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30 April 2015 640 comments
Elniñorules Elniñorules
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Here’s our regular update on the competition, featuring a look at the Matchday 4 games that took place over Gameweek 34. We also have some fun handing out some Matchday Awards and a look ahead to Matchday 5. Please use this article for all tournament chat.

MATCHDAY 4 RESULTS

The final Matchday 4 results have been updated in the Cup spreadsheet.

Australia and England have qualified for the knockouts from Group A to join West Indies and South Africa, who had already secured qualification in Matchday 3. The good news is everyone still stands a chance to qualify for the knockouts.

Congratulations to all the victorious teams and a reminder to those that lost that everyone is still in this hunt for glory.

MATCHDAY 4 AWARDS

Sachin Tendulkar Award for the best batting lineup – AUS with 899 runs

Salma Hayek Overnight Award for the player of the week – Newman with 109 runs from AUS

Hot Urine Treatment for the highest run scorer on the bench – Emperikal with 93 runs from PAK

SAF Management Award – manager with highest manager rating – Innsie of NZL, Zep of AUS and Ellipsis of ENG with rating of 99

Dalglish Differential: manager with lowest manager rating – Disable of SRI with rating of 93

Jose Mourinho Award for the best pressers before Matchday 4 –  Sheikh Badger (UAE) with +18

Andrew Symonds Award for the best sledging (Social Media) – Australia and New Zealand

MATCHDAY 5 PREVIEW

Gameweek 35′s fixtures are as follows:

Group A

Sri Lanka vs Australia

Bangladesh vs England

Scotland vs New Zealand

Group B

South Africa vs West Indies

UAE vs India

Pakistan vs Ireland

Keep track of how your team progresses over the Gameweek via the Live ScoreCard Tool

KNOCKOUT STAGES PREVIEW *

Going into the final matchday of the group stages, every team still stands a chance of qualification for the knockouts. Upon popular request, here are some of the permutations of qualification for each team – it could well go down to Net Run Rate (NRR) eventually.

*Disclaimer – There may be an error or two below that I have ignored in a haste. Apologies in advance.

Group A

England and Australia have qualified for the knockout stages with 6 points each. A win for Bangladesh or New Zealand will mean they qualify as well.

Bangladesh are in good position and may be able to qualify even with a loss, as long as their NRR is better than the team/s that end up on 4 points. Their worst case scenario is with them losing their game and NZ and SL both winning their games – in that scenario, there will then be a good chance of them being eliminated.

New Zealand find themselves in a decent position and may be able to qualify even with a loss, as long as they do not lose comprehensively AND Sri Lanka lose their game as well. Their worst case scenario is with them losing the game and Sri Lanka winning, which would mean they are likely to fall back on NRR.

Sri Lanka could still qualify if they win their must-win game against Australia AND one of New Zealand (preferably) or Bangladesh slip up. If Bangladesh slips up, then it will come down to the NRR between the two teams.

Scotland have a small chance of qualification. They need to defeat New Zealand in their must-win clash comprehensively enough for their Net Run Rate to improve, and then hope for other teams to slip up in the group.

Salma’s Predictions: England defeat Bangladesh. New Zealand win their game against Scotland and comfortably make it across the line. Then, Sri Lanka defeat Australia to go through over Bangladesh based on Net Run Rate.

Group B

South Africa and West Indies have already qualified for the knockout stages. A win for Pakistan and India will see them through as well.

Pakistan are strong favorites for qualification. For them to be eliminated, they will need to lose to Ireland by more than 97 runs and India win their game against UAE.

India find themselves in a decent position as well. They may still be able to qualify with a loss. Their worst case scenario is with them losing to UAE and Ireland winning against Pakistan, with India’s net run advantage of 56 runs over Ireland lost along the way.

Ireland can still qualify for the knockouts. Their best chance comes in the scenario where they defeat Pakistan in their must-win clash and India lose to UAE, with India’s net run advantage of 56 runs made up along the way.

UAE’s best chance of qualification is for them to defeat India by 114 runs or more and Pakistan helping them out by defeating Ireland.

Salma’s Predictions: India lose their final game to UAE by a narrow margin. Ireland defeat Pakistan by 40 odd runs and give India a scare by nearly eliminating them from the tournament. Pakistan and India qualify based on Net Run Rate.

LINE-UP SUBMISSION

All managers are requested to email me their four substitutes and their FPL IDs before the deadline of Friday, 1 May, 2359 BST. In case he or she fails to do so, the autosubs will be the last four players on the Squads Page.

Managers may also be likely to post any pressers on this article here. So be on the lookout for latest team news, especially from your rivals. As always, please keep all the match day banter on this thread.

Cricketers, brace yourselves for a drama filled weekend.

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  1. Christina.
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    @Innsie

    Team CHRISTINA

    Mign
    Terry-Pva-Baines
    Haz(c)-STerling-Hendo-Silva
    Kun(v/c)-Giroud-Vardy

    Panty-Boyd-Wolly-Hutton

    No hits.

