Snow, sledging and Mr Cricket

Brisbane Day 2: Australia 220-5, 40 runs behind England

Last day at work before the big break, hurrah!  Feeling quite organised at the start of the day but am equally convinced I will be in complete chaos by 6pm.  After all, why should today be different to any other working day?

Woke up to a covering of snow and early enough to see some of the last session in Brisbane before bad light ended play. Quite happy again with my prediction as England did indeed hit back strongly, with "Oh Jimmy Jimmy" Anderson in particular bowling beautifully.  But when I switched on my TV at 6am, there was Mike Hussey, "Mr Cricket" himself, standing obdurately in England's way. Again.

I couldn't believe the talk of Hussey being out of form and fearing for his place in the team. I know the Aussie selectors can be ruthless but this man has been the bane of English bowling for years. A high score from Hussey is as much an Ashes inevitability as the hardy perennials caught Marsh bowled Lillee, any of several bad outcomes bowled Warne and of course the dreaded Gooch lbw Alderman 0.

During the hour I was watching, England failed to take another wicket or even look like taking one (refer "Revealed – Australia's secret weapon" below). I just thought I would point that one out.

What I did notice was the sledging – and not of the snowy variety. Yes, England's bowlers were giving some real stick to the Aussie batsman, especially Hussey. That made me recall my all-time favourite England/Australia sledge:    

England fringe bowler Jimmy Ormond walks out to bat against the Aussies.

Mark Waugh (standing at slip): "Hey mate, what are you doing here? You're not good enough to play Test cricket"

Ormond: "That may be true, but at least I'm the best player in my own family"

Prediction for Day 3:  Hundred for Hussey but not much more. The Aussie bowlers will chip in a few runs to get Australia over 300 and a handy lead.  Then England will dig in second time round – I fancy Trott (three words I didn't ever expect to use together) to really get on Australian nerves.