tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17051385488975030922012-02-17T01:14:21.974ZThe Ashes 2006 - they are here with a vengeance. Ponting and Flintoff are fighting for the most coveted series in cricket. Will the Aussies kangaroo punch their way to victory, or will England bully the ageing Aussies again in their own back yard... Keep looking back for updates and info on this most fascinating of encounters.Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.comBlogger271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-6908910160175835072007-03-12T11:11:00.000Z2007-03-12T11:12:46.382Z

People, people, people...Please come to my new and highly more relevant blog aticcwc.blogspot.comIt's very good you know :0)Dan

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-27922542501626872742006-12-22T09:36:00.000Z2006-12-22T09:45:44.235Z

Apologies for not updating the blog for a week, I've had a deserved week from all internet related activities.Over the course of the next 24 hours I'm going to cover:Another test debacle for England.Shane Warne's imminent departure from the international scene.The current state of the test squad.Check back later for updates.

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-82093817932593339382006-12-14T12:26:00.000Z2006-12-14T12:57:19.850Z

An enthralling day at the WACA has left us all, whether Pom or Aussie, imagining what could have been.Had England's hitherto idiotic selectors had a little more bottle than timidly playing a squad in Brisbane and Adelaide with the intention of RETAINING the Ashes then we might not have been in this dire situation.For the Aussies, they're left thanking their lucky stars that we had a selection

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-40463065279859389632006-12-13T16:12:00.000Z2006-12-13T16:28:38.292Z

As a Brit, I'm delighted to hear that Andrew Symonds has been included in the test match squad for the WACA test tommorow.The tests that Symonds has participated in have been somewhat topsy-turvy. A couple of 50+ star turns have been accompanied by some stuttering, incompetent turns which have seen him dismissed 6 times for less than 10 in just 15 innings.'Roy' is clearly a man of talent though.

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-30835545337997496522006-12-13T16:00:00.000Z2006-12-13T16:08:21.840Z

This is a little excerpt from a cricinfo e-mail I received a minute or too ago - Even those guys seem to be optimistic about Monty's inclusion in the next Test at the WACA... Do they know something we don't? Monty PanesarSurely, this time, there's no keeping Monty away from the action. He is absolutely climbing the walls in his desperation to get involved in this series, and Ashley Giles's sad

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-12584728397063668722006-12-13T14:28:00.000Z2006-12-13T16:09:16.326Z

Here's a new feature for the Website - Every week I'm going to produce a collection of articles from the BBC messageboards, print them on here and hopefully generate some debate on the state of both squads."Harmison has does nothing in this series to remotely suggest he can bowl match-turning spells; when England needed fine bowling to save the last Test, Andrew Flintoff turned to Ashley Giles

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-21454037320666247132006-12-11T13:28:00.000Z2006-12-11T14:00:54.878Z

This is the quote from Strauss denying the claims today:"We're all 100% behind Fred. He's done a very good job in some prettytrying circumstances in these last two games."There are no divisions. Idon't know where those stories are coming from." Not much to go on, I'm sure you'll agree, but will Strauss be thinking that he could have done better himself?It seems like this tour is going to end in a

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-40135196065503923122006-12-11T12:44:00.000Z2006-12-11T15:22:07.286Z

First of all, some time needs to be taken to absorb the news that there is a reported 'captaincy battle' going on behind closed doors in the England camp.As you would expect, all parties 'involved' have denied any split, fissure, or crack in a team they like to present as a cricketing equivalent of the Famous Five. But as we all know, especially with journalists, players and PR people working in

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-4537788556997102632006-12-08T16:38:00.000Z2006-12-08T16:39:40.417Z

This is a particularly ridiculous catch from the Twenty20 a couple of years ago...

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-27989178405850589722006-12-08T14:59:00.000Z2006-12-08T16:30:28.819Z

Now that one of the founding fathers of this almost invincible Australian squad has decided to hang up his boots, will it open the door through which many of the other players will follow?Anything other than divine intervention will mean that Australia will regain the Ashes some 15 months after losing them in England. Of the Australian squad currently playing, Michael Clark is the only Oz to be

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-40818678496666394132006-12-07T14:14:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:16:19.978Z

More than most I have been the first on the soap box outwardly criticising Ashley Giles for his impotent performances in an England shirt.After reading what has been said about the antiquated spinner, I can't help but feel that none of this is actually his fault.The current debacle that England have played their full part in, is nothing to do with Ashley Giles' 20-odd batting average. Nor is it

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-7635341631368177712006-12-06T16:05:00.001Z2006-12-06T16:05:40.590Z

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-82256482190503606232006-12-06T14:21:00.001Z2006-12-07T14:16:36.746Z

England's demise on the final day of the Ashes test in Adelaide can be summed up in the way that Robert Muldoon - one of the keepers in Jurassic park - stands in the middle of the forest waiting to be gobbled by a raptor. The look of doom on his face is priceless. He knows what's coming.Similarly England suffered from a similar dystrophy in the last couple of sessions of what will be seen in

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-15189422126611277472006-12-05T13:38:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:16:49.472Z

What a shambles.To capitulate to such an extent isn't anything new for this over-hyped and underwhelming England squad.In the Trent Bridge test last summer England effectively did the same thing. Chasing 120-odd to win the game 'The Lions' tried to throw that away, and it was only due to the mettle of the lowest of low order batsmen that we survived.The debacle of Brisbane and now Adelaide has

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-92049958508333415372006-12-04T16:31:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:17:09.197Z

Everyone loves a bit of banter... Can you imagine anything better than Thomo and Llody having a 'chat' about crackers in their knackers. Fab stuff...

