Now I have heard the rationale, it does make a little sense. Why schedule test matches (which apart from the Basin never draw a crowd) over the period of summer when everyone is on holiday looking for things to do? Why not play the one-dayers after Christmas and save the test matches for later in the summer, when the weather is more settled anyway?
Still, from a personal perspective as a Wellingtonian - it is a very sad loss indeed.
Sunday, 25 July 2004
Wednesday, 21 July 2004
Monday, 19 July 2004
A plague of New Zealanders
Andre Adams has just been signed by Essex. Which means we currently have four players on the County circuit - Adams, Ian Butler at Kent, and James Edward Charles and Craig Spearman at Gloucestershire. With Chris Cairns (Notts), Nathan Astle (Notts and Derby), Dan Vettori (Notts) and Stephen Fleming (Middlesex) all having played the county game in recent years, England is turning into quite the nursery for New Zealand talent.
Unfortunately nurses sometimes seem to take a shine to the kiddies, and in one case at least, the kiddy is starting to take a shine to nursey - Craig Spearman has said in an interview with Wisden that he would consider playing for England if the chance arose - stating that he now felt more at home in England than he did in New Zealand. Hum.
Unfortunately nurses sometimes seem to take a shine to the kiddies, and in one case at least, the kiddy is starting to take a shine to nursey - Craig Spearman has said in an interview with Wisden that he would consider playing for England if the chance arose - stating that he now felt more at home in England than he did in New Zealand. Hum.
Tino Best, Bester, Bestest
Is there anything in cricket more appealing than a batty fast bowler? Tino Best is the latest to challenge Shoaib Akhtar for the title of "quick, but bonkers". Which reminds me, I wonder what ever happened to Heath Davis' modelling career?
http://sport.independent.co.uk/cricket/story.jsp?story=542156
http://sport.independent.co.uk/cricket/story.jsp?story=542156
Monday, 12 July 2004
A happy ending?
A comprehensive victory in a series we completely dominated. But has any victory felt less hollow? The one day matches could not cover up the holes exposed by the tests.
Still, I will take a hollow victory over a loss any day of the week.
---
PWC has updated its ratings again. Of course, with only one game since the last update there hasn't been much change. But Stephen Fleming has climbed to 6th in the world and Jacob Oram (the world's 5th best bowler remember) has broken the 800 point mark. What is interesting about this latter fact is that no single batsman currently has a rating above 783. The ratings themselves seem to play swings and roundabouts. I suspect that a rash of low scoring matches in recent months has contributed, with the PWC algorithms interpreting these as being indicative of bowler skill. To me, poor wickets worldwide seem a more likely reason.
An the basis of the latest test ratings, PWC has issued its own "World XI". It is no surprise that a New Zealander has not made the cut.
Still, I will take a hollow victory over a loss any day of the week.
---
PWC has updated its ratings again. Of course, with only one game since the last update there hasn't been much change. But Stephen Fleming has climbed to 6th in the world and Jacob Oram (the world's 5th best bowler remember) has broken the 800 point mark. What is interesting about this latter fact is that no single batsman currently has a rating above 783. The ratings themselves seem to play swings and roundabouts. I suspect that a rash of low scoring matches in recent months has contributed, with the PWC algorithms interpreting these as being indicative of bowler skill. To me, poor wickets worldwide seem a more likely reason.
An the basis of the latest test ratings, PWC has issued its own "World XI". It is no surprise that a New Zealander has not made the cut.
Friday, 9 July 2004
Ratings, rankings and other naval terms
I know I have had this discussion before, but I find it fascinating that the team fighting to be ranked the second best in the world (ie us) has so few star performers. I raise this again because Cricinfo has just listed Wisden’s pick for a World one day XI and a World test XI. Not one New Zealander makes either team. Okay, given the recent loss to England there is little surprise that no-one has been selected in the test side. But no New Zealander is in a World XI for one day matches? This seems very odd until you ask yourself who you would pick. Chris Cairns? Well maybe, but most would agree that Andrew Flintoff would shunt him aside on recent form. Stephen Fleming is currently our batsman in the best form - but would he displace Ponting, Hayden, Gilchrist, Lara or Tendulkar? (ummmm, no. The question is rhetorical dumbarse).
