For both the first and second days of the third test between India and New Zealand, Wellingtonians have turned out in great numbers and while it was windy today, it was still a cracker.
In terms of selling the TV rights back to India, tours by Indian teams have become cash cows - with this present tour estimated to be worth around $23 million to NZ Cricket - which will pretty much pay for everything till they are due to tour again. But it seems as though NZ Cricket have allowed this to get the better of them and they look like they've got a bit greedy.
They are now charging $27 for a single day pass - almost double what a day pass cost a year ago and roughly what you pay for a one day game or 20/20. Now if this was India vs Australia - then yeah, I'd be happy paying that - but we're shithouse and test matches against us only really test one thing - the patience of NZ supporters.
In other cricket related news, through work I went to a function at St John's head office the other night. St John's is now the official charity of the NZ team and THE NZ batsman, Ross Taylor, and bit part, James Franklin, were there. After the formalities and photos with the sponsors (ie me) etc Taylor basically attached himself to myself and my colleague and we chatted away for about an hour. I dont think it was anything to do with us being particularly interesting, but rather we were the youngest people by about 30 years.
It turns out he's a wine buff (who would have thought??) and he amazed us by picking it was an Australian Pinot that was on offer... show off. I voiced my outrage at Jamie How's non-selection and let him know that it was me that taught Jamie how to play that cover drive and solid forward defense when he was in my team at Intermediate. I'm not sure he bought it though as he turned down my offer of a personal batting clinic on Saturday morning with chuckle and a mock-offended "what, are you saying my forward defense is rubbish??" - but who's laughing now? There are a couple of days before the players leave for the IPL competition so the offer is still there.
Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hey it's a world cup in rugby code - I'll take it!
The Kiwi league team pulled off what is unquestionably the upset of the century for Rugby League last night by toppling the Kangaroo's in the league world cup final. It was only 12 or so months ago when I attended the centenary test in Wellington where we got pummeled 50 odd nil (i did steal a souvenir ball though that day so it wasnt all bad). All throughout this 'World Cup' I had been bitching about what a joke it was and that only one team could win and that the whole thing was really a play off between England and New Zealand to see who would have the honour of losing the final to Australia. But I was sooo wrong and as the Sun Herald in Sydney have said - the Joke (of a tournament) became the Choke! Finally I have something to throw back at the Aussies when they bring up choking at world cups!
The All Blacks also went well against Wales and are only one win away from another Grand Slam. The most impressive thing so far is that in the three Grand Slam tests (Scotland, Ireland and Wales) and the Hong Kong test against the Wallabies, is that the All Blacks haven't conceded a single try - would be great to see them hold that against England this week. But anyway, aren't we just loving all the Haka hijinks - first we had Tipoki, Howlett etc doing a haka to the All Blacks before the Munster game and then we had the Wales stare down contest - loving it!
The Phoenix also did their darnedest to butcher a win against Newcastle tonight - with two red cards against Newcastle before half time you would assume victory was inevitable - especially since the star Phoenix recruit, Fred from DC United and formerly of the Victory (MVP of the 2006 A-League), was playing. But oh no - we had to fuck up as many opportunities as possible before spluttering to victory late in the game. I shouldn't be quite so harsh I know - but I'm losing enough hair as it is!
Speaking of harsh I could take the easy option and bag the NZ Cricket team for not taking their opportunity to beat Australia when they had the chance. But I'll be honest - I had incredibly low expectations and I actually thought the performance was an improvement - I'll explain what I mean in a second. But basically we don't have the batsmen to beat Australia - we have the bowlers - but not the batting so our chances were always fairly remote. How and Redmond are clinging on to their slots for dear life. Of the two (and I know Im kinda biased) How does look the most likely to get a score - but like Daniel Flynn - he needs to deliver on that at some point. Redmond is hopeless and out of his depth - but really we've tried all the other options (Bell/Papps/Cumming) so he may as well hang around. Ryder and Taylor look good but need to protect their wickets more, McCullum isn't a number 5 and doesn't look comfortable there - he should drop back to 7 with Flynn stepping up to 5 and being pushed for runs. I know Grant Elliot is only there to make up the numbers but he is just painful to watch and should not be there - he can't bat and he can only barely bowl - so why bother? Why not just throw Kyle Mills back in at 8 - at least he can bowl and his 15 or 20 runs late in the innings would be more use than another 6-ball duck.
