Star, Super Star, Mega Star, Tendulkar

While all the scribes are rushing around trying to put it into words, we just know. He is one of the truly great.

"To Be Honest ...

 ... we haven't had a huge amount of sex!"

So refreshing to see a coach like Tim Nielson being so open about his and the teams problems.

Now I know there is some confusion between sex and six when it comes to talking kiwi or 'strine but that doesn't seem to explain this interesting statement. It does make you wonder what Tim was thinking about on the flight over.

I just hope this turns into the sexiest series of the summer - not that it has got much competition in that regard.

The link below will give you the full sound bite - you are looking for the last third of the clip for the real gem.

Aussie cricketers ready for NZ challenge - 3 Sport - Video - 3 News

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A Slice Of The Action

David "Piranha" Warner watches the ball on to the bat, and then presumably watched it fly majestically over the fence.

I was especially taken with the shadow of the ball on the bat - the laws of physics eh? - wonderful things.

Comprehensive

It doesn't matter whether it is the deciding test of an ashes series or Kenya v The Netherlands, you miss a straight one and the result is always the same - and you get to look like a bit of a dick as well.

A Meeting Of Minds

Dale Steyn may hate batsman but he is obviously a dog lover and a friend to all animals.

What does concern me is the fact that the dog does not have that air of menace you would expect from a member of the security forces. Before some one tells me, I do know he is employed for his nose rather than his teeth - the dog that is.

Chris Martin Asks The Question

Sadly the question is, how are we going to get the Aussies out once let alone twice?

You do have to admit though, he is the king of the sweat band.

Who Said Mismatch?

Actually, I think I might have. But then what do I know?

Well, I do know that the Bhaji is happy, and I can't really blame him for that.

Up And Over

Mahmudullah gives it the ramp and, like his maiden century, it was well deserved.

Both sides have been guilty of bowling too short - mindboggling given the conditions where everything is green and the sun has yet to be identified.

No Body Said It Was Going To Be Easy

You could forgive Alviro Petersen for thinking this test match stuff was a doddle, but he need only have asked Graeme Smith to discover it can just as easily bring you to your knees.

It's All About Partnerships

Partnership is a very strong theme coming through the test matches being played at present. Of course it helps when the partners are of the quality of Sehwag and Tendulkar. Guptil and McCullum may have a little way to go before they are at that level.

Wise Words

Sachin shares the benefit of his accumulated wisdom, but what is it you think he said?

Every Shot In The Book

If the Dili scoop is the cricket shot de jour, what is the next "invention" likely to be?

Give it some consideration people and don't give me a variation on the prod!

Let's see if we can't come up with a shot, a name and a hero to champion it.

Cricket Is Pain

Just ask KP.

In fact, a search of the Cricinfo photo database under the word "pain" produces a wide variety of examples of just how painful cricket can be. I shall bring you more of these painful moments in due course.

Meanwhile KP, just give 'em a rub, it's not like you were planning on using them this afternoon.

Can You Say Mismatch

Australia v Pakistan
New Zealand v Bangladesh
West Indies v Australia

and now

South Africa v India

What a waste of bloody good sunshine!

Another Great White Hope

I know you are all marveling at the wonders of Dale Styen at present but those of us in Black Cap Land are quietly excited(?) about this Andy McKay.

A left armer who can swing the ball at pace, and with accuracy, does not happen along every day in NZ.

Yes the Aussies will be a sterner test, but with James Franklin the next best left arm pace man, you can't blame us for jumping on the bandwagon fairly quickly.

A Great Day For The Beards

After a tough summer for big bearded batsman Hashim Amla's 253 not out has rescued some pride for the extremely hirsute.

The Bigger The Nose ...

... the better the coach.

Well done to those who recognised the famous Wessels nostrils. That toothy grin would have given it away far to easily.

You would have to say that he currently deserves to smile as his "boys" continue to bat India into submission.

Name That Nose

An easy little distraction while we wait for something of importance to happen in the cricketing world.

What famous cricketer is attached to this great honker?

Kiran Nagaraja supplied me with this image so he is automatically disqualified from answering - sorry Kiran.

Does It Hurt When I Do This?

All this talk of sadism has got me thinking about pain and it's relationship to cricket. Either that or watching Bangladesh play NZ last night made "painfull" the word of the week.

Being one to dwell on such things you can anticipate a few pained expressions cropping up in the next week or so.

Here we see Graham Gooch testing his pain barrier while having a splinter extracted by a blind physio - or something like that.

The Marquis De Afridi

Why would Afridi do that?

Brain explosion?
Tantrum?
Sub concious self destruction?
For a bet?

I can now reveal the real reason. It was all about PR.

Yes, Great Uncle Jrod and his minions got to the boy wonder and set up the perfect promotion for their new venture, the Cricket Sadists Monthly.

Never has blogging imitated life in a more poignant way, and it helps that Afridi is nuts to start with.

India Here We Come!

Very little done to this image as it stands on it's own. The unvarnished truth is that Central Districts were too good for Auckland and they have a great shot at improving on Otago's very quiet performance last year at the Champion's Trophy.

Exciting for us local lads to see it happen in New Plymouth and to see local boy Peter Ingram to the fore. I just hope they sober up in time and do grasp that conditions might be just a little different on the subcontinent.