    *puts in ball box...

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    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I'd play you.

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    2. John t penguin
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You could at least give us starting team for one of the non benchers

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  2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Close of play, Ireland v South Africa, Ireland win by 46 runs

    Journo: Hi Geoff, I’m here with a surprisingly upbeat Eunuch de Jelliers of the South Africa cricket team. Eunuch, last time we spoke you couldn’t really come to terms with being beaten by Ireland. Has that sunk in yet?

    EJ: What’s sunk in for me is that you guys obsess about the small stuff. The Proteas are destined for ultimate victory. It's no big deal that we hit a little bump in the ointment. Did Napoleon win every battle on the way to dominating Europe? Of course not. We care about the end result. ProteaFire!

    Journo: So you’re inclined to see this as nothing more than a blip?

    EJ: A blup? No, it’s part of the dramatic story of South Africa’s World Cup triumph. Life gives us lemons and we, uh, y'know, do tequila shots with 'em. What doesn’t kill us leaves us, er, with a big chubby that . . .

    Journo: Yes, yes, well, I see that you’re looking for the positives in this setback. What would you say are the positives, keeping in mind that we’ve already covered the implications of your not being killed by a cricket match?

    EJ: Well, with the pressure off, we were able to try out a few things against Ireland that are going to come as a complete surprise to the West Indies. We know who we represent!

    Journo: Hmm, unless, of course, they watch tape of the match. And, forgive me, but these new things you tried out don’t appear to have worked very well against Ireland . . .

    EJ: They worked! It’s just that, uh, they just worked in a really subtle way that you can’t understand because you don’t really “get” South Africa cricket. When we were in the hot-tub later we could totally tell that it worked. ProteaFire!

    Journo: Okaaay . . . so let’s talk about that slogan. One of the Ireland players suggested that the Protea Fire might not be a metaphor of triumph, but of flaming out, and ending in ashes. Do you have a response to that?

    EJ: What, like that's a bad thing? Ashes are a good thing in cricket. England and Australia fight over them constantly. Plus, ash is an excellent fertiliser, and makes things grow, so, y’know, I’m OK with being ashes. And fire of course. Ashes AND fire. See the point is first it’s fire, then it’s ashes. It’s the circle of life. And anyway, what do Ireland know about fire? Have you ever tried to burn a potato? It just hisses a lot and shrivels up. Pathetic. We know who we represent!

    Journo: Quite. I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Whom, in fact, do you represent?

    EJ: South Africa of course. Protea Fire!

    Journo: Well, I thought so, but why do you feel the need to reassure us all that you are aware of that fact? Is there a worry that you're not clear on what country you play for?

    EJ: That's just stupid! Of course WE know. They wrote it on our uniforms after that one time, so we don't have any problems with that. We're just making sure our fans know that we're out here for them. We know who we represent!

    Journo: So, then, it's the people of South Africa that are confused? They're not really clear on what, in fact, is the point of you? Help me out because . . .

    EJ: What's the point of the West Indies? They're not even Indians! They're not even a country! Do they know who they represent? I bet they check the writing on their uniforms every time they . . .

    Journo: OK, I didn't mean to stir anything up, so we should probably . . .

    EJ: And what kind of fire do they have? Sugar cane just collapses into a pile of sticky goop, and offshore banks don't burn for beans! What could they possibly burn that would offer . . .

    Journo: I'm afraid we must leave that question to the imaginations of our viewers, as we've no more time . . .

    EJ: Look, Babylon is no basis for a fire--it's been dead and gone for, like, really long and, I mean, talk about ashes, there's probably no fertilising properties left in . . .

    Journo: Geoff, that's Eunuch de Jelliers of South Africa cricket, back to . . .

    EJ: Protea Fire! We represent an actual country! And we definitely know who they are!

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    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Ostrich. That is all.

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Nothing funnier (to me) than people who work hard not to accept reality. 🙂

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        1. In Like Flynn.
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Whose reality?

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          1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Exactly.

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          2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            By the way, it just occurred to me that I might be misunderstood--my comment was just an elaboration on what I thought Heels meant by saying "Ostrich". It was not a snarky criticism of his comment.

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Win this game and I think you get promoted to Group A.

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Does that mean we will get to use those cool adult nappies you all wear?

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    3. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I hope you win the award this week EJ. Top stuff.

      #ProteaFire

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks man. Keep pimpin' me. 😉

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    4. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      🙂

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    5. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I guess it's like a Little Britain sketch. There's only so much you can do with "the only gay in the village" the second time around. I'll come up with something else.

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  3. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    With 1 hour to go, I've received only 5 team sheets.

    Some serious last minute discussion going around.

