PS: Poor beleagured bloke needs a little chearing up now.
PPS: Certainly missed talking about cricket!
André in Zuid-Afrika
WELCOME BACK LOIC!!!! :D :D :D :D :D
Loic
Thanks for informing me, dear Andre! I knew it was only a matter of time before it is resurrected. We're no strangers to seeing Langcafe Going Down.
KSa
loic wrote:
Thanks for informing me, dear Andre! I knew it was only a matter of time before it is resurrected. We're no strangers to seeing Langcafe Going Down.
Hi, Loic!!! If you knew what effort has been made to bring you back!
You can read it on the "Welcome" thread.
Glad you're back!
Loic
Hey, my Polish mate! It's really nice to see you in the cricket thread!
Speaking of cricket, I just watched Pakistan hammer England by 7 wickets. I don't know what to say except to say (well, I just contradicted myself) that England are woefully inadequate in any format of cricket that deviates from the original.
And yes, to think that England invented Twenty20.
Loic
Quote:
Cricket: The latest American craze?
One of the fastest-growing games in the United States is, surprisingly, cricket.
The game flourished there for a while in the 19th century, but a combination of war and baseball sent it into decline. That is, until now.
Atlanta, Georgia is not a place you normally associate with cricket. It is famous for a fizzy drink and a baseball team called The Braves. So I was pleasantly surprised, on a recent visit, to hear the distinctive "thock" of leather on willow.
"Shot, Mouse!" shouted the tall, silver-haired West Indian standing next to me, as a batsman lofted a ball over the fence for six.
It was the semi-finals of the Atlanta regional play-offs between Tropical Sports Club and North Atlanta.
It was not a real cricket ground - just a piece of matting laid out in the middle of a schools softball field near the Atlanta airport.
Long history
But it felt like Sunday in Antigua. Under an awning, a large-hipped lady in a bandana barbecued jerk chicken in an oil drum. Men sat under the trees drinking Red Stripe and reminiscing about home. A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses lay open on the ground.
The silver-haired man standing next to me was not any old bystander. His name was Desmond Lewis and in his cricketing heyday he had opened the batting for the Windies with Sir Garfield Sobers.
Cricket, he told me, has grown exponentially in America. When Des arrived in 1978, he could not find 11 players to make a team.
Today, Atlanta boasts 23 teams, with 600 players competing in a well-organised league.
Though few people either side of the Atlantic know it, cricket has a long history in the United States.
It was once the national game and the annual fixture against Canada, which was first played in the 1840s. It is the oldest international sporting event in the modern world, predating today's Olympic Games by nearly 50 years.
The earliest account of a cricket match in North America comes from a plantation owner in Westover, Virginia, named William Byrd.
"I rose at six o'clock and read a chapter in Hebrew," he noted in a diary he kept between 1709 and 1712.
"About 10 o'clock Dr Blair, and Major and Captain Harrison came to see us. After I had given them a glass of sack we played cricket. I ate boiled beef for my dinner."
The outbreak of the War of Independence in 1776 temporarily queered cricket's pitch. Like tea and taxes, it was associated with Britishness.
But by 1860 an estimated 10,000 Americans were playing the game. Presidents turned out to watch. When Chicago hosted Milwaukee in 1859, Abraham Lincoln was among the spectators.
Three years later, disaster struck. The American Civil War uprooted men from their homes, pitches fell into disrepair, and a new sport adapted from an English girls' game called rounders, took America by storm.
Baseball suited war. It was quick, easy to learn, and required little in the way of equipment or facilities - just four gunnysacks thrown on the ground, a simple bat and an equally simple ball.
Today, thanks to a huge influx of immigrants from India, Pakistan and the West Indies, cricket is bouncing back.
There are 29 leagues nationwide, with an estimated 700 clubs and 50,000 active cricketers. As well as traditional bastions like Philadelphia and New York, where Mayor Bloomberg recently announced a $1.5m investment for a purpose built pitch in Queens, cricket is now being played in such unlikely places as Dallas, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas.
In Los Angeles, a team called Compton Homies & Popz uses cricket to teach "boyz from the hood" old-fashioned virtues like discipline and manners.
'Too complicated'
So can cricket do what soccer has done, and once again become a contender in the US?
A student I met at a charity game in Atlanta was more than a little sceptical. "It's way too complicated for Americans," he said. "And too slow."
But that doesn't stop Des Lewis from dreaming.
"My dream is to get a piece of property," he told me, as the sun began to set over Georgia.
"Twenty acres or so. And build a proper cricket field. With a real pavilion."
I found this article on the BBC. Like the american student interviewed, I think cricket has an uphill task trying to supplant any of the Big Three in the States. Nonetheless, a commendable effort by the West Indian immigrants.
Loic
Thought I'd like to highlight the fact that Shane Warne has been making disparaging remarks of John Buchanan on TV. If I thought the England side had been stripped bare of their firepower for the coming Ashes series, I'd say that there are certain elements in the Antipodean squad who are bent on self-destruction!
I'd like to remind all cricket fans here, well, basically Andre :( :
69 DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST TEST
PS: Three Cheers for Freddie! Hip hip Hurray!
André in Zuid-Afrika
Time for the Ashes again? Where is Candy now that we need her? :cry:
Loic
True. I think we need to advertise our availiability in countries where Test cricket is played.