But anyway as I said, I thought it was an improvement and I say that because we actually dominated a whole days play (day 1), which I can't remember us doing for a long time against Australia. We put Australia in, bundled them out for a low score and then didnt lose a wicket - all you could ask for out of day 1 of a test. Honours were split on day 2, we won the last session having lost the first and second sessions badly. Day 3 was Australia's and was enough to take the test. But despite a poor day 3 it was still better than the last time we faced Australia in a test. During that series we might do ok during the odd session - but we could never maintain that pressure throughout a whole day. We would either start well by picking up wickets only to butcher the game with a poor second session - with Symonds, Ponting or Gilchrist piling on runs or we would have another middle order collapse if we were batting. Either way we would be unable to maintain the pressure we had built up into the next session. But in Brisbane for a whole day we had the foot on the throat of Australia and we were competitive. So yeah its still disappointing to lose again, but it showed progress and hopefully during the next series against them we can start winning consecutive whole days... and who knows if we can start scoring runs - maybe even a test.
The All Blacks also went well against Wales and are only one win away from another Grand Slam. The most impressive thing so far is that in the three Grand Slam tests (Scotland, Ireland and Wales) and the Hong Kong test against the Wallabies, is that the All Blacks haven't conceded a single try - would be great to see them hold that against England this week. But anyway, aren't we just loving all the Haka hijinks - first we had Tipoki, Howlett etc doing a haka to the All Blacks before the Munster game and then we had the Wales stare down contest - loving it!
The Phoenix also did their darnedest to butcher a win against Newcastle tonight - with two red cards against Newcastle before half time you would assume victory was inevitable - especially since the star Phoenix recruit, Fred from DC United and formerly of the Victory (MVP of the 2006 A-League), was playing. But oh no - we had to fuck up as many opportunities as possible before spluttering to victory late in the game. I shouldn't be quite so harsh I know - but I'm losing enough hair as it is!
Speaking of harsh I could take the easy option and bag the NZ Cricket team for not taking their opportunity to beat Australia when they had the chance. But I'll be honest - I had incredibly low expectations and I actually thought the performance was an improvement - I'll explain what I mean in a second. But basically we don't have the batsmen to beat Australia - we have the bowlers - but not the batting so our chances were always fairly remote. How and Redmond are clinging on to their slots for dear life. Of the two (and I know Im kinda biased) How does look the most likely to get a score - but like Daniel Flynn - he needs to deliver on that at some point. Redmond is hopeless and out of his depth - but really we've tried all the other options (Bell/Papps/Cumming) so he may as well hang around. Ryder and Taylor look good but need to protect their wickets more, McCullum isn't a number 5 and doesn't look comfortable there - he should drop back to 7 with Flynn stepping up to 5 and being pushed for runs. I know Grant Elliot is only there to make up the numbers but he is just painful to watch and should not be there - he can't bat and he can only barely bowl - so why bother? Why not just throw Kyle Mills back in at 8 - at least he can bowl and his 15 or 20 runs late in the innings would be more use than another 6-ball duck.
But anyway as I said, I thought it was an improvement and I say that because we actually dominated a whole days play (day 1), which I can't remember us doing for a long time against Australia. We put Australia in, bundled them out for a low score and then didnt lose a wicket - all you could ask for out of day 1 of a test. Honours were split on day 2, we won the last session having lost the first and second sessions badly. Day 3 was Australia's and was enough to take the test. But despite a poor day 3 it was still better than the last time we faced Australia in a test. During that series we might do ok during the odd session - but we could never maintain that pressure throughout a whole day. We would either start well by picking up wickets only to butcher the game with a poor second session - with Symonds, Ponting or Gilchrist piling on runs or we would have another middle order collapse if we were batting. Either way we would be unable to maintain the pressure we had built up into the next session. But in Brisbane for a whole day we had the foot on the throat of Australia and we were competitive. So yeah its still disappointing to lose again, but it showed progress and hopefully during the next series against them we can start winning consecutive whole days... and who knows if we can start scoring runs - maybe even a test.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Jasper!
