Merde.
England are currently 118-7. Bell and Broad at the crease. A record 8th wicket pair? This is what we need. Bell needs to keep going and Broad needs to carry on his scintillating form from the previous Test.
Horrible wicket to bat on. So much movement.
My nerves are a-jangling.
I'll keep you blogged...
Friday, 29 July 2011
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Cricket - Test 1
England beat India by a massive 196 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.
Pieterson's 202 not out in the first innings and Prior's match-saving 103 not out in the second allowed England to declare twice and charge India with a mighty total (a record total, should they have achieved it) to reach. It was down to the bowlers to back up the great work of the batsmen. They bowled India out for less than 300 in their first innings, with Stuart Broad looking especially potent, and Tremlett not far behind. India's second innings though, surely, would be a far sterner test?
It was Broad who once again took the initiative to make the first break-through late on Sunday afternoon after his fine batting display aided and abetted Prior his unbeaten century and added much needed runs and a healthy partnership just when we needed it most. Broad was in fine song, could the other bowlers follow suit? India finished the day only one batsman down and definitely fancied their chances for at least a draw. Magic Monday, drawing a record number of fans (25,000+) to Lord's on a bright sunny day, saw India off to a good start with Dravid and Lazman going along nicely and looking dangerous. Anderson, until then a quiet, frustrated figure, bowled a beautiful delivery that Dravid couldn't avoid and snicked on to Prior to take a clean catch. The danger man of the first innings was out. There followed hours of tense, momentum swinging agony as England seemed on top, then India, then England...
For long horrible periods it seemed India would stick in and hold out for a draw, thus rendering all of England's work with both bat and ball null and void. Anderson, however, had other ideas, and after capturing the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for just 12 (he was out of sorts after a virus had kept him bed-bound for most of Sunday and was reported to have been feeling dizzy during and after his innings on Monday) - a few balls after Broad's legitimate lbw appeal against Tendulkar and a snick had been dropped by Captain Strauss - in the session after lunch, England were back on top and went through the tail-enders in no time to secure the victory.
Broad finished the match on figures of 7-94, Anderson 7-152, with Swann and Tremlett taking the remaining wickets between them for very few runs. It was a great performance by the batsmen, no doubt, on what Dhoni considered a tricky batting pitch (hence his decision to put England in when he won the toss), but the greater performance came from the bowlers. To bowl india, the team considered by most to have the best batting line-up in the world, out for less than 300 in both innings is a remarkable thing.
Ultimately, England out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded, out-thought and out-played the Indians. They will not take India for granted for the remaining matches - they are, after all, only a quarter of the way through - but they can afford to pat themselves and each other on the backs for a Test well played and a gauntlet well and truly thrown down.
Who says England can't be the best in the world at a sport they invented?
I'll keep you blogged...
Pieterson's 202 not out in the first innings and Prior's match-saving 103 not out in the second allowed England to declare twice and charge India with a mighty total (a record total, should they have achieved it) to reach. It was down to the bowlers to back up the great work of the batsmen. They bowled India out for less than 300 in their first innings, with Stuart Broad looking especially potent, and Tremlett not far behind. India's second innings though, surely, would be a far sterner test?
It was Broad who once again took the initiative to make the first break-through late on Sunday afternoon after his fine batting display aided and abetted Prior his unbeaten century and added much needed runs and a healthy partnership just when we needed it most. Broad was in fine song, could the other bowlers follow suit? India finished the day only one batsman down and definitely fancied their chances for at least a draw. Magic Monday, drawing a record number of fans (25,000+) to Lord's on a bright sunny day, saw India off to a good start with Dravid and Lazman going along nicely and looking dangerous. Anderson, until then a quiet, frustrated figure, bowled a beautiful delivery that Dravid couldn't avoid and snicked on to Prior to take a clean catch. The danger man of the first innings was out. There followed hours of tense, momentum swinging agony as England seemed on top, then India, then England...
For long horrible periods it seemed India would stick in and hold out for a draw, thus rendering all of England's work with both bat and ball null and void. Anderson, however, had other ideas, and after capturing the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for just 12 (he was out of sorts after a virus had kept him bed-bound for most of Sunday and was reported to have been feeling dizzy during and after his innings on Monday) - a few balls after Broad's legitimate lbw appeal against Tendulkar and a snick had been dropped by Captain Strauss - in the session after lunch, England were back on top and went through the tail-enders in no time to secure the victory.
Broad finished the match on figures of 7-94, Anderson 7-152, with Swann and Tremlett taking the remaining wickets between them for very few runs. It was a great performance by the batsmen, no doubt, on what Dhoni considered a tricky batting pitch (hence his decision to put England in when he won the toss), but the greater performance came from the bowlers. To bowl india, the team considered by most to have the best batting line-up in the world, out for less than 300 in both innings is a remarkable thing.
