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Inauspicious start to England’s World Cup

SixandOut — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:38:26 +0000

England got their World Cup under way today with a warm-up game against Bermuda. The win was moreorless a formality, and fortunately England suffered no upsets in that regard. And looking at the match stats will suggest exactly how the game ought to have panned out – England posted 280 and bowled Bermuda out for 45, so in all reality a comfortable win. Top score for Bermuda was Hemp with 11, followed closely by extras at 8. There’s little point in being overly critical at this point, considering it is only game 1 for England, but they would likely have wanted a harder game, considering their next warm up is against Australia on Friday. A win by 241 runs is a win by 241 runs, but the top 5 batting was slightly disappointing. Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen scored in the mid-40’s but it was up to no.7 Jamie Dalrymple to really make sure of a total in scoring 76. Considering that England are on the back of beating Australia 3 times, scoring big totals, to only get 286 against Bermuda’s weak attack is a little disappointing.

England’s bowling did, for once, look good, but again it’s hard to really judge how well it is performing considering the opposition.

But, of course, it is the first game of the series for England and it’s a warm-up exercise – the main thing was to get out and play, to turn in a reasonable performance and get a win, which is of course what they’ve done. Still the most controversial aspect of the game is Andrew Strauss being left out, whether he was dropped or is being rested is really neither here nor there. He’s a man who should be playing, despite his recent lack of form.

Post from: EveryJoe

Inauspicious start to England’s World Cup

Injuries plague World Cup

SixandOut — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:27:36 +0000

Injuries, injuries, injuries. It’s been a hot topic for ages now as huge amounts of people give their reasoning as to why there’s been an apparent increase in the frequency of serious injuries in International cricket. And now they will affect the World Cup, as key teams have players out with injury:

Australia: Matthew Hayden (toe), Andrew Symonds (bycep)
Pakistan: Abdul Razzaq (knee), Mohammad Asif (Elbow), Shoaib Akhtar (Knee)
New Zealand: Jacob Oram (finger)
England: Micheal Vaughan (everything)

to name but a few, with the likelihood that the World Cup will take down some more big names during its tenure. If the World Cup meanders along in a similar fashion to the Champions Trophy because some of the big names can’t play, then maybe it will finally prompt the powers-that-be to give some serious consideration to the International schedules.

Post from: EveryJoe

Injuries plague World Cup

Plunkett banned (from driving)

SixandOut — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:00:04 +0000

England quick bowler Liam Plunkett has been banned from driving for 20 months, after being convicted of driving under the influence. And under the influence he was with a recorded 172mg of alc-y-hol per 100ml, when the legal limit is 80mg. Plunkett apparently regrets the incident realising he is a role model for youngsters. Post from: EveryJoe Plunkett banned (from driving)

Post from: EveryJoe

Plunkett banned (from driving)

Literary genius

SixandOut — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:09:10 +0000

David Graveney somewhat ridiculously called for an apology from anyone who doubted Duncan Fletcher’s ability, following England’s success in the CB Trophy. Evidently Graveney was on the bog when England lost the Ashes. It is often said that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but sometimes it is the only medium to portray your true feelings. So make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy Simon Barnes’ delightfully sarcastic “apology” to Duncan Fletcher.

Post from: EveryJoe

Literary genius

Bitter end to tour

SixandOut — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:15:56 +0000

England’s physio was robbed at knifepoint by a gang of masked thieves, whilst “sharing drinks” with Andrew Strauss and a few other team peeps in their Sydney hotel. It sounds like an isolated incident, and that the robbers weren’t cricket fans who were annoyed Dean Conway for sorting out all England’s injured players. If anything, Dean did the Aussies a favour in getting Ashley Giles back in to shape.

* I do like the idea of the chaps “sharing drinks”. It was 4am and what that really means is that they were having a proper session. Fortunately, The Sun isn’t afraid to print that: “Batsman Strauss, 29, said: “It was in the early hours of the morning and most of the players were in the bar celebrating the win. It was a bit hairy especially because we’d had a drink or two.” And why not. (I just hope Strauss hadn’t previously phoned his wife and said he was tired and getting an early night.)

