Brilliant cricket in Sydney.

[Matilda]

I'm posting here because I think I'm the only Australian DU-er who follows cricket.

The current Test series between South Africa and Australia has been wonderful to follow - I know
there will be many who think it's time that somebody beat us, and I have to say that South Africa
have played brilliant cricket, and the sportsmanship between our two countries has been terrific.
I have to admit that the sledging tactics that were so prevalent during the Steve Waugh years seem
to be a thing of the past, and I'm not sorry to see that.

As I'm listening now (at work, I don't have television), Graham Smith has just come out to bat,
broken finger and all - what an inspiration to young players!

I think we're going to win this match, thank the Lord, but what a wonderful Test series it's been.

Look out, world - South Africa is back!

[Albus]

1. Cricket is an elitist poncy toffs sport and should be banned

Only evil Tory public school ponces like cricket

[Matilda]

2. As a product of a state-school education in Sydney,

who has never voted conservative in her life, either in Australia or the
UK, I wonder how I came to love the game? Clearly something amiss in my
socialist family background.

[Albus]

3. It might reveal a latent aspirational tendency

Perhaps you've been suppressing it?

Tell me, have you ever found yourself fighting the temptation to drink tiny cups of tea and nibble at very small cucumber sandwiches while calling out "Oh well played that man" in an understated tone?

[Matilda]

5. Unfortunately, you're judging our State schools by the English ones.

Different class altogether. Our State education is far superior to that of the private schools,
which exist only to establish the "old school tie" network for businessmen. In fact, I did also
attend a private school, but transferred to a state school later, and consider that the
education I got there to be far better (I was fortunate to attend one of the top three schools in
the state). Our state schools top the final exam results year after year.

Perhaps we follow cricket because it's something we're very, very good at.

[Albus]

7. Private school eh?

There you are then.

[truebrit71]

8. Complete.Total.Utter. Bollocks.

Carry on...

[Albus]

9. I thank you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Great effort by Smith - shame he couldn't quite last

Still, his team did win the series, and doing that in Australia is always impressive. Australia may still officially be top of the world rankings, but in effect it's now up for grabs.

[Matilda]

6. Yes - he is a very gutsy guy.

Personally, I'd always rather watch a good match than have us or anyone else just walk over the
opposition. It's nice to win, but I don't care too much, I just want to see a good game - without
sledging.

We now have five ODIs, and that's going to be fun too. (I can handle one day matches, but Twenty-
Twenty is just joke cricket to me - can't watch).