My last poll asked you about the future of the Super Series and, if you lot are anything to go by, the future looks bleak. Two of you thought the future had a series and that the World XI must get better with time. Two thought that the fact the series made a profit means the future is bright. The rest of you saw the concept consigned to the dustbin of history - with five saying the small crowds are the kiss of doom and six saying that the pathetic efforts of the World XI are the primary reason we will never see Dan Vettori play in the same side as Graeme Smith ever again.
My new poll looks at the season ahead. The New Zealand side started the season in a blaze of glory against Zimbabwe and India, but the wheels fell of a little in South Africa. How do you think the next few months are looking?
Sunday, 13 November 2005
Friday, 11 November 2005
All-rounders
In today's Herald, Richard Boock talks with John Bracewell. Although Boock jibes at Bracewell with a sneer about "yelling don't panic in the best tradition of Dad's Army's Corporal Jones", Bracewell is actually refreshingly honest in admitting that his top-order failed in situations that should actually have suited them.
Boock and Bracewell go on to discuss the role of all-rounders in New Zealand cricket. Usually when you talk about New Zealand all-rounders you are talking about bits and pieces players - bowlers who aren't quite up to international class but can also swing the bat a bit, and batsmen who struggle in the top order but can also throw down a few dobbers. I find the whole subject a bit depressing because this is the type of player who only ever fits into a team that can't do better. You can also find them in sides like Kenya and Bagladesh (is there a better example of the type than Khaled Mahmud?). Boock's contention is that the lack of these players is why New Zealand failed in South Africa - my response to that is to say that we should stop trying to turn players like Franklin, Mills and Adams into all-rounders and should concentrate on making them the best bowlers they can possibly be. If Bracewell is as confident in his top-order coming right as he says, then he should be comfortable with the New Zealand side having a long tail.
As an aside, does anyone else find Boock's Dad's Army jibe oddly amusing? Richard Boock is such a grumpy old fuddy-duddy that it seems entirely appropriate for him to use TV shows from the 1970s as a cultural touchstone. When I read that line I instantly had an image in my head of Boock composing a letter to TVNZ complaining about the poor standard of modern comedy and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Boock and Bracewell go on to discuss the role of all-rounders in New Zealand cricket. Usually when you talk about New Zealand all-rounders you are talking about bits and pieces players - bowlers who aren't quite up to international class but can also swing the bat a bit, and batsmen who struggle in the top order but can also throw down a few dobbers. I find the whole subject a bit depressing because this is the type of player who only ever fits into a team that can't do better. You can also find them in sides like Kenya and Bagladesh (is there a better example of the type than Khaled Mahmud?). Boock's contention is that the lack of these players is why New Zealand failed in South Africa - my response to that is to say that we should stop trying to turn players like Franklin, Mills and Adams into all-rounders and should concentrate on making them the best bowlers they can possibly be. If Bracewell is as confident in his top-order coming right as he says, then he should be comfortable with the New Zealand side having a long tail.
As an aside, does anyone else find Boock's Dad's Army jibe oddly amusing? Richard Boock is such a grumpy old fuddy-duddy that it seems entirely appropriate for him to use TV shows from the 1970s as a cultural touchstone. When I read that line I instantly had an image in my head of Boock composing a letter to TVNZ complaining about the poor standard of modern comedy and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Thursday, 10 November 2005
The "rift"
Yesterday (see below) Richard Boock told us that a rift had developed between Stephen Fleming and John Bracewell over the non-selection of Chris Cairns. Today he is busy pointing at Jonathon Millmow and saying "he said it!" while quoting Snedden, Fleming and Bracewell - who all deny that the rift ever existed.
I s'pose its a good way to sell newspapers. Make up a story about conflict and then follow it up with the angry denials.
I s'pose its a good way to sell newspapers. Make up a story about conflict and then follow it up with the angry denials.
Wednesday, 9 November 2005
Kath and Kim visit Lord's
According to this TVNZ feature on Lord's, floodnights cannot be installed at the ground because of opposition from local residents in "effluent" St John's Wood. Oh dear. I suppose that explains why the Lord's grass is always so green...
Is it cowardly to pray for rain?
