Cricket 2013

[Troy]

Outstanding innings by Hughes on debut. 112 is the highest score ever by an Australian on debut in an ODI and he has set us up for a massive score. Earlier on Finch looked out of touch and Khawaja managed to run himself out by sliding his bat in backwards but Hughes and Bailey settled things. Bailey is still going strong on 79* and Australia are 215/3 after 39 overs. Looking for a minimum of 300.

 

[Troy]

Hughes finished the series as he started, with a century, this time it was 138* and he lead Australia to another victory. Disappointing series though as it finished 2-2 thanks to the Sydney game being washed out. Australia needs to stop playing Maxwell since he just doesn't perform, give him more time in domestic cricket before trying him again.

Been good watching New Zealand win back a bit of credibility over the past week. They were woeful in the test series but have showed a lot of fight in the ODI series with two wins from two games. Franklin was outstanding in the first guiding the tail to a remarkable come from behind win. In the second Kane Williamson showed why he is one of the most talented young batsmen in the game with 145*, perfectly timed innings and NZ backed it up with a great fielding performance topped off with five runouts.

 

[Troy]

West Indies series was a clean sweep, 5-0 win to Australia. Windies had their chances in a few games but couldn't finish it off. Adam Voges returned to the team and did an excellent job as always.

Vernon Philander continues to be a freak. He picked up another nine wickets in the latest test against Pakistan and has now taken nine 5-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls in just 15 tests which is a phenomenal record.

Australia test series in India starts this week. Our batting lineup is a bit of a mess at the moment and no-one is sure what the team will be. Unfortunately not many are good against spin so Clarke will have to carry the team again. Wouldn't have been the worst idea to have taken a guy like Bailey, Voges or Ferguson across to consolidate the middle order and negotiate the spinners.

 

[Andrew]

Not keen on the India/Aus test to be honest.

Thread needs to be called Cricket 2013 btw.

 

[Troy]

Good call on the title change.

I am looking forward to the series I am just not that confident in our batsmen performing against Indias spinners. They will no doubt play one seamer and three spinners against us and we will struggle unless we change our techniques. Then again India have been pretty poor lately so it could end up being a pretty even contest.

 

[Troy]

Well first test didn't go as planned thanks to Dhoni playing a fantastic innings. Selectors faltered by going with four seamers and the one spinner, interestingly we made the exact same mistake England did in their first test against India last year. Henriques had an incredible debut with two half centuries and he picked up a wicket as well, he batted very sensibly and played everything late which is what the other batsmen need to do against spin. Pattinson was outstanding to get six wickets on that wicket which was very spin friendly. Lyon did well but needed some actual support so that they could build partnerships. Didn't help that Wade again dropped two catches off Lyon's bowling in the second innings.

For the second test I can't see them changing the batting lineup as there aren't really any quality players of spin in the rest of the squad. Smith would probably be the best out of the three other batsmen over there. Starc will be dropped for Doherty for the second test, he didn't manage to get any swing and I can't see Siddle being dropped. Doherty will be targeted by Indias batsmen but hopefully he and Lyon can work well together.

 

[Troy]

Was close to throwing my laptop through my tv yesterday when they announced the team for the second test. We made two unforced changes and managed to, at the same time, make out batting and bowling weaker. Ridiculous that Lyon was dropped, yes he was expensive first innings but he had no-one to bowl in partnership with and in the second innings he should have had three wickets if Wade took his chances. I expected Doherty to come in for Starc so he can work together with Lyon, never expected Maxwell to debut.

Pathetic batting effort again to end the day 237/9. Clarke and Wade the only good performers. Watson has to be done, has done nothing in tests for two years and if he can't bowl he can't be in the team. Apparently he leaves after this test to be home for the birth of his first child, should just tell him to stay home. Cowan seems to be there because of England being around the corner, the selectors are banking on him performing there and I hope they are right.

When Watson heads home I wonder if they will send cover? If so I would send Voges across to India.

 

[Troy]

The tour of India just keeps getting better for us.

