I found this rather pathetic from Bishop Tutu ...

Darn Aussies in Tutu's prayers

by Christo Buchner | 03 January 2008 (08:20)

Desmond Tutu © Gallo Images
Those darn Australians. They have even got under former Archbishop Desmond Tutu's skin with the way they dominate international cricket.

The Aussies nearly made the famous clergyman send down a wide during a prayer before the start of the second Test between South Africa and the West Indies at Newlands on Wednesday.

The Nobel peace laureate was conducting the official dedication to mark the first cricket match played at Newlands 120 years ago.

The match between some South Africans and a team of colonialists began on January 2, 1888.

Tutu prayed for the ground and everyone playing on it to be blessed and protected. He asked for summer sunshine and a spirit of tolerance and respect among all those attending the test.

He prayed for peace and enjoyment and for many more years of wonderful cricket.

Then, near the end of his over, he nearly bowled a wide.

"Of course, we are also praying extra hard that the Proteas will always do well here, especially against those darn Aussies whom nobody can beat at the moment," he said.

As part of the festivities, former cricket chief Ray Mali, now chair of the International Cricket Council, will address the crowd at Newlands on Saturday.

Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John on January 13 and a festival cricket match between the Cape Cobras and the Stormers rugby team on February 3.

A banquet, hosted by Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, and Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool's party on the Newlands wicket in May have also been scheduled.

South Africa won only three of the first 24 test matches during the first century of international cricket at Newlands. However, since unification in 1992, the Proteas have won 11 of their 18 tests and 21 of their 23 one-day internationals at the famous ground.

Pathetic, why? I say it's brilliant!

Hilda wrote:Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John on January 13 and a festival cricket match between the Cape Cobras and the Stormers rugby team on February 3.

Blimey .. is that "has-been" the best you guys can come up with for a concert?
He doesn't even like cricket ... Watford FC being his "passion" (other than David English that is) ..
whenever he's happened to be coherent or wasn't throwing a hissy-fit ... which is seldom these days!

Rope in Mick Jagger .. now he's a true cricket fanatic.

Australia have Satan on their side, so it seems only fair to invoke Jehovah's aid against them.

Merlin wrote:

Hilda wrote:Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John on January 13 and a festival cricket match between the Cape Cobras and the Stormers rugby team on February 3.

Blimey .. is that "has-been" the best you guys can come up with for a concert?
He doesn't even like cricket ... Watford FC being his "passion" (other than David English that is)...

I think you mean Furnish.

Allan D wrote:

Merlin wrote:

Hilda wrote:Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John on January 13 and a festival cricket match between the Cape Cobras and the Stormers rugby team on February 3.

Blimey .. is that "has-been" the best you guys can come up with for a concert?
He doesn't even like cricket ... Watford FC being his "passion" (other than David English that is)...

I think you mean Furnish.

Whoops ... of course it is AD .. thanks ...
that'll be another hissy fit from Dwight then .... !!

Hilda wrote:Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John to raise money to purchase a lawnmower.

Fixed.

taipan wrote:

Hilda wrote:Other events to mark the first 120 years of cricket at Newlands will be a concert by Sir Elton John to raise money to purchase a lawnmower.

Fixed.

Whose grass is he going to cut?

Haven't you seen the outfield in this test? It is a total frigging disgrace.

The outfield looks as though the local squatters had their cattle graze there a couple of days before the time.

Nah, there would be no grass then.

"Of course, we are also praying extra hard that the Proteas will always do well here, especially against those darn Aussies whom nobody can beat at the moment," he said.

What's wrong with it? Only way it could happen would be with divine intervention...

Mynah - saying it in a prayer is offensive to me.