Last night son of One Moment Caller arrived up in the Naki and his name is Jasper.
Jasper is apparently the Dutch/German version of Casper and the first one was one of the kings that gave Christ gifts at his birth - he gave gold (quietly showing up the other lot - I wonder what that Mary and Joseph did with the gold?).
So anyway, I thought I would mark the occasion by finding other Jasper's!
Like Jasper Engines and Transmissions!
Or Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada - It has a glacier! Plus there's a town.
Then there is the University of Victoria's JasPer Project - an open-source initiative to provide a free software-based reference implementation of the codec specified in the JPEG-2000 Part-1 standard (i.e., ISO/IEC 15444-1). Of course it is. Doesn't really lend itself to a pic unfortunately.
Jasper, Texas looks like a gas...
... and Jasper, Indiana, claims to be one of the 25 best small towns in the US! Meanwhile, Jasper, Alabama's Special Olympic swim team is called the Aquanauts! The mayor has a great name too - Sonny Posey. You will also find US Jasper's in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Sunday brunch at Jasper's Restaurants "in the spirit of fun!" looks like something out of the Naki too!
Jasper (on the right below) was also the name of one of Cruella de Vil's henchmen in 101 Dalmatians.
It also turns out that "Jasperware" is a type of pottery, and you can find this fine example at the V&A in London.
There have also been quite a few other famous people named Jasper.
But my favourite one has to be Jasper Vinall - the first recorded Cricket fatality in 1624. He was fielding and was about to catch the ball, but the batsmen tried to hit the ball a second time (away from Vinall) but instead smacked his head in! Stranger still - it happened again in 1647!
So there you have it - at the very least he has quite a road trip of US towns ahead of him!
Jasper is apparently the Dutch/German version of Casper and the first one was one of the kings that gave Christ gifts at his birth - he gave gold (quietly showing up the other lot - I wonder what that Mary and Joseph did with the gold?).
So anyway, I thought I would mark the occasion by finding other Jasper's!
Like Jasper Engines and Transmissions!
Or Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada - It has a glacier! Plus there's a town.
Then there is the University of Victoria's JasPer Project - an open-source initiative to provide a free software-based reference implementation of the codec specified in the JPEG-2000 Part-1 standard (i.e., ISO/IEC 15444-1). Of course it is. Doesn't really lend itself to a pic unfortunately.
Jasper, Texas looks like a gas...
... and Jasper, Indiana, claims to be one of the 25 best small towns in the US! Meanwhile, Jasper, Alabama's Special Olympic swim team is called the Aquanauts! The mayor has a great name too - Sonny Posey. You will also find US Jasper's in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Sunday brunch at Jasper's Restaurants "in the spirit of fun!" looks like something out of the Naki too!
Jasper (on the right below) was also the name of one of Cruella de Vil's henchmen in 101 Dalmatians.
It also turns out that "Jasperware" is a type of pottery, and you can find this fine example at the V&A in London.
There have also been quite a few other famous people named Jasper.
But my favourite one has to be Jasper Vinall - the first recorded Cricket fatality in 1624. He was fielding and was about to catch the ball, but the batsmen tried to hit the ball a second time (away from Vinall) but instead smacked his head in! Stranger still - it happened again in 1647!
So there you have it - at the very least he has quite a road trip of US towns ahead of him!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Does Cricket have the answer?
I never thought I'd say or think this, but I think that Cricket may just have the answer for Rugby.
Rugby has this huge talent drain going on with All Blacks being snapped up like New Zealand's dairy and vino exports meaning we are in danger of being left with the proverbial dregs. But the new IPL 20/20 competition may have provided a template for the way forward.
We shouldn't fight players being able to go and make stupid amounts of money - so why not create an annual window where players can go and let their hair down and play footy in competition which, lets face it, doesn't matter but provides entertainment.
This would provide the entertainment element that the TV companies want, bring in the dosh as people will want to watch it while also allowing the players to cash in (like Brendan McCullum etc) and take the shackles and pressure off of the Super 14/Test rugby.