The lack of stars becomes even more marked when you look at PWC’s latest ODI ratings. Stephen Fleming has just reached his highest rating ever (702) and is currently ranked the 8th best batsman in the world, but no other New Zealander makes the top 20. On the bowling tables, Jake Oram has also hit his highest rating (799) and is ranked the 5th best bowler in the world. (as an aside, I think you should read that sentence again and suck in the significance of his achievement). Darryl Tuffey (12th) and Shane Bond (19th) have slipped, unsurprisingly given their lack of recent cricket, and Chris Cairn has just climbed 15 places to be ranked 29th.
So, strictly on the strength of ratings Jake Oram might make a World side. But if you were a selector, even with rosy spectacles and a beige shirt, wouldn’t you be tempted to pick Glenn McGrath, or Brett Lee, or Shoaib Akhtar ahead of him?
Second best side in the world? Not on paper my friend. And to my mind, that makes our achievement all the greater.
The lack of stars becomes even more marked when you look at PWC’s latest ODI ratings. Stephen Fleming has just reached his highest rating ever (702) and is currently ranked the 8th best batsman in the world, but no other New Zealander makes the top 20. On the bowling tables, Jake Oram has also hit his highest rating (799) and is ranked the 5th best bowler in the world. (as an aside, I think you should read that sentence again and suck in the significance of his achievement). Darryl Tuffey (12th) and Shane Bond (19th) have slipped, unsurprisingly given their lack of recent cricket, and Chris Cairn has just climbed 15 places to be ranked 29th.
So, strictly on the strength of ratings Jake Oram might make a World side. But if you were a selector, even with rosy spectacles and a beige shirt, wouldn’t you be tempted to pick Glenn McGrath, or Brett Lee, or Shoaib Akhtar ahead of him?
Second best side in the world? Not on paper my friend. And to my mind, that makes our achievement all the greater.
Monday, 5 July 2004
Clang!
Isn't it nice to have a quick bowler back in the side? Flitoff's clanging at the hands of Ian Butler was a thing of brutal beauty.
Butler (Kent) and James Edward Charles (Gloucestershire) will both be plying their trade on the county circuit come the end of this series. Which can only be good for the development of Franklin, at least. Given Butler's injury worries and the short-life span of most fast bowlers, I would prefer him to be treated with kid gloves and cotton wool.
It is hard to see England getting up to beat anyone after yesterday's match. Harmison aside their bowling is woeful and their batting lacks that tight mix of invention and stickability we seem to have found. In contrast I still believe the West Indies are capable of surprising. Bravo just keeps taking wickets and if Best can get those 155mph rockets pointed in the right direction then they will have an attack capable of knocking any side over. And you can never right off a team with such maverick geniuses as Lara and Gayle in its batting line-up.
Here's hoping that it is England we will meet in the final.
Butler (Kent) and James Edward Charles (Gloucestershire) will both be plying their trade on the county circuit come the end of this series. Which can only be good for the development of Franklin, at least. Given Butler's injury worries and the short-life span of most fast bowlers, I would prefer him to be treated with kid gloves and cotton wool.
It is hard to see England getting up to beat anyone after yesterday's match. Harmison aside their bowling is woeful and their batting lacks that tight mix of invention and stickability we seem to have found. In contrast I still believe the West Indies are capable of surprising. Bravo just keeps taking wickets and if Best can get those 155mph rockets pointed in the right direction then they will have an attack capable of knocking any side over. And you can never right off a team with such maverick geniuses as Lara and Gayle in its batting line-up.
Here's hoping that it is England we will meet in the final.
Wednesday, 30 June 2004
James Edward Charles
Does anyone remember the Jimmy Franklin of old? The one who bowled half volleys at 122kmph and got canned at the death? My memory of him is fading rapidly. I am not going to get too carried away however - look what happened to Chris Martin after his dramatic rehabilitation.
Could we have bounced back from the miserable test series any more emphatically? What a kicking. It wasn't just Franklin doing the kicking either, Oram seems to be returning to his steady best and Cairns provided good support. While the English summer has turned damp, I don't think the wicket was too bad. Certainly we didn't have much trouble batting on it - facing Harmison apart.
I feel better about the world now.
Could we have bounced back from the miserable test series any more emphatically? What a kicking. It wasn't just Franklin doing the kicking either, Oram seems to be returning to his steady best and Cairns provided good support. While the English summer has turned damp, I don't think the wicket was too bad. Certainly we didn't have much trouble batting on it - facing Harmison apart.
I feel better about the world now.