The Guardian's online cricket coverage is superb. It is the John Parker to the Bryan Waddle which is Cricinfo. Cricinfo and Bryan tell you what happens with each ball, the Guardian and Parker keep you entertained between the balls and only occasionally veer off to discuss the game being played infront of them. The Guardian's coverage reached its apogee during the Ashes and now its coverage has been turned into a book.
As one reviewer says "Other sites might have told you it was overcast but no sign of rain, but where else would you read that skies were 'John Major grey and about as threatening as meeting the former PM in a dark alley'".
As one reviewer says "Other sites might have told you it was overcast but no sign of rain, but where else would you read that skies were 'John Major grey and about as threatening as meeting the former PM in a dark alley'".
Graeme Smith is a dick
The Guardian's weekly cricket newsletter, the Spin, points out that Graeme Smith is becoming the new Dean Jones or Greg Matthews - the cricketer everyone loves to hate:
Sign me up for the bandwagon.
Ever since the retirement of Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga, a man who made Napoleon look like a doubt-plagued ditherer, the cricket world has been crying out for a captain to love to hate. But the evidence is mounting that Graeme Smith, the South African wunderkind, appears to be cultivating enemies at a strike-rate that even Ranatunga at his most Machiavellian might have struggled to match. And while Ranatunga used to attract venom for his overly generous embonpoint ("You don't get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c*nt," as Ian Healy once pointed out to him), it is Smith's attitude that seems to be rankling.
Australia, of course, have never forgiven him for telling tales about their sledging after his Test debut in March 2002. And in his autobiography Michael Vaughan recalls how Smith kept calling him "queer" during last winter's series. Vaughan even claims to have discerned misgivings among South Africa's senior players about the then 24-year-old Smith's "power freak" approach to captaincy.
Now the Spin should point out at this stage that it has never found Smith anything other than personable, but then it has never upset him by scoring a Test century at the Wanderers [Nor is it likely to - Ed]. And a couple of incidents over the weekend suggest that Smith is increasingly not the flavour of the month. First came a stinging indictment in a Sunday Times interview with Kevin Pietersen, whose defection to England did not impress Smith. "I didn't speak to him," he said of his recent trip to Australia, where Smith captained the ICC World XI in the Super Test. "I don't waste my breath speaking to him." And if that left anyone in any doubt, Pietersen added: "It's a waste of my breath even opening my mouth to say hello to the bloke."
Then there was a strange moment in the fifth ODI against New Zealand at Centurion, when Stephen Fleming, Smith's old nemesis, took a slip catch to dismiss AB de Villiers. Fleming stood motionless for a second, then ran in a strange circle to the bowler via short extra cover, whooping like a banshee. A couple of glances in Smith's direction at the non-striker's end betrayed his intention: he was taking the mick. Vaughan notes how after every wicket during the South Africa tour Smith was "the one celebrating most". And Fleming, about to go 4-0 down in the series, had clearly had enough. The Spin suspects that what really riles opposition captains is that Smith is an old head on young shoulders. But, hey, while he continues to rub people up the wrong way, the Spin will not be complaining.
Sign me up for the bandwagon.
New Zealand in freefall?
Hmmm. Maybe it is not Richard Boock who is the crazy pessimist, but me who is the crazy optimist. Dylan Cleaver has just leapt on the bandwagon to proclaim that the New Zealand side is in "freefall", while Boock tells us that the situation has just gone from bad to worse with a rift developing between Fleming and Bracewell.
It is interesting that both Boock and Cleaver use the word "freefall". It is also interesting that they both work for the Herald. Similarly, it is interesting that while Boock seems quite happy to jump up and down and point out that Scott Styris got fined 25% of his match-fee for umpire abuse in the final match - he seems to have forgotten entirely that Charl Langeveldt got fined 75% of his fee and that the South African coach got fined 25%. If Styris' offence is a sign of a side disintergrating, what do the South African offences herald?
I think I'll wait for further developments, or December's Chappell-Hadlee series, before I start getting too depressed just yet.