Essentially I would split the year into three windows - November-January run the private 20/20 competition up in Europe (or any other cash-cow location!) then mid March to late June run the Super 14 in the South and Heineken Cup in the North and then the final window - July-October will provide time for Test rugby - with proper tours each year as well as the Bledisloe. The Tri-Nations should be moved to be a biannual tournament running around the World Cup.
The World Cup would fit into September/October of the Test window every four years - and it should be cut down in terms of time - there is no reason why teams can't play mid week games, its ridiculous and just drags the whole thing out to the point that it just gets boring.
So basically what I'm saying is - bollocks to the tradition of provincial rugby - its time to think outside the square and actually try to breath life into a sport that looks like its on its last legs.
Rugby has this huge talent drain going on with All Blacks being snapped up like New Zealand's dairy and vino exports meaning we are in danger of being left with the proverbial dregs. But the new IPL 20/20 competition may have provided a template for the way forward.
We shouldn't fight players being able to go and make stupid amounts of money - so why not create an annual window where players can go and let their hair down and play footy in competition which, lets face it, doesn't matter but provides entertainment.
This would provide the entertainment element that the TV companies want, bring in the dosh as people will want to watch it while also allowing the players to cash in (like Brendan McCullum etc) and take the shackles and pressure off of the Super 14/Test rugby.
Essentially I would split the year into three windows - November-January run the private 20/20 competition up in Europe (or any other cash-cow location!) then mid March to late June run the Super 14 in the South and Heineken Cup in the North and then the final window - July-October will provide time for Test rugby - with proper tours each year as well as the Bledisloe. The Tri-Nations should be moved to be a biannual tournament running around the World Cup.
The World Cup would fit into September/October of the Test window every four years - and it should be cut down in terms of time - there is no reason why teams can't play mid week games, its ridiculous and just drags the whole thing out to the point that it just gets boring.
So basically what I'm saying is - bollocks to the tradition of provincial rugby - its time to think outside the square and actually try to breath life into a sport that looks like its on its last legs.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Symonds Streaker Smackdown
Aussie batsman, Andrew Symonds, becoming an absolute legend - dropping his shoulder into a streaker - sending the prick flying!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Question
Is new Black Cap, Jessie Ryder actually Craig McMillan 2.0?
And if he is - lets hope he's less hit and miss than the first one was.
UPDATE: Given the result last night and the lame way Ryder got himself out, I think the answer is YES HE IS.
And if he is - lets hope he's less hit and miss than the first one was.
UPDATE: Given the result last night and the lame way Ryder got himself out, I think the answer is YES HE IS.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The ICC are Monkeys
I say good on India for not taking the Australian cricket team/ICC crap lying down.
For years international umpires have had an odd fascination with sending 50/50 decisions Australia's way more often than not - but this latest series has taken the cake. Rahul Dravid was not out in the second innings, and I strongly question whether Sourav Ganguly's nick to the slips carried to Michael Clarke - let alone all the other disgraceful calls earlier in the test.
But I especially find suspending Harbhajan Singh for three matches for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a "monkey", outrageous. The daft thing is - had Harbhajan called him a fucking cunt - there would be no suspension, but because monkey is a 'racist' slur he gets suspended. Either ban all sledging - or let it be on the field. But anyway, without getting too deep into hate-speech laws etc, amazingly the stump microphones apparently pick up their conversation, including Symonds' supposed reaction - yet you can't hear Harbhajan say the word monkey once. Further, one of the greatest batsmen ever, Sachin Tendulkar, who was also batting at the time, backs up Harbhajan's denials that he even said it. The umpires (not that you could exactly trust them anyway!) also didn't hear anything.
However, Tendulkar's testimony was dismissed by the ICC in favour of the 'evidence' provided by Australian captain, Ricky Ponting and Vice Captain Adam Gilchrist. Why is their evidence so much more convincing than a recording of the conversation and the testimony of two umpires and Sachin Tendulkar?? Clearly Ponting and Gilchrist are both are very sensitive and aware of racial taunts after years of abuse on the tough streets of Hobart and Perth and could just sense the tirade of racist abuse from Harbhajan??
I think not. This was bullshit gamesmanship on their part in an attempt to blunt the attack of one of the worlds best spinners. I say shame on Ponting for cheapening the game - this series should have been a battle of the titans of the world game - a celebration of cricket if you will. Instead Ponting has been so desperate to win and bring the Indian side down, that he has brought the great game into disrepute.