Right now, a triangular series is unfolding in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between the West Indies, Australia and India. They were supposed to hold the first half in Singapore before some administrative cock-ups prompted the organisers to hold the entire event in Malaysia. Damn it. I was looking forward to buying some tickets.
André in Zuid-Afrika
Incidently, I found your earlier post about cricket in the US very interesting. I shudder to think of them starting to play cricket (and for that matter rugby) seriously... :cry:
Loic
I know certain big wigs in the ICC would dearly love to see cricket take off in countries like the US or China, but I somehow feel that the situation would seem a little incongruous if cricket begins to be taken seriously in these countries.
Like you, I have a few reservations when it comes to the americans playing cricket. Of course, there is a distinction between immigrants from Test cricket countries and american americans. If America starts becoming good at the sport and begins to flex its muscle, they may demand that rules be changed to suit their whim, e.g. 5 balls per over instead of 6 because it's easier to count.
Alternatively, they may make it compulsory for everyone to wear helmuts and fielders to wear gloves. I thought finger injury is part of the hazards of cricket.
Loic
DLF Cup at the Kinrara Oval, KL: India bt Windies by 16 runs
I came back home just in time to see the Windies opening their bat strongly with 40 for 0. I saw Chanderpaul caught out a few minutes later and that seemed to have sparked a collapse with Brian Lara coming in at an unusual number 9 when the Windies were gasping like a fish out of water in the region of 120 runs.
So Agakar ripped through the middle order and saved India's neck for the time being. I thought it was an awfully short one-dayer but my mum must be rather pleased about its brevity. I have been admonished for being glued to the TV for over 8 hours two days ago watching the Windies beating Australia by 3 wickets.
And so I end the ramblings of a cricket addict.
André in Zuid-Afrika
The Windies beat Australia? I missed that! Excellent!! :D :D
Loic
What a waste! I watched the Windies open their innings against Australia. The Australian bowling line-up was clearly frustrated by the resilient third wicket partnership between Chris Gayle and Brian Lara which combined to score over 100 runs. Watson was shouting "Oh my God!" and his eyes lolled heavenwards and I thought it was pretty amusing. His bowling was good - his line and length were there, but Brian Charles Lara was da man.
Cullum was knocked all over the field. Full stop. He's a young lad and I hope his confidence hasn't been knocked as well.
But the Windies are very unpredictable. They imploded against the Indians. Brian Lara opted to bat at number 9 in order to give the middle order some confidence and an opportunity to shine. Unfortunately for him, the middle order did not seize the day.
PS: I caught a few minutes of the one-dayer between South Africa and Zimbabwe as well. Saw the Zimbabwean wicket-keeper dropping a lobbed catch from Mark Boucher. I am not saying that I would have caught it in similar circumstances, but I couldn't help but think that any other Test country would have dropped such an easy catch like that.
Loic
Andre, following the Champions Trophy that is unfolding in India?
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
Andre, following the Champions Trophy that is unfolding in India?
Whoops, I forgot! :shock: Actually read about it earlier, but I've been concentrating on our Currie Cup rugby final, which is the big sport news here right now! What's happening?
Loic
Nothing new. Your neighbour up north (read: Zimbabwe) just had its ass pawned by Sri Lanka, as we'd say in DOTA speak.
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
Nothing new. Your neighbour up north (read: Zimbabwe) just had its ass pawned by Sri Lanka, as we'd say in DOTA speak.
He, just saw a report on the m :lol: atch on Sky. No surprises there! :lol: Why is Zim still allowed to play in this kind of company? They can't even beat our provincial teams. :roll:
Loic
I think it's really a waste that Zimbabwe have been allowed to regress like that. I still remember Andy Flowers and more recently, Heath Streak. They surely stand shoulder to shoulder as one of the world's finest players.
If you remember, the Windies won the trophy 2 years ago. It'd be interesting to see if they can retain it - they have to play at 110% and Brian Lara has to hit a rich vein of form in order to prevent a collapse of the middle order and the tail-end, as the Windies are wont to do.
They should progress to the knock-out stage, but I am crossing my fingers for that: the West Indies are consistent about being inconsistent and defy the expectations of any educated punter.
André in Zuid-Afrika
Yep, Andy and Heath were among the best. As everything else in that sad country, cricket has collapsed too. The same goes for their rugby, they were once a power, while not exactly of test match standard, at least they they could give any of our top provincial teams a go (they used to compete in our Currie Cup competition). Now there's nothing... :cry:
André in Zuid-Afrika
Grrrrr, we lost against New Zealand... :evil: :cry:
Loic
NZ can have Stephen Fleming to thank. He certainly made Ntini look very expensive.
Loic
WEST INDIES 234 for 6 bt AUSTRALIA 224 for 9
I always thought that I support only England when it comes to Test cricket. It seems that my heart is leading me to the English-speaking Carribean as well.
If there's anything consistent about the Windies, it's that they are consistently surprising us. They flopped against Sri Lanka and emerged triumphant against the 500 pound gorilla of Australia. Morton did well to bat 90 runs while my hero Brian Charles Lara also helped his side with a gusty 71 runs. Congratulations to Jerome Taylor for a very economical bowling average of 4 for 49 - it helped trigger the collapse of Australia's late batting order.
Admittedly, this is the first match of the Champions Trophy that I have watched from start till finish. Goodness, I have to skip two lectures for that, but it was worth it.