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Bonz has gone AWOL. He appeared at about ten then disappeared. I'll sort it out at 23:59:59 if he doesnt reappear

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  4. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Team Bangldesh line-up v England

    Valar
    Ludo
    Pepin
    Bubz(c)
    Triggerlips
    SeanTBN
    TommyTour
    Super Zlatan
    Sidharth
    Hasselbaink
    Rupert the Horse

    Pine

    SW6
    Captain Shirokov
    Nate
    Corkyote

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Eager Beaver

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    2. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Good luck Bungled..erm...Bangladesh!

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  5. Reedy
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Ireland team to send Pakistan packing:

    HVT (C)
    Reedy
    Roscola
    Timtastic03
    Pompeyfan
    Kuqi Monster
    N.A.B.I.L
    iCon
    Lucy
    Jaffalicious!
    Irish Madridista

    Just be thankful you don't have to face these:

    Saniul
    Siva Mohan
    Little Lukin
    Numb

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    1. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Crackin' team
      4 in the top 1k
      Could be a long weekend in Pakistan!

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Sri Lanka thought rank was everything...

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        1. HVT
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Are they out?

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          1. Ginkapo FPL
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Sri Lanka could still qualify if they win their must-win game against Australia AND one of New Zealand (preferably) or Bangladesh slip up. If Bangladesh slips up, then it will come down to the NRR between the two teams.

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            1. HVT
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              10 years, 9 months ago

              Are you running a blog per say on comp G?

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    2. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Would be a remarkable comeback for you to qualify.

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      1. HVT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        It would Enr, I think we've been unlucky.
        But then I think so have so many before us.

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        1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          If we could decide which teams go through on the basis of likability and having top players, Ireland would definitely go through.

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          1. HVT
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Thanks EJ-that's a kind comment.

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    3. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      The management keep playing me and then wonder why we're struggling to qualify 😉 I'm gonna try to turn my form around!

      GO IRELAND, Woop wooooop!

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      1. roscola
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        That goes double for me, Lucy!

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    4. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers Reedy.

      90+ run win here we come.

      Éire abú!

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    5. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You picked me again? Jeepers, I'm stuck in a bad patch of form that goes back three seasons now! I hope I get lucky for Éire this week.

      Go team!

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  6. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Who will score more this week?

    1. Sterling
    2. Ramsey

    Cheers

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    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Dead heat.

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  7. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    PENS DOWN

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    1. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      PEN IS down

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        I'm sorry, they have medicine for that.

        [I know you threw that softball intentionally]

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        1. Reedy
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          😉

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        2. HVT
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          🙂

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  8. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Giroud, Ramsey and Sanchez is the three for the DGW.

    Can't be getting Bellerin as United must score versus arsenal 🙂

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  9. Thomass
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Bonz
    Teddy(wk)
    Grievez
    Eunuch Jelly
    Yash
    Adam West
    Ginkapo(C)
    Thomass
    Hooperman
    JWF
    Elninorules

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    1. Thomass
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Cricket South Africa team to play the Windies.
      Subs: Ameenkw, CDAWGG, Jeff and Toonzie.
      #ProteaFire

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    2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Sweet! I'm back on the field! I don't need to keep giving interviews!

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      1. Thomass
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Hahah!

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    3. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Can't wait to return to action boss!

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    4. BONZ
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      A tough selection debate this week.....after this week the partying must be over by the Tuesday so we can refocus and aim for best XI to get the job done.

      Cheers Gink for the support as usual and to the rest of the SAFs......

      LETS PLAY BALL

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  10. peanut101
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Schmeic
    Terry - Azp - Skrtel
    Haz - Sterling - Hendo - Silva
    Kun - Kane - Vardy

    1FT 6.0 itb

    A) Vardy > Giroud
    B) Hendo > arsenal mid
    C) save, and why?

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  11. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    All team sheets accounted for.

    100% submission rate in the group stages. Great job everyone 🙂

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    1. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      🙂

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  12. Leaf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Ramsey is not rising tonight is he ?

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    1. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You know the answer to this 😉

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    2. The Enlightener
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Think he might, but don't quote me on that.

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  13. The Shadow
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Windies presser:

    This week is dedicated to Absinthe.

    That is all.

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    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Seconded. Let's all dedicate ourselves to his memory in our own way.

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    2. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I hope this is ok,
      Although your work on earth is done
      Your life in heaven has just begun.
      Your struggles here were hard and long
      But they're over now, you're finally home....

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    3. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      *Raises toast*
      To Simon. Wonderful man,Loving father,Invaluable team mate,Good friend.
      You shall live on in our hearts. Will miss you my friend.

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  14. Cheeseoid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    There was a cool wind. It was unusual in the desert used to the intense burning heat which had bleached the scorched bones surrounding them.

    A group of comrades banded together, unknown, unwanted, cast adrift in this sea of sand with only the camels for company. Our leader was lost. Lost somewhere we did not know. Driven by despair by the defeat by Pakistan he had wandered into the desert almost unknown witnessed solely by Moin. Moin I commanded How dare you let our captain walk into the desert unprotected, unfriended and alone. You have abandoned your station and will immediately be disciplined.