Post from: EveryJoe

Bitter end to tour

England salvage some pride

SixandOut — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 20:15:12 +0000

England managed to end the Ashes tour on a high by somehow winning the Commonwealth Bank Trophy series. After a staggering 8 “group” matches, Australia entered the finals with 31 points having lost only one game, and England entered on a lowly 13 points having lost 5 games, just one better than New Zealand. The fact that one game basically decided the members of the final is to me laughable. Nevertheless, the Australians would still have targeted a win and their abject performances in the finals were quite mystifying. There’s no doubt that England improved their game substantially in the final few games, a change that was only too welcome, but Australia were certainly not on top form.

Paul Collingwood found a welcome return to form, following up his century against New Zealand with 120* not out and 70. Collingwood doubters should now be feeling very silly about themselves. Aside from his double hundred at Adelaide, Collingwood has had a poor series, and his recent scores rightly earned him man of the finals (!) but he arguably had no worse a series than any of the other players. He managed to do what neither Bell nor Strauss managed and at the right time as well. England’s bowlers also managed to come through, with Liam Plunkett the most promising, picking up some key wickets at key times. There are still many things to look at, such as England’s running between the wickets which has been horrific, the opening batsmen situation and the wicket keeper situation, but the boys at least have some confidence back and there’s something to improve upon. It also shows that England don’t rely on any single member, such as Kevin Pietersen, to win the game. And even more promising is that if more than one player could find some form at the same time, then England can be even better.

Beating Australia in Australia at any time is always an achievement and one that shouldn’t be too undervalued. Leaving Australia with some silverware was certainly unexpected, and I admit I didn’t think there a was hope of it happening after the Ashes whitewash. The CB trophy was always going to take second place behind the Test matches, but it’s great that England managed to turn things around and rescue something from what was otherwise a terrible series. Ahead of the World Cup, this was about the best thing that could happen.

Post from: EveryJoe

England salvage some pride

Pakistan’s arse handed to them by South Africa

SixandOut — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:32:20 +0000

I’m struggling to remember the last time I saw such an incredible game of cricket. Actually, in real terms, the game of cricket wasn’t that remarkable as South Africa quite literally thrashed the pants off Pakistan in the first ODI. No, what was remarkable was the manner in which South Africa annihilated Pakistan. To score 392 in a ODI is no mean feat, but South Africa really acted like someone who had just been told their mum was ugly and that no-one liked them. They actually went ballistic as de Villiers and Smith started off well, but left it to Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher to really seal the deal, which they did in mesmorising style. Boucher’s 78 off 38 balls was nothing short of incredible, including one rage-filled 27-run over. Pakistan were incapable of replying and were out for 228, some 170 runs short.

If South Africa can carry anything like that sort of form to the World Cup, then they’re definitely capable of beating Australia.

Post from: EveryJoe

Pakistan’s arse handed to them by South Africa

Warm up the MBE machine

SixandOut — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:04:35 +0000

England did the unthinkable: they actually played some good cricket. The net result: They Beat Australia. And considering that really, that’s all this trophy is about, it’s a Big Thing. Most surprising, however, was that England actually played the type of cricket of which we knew they were always capable, but have totally failed to demonstrate throughout this Ashes tour. Australia did feel like they were gifting the win, but considering the point of Australian cricket is to beat the English, then it’s hard to conclude that they may have actually let England win. Besides, it’s much more satisfying to think that England actually handed Australia a defeat for a change.