Andre, if you hadn't caught it, at least catch Taylor's brilliant hat-trick in TV replays, wouldn't you?
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
Andre, if you hadn't caught it, at least catch Taylor's brilliant hat-trick in TV replays, wouldn't you?
Haven't seen it, read about it! I must admit that I haven't been paying much attention to the tournament, been much too busy. What's happening?
Loic
Well, you should know this bit of news. South Africa bt Sri Lanka by 78 runs and this reminds me of a feature of modern day Test cricket - any country can beat anyone on any given day, with perhaps the sole exception of Bangladesh.
Other than that, you must have heard of how England's batting order succumbed pathetically to the disciplined line and length of Australia's bowling attack. I was watching the first half an hour or so and I saw England reaching 70 for 0. I thought, Wow! I switched off the TV and came back a few hours later and well, you know what happened.
I think every country in the ICC Champions Trophy has posted some surprising results so far. Sri Lanka were on a roll against New Zealand; New Zealand surprised me by beating S Africa, a strong ODI side; the Windies posted a memorable win against Australia, etc.
In fact, I think the only consistent performance has been from England and they have lost all their games so far. Geof Boycott has called for Duncan Fletcher's head to roll; I think maybe they should consider employing a coach just for the one-dayers.
André in Zuid-Afrika
We're out of the Champions Cup...
Loic
I know. But you really have to take your hat off to your opponents. The West Indies are becoming a rather serious competitor in ODI.
So it's Australia v the West Indies in a few hours. I am rooting for the Windies, personally. This is a clash between the titan of cricket in the present era and a giant from a bygone era. It'd be a mouthwatering clash!
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
I know. But you really have to take your hat off to your opponents. The West Indies are becoming a rather serious competitor in ODI.
So it's Australia v the West Indies in a few hours. I am rooting for the Windies, personally. This is a clash between the titan of cricket in the present era and a giant from a bygone era. It'd be a mouthwatering clash!
Dammit! The Aussies took it!
Loic
The West Indies disappointed me greatly. Brian Lara said optimistically before the match that they are an 'unpredictable team' and that is why nobody can take them for granted.
But I am sorry. They are not merely unpredictable. They are bloody inconsistent. It is no wonder that being a supporter of the Windies carries with it an occupational hazard: frayed nerves, hypertention, greying of the hair and a shorter life span.
But Australia are poised to recapture the Ashes next month, given their current form which is nothing short of scintillating. But well, that was one-day cricket. Let's hope for a lovely surprise when the Mother Country meets 'Waltzing Mathilda'.
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
The West Indies disappointed me greatly. Brian Lara said optimistically before the match that they are an 'unpredictable team' and that is why nobody can take them for granted.
But I am sorry. They are not merely unpredictable. They are bloody inconsistent. It is no wonder that being a supporter of the Windies carries with it an occupational hazard: frayed nerves, hypertention, greying of the hair and a shorter life span.
But Australia are poised to recapture the Ashes next month, given their current form which is nothing short of scintillating. But well, that was one-day cricket. Let's hope for a lovely surprise when the Mother Country meets 'Waltzing Mathilda'.
I'll be rooting for England, of course!
Loic
Same here. In fact, the England side have already arrived in Sydney.
It must be really hard to be a cricketer's wife when the players are constantly playing international tours.
Loic
Ahh...Monty Panesar has been racially abused in Sydney at a warm-up match. Apparently, a spectator shouted at him, 'Hey, you bloody Indian. You don't look English to me. Why are you playing for the English?'
Captain Graeme Smith was right after all when he predicted that Monty would come in for some 'special treatment'.
Ashes beginning soon. I can't wait. It's a pity that my statistics paper have to clash with the start of the first Test.
Andre, are you watching? I suppose only you and I would be paying attention to it. Ironical since both of us are neither English nor Australian!
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
Ahh...Monty Panesar has been racially abused in Sydney at a warm-up match. Apparently, a spectator shouted at him, 'Hey, you bloody Indian. You don't look English to me. Why are you playing for the English?'
Captain Graeme Smith was right after all when he predicted that Monty would come in for some 'special treatment'.
Ashes beginning soon. I can't wait. It's a pity that my statistics paper have to clash with the start of the first Test.
Andre, are you watching? I suppose only you and I would be paying attention to it. Ironical since both of us are neither English nor Australian!
Yep, I'm watching! The racial thing is in our newspapers as well. That kind of thing seems to be happening a lot in Australia these days....
Loic
Good-natured barracking, the Aussies would say. Aren't they the masters of sledging?
Didn't Rod Marsh, the bloke who used to keep wicket for the Aussies, said this once to Ian Botham:
Marsh: How's your wife and my kids?
Botham: The wife's fine. The kids are retarded.
What a witty riposte.
André in Zuid-Afrika
loic wrote:
Good-natured barracking, the Aussies would say.
A spot of trouble, rather, and a huge embarressment to their cricket bosses...
André in Zuid-Afrika
Quote:
South African cricket captain Graeme Smith said he shivered at the prospect of what awaited Monty Panesar on his first tour down under.
Indeed Panesar himself spent time with a psychologist in England in anticipation of racial abuse from Australian crowds.
Well, he didn't have to wait long to put to test what he learnt.
Even as the first Sikh to play for England was singled out by the crowds at the SCG for some nasty comments, the English Cricket Board said they would not file an official complaint.
