OwZat!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
End of a Golden Age?
Today, whilst stuck in possibly the worst traffic jam ever - 5 hours from Chesterfield to Luton must be a record of some sort - I at least had the time to enjoy the Specator's 'Connoisseur's Guide to the Cricket World Cup 2007'. The article by Peter Oborne entitled 'A New Golden Age' was entertaining and screams out to all the nostalgic over 30's who watch Life on Mars, that cricket at least wasn't more entertaining when excessive facial hair and Cortina's were cool.
As in cricket terms the 1970's were dull. Batting was about 'occupying the crease' and a good series ended 1-0, with many, many drawn games. Even ODI's were dull - the 1979 World Cup final between England and the West Indies was, by modern standards, looking comfortable for England as they were set the target of 286 to win. However Boycott and Brierley opened, (with Boycott taking 17 overs to reach double figures!) leaving the rest of side to slash and swipe in an attempt to meet the required run rate, which they never did. Test cricket was worse and surely reached it's nadir when Chris Tavare took five and a half hours to score 35. This was not just an English affliction, some other notably stoic innings from the period include Pakistan's Hanif Mohammed's 337, impressive but the lustre fades when you note that it took 970 minutes to score (that's nearly 3 days!).
This is in stark contrast to the modern game and the modern day players, that currently light up the world stage. A select bunch of today's cricketers could even be compared to the very best of all time, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Inzimam-Ul-Haq, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Glenn McGarth and Adam Gilchrist. Sanath Jayasuriya also deserves credit for re-inventing one-day batting in the mid 90's. Oborne lists these players and declares that we are in a new 'Golden Age' of cricket, but a quick glance at the list will inform most that these players are all (Ponting being the only exception) coming to the end of their careers. Rather than being in a Golden Age are we seeing the end of one?
Some current players have been labelled with even being the next Tendulkar already, such as Sehwag, as if we are tired of the original. With many of these declared heirs not fulfilling the promise predicted.
The World Cup will be the last major tournament for many of these giants of the game, lets hope that some young, exciting players do surpass some of the the retiring players marks - Pietersen stands out as one player who has a chance - but lets also take time to enjoy the last hurrah of some of the outstanding players of the last decade.
As in cricket terms the 1970's were dull. Batting was about 'occupying the crease' and a good series ended 1-0, with many, many drawn games. Even ODI's were dull - the 1979 World Cup final between England and the West Indies was, by modern standards, looking comfortable for England as they were set the target of 286 to win. However Boycott and Brierley opened, (with Boycott taking 17 overs to reach double figures!) leaving the rest of side to slash and swipe in an attempt to meet the required run rate, which they never did. Test cricket was worse and surely reached it's nadir when Chris Tavare took five and a half hours to score 35. This was not just an English affliction, some other notably stoic innings from the period include Pakistan's Hanif Mohammed's 337, impressive but the lustre fades when you note that it took 970 minutes to score (that's nearly 3 days!).
This is in stark contrast to the modern game and the modern day players, that currently light up the world stage. A select bunch of today's cricketers could even be compared to the very best of all time, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Inzimam-Ul-Haq, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Glenn McGarth and Adam Gilchrist. Sanath Jayasuriya also deserves credit for re-inventing one-day batting in the mid 90's. Oborne lists these players and declares that we are in a new 'Golden Age' of cricket, but a quick glance at the list will inform most that these players are all (Ponting being the only exception) coming to the end of their careers. Rather than being in a Golden Age are we seeing the end of one?
Some current players have been labelled with even being the next Tendulkar already, such as Sehwag, as if we are tired of the original. With many of these declared heirs not fulfilling the promise predicted.
The World Cup will be the last major tournament for many of these giants of the game, lets hope that some young, exciting players do surpass some of the the retiring players marks - Pietersen stands out as one player who has a chance - but lets also take time to enjoy the last hurrah of some of the outstanding players of the last decade.
Labels: 1970's, Brian Lara, Cricket, Geoff Boycott, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, World Cup
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday Quiz
1) Who was the first batsman to be given out 'obstructing the field' in test match cricket?
2) Who was the first player to score 20 centuries in One-Day Internationals?
3) Six and out from one legal delivery, is it possible for a batter to get out but score six runs at the same time?
4) Who was the first player to achieve the not-so-enviable feat of ten scores in the nineties in Test cricket?
5) What caused the cricket lawmakers to decide that two fielders maximum would be allowed behind square leg on the on side?
As with most examination questions where applicable a simple 'yes' or 'no' will not suffice!
