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Understudy tourists
By Ian last year, mid-August, Comments
England will soon have to pick its squad for the winter tours and the three understudy roles up for grabs are those of top-three batsman, wicketkeeper and spinner. My calls for Bob Key were largely dismissed, so I’ll move on to the ‘keeper, who will start as Matt Prior’s back-up, but may get a crack if the Sussex man drops Sangakkara on 0 and becomes Murali’s latest bunny.
It seems England now have an embarrassment of riches at keeper with several stumpers scoring regular runs this season. Foster, Ambrose, Mustard, Read, Jones, Batty have all scored well. Read and Jones have likely had their turn, but Foster may be due another one? Ambrose has been excellent too. Tricky. Mustard must be in line for ODIs, because he’s brilliant at the top of the order for Durham. It’s a shame for Steven Davies that Worcestershire have hardly played this season.
Spinners are more of a quandary. I don’t agree that Pietersen and Vaughan can fill in the gaps. We need a genuine spinner to support Monty, especially in Sri Lanka. The problem is that, as ever, there are no English spinners topping the charts, although I can’t see what Graeme Swann has done to upset the selectors. He would do alright. Adil Rashid has great potential and can bat too. As can Alex Loudon. But would any of them bowl out Sri Lanka? I’m at a loss.
Bring back Shaggy?!
CommentsOver and out
By Ian last year, at the end of April, Comments
The final live was every bit as loony as it must have appeared on telly, but it was still a cracking day out. Indeed, given we were staring at rain covers for the first couple of hours, any action was good action. Gilchrist’s innings was worth the entry fee alone. I also loved the partnership between Jayasuriya and Sangakkara. But no team, however plucky, could have maintained 8 an over against those bowlers in that light.
The ICC has yet again proved itself to be an ass, but it may have dodged a bullet on Saturday. It was lucky that Ponting won the toss and batted first. Had Sri Lanka posted, say, 230 runs for the Aussies to chase in the half-light, it would have been a tall order, even for them. If it had been the Lankans dragging their heels between deliveries to waste time and Malinga bowling 85 mph in the gloomy drizzle, it could have kicked off some ugly scenes in the crowd. Would Australia have accepted being dealt such a poor hand as graciously as Sri Lanka?
OK, so I’m stirring. The right team won and it would have been a travesty if Ponting’s men had been robbed by weather conditions. As my cabbie said the night before, “if you’re the best team, you’re the best team, and you deserve to winâ€. I’ll admit too that the Aussie supporters were excellent in our stand. Save, of course, for the shouts of ‘no-ball’ whenever Murali bowled – can you not just let it go?!
There is the temptation to dismiss the Aussie players as charmless automatons who grind out results, but that is a disservice. They have flair, instinct, guile and panache by the bucket load. The players’ celebrations at Gilchrist’s hundred and the ultimate victory (both times) were genuinely endearing. There is no arrogance, just well-earned confidence. It matters more to these Australians and so they deserve the glory. Thank goodness they can’t play forever.
Ian Valetine is a freelance journalist blogging who has blogged the World Cup for The Corridor
World Cup final: Australia v Sri Lanka
By Will last year, at the end of April, Comments
The interminable 2007 tournament is finally drawing to a close, but before we tear the ICC apart for organising such a ridiculously long event, Australia take on Sri Lanka in the final. Both teams are deserved finalists.
I’m rooting for Sri Lanka. The teams are pretty well matched but I just hope Sri Lanka can apply some of their own bulldozering techniques and not let Australia gain an early upper hand. Get that Matthew Hayden early, too.
Anyway, keep an eye on the scorecard and leave your thoughts below.
CommentsLive chat: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 1st Semi-Final, Jamaica
By Emma last year, at the end of April, Comments
So, after weeks of play, we’ve finally made it to the first semi-final back where Pakistan exited the competition in such spectacular fashion. We can only hope, after such a long wait, that both this match and that at the Beausejour Stadium tomorrow, offer good, tight contests.
But whatever happens, you can watch the scorecard and commentary at Cricinfo, and chat about it here.
CommentsWherefore art thou, Pakistan?
By Ian last year, mid-April, Comments
In the last couple of days we’ve travelled west to Grenada, where we watched a second one-sided match in as many days. Indeed, we made it to the lovely ground here with Ireland languishing on 60 odd for 9. About an hour and ten overs later it was all over, with Mahela Jayawardene playing some memorable shots.
While the Irish have done themselves proud in this tournament, it was a shame for the organizers here that the match was never likely to be a contest. What a difference it would have made if the Pakistanis had got their act together so many weeks ago. At lunchtime, when the match had long finished, there was a heart rending scene as local boys and girls performed a well choreographed dance to highlight AIDS awareness to empty stands. It should have been appreciated by thousands of fans waiting for a tense run chase between fierce rivals. The Grenadians had done all they could to stage a party, but the guests of honour hadn’t shown.
Talking of no-shows, I couldn’t have been more wrong about England. Strauss didn’t get his ton, the Boks didn’t choke and we hardly raised a whimper in the whole tournament. Again, what should have been a marvellous sporting occasion was a total anti-climax. The Baijans, likewise, could not have done more. A friend on the boat Richard Butler was beside himself with frustration. “What is most galling,” he said, “is that England have not played any attacking cricket. They have died wondering.” To see AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya giving it a lash has shown what can be done.
With luck, tomorrow’s game will be 100 overs long! No predictions this time. Just a full game will do me fine.
