The Fourth Spinner

You can never have enough tweakers when playing in Sharjah.

Welcome Back Rossco

... and about bloody time! Not that Oram The Accident Prone can be too patronising, it was the first time in a while he lived up to his reputation. But what they hell am I grumping about, they won. I should get over myself.

Big Jesse Weighs In ...

... with a ton.

Nice to see the big fella back, but a thought does cross my mind.

If having a good team "truth, honesty and yelling" session works so well for the Black Caps, why don't they do it at the start of a series, rather than when it is too late to make a difference?

Another Star On The Rise

The ODI series between NZ and Pakistan has  been a god send to the Paskistan team and yet another reality check for the Black Caps.

Young Ahmed Shehzad has been unearthed as a star of the future, bowlers like Riaz have developed confidence and valuable game nous and Misbah and a few other "oldies" have established some street cred.

Meanwhile, in the Kiwi camp, they couldn't spell (or manufacture) a win if you spotted them the "w" and the "n".

As a Black Cap supporter I would feel better if at least one of the players looked like fulfilling their potential.

Can't Make It Stick

Try as they might the Black Caps can't put a complete performance together.

Both batting and bowling they are able to cobble together a solid 10 overs only for things to start to come unstuck.

The day they manage a complete performance some poor sod is going to suffer.

Another New Attack

Oh please, please, please let these two be the start of something new and effective for the Black Caps. If nothing else they at least have some youthful enthusiasm to balance the middle aged sense of entitlement we have grown used to.

Stock Photo

Mohammad Hafeez has every right to be a little down after being dismissed but I offer this image as a stock photo which can be used for so many different situations in Pakistan cricket.

Next time there is some sort of colossal Pakistan cock up just roll this pic out and share their pain.

It could be worse, they could be NZ and relying on the durable  Jacob Oram as their key all rounder.

Serious Stuff

Tim Southee is the picture of serious concentration as he prepares to deliver yet another ball in what has become a very pedestrian affair at the Basin. A degrading tropical cyclone should liven things up tomorrow and mean that all the serious endeavour ends in a tame draw. Which should save the umpires from making any more mistakes for a day or two.

Deep In Ponder

Now what might, or more importantly, what should Brendan McCullum be thinking as he contemplates his early dismissal? All thoughts on the back of an envelope in 45 words or less - or just leave a comment!

Head Cases

The Black Collapse have just illustrated, yet again, one of the great mysteries of modern sport - why any one would employ a sports psychologist!?.

If these pussy willows are a product of a coordinated programme of coaching and mental preparation I can't help thinking that someone, perhaps the poor sods who turn up to watch in Hamilton, deserves a considerable refund on their investment. The only investment that seems dodgier is some one prepared to pay a million US dollars for Ross Taylor - good luck with that.

Nobody Said It Was Going To Be Easy

If John Wright thought years of on field sunshine had an aging effect, he is about to find out that coaching the Black Caps can add years in a very short space of time.

Straight And True

And that refers to both the shot and the pitch.

Good Call? Bad Call?

It is just possible that making the right decision could be the wrong thing to do. The amount of frustration for both players and umpires is pretty clear in this image.

Ross Taylor Reflects

And it might go something like this.

"Why did I not play a shot?"

"Am I an idiot?"

"Will Dan save us again?"

"Can Fulton score a run?"

"Are we really playing the same game as Sehwag?"

Class Is Permanent

Shane Bond takes his chance to announce his return, and boy does the Black Caps attack need him. The big worry is how long he and Vettori can carry the rest.

But enough negativity, they won when they could have lost, so well done fellas.

There, There

It's not easy doing everything and sometimes even the captain, coach, selector, batsman, bowler needs a hug. Which is why the selection of the team physio is crucial and not a role Vettori will seek.

Dodgy Reception

But very important. The Black Caps may have lost focus but they were able to sharpen up when it really mattered. The series was eventful enough to make me wish there was another game or two instead of the up coming hit and giggle.

Ask And You Shall Receive

Classic Vettori appeal if just a little stylised.

He may have been asking for an LBW or just pleading for someone to get Aamir out!

This Little Piggy

Cheer up Styro the great thing about being an allrounder is you can stuff up batting and then come back and take a crucial three wicket bag.

Orange Moon, Orange Moon

Those of you who saw the original photo on cricinfo probably anticipated it's appearance on this blog.

There certainly is a surreal element to NZ v Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which this image does nothing to dispel. Queenstown or Karachi, it is not.

The moon's resemblance to a cricket ball is, I am sure, purely coincidental.