It is interesting that both Boock and Cleaver use the word "freefall". It is also interesting that they both work for the Herald. Similarly, it is interesting that while Boock seems quite happy to jump up and down and point out that Scott Styris got fined 25% of his match-fee for umpire abuse in the final match - he seems to have forgotten entirely that Charl Langeveldt got fined 75% of his fee and that the South African coach got fined 25%. If Styris' offence is a sign of a side disintergrating, what do the South African offences herald?
I think I'll wait for further developments, or December's Chappell-Hadlee series, before I start getting too depressed just yet.
Tuesday, 8 November 2005
A Gayle full of hot air
Chris Gayle was perhaps the most lacksadaisical of an extraordinarily lacksadaisical West Indian team during the first test against Australia. He mooched in the field, tossed down little offies and swung his bat in the most uncaring of manners when the team really needed to knuckle down. Peter Roebuck was as unimpressed as I was with his performance and gives him both barrels in his latest column.
Monday, 7 November 2005
"Stupid super-sub rules"
In discussing last night's lose Stephen Fleming said:
(link here)
Which is fair enough, given that the rules are actually stupid. But I do wonder if, and how, the ICC might respond to Flem's comments. At this stage I am willing to bet that their only response might be to punish Fleming for daring to speak out of turn.
"...the only influence the toss had was that it meant it was 12 versus 11 because of these stupid super-sub rules. I have no time for them."
(link here)
Which is fair enough, given that the rules are actually stupid. But I do wonder if, and how, the ICC might respond to Flem's comments. At this stage I am willing to bet that their only response might be to punish Fleming for daring to speak out of turn.
"The quicks and the dread"
I like the title of this article, which helpfully supports some of the points I made in my last post and which also decries the lack of pace bowlers coming through the Australian system. Interestingly one of the people interviewed for the piece, former quick Geoff Lawson, bemoans the involvement of bio-mechanists and technicians. He points to Shane Watson as one player who has had his action remodelled to give him a longer career, but at a detriment to his ability to take wickets. Lawson sees a future in which Australia is full of "a bunch of blokes who can bowl medium-fast" but can't actually get anyone out.
Australia vs West Indies
I spent some of my weekend watching the West Indies collapse in a heap against Australia. Some quarters of the Australian press seem to see this result as some sort of redemption after the Ashes - but truth be told the Windies were far more miserable than the Australians were glorious.
The West Indian batting and bowling was abysmal in the second innings and the feilding was so lackadaisical you had to wonder if they realised this was a test match and not a warm-up game against a bunch of long-haired yokels.
The fact that half the Australian team were long-haired yokels probably contributed.
Of those long-haired yokels I didn't think many were up to test class. Hussey was out twice to the pull shot and that doesn't herald well for an opener; Watson was leaden footed with the bat and really needs to do more with the ball if he is going to be a threat as a bowler; Katich and Clarke both continued poor trots; and - despite his second innings figures - I really don't rate Nathan Bracken. Hussey can blame nerves and Katich and Clarke are both players with talent going through a dim spell, but Bracken at least really doesn't look like a long-term prospect. I am probably going to be proved wrong, but four wickets of dubious merit on a Gabba pitch on a moist and humid morning just after rain don't count for much in my book. I can see him being effective in New Zealand and England where pitches seam and the ball swings, but unless he shows hidden reserves of talent then his 125kph dobbers won't do much more than block up one end on most grounds.
125 kph dobbers? A bit of swing and seam in loaded conditions? What's wrong with that you might ask. And fair enough too, given that this describes almost every New Zealand bowler since the dawn of time. But while those attributes do suit New Zealand conditions they don't often crop up in Australia - the 'Gabba apart. I can't see Nathan Bracken performing any better at, say, the WACA than Simon Doull (1 for 78), Shayne O'Connor (3 wickets for 109) or Willie Watson (1 wicket for 170).
The West Indian batting and bowling was abysmal in the second innings and the feilding was so lackadaisical you had to wonder if they realised this was a test match and not a warm-up game against a bunch of long-haired yokels.
The fact that half the Australian team were long-haired yokels probably contributed.
