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Be a cricket blogger
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of June, No Comments; be the first!
I was approached last year to edit The Googly, a new cricket blog, but in recent weeks it’s fallen into disuse. I simply don’t have the time. So they’re looking for someone else. Apply within.
No Comments »The importance of being earnest
By Scott 2 years ago, mid-April, No Comments; be the first!
Tim de Lisle opened up in Cricinfo with an interesting post relating to independence in the media.
Trescothick is much liked, and even after his story changed, most commentators were gentle with him. But one pundit was conspicuously tough: Mike Atherton, cricket columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, who said Trescothick’s virus line was “so utterly implausible” that “ridicule is the only proper response”.
Atherton used to open the batting for England with Trescothick. He was a team-mate for years at Lancashire of Trescothick’s agent, Neil Fairbrother, who also came in for criticism in Atherton’s piece, albeit unnamed. The condemnation possibly went a touch too far, but it came from the right place: a belief in honesty. Atherton can’t stand spin - of the PR variety - and he is right to highlight the way it is spreading through the sports world.
Atherton is one of the best ex-player pundits for three reasons. He wants to get better; after a tentative start, his writing has steadily acquired more scope and flair. He is curious: he asks questions, while some ex-players still wait for the questions to come to them. And he has a clear grasp of the importance of being independent. He knows he is now batting not for England, but for his readers.
In a free press, that distinction is straightforward. In televised sport, it is becoming a grey area. The ultimate producer of cricket in India is now the Indian board. Atherton, who commentated for Sky on the India-England series, says local commentators were “asked not to mention sensitive subjects”. This provoked denials, but it will continue to be an issue. And some ex-players just don’t seem to see that it matters.
I posit that it is not quite so simple as this though. As a general rule of thumb, in whatever field you work in, you do not crap in your own nest. Cricket authorities are different in various places but all of them expect their broadcast partners to be supportive. And the management of the broadcasters themselves would be most displeased if the commentators were to disparage the game, lest they invite viewers to change the channel.
After all Michael Atherton would hardly expect the Sunday Telegraph to be very friendly to him if he bagged the paper in his column.
That is why there will always be a role for newspapers and blogs in cricket and indeed, in many other areas. We can ask the questions that broadcast media can not ask.
No Comments »Thoughts on Australia’s bowling attack.
By Scott 2 years ago, mid-April, No Comments; be the first!
Urban design blogger Russell Degnan turns his considerable intellect towards cricket on an agreeably regular basis. His latest offering is an analysis of Australia’s Test bowling options going through until 2009. Well worth a read.
No Comments »A short dramatic piece
By Scott 2 years ago, mid-February, No Comments; be the first!
There’s a long association between cricket and the stage. Given some of Shane Warne histrionics, you can see the obvious connection.
Anyway, Melbourne blogger and cricket fan Russ Degnan has penned a short play that has a real air of realism about it. Go read!
No Comments »Someone had blundered!
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-December, 3 Comments »
Jagadish mused on Trescothick’s folly in inviting Pakistan to bat first and then watching them run up over 350, and went down memory lane for other invitations that did not work out too well. He invites readers to give their vote for the biggest blunder (I voted for Ganguly’s inviting Australia to bat in the 2003 World Cup final, which led to Australia scoring 359).
Great idea, that.. Jagadish limits his post to ODI’s so I’ll make the two obvious Test blunders. Both of them were Ashes disasters.
In 2002, Nasser Hussain decided to invite Australia to bat in the First Test at the Gabba. Hayden and Ponting racked up centuries and plundered the English to be 2 for 364 at stumps. What was the blunder? Hussain no doubt thought his bowlers would get more assistance from the pitch then he thought, and he wasn’t helped that Simon Jones broke down after seven overs.
In 2005, Ricky Ponting lost the services of Glenn McGrath, but still felt confident enough to invite England to bat at Edgbaston. Freed from the stern discipline of McGrath, the English were bowled out by stumps, but they had racked up 407 at more then five an over. England seized the initative in the Ashes series and never gave it back.
Any other blunders come to mind in Tests?
3 Comments »Pakistan vs England, 3rd ODI
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-December, 7 Comments »
Kevin Pieterson is on his way home so he’ll miss the rest of the series. It seems as though he has a rib injury, although Corridor of Uncertainty staff haven’t been able to confirm a story that he had in fact been awarded the BBC “Chav of the Year” award. With Pakistan reinforced by the return of Shahid Afridi, I think they can go into this match as warm favourites.
Security is tight for the match…
With up to 3000 policemen drafted in to exercise crowd control, and the elite paramilitary Rangers on hand to protect the players as well, authorities on both sides are optimistic that the match will pass without a glitch.
Obviously the danger from Islamic terrorists the Barmy Army teenage cricket bloggers is being taken seriously so I’m sure the match will take place without a hitch.
The Great Escape
By Scott 3 years ago, at the start of December, 1 Comment »
Phew! That was close!
I thought that Australia were stuffed even before Brett Lee conceded 18 off his last over. So getting out of jail there was something else. And hurray for Mick Lewis who bowled a beautiful over at the death.
No hurray for Ricky Ponting for mismanaging the run chase and giving away a no-ball for having three fielders in the circle, and no hurray for Brett Lee who was as inept as he was splendid in game 1.
Links to the Cricinfo Bulletin, here’s an Australian news report, a New Zealand news report and a New Zealand blog reaction.
But Australia have won the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and that’s enough for me.
1 Comment »View on the other side
By Scott 3 years ago, at the end of November, 6 Comments »
I always like to read the views of fans from both teams when I’m watching a series. For the Pakistani viewpoint, I discovered the excellent Sundries, by Zainub. She provides an excellent session by session wrap and she doesn’t miss much.
Zainub is also fearless, willing to ask the really hard questions that the media don’t ask. Her analysis of Jimmy Anderson’s hair (caution-disturbing images) is harsh but fair.
6 Comments »Cricket 24×7 replace their boots
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of April, No Comments; be the first!
Jagadish - who I’ve decided is a marketing mole for the ACB - and Cricket 24×7’s retirement lasted just 24 hours, and their boots have been velcroed back on. And I thought I was a cricket tragic…
No Comments »Cricket 24×7 hang up their boots
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of April, 4 Comments »
Jagadish and Ganesh retire, for the time being, from blogging Cricket 24×7. Wish ‘em luck for the future, and hope they’ll be around to remind me of England’s chances (against anyone!) here…
4 Comments »