Labels: Quiz
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Cricket welcomes fat lads
If you've ever tried to shop for a decent pair of 38" jeans, you'll probably realise that fat blokes suffer from all sorts of discrimination in today's size-0 world. They are constantly condemned as a public health problem, long haul flights are an absolute misery, and the girls just never go for it (personality my arse).Nature is against us too - we know that in a perfect universe the laws of physics would operate differently and man boobs would not inhibit a nice, flat throw from third man to wicket keeper. Happily, there is a long and honourable tradition of cricket of welcoming the overweight into its flabby fold (see Martin Williamson and Andrew Miller's excellent article at cricinfo.com). The fantastically named Dwayne Loverock (only joking - Dwayne Leverock) represents Bermuda effectively at international level, in spite resembling Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor. Nor is it very hard to think of guys with a bit too much wood who have played at the very highest level. Some, like Mr Flintoff, have chosen to throw aside their portly pedigree for the sake of a few extra yards of pace. For others, like the beloved Inzy, diets have come at the expense of cricketing success.
Of course, as Ramesh Powar could tell you, the greatest hope of the portly cricketer is not the destructive battling of these giants of the game (many chubbers at village level make this mistake, without considering the need for nimble footwork), nor indeed a permanent spot in the slips, but spin bowling. It is a wily and enigmatic art which really has nothing to do with the laws of skinny-physics, and everything to do with a mysterious quality imparted by God into the sausage fingers and fatty wrists of a privileged minority of the world's cricketing population. And you don't need much of a run up either.
If we are to maintain the traditions of the game, then the ICC must get its house in order. I recommend that every team in international cricket should be obliged to field an improbably lardy player in every match. To this end, I recommend the recall of Robert Key.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Another Comeback?!
England skipper Michael Vaughan is confident he will be fit for his side's opening match at the Cricket World Cup, against New Zealand on 16 March"
He said: "It's progressing nicely. The two warm-up games against Bermuda and Australia are going to be crucial. "The medical team is confident over the way it's gone in the past week."
You still must wonder whether or not England will ever really get Vaughan back…as a batsman at least. A great captain maybe but is this really enough?
Labels: Michael Vaughan
Monday, February 19, 2007
Willow & Stumpy
Annoying or informative - watch Willow and Stumpy explain some cricketing terms via YouTube
Famous Cricket Quotes
That great question posted below reminds of the famous commentary quote from Brian Johnston,
"The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey"
Another favourite of mine...
"Geoffrey is the only fellow I've met who fell in love with himself at a young age and has remained faithful ever since." - Dennis Lillee on Geoff Boycott
Anymore??
"The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey"
Another favourite of mine...
"Geoffrey is the only fellow I've met who fell in love with himself at a young age and has remained faithful ever since." - Dennis Lillee on Geoff Boycott
Anymore??
Labels: Dennis Lillee, Geoff Boycott
I got 12
Take the challenge. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6365119.stm
The BBC has plenty of world cup related articles today-take a look and take the Flintoff challenge. Apparently a boy of 12 answered correctly all 19 of his preliminary round questions in junior mastermind - the first time this has ever been done. The subject Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff. See how you compare, some are straightforward and I might have benefited from reading his autobiography but still I think 12 is respectable. Test your knowledge and post how you did.
The BBC has plenty of world cup related articles today-take a look and take the Flintoff challenge. Apparently a boy of 12 answered correctly all 19 of his preliminary round questions in junior mastermind - the first time this has ever been done. The subject Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff. See how you compare, some are straightforward and I might have benefited from reading his autobiography but still I think 12 is respectable. Test your knowledge and post how you did.
Labels: Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, Cricket, England
A Great Question
From the BBC's Stump the Bearded Wonder Feature:
Lionel Rajapakse, Sri Lanka
Was there any occasion in a Test match between England and Australia when Lillee was caught in the gully by Willey off Dilley?
There was indeed and I was fortunate enough to be scoring for TMS at the WACA in Perth when it happened at 4.08pm on 18 December 1979, the fourth day of the first Anglo-Australian Test since the Packer schism. Dennis Lillee had scored 19 off his previous 104 balls in 135 minutes when he fended a short delivery from Graham Dilley to Peter Willey at close gully.
England's warm up fixtures
5th March Bermuda v England, St Vincent
9th March Australia v England, St Vincent
England start the World Cup quest with two warm up fixtures that present a stern test. The first game after getting off the plane is often difficult, with some acclimatisation required. To follow that up with Australia is interesting, especially considering how the Aussies have suddenly slumped in form. Will they see this as a game to regain some form? Or do they wish that they were scheduled to play a weaker team?
What should England's approach be, play the starting 11 in both or give the fringe players a warm-up match?
Either way it will be competitive as England v Australia always carries 100 years plus of history that rules out friendly games, plus either side will want to put a benchmark down both to one another and to the other competing nations.