Ultimately, England out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded, out-thought and out-played the Indians. They will not take India for granted for the remaining matches - they are, after all, only a quarter of the way through - but they can afford to pat themselves and each other on the backs for a Test well played and a gauntlet well and truly thrown down.
Who says England can't be the best in the world at a sport they invented?
I'll keep you blogged...
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Cricket Cricket Cricket
Pieterson scores a majestic double century to put England in front in the first Test.
Pieterson, after being dropped, saved and dragged through his first hundred in Test cricket for three years decided the second hundred wouldn't be so dramatic - he made it in just 110 balls with the fluency and aggression we used to be used to. He was helped along by Trott (70), a beautiful but all too brief innings by Bell (45) and Matt Prior (71), who steadied the ship after Morgan had gone for a duck and India were fancying themselves back in the game. Swann then put in a typical slog fest, getting 24 from 28 balls, to help Pieterson bring up his double century and get England to 474 before Strauss declared, wanting to put India in for a tricky few overs before close of play. India survived a couple of early lbw scares and ended the day on 14-0.
What a day of cricket. What an amazing time for Pieterson to scrape back his form. What a great opportunity for England to get some good bowling in, find that swing that the weather will be providing, and oust India for a meagre total. Can we get them all out today? Row says no - he fears us bowling - but I am more optimistic. Anderson to find some devastating pace and swing, Tremlett to bowl hard and high, Broad to find his form, and Swann to be the best spin bowler in the world. Oh wait...
I'll keep you blogged...
Pieterson, after being dropped, saved and dragged through his first hundred in Test cricket for three years decided the second hundred wouldn't be so dramatic - he made it in just 110 balls with the fluency and aggression we used to be used to. He was helped along by Trott (70), a beautiful but all too brief innings by Bell (45) and Matt Prior (71), who steadied the ship after Morgan had gone for a duck and India were fancying themselves back in the game. Swann then put in a typical slog fest, getting 24 from 28 balls, to help Pieterson bring up his double century and get England to 474 before Strauss declared, wanting to put India in for a tricky few overs before close of play. India survived a couple of early lbw scares and ended the day on 14-0.
What a day of cricket. What an amazing time for Pieterson to scrape back his form. What a great opportunity for England to get some good bowling in, find that swing that the weather will be providing, and oust India for a meagre total. Can we get them all out today? Row says no - he fears us bowling - but I am more optimistic. Anderson to find some devastating pace and swing, Tremlett to bowl hard and high, Broad to find his form, and Swann to be the best spin bowler in the world. Oh wait...
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Cook is out!
For less than 100! A lot less. 12, if I'm honest.
Merde. Come on Strassy and Trott.
I'll keep you blogged...
Merde. Come on Strassy and Trott.
I'll keep you blogged...
India refuse lbw appeal
India have said NO to using the appeal system for lbw's as they don't believe the system is 100% accurate. So it's appeals for catches only... Could that bite India in the proverbial somewhere down the line? People are predicting Tendy to get to 99 and then ousted for a dodgy lbw that he can't appeal. Juicy.
India win the toss and put England in to bat. Heavy conditions. India will be loving the prospect of their spinny spin spinners wreaking havoc with England, especially a certain left-arm spinner to a certain England captain who has appeared vulnerable to such bowling in recent times. Will his practice pay off?
Broad is in instead of Bresnan despite his poor, injury-riddled season thus far. Come on Broad. Come on the boys!
I'll keep you blogged...
India win the toss and put England in to bat. Heavy conditions. India will be loving the prospect of their spinny spin spinners wreaking havoc with England, especially a certain left-arm spinner to a certain England captain who has appeared vulnerable to such bowling in recent times. Will his practice pay off?
Broad is in instead of Bresnan despite his poor, injury-riddled season thus far. Come on Broad. Come on the boys!
I'll keep you blogged...
Could not be more excited about the Test...
I have been biting my nails all week, waiting for Thursday to come. Today the four-match Test series against the number 1 side in the world, India, starts. It is also the 2000th Test match in cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar, who Strauss hailed yesterday as the greatest Test player of all time, is looking for his hundredth hundred and his first at Lord's. If England beat India by two Tests they be the new world number 1s in Test cricket. If they win or draw they will climb to second in the rankings, knocking South Africa down a spot.
So much to see, so little to lose, so much to gain...
It has begun!!
I'll keep you blogged...
So much to see, so little to lose, so much to gain...
It has begun!!
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Cricket
YES Alaistair Cook!