Ian Valentine is a freelance journalist blogging his diary of the World Cup for The Corridor
CommentsSri Lanka vs Australia, Super Eights, Grenada
By Scott last year, mid-April, Comments
Sri Lanka have a great chance to knock off the Australians because the Grenada pitch suits their game down to the ground. If they do that, the three semi-finallists so far will all have 10 points, and it will all come down to the England vs South Africa game. I don’t think anyone wants to face Australia in the semi-finals somehow.
Malinga is out for Sri Lanka and Watson is still missing for Australia.
CommentsNew Zealand v Sri Lanka, Super Eights, Grenada
By Scott last year, mid-April, Comments
This could be the match of the tournament so far, at least in terms of form, although Australia vs South Africa was right up there as well. That old war-horse Chaminda Vaas has a couple of wickets already and in the 6th over, New Zealand are 4 for 2.
Oh dear. They’re now four down…
CommentsLive: England v Sri Lanka, Super Eights
By Will last year, at the start of April, Comments
I will hunt down my nearest hat shop and munch my way through it if England beat Sri Lanka today. Call me a cynic, but let’s be brutally honest: they are underprepared, they don’t know their best side and they’re facing a revitalised Sri Lanka playing with the same unbridled aggression and joy which earned them the Cup a decade ago.
Regardless of who wins, let’s hope it is at least a contest and that there will be some good individual performances from both sides.
Here’s the scorecard. Leave your erudite observations and rants in the comments.
CommentsVideo highlights of Sri Lanka v South Africa
By Will last year, at the end of March, Comments
Video highlights of Malinga’s four-in-four and the most exciting match of this year’s World Cup to date. Eat that, ICC.
Click here if you can’t see it above.
CommentsChoking Boks battle past Slinger Malinga
By Will last year, at the end of March, Comments
Oh the Boks have done it again! 206 for 5 chasing 210…they’re currently 208 for 9! Malinga took four in four balls (spread over two overs) oh, bugger, South Africa have edged it. Robin Peterson has whalloped Malinga for four to win by a single wicket. What remarkable bottling boks they are. Battling boks, I suppose I should say…
Can’t remember who was on comms at the time, but they did a fine job at CI
48.2 Malinga to Peterson, FOUR, Peterson does it for SA with a edge past the slip. Fullish, outside off stump, Peterson drives, gets a outside edge and it runs down to third man boundary. SA have won. They choked at the end but have pulled it off. Peterson jumps in the air, pumps his fist and then smashes the stumps down at the other end. Immediately apologises!
Worth reading the commentary for the last five wickets. What a match.
CommentsBermuda gain a billion fans
By Will last year, at the end of March, Comments
Poor India. Poor, poor old India. As me Martin and Jenny covered West Indies’ comprehensive thrashing of Ireland, we had one eye (sometimes both) on India’s key encounter with Sri Lanka.
Now then. However much we try to remain unbiased, neutral and balanced cricket journalists, everyone has a favourite team or enjoys seeing one side struggle. India is one such team. Maybe it’s an unspoken competitiveness we have at Cricinfo between the London office and our guys in Bangalore, but there was no shortage of whooping when India were, well, whooped. Commiserations to Vasu, Sriram, George, Rajesh and co. out there, whose livers will be receiving a severe workout right now.
All is not lost, however. India simply need Bermuda to thrash Bangladesh. Unfortunately, that’s about as likely as Ricky Ponting never again uttering “aw, look” at a press conference. The best line came from Ryan at CaribbeanCricket who, moments after Sri Lanka won, said “Bermuda gain a billion fans”.
CommentsIndia vs Sri Lanka, West Indies vs Ireland
By Scott last year, at the end of March, Comments
India go out of the 2007 World Cup if they don’t win tonight’s fixture against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Super 8’s start early, with West Indies and Ireland having already qualified in their group; the winner gets a flying start in the main section of the tournament.
I’ll be blunt though and say that my enthusiasm for the 2007 World Cup has been diminished by the tragic murder of Bob Woolmer. It was bad enough when I heard that the house of Mahendra Singh Dhoni had been burnt down by demented Indian fans, and it was made much worse when I heard that Woolmer had died. But murder? The Aussie Rules season starts next weekend, and I’ll probably pay attention to that more then the cricket. Footy players get pretty badly bruised from time to time, but they don’t get murdered for their efforts.
How about you? Is cynicism overwhelming your enjoyment of the cricket?
CommentsSri Lanka vs Bangladesh; Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
By Scott last year, mid-March, Comments
Interesting games today- the winner of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka will secure qualification. Even if Bangladesh lose today they are still well placed to go through. Meanwhile Zimbabwe will be their usual selves, but it is anyone’s guess as to what version of Pakistan will turn up today.
CommentsSri Lanka vs Bermuda; Ireland vs Zimbabwe
By Scott last year, mid-March, Comments
Today’s game between Ireland vs Zimbabwe has some potential for an upset; Sri Lanka vs Bermuda looks like it could be one-sided.
Ireland vs Zimbabwe is in Jamaica, so it starts an hour later. Chat on, game on!
CommentsWorld Cup, fourth warm-ups: live discussion
By Will last year, mid-March, Comments
So the final warm-ups are today, and some fascinating matches in store, not least England against Australia. Duncan Fletcher has been wittering - “It’s an important game, but we’ve still got to use it as practice”. Usual nonsense.
Anyway. Post your thoughts on the matches which all begin around 13.30GMT
New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Pakistan v South Africa
Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad
Australia v England
Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent
India v West Indies
Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica
