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Australia: flat, unconvincing, undecided
By Will Saturday, last week, 3 Comments »
Four days against Sussex hasn’t helped Ricky Ponting decide on his lineup for the first Test. Have a read of my colleague’s bulletin, the whirlwind and unstoppable force that is Alex Brown:
These are worrying times for the Australians. A flat final day performance on a flat Hove pitch has given Ricky Ponting few signposts as to the composition of his best bowling attack 11 days out from the first Test in Cardiff. Only seven Sussex wickets fell on Saturday - a concerning development for a team containing five specialist bowlers - as Carl Hopkinson, making his maiden first-team appearance this season, raised a stirring century that ensured a draw, and almost forced a famous victory.
The only comforting thought for Ponting ahead of the practice match against Ian Bell’s England Lions on Wednesday is the availability of Mitchell Johnson, the ace in Australia’s pack. Peter Siddle will almost certainly partner him in Cardiff - Tim Nielsen, the Australian coach, described him as a “lock” selection on Saturday - but the make-up of the attack thereafter remains unclear and, in the absence of strong performances in Worcester, could be determined by conditions on the day.
The lack of a frontline spinner has upset their balance something horrible. Intriguing, wonderful, fascinating week coming up.
3 Comments »Symonds dropped for booze; career over?
By Will 1 month ago, 5 Comments »
Cricinfo broke this an hour ago. He’s reportedly going to give his side of the story after he arrives back in Australia (hopefully not after draining the duty free). It’s all rather sad now. Hugely gifted player and his career’s come to a drunken full stop.
5 Comments »Ashes poll - neck and neck
By Will 2 months ago, 14 Comments »
The poll’s been up only a few days, but it’s neck and neck at the moment.
Who will win the Ashes?
- Australia (50.0%, 30 Votes)
- England (50.0%, 30 Votes)
Total Voters: 60
Cast yours at the site (right hand side).
South Africa and Australia yet to be separated
By Mark Tilley 4 months ago, 72 Comments »
If Australia’s series win in South Africa has taught us anything, its that they are not, repeat not, to be underestimated, especially by the English, ahead of this summers Ashes clash. Their mini resurgence has seen new players step manfully into the breach and come out victorious. Phillip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Marcus North, etc; men who have been drafted in when the team was in a period of crisis and who have partially lifted their side out of the doldrums.
South Africa’s innings victory over the Aussies in Cape Town has levelled their six match rivalry spread across two tours at 3-3. If we were looking for any indication as to who is the best Test nation in the world, then it looks like we’re going to be kept guessing, at least for a little while longer. The manner of South Africa’s victory today suggests that the momentum is with the Proteas and it was the first defeat by an innings suffered by Australia since India crushed them in way back in 1998.
One could also argue that Australia’s defeat in India last year is further proof that they are in no shape to brand themselves the number one side. They are a team in more in transition than Martin Johnson‘s perennially developing England rugby side. Siddle and Hilfenhaus have done the jobs asked of them by Ricky Ponting and they have done them well but the imposing figures and reputations of Brett Lee and Stuart Clark must be looming large over them and predicting Australia’s line-up for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff in July is nigh on impossible.
South Africa, for their part, are also not 100% certain on a definitive starting team. Opener Neil McKenzie was dropped for the last Test, making way for debutant Imraan Khan. Khan didn’t have too memorable a debut but makeshift opener Ashwell Prince certainly did, ruthlessly blasting the small matter of 150 runs. Paceman Morne Morkel was also not called upon; brother Albie Morkel was drafted in instead, taking one wicket and scoring a helpful fifty in support of AB de Villiers. South Africa are not in crisis, not by a long stretch, but the series loss was unexpected in the wake of their heroics down under and they certainly have some improving to do before they can once more lay claim to being the top of the pile.
Three Test match victories each is a perfectly fair reflection of the two sides’ efforts against each other in both series. Australia looked dead and buried after defeats in Perth and Melbourne but have fought back in the manner of a wounded champion. The pretenders of South Africa were shocked by the resurrection from the Australians in the first two tests but their victory today has at least reminded doubting observers of their quality and potential.