Watson, along with James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were told this morning by the coach Mickey Arthur that, in an unprecedented decision, they would not be considered for the third Test. After the loss in Hyderabad, inside three and a half days, Arthur had asked every member of the squad to let him know three points on how their individual performances and those of the team could be improved. These four players did not comply with the directive.

Harsh punishment but then again how hard is it to send the coach a quick message about how you can improve for the next test. They were given six days to do it and it wasn't a difficult task. The only one that will be missed is Pattinson who has been one of the few highlights for Australia this tour.

Wade is also injured and may miss the third test so Haddin has been flown over. Including Haddin and the injured Wade there are only 13 players to choose from.

Watson has also decided to fly home immediately to be home with his pregnant wife who is due to give birth soon. Watson has also indicated that he may quit test cricket and honestly he should. He has been in terrible form the past two years and it is better for his body to just focus on limited overs cricket where he has been a great performer. It is a bit ridiculous that Watson as vice captain was one of those that failed to complete the task, doesn't show any leadership at all.

 

[Troy]

4-0 loss :suicide:

It does even things up after we whitewashed them here but still that is a horrendous result. Had our chances in the last test but the batsmen failed yet again and our fielding let us done. Wade cost Lyon yet another wicket, make that about ten so far in his career, and it cost Lyon a ten wicket haul.

Our squad selection was poor and it hurt us for all four tests. Too many bit players, needed another actual batsman on tour that could play spin. Watson has to be finished as a test player for the last two years he has averaged 24 in tests which is terrible for a top order batsman. Maxwell doesn't belong in tests at all keep him in T20s until he is ready. Hopefully Bailey, Voges or ferguson get sent as part of the ashes squadron place of Watson.

Still even after that result I can't wait for the ashes. We should play better in those conditions and I can't wait for DRS

 

[Troy]

Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, is in an induced coma in hospital after being assaulted twice late on Wednesday evening in Christchurch. Ryder, 28, is in intensive care after suffering a fractured skull, which Christchurch Police believe happened in the second of the two attacks.The first assault took place at about 12.30am outside the Aikman's Bar in a Christchurch suburb Merivale, where Ryder had been out with Wellington team-mates and friends following their loss to Canterbury to mark the end of the season. The second attack occurred minutes later at the entrance to the car park of a McDonald's across the road, where the other Wellington players had gone to order food.
"An altercation has taken place on the footpath outside Aikman's involving Jesse and a group of at least two other males. The altercation was brief," Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer told reporters in Christchurch. "Following that incident, Ryder and two other persons walked across the road towards McDonald's, where his Wellington team-mates had been purchasing some food. A second altercation has taken place at the entrance to the McDonald's car park, involving one of the males from the earlier group.
"In that incident it appears Jesse has been the victim of a serious assault and has suffered head injuries as a result. Ambulance and police were called about at 12.44am. Jesse was taken to hospital where he remains in intensive care.
"The hospital advise that Jesse is in a critical condition, he is in an induced coma as a result of suffering multiple injuries. He is still being assessed for a number of injuries and we are not prepared to discuss that any further."

Horrible news. So gutless that it was a four on one attack, pathetic human beings and I hope that they are caught and punished severely. One has been arrested so far but they are chasing up others.

Ryder had been in great form this past season at domestic level in NZ and was destined to have a big impact when he returned to the NZ team. Hopefully he can make a full recovery from this shocking attack.

 

[Troy]

Enjoyed watching the first test between England and New Zealand last week. Good close contest until that last innings where Stuart Broad just ripped through the New Zealand line up who folded for just 68. Anderson picked up another five for in the first innings to go past 300 test wickets. I remember early in his career he was in and out of the team and just couldn't control his swing. Now he is easily one of the best fast bowlers in the world and is deadly at home where the ball loves to swing. Pity that it is raining at the moment delaying the start of the second test.

Great game last night between Ireland and Pakistan. Hafeez managed to find form again and carried the bat scoring another century, Ireland had to chase 276 thanks to Duckworth Lewis and finished on 275 to end in a tie. Stirling picked up his second century against pakistan and Kevin O'Brien showed how destructive he can be. I wish that Ireland were given more opportunities to play ODI and T20I. Would be a bigger threat than Zimbabwe and even Bangladesh. Hopefully in ten or fifteen years time they can push towards getting a test team, they have enough talent and they are starting to develop a first class system in Ireland. They have had rapid improvement over the last ten years and hopefully it continues to the top level.

