Twenty20 finals day, Edgbaston Well, first things first, I, and just about anyone else talking about it, got the predictions completely wrong. Now, I’m not so full of it so as to think it was my kiss of death that did for Lancashire and Sussex, but a combined effort from the entire cricketing media (moreorless), was certainly working in Gloucester and Kent’s favour. Seconds things second, what a great day of cricket! I had planned to keep updating the site throughout the day, but couldn’t tear myself away from the action. 21,000 people in the Edgbaston crowd were treated to some fantastic cricket (not to mention a few million more watching on the TV) – the fact that things didn’t turn out as might have been expected... [Read more]

Mike Atherton has a piece today about how Sreesanth should be issued a ban for bowling a beamer at KP in the 2nd Test. His feeling is that the beamer was intentional. Watch the video, and decide for yourself: What do you think? I still believe, as I concluded at the time, that it genuinely slipped out. Unless Sree is a phenomenal actor, his apology seems real. KP is stunned, rightly, but it’s also clear that Vaughan wasn’t so sure it was an accident. Compare the reactions of the commentators, though: Nasser Hussein (above), versus Mark Nicholas and Geoffrey Boycott (below), both of whom laugh and describe it as funny: It just goes to show how convoluted and out of whack the whole situation got. Jelly beans on the pitch was supposed... [Read more]

One of the most exciting days in the cricket calendar has arrived: Twenty20 finals day. 3 games of Twenty20 in a single day (the 2 semi-finals and then the final) always proves to be an entertaining day for the Edgbaston crowd. Things kick off with Lancashire and Gloucestershire, followed by Kent and Sussex. The final gets underway around 1900. The weather couldn’t be better. Andrew Flintoff looks set to play a part for Lancashire, as part of his wider bid to get back in the England side. Jimmy Anderson will be back for Lancashire, and Matt Prior for Sussex. A Sussex Lancashire final looks most likely, and I’d tip Sussex to pip Lancs in the final. They’ve looked the best all round side throughout the season as Lancashire’s... [Read more]

England vs India, 2nd Test, Day 5, Trent Bridge India look set to complete an emphatic victory over England on the 5th morning of the 2nd test, needing just 63 runs and all day and 10 wickets with which to do it. India have dominated throughout the match and though the weather wiped out most of day 1, England will have no such luck today. The umpires even tried to get in the way of India, with Simon Taufel in particular, having a shocking third day, dismissing Tendulkar and Ganguly incorrectly, even admitting he got it wrong (about Tendulkar, at least). It’s been a peculiar test match all round, one where tempers have frayed and England have lost their way. Undoubtedly, it was a toss to win, and England struggled in difficult conditions... [Read more]

Tempers flared and players from both sides lost control in the 2nd test between India and England at Trent Bridge. Sree Santh has already been fined half his match fee for shoulder barging Michael Vaughan and has also accused of deliberately bowling beamers and no-balls during his spell. Elsewhere, some serious argy-bargy occurred between Kevien Pietersen and Zaheer Khan, after Khan noticed jelly beans appearing on the pitch whilst he was batting. Having cleared one off the pitch, more turned up, convincing him it wasn’t an accident. He then gestured toward KP, raising his bat in protest. KP didn’t back down and returned some verbals. Such behaviour shouldn’t exist in any level of cricket, and that it is happening at the highest... [Read more]