By the by, how well is Mitchell Johnson playing at the moment? More wickets than he can possibly count and now a maiden Test hundred. The boy gets better and better with every passing game and he looks set to play an impossibly crucial role in the Ashes.
72 Comments »Just a few more moments
By Mark Tilley 4 months ago, 2 Comments »
One moment towards the end of the second day of the South Africa vs Australia that raised a chuckle. Jacques Kallis, on 99 not out, tried to work a ball into the on side for a single to take him to a deserved hundred. He inside edged the ball onto his pads, watched it run away safely and then scampered through for the run and raised his bat to the adoring crowd.
The fans applauded and batting partner AB de Villiers warmly congratulated the elder statesmen. However, the general feel-good atmosphere was suddenly ruined when umpire Asad Rauf abruptly signalled the run as a leg-bye! It shocked pretty much everyone watching and even Sky Sports had to stop their flashy, ‘Kallis-hundred’ graphic. It all seemed like a bit of a joke but it got even funnier seconds later.
Rauf then checked with the third umpire, who informed him that it should have, in fact been given as a Kallis run. Rauf then reversed the decision yet again and Kallis, having had to sheepishly put his helmet back on, was finally through to his first Test hundred in almost a year.
Ricky Ponting was moved to question the decision briefly with the umpire, wondering why the third umpire was consulted on a matter as trivial as the difference between a run and a leg bye. Still, it must have brought a wry smile to some of the Australians in a day that saw their bowlers get marmalised all over the park by a rampant South African batting line-up.
I wonder if even Bryce McGain was moved to have a little giggle, having spent the day seeing his first 11 overs in Test cricket disappear for 106 runs?
2 Comments »Helping Australia again
By Richard Seeckts 4 months ago, 10 Comments »
Not long ago it was possible to dream of a close fought Ashes series this coming summer. Since the turn of the year, however, the gap between Australia and England has grown like a crevasse in the melting ice caps; Australia’s young pups comfortably filling the boots of their retired predecessors while England have tried all manner of bowling options without finding a winning combination.
Philip Hughes is right up there with Archie Jackson and Neil Harvey for precocious talent, so will have a big part to play in the Ashes despite his lack of experience in English conditions. The problem is that Middlesex have signed him for the first six weeks of the season. At Lord’s in April and May he will learn how best to play English bowlers in English conditions. Come July, he will return to HQ in his baggy green and, quite probably, tonk England’s finest to all parts.
It’s happened before, but that does not make it clever. English cricket continues shoot itself in the foot. The chances of an Australian State employing, say, Stuart Broad for six weeks prior to the next Ashes series down under are, I suspect, nil.
Would Middlesex consider politely changing their minds about employing young Hughes? It would be uncharacteristically magnanimous for any county to make such a gesture, and be warmly applauded here.
10 Comments »Charitable cricket
By Mark Tilley 5 months ago, 22 Comments »
Australia have levelled the five game one day series with New Zealand, after a 6 wicket win in Adelaide - but the cricket was overshadowed, in part, in the wake of the disastrous Victoria bushfire. Sponsors of the series, Commonwealth Bank, pledged to donate $5000 for every six hit in the game and $100 for every run scored, meaning that by the end of play they had raised just over $6 million, via donations from players, TV viewers, cricket boards etc.
Australian squad member Peter Siddle, not playing in the game, spent the game roaming around the crowd, asking for donations from generous members of the Australian cricketing public. Siddle’s family live in an area affected by the fires and he revealed that a member of his family had lost friends to the deadly blazes.
It’s good to see that in a time of a national crisis that cricket and sport in general can still play it’s part, however small or trivial. The incentive to hit sixes and raise more money could have also increased not only the entertainment factor but the chance of players giving their wickets away. However, batsman were not to be deterred and as Michael Hussey crashed a six over long on to win the game, their was a sense not of one team winning and one losing but of both doing their part to help out.
