Saturday 31 January 2015

Australia need a good contest leading into the WC, England are improving nicely and could win this one easily if they get it right.  The Aussies need to focus here - England may get rolled easily, or win easily - which Mitch is turning up for us today - the 140 kph or the 155kph?.  Meanwhile NZ are stalking quietly not on anyone's radar...


Are the Aussie's licking their lips...?

Put England in and pitch it short. Bring back all the memories of the last Ashes and ruin our very steady improvement (maybe) so we can have another rubbish World Cup quarter final defeat. 10 wickets last time round. That was a long day, wasn't it! PS - Everyone's got much quieter since we've stopped mailing and started blogging to each other.

Friday 23 January 2015

The final piece of the puzzle: the last 10 overs.

A great platform and an exciting start... Followed by a disappointing last 10 overs when they didn't get enough runs. It looked like England were ahead - just - all the way through, with a few wickets or big overs to tip the balance either way. But it's not going to be anyone else's day with Piggy and Haddin in. Where England lose wickets and falter in the last 10, everyone else accelerates. New captain, new ideas (maybe), same players. I know Ravi had a bad day, but surely give him another over. Anyone can go for 11 in a single over when the bats are swinging. Especially when all you've got left in the bank is the three pace bowlers all going at a comfortable 5 to 6 an over. At least give them something different to think about when they accelerate. A bit of Ravi, a bit of Root, as Mo (who bowled brilliantly) was all bowled out. There will be calls for Jade Dernbach's 'back of the hand' slow balls before the World Cup is here. I still think England can reach the final though (of the Tri-series, not the World Cup). Then, who knows, another big day for Finn like the one in Brisbane (check out those wickets he took against India, the very essence of 'steepling bounce') A nice highlight was watching a large chap lean over the boundary advertising boards to collect a four and go ar*e over t*t, only to have the bloke who got the ball wave it in his face to add to his humiliation. The crowd and commentators joined in with load cheers on each replay on the big screen. On a final note, I have to say respect to Steve Smith. He can't stop all 'summer' long the runs have been coming. He's looking really good. His early days he had seemed to me just an agricultural slogger, but he's a proper player these days. Brad Haddin is the bain of every Englishman's life. He's always there (apart from that silly wicket today, with the job all but done after his striking at 200, though) Without him, I'm sure we'd have won the Ashes downunder last year. Or at least not lost by the dreaded 5-0.

Friday 16 January 2015

SCG - Mr. Agnew's offensive comments fire up bowlers?

Starc - well done, can we have your radar on the same frequency all summer please.  I thought England got a few impossible to play 150 kph swinging deliveries straight up, unlucky.

KP - yes, you need to get back into this side, Imagine what that would bring to the series and the WC.

Poor sherminator - who could have played that one.....

After Agnew's piece in the media out here - feelings are still raw with the players, has he just done something that will hurt England in the return summer - Oh dear

Oh for goodness sake...

Surprise surprise, sacking Cook didn't solve all England's batting woes.
Bowled out in the 200s without batting all your overs.

Australia to win by 8... Or 10!

At least the new captain returned to form. Imagine how hideous it would have been without that!

Wednesday 14 January 2015

England v Australia Sydney Jan 16 (0320 GMT - sorry lads)

Looks like a day / nighter.  What's with this England player - Taylor, there should be no Taylors playing for England - it just sounds - well Australian, anyway best of luck to James

Australia V India at the MCG on the 18th - nice weather expected for that, we had our months rain over the past 24 - 48 hrs.

England's game today is going nicely - the Canberra ground is tiny - boundaries galore.

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Now thats what i like to see

'Machine' Trott back in working order http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/820573.html

Monday 12 January 2015

ACT Tour Match

England played well in the ACT Tour game, an easy warm up after getting off the plane.  Some of the English players are doing well in the big bash - getting their eye in that's for sure.

That's it for tests now - onto the Carlton Tri-Series

India - resisted and we couldn't finish them off in the final test.

Thursday 8 January 2015

Who to support? The Lions, of course...

Johnny Trotter. 70odd not out. Lovely stuff to read. Here's to a century today, please.

Speaking of centuries, when are Kohli and Smith going to stop scoring them. Hopefully, by the time the get their pyjamas on for England's little mess about with them next week.

Monday 5 January 2015

who to support...

in England's absence?.. Scotland are playing Afghanistan on Thursday. may be a good time to support Afghanistan.. I'm happy to see the windies aren't completely failing in SA - although their line up is lacking inspiration. Sangakkara is hero of the week - although I liked it more when he was wearing the bicycle helmet. And its always sad when New Zealand lose any sport in their back yard as it feels like its all they have (especially now they've stopped shooting dwarf porn there) Obviously Australia gets Andrews support but I'm just not feeling it.
Dan - help me out..

Sunday 4 January 2015

Happy New Year. It's a World Cup year.

And as it's a World Cup year, there will be lots of talk about the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Welcome.. 2015 and new year of cricket and an new way to disect it..

Gents - time to convert from the burgeoning email trail which I have enjoyed so much over the last few years. re need to embrace new social media capabilities - after all - blogging has only been around for about 20 years so we aren't late or anything.