Anyway, hopefully India are using their time well, practicing all those cuss words the ICC find acceptable!
PS. Does anyone think Wisden or say the MCC will release a book of acceptable sledges?? Id love one!
For years international umpires have had an odd fascination with sending 50/50 decisions Australia's way more often than not - but this latest series has taken the cake. Rahul Dravid was not out in the second innings, and I strongly question whether Sourav Ganguly's nick to the slips carried to Michael Clarke - let alone all the other disgraceful calls earlier in the test.
But I especially find suspending Harbhajan Singh for three matches for allegedly calling Andrew Symonds a "monkey", outrageous. The daft thing is - had Harbhajan called him a fucking cunt - there would be no suspension, but because monkey is a 'racist' slur he gets suspended. Either ban all sledging - or let it be on the field. But anyway, without getting too deep into hate-speech laws etc, amazingly the stump microphones apparently pick up their conversation, including Symonds' supposed reaction - yet you can't hear Harbhajan say the word monkey once. Further, one of the greatest batsmen ever, Sachin Tendulkar, who was also batting at the time, backs up Harbhajan's denials that he even said it. The umpires (not that you could exactly trust them anyway!) also didn't hear anything.
However, Tendulkar's testimony was dismissed by the ICC in favour of the 'evidence' provided by Australian captain, Ricky Ponting and Vice Captain Adam Gilchrist. Why is their evidence so much more convincing than a recording of the conversation and the testimony of two umpires and Sachin Tendulkar?? Clearly Ponting and Gilchrist are both are very sensitive and aware of racial taunts after years of abuse on the tough streets of Hobart and Perth and could just sense the tirade of racist abuse from Harbhajan??
I think not. This was bullshit gamesmanship on their part in an attempt to blunt the attack of one of the worlds best spinners. I say shame on Ponting for cheapening the game - this series should have been a battle of the titans of the world game - a celebration of cricket if you will. Instead Ponting has been so desperate to win and bring the Indian side down, that he has brought the great game into disrepute.
Anyway, hopefully India are using their time well, practicing all those cuss words the ICC find acceptable!
PS. Does anyone think Wisden or say the MCC will release a book of acceptable sledges?? Id love one!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Virtual insanity
Well the State Virtual Cricket finished with the World Cup final on the weekend and it turns out that in the Virtual Sports world, I may have found my niche.
After all those years losing bets (I owe Nath roughly $300 - if he thinks im honouring those bets he can think again! lol) on the Virtual Rugby (Super 14 and NPC) Ive finally come through with a half decent result.
50th in New Zealand in the State Virtual Cricket, and frankly I owned Dinah and her shambolic selections.
Now while far less people play the Cricket than the Rugby - Im still pretty happy with the result. Not to mention the fact that this builds on the Football slaughtering of Angus "Mr Football" White last year! (had to get that in there)
PS. Yes, yes everyone is kicking my arse in the Virtual Rugby again.
After all those years losing bets (I owe Nath roughly $300 - if he thinks im honouring those bets he can think again! lol) on the Virtual Rugby (Super 14 and NPC) Ive finally come through with a half decent result.
50th in New Zealand in the State Virtual Cricket, and frankly I owned Dinah and her shambolic selections.
Now while far less people play the Cricket than the Rugby - Im still pretty happy with the result. Not to mention the fact that this builds on the Football slaughtering of Angus "Mr Football" White last year! (had to get that in there)
PS. Yes, yes everyone is kicking my arse in the Virtual Rugby again.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
And then there were four
Havent been on here for a couple of days - been too busy with the Wii! Let me just say the Godfather game is a hell of a lot of fun. Nothing like beating the living shit out of virtual people huh?!?!
Anyway I realised this morning that I had neglected to talk about the great Cricket tournament that is rapidly drawing to a climax at the moment. Here goes!
The real Cricket World Cup begins now as we enter the knockout phase - New Zealand still has one game to go (against Australia) before the semis which we have already qualified for. We're pretty much through all the bullshit rounds, and left with only the games that matter.
