Plagiarists Corner

[Sweder]

I wondered at the nature of this thread when I strated it. Now I know it was all for today. Thanks to Patrick Kidd in today's Times for this cockle-warming piece.

There is something about Australia bowlers turning 37 that makes their compatriots want to pelt them with cricket balls . . .

. . . Being hit on the side of his head by a return throw from Brad Hodge was not the present McGrath would have wanted on his 37th birthday, but it was not the lowest point of a day filled with more troughs than a pig farm.

When Australia were 170 for one, he probably did not expect to have to bat, but McGrath was the final man to fall, surviving one ball before Andrew Flintoff shattered his stumps.

MsGraths bowling was also poor. He started well, conceding eight runs off his first three overs, but his fifth went for 12, including a straight-hit six by Paul Collingwood.

The constant chuntering to himself that began when (McGrath) dropped Bell (then on 18 - England would have been 33 for four and in desperate trouble)and accelerated when the return throw from Hodge hit him became even more animated as the innings wore on.

He moaned when Collingwood took a single off a deflection . . . then gave a huge, Eeyore-like sigh when a good shout for leg before against Paul Nixon was turned down. On a day such as that it is a wonder that McGrath did not suffer a severe paper cut opening his birthday cards.

Now, England may very well not win another match in this series, or this year come to that.
Personally I couldn't give a monkeys now