***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[Slow Love™]

I don't really think that's fair. I tell people to shut up and get over it when they pretend it's some sort of gigantic conspiricy against their country/in favour of a country they don't like, or when they accuse the umpires of cheating. Saying "oh that was a terrible decision" is completely fine as far as I'm concerned, even though yes they do tend to even out in the end. Australia have had the worst of the umpiring calls in this series by a fair margin, and there's no real problem with pointing that out.

Who says this is all about you? Don't be so defensive.

But really, they don't even out, and that argument has always been nonsensical.

 

[Nate]

Oh Hoggard.

EDIT: Twas Harmy that missed it. But far out.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Who says this is all about you? Don't be so defensive.

But really, they don't even out, and that argument has always been nonsensical.

I'm not suggesting it is. I think most of the Australian fans (obviously there are exceptions) on here are in the same boat.

 

[Nate]

Shot Harmy!

 

[social]

Incredibly stupid bowling from Lee.

 

[Nate]

Hey, hey. Warne gets Ash out five times this series.

 

[Scaly piscine]

As usual Giles misses a straight one (well one that was missing off stump by 3-4 inches) against Warne.

 

[Nate]

Bad decision really. But I guess it makes up 1/50th of what happened this morning.

 

[social]

I certainly don't think they're cheating or anything of the sort, and some of the errors are understandable, but if the batsman swings and the only possible thing it could have hit was the bat and there's a noise and every single fielder goes up... there's no real excuse for that.

I wasnt implying that they were cheating.

I was simply saying that the ICC demands neutral umpires so as to remove any doubt as to impartiality.

Unfortunately, we are left with Bucknor and Rudi who are simply downright poor.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Now someone will say how lucky England have been in this innings, despite the poor decisions being 2-2.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

First thought was that was doing too much. Odd that Warne's got two 50/50 lbw shouts his way this series after everything in the first four tests went against him. The Bell one was out and this one wasn't, but they're both things Warne usually goes up for and wasn't getting earlier in the series.

 

[social]

Bad decision really. But I guess it makes up 1/50th of what happened this morning.

Damage was done 30 runs ago.

 

[wpdavid]

Bad decision really. But I guess it makes up 1/50th of what happened this morning.

I missed it. What happened this morning?

 

[Scaly piscine]

First thought was that was doing too much. Odd that Warne's got two 50/50 lbw shouts his way this series after everything in the first four tests went against him. The Bell one was out and this one wasn't, but they're both things Warne usually goes up for and wasn't getting earlier in the series.

No way that last one was 50/50. The usual 'Australia aren't getting the decisions blah blah' guff continues.

 

[Slow Love™]

I'm not suggesting it is. I think most of the Australian fans (obviously there are exceptions) on here are in the same boat.

Mate, Pakistanis and New Zealanders who complained at atrocious decisions that went against them in the Pak vs Aus and NZ vs Aus threads generally copped exactly the kind of reaction I'm describing. I remember even myself, as an Aussie supporter no less, copped it now and then from other Australian supporters when criticizing bad decisions, which I consider just as valid as people's numerous criticisms of players in threads.

If anything, the Poms this series have probably not been quite as loud and condemning as the Aussies were, although they're certainly as likely to downplay how bad singular decisions were in their favor, or their importance in the context of the match. I don't think there's anything wrong with pointing out an imbalance in decisions either, but clearly there was something terribly wrong with it when Pakistan fans did it.

But as to the evening up argument - can't you see how farcical it is to claim that when you acknowledge (in the very same sentence) that "Australia have had the worst of the umpiring calls in this series by a fair margin". How could both be true? It's completely illogical.

 

[Nate]

I missed it. What happened this morning?

You missed it? I`ve been whinging for the last hour!

Bad decisions by the umpires, streaky shots, inside edges, a dropped catch, and literally 30-odd play and misses.

 

[social]

No way that last one was 50/50. The usual 'Australia aren't getting the decisions blah blah' guff continues.

Quite happy to admit weve been outplayed in 3 of the 4 tests to date but please dont even try and suggest that Eng havent been massively favoured by decisions in this series.

 

[Nate]

No way that last one was 50/50. The usual 'Australia aren't getting the decisions blah blah' guff continues.

Yeah, that was a dodgy decision. But you can hardly complain with the luck you`ve had in the last hour.

 

[wpdavid]

You missed it? I`ve been whinging for the last hour!

Bad decisions by the umpires, streaky shots, inside edges, a dropped catch, and literally 30-odd play and misses.

Never mind mate, England are still miles short of what they should have made. Barring a rare contribution from our opening bowlers, you're well set for a sizeable lead.

 

[greg]

First thought was that was doing too much. Odd that Warne's got two 50/50 lbw shouts his way this series after everything in the first four tests went against him. The Bell one was out and this one wasn't, but they're both things Warne usually goes up for and wasn't getting earlier in the series.

Far be it for me to stir the pot, but I think Billy's trying to make sure this is an exciting game I'm sure he has also been influenced by some of the ones Warne hasn't been given earlier in the series. When the SAfrican's were moaning about a whole load that Smith wasn't given vs Thorpe last winter he actually publicly said that he wanted to see the video replays at the end of the days play the implication being that his eyes were deceiving him and he wanted to rethink his decision processes.