England were again an embarassment this morning getting done by an underperforming South African team in what was effectively a quarter final. Meaning the top four will be Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
All going well we will overcome Sri Lanka, in the semis - they have stars but overall NZ is a better balanced side so I think we should win and then in theory we will face Australia again in the final.
Australia are of course head and shoulders above everyone else as favourites, but they arent unbeatable. If we forget about how great they are focus on the fact that we can beat them and that in reality we are only two good games of cricket away from being World Champions.
As the Chappell Hadlee series proved - anything can happen in the crazy nonsensical great game!
Anyway I realised this morning that I had neglected to talk about the great Cricket tournament that is rapidly drawing to a climax at the moment. Here goes!
The real Cricket World Cup begins now as we enter the knockout phase - New Zealand still has one game to go (against Australia) before the semis which we have already qualified for. We're pretty much through all the bullshit rounds, and left with only the games that matter.
England were again an embarassment this morning getting done by an underperforming South African team in what was effectively a quarter final. Meaning the top four will be Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
All going well we will overcome Sri Lanka, in the semis - they have stars but overall NZ is a better balanced side so I think we should win and then in theory we will face Australia again in the final.
Australia are of course head and shoulders above everyone else as favourites, but they arent unbeatable. If we forget about how great they are focus on the fact that we can beat them and that in reality we are only two good games of cricket away from being World Champions.
As the Chappell Hadlee series proved - anything can happen in the crazy nonsensical great game!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Masterclass
Today was the annual Diplomats vs MPs cricket game. I was representing the Diplomats XI.
Well I didnt get a golden duck, nor even a duck - i slashed, glanced, drove and cut my way to the emphatic opening score of 6. Which across both teams was the highest score by an opener.
The bowling went slightly better - finishing with figures of 1/8.
As for the game, we set 174/8 off our 30 overs, with the MPs only managing 129 all out in reply.
All in all a great day
Well I didnt get a golden duck, nor even a duck - i slashed, glanced, drove and cut my way to the emphatic opening score of 6. Which across both teams was the highest score by an opener.
The bowling went slightly better - finishing with figures of 1/8.
As for the game, we set 174/8 off our 30 overs, with the MPs only managing 129 all out in reply.
All in all a great day
Monday, March 19, 2007
A little bit upsetting
Given Sky are only covering the Black Caps and key games at the Cricket World Cup, I was forced to follow the two games yesterday via Cricinfo's live score updates.
But that didnt make it any less exciting to follow the action as Bangladesh knocked off India (although Bangladesh have been consistently improving) and the game that has rocked the World Cup - Ireland, who are competing in their first World Cup, beat Pakistan by 3 wickets.
Pakistan had earlier lost to the tournament hosts, the West Indies, meaning they are goneburgers - knocked out in the first round. On paper the Pakistanis had a very strong side - Mohammed Yousuf has been averaging nearly 90 in the last three years (since he converted to Islam from Christianity - read into that what you will!). So this is definitely a shock.
India are also under pressure with their loss to Bangladesh, if they lose to Sri Lanka in their next game (and the Sri Lankans would be favourites) theyre also gone.
Todays Herald listed all the great Cricket World Cup upsets this morning - luckily none of them involve NZ - here they are..
1979 - Sri Lanka 283/5 (not a test playing nation at this stage) beat India 191.
1983 - Zimbabwe 239/6 beat Australia 226/7
1996 - Kenya 166 beat the West Indies 93
1999 - Bangladesh 223/9 beat Pakistan 161
2003 - Canada 180 beat Bangladesh 120
2003 - Kenya 210/9 beat Sri Lanka 157
2007 - Bangladesh 192/5 beat India 191
2007 - Ireland 133/7 beat Pakistan 132
But that didnt make it any less exciting to follow the action as Bangladesh knocked off India (although Bangladesh have been consistently improving) and the game that has rocked the World Cup - Ireland, who are competing in their first World Cup, beat Pakistan by 3 wickets.
Pakistan had earlier lost to the tournament hosts, the West Indies, meaning they are goneburgers - knocked out in the first round. On paper the Pakistanis had a very strong side - Mohammed Yousuf has been averaging nearly 90 in the last three years (since he converted to Islam from Christianity - read into that what you will!). So this is definitely a shock.
