Ball tampering

We scraped a win by the skin of our teeth. 

Chewing nails, but chewing seams, good grief!

Close one. Team on paper was as good as any;

Opening stand flattered to deceive, got many. 

Middle order collapse, no wagging tail on hand

Innings foundation built on sand. 

The sound of summer, leather on willow

Scent of linseed and of sand or brillo

Temper tantrum tampered ball

Oh how the mighty Aussies fall

Paper's journalistic scissors cutting tone

Taunted please do not phone home. 

Reverse the charges. Coins now rolling

Team roughed up not by aggressive bowling

Brass in pockets red tape restricts

Oh how it grated. Captain's wounds licked

Fat lady sings now on banned stands

Sad paper headlines. Paper sands

Take rough with smooth

Cancerous growth has been removed

Masking tape papers over cracks

Defiant call, Struth we'll be back!

Memories eroded by the sands of time, 

I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine! 

Adelaide Day 4

Adelaide Oval !

Stage is laid down in Adelaide
Hope springs eternal
To dream,  to think
This ball of pink
Deceptive flight
In dusk half light
Nerve edges freyed
Come on England! Oh well played!

Excitement

When I go to be bed tonight
Excited as can be
In the hope that when I wake up
The present under tree
Is a sad Steve Smith satsuma
No Follow on he's fuming
And a gleeful big pink grapefruit
Grin of Captain Kidd Joe Root

Adelaide Day 3

English Lions lie back and roll over

Lilac tank top is Geoffrey's roar;

Croissant burning in toaster,

Ashes flaked pastry on floor!

Go for the jugular's the warning,

England with backs to the wall,

The tail it wagged forlornly;

Oh how we love this pink ball!

A glimmer of hope as the moon shone,

England to bowl out the hosts!

Will Australia rue not a follow on?

But it's far too early to boast.

Let's skittle Australian wickets.

Please not on swords shall we fall;

Hope, ebbs and flows of test cricket,

Oh how we love this pink ball!

England v Australia Dec 2016

From 14 players to 14 wins this week,
Is this the confidence with which we speak?
What is the secret of Eddie's conundrum?
Creating momentum, doing the hum drum!

Execution of the game in hand,
Let pundits talk of unbeaten slams,
Fish n chips, wooden fork with 'styrene tray,
Simple game plan this Saturday.

Players have the blue print for all "What ifs?"
The chance to use their skill and gifts.
Play the game from what they see ahead;
Have set plays but use their heads!

Australian grand slam dashed hope in Dublin,
Revenge on their minds are looking for trouble in
Twickenham, as whitewash lays its heavy weight;
Cuts deep, with Eddie and his press bait!

Can resurgent Wallabys find that extra form?
Can England manage that early storm?
They have the backs to cut to shreds,
England no penalties don't lose those heads!

Defence is key against those backs,
First up tackles to stem attacks;
Cheika knows balanced tightly in the scrum
How to unpick England, they can be undone.

England expects no press disrespect!
But for Eddie this will be the best win yet.
Strength in depth, eye for the common goal
Confidence, belief, keeps this team whole!

Grind them down, hit them hard;
Send them your own seasons greeting card;
End the year on a mighty high,
Come on England! Just one more try!

Belief

With your back to the wall when you're down in Melbourne,
On the line is your body once more.
You've given your soul, you're battered and worn
Take heart and look at the score!

Phase after phase you've tackled and felled
But Australia will never give up;
Together your teamwork will keep them repelled,
It's time to make your own luck!

With Robshaw wired, he's here and inspired,
He's taken some crap on the chin,
But he takes deep breath in, he's stoked and he's fired
And he knows that you never give in.

The villains of last year you poor world cup zeros
The judge says your sentence is quashed!
Prodigal sons you'll come home as heroes
With the Wallabies 3-0 White washed!

Look in the mirror and look at your mates
Together see what you've achieved;
That glint in the eye of New English greats
And its all because you believed!