The obscene amount of money raised will certainly play it’s part in the rebuilding phase of this tragedy and cricket, on this occasion, can be proud of it’s collective self. It’s always heartwarming to see teams and nations rally when their countries are in crisis - Sachin Tendulkar’s wonderful hundred to beat England in Chennai last December was a tribute to those lost in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
This act of generosity from both Australia and New Zealand and the sponsors of the series ensured that although Australia have fought back from two matchs down, the saddening loss of life will still be at the forefront of Australian minds. Good on them.
And, by the by, it looks like it’s going to be a cracker of a series decider in Brisbane on Friday.
22 Comments »Duminy’s catch
By Will 6 months ago, 3 Comments »
There’s nothing I like more than a really good catch. Yorkshire puddings; sunny winter days; the bosom of one’s family. Yes, they’re all shit compared a really good catch.
And JP Duminy’s today was one of the very best, for a number of reasons. It was at night, under a black sky, with floodlights obscuring his vision. He had to run, oh I don’t know, maybe 20 yards at full pelt. The ball was hit over his head, so he was running backwards and therefore blind. He had a cap on (I could never field in a cap for this very reason) and couldn’t see the ball until the very last second, when he still had some yardage to make up, so he dived forward. A top piece of sport and entertainment.
If ever there was an example of someone taking his chances (that works metaphorically as well as the obvious literal pun. Thanks), it’s that catch by Duminy. South Africa’s tour of Australia has been all the richer for him realising his immense ability.
** There are some disgustingly flaky videos of the catch on Youtube, most of which have been uploaded by some freeloading twit attempting to advertise his silly little website, so I’ll let you try and find it when a proper one surfaces
3 Comments »JP Duminy - a class act
By Mark Tilley 6 months ago, 2 Comments »
Yes, Australia may have handed it to South Africa in both Twenty20 games. But at least JP Duminy is still dominating the frail Aussies. His innings today of 69 not out off 41 balls underlined his class in the shorter form of the game and continues his extremely impressive run of scores Down Under.
For Duminy, this tour has certainly been a breakthrough for him. Making only a single on Test debut in Perth, he followed it with an impressive unbeaten fifty in the successful run chase, giving solid support to centurion AB de Villers and guiding the Proteas to an historic win. And as if that wasn’t enough, he blitzed the Australian attack all over the MCG in the next Test, making a fantastic 166, batting with the tail. That innings dragged South Africa back into the game, having been pretty much out of it when he came to the crease.
Duminy had a quiet final Test but by then he had already impressed all the right people. His classy stroke-play is what draws most to him and the way in which he has accumulated his runs proves he has a fantastic temperament, well suited to Test match cricket. However, he can still perform in the limited overs arena with a bold 78 in the first T20 match followed by today’sinnings. He has five more one day games to continue being a thorn in Australia’s side.
Duminy looks to have a great future before him. He appears to have already ousted Ashwell Prince from the South African middle order and if he can replicate his Australian success when the Aussies come back for the return series, then he’ll surely be well placed to be one of the world’s best batsman for years to come. Well played, indeed.
2 Comments »Hayden retires
By Will 6 months ago, 9 Comments »
Or nearly. He’s on the cusp, as they say. Let your tributes come flowing in for the great man. Tributes, hate-mail - the usual.
9 Comments »Best of Enemies: Whinging Poms Versus Arrogant Aussies
By Will 6 months ago, 5 Comments »
My old chum Patrick Kidd has written his first book, and it’s available to pre-order for the frankly disgustingly cheap £9.49. That’s under a tenner in today’s money - and less than 950 pence. Other currencies are available.
Don’t hesitate for one second: buy it immediately.
Product Description
One of the great rivalries in sport returns this summer, but what is it about a six-inch terracotta urn that en flames the passions of Poms and Aussies? Why do the English think that all Australians are alcoholic simpletons? Why do Australians think the English all have a stick up their backside? And why do they need (and needle) each other so much? In this humorous look at one of the truly great rivalries, written by “The Times’” cricket blogger and a professional Australian bar-room pontificator, the grudges, sledges, heroes and villains are laid bare.