India are also under pressure with their loss to Bangladesh, if they lose to Sri Lanka in their next game (and the Sri Lankans would be favourites) theyre also gone.
Todays Herald listed all the great Cricket World Cup upsets this morning - luckily none of them involve NZ - here they are..
1979 - Sri Lanka 283/5 (not a test playing nation at this stage) beat India 191.
1983 - Zimbabwe 239/6 beat Australia 226/7
1996 - Kenya 166 beat the West Indies 93
1999 - Bangladesh 223/9 beat Pakistan 161
2003 - Canada 180 beat Bangladesh 120
2003 - Kenya 210/9 beat Sri Lanka 157
2007 - Bangladesh 192/5 beat India 191
2007 - Ireland 133/7 beat Pakistan 132
Friday, March 16, 2007
Cunis - he's neither one thing, nor the other
I have just finished reading Harry Ricketts' "How to Catch a Cricket Match". The book covers the second day of the second test between the West Indies and New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in 2006. I was of course there on this day, giving me a slightly different perspective.
Ricketts book is a great read for anyone with a passing interest in the great game. He shares stories of how he came to love the game, and how he would analyse the game and machinations of what could happen with his friends - just like every cricket follower does. He also talks of how cricket lovers can at times talk in code, for example how a line like Flemming cuts Edwards through backward point for four would be meaningless to most people, yet cricket followers know exactly what you mean.
The title of this article of course is a line from the book, in reference to the NZ player of the 1960s Bob Cunis, Ricketts recalls how the line was delivered dryly by the BBC commentators of the day - fantastic.
To finish Ricketts names his all time New Zealand XI, and his all time World XI. These are often pointless exercises, but fun all the same so here's mine. (I dont honestly expect anyone reading this to actually pick their own as well!)
New Zealand Test XI
1. Stewie Dempster, 2. John Wright, 3. Bert Sutcliffe, 4. Martin Crowe (captain), 5.Glenn Turner, 6. John Reid, 7. Chris Cairns, 8. Sir Richard Hadlee, 9. Adam Parore, 10. Daniel Vettori, 11. Shane Bond
World Test XI
1. Viv Richards (WI), 2. Michael Slater (AUS), 3. Sir Donald Bradman (AUS), 4. Ricky Ponting (AUS), 5. Sachin Tendulkar (IND), 6. Sir Garfield Sobers (WI), 7. Adam Gilchrist (AUS), 8. Shane Warne (AUS), 9. Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ), 10. Courtney Walsh (WI), 11. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
and while im at it, ill pick a one-day team too
New Zealand One Day XI
1. Mark Greatbatch, 2. Nathan Astle, 3. Andrew Jones, 4. Martin Crowe, 5. Stephen Fleming, 6. Chris Cairns, 7. Chris Harris, 8. Brendon McCullum, 9. Gavin Larsen, 10. Daniel Vettori, 11. Shane Bond.
Ricketts book is a great read for anyone with a passing interest in the great game. He shares stories of how he came to love the game, and how he would analyse the game and machinations of what could happen with his friends - just like every cricket follower does. He also talks of how cricket lovers can at times talk in code, for example how a line like Flemming cuts Edwards through backward point for four would be meaningless to most people, yet cricket followers know exactly what you mean.
The title of this article of course is a line from the book, in reference to the NZ player of the 1960s Bob Cunis, Ricketts recalls how the line was delivered dryly by the BBC commentators of the day - fantastic.
To finish Ricketts names his all time New Zealand XI, and his all time World XI. These are often pointless exercises, but fun all the same so here's mine. (I dont honestly expect anyone reading this to actually pick their own as well!)
