Time To Take Things Seriously

C'mon Rossco, less smiles and more runs, eh!

Seeing It Big

No better feeling in sport!

A Rampant Ross

No slog sweeps just clean off side striking. Long may it continue.

Cutting A Bit Of A Dash

Short, wide and gone seemed to be the story of Day 1 in Dunedin. Not sure where the Windies will bowl tomorrow but at the stumps might be a cunning plan.

Very Very Out

Poor old Ross Taylor. You watch day after day of people batting from your spot in the slips and when it is finally your turn it's all over in one ball. Great game, cricket.

Ya Boo Sucks!

Maori challenge, century celebration or an "up yours" - only Rossco knows.

Are Looks Always Deceptive?

You had better, Mr Hesson, you had better.

I am fighting hard against my natural instinct to look at Mike Hesson and see a "new age professional" coach, with all the theory and sod all real leadership ability.

Time and results will tell. I just hope there is more to him than what I see.

Talking Heads

Or words to that effect.

"So Thats What It's Like To Score Runs"

Feel free to suggest your own caption.

Retired, Pissed Off

A key injury to a modern cricketer - what a surprise.

Hard to fathom given the amount of time and money spent on their conditioning.

Perhaps they could try bacon/egg/sausage for breakfast, 20 fags before tea and a few pints at days end, and see if that helps.

Looking For A Bit Of Sparkle

Big smiles, fresh captain faces, a positive attitude and little bit of added sparkle - anything to distract from that bloody horrible trophy.

Not So Much A Celebration...

... as a sigh of relief.

Hobson's Choice?

Be it the choice of the players or management, the decision has been made and we now wait to see how it all shakes out. If these two both make serious runs it won't really matter who is calling "heads" at the start of the game.

Contrary To Which Spirit?

There is more than a touch of irony in Mills and Vettori being fined for actions "contrary to the spirit of the game". If they and their team hadn't fired up and got so bloody minded about things they would have been stepped on and over by the Saffers. It might not be a good look for the ICC but I want to see the fire in Ross Taylor's eyes just a little more often.

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.

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.

Here Comes The Sun Little Darling!

Last night's effort by Rossco, Styris "The Old Tusker" and the Kiwi bowlers was uplifting to those of us living in the deepest antipodes.

After months of lousy weather we have a couple of days of sunshine and our own cricketers playing ball. Winning ball.

Now I have been a Blackcaps supporter for long enough to know not to bet my house on them winning the World Cup, or the next game, but it is great to feel emotionally involved in cricket again.

Golden Day/Golden Boy

Thank God Ross Taylor had one of those days where everything goes for you. Now the Black Caps need a bowler to "get hot" and the test may get interesting on Day 5.

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?"

Steady As She Goes

Great to see Ross Taylor play a measured innings and produce a cornerstone for his team.

Here is a guy who has followed the game plan, done what has been asked of him by NZ Cricket, behaved when as a young fella he would rather not, so he deserves some success. But then I always favoured the good son over that prodigal bugger.