tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115461562008-07-03T15:13:24.643+10:00Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comBlogger446125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-28941205295396593712008-06-18T12:24:00.001+10:002008-06-18T12:24:31.721+10:00

I have no problem with this Pietersen switch hitting fiasco. What a storm in a tea cup that is. It's only going to really work on the postage stamp English grounds anyway. Let's just see a few pitches with a bit of life in them, and as Dan Vettori says, give the bowlers a bit more leeway, and there is no problem. Maybe it will bring about the demise of the dibbly dobbly one day cricket bowler

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-63809882874742326892008-06-18T12:15:00.001+10:002008-06-18T12:16:21.072+10:00

Very few posts here recently...  It's so hard to get enthused about a Caribbean tour these days, which is a tragedy really. The hour doesn't help the time difference here in Aus makes it even harder to catch say a first or last session. Anyway, Australia won 2 / zip. No real surprise there except that some may say, it wasn't 3 / zip! Australia wouldn't take too many positives out of the series

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-82364241378627372202008-06-06T15:38:00.001+10:002008-06-06T15:38:26.537+10:00

I forgot to mention this, but Rodney Hogg categorically stated on Melbourne Radio last week (or was it the week before), "England will win the Ashes in 2009". Based solely around Monty Panesar. (Given he was just coming of a 7 wicket haul against NZ). He makes a good point though - for the first time in about 20 years, England will have the advantage over Australia in the spinning stakes and

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-26966794967609656692008-06-06T15:32:00.001+10:002008-06-06T15:32:03.889+10:00

I see New Zealand have let England off the hook again. This is getting frustrating and I'm not even a Kiwi - how must Mike feel!? As an Aussie, it's my responsibility to support anyone who plays England, and this is not good news - England were 5 for 86!! They are now 7 for 273 - far from a great score still, but probably enough seeing as though NZ have to bat last and Monty is in form and

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-56805297055707105192008-06-06T09:20:00.001+10:002008-06-06T09:20:36.286+10:00

I am still alive...just busy. Since my last post... Australia wrapped up the first Test against the West Indies on the fifth Day, MacGill struggled but got a couple of questionable wickets to finish things off. Australia went into the second Test, heavy favourites, but again, could get rid of Chanderpaul, the end result being a draw. MacGill again highlighted just how good Warney really was,

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-89622404617518076222008-05-25T08:59:00.002+10:002008-05-25T09:17:30.846+10:00

Game On! Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell bowled really well in Australia's first innings without just rewards. That happens in Cricket. Their bowling was inspired stuff without luck. More inspired stuff from Chanderpaul, being basically KO'd by Brett Lee, then rising like Lazurus to score a first innings saving 118. More inspired stuff! In fact there are many young inexperienced player in the

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-64675657114254102982008-05-23T15:11:00.001+10:002008-05-23T15:12:15.153+10:00

I was going to call it, Strong but not dominant, Australia's performance on Day 1 of this Test, but looking at that scorecard, I think maybe my view was tainted by the coverage I saw of the late overs. The West Indies certainly didn't seem dejected, but with a score of 4 for 301, maybe that is only a matter of time. Dwayne Bravo was certainly up - putting pressure on the batsman, doing quite a

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-18799272115509157662008-05-22T17:27:00.001+10:002008-05-22T17:27:00.490+10:00

When you hear the stories of all the big names in the West Indies camp arriving after the official training camp has finished, it automatically conjures up images of disunity and low team morale which does not auger well for a decent contest on this tour. Should we hear the same of the Australian side, we'd assume they will all get it together when it counts and that if Ricky Ponting arrived

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-91233654052550486132008-05-14T10:46:00.001+10:002008-05-14T10:46:10.271+10:00

In only 2 days, Lords will host the first test between England and New Zealand. The return bout after England's tour of NZ earlier this year. Promises to be a good show too. I enjoy watching these to sides go at it. Traditionally the Kiwis have struggled against the POMS. Statsguru will tell you, only 8 wins from 91 matches - appalling really. NZ recently choked somewhat in their hometown Test

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-77182831997863037582008-05-14T10:27:00.000+10:002008-05-14T10:27:44.853+10:00

The pre-tour camp is over, those that "ran away with the Circus" for a time, are back, no doubt fighting hard to get their feet back on the ground, the ship has set sail for the Caribbean, there is Test Cricket on the foreseeable horizon again, and all is well with the world. Just 8 more sleeps until the First Test between Australia and the West Indies at Kingston. Every time we meet the WIndies

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-16454281959122818252008-04-14T15:36:00.003+10:002008-04-14T15:39:44.512+10:00

How exciting is it to hear Ashes talk already? It is only next year that Australia tour England. (I know it's 14 months away, but hey - time will fly!) 14 months ago we were just starting the "never ending World Cup" - doesn't seem that long now does it? And a new Test Venue to kick things off - England clearly sick of losing the First Test at Lords every four years ;-)

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-50090741073756188992008-04-14T10:55:00.001+10:002008-04-14T10:59:57.338+10:00

The two sides battling it out for number two position in the world - India and South Africa, have just crammed a forgettable three test series into 18 days, and wound up all square at 1 win each. India's "series" included a 319 from Sehwag in a total of 627, promptly followed just 5 days later by a first innings total of 76! India have just won the third test however in convincing style, albeit