New Zealand Test XI
1. Stewie Dempster, 2. John Wright, 3. Bert Sutcliffe, 4. Martin Crowe (captain), 5.Glenn Turner, 6. John Reid, 7. Chris Cairns, 8. Sir Richard Hadlee, 9. Adam Parore, 10. Daniel Vettori, 11. Shane Bond
World Test XI
1. Viv Richards (WI), 2. Michael Slater (AUS), 3. Sir Donald Bradman (AUS), 4. Ricky Ponting (AUS), 5. Sachin Tendulkar (IND), 6. Sir Garfield Sobers (WI), 7. Adam Gilchrist (AUS), 8. Shane Warne (AUS), 9. Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ), 10. Courtney Walsh (WI), 11. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
and while im at it, ill pick a one-day team too
New Zealand One Day XI
1. Mark Greatbatch, 2. Nathan Astle, 3. Andrew Jones, 4. Martin Crowe, 5. Stephen Fleming, 6. Chris Cairns, 7. Chris Harris, 8. Brendon McCullum, 9. Gavin Larsen, 10. Daniel Vettori, 11. Shane Bond.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Good alround cricket really
I figure that while working for the Australians the chances of me getting to gloat over a series win in cricket will be few and far between - so its fair to say im making the most of it!
Friday night saw Australia lose by 10 wickets for the first time in a one dayer to NZ, and this was backed up yesterday with Aussie posting a ground record for Eden Park of 336, which NZ reached with 8 balls to spare! I watched the Friday game from the Air NZ corporate box at westpac stadium, was the first time I had been invited to a specific box, rather than just one of the bigger lounges - must say its nice to see how the proverbial other half live from time to time.
In other news - predictably im coming last in the Virtual Rugby, although I am only 6 points behind Nath (but well behind in the PMO challenge).
And lastly, while I was a big fan of the waterfront option, Eden Park has been confirmed as the venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final with a new stand to be built. The Eden Park Trust Baord frankly caused all the trouble with this. When we got the cup - no one expected a $400-500 million upgrade of Eden Park, but realistically expected at least the Southern Stand being replaced - and this is what is now happening, with temporary seats to top up the remainder. Also before people start getting upset over scaffolding and planks of wood - 80 per cent of the seating at the new London stadium for the Olympics will be temporary, with the venue being reduced to hold 20 000 after the event, and also 30 per cent of the seats at Stadium Australia were temporary during those Olympics.
Friday night saw Australia lose by 10 wickets for the first time in a one dayer to NZ, and this was backed up yesterday with Aussie posting a ground record for Eden Park of 336, which NZ reached with 8 balls to spare! I watched the Friday game from the Air NZ corporate box at westpac stadium, was the first time I had been invited to a specific box, rather than just one of the bigger lounges - must say its nice to see how the proverbial other half live from time to time.
In other news - predictably im coming last in the Virtual Rugby, although I am only 6 points behind Nath (but well behind in the PMO challenge).
And lastly, while I was a big fan of the waterfront option, Eden Park has been confirmed as the venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final with a new stand to be built. The Eden Park Trust Baord frankly caused all the trouble with this. When we got the cup - no one expected a $400-500 million upgrade of Eden Park, but realistically expected at least the Southern Stand being replaced - and this is what is now happening, with temporary seats to top up the remainder. Also before people start getting upset over scaffolding and planks of wood - 80 per cent of the seating at the new London stadium for the Olympics will be temporary, with the venue being reduced to hold 20 000 after the event, and also 30 per cent of the seats at Stadium Australia were temporary during those Olympics.
Friday, December 15, 2006
What a day
Well its currently afternoon tea at the cricket - and im sunburnt! Loving that, but anyway Wellington has turned on a stunner for the first day of the test match and as they say - you can't beat Wellington on a good day!
Also Kumar Sangakara scored one of the best centuries ive seen. So all in all a good day.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
What an ass
Well I did my christmas shopping today (well most of it at least), and while out and about I finally remembered to get measured up for Angus and Karen's wedding (relax theres plenty of time!)
But so readers dont embarass themselves like I did - If youre trying on clothes or getting measured up - plan this trip well - ie Dont wear socks that have holes in the end! It turns out staff at such places arent afraid to make fun of your holey socks.
In other news, I have taken tomorrow off to spend the day at the Cricket - what better way to spend a day in the sun than watch the first day of a test match?
But so readers dont embarass themselves like I did - If youre trying on clothes or getting measured up - plan this trip well - ie Dont wear socks that have holes in the end! It turns out staff at such places arent afraid to make fun of your holey socks.
In other news, I have taken tomorrow off to spend the day at the Cricket - what better way to spend a day in the sun than watch the first day of a test match?
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