Charismatic

Australia with a Duke ball and wickets that swing could be difficult for inexperienced or under-performing batsmen to navigate.

Tom H

Australian cricket legend Richie Benaud dies in Sydney hospice | Stuff.co.nz

One of the greatest moments of the sporting world from arguably the best test match ever commentated by Richie Benaud. The moment the unbeatables that was the Australian cricket team lost at Edgbaston to an up and coming England team

Jones.....
Bowden.....

Then Flintoff going straight to Brett Lee to console him after a magnificent effort.

RIP Richie Benaud, a true ambassador for Australian Cricket and a legendary commentator of the game.

scrubbedexpat094

How very sad. Loved listening to him.

Charismatic

Seems to be off to a good start with Surrey. Although batting at #4 he was called after just 45 mins, got his head down and made 170 off 149 balls.

Although it's a bit weird he is playing for Surrey rather than in IPL given England want to play a more modern style of international game . It's like practising swordplay in preparation for a gunfight.

chocolate cake

Yeah, sad news about Richie, co-incidentally I've been reading his autobiography having got it out the local library a couple of weeks ago. A great player in his day, and certainly an excellent commentator, many memories from listening to test match coverage through the summer on the tv in the 80's.


England back in action in West Indies. Not sure what it will prove though for the tougher tests ahead in English summer and then tour to South Africa, as West Indies are fraction of the side from the mid 70's through to mid 90's. A conservative selection I think, Trott opening and failing, ditto Cook. If they are going to play Trott, and to be honest I wouldn't have done, he ought to play in usual position rather than opening. Though I guess if he fails a few times opening, we can be sure he won't be playing against NZ and Aus in the summer.
And if Cook doesn't come out of his form slump, we'll be looking for another opener too, with little or no time to find one for the key summer series. They ought to have relinquished the captaincy from him, because he's not a good capt, and after the few tests as captain when he had great form with the bat (in India) it's very clear it's effected his form.

Tom H

Alistair Cook and Johnathan Trotts figures against bang average bowling

28/4

Wonder what sort of data will be analysed for this?

msi geek

Anderson past Botham as the leading English Wicket Taker - a record that stood for more than 20 years.

Botham's supporters may look gutted because of his diminished importance from now on, but records are meant to be broken.

In the 150 year old history of the game - it is strange - no English bowler has crossed 400 wickets and no English batsman has crossed 10000 runs

Charismatic

- Linky.

Well only a couple more tests until that enquiry Colin .

chocolate cake

Botham will always have his place in the record books, simply because he was a class allrounder.

RE: 400 wickets/10,000 runs and 150 years, it's only since the 70's that players have played enough tests to get to those figures.
Internationally no one finishing their career before the 80's reached 10,000 runs, and similarly only one player finishing their career before the 70's reached 300 wickets, Fred Trueman.

If Cook relinquishes the captaincy he might get to 10,000 runs otherwise it will be a long wait for the English player to hit that target.

Anderson ought to reach 400 wickets, and become the 7th or 8th pace bowler to reach that number, but it's not given as he certainly isn't the bowler he was 2 or 3 years ago. There's not though too many bowlers challenging for his place though, which doesn't bode well for the summer series.

Charismatic

Looks like, due to the strange and farcical way IPL bid on players, Sangakkara will join Surrey as well. There is actually a lot of talent that isn't in IPL this year so counties cricket should be very interesting.

msi geek

Justin Langer once labelled Anderson as a PUSSY - who could have predicted - the PUSSY will become England's lead wicket taker.

Charismatic

England won a thing! Not a limited overs thing but a paddle-ball thing none the less.

Interesting to see Jesse Ryder doing well bowling Sangakkara and Pietersen. It's always been the off-field stuff where he lets himself down, when he is actually playing a bit of cricket he looks great.

chocolate cake

Yes, at last an England win despite the team selections. Hopefully a couple of team changes for the last test, the Trott opening experiment can't last much longer, though the Kiwis and Aussies won't be minding if does come the English summer.

NZ did well to dispense with Ryder, he'd had enough chances and certainly wasn't missed in the World Cup.

Charismatic

Pietersen is still playing well:
However:
I'm old enough to remember when you'd just pick your best players and sometimes you'd even win a few.

Tom H

Unfortunately Strauss and Pietersen have history - all kicked off from the South Africa tour if I remember correctly