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-17502499727191134112006-12-04T15:40:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:17:25.138Z

Ricky Ponting and Mohammed Yousuf have creeped into the top 10 rated batsmen of all time according to the ICC rankings and Cricinfo today.They are the two leading run-scorers in world cricket presently and their inclusion in school boy all time XI's looks increasingly likely as time drags on, and the memories of pre-war heroes fade into insignificance.To be included in such illustrious company as

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-16307560143791242122006-12-04T14:54:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:17:40.062Z

Looking at some of the other teams competing alongside me in this rather daft game of fantasy cricket, raises a fascinating point of interest which is well worth a discussion.The top 50 teams entered into the fantasy cricket league are very similar in their parallels. Everybody had a virtual 40 million to spend, and the majority of the teams opted to take a bulk of the 'premium' players. As you

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-59807824046204608452006-12-04T13:42:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:18:23.378Z

Michael Clark you little devil, you've only gone and upset and delighted me in equal measures...In scoring his beautifully crafted ton against us early this morning, 'Pup' proved that he has the potential to go on and be a fabulous cricketer for Australia in the future.Being only 25, he's got plenty of time in which he can improve his technique against the quicks and score those previously

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-50326691695989590062006-12-02T13:46:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:19:30.714Z

The number 158 has for centuries, I imagine, been crying out for recognition. And now on the 1st of December it has achieved the notoriety it wanted.Kevin Pietersen's bogey number.Without a professional statistician on my right hand, I'm guessing that this has to be one of the highest figures a test batsman has been dismissed on 3 times - but then again I suppose it's a better accolade than

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-43836414397504755622006-12-02T13:43:00.000Z2006-12-02T13:46:00.929Z

AIDS is a problem endemic in Africa and increasingly across the globe. This is a quick message to ask anyone who reads this blog, to go and have a look at:Join RED You don't have to buy anything, you don't have to do anything, but please go and read and maybe make a difference.

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-24833826106419856782006-12-01T15:55:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:19:55.644Z

Well, didn't they do well??There are many out there who wouldn't have staked a penny on Paul Collingwood being England's top run scorer at this stage of the proceedings. Me included.In Australia, if you have all the talent in the world and lack the application you'll score as freely as Damien Martin. On the other hand if, like Collingwood and lesser-so Bell, you apply yourself in the heat and

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-2647711690447226082006-12-01T12:09:00.000Z2006-12-01T12:14:27.057Z

I just love bit where Tony wets himself....'Oooooooooooooow'.....Nurse...Care to nominate a vid? E-mail the Ashes blog on theashesblog@gmail.com

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-83625530684097692842006-11-30T15:42:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:19:14.700Z

I have it on fairly good information that after the Brisbane fiasco (otherwise known as 'Back to the mediocre days of the mid-90's again'), Monty will be playing in Adelaide.This is a decision which should both delight and dismay in equal measure.Delight?That Monty is FINALLY going to get the chance to show the Australians that England finally have a spinner who can be mentioned in the same

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-42245361441549013602006-11-30T14:32:00.000Z2006-12-07T14:18:55.755Z

Just a quick note on the news that Mr Yousuf has broken the world record for runs and centuries by a test player in a year.This magnificent achievent is only eclipsed by the fact that he must now be ranked high in the echelons of follically magnificent cricketers including W.G. Grace, David Boon, Merv Hughes and Goochie.But in all seriousness, his achievements in cricket as a whole has been

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-28413465721006250612006-11-29T10:16:00.000Z2006-12-04T14:52:40.942Z

Whoever thought that Michael Vaughan would make anything other than an ignominious return to the England set up should be shot and told to make friends with a certain S. Hussain.In making a seven ball duck for the England Academy in Perth, Vaughan was dismissed by one of the most average bowlers in the whole of Australia, Christian Moir.No one expected the former England captain to make a

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-19433210860646318582006-11-28T13:23:00.000Z2006-12-04T14:52:25.799Z

In writing my sensible blog, I was chomping at the bit to call Jimmy Anderson and his England cohorts a bunch of pie-chucking, egocentric, jumped up, pathetic group of piss-artists.I didn't. Because I actually want people to take me moderately seriously and empathise with the things that I say. So I have decided to write an alternate blog, which expresses my deepest fears and cynicysms about the

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1705138548897503092.post-83728941503833420112006-11-28T12:04:00.000Z2006-12-04T14:52:14.879Z

So that was that.A complete capitulation by the English in Brisbane was eerie in its parallels to the 1st test at Lords, back in 2005.1) The Aussies totally outplayed us,2) Kevin Pietersen destroyed the Aussie bowling attack (for a short period of time at least),3) Everyone, including us Poms, were convinced that Australia would win the Ashes.The only small problem the English have got currently,

Dan 'Beefy' Burthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784375140389820320noreply@blogger.com0