They didn’t really have the answer to the combined heroics of Root (massive century and a couple of handy wickets), Bell (a very important first innings ton with a decent half century in the second (although he should have been out, caught, on 20-odd) and Swann (9 wickets). It has to be worrying for the visitors when their second best player, Watson, is having his technique exposed by the England attack in a big way – he was yet again a LBW victim today.… Read Full Article
There’s not much to say on the last couple of days – basically England have ground Australia into dust. That’s my summary. England lead by 566 runs with wickets and time in hand. Pretty comfortable.…
Instead I’m going to concentrate on today’s hero, Joe Root.
“I were chuffed to bits”…so said Joe when asked to reflect on his stupendously good ‘mega ton’ he scored today. I was rather happy too.… Read Full Article
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
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
Bit of a steady day today… if the weather is OK tomorrow England will almost certainly win and if it chucks it down then a draw would seem likely.
But it should already be all over with a comfortable victory, probably by an innings. Cook should have enforced the follow-on. Even if England had ended up losing he would have made a clear statement of intent and put a marker down that he is an aggressive and gutsy character who takes no prisoners. Instead he took the defensive option.… Read Full Article
There are various topics I could have chosen to write about after the third day of the second test in the England vs New Zealand series.
The issues that immediately jump out are 1) another fantastic performance by England’s bowlers against a woeful Kiwi batting line up 2) a lovely return to form of the home side’s skipper and opening bat Alastair Cook 3) four wickets for Swann or 4) the highly debatable decision by England not to enforce the follow on (almost guaranteeing a series victory but greatly reducing the chances of a victory in the match with rain forecast). But today I am going to swerve a little left of centre and focus on something entirely different…
They say every day is a school day and today I learnt something new today… The great moustachioed former middle order Aussie slugger David Boon is match referee for this test. I like to think I have a good grasp of world cricket events but the promotion of the talismanic Tasmanian as a world referee in 2011 is something that passed me by but is something that also pleases me greatly.… Read Full Article
First off a great big cherry bun with extra icing congratulations to my fellow Yorkshire lad Joe Root for his maiden century. Joe – who even went to the same school as me and my fellow author of this website (King Ecgberts in Sheffield) – simply oozes class. Barring injury he’s going to be an England fixture for many years to come.
But Joe aside there has to be concern at the form, or lack thereof, of the England top order. And questions need to be raised for a team with designs on the World number one test ranking.… Read Full Article
DCDavid Cook on Can red-green colour-blind people play cricket? “The pink ball appears grey/blue in red/green deficient vision, depending on its severity. I did a simulation with colour blindness…”
GBGay Ball on All new England, without KP “we all miss you kp..but on positive side this is good opportunity for the young player of England cricket team…”
BSBrian smith on Yorkshire CC Venues — Or Lack Of! “Totally agree with your sentiments, I only go to Scarborough, & have never seen York's play championship matches anywhere else.…”
“The pink ball appears grey/blue in red/green deficient vision, depending on its severity. I did a simulation with colour blindness…”