Of those long-haired yokels I didn't think many were up to test class. Hussey was out twice to the pull shot and that doesn't herald well for an opener; Watson was leaden footed with the bat and really needs to do more with the ball if he is going to be a threat as a bowler; Katich and Clarke both continued poor trots; and - despite his second innings figures - I really don't rate Nathan Bracken. Hussey can blame nerves and Katich and Clarke are both players with talent going through a dim spell, but Bracken at least really doesn't look like a long-term prospect. I am probably going to be proved wrong, but four wickets of dubious merit on a Gabba pitch on a moist and humid morning just after rain don't count for much in my book. I can see him being effective in New Zealand and England where pitches seam and the ball swings, but unless he shows hidden reserves of talent then his 125kph dobbers won't do much more than block up one end on most grounds.
125 kph dobbers? A bit of swing and seam in loaded conditions? What's wrong with that you might ask. And fair enough too, given that this describes almost every New Zealand bowler since the dawn of time. But while those attributes do suit New Zealand conditions they don't often crop up in Australia - the 'Gabba apart. I can't see Nathan Bracken performing any better at, say, the WACA than Simon Doull (1 for 78), Shayne O'Connor (3 wickets for 109) or Willie Watson (1 wicket for 170).
End of an irritating tour
The tour of South Africa ended last night on a sour note - with the most comprehensive defeat of a reasonably balanced series and some bitter on-field antics.
It was a tour with few positives and exactly the same negative notes that we have been hearing for a while now - early wickets proving a problem at the top of the order and a bowling attack that lacks much firepower once Shane Bond's first spell comes to an end.
Hamish Marshall is one player who really does need to take a good, long look at his technique. He has had a miserable start to his summer and the number of times he is being caught behind the wicket says to me that there is something fundamental wrong with his cricket at the moment.
Unlike Richard Boock however, I don't like to dwell for too too long on the negative. And there have been some positive aspects to come from the tour. Despite our problems, and injuries to players like Scott Styris and Jake Oram, we were still largely competitive and there were real glimpses of talent from players such as Lou Vincent and Andre Adams. The form of Kyle Mills was also a big plus (who would have thought those words would ever leak from my keyboard). I think we should go into the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia next month without too much trepidation.
It was a tour with few positives and exactly the same negative notes that we have been hearing for a while now - early wickets proving a problem at the top of the order and a bowling attack that lacks much firepower once Shane Bond's first spell comes to an end.
Hamish Marshall is one player who really does need to take a good, long look at his technique. He has had a miserable start to his summer and the number of times he is being caught behind the wicket says to me that there is something fundamental wrong with his cricket at the moment.
Unlike Richard Boock however, I don't like to dwell for too too long on the negative. And there have been some positive aspects to come from the tour. Despite our problems, and injuries to players like Scott Styris and Jake Oram, we were still largely competitive and there were real glimpses of talent from players such as Lou Vincent and Andre Adams. The form of Kyle Mills was also a big plus (who would have thought those words would ever leak from my keyboard). I think we should go into the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia next month without too much trepidation.
Saturday, 5 November 2005
Astle's 200th
Nathan Astle's 200th ODI might have been a wash-out, but it still made a good excuse to bring the statto's out. Cricinfo, as always, was the first to oblige with a very interesting analysis of Astle's career. Amongst the interesting gems they tell us are that he is a match-winner; averaging 55.46 in victories, and just 21.60 in defeats. He has also been crap against some of the minnows - his combined average against Bangladesh, Canada, Netherlands, Scotland and UAE is just 12.89. And finally, his bowling is much better in the second innings of an ODI than in the first. A reflection perhaps that his style of bowling suits wickets which have lost their juice and bounce.
Friday, 4 November 2005
Attitudes to cricket
I read Richard Boock's article in the New Zealand Herald this morning and then I read Peter Roebuck's column in the Sydney Morning Herald. This got me to thinking.
Boock's article is entitled "Tour so far produces more questions than answers" and Roebuck's is entitled "Captain's knock fails to make the young guns fire". Both then are clearly intended as critical pieces. However, Roebuck gets distracted from his stated purpose (pointing out the failings of Australia's newest cricketers) by his clear love of spectacle and his pleasure at seeing performances as good as those given by Ricky Ponting and Corey Collymore. Roebuck's writing can't help but reflect this enjoyment and admiration. In contrast Boock's piece is such a tightly bound knot of negativity that you have to wonder if he actually likes cricket at all. There is absolutely no sense of pleasure in his writing. He reminds me of a smoker who wants to quit but finds himself outside in the rain sucking on a cancer-stick despite himself. I suspect Boock can't not watch New Zealand play cricket, although he has grown to hate it.
