So, your team in this decade?

Aus ruled the first 2/3rds of the decade except for hiccups in India in 00/01 and Ashes 05. A bit down hill since the retirement of the greats, TGM, tgm, Gilly, Dossie and NLWL.

As others have said England vs the Windies in 2000 at Lords was the turning point. England had lost the summer before at home to a poor NZ side and had a fairly mediocre tour to South Africa in the winter (only Hansie's machinations gave them a win in a dead rubber). They beat Zimbabwe unconvincingly in the series before (who had the better of the 2nd drawn test) and had lost the first test to the Windies at Edgbaston by an innings. They then conceeded a first innings lead of 150-ish in a low scoring game with Ambrose and Walsh rampant and the rest is history.

Pretty average decade all in all but considering it brought two Ashes wins when I was beginning to think I wouldn't live to see the urn regained I would have metaphorically bitten it's hand off.

The 5-0 Ashes, the ODI world cups, ODIs in general, the dalliance with Stanford and Giles Clarke conntinuing to have a pulse were the England lowlights.

Personally I had barely played a proper competitive game of cricket going into noughties and now I've notched up over 200 appearances and am captaining my side.

I certainly hope I've now got a deeper and more balanced appreciation of the game in 2010 ...although I wish I could find something else to do with my time.

Eric Air Emu wrote:Personally I had barely played a proper competitive game of cricket going into noughties and now I've notched up over 200 appearances and am captaining my side.

Gets scary when you work out you've spent almost a year on the cricket field, doesn't it? I'm up to 331 for the 1st XI this decade.

Eric Air Emu wrote:.although I wish I could find something else to do with my time.

I'm sure Rachel can find something for you to do.

Shoeshine wrote:

Eric Air Emu wrote:Personally I had barely played a proper competitive game of cricket going into noughties and now I've notched up over 200 appearances and am captaining my side.

Gets scary when you work out you've spent almost a year on the cricket field, doesn't it? I'm up to 331 for the 1st XI this decade.

Terrifying...

Good job my team doesn't keep track of it's stats that well- it may be nearer 250 for me. Every game though still seems new & exciting come the Spring, not so much by Sept mind you.

Ha, that's true. By September I've had enough - then in cricketless October I wish I'd taken September more seriously!

Eric Air Emu wrote:As others have said England vs the Windies in 2000 at Lords was the turning point. England had lost the summer before at home to a poor NZ side and had a fairly mediocre tour to South Africa in the winter (only Hansie's machinations gave them a win in a dead rubber). They beat Zimbabwe unconvincingly in the series before (who had the better of the 2nd drawn test) and had lost the first test to the Windies at Edgbaston by an innings. They then conceeded a first innings lead of 150-ish in a low scoring game with Ambrose and Walsh rampant and the rest is history.

Aye Tom. I remember Caddy bulldozering WI's batting line, then the hush at Lord's with Cork and Gough at the wicket and thirty to get, and that silence erupting into cheers as Corky hooked it into the crowd.