Tyrone Shoelaces

I never thought Johnson was a trundler, on his day when he consistently hits his line he's as dangerous as any quick out there. Trouble with him has always been that on a bad day or an un-responsive pitch he can be all over the place and go for 0 for a 100. I agree about the last series,it was closer on paper than the 3-0 scoreline suggests. Winning the toss was crucial to the outcome in each game. People are saying that in this latest test it was a good toss to lose but I don't agree. If I'd have been Cook I would have batted first, no problem. I can't agree with you about our preparation though. It was totally inadequate. Would you have been happy coming over to England and facing scratch teams bowling with a tennis ball ?

Well, not much to say about that is there. Barring a miracle with the weather this game has gone but we need to put down some markers for the remaining games. All I'll say is we were totally under prepared for this game. Maybe we should offer the Aussies a couple of games against Lancashire League second teams before the First test when they next tour England. The contrast between the degree of preparedness and attention to detail between our last tour and this tour is glaringly obvious.

" Shut up " is always good advice before and during the game / series. Say what you want when the dust has settled.

If you look at it like that everybody gets out to a poor shot.

It's say it was a good day for England. Haddin has been a thorn in our flesh before so no surprises there and Johnson's no mug with the bat either. If we can get them all out for close to 300 I'll be happy. I would have settled for that at the start of play. 350, I'd not be so happy. Great performance from Broad, lets hope they keep booing him. As a pal of mine used to say - " They don't bother booing bad 'uns ". A perfect reply to the pathetic, childish tripe he's had thrown at him. On another tack it's an absolute national disgrace that there isn't even the highlights on steam TV. I suppose we'll get 30 seconds on the news. Where are the next generation of cricketers and fans going to come from ?

They've been " cheating " in cricket since before W G Grace. Even the sainted Bradman was known to stand his ground when he'd knicked one. The standard of sporting journalism in Aus must be really kean if it's worse than ours.

I'll be glad when we get started. I'm sick to death of reading all the @#/? being pumped out by the Aussie press. Talk about whinging poms, this lot are the Worlds worst losers. They're bloody awful winners as well.

Err, Who won the last final ?

I can't see beyond New Zealand. We don't respect possession, we force the play and we make silly mistakes in our own half. A bit like watching Hornets on a bad day.

Yeah, not much meat on a Griffin's Head is there ?

If you live in the Cook Islands. The Welsh Rugby League team is as weak as I can remember. Once players stopped " going North " because the money was better in Union the game has really struggled.

Yeah, the word hero is bandied about much too often these days but this guy was a real hero. I missed the game as my wife had arranged for us to visit friends down in Rutland ! Sounds like a good performance, I've seen Fiji play and they're a rough handful.

Call me a cynic but I've got the feeling the Aussie's would like Carberry in the Test side. It's not the first time they've played somebody into the side.

There are advantages to finishing top of the pile guys.

Mm, he had to go in my opinion. He's not dealing with a full deck.

It's about entertainment. Are you normally entertained watching a game of Rugby League ? I am. I'd say 8 out of 10 RL games are great entertainment, in football these days it may be 3 games out of 10.

BWR, I'm a very patient person normally but you're stating to get on my nerves. I have never advocated banning a person and I have never put a person on ignore but you are getting very close. The the issue you raised has been done to death, you have your views the rest of the board have their's. Let's leave it at that.

I'm going to the Fiji v Ireland game at Spotland tonight. It's a sell out. I think the last game to sell out there was the Widnes v Oldham play off final a dozen years ago. I believe the New Zealand v Samoa game last night was awesome. Why aren't more games live on the BBC ?

There's room for improvement in both teams but I suspect the Aussies will get better to a greater degree than we will.

Same old story. Discipline and poor decision making killed us.

I'm afraid you're right. The guy shouldn't be in charge of a national team.

I see Gareth Hock won't be taking any further part in the competition.

Thanks for that Audax. The match commissioner pulled our announcer after the game to reprimand him. The score was about 74-0 nil at the time with about 5 minutes to the final whistle. The Fijians were really great after the game, signing autographs and giving people endless photo opportunities. The whole squad gathered together in the bar after to sing their team song, you could have heard a pin drop, it was fabulous. Try and find it on YouTube, you'll be impressed.If team spirit counts for anything these guys will be a threat, Are you coming over for the Fiji v Ireland game ?

What style of food do they do ?

I went to the Hornets v Fiji pre World Cup run out game yesterday. We had a scratch side out with some key players already on pre-arranged holidays but Fiji looked a very decent side. I think they may give England a fright. Their full back was outstanding, we couldn't lay a hand on him.