    It was at this point I felt it. It was a low deep rumbling and a strong warming in my loins and I knew. I knew we were bound strongly with bonds which could be never be broken and I knew I had to do one thing and thing was simple, just dig.

    So we dug and dug and dug. Until it seemed the sand surrounding us almost blacked out the sky and then we found it. The fabled scroll which contained the fabled secrets of the Arabian desert. BabyB cracked the seal open, sneezing as forgotten dust was released from its ancient seal.

    It was a list as ancient as time itself designed for one thing only. To bring India to its knees and upset the odds. It was time.......It read

    BsloeBadger
    Cheeseoid
    Jawain
    SCAB
    Holmes
    Punty
    Turtlepower
    Lambey
    Davies
    Diva
    BabyB

    I knew not what it meant. But I knew the scroll held great power, power not meant for the realms of men so I threw it up on the campfire where it was engulfed. I silently gazed sullenly at the desert floor and then I heard it. The roar in my head as it grew and grew gathering momentum bringing with it the sure fire knowledge that today was our day and India had beware. Our captain was gone but he would return. Our pride was dented but it would rise up with the power of the desert and cast our enemies.

    There was peace in the desert along with the knowledge that our enemies must shake before us.

    We waited for our leader to return

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    1. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Brilliant !

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    2. Gloria Kanchelskis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Excellent stuff

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    3. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Awesome.

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    4. Zasa
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Brilliant Cheese!

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  15. H.A.BRUCE
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Schmeichel
    Terry skrtle ivanovic
    Hazard sterling Henderson Ramsey
    Giroud Aguero (c) Kane

    Hammer, fonte pva albrighton

    Good to go lads?

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    1. Christian Fox der zorn gott…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Gtg nice team. Think it might be hammer time though 😉

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You need 10 more of those to play here.

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  16. BeachBadger
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    *Epic Legend by Mark Petrie plays*

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApHrgY4_5mw

    Everything is a blur. Smoke fills my nostrils and scratches the back of my throat. My ears are ringing and my body aches. Sprinting through the streets to avoid my captors, panic begins to set in. I whizz through the side streets and back alleys in desperation, knocking over pots and pans, even small children that get in my way. As I scramble up the cobbled streets to the Merchant District, my pursuers are not far behind. 12 men in that cursed Green and White chase me through the city. I must flee.

    The battle is lost. In fact, the war may be lost. Our capital has been taken and 4Vets sits high above the clouds in the Burj Khalifa. Our army is in tatters, unable to hold back the sheer numbers of the Pakistani invaders. Brave Jawain fought maniacally by my side, cutting through the ranks. He held them off long enough for me to escape and that is what I did. I turned my back on my city, my people and fled like a cowardly dog. I told myself it was logical. That I was doing the right thing, setting myself up best to take them down later, like getting in Giroud over N’Doye. Truth be told, I was afraid. As much as I held to these ideals, it was fear that gripped me then and forced my legs to run.

    I dart down a narrow alley way, past some broken pots of Moreno and false gold from Cambiasso. In the distance I see the East Gate. If I can reach the stables there and a fresh horse from the Emirate lines, the pursuers will never catch me. My hope is short –lived however. The alley way is dark and gloomy and I failed to see what hid in the shadows.

    A blow to the back of the head put me to my knees. Maniacal laughter erupted from behind and before I turned my head, I knew who had dealt the blow. It was the Hunter, S Thompson ‘There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment.’
    He spoke non-chalantly
    ‘You are not my worst fears’ I spat ‘ It was luck that won you this battle. A plethora of wildcards and you barely contained us.’
    ‘Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it.’ He said as he kicked me in the ribs.

    ‘Well, it’s a good thing my luck hasn’t run out then’ I smiled, as from behind the pots sprung Cheeseoid, battered and bloody from the days fighting but no less ferocious than at the start of day. He bundled over the startled hunter and in the confusion, led me down a secret alley way and down into the sewers.

    The stench was unbearable. Foul odours of Schlupps and Sturridge wafted through the air. ‘What now, Cheese?’ I muffled with my hand covering my nose. ‘We will die in this Labyrinth if we don’t get out soon.’
    Cheeseoid pulled another scroll from his robes. For a moment, I glanced that cursed teamsheet again and felt a pang of guilt again upon reading the names. Moin, Davies, BabyB. Brave men I had let to their doom.
    ‘Here my Lord’ said Cheeseoid. ‘An abandoned sewerage system that leads out past the East Gate. From there we can head North and regroup’

    Regroup? Ever the optimist, Cheeseoid always felt we would be dealt the right hand, even if the cards were stacked against us.
    ‘Lead on, my friend.’ I said, placing an arm on his tired shoulder ‘Lead on’

    *******************************************************************************

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Team UAE personifies what this comp is all about - would be a shame to lose you guys after this weekend. Hope you make it happen!

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate. Heres hoping!

