England have won the World T20, the first ICC world limited overs title they have won. During the final with Australia (which England won comfortably in the end) the commentators listed the previous 4 finals England had been in and lost. I remember the second final, which was the world cup final against Australia in India.
Well i remember only 1 things from it really, when England were on the verge of defeat and the scoreboard in those days was an all-screen graphic with a little window for the live video and i remember seeing Gladstone Small going out to bat in that little window. A surreal memory.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Can England go all the way?
It is an unusual thing for an England cricket fan to experience, but after another convincing win at the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, there is growing belief the side can win the whole competition.
Too often in the past England have stumbled along in major tournaments and relied on other results to drag them through to the later rounds. With Pakistan's win over South Africa ensuring England's progress this time round, the stage was set for a New Zealand win that would have sealed their place in the last four and highlighted England’s deficiencies.
But instead, England romped home far comfortably than the final score line suggested. Their progress in the Caribbean has been smooth and efficient, suggesting England have finally cracked the shortest form of the game. Indeed, this is reflected in the cricket betting which now makes them second favourites for the competition.
Coach Andy Flower certainly seems to have hit upon a winning formula in his team selection. The long wait for an effective opening partnership in this form of the game looks to be over, with Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb's lusty blows at the top of the innings finally giving England a consistent platform for victory that has been absent in previous matches.
In the middle order Owain Morgan has provided a steady influence, while Tim Bresnan's blossoming international career was highlighted by a miserly one for 20 with the ball before a battling 23 not out with the bat.
The presence of two spinners, with Greame Swann and Michael Yardy working in tandem, also adds balance of the team - the suffocation of the South African batsmen was a case in point.
Some doubts still remain, the form of captain Paul Collingwood is worrying and the departure of Kevin Pietersen is definitely a blow, but England's performances so far suggest they have hit upon a winning system.
If they can maintain the momentum gain in the Caribbean so far, there no reason why they can't go on and end their 35 year wait for an international trophy.
Meanwhile, in football news, England remain second favourites in the World Cup 2010 betting after Fabio Capello named a provisional 30-man squad for the tournament.
Too often in the past England have stumbled along in major tournaments and relied on other results to drag them through to the later rounds. With Pakistan's win over South Africa ensuring England's progress this time round, the stage was set for a New Zealand win that would have sealed their place in the last four and highlighted England’s deficiencies.
But instead, England romped home far comfortably than the final score line suggested. Their progress in the Caribbean has been smooth and efficient, suggesting England have finally cracked the shortest form of the game. Indeed, this is reflected in the cricket betting which now makes them second favourites for the competition.
Coach Andy Flower certainly seems to have hit upon a winning formula in his team selection. The long wait for an effective opening partnership in this form of the game looks to be over, with Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb's lusty blows at the top of the innings finally giving England a consistent platform for victory that has been absent in previous matches.
In the middle order Owain Morgan has provided a steady influence, while Tim Bresnan's blossoming international career was highlighted by a miserly one for 20 with the ball before a battling 23 not out with the bat.
The presence of two spinners, with Greame Swann and Michael Yardy working in tandem, also adds balance of the team - the suffocation of the South African batsmen was a case in point.
Some doubts still remain, the form of captain Paul Collingwood is worrying and the departure of Kevin Pietersen is definitely a blow, but England's performances so far suggest they have hit upon a winning system.
If they can maintain the momentum gain in the Caribbean so far, there no reason why they can't go on and end their 35 year wait for an international trophy.
Meanwhile, in football news, England remain second favourites in the World Cup 2010 betting after Fabio Capello named a provisional 30-man squad for the tournament.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Unstoppable Bears
Amid the chaos of a general election one fact has come to the fore which truly shakes the world to it's foundations. Learned men in the great capitals of the world are rubbing their heads in puzzlement, computers furiously number crunch petabytes of data but to no avail. This mystery has baffled the world and taken up countless hours of TV across the world. The Bears have seemingly become unbeatable.
Today's victory over Durham in the CB40 is yet another Earth shattering event of such magnitude the LHC operators in CERN ran panic stricken from their laboratories for a while as they mistook the events unfolding at Edgbaston as a black hole opening up deep below Switzerland.
It followed on from a famous victory over Kent at Canterbury which was probably the greatest victory since Trafalgar and last week's rout of the Foxes who will probably wish they had been shot instead like the one at Hove. And of course can we forget the awesome victory over Hampshire? No we never will. Er which one was that again?
Can this amazing run continue? Lets just enjoy it while it lasts, maybe everything we have grown up to know and expect is wrong. Maybe up will now be down. Maybe ants will take over the world. Maybe something even more weird could happen like the Liberal Democrats get into power?
Today's victory over Durham in the CB40 is yet another Earth shattering event of such magnitude the LHC operators in CERN ran panic stricken from their laboratories for a while as they mistook the events unfolding at Edgbaston as a black hole opening up deep below Switzerland.
It followed on from a famous victory over Kent at Canterbury which was probably the greatest victory since Trafalgar and last week's rout of the Foxes who will probably wish they had been shot instead like the one at Hove. And of course can we forget the awesome victory over Hampshire? No we never will. Er which one was that again?
