Cricket: The Ashes: Is it me, or did The Cricket Show go to a new low?

Meg Lanning playing for Box Hill & Ellyse Perry for Australia (left photo mine)

On Day 4 of the Boxing Day test, high profile Southern Stars cricketers (the Australian women’s team) were guests on The Cricket Show, Channel 9’s lunch break segment.  The two players were opening batsman and vice-captain Meg Lanning, and dual international Ellyse Perry.

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Cricket: The Ashes: A change in the commentary side perhaps?

(Source: Sport On A Box)

No, I’m not talking about the players out in the middle – I’m talking about the guys who we hear through our speakers at home for six hours or more a day.

After every ball, during every drinks break, every interval, and the one hour pre-game coverage.  It certainly is a lot, and for some, it is too much.

Cricket: The Ashes: Emphasis on a whitewash

Steve Smith & Australia will look to continue their good form on Boxing Day (ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

The message has been simple, if not roundabout: Australia needs to keep the foot on the gas until the end of the Sydney test.

With the fourth Ashes test starting tomorrow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England faces – metaphorically – a do or die battle to regain some pride. 

Cricket: Big Bash League: Round One View

The star of BBL|03 round 1, Chris Lynn (ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

The entertainment started on Friday, December 20, and concluded two days later.  It was not the smoothest opening round, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers match washed out in Hobart.

Cricket: Big Bash League: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder Preview

Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers banner (Australia Free TV)

Now titled the “Sydney Smash”, Saturday’s game between the two rivals gets an extra boost, with both Steve Smith (Sydney Sixers) and David Warner (Sydney Thunder) released from Australian duties.

Cricket: The Ashes: An ugly head appears again-it’s the DRS

The picture is self explanatory (source: World Cricket Watch)

I’m talking about the controversial, and at times flawed, Decision Review System (DRS).  Since its inception at the top level, the amount of criticism the system has copped has seen India not use it during series, and all manner of other types of howlers have made it look like cricket’s worst nightmare.

Cricket: The Ashes: Perth Day 3: England disintegrate; Australia inch closer

David Warner celebrates a stunning 100 at Perth (ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

If there was ever a time to say “I’ll fight”, it was at the start of Day Three at Perth. England, starting the day 205 runs behind and six wickets in hand, had the biggest chance of the series to grab a small victory to force Australia to play a new hand.

Cricket: Big Bash League: Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades: the keys

Stars v Renegades banner (Google Images)

In BBL|03, the Melbourne Stars slogan is: “all or nothing.”  Across the city in Docklands, the Melbourne Renegades want you to “get on red.”

Cricket: The Ashes: Adelaide Day 3: Johnson firepower destroys England

Mitchell Johnson celebrates dismissing Stuart Broad on Day 3 @ Adelaide (ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

Test cricket is the pinnacle of the three international formats, and today at the Adelaide Oval showed just why.

It was the Mitchell Johnson show, as the left-armer made England shudder in their boots. 

Cricket: The Ashes: Adelaide Day 1: the upper hand lies with England, just

Michael Clarke, not out after Day 1 (source: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

On a pitch that offered little to the bowlers and plenty to the batsmen, Australia won the toss, and to no surprise, elected to bat first on the first day of the Ashes test in Adelaide.