Congrats to Australia for reaffirming, once again, that they are untouchable in test cricket. With the likes of MacGill and Johnson in the wings should Warne and McGrath ever retire, expect more of the same in 18 months time, unless Eng can rediscover the mongrel that served them so well last time around.
Now, I firmly believe that there`s a team that can challenge the Oz supremacy in test cricket, like so:
1) Neo- naturally, being The One, he`ll opt for 1st strike. Brett Lee thunderbolts are no problem for him.
2) William Wallace- he opened the batting in the 1st-test in 1635 together with Geoff Boycott, a real fighter with loads of experience. Rumoured to be willing to die for the cause.
3) Frodo Baggens- has the temperament, although he`s been hogging the strike of late, claiming that the burden is his and he must see it through till the end.
4) James Bond- classy(Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred please) and free-scoring, his record of 49 supermodels at last count speaks for itself.
5)Chuck Norris- nobody will sledge him. Not even Warney. And he ALWAYS gets the benefit of the doubt from the umpires.
6) Harry Potter- been known to make the ball disappear, if not over the boundary ropes, then at least into oblivion. Also a real magician with the ball.
7) Spiderman- awesome `keeper, been known to take catches, standing up to the seamers, at long-on. Balls seem to just stick to his gloves, yet to concede a single bye.
8) Hannibal Lecter- good spinner with a strong grip on things and a healthy appetite for opposing batsmen. Also excellent in the slips, known to gobble up batsmen regularly from 1st slip.
9) Frank`nFurter(from Rocky Horror Picture Show)- gets the ball to swing both ways with ease, also thought to have invited Warney up to the lab to see what`s on the slab.
10) Forrest Gump- generates awesome pace from a slingshot action caused by his ovestarched shirts. Great in team meetings, where he keeps morale high with some classic one-liners about life being like a box of chocolates.
11) Dracula- loves to sink his teeth into the opposition batting line-up. His batting line-up is a bit of a liability though, not being able to sight the ball so well thru his dark glasses.
As umpire, the inscrutable Don Carleone- his decisions are never questioned. Players are required to line up, one by one, bow before him, kiss his ring and enquire politely:"How was that, Godfather?"
As coach, the wisest old creature in the galaxy, Yoda, although he sometimes confuses his players with lines like:"Slow into the stroke, the high back-lift will make you."
And finally, in the Pratt role of specialist 12th man, Gollum for his eagerness to chase the ball around the park all day. Known for poacing catches, claiming that the bounty is his, all his.