Monday, 28 June 2004
Rain, rain go away
We are having a sunny and pristine winter. England is enduring a sodden summer. I suspect you would have a better chance of getting a match at the Basin this month than you would in Blighty.
Wednesday, 23 June 2004
ODing on ODIs
I can't believe it. Its like my brain has erased the entire test series. Here I sit and I can barely suppress the confidence that New Zealand is going to kick arse in the one day tri-series.
My brain cells trying to justify my feelings by whispering that the side is injury free (except for Bond). And with Tuffey's form improving and Franklin frankly a revelation, our bowling resources suddenly look much healthier. One, particularly vile, braincell is telling me that the batting can't possibly continue its bad run. I mean look at the line-up. On paper it is great. And it is time for the theory to be put into practice.
A little piece of my heart is trying to counter all my brain's confidence. But it has no chance of suceeding. At least, not until tomorrow.
My brain cells trying to justify my feelings by whispering that the side is injury free (except for Bond). And with Tuffey's form improving and Franklin frankly a revelation, our bowling resources suddenly look much healthier. One, particularly vile, braincell is telling me that the batting can't possibly continue its bad run. I mean look at the line-up. On paper it is great. And it is time for the theory to be put into practice.
A little piece of my heart is trying to counter all my brain's confidence. But it has no chance of suceeding. At least, not until tomorrow.
Wednesday, 16 June 2004
Sigh
I can't believe we lost 3-0. I just can't believe it.
I could try to put a bright spin on the outcome by saying that at least the (uninjured) bowlers put up a brave effort on a flat deck, and the top order - but I don't really feel up to it.
I could try to put a bright spin on the outcome by saying that at least the (uninjured) bowlers put up a brave effort on a flat deck, and the top order - but I don't really feel up to it.
Thursday, 10 June 2004
3rd test preview
Dan has e-mailed me to ask why I have posted about Michael Slater's retirement rather than giving him a preview of the third test. And the answer is that I have started and tried several times already, but have not been able to manage it. The prospects for the game are just too gloomy for me to face. The body language of the New Zealanders at Headingly made it clear the side has next to no chance of winning at Trent Bridge. And when you realise how many of the bodies that body language is coming from are broken, then the "next to" in "next to no chance" becomes redundant.
Vettori is out. Papps is out. Bond is out. Tuffey is out. (The latter is somewhat of a mercy after his dreadful bowling in the first two matches). With such a short-sightedly small squad we have had to take desperate measures to put a team on the park. As there are no fit spinners within a few thousand miles of Nottingham, James Franklin has been plucked from league cricket to replace Vettori and provide "variation" to the attack(he bowls his dribbly medium pace from left-arm over - golly). Kyle Mills gets a shot at test cricket despite achieving the incredible feat of bowling worse than both Tuffey and Martin in the warm-up matches. And Craig McMillan is back. I can't do anything more at that piece of news than sigh.
The worst thing about this all of course, is that somewhere inside me there is still a kernal of hope. And hope is a bastard of a thing, because it means I will still be disappointed when we lose.
Vettori is out. Papps is out. Bond is out. Tuffey is out. (The latter is somewhat of a mercy after his dreadful bowling in the first two matches). With such a short-sightedly small squad we have had to take desperate measures to put a team on the park. As there are no fit spinners within a few thousand miles of Nottingham, James Franklin has been plucked from league cricket to replace Vettori and provide "variation" to the attack(he bowls his dribbly medium pace from left-arm over - golly). Kyle Mills gets a shot at test cricket despite achieving the incredible feat of bowling worse than both Tuffey and Martin in the warm-up matches. And Craig McMillan is back. I can't do anything more at that piece of news than sigh.
The worst thing about this all of course, is that somewhere inside me there is still a kernal of hope. And hope is a bastard of a thing, because it means I will still be disappointed when we lose.
Wednesday, 9 June 2004
Michael Slater to retire
After a spectacular decline fuelled by a love of the fast life (and a red Ferrari):
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/08/1086460298753.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/08/1086460298753.html
Monday, 7 June 2004
Saturday, 5 June 2004
Second test - day two
Shortest test series ever? It might be for Michael Papps. 86 in five hours and then a broken finger and (probably) a flight home.
Angus Fraser in the Independent is covinced that England have lost this game already. The wicket is green, the air is moist, the clouds are staying. And we have 350 on the board. As I wrote this, Cairns managed to lob an easy catch to gully, but I will still be disappointed if we fail to reach 400. And if we do, then Gloomy 'Gus might be right.