But the incident has caused somewhat of a furore down under with fans expressing surprise at the comments.
This is what was overheard by several journalists when Monty was fielding on the boundary in Monday's tour game against New South Wales.
"Give us a wave, Monty. You can't speak English you stupid Indian, I'll have to say it in Indian. What are you doing playing in the English side? You're not English."
Cricket Australia officials say they were unaware of the incident till the ECB informed them, but that it was too late to take any action by then.
Home side disappointed
New South Wales captain Simon Katich expressed disappointment at the comments, as did the fans.
"I always think of cricket of being very much a gentlemen's sport, so again, I'm equally surprised. I might have expected it with a soccer match, but not with cricket," said one.
Their surprise is in fact surprising. This is not the first time touring teams have complained of racial abuse from Australian fans.
South Africa and Sri Lanka faced similar treatment last year after which the ICC introduced tough measures like life bans for guilty spectators and penalties against venues that fail to impose the bans.
Already Cricket Australia has beefed up security for next week's start of the Ashes series which includes getting spectators to report on racist behaviour in the stands.
Till then both the English and Australian squads will just have to toughen up for opposing fans and their irreverent comments, some of which are all a part of the Ashes mind games!
Loic
Did you hear the news? Marcus Trescothick has suffered from a mental breakdown and will no longer play any part in the Ashes! Our opening batsman is down and our side have just been rubbished by the Prime Minister's XI.
Incidentally, what is the definition of a Prime Minister's XI? Does John Howard have a hand in picking the players?
As much as you despise him, Andre, we need these two chaps to be in fine fettle for us to retain the Ashes. Mind you, the signs are ominous that we would not.
The brilliant mercurial KP.
Captain Freddie Flintoff
And let's hope someone neutralises these two buggers and put them out of action:
A few cricket balls around Glenn McGrath's bedside would do the trick.
Send a few Pommie floozies to his hotel room and get him embroiled in another scandel.
Damn, I should have been employed as their CSO (Chief Strategy Officer).
André in Zuid-Afrika
Quote:
Incidentally, what is the definition of a Prime Minister's XI? Does John Howard have a hand in picking the players?
It's just a name for an invitation team, a team chosen nationally, but not the "first" team, ie. not the best players. In effect it's often the B team, those players who are just not good enough to make the national team. We sometimes have a President XI (or XV in the case of rugby).
Ed Joyce is the replacement. As for KP, I'll just have to tolerate his presence... Well, his brilliance cannot be denied...
Loic
THE first Test of the Ashes Begins Tomorrow!
How time flies. Wasn't it just yesterday when we were cheering on -sorry, I mean barracking- the English for winning the Ashes after a long drought?
Michael Vaughn is absent. But we have Andrew Flintoff. Go Freddie!
PS: With respect to KP, I think that it is a shame that the oppressive quota system in South Africa has forced talented white sportsmen overseas. Politics should never be a criterion in team selection.
André in Zuid-Afrika
South Africa crush India2006-11-22 21:19Durban - South Africa crushed India by 157 runs in the second one-day international at Kingsmead here on Wednesday.
Brief scores: South Africa 248-8 from 50 overs; India 91 all out (29.1 overs)
AFP
Loic
India seem to have a poor run as of late. I wonder whether they are suffering from management problems within.
Anyway, first Test update at the Gabba. Not looking too good for us, Andre.
1.
Andrew Flintoff lost the toss and was put to the field first. It has been a good batting wicket so far for the Aussies....
2.
Steve Harmison bowled and disappointed us all with the worst 'ball of the century' - a wide that no batsman could have caught even if he had a ten foot pole for a bat.
3.
The only bright spot in England's bleakest hour - Andrew Flintoff and his two wickets. Ashley Giles took the another.
4.
Unorthodox one-foot drive by Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting. But hey, whatever floats his boat.
5.
If England run out of batting options, I suppose they can always call upon the Right Honourable Anthony Charles Blair to take to the batting crease.
As it is, Australia have batted an almighty 346 for 3 with 4 more days of play. This is just the first innings, mind you. They would probably have to declare their innings by tomorrow if the England bowling attack fail to dismiss all their batsmen.
Loic
Bloody Ricky Ponting. Bloody Steve Harmison. I can only smile at Andrew Flintoff.
End of my miserable update.
Loic
Screw it! England all out for a miserable 157 runs. Australia are having England for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It is bizarre but Ponting didn't enforce the follow on despite the massive first innings lead they enjoy. Do they seriously want to pummel the English beyond relief and to hand them a psychological blow which'd make recovery impossible for the rest of the series?
Sir Elton John was supposed to fly in to watch, but he has since cancelled it as he feels 'embarrassed'.
So do I.
André in Zuid-Afrika
It's not looking good...
Quote:
Australia show England no mercy
25/11/2006 14:16 - (SA)
Brisbane - Australia built up a massive 626-run lead over England on the third day of the first Ashes Test on Saturday, after passing up the opportunity of a quick kill in the series opener.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting had the option of enforcing the follow-on after England crumbled to 157 all out in reply to his team's first-innings total of 602 for nine, but decided for a slower, more punishing approach.
Mindful that the second Test in Adelaide starts in just six days, Ponting decided to give his bowlers a rest while sending England's weary pacemen back into the field.