England destroy Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to draw the series level at 2-2. That's more like it. That's the England I know we can be, even in ODI cricket. Not only did we win by 10 wickets, we had nearly half our overs left in order to reach the target of 171 runs (reduced from 174 and to 48 overs after a brief rain delay). Cook batted like a man out to prove what a great opening batsmen he can be not only for Test cricket but for the shorter versions of the game as well, scoring 12 in the first over alone. He reached a magnificent 95 and Kieswetter a sublime 72 as England strolled to victory. The scorecard makes for happy reading as all of the bowlers but Swann got 2 or more wickets and their economies were very respectable.
Bring on Old Trafford. My little brother was worried about this series when we went 2-1 down - how do you feel now, Row?
I'll keep you blogged...
England destroy Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to draw the series level at 2-2. That's more like it. That's the England I know we can be, even in ODI cricket. Not only did we win by 10 wickets, we had nearly half our overs left in order to reach the target of 171 runs (reduced from 174 and to 48 overs after a brief rain delay). Cook batted like a man out to prove what a great opening batsmen he can be not only for Test cricket but for the shorter versions of the game as well, scoring 12 in the first over alone. He reached a magnificent 95 and Kieswetter a sublime 72 as England strolled to victory. The scorecard makes for happy reading as all of the bowlers but Swann got 2 or more wickets and their economies were very respectable.
Bring on Old Trafford. My little brother was worried about this series when we went 2-1 down - how do you feel now, Row?
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 4 July 2011
Wimbledon Finals
Kvitova beats Sharapova in straight sets to become Wimbledon champion for the first time at the age of 21.
Sharapova did not play a bad match - she returned well, her serve, although not devastating, was not a liability, she ran around that court like a bat out of hell and although she's never been the quickest on court, she was looking pretty fit and slick... Kvitova, however, was just better in every way that a player can be. Her groundstrokes were something to be seen to believe as she continuously pummelled the corners with frightening accuracy; her serves were fast and devastating and her quiet concentration was louder than any Shara scream as she beat her - and comfortably so - in straight sets - 6-3 6-4.
The tennis world has a new champion in Kvitova. The fact that she is Czech and left-handed sends the media into a frenzy of comparisons with Navratilova, but I think Kvitova has some way to go before she can boast 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 ladies doubles, 10 mixed doubles) and 167 titles all-told (the record for any man or woman in the sport).
Saying that, she is an exciting talent and if she is able to build on her success at Wimbledon and to continue improving her game, great things could lie ahead for her. The new ear of women - Kvitova, Lisicki, Azarenka - are coming and the veterans and champions of old - Sharapova (she's 24, I know) and the Williams sisters - should watch out. As for the maybes, the so-near-and-yet-so-fars, the will-she-evers? - Wozza, Zvo, Janko and Ivano - they better step up because with Kvitova's win and the others all appearing in the semis, ladies tennis looks to be shifting and the maybes could become what ifs?
Djoko beats GoNads in four sets to make his 'dream' come true and win his first Wimbledon title.
Playing as good as he's ever done on grass, and probably as good as anyone could ever do on grass, Djokovic's scintilating pace and aggression was largely too much for Nadal.
Djoko took a tight and tense first set when Nadal was serving at 4-5. The crowd were restless waiting for the inevitable tie break where most of them, I'm sure, thought Nadal would step it up and outplay his Serbian opponent. It was Djoko, however, who stepped it up, and long before a tie break was even necessary. He hit deep and hard and accurately and GoNads found himself a break and then a set down to the man who would take his world number 1 spot the following day, no matter what the result.
The second set, where the commentators were calling on Nadal to 'push' and get it to one set all and even pegging, was a masterclass from Djoko. His defense was remarkable and GoNads got a real taste of his own medicine as he saw ball after ball coming back to him. Nadal made 15 unforced errors in total in the final, which is more than double how many he made against Ray-ray in the semis. He won only 44% of points behind his second serve and hit a mediocre 21 winners compared to Djoko's 27.
Something had to change in the third but when Djoko threatened to break again early on, the crowd, the commentators, and the viewers at home all suspected a straight sets annihilation. Nadal was not about to let that happen and he rallied himself admirably (as Djoko's level dropped) and broke Djoko twice on his way to a 6-1 third set victory.
The fourth set started shakily for a shocked Djoko and he was break points down in his first game. Now, the pundits were saying, this has the makings of a classic five-setter. Djoko is rattled and Nadal's on the hunt - final set shoot out here we come. Djoko managed to cling on to those early games and grew in confidence with every forehand cross court and backhand down the line, whilst Nadal, failing to capture that early break, started again with the unforced errors we'd seen in the first and second sets. He did not play the big points well which is something I've never said or even thought about GoNads before. His forehand, so often a weapon feared and revered in the tennis world, was misfiring long and into the net and his serve and backhand - his most improved shots - were not finding the placement or power consistently enough to trouble Novak. He got the break and found himself serving for the Championship at 5-3. A nervy few points got him to 30-30 and with a beady GoNads at the other end of the court Djoko needed some inspiration to see him win his fairytale Slam... and he served and volleyed for the first time in the match. Now that, my friend, is balls. On his first Championship point he sent a crushing serve down the tee, powered a beautiful forehand to the corner and flopped to the ground as GoNads could only push a desperate backhand wide and long.
