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 Cricket 2015 Ashes in a poem

From elation down in Cardiff
What a lead we had earned
Our upper lips with pride now stiff
Could we win back precious Urn?

On towards the home of cricket
To the chastening of Lords
The lip now bruised and bloodied
When we were put to sword

But at Edgbaston resurgence
Bells begin to chime once more
Root's continued emergence
The heart of England's core

Finn reborn on English turf
Anderson well tried
To taunt the Aussies in their surf
And of course there is Broadside

So now onto Trent Bridge
Watch series ebb and flow
Nerves all on a knife edge
How will installment go?

Captain Cook asks for focus
Barks for great Endeavour
Tells the team it's about us
Ashes thoughts forever!

A Phoenix from the ashes
Last series such disdain
"A victory!" Cook despatches
The Ashes be regained!

An opening day all will remember
100 balls is all it takes
Aussie attack dismembered
By Broad who figures eight

The catches stick the bowling quick
Is all what it seams?
The swinging ball the Ashes nicked
This is the day of dreams!

Captain Cook now plays his part
Oh yes it comes to those
Root and Bairstow show their heart
How proud to wear Wh'trose!

Day two it needs another
The Aussies attack be choked
Not famous A N other
But none other than Ben Stokes

A patient day all play their tune
Will those wickets fall?
Catches slip they will come soon
And of course there's those no balls!

He's one hand on the Ashes
The lips to kiss and earn
Respect from all Cook bashes
Oh how the tables turn!

Captain Cook asks for focus
Barks for great Endeavour
Tells the team it's about us
Ashes thoughts forever!

A Phoenix from the ashes
Last series such disdain
"A victory!" Cook despatches
The Ashes be regained!