View Full Version : Underdogs
The closer the ashes have gotten, the more the heat has been turned up on our side. "Worst Australian XI for 30 years", "Hussey gone", "Johnson wayward again", "Australia can't win", "England's best chance for 20 years". The English media in particular have been dishing out some harsh stuff; belittling our players next to the greats of years gone by; and they're well within their rights to tee off. But I can't help but think back to what was drummed into me when I was young, and was no doubt drummed into most of us; we're at our best when someone tells us we can't do something.
We love the underdog tag, it's our identity. A few months ago this contest was billed as 50/50. Now we're being told we're underdogs in our own backyard, and from an increasing proportion the call is that we can't win. The closer Thursday gets, the more I wonder if we won't be bristling come day 1 at the Gabba.
Think you'll find there is still a lot of pessimism in England, until we get to the first test and see how the real thing pans out, still expecting a comfortable Australia win. Mind you its hard not to be happy with the start to the tour, its almost been too smooth.
frankrizzo
20 Nov 2010, 20:52
How many of those statements are actually hyperbole? Most of them seem perfectly reasonable and accurate.
"Worst Australian XI for 30 years"
maybe not 30 years but the worst since 87 for sure.
"Hussey gone"
Average of 30 odd for nearly 3 years he's not gone but he's got one finger left on the ledge and the wind is picking up.
"Johnson wayward again"
its news when he's not all over the shop these days.
"England's best chance for 20 years"
This is kind of a captain obvious one, from 1991-2007 Australia were simply better than england added to that our strong home advantage of course we were raging fav's at home.
Doodlesweaver
20 Nov 2010, 22:01
How many of those statements are actually hyperbole? Most of them seem perfectly reasonable and accurate.
"Worst Australian XI for 30 years"
maybe not 30 years but the worst since 87 for sure.
"Hussey gone"
Average of 30 odd for nearly 3 years he's not gone but he's got one finger left on the ledge and the wind is picking up.
"Johnson wayward again"
its news when he's not all over the shop these days.
"England's best chance for 20 years"
This is kind of a captain obvious one, from 1991-2007 Australia were simply better than england added to that our strong home advantage of course we were raging fav's at home.
:D Nice
NAUGHT5
22 Nov 2010, 13:35
It's all about Johnson IMO..
If he fires, we'll win.
Bucking Beads
22 Nov 2010, 14:26
It's all about Johnson IMO..
If he fires, we'll win.
Pretty much
Doodlesweaver
23 Nov 2010, 18:01
Pretty much
We are stuffed then.
Even in 2005 with Warne going great guns with bowling and batting we couldn't win.
Putting all the eggs in one basket doesn't work.
And this particular Mitchell Johnson-shaped basket is fatally flawed, something went wrong with the weaving when it was formed.
Bianconerri
23 Nov 2010, 19:57
It's all about Johnson IMO..
If he fires, we'll win.
Johnson is a wayward cracker, the pin up looks don`t count when you are playing Test Cricket, ACB loves him cos he draws the ladies to the game, i would rather have Andrew McDonald open the bowling than this one dimensional toothless express.
Mitch should be harnessing his approach to the catwalk,Not the bowling crease, might bowl a maiden over in that enviroment.
England have given off an unbelievably cocky impression in the build up; they haven't achieved anything in the game yet. Watching Fox Sports News today....I hope the ****s get absolutely destroyed. Do it Mitch.
Nel Mangle
23 Nov 2010, 21:23
England have given off an unbelievably cocky impression in the build up; they haven't achieved anything in the game yet. Watching Fox Sports News today....I hope the ****s get absolutely destroyed. Do it Mitch.
Oh yeah ,you sound humble.
haha
When we won 2 of the recent series all we got was excuses about injuries ,selectors ,weather ,etc.. didnt get any "well played" comments.
This aint like the past series when softies like atherton and hick would get roughed up by ockers like merv hughes . Apart from ponting your current outfit looks abit soft. No real hard men in the team by the looks of it.
All the allan borders and steve waughs are gone.
NAUGHT5
24 Nov 2010, 08:05
Johnson is a wayward cracker, the pin up looks don`t count when you are playing Test Cricket, ACB loves him cos he draws the ladies to the game, i would rather have Andrew McDonald open the bowling than this one dimensional toothless express.
Mitch should be harnessing his approach to the catwalk,Not the bowling crease, might bowl a maiden over in that enviroment.
Bit harsh considering he's taken 166 wickets at an average of 29.
King Elvis
24 Nov 2010, 08:24
If Mitch is anything like the guy who ripped the throats out of the Saffers and sent their two best players to the hospital, we'll win.
If he's the soft, weak bowler that we see too often, then we lose.
Ponting's management of Johnson is a massive key here. We've got Watto, Siddle (lol), Hilfy, North, Kat, Clarke who can all bowl 'stock' overs - we need Johnson having the mindset that he's out there to hurt people.
Forget about going for runs, forget about anything else but breaking jaws, hands, toes, ribs, the stumps.
Ill Chicken
24 Nov 2010, 16:30
Bit harsh considering he's taken 166 wickets at an average of 29.
And hasn't developed or matured since is debut.
Bianconerri
25 Nov 2010, 12:55
Bit harsh considering he's taken 166 wickets at an average of 29.
Like i said , Give me Andrew Mcdonald over this prima Donna any day.
Sorry Andrew but you have red hair and do not meet our marketing criteria which Mitch brings to our potential female patronage.
Yours truly
Sutherland
ACB
Bianconerri
25 Nov 2010, 13:08
Good thing the Englishmen enjoy their pies, here you go lads.
Compliments of Johnson Bakery
Bianconerri
25 Nov 2010, 13:27
Ohhhhh Ricky, the desperation is all too clear how bad you wanna buy Mitch a wicket, use and waste your last appeal for a fruitless outcome.
Oh dear.
Sauce with those Pies anyone!
Proud of the way we've come out and taken the game to them. Great fight. North must go though.