< 1 minute read Dimi is quoted as saying: “I only hope that people will look back in 20 or 30 years time and say that I gave everything for a franchise I’ve supported since I was a boy.” He didn’t really say that. But someone might before too long, because people are, on
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Kolkata name their IPL team
< 1 minute read They’re going to be the Kolkata Knight Riders. Brilliantly, this isn’t even a joke. Writing this site gets easier by the day. This time next week, we fully expect Sohail Tanvir to change his name to Optimus Prime. But the Knight Riders aren’t the best-monikered IPL outfit. That honour has
Continue readingSwalec Stadium to host Ashes Test
< 1 minute read The Swalec Stadium is going to host the first Ashes Test, but don’t worry, Lord’s and The Oval have still got their Tests and that’s the main thing. Actually, Edgbaston and Headingley have still got theirs as well. There hasn’t been a change in venue for the Ashes Tests at
Continue readingKyle Mills shames England
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 readingRyan 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
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