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Australia v World XI, Super Test, Sydney, Day Four
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 11 Comments »
So. This Test has just about sparked into life at the eleventh hour – laughable to think there are two whole days left in it. Plenty of time, therefore, for the World XI to reach 355. They can pootle along at about 2/over and they’ll walk through to victory…
I really think World XI have their noses in front. The formula for victory is incredibly easy: one batsman needs to score a hundred. The rest can back him up with 40s and 50s. But, as we’ve been saying for the past decade, the threat of McGrath and Warne is omnipresent. My Cricinfo colleague, Dileep Premachandran, has done a preview for day 4. Chat away, if any of you can be bothered.
11 Comments »Australia v World XI, Super Test, Sydney, Day Three
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 5 Comments »
Day three. Australia “on top of the World” (ho ho). What a load of nonsense.
5 Comments »Australia v World XI, Super Test, Sydney, Day Two
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 16 Comments »
So. Australia 331 for 6. I didn’t see all the highlights of yesterday’s play – couldn’t stomach it really. Despite my couldn’t-really-care-less attitude, I still want the World XI to put up a fight. Day two – chat away
16 Comments »Super Test thoughts, first day
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 6 Comments »
Not seen all the highlights, but did see Harmison and Flintoff’s first few overs. Apart from seeing two England bowlers opening the attack for a World XI (which surely wouldn’t have been the case had Pollock, 12th man!, been selected), which in itself was just about the only interesting thing to happen all day, it also made me wonder: when was the last time an England bowler/bowlers came to Australia with a reputation, and bowled a superb first spell?
My memories of England touring Australia are haunted by Michael Slater and A.N.Other slapping them around for the first hour, thus killing any hopes England supporters had of retaining the Ashes. So, to see Harmison bowl that brilliant first over was a rare treat.
6 Comments »Australia v World XI, Super Series Test, Sydney, Day One
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 17 Comments »
Well, after the terrible performance the World XI put up in the one-dayers, can they do any better in the Test? I sincerely hope so; it’s only been a matter of weeks since England won the Ashes, and we cannot allow our antipodean friends to regain their air of cockiness so soon! Whatever happens, let’s hope it’ll be competitive and that there’ll be some exciting strokeplay. I’m also keen to see how Harmison does…
I’m far too knackered to stay up for it, but will catch some of it on Saturday morning at work. Chat away.
17 Comments »Captain Graeme Smith
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 3 Comments »
Any doubts of Smith’s leadership qualities, or confusion as to the World XI’s mission tonight have been resolved by the ever-insightful Smith:
To beat Australia. That’s what we’ve come here for.
Thanks for that. Wondered what that group of eleven non-Australian players were doing in Sydney.
3 Comments »Who should captain World XI for the Test? Results
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 6 Comments »
Well, you’re all very hilarious. Stupid Will decided to allow you to add your own entries to the poll, to decide: Who should captain World XI for the Test? The last entry was for someone’s Grandmother, which just about sums up the poll’s pointlessness! Unless………nah.
Anyway, Michael Vaughan was the clear winner, with 33% of the 184 votes; Inzamam-ul-Haq was second, with 11% closely followed by, yes, Gary Pratt. He’s NOT EVEN PLAYING! But thanks for the joke, it did raise a smile.
Last time I let any of you loose on deciding who else should be in a poll 
ICC Super Series photos
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 1 Comment »
mils-i on Flickr has some cool photos from the ICC Super Series one-day debacle, including this obscure and funky view of the scoreboard:
Australia v World XI, 3rd ODI, October 9
By Will 5 years ago, mid-October, 8 Comments »
This series is all over, so today’s game is simply a bit of fun. Maybe that’ll inspire some of the World XI to go all out and try and win – and enjoy it. So far, they’ve looked laxidaisical and disinterested – and not very good, either. All eyes point to the Test but, in the meantime, let’s see if we can have a game on our hands…chat away. I’m posting this yesterday in advance, if that makes any sense, and won’t be around until later on Sunday.
8 Comments »The far from super ICC Super Series
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of October, 3 Comments »
It’s really not been all that super, has it? John Stern, editor of The Wisden Cricketer in his column, Stern Words, wrote before this series:
Australia will be so up for it as to make the contest potentially one-sided despite the obvious talent they will be facing. Had Australia beaten England, the chances are that the World XI players might have fancied it more than the Australians. The opposite now seems to be true.
While the matches haven’t been wholly one-sided, Australia have certainly outplayed World XI who, as a team, lack the intensity that a group of players (a “team”) who represent a country usually have. It’s a shame, though; Lara, Flintoff, Sangakarra, Shoaib, Gayle…some fine, fine players. And my boss made a good point about the trouble the series faces; we see so much cricket these days that we’ve become spoilt for choice. The tasty prospect of picking Murali’s doosra isn’t a rare enough occasion to get excited about. Lara? Christ, I’ve seen him bat more than some of England’s players.
So what can the future of a “world series” hold? After England’s memorable summer, Australia – the caged animal, as John said – has fought back, determined to show the world that they are indeed the best. Better than all the rest, as (and I shudder that I know this) Tina Turner once said. But these two victories are a feeble attempt at confirming their waning authority as cricket’s leaders, not that that is Australia’s (or Cricket Australia’s) fault.
It’s the fault of the Ashes. Damn this summer, and damn all that participated; any other cricketing contest now seems weak and watery in comparison.
3 Comments »Australia v World XI, 2nd ODI, October 7
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of October, 14 Comments »
So, Australia won the first – let’s hope World XI can keep the series alive by winning today. And, also, I hope the crowd’s are fuller. I’ll be in work at the unearthly hour of 7am BST. Chat away – let’s hope the World XI can put up a better fight this time.
14 Comments »Australia v World XI, 1st ODI, October 5
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of October, 25 Comments »
The first match of the ICC Super Series, at Melbourne. Ought to be entertaining, but I hope it’s taken seriously by the players. Any other attitude would make the competition even more pointless. Let’s hope there is some excellent, tough, exciting and entertaining cricket. I’ll be in work at 7am BST – chat away!
25 Comments »Who should captain World XI for the Test?
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of October, 4 Comments »
New poll, to run for 10 days: Who should captain World XI for the Test?
Graeme Smith is in line to do it, but who would you prefer to see lead the World XI against Australia? (squad list here).
Ian Chappell questioned Smith’s imagination as captain last week. Are you happy with the decision? I’d go for Flintoff, m’self, just for laughs (although I do think he’d make an excellent captain of England’s one-day side).
You can vote (and add your own choices) on most pages at the top on the right-hand-side.
4 Comments »Super Series poll results
By Will 5 years ago, at the start of October, 1 Comment »
Poll: Who will win the Super Series ODIs?
Entries: 124
Australia: 32% (40)
World XI: 68% (84)
Who will win the Super Series ODIs?
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of September, 23 Comments »
A new poll up (on the main page). Who will win the Super Series ODIs? Vote now!
23 Comments »