Weekend Wrap
I'm writing this while watching the final rites being applied to the Poms so I might as well start with the cricket. God I hope their first couple of days in this test was an aberration rather than a precursor to the rest of the series, otherwise this could get embarrassing (and be a waste of time from a betting point of view). Haven't had time to reflect fully (oops there goes the last wicket as I type), but here's a few points for English supporters to hang their hats on:
1. The improvement in batting in the second dig - batting 100 overs Day 4/5 is a commendable effort - and they handled Warne OK which is a plus;
2. They're playing "Dad's Army" and they potentially will have issues (e.g. injury) to deal with thanks to the schedule;
3. The pitches for the next 2 tests are at Adelaide and Perth which will not hold any fears for batsmen.
4. England got thrashed in the first test of the last Ashes series and we all know what happened after that, once McGrath stood on a cricket ball.
I can't honestly see England winning a test - unless Flintoff finds some back-up from his bowlers, but I'm not lumping on 5-0 either. My prediction: 3-0, with smaller chances of 4-0 and 3-1.
The All Blacks wound up a fantastic year with another comfortable victory and we now enter a summer of peeking out from the bedcovers wondering whether yet again we've peaked in the wrong year and what will go wrong come World Cup time. Yet again their defence when subjected to long periods without possession was outstanding. If there is any justice in the world the ABs - assuming they do not suffer a major downturn in form - will romp away with RWC but remember, knockout tournaments are not always won by the best side there. We should know that by now. BTW, they're now down to $1.82 to win it!
On the subject, one of my favourite columnists Peter Fitzsimons from the Sydney Morning Herald had this to say last weekend:
Gosh darn it, I want all of you - all of you, hear me? - to find a Kiwi and give him or her a really big hug. Strengthen your friendship! Give them some love! For they are going to really need us. You know what I am talking about. I am talking about how much they are going to need our support next year. See, a year out from every World Cup, they always look unbeatable, only to sadly fall apart, like clockwork, seven minutes into the second half of the semi-final, when either us, the French or the South Africans tear them apart. This, in turn, always causes them such extraordinary national anguish, that it would make a brown dog weep. My fear, however, is that next year, mere "anguish" won't cover it. For never have they looked better and more unbeatable than right now. It means the fall they are going to suffer will be CRIPPLING.
His whole column is worth reading - cricket fans will like the story about Paul Collingwood in the nets - click here.
Getting back to justice in the world - of course we know there is no such thing on the sporting field - the Kiwi league team will attest to that. Two last-minute losses to Australia in successive games - the sort of stuff that would send the Kiwi cricketers to the pyschiatrist's couch for a week - you'd think the powers-that-be would have let us win just one of them?
Highlight of the weekend - Justin Kemp's century for South Africa in the ODI against India last night. SAF were 0-2, 42-4 and 76-6; yet end up scoring 274-7 on the back of his onslaught. Worth staying up half the night for.
1. The improvement in batting in the second dig - batting 100 overs Day 4/5 is a commendable effort - and they handled Warne OK which is a plus;
2. They're playing "Dad's Army" and they potentially will have issues (e.g. injury) to deal with thanks to the schedule;
3. The pitches for the next 2 tests are at Adelaide and Perth which will not hold any fears for batsmen.
4. England got thrashed in the first test of the last Ashes series and we all know what happened after that, once McGrath stood on a cricket ball.
I can't honestly see England winning a test - unless Flintoff finds some back-up from his bowlers, but I'm not lumping on 5-0 either. My prediction: 3-0, with smaller chances of 4-0 and 3-1.
The All Blacks wound up a fantastic year with another comfortable victory and we now enter a summer of peeking out from the bedcovers wondering whether yet again we've peaked in the wrong year and what will go wrong come World Cup time. Yet again their defence when subjected to long periods without possession was outstanding. If there is any justice in the world the ABs - assuming they do not suffer a major downturn in form - will romp away with RWC but remember, knockout tournaments are not always won by the best side there. We should know that by now. BTW, they're now down to $1.82 to win it!
On the subject, one of my favourite columnists Peter Fitzsimons from the Sydney Morning Herald had this to say last weekend:
Gosh darn it, I want all of you - all of you, hear me? - to find a Kiwi and give him or her a really big hug. Strengthen your friendship! Give them some love! For they are going to really need us. You know what I am talking about. I am talking about how much they are going to need our support next year. See, a year out from every World Cup, they always look unbeatable, only to sadly fall apart, like clockwork, seven minutes into the second half of the semi-final, when either us, the French or the South Africans tear them apart. This, in turn, always causes them such extraordinary national anguish, that it would make a brown dog weep. My fear, however, is that next year, mere "anguish" won't cover it. For never have they looked better and more unbeatable than right now. It means the fall they are going to suffer will be CRIPPLING.
His whole column is worth reading - cricket fans will like the story about Paul Collingwood in the nets - click here.
Getting back to justice in the world - of course we know there is no such thing on the sporting field - the Kiwi league team will attest to that. Two last-minute losses to Australia in successive games - the sort of stuff that would send the Kiwi cricketers to the pyschiatrist's couch for a week - you'd think the powers-that-be would have let us win just one of them?
Highlight of the weekend - Justin Kemp's century for South Africa in the ODI against India last night. SAF were 0-2, 42-4 and 76-6; yet end up scoring 274-7 on the back of his onslaught. Worth staying up half the night for.
Labels: post mortems
posted by Rob Crawford at 2:28 PM
3 Comments:
Do you wan't to exchange the links? Answer me here , please:
While McGrath getting injured was a big blow in the last ashes, the english team succesfully bowled the Aussies out twice in at least 2 games (if i recall correctly).
If they get a stroke of luck with him or another major player like ponting getting knocked out of the series, I havent seen any thing to suggest they have that strike power this time around.
RM - I'll comment tomorrow.
Andrew, you make a reasonable point. That is the problem too I have with England winning a test - but I'd like to see Panesar play before completely giving up on them.
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