2 minute read We expected England to lose. They’re an insipid outfit at the minute. We didn’t expect them to get thrashed though. And they were thrashed. Getting bowled out for 110 is never too smart, but on this pitch it was jaw-dropping. Don’t let New Zealand’s 177-9 fool you. Runs were the
Continue readingMonth: March 2008
Ryan Sidebottom’s hat trick
< 1 minute read Three Ryan Sidebottoms, that’s what we’ve been campaigning for. He’s exceptional. Sidebottom actually started on a hat trick, having taken two wickets in two balls at the end of New Zealand’s first innings. He failed, but no matter, another hat trick opportunity soon arose. They’re nothing special. There’s nothing out
Continue readingThe ‘mighty mighty’ England
< 1 minute read Well we’d probably only have a go if England’s batsmen had got themselves out playing aggressively – let’s say that. We’d have bemoaned their lack of application and their inability to read a pitch and react accordingly. We’d have wondered where the old-fashioned virtue of patience had gone. We are
Continue readingThe power of intimidation
< 1 minute read ‘Oh no, Paul Collingwood’s coming on to bowl. He’s England’s best bowler.’ ‘I thought Collingwood was good, but Pietersen’s EVEN BETTER. Where have they been hiding this guy.’ ‘Hoggard was looking in ominous form during that innings of two. That bodes badly for the rest of the series.’ Just some
Continue readingDaniel Vettori’s batting average
< 1 minute read Here’s some statistics. Since the start of 2003, Daniel Vettori has had 48 Test innings and averaged 41.60 with two hundreds and 11 fifties. Since the start of 2005, he’s averaged 48.18. Not half bad for a number eight batsman. You’ve really got to redefine what the middle-order is with
Continue readingRespectable day for England hints at a mediocre future
2 minute read On the face of it, with New Zealand 282-6 on a flat pitch, England had a pretty good day, but Alastair Cook won’t always catch so well and they won’t always be playing New Zealand. The plan of the day was Plan D, because Vaughan had already been through A,
Continue readingSteve Harmison needs to take responsibility for himself
2 minute read Steve Harmison’s playing in Test matches because he’s England’s most dynamic bowler, but there was no sign of that at Hamilton yesterday. Harmison says himself that he can’t bowl line and length, but instead sees himself as a 90mph strike bowler. It’s worrying that that’s his view as it sounds
Continue readingMahendra Dhoni captains India to CB Series victory
2 minute read No Dravid, no Ganguly – no problem. Other players are making the step up and showing the maturity that should go hand-in-hand with seniority, but so often doesn’t. We were unsure when Mahendra Dhoni was made the captain of India’s one-day team. The extravagant crowd favourite rarely makes the best
Continue readingPhil Mustard unconventionally fields a Pietersen drive
< 1 minute read So Phil Mustard’s dropping the balls into the bowling machine and Kevin Pietersen’s driving the ball. Pietersen gets hold of one and Mustard takes it in the face. Anyone who’s so much as held a cricket ball in their hand will be wincing ever-so-slightly at that. Mustard’s had to go
Continue readingAndrew Strauss is going to GET THE JOB DONE
< 1 minute read Ceci believes that Andrew Strauss will “bring an air of orderly tweediness” to the England team. We’re of the belief that smoking a pipe is the most distinguished, gentlemanly act there is and Ceci has provided us with this just that Strauss-based reassurance: Look at that pipe. It says: ‘Enough
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