On the other hand Gloomy Mike has a funny feeling that new Dad Michael Vaughan might want to leave something for baby Tallulah to remember. I'm picking a big score from my namesake.
And Tallulah? Michael, what were you thinking?
Angus Fraser in the Independent is covinced that England have lost this game already. The wicket is green, the air is moist, the clouds are staying. And we have 350 on the board. As I wrote this, Cairns managed to lob an easy catch to gully, but I will still be disappointed if we fail to reach 400. And if we do, then Gloomy 'Gus might be right.
On the other hand Gloomy Mike has a funny feeling that new Dad Michael Vaughan might want to leave something for baby Tallulah to remember. I'm picking a big score from my namesake.
And Tallulah? Michael, what were you thinking?
Friday, 4 June 2004
A link especially for Dan
Cricket, New York style:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/nyregion/03cricket.html?8hpib
Canada beat the USA 366-262 in a three day match? What?
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/03/nyregion/03cricket.html?8hpib
Canada beat the USA 366-262 in a three day match? What?
Thursday, 3 June 2004
2nd Test preview
The very dubious policy of only taking 14 players to England has already been shown up. With Bond and McMillan out of the game already and Fleming and Oram dubious starters we could struggle to put 11 players on the park.
I understand that Papps will come in for McMillan and that Oram will play, but only as a batsman. Matt Sinclair has been dragged in from league cricket should Fleming's ear infection rule him out.
With Oram not bowling, our attack will be even weaker than that which did so poorly in the first test. Tuffey, Martin and Cairns are the only pace men, while Vettori will provide spin. Not a prospect to put much fear into the opposition.
I understand that Papps will come in for McMillan and that Oram will play, but only as a batsman. Matt Sinclair has been dragged in from league cricket should Fleming's ear infection rule him out.
With Oram not bowling, our attack will be even weaker than that which did so poorly in the first test. Tuffey, Martin and Cairns are the only pace men, while Vettori will provide spin. Not a prospect to put much fear into the opposition.
Wednesday, 2 June 2004
Canada vs the USA
In an initiative to develop smaller nations ability to play the longer version of the game, the ICC has introduced a first class competition for nations. A fairly decent idea in principle, it has been rewarded in practice with a cracking opening match. Canada beat the USA in a closely fought match dominated by John Davison. Davison took 17 wickets to produce the best bowling performance in any first class match since Jim Laker took 19 wickets way back in 1956.
This match also happens to commemerate the first ever first class match between nations, which occured 160 years ago. Canada vs USA.
This match also happens to commemerate the first ever first class match between nations, which occured 160 years ago. Canada vs USA.
Sport goes bonkers
In the circus which is Pakistani cricket, a parlimentary inquiry is being conducted to investigate the cricketers' "lack of commitment to national honour" after their loss to India. Sports gone mad? When politicians start calling their best fast bowler "a pampered and spoiled baby" (Senator Tariq Azeem) you have to wonder, even if that fast bowler is Shoaib Akhtar.
To be frank, I think Pakistan did themselves damn proud in the test and one-day series. The current Indian team would probably rank as that country's best ever, full of established performers at the peak of their game (Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman) and stars just beginning to crest (Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Nehra, Balaji). Meanwhile Pakistan has one champion batsman who seems to be slipping over the crest (Inzamam), one world class bowler (Akhtar) and a whole bunch of inexperienced youngsters.
I can think of earlier Pakistani sides which would have disintergrated in the face of a challenge like that the Indians presented, but this side managed to take both the one-dayers and the test series to the wire. If it should be doing anything (and it shouldn't), the government of Pakistan should be figuring out how to build on the performace, not to demolish the foundations of it.
To be frank, I think Pakistan did themselves damn proud in the test and one-day series. The current Indian team would probably rank as that country's best ever, full of established performers at the peak of their game (Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman) and stars just beginning to crest (Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Nehra, Balaji). Meanwhile Pakistan has one champion batsman who seems to be slipping over the crest (Inzamam), one world class bowler (Akhtar) and a whole bunch of inexperienced youngsters.
I can think of earlier Pakistani sides which would have disintergrated in the face of a challenge like that the Indians presented, but this side managed to take both the one-dayers and the test series to the wire. If it should be doing anything (and it shouldn't), the government of Pakistan should be figuring out how to build on the performace, not to demolish the foundations of it.
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