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        1. Elniñorules
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          I thought you were going to sleep for 12 hours? :-O

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          1. BeachBadger
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            I ended up lying in bed for an hour and getting back up. I think I broke the part of my brain that makes me sleep 😆

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    2. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Classic post Badger!

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  17. BeachBadger
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    *******************************************************************************

    It was dark in the tunnels beneath the city and it was darker still when we emerged from our hiding. A moonless night, where the stars were hidden behind the clouds. We quickly made our way north away from the city, deep into the desert where no Pakistani would dare follow us. There we hid in a secret bunker, built long ago to withstand the Van Persie Captains, ravaging Ronaldos and Assou Ekottos. Cheeseoid pulled open the great wooden door and the sands billowed around our ankles as the giant hinge creaked. The store was barren, nothing but an empty Bread Bin. No matter. The shelter would suffice to keep us out of the harsh desert sun. Then at night we could make our way forward.

    As I lay down to rest, Cheeseoid was already fast asleep. Exhausted from his exertions of the day, but he never once complained. My mind again drifted to thoughts of those I had left behind to die. Scab, Lambey, Costainho. They deserved so much more from their leader than a cowardly cur, who turned his tail and ran. Eventually the event sof the day took its toll on my weary body and I fell into a deep slumber.

    My mind was spinning. Visions and thoughts dancing across my mind like flames crackling atop a dry pyre. Proteas on fire, Shadows in the West, green oranges and that cursed crescent moon. Suddenly a Giant Lion lept from the flames. Its fur shone in a sleek sapphire blue. It looked me straight in the eyes and for a moment my heart skipped a beat. Then it roared.

    *****************************************************************************************

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    1. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      *Rooooarr*

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  18. BeachBadger
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    ****************************************************************************
    I awoke with a start. The lion was gone and I was alone in the darkness. ‘It was just a dream’ I said to myself.
    ‘Oh it’ s not a dream’ spoke a voice above me. ‘not a dream as such’
    I craned my neck upwards. There fluttering above my head was a tiny green fairy.
    ‘If it is not a dream, then what is it?’ I asked.
    ‘Its more of a zone’ said the fairy, wafting in front of my eyes.
    ‘It’s pretty dead here’ I stated.

    ‘It is a place for the dead, but it can be so much more if you are willing to see’
    With that the darkness disappeared. A great white light flashed and I found myself flying high above the clouds, like an eagle riding the currents. I flew and flew and flew. Across vast oceans and over the highest mountains. I past the ancient palaces of Sri Lanka slowly being rebuilt after the earthquake of 52. I crossed the great Trans-Tasman and the giant Sporting Penile sculptures of New Zealand. The Statue of Selma, the Monastery of Mark, the great business of the Dog. I saw the M*ppets rampage and the Lips trigger. I saw Little Lukins and Gargamels. I saw the world for what it was. One giant shining community. The whole world glimmered as it spun below me.

    But in all that shimmering light was a dark stain in the East. Storm clouds rolled and the seas swelled. Here the earth was not warm and inviting. It was cold and dark, feeding from fear and hate. I forced myself towards it. I must confront my fear once and for all.

    As I drew closer I could see the Kingdom of India lay in disarray. Its people were miserable, cold and hungry barely surviving on the streets. Blisters covered their hands and feet from being overworked. Their backs criss-crossed with the scars from the lashes of countless whips. Here I found the Granville. Chained up and forced to work as slaves. Ketsu beggars littered the alleyways and Guy Demels Shaved heads festered in the gutters. What kind of a King would leave his own people in such suffering?

    I knew where I must go. I flew as fast as I could to the Palace to confront my foe when suddenly it all vanished and there again floated the green fairy.
    ‘Why did you show me this?’ I asked him
    ‘I showed you nothing.’ He replied ‘ The information was all there. You took from it what you wanted to see. What you needed to see’
    ‘You said this is a place for the dead. Am I dead?’
    ‘No’
    ‘Then I must go back. I have to stop this.’
    ‘Then go’
    ‘What of you, sprite?’

    ‘This is a place for the dead’ he said once more ‘But that doesn’t mean that it is a bad place’ And suddenly he was gone and I was alone again in the darkness, or so I thought. Cheeseoid mumbled to himself and rustled to life.
    As we clambered out of the bunker Cheeseoid started on the path to the North. ‘Come on my Lord’ he yawned ‘This way leads to the North’
    ‘I am not going North, old friend’ I said

    ‘Where then?’ he said bemused.
    ‘East’ I said ‘Into the Lion’s Den’

    *The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens plays*

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtxPdkzmk_4

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    1. BeachBadger
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      3 Comments cos I thought it was too long but turns out just the word pen*s is blocked lol

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    2. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You've saved your best for this week it seems. Hope the spirit rubs off on the pitch as well 😉

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    3. Zasa
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      😯 😯
      Words can't describe what I just read, brilliance personified. Top imagery bud 🙂

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate. Maybe one of these days I'll dust off the old notes and actually write something proper 😆

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    4. Heels_Over_Head
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Dang. OMG Badger. Genius. Triumphant.

