Just A Blue Day

... for the English bowlers.

Lendl Simmons on the other hand rather enjoyed his day out, as one does when scoring 280 odd against an international side.

All We Are Saying, Is Give Adil A Bowl!

It is time for the new sensation. Get the new masks printed and distributed and get this boy into the big time. He has got the big hands, the spinners stare and who can resist the jaunty hat on backwards.

How Soon They Forget

It was Jonathan Agnew people, star of BBC and the occasional cricket pitch. I am also amazed that no one suggested the great Ewen Chatfield who does bear a striking resemblance.

KP Finds Support

or has he just found the right level?

Great photo this from the boys at Getty Images.

Thank God For Ritchie

Listening to The Greig, The Bill et al making apologies for poor play drives me nuts, so thank the Lord there is Ritchie who is there to call a dropped catch a dropped catch. He did not seem convinced that Ponting spilled a relatively straight forward slip catch because "the ball was going too fast".

Guess Who?

Go on you clever buggers, who is it?

Clue No 1. - A member of the fourth estate.
Clue No 2. - England, 1986

Tired? Yeah Right!

The old 'un and his team took umbrage at my suggestion of tiredness and proceeded to give the Pakistan boys a good flogging. Just another example of the power of the blog.

Back And Bouncy

Iftikhar Anjum celebrates a wicket and the fact that Pakistan is back "on stage" after a very quiet time. A good victory against a tired (?) Sri Lankan team

The Joy Of Cricket

Price, Taibu and the rest of the Zimbabwe team seem to be really energised at the moment. Maybe not having to play as often actually does improve the cricket experience, for players at least. Some of the big four teams seem to be almost sleep walking through their schedule at present.

A Man For All Seasons II

This one is for Jrod. David Hussey in a blue study where he manages to appear up beat, athletic, full of runs and statesman like all at the same time.

Moving off the topic slightly, does any one else find the ODI series a yawn after all that great test cricket?

Huddle Up

The kittens claws are getting sharper. OK they lost, but not by much and you can tell the the Sri Lankans felt that had to work for it.

Can't Touch This!

I love this photo from one of the recent NZ v WI one dayers. In NZ the crowd often have to make their own entertainment and this fella has given it the pitch invasion shuffle. Note that it is cold enough for him to retain his clothes but that he has added a degree of difficulty by doing the dash in a pair of Crocs. McCullum does not appear to be entering into the spirit of the occasion, perhaps a reflection of his current poor form.

Fast Motion

I am enjoying the likes of Steyn and Tait bowling really fast. Even the Windies have guys who can get into the high 140's. What does worry me is how they keep going for runs in the shorter versions of the game. Sooner or later we are going to get fast bowlers bowling their stock ball at 120 and the spinners at 110.

He Did It His Way

He may not have been unique but Hados was certainly bloody different. His average speaks for itself so lets hope he enjoys a well earned sit down.

David "The Piranha" Warner

Yes, a Piranha.
Small, powerful, quick, aggressive, deadly, and those teeth!
Thank God there is not a school of him.

Welcome Back Zimbabwe

Elton Chigumbura keeps a still head and unleashes hell. Nice to see that fluorescent playing strip back in action, and with a win no less.

Shadow Man

Name this shadow and keep those captions coming.

Caption Time!

OK it is not the greatest caption so you do better!

Narcissists (don't) Rule

The England/ECB have shot themselves in the foot so often it must be time to attack a different appendage. To their credit(?) it would appear they were no longer prepared to let the lunatics run the asylum, although how that is going to translate into team dynamics is anybodies guess. The Caribbean resorts should be hiding the rum and peddle boats as we speak.

Given the general confusion as to who said what to whom, I can now tell you that the real reason for the breakdown in the captain/coach relationship was the fact that the coach was better looking than the captain. This is something that selection panels need to consider for all future appointments.

The New South Africa

Love this image from the second test. Smith will get most of the Boys Own heroic mentions from the third but these two have fronted on every occasion and not just doing their own job. The Aussies should enjoy their win because these guys are not going to get any easier back on home soil.

And Take Your Seeing Eye Dog With You!

What the hell has got into young Ashraful, has someone stolen his favorite squeeze toy? It must be this bowling thingy that has angried up the blood, although I note it didn't lead to many runs in the second dig.

A New Work Horse

I like the grafters. The guys who run in hard, bang it into the deck and then go back and do it again. Peter Siddle strikes me as a no nonsense, give me the ball, sort of bowler who will earn every wicket he ends up getting.

Any one notice a resemblance to Craig McDermott?

Summer In The South island

If you choose to holiday in the South Island and insist on being a Black Caps supporter then you must develop several key traits.

The ability to make your own entertainment.
A very low threshold of excitement.
A healthy appetite for beer and scenery - cause there is sod all else to drink or watch.

Red Replaces Dread

There is no doubt that Andrew McDonald will add a bit of ginger to the Aussie side.

In The Pink

Great sentiment, important cause, but perhaps not the best timing given the state of the series.

Getting in touch with my inner humbug I also wonder if this is setting a precedent that might be hard to over come. There are a great many good causes out there that would benefit from test cricket as a marketing vehicle.

The Kittens Roar

"Get to the top of your mark and bowl as hard as you bloody can lad"
Just because you aren't very good doesn't mean you can't be aggressive. It is an approach that has been used with little success by the Blackcaps for many years now.

"Thank You Sir, May I Score Another"

Bangladesh seems to be developing a more aggressive and disciplined approach but this may be a bit too harsh.