Ponting's decision also allowed his top-order batsmen to get in some extra time in the middle and reinforce their dominance over England, who have made a disappointing start in their bid to retain the Ashes they won in 2005.
When stumps were drawn, Australia were cruising at 181 for one in their second innings, with opener Justin Langer unbeaten on 88 and Ponting not out 51.
England did pick up the wicket of Matthew Hayden for 37 when he was run out from a brilliant outfield thrown from James Anderson.
But an unbroken stand of 113 between Langer and Ponting left Australia poised to make an early declaration on Sunday.
England's first innings came to an abrupt end before tea after Glenn McGrath, playing his first Test in almost 11 months, demolished their batting line-up with 6-50.
"To walk off with six wickets, I'm obviously delighted with the way it's gone," McGrath said in a televised interview.
"Now we can have a bit of a rest and wait for the cracks to widen and have another go at them. Things are looking very good for us."
Loic
The Aussies are vicious. Not only do they want to comprehensively beat the English, they want to humiliate them and grind them into dust. Why else would Ponting not enforce the follow on?
I am still shocked when I catch a glimpse of the score. Over 600 runs in the first innings and over 200 in the second - both declared. The English bowling options are seriously toothless. Not only are they deficient in the bowling department, their batsmen are behaving like bunnies at the crease. Did you look at the number of English players who were dismissed for a duck?
Say, I didn't know KP could bowl. He was brought in to bowl for an over. Is that desperation or what?
PS: On a brighter note, I remembered what happened last year at Lord's. England lost the first Test, but went on to recapture the Ashes.
PPS: Still, they put up a better fight in the first Test last year.
André in Zuid-Afrika
Quote:
Proteas trounce India again
26/11/2006 17:36 - (SA)
Cape Town - Justin Kemp's defiant maiden century and Shaun Pollock's four wickets spurred South Africa to a 106-run victory in the third one-day international against India on Sunday.
South Africa have now taken an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The first game a week ago was washed out.
Kemp's 100 not out was the top score as South Africa rallied from 76 for six to a total of 274 for seven. Pollock took four for 26 to help dismiss India for 168 in 41.3 overs.
Captain Rahul Dravid's 63, which he scored off 103 balls with four fours and a six, was the best of India's batting.
Kemp, who came to the crease at 71 for five and survived chances on nine and 34, faced 89 balls and hit six fours and seven sixes in an innings of effortlessly wielded power.
The 138 runs that Kemp and Andrew Hall, who scored 56, shared in an unbroken stand was a world record for the eighth wicket.
Scores: South Africa 274-7 in 50 overs (Justin Kemp 100 not out, Andrew Hall 56 not out; Zaheer Khan 3-42) defeat India 168 in 41.3 overs (Rahul Dravid 63, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 55; Shaun Pollock 4-25, Hall 3-45, Jacques Kallis 2-29).
Loic
India are a side that needs an injection of some self-belief. They have not enjoyed a good run this year. It is probably heartbreaking to a country that is arguably the most cricket mad in the world.
Back to the Ashes:
As we probably know, Australia batted themselves out of sight by the third day. On the fourth, the partnership of Paul Collingwood and KP (the man most South Africans love to hate) brought a faint pulse to the English innings. This is the sort of fighting spirit we want to see, really. The most intriguing part of the fourth day was seeing Shane Warne's exasperation as KP lobbed his shots over the boundary.
But he got dismissed on the fifth day without adding to his overnight score. Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles put up some resistance, but the exposed lower-tail order was always going to be nakedly vulnerable.
What I am worried about is not the batting abilities of England. The top and middle order have genuine world class batsmen who are able to strike terror into the hearts of any bowlers on a good day. Even in the lower order, there is still some decent batsmen like Geraint Jones or Ashley Giles.
What I am worried about is the toothlessness of the English bowling attack. Stephen Harmison is 'a fucking waste of space', as my friend said. I am apt to agree with him.
Hoggard was able to produce his swing, but the excellent Aussie batsmen read it well.
Andrew Flintoff seems to be a better bowler than batsman. If you look at his statistics, he has not accumulated a high batting score in recent months.
The clarion calls to drop Harmison for Panesar are mounting and I'd chant along with them:
PICK MONTY PANESAR! Didn't Duncan Fletcher called him 'the best finger-spinner of the world'? What is the bloody point of having the 'best finger-spinner' warming the benches of the dressing room?
André in Zuid-Afrika
We did it again...
Quote:
Another thrashing for India
29/11/2006 22:28 - (SA)
Port Elizabeth - South Africa thrashed India by 80 runs in the fourth one-day international (ODI) at St George's Park on Wednesday, to win the series.
Needing to score 244 to win, the Indian batsmen once again struggled with the South African pace attack, and again failed to bat out the 50 overs.
The South Africans were brutally efficient, giving India no quarter, and keeping up the pressure throughout. India managed to get through five overs before losing their first wicket, but once Wasim Jaffer had gone, caught by Graeme Smith off Makhaya Ntini for 10, the procession to the dressing room started.
Sachin Tendulkar, who is having as much of a batting slump as Smith, lasted just three balls before he was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Shaun Pollock for one. Sehwag was out in the 10th over, caught by Loots Bosman off Ntini for 18.