 

[Troy]

Afghanistan have been granted the Associate membership of the ICC to become the 37th country to get that status. The decision was taken by the ICC at its ongoing annual conference, which ends on June 29 in London. The nomination request had been sent by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) last year based on the continuous progress made by Afghanistan, especially in its cricket development.

"Afghanistan is the only country that receives the Associate membership in a short period of time in reward to the efforts Afghanistan made for the promotion of cricket," Dr Noor Muhammad, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), said on the ACC website. Becoming an Associate would mean higher funding and, importantly, more exposure for the passionate and cricket-starved players from Afghanistan, a war-torn country. So far, the ICC was paying $700,000 in annual funding to Afghanistan, which is now likely to rise to $850,000 based on the Associate status.
Afghanistan became an Affiliate member of the ICC in 2001 when they travelled to Pakistan for their first tour. Languishing at one time in the fifth division of the World Cricket League, Afghanistan won the hearts of global cricket fans when they nearly qualified for the 2011 World Cup, but they lost to Canada and could not surpass Kenya's net run rate in the World Cup qualifiers. Immediately, they were granted the ODI status, valid until 2013.

One of the fascinating tales in cricket (a documentary based on their rise in cricket Out of the Ashes was produced a few years ago), Afghanistan have also featured in the last two editions of the ICC's World Twenty20 (2010 and 2012). They have played ODIs against two Test-playing nations so far, Pakistan and Australia, and despite losing both the matches, players like Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi turned heads with their impressive performances.

Fantastic news that they have been promoted to Affiliate status. They have made incredible progress in just over a decade and you can't help but support them. It has been great seeing them make T20 World Cups and hopefully in the future they can qualify for the 50 over World cups as well.

 

[Troy]

The Ashes have started today. England clear favourites but hopefully Australia put up some fight and can somehow sneak a series win.

First test teams are;

England Cook, Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson
Australia Watson, Rogers, Cowan, Clarke, Hughes, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Pattinson, Starc, Agar

For England I was surprised that Bairstow is playing, would have opened with Compton and then dropped Root to six. For Australia I can't believe that Lyon has been dropped again. He is coming off a 9 wicket haul in his last test, against India who are great players of spin, and yet he gets dumped for a rookie. I like the look of Agar but I don't think he has done enough to jump past Lyon. Also don't know why we haven't played Harris or Bird instead of Siddle, Siddle has looked poor in the warm-up games and Harris and Bird have great actions for English conditions.

Looking forward to five tests, lots of lates nights watching this whilst checking out the Tour de France as well.

 

[Dale]

So did anyone watch? What a days cricket that was. Poor batting display from us given away our wickets (bar root) and looked like we had given the game away already but that fightback in the last session taking the wickets has pulled the tie right back in.

 

[AZUCAR!]

I watched pretty much all of it. I agree our batting display was awful. I had high hopes for Pietersen and Trott when they were batting together when we were 2 wickets down, but that didn't happen. I would've taken a score of around 250 after the 5th wicket was lost but that wasn't to be. Peter Siddle did really well for Australia too I thought. Didn't have much luck in his first spell in the morning, but after lunch he came alive.

Once we were bowled out for 215 I expected Australia to dominate in their 1st innings. But Finn did well to get Shane Watson & Ed Cowan caught behind with 2 straight balls. He was unlucky not to have got Michael Clarke out with the hat-trick ball. But Jimmy Anderson bowled a superb ball to dismiss Michael Clarke for a duck a few overs later, then trapping Rogers lbw.

So we managed to get ourselves back into the match with those 4 wickets after Tea, hopefully tomorrow we can dominate bowling and get the Aussies all out with a sizeable run lead. If that happens, then hopefully our 2nd innings will be a lot better than the 1st. And perhaps set Australia a high target of around 450+.