From: ecrjbruce@economics.adelaide.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Lamb,Matthews,Warne,Border and other stuff!
Date: 28 Aug 92 01:54:38 GMT
Organization: Economics, University of Adelaide

Hi all!  Daniel the leggie from Down Under here!

Firstly, I must say I am posting this from a friends account - he has kindly
offered to let me do this as my university does not allow its students access
to post to ANY newsgroup. (But that's another story :-)

Anyway, thanks to Murali for posting the Australia v. Sri Lanka First Test
scorecard for me. It did take awhile to type, but I'm glad to see some of you
enjoyed it. The Second Test starts tonight (South Australian time), and when it
is over I will once again post a full scorecard (No matter the result Murali
:-)....because I know the Aussies will win......:-) (Go Greg Matthews!)

Seems the Allan Lamb "controversy" is causing a bit of a stir - even over here
in Australia we got the story on our nightly news. A report in the paper this
morning says he has been fined the "maximum" amount by his county (believed to
be about $A 5500) and suspeneded for two matches. The TCCB has also not ruled
out fining and suspending him further - preventing him from playing in the
NatWest final was mentioned. Wasim and Waqar issued a joint statement saying
they were disappointed a "fellow professional" would stoop to such low
standards, and that they had not ruled out taking legal action.

Just on this - has the England squad to India been announced yet? Could be
interesting.....

Some of you are asking questions about Allan Border - yes, he hasn't scored a
Test century since 1988, yet he has managed to maintain an average of over 50
in the test matches since. Of course there have still been murmerings over
here on whether or not he should still be playing. I think he should be - there
is no doubt he is still test class, and as Ian Chappell always says, if you
want a man to play for your life, AB is the one. (His gritty unbeaten half
century last summer in the Sydney test vs. India is still fresh in my mind).

But batting is also about winning test matches, not saving them, and this is
something AB has not done a lot of lately. Chappell thinks AB is not moving his
feet enough, and will cause further problems to his batting by moving down to
No. 6 in the order where he will tend to play even more defensively.
No one should forget though Border's contribution to the team purely as
captain - no longer known as "Captain Grumpy", Border has done much as captain
to resurrect Australian cricket. I guess though only time will tell. Border has
said he wants to go to England for the 1993 Ashes tour, and would like to play
against South Africa in the 1993/94 season, so, by then, THE record will
hopefully be his. :-)

Greg Matthews was interviewed on one of our radio stations sports shows last
night and couldn't heap enough praise on Shane Warne. He described Warnes
"comeback" in the second innings of the test as amazing - 0/100+ in the first
innings, Sri Lanka are 6/120 in their second innings needing only 180 to win,
and Border chucks Warne the ball. He then proceeds to take 3/0 in 11 balls
(Matthews 4/11 in 21 balls) and the test is won! (Due credit to Border too for
taking the chance).
Matthews describes Warne as the most exciting prospect in Australian cricket
at the moment. 

Even more important is the fact that SPIN BOWLING has won a test for Australia.
In Matthews words, this is a triumph for the "brotherhood" around the world,
and he hopes more youngsters will take up the craft.
Unfortunately though, the news for Warne is not good. He injured his foot while
batting in the 3-day game just finished, and looks very doubtful for the second
test. Seeing that Tony Dodemaide bowled splendidly in this match and the fact
that the second test wicket is said to be much greener and bouncier than the
first test wicket, my tip is Dodemaide in, Warne out.

Finally, a bit of an advertising plug if I am allowed. I would like to draw the
attention of any cricket lover to the "Kingsgrove Sports Centre" in Sydney. It
is without doubt Australia's biggest specialist cricket store, and the prices
are much cheaper than the other stores over here. I have nothing to do with the
store other than to have bought the majority of my gear from them. The owner,
Mr. Harry Solomons, is a pure professional and genuine cricket lover, and loves
to talk cricket. To those of you in the USA and UK this may not be very
interesting, but I'm sure many of you would love to see the cricket mail order
catalogue they put out each season, even just to see all the latest designs in
bats, pads, gloves etc. (They even sell the "S" shaped handle bat!) (And if you
want to buy anything they do overseas orders).
To those of you in Australia wanting to buy gear I recommend you get their
catalogue and have a look.

Write to:- Mr. Harry Solomons,
           Kingsgrove Sports Centre
           247-249 Kingsgrove Road
           Kingsgrove
           New South Wales
           Australia
           2208

Ask for the 1992/93 Mail Order Catalogue.
Tell him that you got this information from your friend Daniel in South
Australia and I'm sure he'll be happy to help you out.

Well that's enough ramblings for now. If any of you would like to converse on
the world of cricket with me, don't hesitate to e-mail me at:-
9207987H@Levels.UniSA.Edu.Au

Look forward to hearing from you.

Daniel.