Mohammed Kaif looked as if he might lend some stability to the Indian innings until a bizarre mix-up saw him and Dinesh Karthik at the same end, giving Bosman time to toss the ball to Pollock, who, grinning broadly, whipped the bails off at the other end. Kaif made 10.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed 26 runs off 21 balls before being caught on the boundary by substitute Ashwell Prince off Andre Nel.
Succeeded with his first delivery
Justin Kemp was brought into the attack in the place of Andrew Hall, who had been off the field for some time after sustaining an injury while fielding and he succeeded with his first delivery, when Karthik was caught by Nel for 17. A few overs later, Kemp grabbed the wicket of Ajit Agarkar, who was caught by Hall for six, to have India staring down the barrel on 128 for seven.
Zaheer Khan was next to go, caught behind by Boucher off Jacques Kallis for 11 off 12 balls. Just after India reached 150, a Pollock delivery brushed Anil Kumble's glove, and Graeme Smith took the catch.
Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth put on a brave rearguard fight, but it was just a matter of time before it was all over. Kemp delivered the coup de grace with the opening ball of his second spell when AB de Villiers caught Sreesanth for three and India were all out for 163
Pathan was not out on 47 off 52 deliveries. He smashed four boundaries and two sixes, and was unlucky not to get to 50 before he ran out of partners.
Earlier, the South African openers failed for the third time in the series, with Smith out lbw to Zaheer Khan for nought in the first over, and Loots Bosman bowled by Sreesanth in the fourth over, also without scoring.
But Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs pulled things together with a partnership of 69 before Kallis was caught behind by Mahendra Dhoni off veteran spin bowler Anil Kumble for 49 - one run shy of scoring his 58th ODI half century.
Hero of Newlands match
Gibbs was caught by Virender Sehwag off a no ball bowled by Sreesnath with his score on two, and he cashed in on his good luck, finishing unbeaten on 93. It was an innings of maturity, as he played the sheet anchor role, allowing other players to bat around him. AB de Villiers made 13 before being given out lbw to Kumble, immediately after hitting him for a huge six.
Gibbs and Boucher put on 61 runs before Boucher was out, lbw to Sehwag for 29. The hero of the Newlands match, Justin Kemp, received an enormous ovation from the Eastern Cape crowd as he made his way out to the middle, but they were to be disappointed - he was out first ball, when he was caught by Sehwag off Tendulkar without scoring.
Shaun Pollock made a breezy 37 off 42 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, but his innings came to an end when he was run out by some smart work by Kumble and Dhoni in the 47th over.
It was left to Andrew Hall to cause the biggest sensation of the evening - he launched a six that sailed through an open window in the press box to send journalists diving for cover as the ball crashed between two Indian journalists. But immediately after that, Hall was run out for 13, scrambling to score a second run.
Loic
A rude awakening lies in store for all England cricket fans when they wake up this morning. England have threw away their lead and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to lose the second Test at Adelaide by 6 bloody wickets! 6 wickets, can you believe it, after the heroic partnership by Collingwood and Pietersen in the first innings.
But the Aussies were marvellous. Warne proved that he still has a bite to his bark. Andrew Flintoff, in contrast, looked lost at sea as he batted indifferently, captained badly and hardly bowled at all.
Just when I thought the second Test'd head for a draw, the Australians have to prove me wrong. Life's a Pitch.
Loic
Shane Warne - Public Enemy Number One. Invisible in the first innings, surged to life in the second. Take a bow, Warney. This, from an England supporter.
Loic
Guess it's all over. England have surrendered the Ashes.
Take a bow, Flintoff. You allowed us to dream while it lasted.
Porthos
I swear my good man, you are just the quintessential Englishman.
Loic
When I was in school, I was actually nicknamed 'Frog' because I was one of the few blokes in school who took French A levels.
I only support England in cricket. The West Indies as well. When it comes to football, I support France. Ditto for rugby.
André in Zuid-Afrika
Quote:
England launch 'Thrashes' probe
05/01/2007 16:06 - (SA)
London - England cricket chiefs on Friday ordered a far-reaching probe into why Andrew Flintoff's side were humiliated in the Ashes series in Australia.
Within hours of the Australians wrapping up a 5-0 series victory, the first Ashes whitewash in 86 years, David Collier, the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), had ordered a "comprehensive review" of what went wrong Down Under.
The ECB's Director of England cricket, John Carr, has been ordered to report back next month, ahead of the World Cup in the West Indies in March.
"The performance in the Ashes series has been a great disappointment and a number of lessons must be learned," Collier admitted.
"This review will be comprehensive and broad-ranging with the clear objective of regaining the Ashes in 2009 and significantly improving England's results in one-day international cricket in the next four-year cycle."
A statement from the ECB added: "The ECB directors present in Sydney met informally on January 4 to consider a proposal for a comprehensive review of the process, programme and structure of Team England.
"This discussion followed the circulation of a paper by the ECB chief executive David Collier on December 29, 2006.
"The vision for the review was defined as: 'To determine how Team England performances during the period 2003-2007 should be improved in order that England regain the Ashes in 2009 and win an ICC global one-day event during the period 2007-2011."
And meanwhile...
Quote:
India dismissed in Cape Town
05/01/2007 17:01 - (SA)
Cape Town - South Africa have bowled themselves into a winning position on day four of the third and final Test against India at Newlands in Cape Town.
India were dismissed for 169 in their second innings.
South Africa require 211 for victory and to clinch the series.
Earlier, at tea, India were 121 for six, for an overall lead of 162.
Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were in the process of setting up a formidable partnership when, in the sixth over after lunch, Ganguly opened the face of his bat to a Jacques Kallis delivery and steered the ball to Herschelle Gibbs in the gully for 46.
He and Dravid had put on 84 together - a record third wicket partnership for India against South Africa.
Ganguly's place was taken by Sachin Tendulkar, whose absence from the field on Thursday was the cause of the lengthy delay after the second wicket fell early on Friday morning.
Some very disciplined bowling and excellent fielding by the South Africans dried up the runs and frustrated the Indian batsmen. Dravid and Tendulkar put on 20 runs in just 15 overs before debutant left arm spinner Paul Harris caught Dravid for 46 off his own bowling.
It was Dravid's highest score of the tour.
VVS Laxman did not stay long, before some indecision gave Shaun Pollock the opportunity to throw the ball to Mark Boucher, who ran Laxman out for one.
In the final over before tea, Pollock claimed the most important wicket when Tendulkar was given out leg before wicket for 14.
With plenty in the wicket for the bowlers, South Africa will be keen to mop up the Indian tail as quickly as possible.
Loic
You know, I began to switch off after England lost the plot in Adelaide when they managed to stumble to a defeat despite a 550 odd runs declared in the first innings. I felt that my crest has fallen so far that I became immune to further disappointments.
I knew back then that England might become the second side in the history of the series to succumb to a 5-0 whitewash. They had a double centurian in Paul Collingwood at Adelaide and they still contrived to lose the plot.
This is disappointing. English cricket has been set back by 10 years, at least. It is very important that English cricket do well, if not for the sake of the health of the sport in the world.
Duncan Fletcher must be axed no matter what his masters at the ECB might say.
Steve Harmison must never be selected to play in any Test match. His international career must be put to an end. I do not question his talent here; I cast aspersions on his dedication.
Ashley Giles should be relieved of all international call-ups. Groom other spinners such as Darymple and Monty Panesar. They are the key to us getting back the coveted Ashes.
Flintoff should relinquish his skipper position and he'd start skipping around the field with a gay heart once again (ok, two bad puns here, I know).
Geraint Jones is out of the picture for good. His memorable pair in Perth is something he'd love to forget in a hurry.
We'd have Michael Vaughn and Simon Jones back in the squad in 2009. Australia would be without the amazing Shane Warne and the ruthlessly efficient Glenn McGrath. Millions of English cricket supporters throughout the world'd be terribly chuffed to see the absence of GD McGrath as well as SK Warne in future cricketing scores.
Our stars look bright. This 5-0 humiliation would be useful only if valuable lessons are gleaned from this process, one of which being to never cling on to past glories in the hope of capturing future ones.
And here ends my ramblings on the disastrous Ashes.
Loic
So England's winless streak in the land of Oz continues as they were beaten by 8 wickets in the first ODI at the MCG. Things are already so bad that it is hard to make it worst - but the tourists surpassed expectations when their star batsman and arguably the only Englishman at the crease who are able to tame the Australian bowlers have flown home with a rib injury, courtesy of Glenn sodding McGrath's pinpoint accuracy.
Yes, the batsman I am referring to here is Kevin Pietersen.
Australia's fortress is Australia. It is impossible to beat them at their game and in their backyard. This is the conclusion I've arrived at in my short (cricketing) lifespan.
PS: Maybe we should all be switching our attention to the upcoming Australian Open. Watching the cricket Down Under is bad for our ulcers.
Loic
Surfing the net and watching the cricket at the same time so I might as well post the live scores for now.
Currently, Australia are reeling which is a rare piece of good news that must be savoured slowly and carefully lest the happiness which is accompanied by such a bit of luck is exhausted rapidly. Australia are currently 56 for 3 with 36 more overs to go. England won the toss and chose to bat first and have amassed a very respectable score of 292 for 7. I must single out Irish-born Ed Joyce for his magnificent century; I must also single out stand-in wicket-keeper Paul Nixon (any relation of Richard Nixon?) for giving me a bit of a laugh when he was dismissed after just scoring 4 runs. He's always making cameo apperances - like a fool in a Shakespearean play, really.
Liam Plunkett is looking good and cementing his spot as a reliable swing bowler in the one day squad. Maybe the selectors should consider replacing Steve Harmison with him as well for the Test squad.
There is also another cricket match between Kenya and Ireland at present, but I am not too keen on watching that. Nonetheless, I am obliged to report on their development and I must say that the Irish desperately need their famed luck as they are looking fragile at 57 for 3.
Loic
ENGLAND 292-7 BT AUSTRALIA 200-9 BY 3 WICKETS
Finally, the first English victory on Australian soil since the tourists arrived last November.
The English cricketers have finally arrived at the party. It is a pity they came 3 months late. Nonetheless, better late than never!
André in Zuid-Afrika
It's not only on the rugby field that England suffered against South Africa...
Quote:
Proteas remain unbeaten in T20
16/09/2007 21:44
Cape Town - Albie Morkel hit three massive sixes off successive balls and then took two wickets as South Africa beat England by 19 runs in a Twenty20 Super Eights match at Newlands on Sunday.
Morkel's lower order hitting enabled South Africa to score 154 for eight after a stuttering top order performance.
He followed up by dismissing England's top scorers, Matt Prior and Owais Shah, as England were restricted to 135 for seven.
