on Saturday.

Subsequently Monty was recalled earlier from Sydney.

I suspect he was going to be dropped for Melbourne.

Panesar was apparently recalled on Saturday from grade cricket in Sydney.

It just gets worse and worse.

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/graeme-swann-quitting-cricket-amid-ashes-tour/story-fnkc9h32-1226788290125

1

Nah mate..Im a lot slimmer for a start.

Whereas you are as grumpy a kean as Victor with a bit of Alf Garnett thrown in.

As for the cricket im hoping there will more changes than just the wicketkeeper.

That's right. Thought you would recognise your doppelganger.

More a case of knowing how to spell it!

The old ones are the best Gordon.

Same to you Onslo.

Would that be Onslow?

Good post Patrick and partly why I think their cricket has been ugly.

They have a bunch of T20 sloggers who have got lucky in this series although England have been pretty ordinary in all departments.

Will be interesting to see how far Australia have really progressed, if at all, when they face South Africa.

Just don't like Glory Hunters and turncoats or smart arse convicts and yes I am very much looking forward to the Christmas festivities. Are you? Although what the Kean it has to do with cricket or you for that matter defeats me.

Have a great Christmas Mr Meldrew.

Exactly and I have no time for them either.

Hello Mr Meldrew.

Are you looking forward to next week?

This was in the Herald Sun newspaper:

A report on a major cricket website said that the England cricket team may well spend 260 nights in hotel rooms in 2013. Even for the modern professional sportsman accustomed to life on the road, that's a long time away from home, so it's little wonder England has been mentally flat all series. Test cricket requires the sort of mental application only a fresh mind can provide. England hasn't had that.

Article is http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/the-numbers-dont-lie-11-reasons-why-england-lost-the-201314-ashes/story-fni2usfi-1226785204016

The story is also about the bowlers struggling in Australian conditions. Broad being the exception.

Combine that with the inability to finish off the tail quickly.

As for channel 9 and a story on sledging about to be leaked...lets hope its more accurate than the silicone on the bat story they came up with in the northern summer

Im referring particulary to Englands fielding and bowling this morning.

The cricket is as ugly as some of the behaviour.

Bogans they may be, Don, but they (at the moment) are bloody good at cricket.

You must admit, that England have had their "Bogans" as well.

The days of "gentlemen" and "Professionals" is long gone.

Just seen your edit, Don.

Well, we are talking Channel 9. but do remember that they have two Englishmen (Vaughan and Lloyd) who have been serving it large to the English team, especially in this test, most certainly today..

Got to admit, that I've not watched much up to today, what with other things going on. It does make the 3-0 loss earlier this year look as though it was closer than was thought.

Ive actually started listening to the radio and muting the tv.Channel 9 is so bad apart from Warne.

Sorry Don, Can't agree with that at all.

Warner wears his heart on his sleeve. He's the sort of "what you see is what you get" player.

Who could blame him for giving Prior a serve after the display that Prior gave (I'd sack Prior after his display today).

The "ugly" Australian approach has been as "ugly" as some of the recent England wins over the past few test series.

Swings and roundabouts Don, swings and roundabouts.

Im not condoning how some of the England players reacted but Johnsons behaviour in Adelaide in particular was very ordinary.

And yes I was sat watching it in the flesh and without the cronyism network, sorry channel 9, bigging him up.

Nonsense.

You do anything to win within the limits of the game. Sledging has been fantastic this series from both sides. If you don't like that part of the sport then Cricket isn't your game.

Grow a pair and get on with it.

Classless celebration by Warner.

Epitomises an ugly Australian approach to this series.

Its time to say thank you and goodbye Kevin Pietersen A totally stupid innings.

Another missed opportunity by England. At 140-5 we were in the game but it's another backs-to-the wall effort now.

Another defeat you mean.

Oh for a genuinely fast bowler who can finish off a team.

Ill be there Saturday onwards.Hopefully another big scoring day on the drop in pitch with short boundaries to boot.

Im never impressed with a pitch that offers so little for a bowler.

Lets just say not always Gordon.

I find it very disappointing that an ex St Mary's College boy can be so anti English. Do your roots mean so little to you Dave? You seem to be such a decent type otherwise.

Wow..sledging wasnt a skill in your youth Al!

One's a Kiwi, and the poms my countrymen plagerised them both.

Jimbo,you are worse than Blue and White Rover with your spoiling tactics on every thread.

Totally boring drivel thats driven quite a few posters away.

indeed, Nate.

Seeing Pietersen walk throught he airport with his headphones in saying "I can't hear you" a few times.

Why not say "I don't want to comment"?

He just looked stupid.

edit:

Why hasn't the BBC reported the news of "The Burnley Lara's" comment to George Bailey? It's been out for the best part of the day now.

Clarke should have left the pair of them to it.It seemed good natured sledging but Clarke took it to the next level.

And perhaps Clarke gave a little glimpse as to why the likes of Katich have had well publicised fall outs with him.