Saturday, August 27, 2005 AD
Savouring the moment
I've been feeling fairly giddy and light-headed all evening - periodically drifting off into a rapt state, dreamy expression across my face. The cause? Simple: Australia 99 for 5, needing another 179 runs to avoid the follow on.
Yes, that's right: Australia 99 for 5, needing another 179 runs to avoid the follow on. No, I can't quite believe it's happening, either.
I'm sure the English players and the English weather have what it takes to snatch defeat (or at least a draw) from the jaws of victory, but that's not going to stop me enjoying it while it lasts.
It would probably be a little unkind to choose this moment to draw attention to Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait's thoughts on how dinosaurs became extinct, as vouchsafed to the Guardian's "Small Talk" feature:
Update (Sunday): Aargh! No finger-nails left! But we did it! That last few overs must be some of the tensest minutes of my life.
Here's the fall of wickets from England's 2nd innings, as they chased a "mere" 129 to win: 32-1; 36-2 (feeling a little edgy now); 57-3; 57-4 (Bell skies it down to fine leg. Idiot!); 103-5; 111-6 (Flintoff's gone - getting a bit nervous again); 116-7 (Geraint Jones attempts to hit Shane Warne out of the ground, and fails miserably - way to go, Geraint).
At this point, full-blown panic set in chez nous - I could hardly bear to watch - but Hoggard and Giles proved to be men who had understanding of the times, to know what had to be done. What a match! What a series!
Note to American readers: now you know how I feel when you blog about baseball (or spelling bees). :-)
Yes, that's right: Australia 99 for 5, needing another 179 runs to avoid the follow on. No, I can't quite believe it's happening, either.
I'm sure the English players and the English weather have what it takes to snatch defeat (or at least a draw) from the jaws of victory, but that's not going to stop me enjoying it while it lasts.
It would probably be a little unkind to choose this moment to draw attention to Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait's thoughts on how dinosaurs became extinct, as vouchsafed to the Guardian's "Small Talk" feature:
It could have been the ice age, I suppose. But I'd have to say there was a giant earthquake and they all fell between the cracks and were frozen to death. That's why you can still dig them out nowadays.Aw, bless. :-)
Update (Sunday): Aargh! No finger-nails left! But we did it! That last few overs must be some of the tensest minutes of my life.
Here's the fall of wickets from England's 2nd innings, as they chased a "mere" 129 to win: 32-1; 36-2 (feeling a little edgy now); 57-3; 57-4 (Bell skies it down to fine leg. Idiot!); 103-5; 111-6 (Flintoff's gone - getting a bit nervous again); 116-7 (Geraint Jones attempts to hit Shane Warne out of the ground, and fails miserably - way to go, Geraint).
At this point, full-blown panic set in chez nous - I could hardly bear to watch - but Hoggard and Giles proved to be men who had understanding of the times, to know what had to be done. What a match! What a series!
Note to American readers: now you know how I feel when you blog about baseball (or spelling bees). :-)