Collided with Pollock
A key turning point, though, was the dismissal of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, England's key batsmen, in the space of three balls.
Pietersen was run out by a direct hit from Makhaya Ntini at backward square leg after he collided with bowler Shaun Pollock as he raced to the bowler's end.
Pietersen lost his balance and his bat went flying but he was only centimetres short of making his ground. Pietersen fell heavily on his left elbow.
Two balls later England captain Collingwood was caught at slip off Pollock off the first ball he faced and England were 27 for three.
Prior (32) and Shah (36) put on 55 off 47 balls for the fourth wicket before Morkel had Prior caught at backward point. He bowled Shah in his next over.
One hit travelled 106m
Morkel's big hitting transformed South Africa's innings. They had struggled after being sent in and were on 112 for five when leg-spinner Chris Schofield came on to bowl the 18th over.
In an over which cost 21 runs, Morkel hit his first two sixes over midwicket and out of the ground onto a railway line which runs close to the perimeter fence. Television technology estimated one of the hits to have travelled 106m - the biggest hit of the tournament so far. The other went 102m.
Made 43 off 19 balls
Morkel's third six was hit straighter to wide midwicket off a full toss. The left-hander made 43 off 19 balls with four sixes and three fours before being caught off the last ball of the innings.
Stuart Broad claimed two early wickets as South Africa slipped to 42 for three. Until Morkel's assault, South Africa were unable to get on top as England captain Paul Collingwood made a bewildering 15 bowling changes in the space of 20 overs.
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Loic
Andre, the Proteas just bowled out the Bangladeshis for 182 in their second innings. On the other hand, S Africa were themselves bowled all out for 170 in their first innings.
In theory, chasing 204 runs should not be a problem. But this does not seem to be a batting wicket and I am sorry to say that I am rooting for a famous Bangladeshi upset!
Loic
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin this summer! Can't wait for the first match. True, Twenty20 is no champagne cricket, but it is high-value entertainment packed into 2 or 3 hours.
There would be two Saffers in the Bangalore Royal Challengers: Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn. One of my favourite cricketers Shivrane Chanderpaul is also in the same team. Bangalore is captained by Rahul Dravid, one of the few cricketers whom I have a deep respect for.
On the other hand, the Chennai Super Kings would be coached by S African Kepler Wessels. The only Saffers in the team would be Makhaya Ntini and Albie Morkel.
Other teams with a strong lineup, in my opinion, include Hyderabad (Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs as well as master slogger VVS Laxman all in the same lineup) as well as Mumbai which has an uncanny combination of experience and youth in the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, the "obnoxious weed" Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock and the four-wickets-in-four-balls Lasith Malinga.
I reiterate once again: simply can't wait! From the looks of it, I'd probably be rooting for Mumbai.
His Majesty Tendulkar with what appears to be a backfoot defence
André in Zuid-Afrika
Yes, it's attracted a lot of attention in the SA media, especially Kallis's contract - a whopping R20 million over three years!
Loic
Well, the ECB has revealed the itinerary for the Ashes tour next summer and it appears that Glamorgan's home ground has been given the nod over Lancashire's Old Trafford.
So here's the route which Ricky Ponting and Co would take next year: Sophia Gardens (Cardiff), Lord's (London), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Headingley (Leeds) and finally back to London at the Oval.
Now, contrast it with the memorable Ashes of 2005 where the first match was played at Lord's, then Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and back to the Oval.
Honestly, I am pretty disappointed that Old Trafford has been sidelined. I have to be, being a big Andrew Flintoff fan.
André in Zuid-Afrika
I just know Loic will enjoy this with me!
Quote:
SOUTH Africa have successfully carried out regime change at the top of international cricket and the world is celebrating the fall of the former superpower Australia.
Today's home series loss is Australia's first in 16 years and the world's media are enjoying seeing the Australians endure what they had dished out over the past two decades.
Australia maintain their number one world ranking but could lose that too with a defeat in the Sydney Test.
"The speed with which Australia have fallen from their pre-eminent position in world cricket has been startling," South Africa's Super Sport website reported.
Cricketnext.com said there was a new world order and the Australians no longer reigned supreme.
"Australia won't forget this one easily. If India challenged the Aussie dominance, South Africa sealed the last nail in the coffin," it wrote.
Even before the loss was official the new era was being heralded on international cricket website cricinfo.com.
Peter English wrote that captain Ricky Ponting was the only of Australia's greats playing like one.
"South Africa have out-played, out-fought and out-thought their opponents in a way that is shocking for those who have grown used to Australia’s position," English wrote.
"Over the past three months Ponting’s men have showed they are not even the second-best team in the world."
Loic
Day 3 of the Ashes at Lords: the Aussies scrapping the bottom of the barrel.
This is the most pleasant bit of news that I have received regarding the English fightback!
PS: Sorry for being away for so long, Andre! I am glad to be back again for what is the third Ashes I have observed as a Langcafe member.
André in Zuid-Afrika
Loic wrote:
Day 3 of the Ashes at Lords: the Aussies scrapping the bottom of the barrel.
This is the most pleasant bit of news that I have received regarding the English fightback!
PS: Sorry for being away for so long, Andre! I am glad to be back again for what is the third Ashes I have observed as a Langcafe member.
And that first discussion on the Ashes evolved into one of the most successful topics here!
Well, his brilliance cannot be denied...
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