Just watched the Delhi vs Deccan Match. The Deccan Chargers started out slow, but picked up later and reached 142, thanks to a certain Mr Rohit Sharma, about whom I would have loved to talk about now. But alas. Limelight is a very narrow lane. Only one can steal it. It was Virender Sehwag’s night. Just look at these figures:
Runs : 94
Balls : 41
Fours : 10
Sixes : 6
Poor old Andrew Symonds went for 30 in an over. This was certainly SOME innings. I beg your pardon if I am not articulate enough. Its just that….well….I am excited. The IPL has …read more

Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kolkata Knight Riders at Bangalore – Apr 18, 2008
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 140 runs
Kolkata Knight Riders 222/3 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 82 (15.1/20 ov)
Brendon McCullum all the way. Credit given where credit is due.

Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings at Mohali – Apr 19, 2008
Chennai Super Kings won by 33 runs
Chennai Super Kings 240/5 (20/20 ov); Kings XI Punjab 207/4 (20/20 ov)
Michael ‘Mr Cricket’ Hussey showing he ain’t that far behind.
Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals at Delhi – Apr 19, 2008
Delhi Daredevils won by 9 wickets (with 29 balls remaining)
Rajasthan Royals 129/8 (20/20 …read more

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 …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 …read more

I suppose you have to laugh. It’s still relatively early in the season and at a time when cricket is often lost, mostly due to wet weather and crummy light. So when the reverse happens, that is, cricket is lost because the weather is just too good, then it’s all a bit humourous. I’m talking about Yorkshire vs Derbyshire, being played at Derby in the Friends Provident limited overs tournament.
The only problem is that it’s not the first time this has happened (virtually one year ago to the day) and Derbyshire had even asked for special consideration, which the ECB …read more

Shane Warne has received a “personal” 6 points for disorderly conduct during Hampshire’s game with Kent at the weekend, so reports Cricinfo. The ECB upheld a complaint of Warne showing dissent following his dismissal for LBW, which included an “audible obscenity” not to mention the odd glare or two. The points stay on his record for two years and should he get a further three, it will be an automatic suspension.

The results of the inquest into England’s shocking performance in Australia this Winter will be published tomorrow. Anticipation is high surrounding the thoughts of 6 men, including Nasser Hussein and Angus Fraser, on where England went wrong (well, we already know that) but importantly what should be done in going forward in to the future. Expect another analysis of the county system and how there are too may professional players with not enough fighting for places.
Also expect the report to do near enough bugger all.

Talking about Rob Key and his contention for a spot in the England line-up, Chris Adams on Sky Sports, suggested that Rob Key would need to prove to new coach Peter Moores that he wants to improve his game:
“Whether it be, perhaps, in his fielding, or in the, er, the structure of his body”
On its own, not a damning statement, but it did have the benefit of a hand gesture, which was moreorless “he’s a tubby a bastard”.

Oop. You know it’s bad when you start typing an entry and you’ve already used it before. Well, it did save me a few characters typing when the autocomplete thingy did it for me. But yes, Vaughan, bless him, has injured himself again. This time it’s his finger after copping one on the hand from Stuart Clark in the County Champs match against Hampshire. He’s set to be out for up to a month, which would mean missing at least the first test against the West Indies.
One wonders if this is a blessing in disguise. Well, not necessarily even in …read more

The next phase of the English domestic cricket season gets under way tomorrow, with the start of the Pro 40 league. But it seems finding good information on what it’s all about is a task in itself. Even on the ECB website, the masterminds behind the league, it’s difficult to find a good definition of the format, except that NatWest will be the official sponsors.
So the vital information that I can gleam is this: