I’ve been away on holiday for the past 2½ weeks and haven’t had chance to write about the cricket. During that time there have been 2 more Ashes test matches and England have extended their lead to 3–0. Having been away from all the talking heads I haven’t heard what they have to say, so here are some of my own thoughts, uninfluenced by the pundits.
Posts Tagged: Stuart Broad
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The Ashes: Second Test — Day 1
So, another day of exceptionally entertaining Test cricket is over, and the second test match is well and truly under way. Pleasingly today hasn’t been marred by any poor decisions (by umpires or players), but I was disgusted by the mistaken booing of Jimmy Anderson. I’ll talk a little more about that later, but first some predictions (admittedly a day late)… Read Full Article
0Heart attack beckons after nervewracking finale
WOW!! What a match. Granted the shocking umpiring decisions (when you include 3rd umpires) perhaps made it a little closer than it should have been (although both sides suffered) but what a fantastic advert YET AGAIN for test match cricket.
Going into this series it looked like it was going to be hard going for Australia. On paper only three players, at best, would make it into the England starting XI from the Australian squad – Clarke, Watson and Siddle. Few people gave them a chance. But through some heroic displays they proved that, when it comes to the Ashes at least, as a team they are greater than the sum of their individual parts.… Read Full Article
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A growing number of bad DRS decisions…
So, the intriguing 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge continues to be exciting with no clear winner emerging as yet. However I want to look back to a potentially key moment of the game — the “not out” decision given to Australia’s Agar. Let me be clear — no fault can be laid on any of the players or on-field umpires — only on the DRS system and the umpire managing it. There have been several wrong decisions in this Test match and in the recent champions trophy, lets look at each of them in turn.… Read Full Article
0Days Two and Three — A Right Old See Saw
I was so incensed last night at England’s ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by failing to bowl a debut 19 year old number 11 rabbit out (helped by an appalling umpiring decision) and then their perfect following of the script by losing two cricket wickets in reply (note again – appalling decision) that I was unable to put keyboard to laptop.
It looked that today might a have been a second day of radio silence but England managed to dig deep and locate some so far as of yet reserves of guts and bottle (Anderson aside). Well played to Cook and to KP for some decent contributions but especially to Ian Bell. I’ve been one of his harshest critics of late – but only because he hasn’t been weighing in with decent scores when they matter. But today it was time to step up to the plate and he did so, ably assisted by Broad at the other end.… Read Full Article
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England vs New Zealand: Second Test, Day 5
And so it happened.
England wrapped up a convincing victory thus taking the series 2–0. It was all a little too easy. Only the weather could have saved New Zealand from certain defeat. It rained, but just not quite enough, and England stepped up to the plate and showed their true class.
They are a far better side than New Zealand and they proved it. The bowling attack in particular throughout the series have performed very well although the Kiwis’ attack hasn’t done too badly either.… Read Full Article
0England vs New Zealand: First Test — England Claim the Honours
After such a slow start to the game the first test finished at break neck speed today – and what a performance by Stuart Broad to raise the chequered flag.
Not only did he club 20 odd important runs (not out) as England’s innings came to a quick and disappointing end but he followed that by a spell of supreme fast-medium bowling which decimated the New Zealand order.
When Broad is on-song like that he was today there is simply no stopping him and he can be virtually unplayable. The last time he delivered a performance like this was against the Old Enemy at the Oval in the 2009 Ashes clash. I recorded the highlights of that day’s play and kept them for a few years just so I could watch it again and again. That day he got a 5‑for, claiming the scalps of Watson, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke and Haddin – so pretty much the Australian top order.… Read Full Article
“The pink ball appears grey/blue in red/green deficient vision, depending on its severity. I did a simulation with colour blindness…”