Comments on: Close Ashes finishes (and why a draw after five days can be exciting)

By: Ged Ladd

Ged Ladd — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:23:04 +0000

I think most people would agree that most of the match was a bore.

But the conclusion was sublime.

Old Trafford 2005 had a similarly sublime conclusion, although it must be said that the cricket for the other 4.75 days was of a much higher standard (batting, bowling, fielding and pitch than Cardiff 2009.

If by some chance England go on to win the Ashes this year, make no mistake, the save at Cardiff will be seen to be absolutely pivotal.

By: pete

pete — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:10:05 +0000

Draws are boring, the only reason this test was exciting was because it nearly wasn’t a draw. Horrible pitch for cricket that was almost cancelled out by horrible cricket from England. And KC agrees with me.

http://www.kingcricket.co.uk/australian-batsmen-batting-on-and-on/2009/07/10/

By: miriam

miriam — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:03:56 +0000

Good stuff KC. I enjoy few things more than watching a pair of tailenders hang on for a draw, and Colly’s serious face throughout the day, no more so than when he reached his 50, almost brought a tear to the eye.

By: Ne

Ne — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:07:46 +0000

The Kiwi in my lab came in this morning describing the England as “disgraceful” and of undertaking tactics you’d expect of the Australians, but not of a civilised country. I disagreed.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:42:39 +0000

No one can claim to know the meaning of terror until they’ve watched Monty Panesar running between the wickets.

By: King Cricket

King Cricket — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:35:27 +0000

The person who’s been hanging around our house for the last few years would disagree with you on that.

By: Golandaaz

Golandaaz — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:22:51 +0000

Matches like these only excite and consolidate the core fan base for test cricket.

By: alex

alex — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:17:43 +0000

A match lasts for five days, but on each day the criteria for success can change. Yesterday, runs were for the most part irrelevant, but far from being bored, the crowd cheered every forward defensive as if it were a massive hoick into the river Taff, and every (successful) leave as if it were a sweetly timed cover drive for four. For hours. Hooray! Test cricket is the pinnacle of civilisation.

By: Bert

Bert — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:15:35 +0000

A perfect explanation. Top work.

By: D Charlton

D Charlton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:06:26 +0000

Send this to an American. Brilliant KC.