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate

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    5. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Haha. Love it mate. Please,Please make plans to write a Novel/Trilogy whatever. 🙂

      Dunno what arabic cactus you were smoking, but India is definitely not how you envisioned.

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate. Whos to day. Maybe it is maybe it isnt. Maybe its ll just an illusion. We'll have to find out in the next chapter i suppose 😉

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    6. Gloria Kanchelskis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Top class mate - that's some imagination you've got there 😆

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    7. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      All the up votes in the world can't praise what I just read!
      Fantastic stuff Badger-thoroughly enjoyed that read.
      🙂

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate. Heres hoping for a great final group game .

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    8. Mr. Grv
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Well done badge

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    9. BabyB
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Good effort badger.

      Let's do this!

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  19. Christina.
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Where is team Kiwi?

    😕

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    1. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      😕

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    2. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Wordpress have ruined your favourite emoticon 🙁

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  20. President John F. Keninnsie
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Team NZ XI:

    Innsie
    Walsh
    Christina
    Ryan
    Sporting
    Beric
    Zan Keroski
    Grubs
    Zasa
    EpicFail
    NickOfOz

    Cheering the team on from the bench:

    Gloria K
    Milanista
    SAB
    Desertbug

    This is a big game for our lot so we've spent a lot of time deciding on the bench. A win here secures our place in the knockouts, so we'll be going all out. In saying that, good luck Scotland - may the best team win.

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Christina starting related shocker.

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    2. Christina.
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Good. Most important no 3 batting spot given to me. It's about time we get this ship on course again.

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  21. Diva
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Sand peppered my goggles, while behind the headscarf protecting my face I was beaming from ear to ear as we raced across the desert. A man who had suffered agonizingly close defeat at the hands of Pakistan should not have been grinning so much, but I was having great fun. The Gaffer’s plan was working.

    After the Pakistan match, the Gaffer had taken me aside and told me his idea.

    “The team played well,” he said. “Pakistan had more than twice the wildcards we did, but we almost beat them. The team need to go into the next match in high spirits. I had our camels shipped over this week. I need you to collect them and bring them out to the team. We’ll rendezvous in the desert on Saturday morning.”

    After he gave me some directions, I slipped away. I rejoined the team in the desert the following morning with caravans of camels for each player.

    The captain was scribbling furiously on a parchment with his quill when I arrived with the camels. He looked at me with wild eyes and said: “Have you seen Badger? He’s gone! Moin saw him go and did nothing! Can you believe that?”

    “I’m sure he’ll be fine Captain,” I replied. “He asked me to bring the camels and said he’d meet us out in the desert.”

    I don’t think the captain properly heard me; there was despair in his eyes. He stalked out, shouting at Moin.

    A short time later he came back and told us to dig, so we dug. On Friday night, we found a scroll. After studying it, the captain threw it on the fire and was quiet. Then he lifted his head. I could see pride returning to his eyes.

    Early the following morning we awoke to the sound of a Chinook helicopter hovering overhead. The Gaffer’s was waving to us from the back door while the pilot lowered a crate to the desert floor. We broke the crate open and inside were 15 glistening golden chariots with big desert wheels. We rolled them out into the sand. The Gaffer abseiled down to us with a huge grin. “Let’s go racing!”

    We let out a collective “Hurrah!” and rushed to hook our camels up to the chariots.

    So here we now were, wind whipping at our clothes, sand flying in our faces and grins plastered to our faces as we raced each other across the Outback letting out whoops of joy. Punty shouted he was going to try doing a doughnut and we laughed.

    Suddenly, I became aware of a dull drone behind us. It rapidly grew louder. Something hit me and I tumbled out the back of the chariot. To my left and my right my team mates were all similarly eating sand. Behind each chariot a parachute billowed as a plane pulled away overhead.

    In my chariot a cloaked blue figure was hurriedly cutting the parachute cords. As the parachute fell away, I saw Toy Keane, Team UAE’s ginger cat, who had been riding with me in the chariot. He was going nuts and kicked some of my possessions out of the back. He hissed at the cloaked figure and jumped out.

    I walked up to Toy Keane and picked up the bag he had kicked out. Inside were several flasks of water and, bizarrely, a cat whistle I had picked up in a Sydney bazaar as a fun trinket with which to tease Toy Keane. I tucked the whistle in my belt as I walked over to the rest of the team. As I shared the water flasks around my team mates, we expressed our disbelief at what had happened.

    We resolved to follow the tracks of our chariots, wherever that may take us. After several hours trekking we saw a settlement on the horizon. We could see people swarming in and out of the town likes ants at their nest.

    There was a palpable buzz as we got closer. A man riding a large truck with a fiddler and drummer playing from the back was shouting “Benteke, Benteke, get Benteke”. As it passed I pulled my bandwagonometer from the pistol holster I kept it in. It buzzed rapidly, but quickly moved out of the red Bojan zone, past the orange Young zone and into the greener colours.

