< 1 minute readWell we’d probably only have a go if England’s batsmen had got themselves out playing aggressively – let’s say that. We’d have bemoaned their lack of application and their inability to read a pitch and react accordingly. We’d have wondered where the old-fashioned virtue of patience had gone. We are
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The power of intimidation
< 1 minute read‘Oh no, Paul Collingwood’s coming on to bowl. He’s England’s best bowler.’ ‘I thought Collingwood was good, but Pietersen’s EVEN BETTER. Where have they been hiding this guy.’ ‘Hoggard was looking in ominous form during that innings of two. That bodes badly for the rest of the series.’ Just some
Continue readingDaniel Vettori’s batting average
< 1 minute readHere’s some statistics. Since the start of 2003, Daniel Vettori has had 48 Test innings and averaged 41.60 with two hundreds and 11 fifties. Since the start of 2005, he’s averaged 48.18. Not half bad for a number eight batsman. You’ve really got to redefine what the middle-order is with
Continue readingRespectable day for England hints at a mediocre future
2 minute readOn the face of it, with New Zealand 282-6 on a flat pitch, England had a pretty good day, but Alastair Cook won’t always catch so well and they won’t always be playing New Zealand. The plan of the day was Plan D, because Vaughan had already been through A,
Continue readingSteve Harmison needs to take responsibility for himself
2 minute readSteve Harmison’s playing in Test matches because he’s England’s most dynamic bowler, but there was no sign of that at Hamilton yesterday. Harmison says himself that he can’t bowl line and length, but instead sees himself as a 90mph strike bowler. It’s worrying that that’s his view as it sounds
Continue readingPhil Mustard unconventionally fields a Pietersen drive
< 1 minute readSo Phil Mustard’s dropping the balls into the bowling machine and Kevin Pietersen’s driving the ball. Pietersen gets hold of one and Mustard takes it in the face. Anyone who’s so much as held a cricket ball in their hand will be wincing ever-so-slightly at that. Mustard’s had to go
Continue readingAndrew Strauss is going to GET THE JOB DONE
< 1 minute readCeci believes that Andrew Strauss will “bring an air of orderly tweediness” to the England team. We’re of the belief that smoking a pipe is the most distinguished, gentlemanly act there is and Ceci has provided us with this just that Strauss-based reassurance: Look at that pipe. It says: ‘Enough
Continue readingAnother post about Andrew Strauss
< 1 minute readIt’d be better for everyone if Andrew Strauss got dropped again. We wouldn’t have to write about him and you wouldn’t have to read about him. Strauss retired out with 104 in the second innings of the warm-up match against a New Zealand Selection XI. Frankly, he shouldn’t have been
Continue readingStrauss being conspicuously indifferent to Strauss’s selection ahead of Owais Shah for England’s final warm-up match before the first Test against New Zealand
< 1 minute readA catchy title, we think you’ll all agree. It’s been a while since we received a picture of an animal being conspicuously indifferent to cricket – TOO LONG, in fact. There are a whole host of animals who have not yet expressed their indifference to this great game. We’ve never
Continue readingAndrew Strauss is a favourite, Owais Shah less so
< 1 minute readWe don’t want to get anti-Andrew Strauss because we quite like him, but his selection in England’s team for their final warm-up worries us. Either it’s his last opportunity to earn a place in the Test team or favouritism’s crept in. Strauss was dropped because of poor form and hasn’t
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