Congratulations England!

[Matilda]

Thanks for providing us with some brilliant television viewing in
what is the most exciting cricket match I've ever seen. My eyes
are very tired today - 2.0 a.m. here when Pietersen finally got out,
but it's been worth it.

I can't get over the sight of all those people hanging out windows
and sitting on rooftops - for the good of the game, I'm glad England
is back. I hope the next tour in Australia is just as good, no
matter who's on top.

I'm sure it's a great boost for morale after the events of the past
few months.

[Spinzonner]

1. Isn't Exciting Cricket an Oxymoron ?

[Matilda]

2. Not when it's played as it has been these past few weeks.

It's the game they play in Heaven.

[non sociopath skin]

4. Just as well they have all eternity then ....

:rofl:

The Skin

[mrfrapp]

3. The Oval

"I can't get over the sight of all those people hanging out windows
and sitting on rooftops"

That's a common sight when Test Matches are played at The Oval. In fact, the splendid new stand at the Vauxhall Road End was built so as not to obscure the view from the surrounding buildings!

It was a great series though and I bet the next series in Australia will be a corker. Unfortuntately I won't be able to see it because cricket can no longer be viewed on British TV without donating money to Rupert Murdoch :-(

[replacement]

6. It's really sad

So much enthusiasm has been created for a game that seemed to be in permanent decline, it brought Channel 4 it's highest ratings of the year (* million for the 3rd test, I think?), and now it's being packed off to pay TV where most of those people wont be able to see it, many will just forget about it, and Richie Benaud won't commentate on it. What a waste. And I have cable, but I ain't shelling out extra for the sports channels given that I have zero interest in football, golf or WWF wrestling.

[mrfrapp]

9. Highlights

The rights to show daily highlights have gone to Channel 5 I think so it's not going to disappear completely. There's no doubt however, that it's a poor decision by somebody.

[moggie]

5. Er, what?

There's been cricket going on?

Morale booster? Right, we've had mass murder, erosion of civil liberties, an innocent man gunned down by police and warnings that we can expect more of the same, but who cares about all that, because some guys have knocked a ball about successfully!:woohoo:

[replacement]

7. Best series I've ever seen, no doubt

Both sides played some amazing cricket. Plus it's a fairly young England team, and I'm sure your guys will regroup in highly determined fashion when they get back home- so hopefully we'll be set for some truly epic struggles in the next few ashes series, at last.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. And well done to Australia for pushing it right to the line

An excellent attitude, great skill (Warne is still unbelievable - I don't know what coverage you watched, but Channel 4's computer had to be reconfigured because it didn't think it was possible to get a ball to turn as much as one of his did), and an excellent spirit of sportsmanship - it really means something to see Warne congratulating someone from the opposition when they've had a great innings.

[tjwmason]

10. He was stunning

some of those turns were closer to ballet pirouettes than normal cricket - and the gamesmanship has been wonderful throughout.

I like the idea that each team's coach nominates the other team's man of the series too.

[Matilda]

14. We saw the same coverage that you did -

the Channel 4 program was played live on SBS, the multicultural
channel, and it was superb. It was also on Foxsport, but the
commentary was not the same high standard, and there are too many
ads - besides, I support SBS, which the Howard government is trying
to slowly starve to death.

[emad]

11. That Pietersen looked totally pissed at 11am today clutching

his beer tankard and trying to focus with one eye open.....just like Flintoff - who was rat arssed!

Hope no-one throws up on the red carpet at No 10 Downing Street when Poodle basks in reflected glory.....

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Surely 10 Downing Street has easy-clean carpets

after all, Euan's been living there for 8 years ...

[LeftishBrit]

13. Congratulations to all!

I think they have a right to a drink or two after that. Well, not Tony obviously, but I hope he does make himself sick; he makes everyone else sick after all!

[tjwmason]

15. What do we think that Poodle-Boy is going to do?

Meeting the team to suck up some of their heroism is one thing - but where's the "I bunked of school to see W.C.Grace play for Durham at Trent Bridge when I was young", or the mass hand-out of M.B.E.s?

Surelythe Downing Street spin-machine can come up with better than this.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Citizenship for the coach?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/04/nfletch04.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/09/04/ixnewstop.html

Traditionally, cricketers only get their knighthoods when they retire. So I expect him to get Vaughan and Flintoff one ASAP.

[non sociopath skin]

17. to see W.C.Grace play for Durham at Trent Bridge when I was young",

ROFLOL!!!!!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

The Skin

[fedsron2us]

18. It was a great series

but the cricketing gods did smile on England. Everything really turned both physically and metaphorically on poor old McGrath's ankle.