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-77172602021640951692008-04-11T14:27:00.007+10:002008-04-11T16:45:40.795+10:00

Just over three years ago something inspired me to start a blog. I was toying with the idea of an I.T. blog (coz there aren't many of those!) and thought a cricket blog might be a fun thing to try, you know, for practice, before starting the real thing. That was just a couple of months before Australia headed off on what was bound to be a token Ashes defence - you know, waltz over there, smash

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-91649036726817724412008-03-07T11:08:00.002+11:002008-03-07T11:14:02.761+11:00

Nothing, other than being insanely busy, has stopped me from posting since Australia's incredibly poor showing in the CBA series, finals earlier this week. Congrat to India - too good, too consistant, when it mattered. Tendulkar - a pleasure to watch, even when it's our guys he's toying with - imagine if he was fit! Awesome. Dhoni - well captained. The rest - well bowled! Harbhajan - still as

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-74800968941593478692008-02-27T09:28:00.001+11:002008-02-27T09:28:38.257+11:00

I'm officially over the squabbling between Indian and Australian "cricket" (in general not just the cricketers" this year. I've been as guilty as most, at provoking, digging, and being petty. There is a great post over on Will's site (the Corridor) that crystallised this for me just now. Every time we've had cricket with a bit of passion this summer, it ends up with the BCCI, Indian team

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-86368604014157839602008-02-26T10:11:00.001+11:002008-02-26T10:11:34.946+11:00

In their quest to lay blame on anything other than their own inability to cope with the pressure, India are at it again with their smoke and mirrors diversionary tactics, blaming their own on-field transgressions on who else, but those big bad bullying Australians. Heaven help us if this young Indian side ever lives up to it's potential. Should it's on field power ever match it's off field power

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-48052379975529123642008-02-20T15:02:00.001+11:002008-02-20T15:02:48.520+11:00

Oh dear! Questions must be asked after this result - can South Africa's opening bowler (Danesha Devnarain) retain her spot, after being so expensive...and why did it take so long to bring Sunette Loubser into the attack!

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-9100998578605936152008-02-11T14:48:00.001+11:002008-02-11T14:48:26.506+11:00

India just beat Australia at the MCG, for the first time since 1986. They did so because they played brilliant one day cricket. The Australian's batted like millionaires and didn't seem interested in steadying the ship when early wickets fell. Like always, Australia never gave up in the field, but India, under pressure, did what Australia didn't - they slowed down, stuck to their plan (to make

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-44519895128121747312008-02-05T09:15:00.001+11:002008-02-05T09:15:33.324+11:00

I've been thinking more about all this India v Australia controversy and I'm starting to wonder, are we just getting a bit too precious? After years of complaints about the behaviour of Australians on the field, it seems that as soon as we are given cause to complain back, we are jumping at it. Like some childish form of, "if you can whinge, so can we". I think the "racial vilification" card is

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-90094694417014920552008-01-27T09:53:00.001+11:002008-01-27T09:53:46.092+11:00

Andy Strauss Originally uploaded by Peter Meade Discovered this while browsing Flickr - very nice shot

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-55251913370159991852008-01-26T21:06:00.000+11:002008-01-26T21:33:01.974+11:00

Farewell Gilly! In the last three Tests, Australians have started to feel the full impact of the loss of bowling duo Messrs Warne and McGrath. Without the ever reliable Shane Warne to wrap things up for us, India amassed 562 at the Adelaide Oval yesterday. Without McGrath to send down 25 robotic overs and take key wickets seemingly on cue we struggled in Sydney and lost in Perth. Today, we

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-89548320011084679722008-01-23T09:22:00.001+11:002008-01-23T09:22:53.384+11:00

How appropriate is it that Shane Warne would be penalised for sending SMS messages during his recent Poker tournament in the US? Now there's talk of a knighthood - except we don't do that in Aus anymore - if anyone could change that it just maybe Sir Shane!

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-88517705811929267162008-01-21T09:28:00.001+11:002008-01-21T09:28:50.711+11:00

Rather than ending dramatically, I tend to agree with much Will has to say in a recent post, we are probably witnessing the slow end of an era right now, as the Australian aura fades... This sort of thing has been predicted a few times over recent years, most notably when we lost the Ashes to England in '05. Of course, losing McGrath, Warne, Langer and Martyn, in one summer has to leave a large

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-57314721599391844972008-01-20T08:18:00.000+11:002008-01-20T08:54:34.121+11:00

India released a lot of pent up emotion and frustration as brash celebrations errupted on the pitch at the WACA late yesterday, their well earnt victory denying the Aussies (again) their record breaking victory. In scenes we're more accustom to seeig from the Aussies, there were team huddles, falg waving, chanting and just general euphoria, as the tension of the past fortnight was released.

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11546156.post-36742220007711959612008-01-17T20:55:00.000+11:002008-01-17T21:06:03.422+11:00

Well who saw that coming? Certainly not the Australian top order! Most batted like they were just expecting some else to do the job. Australia now trail by about 120 on the first innings and XXX overall. First of all, credit to India's bowlers. With so little experience they bowled with discipline on a pitch where supposedly, that's hard to do. It paid dividends and Australia's run on wins

Stuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783460993241785773noreply@blogger.com