< 1 minute readAlex writes: Is there any sequence of words in the English language more exciting than ‘third place play-off’? I’m currently working on the horrifying theory that my internal issues might be caused by beer. This is not a theory I’m keen to see proven.
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Deccan Chargers v Chennai Super Kings, IPL semi final match report
< 1 minute readAlex writes: British Airways have given me the gift of time. First they offered me a flight 10 days after the one that was cancelled. Now, their phone line is so busy I am not even allowed to wait on hold. What to do with this time? I decide to
Continue readingMumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL semi final match report
< 1 minute readAlex writes: Having made my daily and pointless call to British Airways, I set about persuading myself that it was somehow acceptable to stay in a hotel far more expensive than any I’d ever spent a night in before. Having accomplished this to some extent, I prepared for my evening
Continue readingRoyal Challengers Bangalore v Deccan Chargers match report
2 minute readAlex writes: I wanted to watch an IPL match, so I went to India. I made Tronco come with me. Tronco is a massive cricket fan. Asked to name some England players, he managed three in 30 minutes: Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and Adam Gilchrist. Arriving at Bangalore Airport on
Continue readingBombs at Chinnaswamy Stadium Bangalore
< 1 minute readHow did the locals respond when it was announced that the semi-finals of the IPL were being moved due to the fact that five bombs were found during and after the last match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore? To paraphrase one cricket fan interviewed in the Deccan Chronicle: “They were only
Continue readingMonty Panesar plays lower standard of cricket to improve confidence
< 1 minute readSurely this won’t help. If Panesar’s in the slips then this is beneath back garden standard.
Continue readingAndy Caddick’s Test career – awkward bounce from an awkward bowling action from an awkward bloke
2 minute readWe never wrote about Andy Caddick when he retired. We should have done. Say what you like about Andy Caddick. Say that he was mad as pies; say that he got picked for England because people wanted him there to fix stuff while they were on tour; say he was
Continue readingCounty cricket players to watch in 2010
< 1 minute readWe’re watching these guys when there isn’t an international match on, which is never: Liam Plunkett Mark Davies Adil Rashid Will Smith Paul Horton Phil Mustard Ravi Bopara
Continue readingRavi Bopara, Essex: first-class batsman to watch in 2010
< 1 minute readThe plight of Ravi Bopara makes an interesting case study. He’s trying to establish himself as a Test cricketer and only Test runs will really persuade anyone that he’s ready. He gets a series of ducks in Tests in Sri Lanka and gets dropped. He promptly makes a one-day double
Continue readingPhil Mustard: one-day wicketkeeper-batsman to watch in 2010
< 1 minute readSo much of what’s wrong with English cricket can be seen in the never-ending debate about wicketkeepers. First-class cricket’s too weak to show who’s best and because there are so many counties and therefore so many candidates, no player gets much of a run. We are no better informed than
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