Proven wrong again yesterday as Pakistan sauntered to an easy 8 wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final of the Twenty20. Shows how much I know about the game.
I actually think this result proves my point that Twenty20 is a lottery. Sri Lanka and South Africa were by far the better teams throughout the tournament, but they were unable to put together performances when it mattered. Pakistan put together a perfect team effort to cruise to victory when needed - at the final.
Englands women also won easily in the Womens competition, beating New Zealand by 6 wickets in a very one-sided final.
Monday 22 June 2009
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Interesting Semi Finals
The two semi finals of the Twenty20 should be good. We have South Africa v Pakistan and Sri Lanka v West Indies.
If everything goes to plan it should be a South Africa v Sri Lankan final as these two have been the stand-out teams in the competition. But as we know, Twenty20 games can be a lottery and I wouldn't be surprised if the West Indies got their.
My money is on the Proteas to win, but I think that the Sri Lankans stand a very good chance if they get to the final.
And yes, I have written off Pakistan for no other reason than I have not been very impressed with them so far. But like I say, any one of these four are capable.
If everything goes to plan it should be a South Africa v Sri Lankan final as these two have been the stand-out teams in the competition. But as we know, Twenty20 games can be a lottery and I wouldn't be surprised if the West Indies got their.
My money is on the Proteas to win, but I think that the Sri Lankans stand a very good chance if they get to the final.
And yes, I have written off Pakistan for no other reason than I have not been very impressed with them so far. But like I say, any one of these four are capable.
Tuesday 16 June 2009
And We're Out
England lost last night to bow out of the Twenty20. It was decided after Mr Duckworth and Mr Lewis got involved due to a number of rain delays.
England made 161-6 off their 20 overs, but that was revised down to 80 off 9 overs when the West Indies took to the field.
I do feel a bit sorry for them, because I don't think that this Windies batting line-up is capable of sustaining its scoring rate to chase down the full total. And it did have to be the first rain-affected game of the tournament.
Bopara hit a maiden Twenty20 half century, and then the West Indies were reduced to 16-3, but the bowling seemed to go flat to let Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnarash Sarwan see them home with 5 balls to spare.
It did seem to be a strange decision to drop a batter in favour of another bowler, but I really can't work out the best way to set up a team in this format so I think I'll leave that to others to pass judgement.
Never mind - at least they all have time to get prepared for the Ashes now.
England made 161-6 off their 20 overs, but that was revised down to 80 off 9 overs when the West Indies took to the field.
I do feel a bit sorry for them, because I don't think that this Windies batting line-up is capable of sustaining its scoring rate to chase down the full total. And it did have to be the first rain-affected game of the tournament.
Bopara hit a maiden Twenty20 half century, and then the West Indies were reduced to 16-3, but the bowling seemed to go flat to let Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnarash Sarwan see them home with 5 balls to spare.
It did seem to be a strange decision to drop a batter in favour of another bowler, but I really can't work out the best way to set up a team in this format so I think I'll leave that to others to pass judgement.
Never mind - at least they all have time to get prepared for the Ashes now.
Friday 12 June 2009
A Cold Wind
We blew cold then last night :).
The South Africans are a great side at present, and are going to be difficult to beat in this competition.
As for England, it all depends what team turns up over the next couple of games because we are going nowhere playing like that.
In better news Freddie finished with 2-30 off 12 overs for Lancashire, and took a couple of slip cathces to round off a good return.
The South Africans are a great side at present, and are going to be difficult to beat in this competition.
As for England, it all depends what team turns up over the next couple of games because we are going nowhere playing like that.
In better news Freddie finished with 2-30 off 12 overs for Lancashire, and took a couple of slip cathces to round off a good return.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Freddie's Back
Better news for Lancashire and England is the return of Andrew Flintoff a week ahead of schedule.
He has been taking part in bowling sessions in the nets for the last week, and has today started his first County Championship game of the year. If all goes well over the next couple of weeks then he should be ready for the Ashes.
And he already has a wicket at the Riverside. Keep it up Freddie!!
He has been taking part in bowling sessions in the nets for the last week, and has today started his first County Championship game of the year. If all goes well over the next couple of weeks then he should be ready for the Ashes.
And he already has a wicket at the Riverside. Keep it up Freddie!!
Big game
The clash between Engalnd and South Africa should be a good game today. The Proteas have a great team which really knows how to play Twenty20, and England will either blow hot or cold as usual.
But the main interest will again be the ego-off between Graeme Smith and Kevin Pietersen. Smith has said the right things in the lead up to the game, but neither player can stop themselves once they get out in the middle.
Whatever the result, it should be a fun game to watch.
But the main interest will again be the ego-off between Graeme Smith and Kevin Pietersen. Smith has said the right things in the lead up to the game, but neither player can stop themselves once they get out in the middle.
Whatever the result, it should be a fun game to watch.
Monday 8 June 2009
Pot Luck
We're just a few days into the World Twenty20 and it has already proven to be as much about luck as it is about skill.
We start on day one with the Netherlands beating an England team that just a couple of days later easily beat a strong Pakistan team. And Australia go down to the West Indies.
This is another good reason to stick with Test cricket, as the 5 day game does not throw up these stupid results.
The batting has been pretty spectacular though, so maybe I should get over my problems with this form of the game.
We start on day one with the Netherlands beating an England team that just a couple of days later easily beat a strong Pakistan team. And Australia go down to the West Indies.
This is another good reason to stick with Test cricket, as the 5 day game does not throw up these stupid results.
The batting has been pretty spectacular though, so maybe I should get over my problems with this form of the game.
Thursday 4 June 2009
Symonds Sent Home
Andrew Symonds, the Aussie allrounder, has been sent home from the Twenty20 World Cup squad.
Apparently he has again managed to seriously breach team rules. You would think that he had learned his lesson after being left out of the test test squad to play the Ashes, but i guess not.
Apparently he has again managed to seriously breach team rules. You would think that he had learned his lesson after being left out of the test test squad to play the Ashes, but i guess not.
"The decision has been made after Andrew, in the last 24 to 48 hours, has broken a number of team rules," says James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive.
"In isolation those breaches are not significant but in the context of the commitment that Andrew has made to his team mates and Cricket Australia over the last six to 12 months they are the final straw."
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said "He has let himself down, his team mates down and Cricket Australia down. There is no doubting his credentials as a player but there are a number of his own commitments that he has broken over the last 24 or 48 hours."
What has he done this time? Alcohol related issues have been cited. Not the first time for him then.
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