In fact, Australia did have to play an extended game of fetch. Ed Joyce led from the front in treating the Australian bowling with the contempt that it deserves, as Glenn McGrath was below par and Shaun Tait had an uninspiring debut, Australia really looked to be missing Brett Lee. Dropped twice, Ed Joyce made his maiden ODI century, ably supported at varying times through the innings by Ian Bell (51), Loye (29), Strauss (26) and Dalrymple (30). Loye and Bell will both be unhappy that they made promising starts but failed to score heavily, but that Joyce capitalised on Australia’s mistakes is important. England totalled a respectable 292/7. Such a target was by no means beyond the reach of Australia who have consistently scored over 300, but with Ponting rested, things didn’t go their way. Matt Hayden made 50 and Symonds was going well until he ripped his bicep, an injury which has ruled him out of the rest of the series and makes him unlikely for the World Cup. Liam Plunkett had a dream game with the ball with 3/24 off 9.4 overs and was instrumental in dismissing Australia for 200, including Adam Gilchrist first ball.

Fortunately, though, the response to the victory has been necessarily muted. That is, no-one has yet announced the revolution of English cricket, which might ordinarily happen. England will know that the win was important, but that it is merely a drop in a bloody big ocean and they must aim to continue to improve their cricket if they’re to make a mark on the World Cup.

Post from: EveryJoe

Warm up the MBE machine

Play the Duncan Fletcher sweepstake

SixandOut — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:53:59 +0000

It’s only a matter of time before Duncan Fletcher resigns / gets sacked from his position as head coach of the England cricket team. The question is, though… when? The ECB have said it won’t be until after the World Cup, if at all, but both David Graveney and David Morgan (Chairman of Selectors / Chief of ECB) have added some doubt / uncertainty to that by saying that it’s Fletcher’s decision and he has no fixed term contract. In addition there’s the uncertainty over what will happen when the England team finally escape the Ashes tour. What will happen at the Ashes inquest? Will Fletcher go then? What if England bottom out of the World Cup? Will he go then? What if England win the World Cup? Oh, sorry, I got carried anyway.

Well, this is your opportunity to show the world that you know best by playing the Duncan Fletcher sweepstake. All you have to do is pick the date between 1st Feb and shortly after the end of the World Cup and tell me on which day you think his removal will be announced. (If you’re feeling really saucy, then tell me whether he resigns or gets the sack.) Have a look on the image below, if there’s no cross in the date then it’s all yours.

Prize for the winner: TBA. If no-one picks the exact date then it will go to whomever is closest. If it’s still undecided, I’ll figure something out. Leave your pick in the comments, and ensure you leave a valid email address if you want to be contacted. Good luck!

Click the image to see the full size.

Useful dates:

6th Feb, last England group game in CB Trophy (England going home)
11th Feb, 2nd final in CB Trophy (England didn’t win)
26 Mar, End of World Cup Group Stages (England going home?)
22 Apr, End of World Second Stage (England going home?)
26th Apr, End of Semi-Finals
29th Apr, End of World Cup (England win!?)

Post from: EveryJoe

Play the Duncan Fletcher sweepstake

England slump to new low

SixandOut — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 23:35:29 +0000

Would you believe that I actually had a much longer post all written out here, but thanks to the wonder that is the Internet, it didn’t get processed properly and I ended up with nothing.

But maybe it’s fate? After all, what else is there to be said about another lacklustre performance from England? And this time against New Zealand, England received their hardest spanking of the tour to date. 120 all out is nothing short of piss-poor.

England’s top order, with the slight exception of Ed Joyce, who, 6th time lucky managed to find a glimmer of form with 47, but that was about it for England’s “resistance”. Once again England relied on Captain and Best Bowler Flintoff to also be Best Batsman and Saviour, but once again the pressure proved too much for the big man. Maybe it was the unusually thick chinwarmer that put him off his batting. Maybe he was too preoccupied with with overused cliches he was going to overuse in the match post-mortem.

This defeat now puts them bottom of the table in the pointless dash to the finals, that is, a further three opportunities for either New Zealand or England to have their arses handed to them by Australia. Flintoff said they were all desperate to get in to the finals, but from where I’m sitting, it seems they’re all desperate to get on that plane home. And who can blame them.

Post from: EveryJoe

England slump to new low