    We were near the town gate now. Above the gate, one word had been spray painted on a wooden panel that had originally been engraved with the symbols #FFSCWC. The spray painted word was “Bantertown”.

    Inside the gate was a security post and beside it a sign: Check your RMTs at the door.

    “What’s your debating skill?” asked the guard. The sign on his counter read “Billy”.

    “We just came to recover our camels and chariots, which were stolen from us,” I replied.

    “If you have no debating skills, you cannot enter. This is Bantertown. No banter, no enter.”

    “We can advocate,” I said. “Let me in and I’ll make a compelling case why we should get our camels and chariots back.”

    “Wait here,” said Billy. He disappeared for a minute then came back. “Come with me.”

    We followed him into a large oval teeming with people. There was an iron dome in the middle and above it, slightly to one side, was a large tent hanging by wires from towers around the oval. The tent cast a shadow on the ground that reminded me of the Azteca Stadium in the 1986 World Cup.

    We were taken to an open-top cable car gondola. To the side, two men stood facing each other either side of a metal bar.

    “Ryan, Champ,” shouted Billy. “Which team will win the FFS Cricket World Cup?”

    One of the men shouted “New Zealand” as he pushed the metal bar up and into the face of the other. “Australia,” came the reply as the other man rammed the bar back down the other way. “New Zealand” said the first, as the bar went back up. “Australia!” The bar went back down. I became aware that the cable car was rising into the sky. Ryan and Champ kept shouting and shoving the bar at each other as the gondola rose towards the tent. From a higher vantage point I saw the metal bar between them was attached to the winch winding the cable car upwards.

    At the top, we could hear the sound of a lone saxophone playing a sweet, mellow tune inside the tent. Billy pulled back the curtain and showed us inside. At the back of the room a beautiful woman was sitting on the edge of a chaise longue playing sax. A man in the middle of the room turned to her and said: “Thank you Salma.” Salma lowered the sax and lay back to rest.

    The man in the middle turned to us. “Billy tells me you can advocate, is that true?”

    “Who are you?”

    “I’m ENR and I run Bantertown. I have answered your question, now answer mine.”

    “We can,” I answered. “We can also tell you magical tales from the Outback.”

    “Hah! I have no need for the tellers of tales. There’s plenty of them here. But I know who you are: You’re Team UAE. You’re the best at telling tales – multiple Jose awards attest to that. Actually it’s that tale-telling that has caused my problems. So now I need advocates. Can you advocate?”

    “We can. Who do you want to convince?”

    ENR pulled a periscope around and asked us to look into it. We took turns. Looking through the glass, I could see what looked like a huge, underground coffee shop. At a table down there sat a man typing furiously at a keyboard. I was about to move out of the way to let Costainho take a look, when I spotted something at the back of the room. Was it? It couldn’t be, could it? Was that really the last of the V8 Interceptors, glinting darkly in the gloom at the back of a coffee shop? The man at the table looked up, scooped the foam off the top of his cappuccino and threw it. The foam landed on the other end of the periscope and the image was lost.

    “It's called Starbucks,” said Billy. “It's where Bantertown gets its energy.”

    “Coffee?” asked Davies.

    “Wifi,” said Billy. “The website, the spreadsheet, the live scorecard - all need to be updated over the internet. The internet comes from Wifi. Starbucks has it.”

    “Look around,” said ENR. “All this we built. Where there were RMTs, now there's banter. Where there were dull international breaks, now there's entertainment. It's the Fantasy Football Scout Cricket World Cup and I'll do anything to protect it. Today it's necessary to advocate. What do you say?”

    “What’s in it for us?” I asked.

    “I'll re-equip you... chariots, camels.”

    “Why us, can’t you do it?”

    “We are dealing with subtleties here. I said we would stop using the Jose Mourinho Presser poll; You guys were walking away with the award every week so we thought it was boring. Now, however, it looks like you’re going out…”

    Toy Keane bristled, Cheeseoid and the rest of Team UAE looked ready to fight, but ENR didn’t flinch.

    “Now it looks like you’re going out,” ENR continued, “we want it back. That man down there, Pratik, he doesn’t want to update it. I need you to convince him otherwise. I can’t be seen to publicly argue against my own position, so I need someone else to advocate for it.”

    “We’ll advocate for it,” I said, “but not because we’re going out. We’re UAE, we’re not out of this cup. We’ll fight to the bitter end. You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

    "And when the poll is restored, well win it," the Gaffer said. “You have our answer. Take us back down.”

    To the now familiar shouts of “Australia!” and “New Zealand!” from Ryan and Champ, we made our way back down. The sky seemed to be darkening, but we could still see out over the oval. On the far side I saw our camels – they were about to be auctioned! The rest of the team saw it too. As soon as the gondola landed, we leapt out and sprinted across the oval.