Can this amazing run continue? Lets just enjoy it while it lasts, maybe everything we have grown up to know and expect is wrong. Maybe up will now be down. Maybe ants will take over the world. Maybe something even more weird could happen like the Liberal Democrats get into power?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Third time lucky for England?
The obsession with the shortest form of cricket continues with the start of the ICC World Twenty/20 in the West Indies this week, just days after the IPL came to an end.
For England it is another chance to show how they have adapted to the version of the game pioneered in their own country seven years ago.
The previous two tournaments have been disappointing, with an opening game defeat to the Netherlands at Lord's last June a particular lowlight.
However, encouraging performances in Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh has given the squad renewed optimism ahead of the latest tournament. The IPL also means five of England's batsmen will be well and truly tuned into T20 mode when they reach the Caribbean.
Something that could also be in their favour is the freshness of pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Both made sensible decisions earlier this year to take some time away from the modern day all-year-round cricketing conveyor belt.
I have long been sceptical of the ever expanding cricket calendar, with the inevitable injuries and fatigue that will arise from it. So I was relieved when Anderson opted out of the tour of Bangladesh to rest a chronic knee injury, while Broad decided not to play in the IPL to in order to rest after the long winter tour.
The result was 12 wickets between them in their respective county matches last week. Refreshed and refocused, their sharpness could be a real asset.
The biggest gamble by coach Andy Flower is at the top of the order. Newcomers Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter look set to open the batting despite never playing a T20 international. However, Flower knows England's lethargy in the opening powerplay has cost them time and time again and something needs to be down to ensure early runs are put on the scoreboard. The fact Lumb and Kieswetter could become the 16th opening pair in 25 T20 matches emphasises the conundrum England have faced, and flower will hope the new partnership hits the ground running.
To be honest, I can't see England winning this tournament. Indeed, the cricket betting reflects this. Despite their pretournament bullishness I still don't think the players have really mastered the tactics of the game. However, progress to the knockout stages would be considered satisfactory as Flower continues to tinker with his side, with greater challenges lying ahead.
Meanwhile, on football news, England are currently third favourites in the World Cup online betting ahead of the start of the tournament in June.
For England it is another chance to show how they have adapted to the version of the game pioneered in their own country seven years ago.
The previous two tournaments have been disappointing, with an opening game defeat to the Netherlands at Lord's last June a particular lowlight.
However, encouraging performances in Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh has given the squad renewed optimism ahead of the latest tournament. The IPL also means five of England's batsmen will be well and truly tuned into T20 mode when they reach the Caribbean.
Something that could also be in their favour is the freshness of pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Both made sensible decisions earlier this year to take some time away from the modern day all-year-round cricketing conveyor belt.
I have long been sceptical of the ever expanding cricket calendar, with the inevitable injuries and fatigue that will arise from it. So I was relieved when Anderson opted out of the tour of Bangladesh to rest a chronic knee injury, while Broad decided not to play in the IPL to in order to rest after the long winter tour.
The result was 12 wickets between them in their respective county matches last week. Refreshed and refocused, their sharpness could be a real asset.
The biggest gamble by coach Andy Flower is at the top of the order. Newcomers Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter look set to open the batting despite never playing a T20 international. However, Flower knows England's lethargy in the opening powerplay has cost them time and time again and something needs to be down to ensure early runs are put on the scoreboard. The fact Lumb and Kieswetter could become the 16th opening pair in 25 T20 matches emphasises the conundrum England have faced, and flower will hope the new partnership hits the ground running.
To be honest, I can't see England winning this tournament. Indeed, the cricket betting reflects this. Despite their pretournament bullishness I still don't think the players have really mastered the tactics of the game. However, progress to the knockout stages would be considered satisfactory as Flower continues to tinker with his side, with greater challenges lying ahead.
Meanwhile, on football news, England are currently third favourites in the World Cup online betting ahead of the start of the tournament in June.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Bears vs Hampshire
Was at the ground today to see the first day (or session rather) of the Bears latest county championship match against Hampshire. Good entertainment too as Michael Carberry looked in good form but the Bears' bowlers also! Pics from the morning are here. Some very large drills appeared to be whirring away in the new development area, presumably drilling holes for the foundations? Certainly made plenty of racket anyway!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A very good day
Today was a good day if you were a Villa fan or a Warwickshire fan or a Chennai Super Kings fan. And if you are a fan of all three like me a very good day! Of the 3 matches the only one i saw was the latter and that was a solid professional performance by the Super Kings, Mumbai made a possible error in not bringing the awesome Kieron Pollard in earlier (though of course it is hard to say what could have changed, he might have been out first ball!). His 107m 6 was a box office shot for sure. Great game in any event, even Mandira returned!
Not that good a day for Lalit Modi though...
So that was the end of IPL 3.0, who knows how the cricket landscape will have changed by the time of version 4.0...
Not that good a day for Lalit Modi though...
So that was the end of IPL 3.0, who knows how the cricket landscape will have changed by the time of version 4.0...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Gilo wants a 7 strong premiership
The King Of Spain wants the county championship to have a 7 team premiership and the other 11 teams in a first division. Its better than a conference idea anyway though why 7-11 and not 8-10 which would seem neater? Also do we have to copy the namby pamby idea of a "premiership" and a "first division" from football which logically doesn't make any sense and has always appauled me.
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