The press goes wild

After yesterday's slow news day, everything seems to have hit the presses today. And most of the hitting is happening over at Cricinfo. First in line to do some whacking is Mark Greatbatch, who has just been appointed coach of English county side Warwickshire.

Another former big hitter is up next, with Chris Cairns attracting the attention of Andrew McLean. McLean weighs Cairns options for him and decides that getting him back into the side is going to take some effort.

Turning away from New Zealand and towards our neighbours across the Tasman, John Stern runs his eyes over the Aussies and the Rest of the World and decides that the upcoming Super Series is going to be a run-fest. Stern does wonder about motivation, sensibly enough he says he can't envisage Andrew Flintoff running in as hard in these matches as he did in the Ashes. Playing for self-esteem and pots of cash is not quite the same as playing for national pride. I mostly agree with Stern on that point, but some players certainly will have motivation. Shoaib Akhtar will want to show the Pakistani selectors what they have been missing out on, while the big egos amongst the top order are going to be clashing for "world's best batsman" bragging rights.

Elsewhere, the head-shaking and hand-wringing has already started in Sri Lanka where their 'A' side is performing badly against New Zealand and South Africa.

Moving away from Cricinfo, we find that the newspapers are starting to tie on their cricket boots too. In the New Zealand Herald Richard Boock talks to Dan Vettori about the 'doosra' and bending your arm when bowling. Meanwhile, over in the Dominion Post, Jonathan Millmow also talks to Dan, but on far less controversial topics such as bowling with Murali and encouraging kids to read books.

Travelling back across the Tasman one final time, we find that the Australian press has a couple of stories of interest. First up is a ratty Matthew Hayden, who sends the Australian selectors a rather Tony Soprano-like warning via the Melbourne Age. And finally World XI captain Shaun Pollock who admits to the Australian that he is going to steal England's blue-print for tackling the Aussies.