    “Those are our camels. They were stolen from us,” shouted Mr. Grv.

    The seller had his back to us. As he turned, I saw the figure was the same shade of blue as the creature I had last seen in the back of my chariot. Now I was face to face with him. He had a mane of blue fur surrounding a noble face. It was Blue Lion.

    “These are the property of Team India,” he roared. “We found them abandoned on the road into town.”

    “They were not abandoned,” said Mr. Grv, “you took them from us!”

    Blue Lion reared up and his team rushed to his side. The two factions squared off: India and UAE.

    Billy’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere as he shouted up to the rapidly darkening sky: “Listen to the law! ENR, there are two teams in dispute.”

    “You know the law,” boomed ENR from the side of the tent. “Two teams enter, one team leaves... Thunderdome!”

    ENR jumped in a cradle, Salma climbed in beside him and they descended on a zip line to the domed iron cage at the heart of the oval. Behind them in the sky, the sun was almost completely hidden by the moon.

    On the ground, moderators hustled the two teams into the dome, where we were strapped into pads and given bats, a ball, stumps and bails. I realised the dome was there to stop people damaging the pitch.

    The crowd went quiet as ENR and Salma landed. ENR stood and shouted: “Welcome to another edition of Thunderdome!”

    The crowd roared then, from the one side, Zasa called out: “Two teams enter, one team leaves.”

    As the moon fully eclipsed the sun and darkness descended, the chant took hold in the crowd, gathering power and energy with every repetition.

    “Two teams enter, one team leaves.”

    “Two teams enter! One team leaves!”

    “TWO TEAMS ENTER! ONE TEAM LEAVES!”

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      You're quite the story teller, Diva. Really enjoyable read 🙂

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      1. Diva
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, but the credit should mostly go to George Miller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmRAiUPdRjk

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    2. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      This is brilliant stuff Diva 11/10!

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    3. Mr. Grv
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      fantastic diva

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    4. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      1. Mr. Grv
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        prepare to die

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    5. BeachBadger
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Haha Brilliant. Bring on the Thunderdome. #sandstorm 😎

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  22. Cheeseoid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    And that was how it began...

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    1. Mr. Grv
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      😀

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  23. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Even as I look now there are empty columns on the Sri Lacticos spreadsheet. It's fair to say the training camp for our final group game hasn't gone as well as we had hoped but we're confident after humiliating Bangladesh that we can do the same this week!

    Starting XI:

    Jonty
    Spencer
    GreenWindmill
    Tom Fenley (no 52 point hit!)
    Kings of Lyon
    Beavis
    Doolittle
    Athletico Timbo
    Wild Rover
    Demi
    Dufflinks

    The strong bench:

    andy85wsm
    D1sable
    Mark
    In like Flynn

    Good luck Sri Lanka!

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    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Sri Lanka starts without their 52pt hit lucky mascot shocker!!!

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  24. SPorting
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Who's in charge of the Scottish PR?

    This is getting embarrassing.

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    1. John t penguin
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Mods banned him

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  25. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Scottish team news
    in airport and only got 30 min free WiFi
    down to last few minutes
    Ok team is
    beeeeeeeeep

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    1. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      What did you spend the other 28 mins doing? Surely this should be your priority?

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      1. Blue Lion
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Tailing the wag and pawing the lick.

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  26. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-ckNqhCAAAzyOw.jpg

    Indian team to kick some Sheikh Ass in Thunderdome.

    La Roja
    The Fantasy Freak
    Zombie
    Never Trust Bony
    Granville
    Billy Ketsu
    Blue of Leicester
    Gargamel
    Ziegler1988
    Meerlight
    Bend it like Bennett

    And rounding up more abandoned Camels are:-

    TokyoRed
    Guy Demel's Shaved Head
    Aliminator
    Pundit of Punts

    “TWO TEAMS ENTER! ONE TEAM LEAVES!”

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    1. Egg noodle
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      My condolences to the Arab folk...

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  27. Amateur Pundit Zan
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I haven't heard people spout this much bollox (team uae) since I stopped going to Glastonbury. What is going on?

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    1. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      It's all a dream....Wake up!

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  28. Cheeseoid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Badger emerged from his battle pavilion with the furosity of an angry pole cat.

    "line-up" he barked

    The stench from the Indian latrine stung my nostrils. It had clearly been a spicy curry last night,but we knew that would not be the only thing stinging their bottoms this day.

    " This is no time for our normal sleepy weasel formation." He said

    "prepare for Angry Stoat!"

    An exciting murmur spread through the ranks

    "On my word. Unleash hell!"

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  29. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I think i slept off reading this book. Just dreamt that a Badger was barking orders at a Cheese block. Ya right!

    http://culturecheesemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Stinky-Cheese-Man-bookcover-399x500.jpg

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    1. Cheeseoid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Sounds good

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  30. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    UPDATED

    http://preciselyme.com/fpl/cwc

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    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Top work, old chap

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