Boock's article is entitled "Tour so far produces more questions than answers" and Roebuck's is entitled "Captain's knock fails to make the young guns fire". Both then are clearly intended as critical pieces. However, Roebuck gets distracted from his stated purpose (pointing out the failings of Australia's newest cricketers) by his clear love of spectacle and his pleasure at seeing performances as good as those given by Ricky Ponting and Corey Collymore. Roebuck's writing can't help but reflect this enjoyment and admiration. In contrast Boock's piece is such a tightly bound knot of negativity that you have to wonder if he actually likes cricket at all. There is absolutely no sense of pleasure in his writing. He reminds me of a smoker who wants to quit but finds himself outside in the rain sucking on a cancer-stick despite himself. I suspect Boock can't not watch New Zealand play cricket, although he has grown to hate it.
Thursday, 3 November 2005
Summer is almost here
By "almost here" I mean that it has reached our near neighbours Australia. The first test of the Australian summer begins tomorrow when the Aussies take on a West Indies at the 'Gabba. And with the return of summer comes the return of our favourite English/Australian columnist - Peter Roebuck. The Aussies are sporting a few newish faces in their side and Peter sees a warning for Australian in the way their opponents lost their way after dominating cricket in the '70s and '80s. I don't think it is too cruel to hope that Roebuck's warning goes unheeded.
Wednesday, 2 November 2005
TVNZ on Bond
This article was clearly written before Bondy got tonked for 73 runs in the third one dayer, and that performance certainly puts a dampner on the opening few lines. Nevertheless the article does demonstrate what an asset Bond has been to New Zealand so far in his short career.
New Zealand will persevere with Astle
As they should, given his form against India and Zimbabwe just a month or so ago, the New Zealand selectors have decided to stick with Nathan Astle at the top of the order. Lord knows what they are going to do with Hamish Marshall though. If he gets caught behind once more in this series I think there is going to have to be some serious analysis of his technique.
A shining example
New Zealand cricket might not be going through a great phase on the field, but off it we have one over our international opponents - apparently the board of New Zealand Cricket has the world's best (equal) website. "[Q]uick and easy to navigate - New Zealand is the shining example..."
Yay us. I wonder if some of the less successful countries would consider swapping the odd player or two for one of our website designers? Rahul Dravid for that spottie techie who eats chips all day downstairs from me maybe.
Yay us. I wonder if some of the less successful countries would consider swapping the odd player or two for one of our website designers? Rahul Dravid for that spottie techie who eats chips all day downstairs from me maybe.
Tuesday, 1 November 2005
Segregated cricket grounds
I like this move by New Zealand Cricket. In future cricket grounds will have a designated "National Bank Neighbourhood" which will provide a space for families and those who just want to watch cricket without having to sit next to the usual braying idiots. The best part of this move is that the "National Bank Neighbourhood" is not a dry zone - so Dad and the cloth-capped Grandad (and probably me) can still have the odd beer or two if they choose.
To balance this move New Zealand Cricket has also decided to have an "Export Gold Zone" to cater for those "looking for a party experience at the cricket". I wonder if the person who came up with this idea has studied ancient Greek history? I just have this image in my head of a smiling Martin Snedden inviting all the "party people" into one section of the ground and those people entering that section, never to return. If this is his plan, I hope he gets that guy with the whistle who sat behind me at the Stadium last year...
To balance this move New Zealand Cricket has also decided to have an "Export Gold Zone" to cater for those "looking for a party experience at the cricket". I wonder if the person who came up with this idea has studied ancient Greek history? I just have this image in my head of a smiling Martin Snedden inviting all the "party people" into one section of the ground and those people entering that section, never to return. If this is his plan, I hope he gets that guy with the whistle who sat behind me at the Stadium last year...
India vs Sri Lanka
New Zealand might be going down in South Africa, but at least we have not fallen in a heap in the same way that Sri Lanka has fallen against India. They too are 3-0 down, but have been thumped convincingly in every match.
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