< 1 minute read Napier groundsman Phil Stoyanoff was asked if there will be a result in the current Test between New Zealand and Pakistan: “Yes, because both sides have such bad batsmen. That’s my honest opinion, they’re useless.” As this might be considered a bit inflammatory, New Zealand Cricket public affairs manager Stephen
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ICC Test rankings system
< 1 minute read India have risen to be number one in the rankings and many people will say that the rankings are questionable. Are India the best Test cricket team? A lot of people say the rankings are meaningless. When they make this criticism, they always do it according to a team’s position.
Continue readingInnings victories in cricket – good or bad?
< 1 minute read It’s good if it’s your side that’s won, but if you’re impartial, it means that a Test has been one-sided. Australia’s innings victory over West Indies also raises uncomfortable and unwelcome questions about the future of the West Indies as a Test team, even if their best player, Adrian Barath,
Continue readingThe five best batsmen over the next five years
< 1 minute read The big names are generally old bastards. Who’s next? Ross Taylor, New Zealand, age 25 Ross Taylor tends to look like he’s the man who’s going to win the match for New Zealand shortly before doing something slightly spacky. Pretty soon those fifties will become hundreds and those hundreds will
Continue readingDaniel Vettori’s heartfelt support for Andy Moles
< 1 minute read By all accounts the New Zealand players liked Andy Moles, who’s just resigned from his position as their coach. However, being liked isn’t really the whole job. It was fairly obvious that Moles was going to have to go after Daniel Vettori was asked whether the New Zealand players were
Continue readingThe best of New Zealand’s sporting stalking
< 1 minute read Have you ever wished that there was an online resource where you could submit an encounter with a well-known sports star and peruse other people’s similar brushes with fame? Do you wish that the recording of such information could be done in New Zealand, perhaps for legal reasons? Well then,
Continue readingJesse Ryder adds weight to New Zealand’s middle order
< 1 minute read The score was 23-3. Jesse Ryder knew what he had to do. He started the gentle rocking motion that would propel him out of his chair and when he had enough momentum, he went for the stand. A shower of crisp crumbs indicated success. He stretched his arms up and
Continue readingJesse Ryder’s first Test hundred
< 1 minute read New Zealand’s third wicket fell. Jesse Ryder picked up his bat, lay down on the outfield and commanded his team mates: “Roll me out there. I’ve got a job to do.” Without having had inadequate preparation for once, Ryder was primed for action. He brushed the chocolate digestive crumbs off
Continue readingSteve Harmison has one day to bowl his way back
2 minute read If there’s one thing England need more than anything else, it’s a fast bowler. If there’s one thing Steve Harmison isn’t at the moment, it’s a fast bowler. The good news for Harmison is that nobody else is either, so all he really needs to address is that ‘at the
Continue readingJames Anderson bowls reverse swing
< 1 minute read If you’ve only seen the scorecard, you might not believe us on this one, but James Anderson bowled brilliantly in this match – particularly when you consider that he was suffering from the wild shits for the whole of one day’s play. He’s bowled well all series, in fact, in
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