in the bleak mid-wicket
Thursday, 16th July 2009 « fiction
let the celebrations begin
In the bleak mid-wicket, frothy plans go home,
Strauss stood, hard as iron – Monty, like a gnome.
Wickets had fallen, Lee and North to Bell,
In the bleak mid-wicket, bowling well.
Flintoff, Aussies cannot hold him, nor escape disdain,
Ponting, Clark shall flee away when he bowls again.
In the bleak mid-wicket, a steady hand sufficed
Prior, the keeper mighty, abilities unpriced.
Enough for Cook, whom Blighties worship night and day,
A cricket-box of silk, and lotsa words to say.
Enough for Bopara, whom Aussies fall before,
The Indies, Kiwis, Windies whom adore.
Collingwood, Anderson may have 100s there,
Fours and lofty sixes thronged the air.
But Onions' mother only, in maternal bliss,
Worshipped her beloved with a kiss.
What can I give them, poor as I am?
If I were a captain, I would bring on Swann.
If I were a wise man, I would just say, then,
The best is what I give them – Pietersen.
England will choose their eleven for each Test from:
Andrew Strauss (captain), Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Graham Onions, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Paul Collingwood.
Australia will choose their eleven for each Test from:
Ricky Ponting (captain), Graham Manou (wicketkeeper), Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the itinerary for the five Tests in the 2009 Ashes series as follows: 8-12 July, 1st Test, Cardiff; 16-20 July, 2nd Test, Lord's; 30 July-3 August, 3rd Test, Edgbaston; 7-11 August, 4th Test, Headingley; 20-24 August, 5th Test, The Oval.
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ta copyright © 2009 WPL · bashes for Ashes · tepid air