About the Author
Patrick Kidd is a cricket and rowing writer who has been with The Times in London since 2001. He also writes for Wisden, Wisden Cricketer, and appears regularly on television and radio as a pundit.Peter McGuinness grew up being told that Poms were blokes from England who were never happy about anything. He now knows why. He writes a cricket blog.
Australia crack open the bolly
By Will 6 months ago, 5 Comments »
Not that bolly. Doug Bollinger, the left-arm swing bowler, who will make his debut alongside the flame-haired Andrew McDonald (a batsman who bowls), as Australia attempt to avoid a 0-3 whitewash in their backyard. Can you believe it?
Bollinger, 27, seems to be an interesting character.
“I’m just going to go out there and just do what I’ve been doing for New South Wales and try swinging the ball,” he said. “Just try to intimidate batsmen and just try and be competitive. I’d just like to compete and do well, I’m not out there to make friends.”Graeme Smith and the South Africans do not know much about Bollinger, but they are learning quickly about his quirks.
“Any guy who is going to try 150,000% in this game is someone we’re going to have to respect,” Smith said teasingly. The tourists have traded jokes about Bollinger’s hair on the team bus, but say they won’t use them on the field.
It’s all setup beautifully if you’re not an Australian fan. Us Poms, well, we haven’t had much cause to peer down our noses with disparaging sympathy at our favourite cousins for years and years. Roll on the third Test (live scorecard).
5 Comments »It’s not funny? Or is it…
By Will last year, at the end of December, 7 Comments »
“It’s not funny anymore” by Peter English. Oh yea, this is VERY funny, especially to the rest of the cricket world. Aussies, welcome to what the rest of the world had to endure the last 15+ years. It is payback time.
A comment left at Cricinfo to my colleague’s piece on Australia’s defeat. It’s hard not to agree, certainly as an Englishman. Most of all, I just have an overwhelming feeling of relief that the baton has at last been passed on. Australians may not agree (do you?), but it’s by far the best thing for the world game - as long as Australia is replaced. There needs to be a leader of the pack if Tests are to survive the onslaught of Twenty20 cricket, I think.
7 Comments »Watson out of the Ashes
By Will last year, at the end of December, 11 Comments »
They’re going down like flies in Australia. Shane Watson, who has spent most of his life on crutches, has a stress fracture of the back and is almost certainly out of contention for the Ashes.
The 2009 Ashes promises to be a bare-knuckle fight to the death, by two average teams who think they’re better than they really are. I’m impossibly up for it.
11 Comments »And the walls came tumbling down
By Will last year, at the end of December, 9 Comments »
Amid all the anticipation that Australia are about to lose their first home series in 16 years, there are some intriguing stats to come out following Dale Steyn’s individual excellence:
- Steyn is also the 22nd allrounder - and the second South African, after Fanie de Villiers - to score a half-century and take ten wickets in the same match. He is only the second to do this since 2000.
- Dale Steyn’s match figures of 10 for 154 took his career tally to 150 from 29 Tests at an average of 22.66 and a strike rate of 37.6 balls per wicket. Among bowlers who’ve bowled 2000 balls in Tests, Steyn’s strike rate is second to George Lohmann’s.
(Cricinfo)
Steyn has shone, but it’s been South Africa’s allround dominance which has most stood out. That, and Australia’s many cracks. A batting lineup with one or two ageing hasbeens; the over-reliance on Ponting; some seriously un-Australian loose strokes (Katich, of all people, chasing wide ones) and a bowling attack lacking penetration. That too is over-reliant on Brett Lee, who is injured, and although Mitchell Johnson is progressing nicely, I still don’t see him as a pack-leader.
So, if South Africa knock off these runs, they’ll condemn Australia to their first home-series defeat since West Indies in 1992-93. That’s a monstrously long time ago. I was 10 and my cricketing education had only just begun. Ever since, Australia have ruled the roost.
I’m sure nearly every Englishmen staying up late tonight will automatically (and patriotically?) pledge allegiance to South Africa. But even Australians, I like to think, might be quite excited at the change in world order. Don’t underestimate how significant this is; how Australia responds over the coming years is deliciously exciting.
Fellow losers staying up late (or early) to watch the match, leave a comment or three.
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