Sorry for anyone who reads this blog for the lack of updates. It has been a pretty hectic time, what with long hours, a new trainee at work, preparing for the homing of a Battersea puppy, and just the lack of enthusiasm for one day cricket. I promise I’ll be more into the test matches when they come back. The best form of the game by far.
In recent one day action South Africa took the last two games of their series against Australia to take a winning 3-1 lead. The Aussies have since been citing injuries and inexperience as the reason they are losing, which never washed when England kept getting stuffed by the Aussies in 2001 et al. No, winning teams get less injuries, it is just the way of the world. South Africa have impressed mightily, and Albie Morkel’s onslaught at Sydney, combined with his impressive displays in the previous games won him the HDWLIA Player of the Week Award for last week, pipping Dilshan.
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in their best of three series having been royally turned over in the first. The second was a comfortable win, the third a humiliating thrashing of a team short on international cricket. Dilshan’s 137 not out set Pakistan a total to chase of 310, and they fell a mere 234 runs short of the visitors tally… Shoaib Malik lost his job as skipper and Younis Khan takes over. With no Mohammed Yousuf to call on, Inzamam also retired, the team looks lost. Younis has a huge job.
Sri Lanka returned home to play India, and promptly got stuffed themselves by six wickets in Dambulla. Sanath Jayasuriya scored a patient century but the total was not enough for the rampant Indians who chased down 246 patiently. Gambhir, Raina and Dhoni all passed 50. India really are an impressive outfit at the moment, and a scary prospect for most teams.
In Kenya, Zimbabwe also topped 300 in their first ODI, with Chigumbura top scoring with 79. Kenya never got close. It is still interesting, though, to see the gap between the worst of the test playing nations and the next associate member. Zimbabwe, decimated as they are, still seem to be a much better prospect than Kenya, who have never taken that step forward. As I said, interesting.
England started their campaign in the West Indies with a comfortable win over a St Kitts Invitational XI. KP scored a ton, as did Owais Shah (who got injured) and then Strauss got one in the second innings after a duck in the first. Cook scored two 50s, and even Steve Harmison weighed in with runs. It remains to be seen if Shah’s knock gets him a test place, as I’m sure England will be determined to stick with my favourite. KP, of course, had a little to say after his knock, but then you all know where I stand on that particular argument. Flintoff has a side injury, and has gone off to Jamaica for treatment in advance of the first test. England’s second warm up game against West Indies A in Basseterre starts tomorrow. Panesar, on the back of 7 wickets is rested and Swann gets a game, Shah will bat at 6 while Freddie sits the game out, and Sidebottom gets go in the attack instead of Stuart Broad. Lord knows what the test team will be!
Back for more in the next couple of days, all being well….
