news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 388422.stm?

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 388422.stm?

Well then. 6-1. Good form ahead of the WC I see

It's all a ruse to get the odds on us winning it up
To be honest I couldn't care less if it had been 7-0, we got the main job done what feels like months ago!

As for the World Cup - there's no one, stand-out side for me, anyone could win it which should make it far more exciting and entertaining than the last few have been.

Wouldn't worry too much about this recent series...Its been nothing more than a glorified net session for both sides.

I'm not saying we'll be any more competitive in the World Cup, but let's not forget before the last one, we had just won a One-Day comp in Oz, whilst the Aussies were looking awful....

Thats very true mate but players like Swann and Anderson both had nice little "rests" so we'll be fine going into the world cup!

Look, you've already proved you're a bit out of your depth on this thread over the last few weeks. Try sticking to subjects a bit closer to your own intellectual level, if there are any.

*bang*

There goes my irony meter again.

I've seen very little from Rashid to suggest he merits an international place. Lest we forget, when he has played internationally, IMO he has hardly covered himself in glory.

Rashid is a serious prospect in all formats IMO, and potentially a genuine Test all-rounder. Long term: Rashid? Tredwell? Yardy? etc. He deserves faith and perseverence.

I feel Rashid should be blooded properly while we are in a position of strength spin-wise, i.e. while Swann is in his prime, rather than waiting until we're in sudden need of a spin-bowling messiah, as the Aussies are right now. The very fact that Rashid is an excellent batsman and useful fielder makes it even more of a no-brainer.

Ah! So in fact, in your roundabout way, you're trying to tell us that you do actually consider Test cricket to be the finest form of the game. Good. We have some common ground. I do wish you would make yourself absolutely clear in future instead of talking in riddles.

So are you one of those people who like to dress up in funny outfits at the test matches, pay money and be in the so called 'Barmy Army'?

Do you sing highly original and amusing songs like 'Brett Lee takes it up the arrrse' or 'Salman and the 2 Mohammeds might end up in jail la la la la la'**

** Or similar

There's a documentary on BBC 4 for those interested about the Afghan team's qualifying campaign for the World Cup in South Africa at 10pm tonight called [iOut Of The Ashes[/i. Supposed to be good.

Well as the Ashes themselves are long over, and the mammoth tour itself has finally come to an end, I suggest we move world cup related debate to the cricket world cup thread and, if anything else comes up, new threads can be started when needed.