Can anyone explain why ponting is so reluctant to bowl Macgill ? Does anyone think it is due to a loyalty to Warne ?

It's not just Ponting though, is it? It's the selectors as well. It doesn't matter how many wickets MacGill gets, if they decide they only want one spinner, Warne is ALWAYS first choice. In the 11 test matches where they've both played together, MacGill has taken 60 wickets to Warne's 48 and at a much better average. Warne is undeniably a far better batsman and fielder than MacGill, but as far as bowling ability goes, I don't think Warne should automatically be first choice.

I was always asking myself why McGill was so often overlooked until I read a snippet in the paper about the post-match celebrations in the dressing room......it turns out that McGill will celebrate with a nice cool glass of....WINE!
Surely the rest of the team can't trust him!

I AM SO GLAD that Lara has come good as I predicted but I am ****ED OFF that it is one test too late to influence my bank balance. Oh well, I'm going to enjoy this test anyway. Cheers to all.
PS you can trust me...I'll drink anything!

I notice that the aussies are still very short to win this test IAS has them at 1.38 which IMO is a bit short.


Think they will probably still win but it is hard to win batting 2nd when opponents make 400 odd batting first.

I can't believe the odds!!! A team in the West Indies' position would normally be nothing like the price they are at the moment. I assume the bookies just aren't willing to risk it given what's happened earlier in the series and I suppose they don't believe that the West Indies can bowl Australia out twice.

I love it. I was really hoping that Lara brought something this series and that the windies stood up (I want em to win actually). Sad that the windies aren't the threat they used to be.

Well, I have to say that today it's been quite ridiculous.

Warne's bowled very well this morning picking up 5 wickets. But it would have been pretty disappointing if he couldn't manage to get 5 wickets seeing as he's bowled unchanged for the whole session on a spinning pitch while the other spinner in the team didn't even get one over.

ridiculous on two fronts.... bowling warne unchanged and not bowling macgill .... and how about the umpiring this series ? it only seemed like yesterday that everyone was complaining about what a rough deal australia got in ashes.... well what about this series ? talk about kicking a team when they are down !! windies have been smashed by umpires ... the australians intimidate the umpires
and complain when they dont get it all their own way . IMO that is a bit disappointing

I don't think you can blame the Australians. If the umpires aren't competent enough to make each decision on it's merits, then it's not the Australians' fault. I didn't like the way Lee ran down the pitch celebrating before the umpire even put his finger up. That's not right, but it's still up to the umpire to not get influenced by the players.

Still no MacGill. I can't believe it.

I dont BLAME the aussies, just dont like it either ! Am looking forward to the proteas coming out, might be a better test.


a bit of a false sense of security after being outplayed in england ..... and still having major problems in middle order