OwZat!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
What should we do with the drunken sailor?
I've not posted for a while as unfortunately work has managed to get in the way of my cricketing activities, however the World Cup's certainly had it's talking points and we're not even out of the group stages.
First, well done to Ireland, proving that the minnows certainly do have a part to play in the World Cup, all we need now is for them to beat Australia and prove to Ricky Ponting that they deserve their place. Test status would surely follow - this might cause a few issues for a certain 'English' opening batsman.
Where this defeat leaves Pakistan is unclear. They are missing their two leading bowlers, for 'injuries' that seem to be linked to the drugs testing policy of the ICC. The batsman, three of which are regarded as amongst the finest in the world, struggled to score runs at anything approaching one day pace, all prior to the tragic death of Bob Woolmer.
Various commentators and leading players have written tributes to Bob Woolmer, the successful cricketer and coach. This is something I feel I have no place to really comment on, never having known or even watched him play (a little to young). All I can do is sympathise for his family, friends and players who knew him well and hope that the ongoing investigation is over quickly so that his body can be returned to his family.
In the background to all this Freddie decided to recover from the defeat to New Zealand by drinking a skinful and engaging in, to use his own words, a few shenanigans. Did England over react? Did the management have much of a choice?
I think not. Although, not morally outraged as some seem to be, Freddie, is a professional sportsman who people have paid huge sums of money to see in action on the cricket pitch rather in the local bars. Whether a few drinks would have been detrimental to his performance is unclear - certainly from my own modest sports career (I use career extremely loosely) a few beers the night before a game didn't usually do much harm, with headaches and any residual sickly feelings fading when the adrenaline began to flow. If England had won I don't think anyone would have cared, but to lose and then get pissed and so publicly, is just a little naive.
I do admire the way he's taken this on the chin though - and lets hope he smashes the Kenyans around the park before taking a 5 for.
First, well done to Ireland, proving that the minnows certainly do have a part to play in the World Cup, all we need now is for them to beat Australia and prove to Ricky Ponting that they deserve their place. Test status would surely follow - this might cause a few issues for a certain 'English' opening batsman.
Where this defeat leaves Pakistan is unclear. They are missing their two leading bowlers, for 'injuries' that seem to be linked to the drugs testing policy of the ICC. The batsman, three of which are regarded as amongst the finest in the world, struggled to score runs at anything approaching one day pace, all prior to the tragic death of Bob Woolmer.
Various commentators and leading players have written tributes to Bob Woolmer, the successful cricketer and coach. This is something I feel I have no place to really comment on, never having known or even watched him play (a little to young). All I can do is sympathise for his family, friends and players who knew him well and hope that the ongoing investigation is over quickly so that his body can be returned to his family.
In the background to all this Freddie decided to recover from the defeat to New Zealand by drinking a skinful and engaging in, to use his own words, a few shenanigans. Did England over react? Did the management have much of a choice?
I think not. Although, not morally outraged as some seem to be, Freddie, is a professional sportsman who people have paid huge sums of money to see in action on the cricket pitch rather in the local bars. Whether a few drinks would have been detrimental to his performance is unclear - certainly from my own modest sports career (I use career extremely loosely) a few beers the night before a game didn't usually do much harm, with headaches and any residual sickly feelings fading when the adrenaline began to flow. If England had won I don't think anyone would have cared, but to lose and then get pissed and so publicly, is just a little naive.
I do admire the way he's taken this on the chin though - and lets hope he smashes the Kenyans around the park before taking a 5 for.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
That Catch!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Baseball it Ain’t!
The Wall Street Journal’s take on our beloved game and the World Cup...
But when the Big Boys play--when Pakistan meets South Africa or Australia takes on New Zealand--one gets a whiff of the cordite almost instantly. Cricket then takes on the aspect with which the game's devotees are familiar, and Americans, alas, so unfamiliar--that of a virile, even brutal game in which a rock-hard ball is bowled at speeds that can approach 100 miles per hour at batsmen who stand no more than 22 yards away. No wonder there are leg pads, helmets and (the thing no batsman would dare take the field without) testicular guards. There could be few less romantic ways to die--and few more painful--than to be hit amidships, without protection, by a cricket ball. (Read full article)
But when the Big Boys play--when Pakistan meets South Africa or Australia takes on New Zealand--one gets a whiff of the cordite almost instantly. Cricket then takes on the aspect with which the game's devotees are familiar, and Americans, alas, so unfamiliar--that of a virile, even brutal game in which a rock-hard ball is bowled at speeds that can approach 100 miles per hour at batsmen who stand no more than 22 yards away. No wonder there are leg pads, helmets and (the thing no batsman would dare take the field without) testicular guards. There could be few less romantic ways to die--and few more painful--than to be hit amidships, without protection, by a cricket ball. (Read full article)
Friday Quiz 4
What is the name of the band Brett Lee plays in?
Who is the only batsman in test history to have scored three centuries with a six?
Ian Botham made the fastest ever test double century against India in 1982. How many balls did it take?
In what season was the stump-cam introduced?
Bangladesh have played 74 one-day internationals. How many have they won?
Who is the only batsman in test history to have scored three centuries with a six?
Ian Botham made the fastest ever test double century against India in 1982. How many balls did it take?
In what season was the stump-cam introduced?
Bangladesh have played 74 one-day internationals. How many have they won?
Labels: Brett Lee, Ian Botham, Quiz
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
One game in..
All international tournaments really need the home side to do well in order for the event and more importantly the atmosphere surrounding it to be special. Remember England in 1999 and what a damp squid the tournament was, largely owing to England's awful form.
So it's great to see the West Indies off to a winning start.
Their batting initially struggled and at 83-3 off of 27 overs I thought that they were in real trouble of being blasted away by the much feared Pakistan batting. However, some calm play from Lara and some great hitting from Samuals and Smith blasted the WI to a respectable score. And a score Pakistan just couldn't get to, thanks in part to some pretty slow scoring by the middle order.
The much dicussed state of pitches with many commentators stating that they would be low and uneven wasn't accurate as the wicket was similar to that found in England.
As for lessosn learn't, wickets in hand are absolutely vital, in order that the last 15 overs can really be attacked. If chasing, the run rate has to be kept up so as not to apply to much pressure to the late middle order and tail enders. But this is nothing new. The only perhaps surprising element given the power plays is the slow scoring at the start of each innings. It could just be that maybe, just maybe, England have read the script by picking fairly conservative players to start the innings, leaving Pietersen, Flintoff and co to hit out late.
So it's great to see the West Indies off to a winning start.
Their batting initially struggled and at 83-3 off of 27 overs I thought that they were in real trouble of being blasted away by the much feared Pakistan batting. However, some calm play from Lara and some great hitting from Samuals and Smith blasted the WI to a respectable score. And a score Pakistan just couldn't get to, thanks in part to some pretty slow scoring by the middle order.
The much dicussed state of pitches with many commentators stating that they would be low and uneven wasn't accurate as the wicket was similar to that found in England.
As for lessosn learn't, wickets in hand are absolutely vital, in order that the last 15 overs can really be attacked. If chasing, the run rate has to be kept up so as not to apply to much pressure to the late middle order and tail enders. But this is nothing new. The only perhaps surprising element given the power plays is the slow scoring at the start of each innings. It could just be that maybe, just maybe, England have read the script by picking fairly conservative players to start the innings, leaving Pietersen, Flintoff and co to hit out late.
Labels: Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, Cricket, England, Pakistan, Pietersen, Samuals, Smith, World Cup