9th March Australia v England, St Vincent
England start the World Cup quest with two warm up fixtures that present a stern test. The first game after getting off the plane is often difficult, with some acclimatisation required. To follow that up with Australia is interesting, especially considering how the Aussies have suddenly slumped in form. Will they see this as a game to regain some form? Or do they wish that they were scheduled to play a weaker team?
What should England's approach be, play the starting 11 in both or give the fringe players a warm-up match?
Either way it will be competitive as England v Australia always carries 100 years plus of history that rules out friendly games, plus either side will want to put a benchmark down both to one another and to the other competing nations.
Labels: Cricket, England, Friendlies, World Cup
Friday, February 16, 2007
What A Difference A Week Makes
Ten days ago, the Australians were clear favorites to win the world cup. Cue a close run game with the Kiwis, two of the most unlikely England victories in history and an opportunity for John Buchannan to scrape egg from his face. But things just got even worse for the men in baggy greens.Today a weakened Australia and a masterful performance from the injury prone Shane Bond (5-27) combined to see the Shanes fall to 10 wicket defeat in the 1st game of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy. New Zealand, in the form of Flemming and Vincent, chased down a mere 149 with 138 balls to spare and a look of ease that made their opponents performance seem average. Stand-in captain Hussey (both Ponting and Gilchrist declined the week long tour) made the best of it with 42 from 96 balls, and Australia are now two likely looking losses away from deservedly loosing the ODI no. 1 position to the resurgent South Africans, who have just given Pakistan a 3-1 smacking.
Pride comes before a fall, but what else? Aging players, injuries, lame duck coaches on their way to retirement etc etc. Team Australia is now in a England-like position. Key players, both batting and bowling, are missing from the team sheet (Gilchrist, Ponting, Symonds, Lee). If they fail to take the CH trophy, Australia will have succeeded in sending three teams to the world cup - England, New Zealand and South Africa - with the sense of confidence that makes their task that little bit easier, and Australia's that bit harder.
Labels: Australia, New Zealand, World Cup
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Captaincy Issue
...and what of Michael Vaughan’s inclusion when there are still obvious doubts over his fitness...
For all his undoubted tactical brilliance, Vaughan's injury concerns are so acute that there is no guarantee that he will make it off the treatment table for long enough to have an impact on the tournament - although that, it seems, need not undermine the team's preparations.
"My personal wish is that Michael Vaughan gets off the plane at St Vincent to lead England," said Graveney, a statement that hardly smacked of certainty. "It's dangerous for a layman to try and quantify injuries, but we have a capable medical staff and we will give the injured players the maximum amount of time to recover."
This still smacks of England’s lack of confidence in Flintoff’s capabilities as a captain as well as being a pivitol match-winning player...and with Strauss’s loss of form with the bat keeping him out of the reckoning what other ‘captaincy’ options do they have?
World Cup Heroes?
Can this England side go all the way in the world cup? A few weeks ago the answer would definately have been no, however a month is a long time in sport. This rapid turnaround of fortunes demonstrates the effect of confidence and the difference that it can make to the performance of a team. At the end of the Ashes series England's confidence level was at an all time low, thoroughly outplayed, calls for the head coach to resign, and for the captain to be replaced. The commonwealth bank series was just something to endure, before getting back home.
So what happened? Well England had a little luck in their first win against the Aussies and all of a sudden confidence is restored. The inspirational captain then makes a winning comeback, displaying leadership and an understanding of the game that few others have, (Fleming perhaps being the only other international captain to match Vaughan) and England have two wins on the bounce.
All of sudden anything is possible. The Aussies suffered a few injuries and were perhaps guilty of some complacency in the first game, but by the time of the second final, England were in ascendancy and it was the Australian's self belief that had dissipated.
The key questions are: can England maintain their self-belief? Will Australia recover their against New Zealand? Or will none of this matter as a South Asian team romps to victory?
If nothing else the results have certainly brought Australia back to the rest of the field and the World Cup looks a fairly open tournament between the major nations.
I personally think England have a chance, but they have to take the most of every opportunity. If catches start being dropped and run outs missed in the field, then England will struggle.
Come on boys!!
Full squad: MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), EC Joyce (Middlesex), IR Bell (Warwickshire), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), A Flintoff (Lancashire), RS Bopara (Essex), PA Nixon (Leicestershire, wkt), JWM Dalrymple (Middlesex), MS Panesar (Northamptonshire), J Lewis (Gloucestershire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), LE Plunkett (Durham), SI Mahmood (Lancashire)
Picture Ravi Bopara, Guardian Unlimited. England's Wildcard