Djoko becomes the first man other than Nadal or The Fed to win Wimbledon since 2004. And as his world number 1 ranking is confirmed today, have we stepped into a new era of a Djoko/GoNads rivalry? Can The Fed find his way back to winning ways? Can Ray-ray find any winning ways? Will the return of Del Potto tear the top four open?
We shall see, Mr Bumble.
I'll keep you blogged...
Sharapova did not play a bad match - she returned well, her serve, although not devastating, was not a liability, she ran around that court like a bat out of hell and although she's never been the quickest on court, she was looking pretty fit and slick... Kvitova, however, was just better in every way that a player can be. Her groundstrokes were something to be seen to believe as she continuously pummelled the corners with frightening accuracy; her serves were fast and devastating and her quiet concentration was louder than any Shara scream as she beat her - and comfortably so - in straight sets - 6-3 6-4.
The tennis world has a new champion in Kvitova. The fact that she is Czech and left-handed sends the media into a frenzy of comparisons with Navratilova, but I think Kvitova has some way to go before she can boast 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 ladies doubles, 10 mixed doubles) and 167 titles all-told (the record for any man or woman in the sport).
Saying that, she is an exciting talent and if she is able to build on her success at Wimbledon and to continue improving her game, great things could lie ahead for her. The new ear of women - Kvitova, Lisicki, Azarenka - are coming and the veterans and champions of old - Sharapova (she's 24, I know) and the Williams sisters - should watch out. As for the maybes, the so-near-and-yet-so-fars, the will-she-evers? - Wozza, Zvo, Janko and Ivano - they better step up because with Kvitova's win and the others all appearing in the semis, ladies tennis looks to be shifting and the maybes could become what ifs?
Djoko beats GoNads in four sets to make his 'dream' come true and win his first Wimbledon title.
Playing as good as he's ever done on grass, and probably as good as anyone could ever do on grass, Djokovic's scintilating pace and aggression was largely too much for Nadal.
Djoko took a tight and tense first set when Nadal was serving at 4-5. The crowd were restless waiting for the inevitable tie break where most of them, I'm sure, thought Nadal would step it up and outplay his Serbian opponent. It was Djoko, however, who stepped it up, and long before a tie break was even necessary. He hit deep and hard and accurately and GoNads found himself a break and then a set down to the man who would take his world number 1 spot the following day, no matter what the result.
The second set, where the commentators were calling on Nadal to 'push' and get it to one set all and even pegging, was a masterclass from Djoko. His defense was remarkable and GoNads got a real taste of his own medicine as he saw ball after ball coming back to him. Nadal made 15 unforced errors in total in the final, which is more than double how many he made against Ray-ray in the semis. He won only 44% of points behind his second serve and hit a mediocre 21 winners compared to Djoko's 27.
Something had to change in the third but when Djoko threatened to break again early on, the crowd, the commentators, and the viewers at home all suspected a straight sets annihilation. Nadal was not about to let that happen and he rallied himself admirably (as Djoko's level dropped) and broke Djoko twice on his way to a 6-1 third set victory.
The fourth set started shakily for a shocked Djoko and he was break points down in his first game. Now, the pundits were saying, this has the makings of a classic five-setter. Djoko is rattled and Nadal's on the hunt - final set shoot out here we come. Djoko managed to cling on to those early games and grew in confidence with every forehand cross court and backhand down the line, whilst Nadal, failing to capture that early break, started again with the unforced errors we'd seen in the first and second sets. He did not play the big points well which is something I've never said or even thought about GoNads before. His forehand, so often a weapon feared and revered in the tennis world, was misfiring long and into the net and his serve and backhand - his most improved shots - were not finding the placement or power consistently enough to trouble Novak. He got the break and found himself serving for the Championship at 5-3. A nervy few points got him to 30-30 and with a beady GoNads at the other end of the court Djoko needed some inspiration to see him win his fairytale Slam... and he served and volleyed for the first time in the match. Now that, my friend, is balls. On his first Championship point he sent a crushing serve down the tee, powered a beautiful forehand to the corner and flopped to the ground as GoNads could only push a desperate backhand wide and long.
Djoko becomes the first man other than Nadal or The Fed to win Wimbledon since 2004. And as his world number 1 ranking is confirmed today, have we stepped into a new era of a Djoko/GoNads rivalry? Can The Fed find his way back to winning ways? Can Ray-ray find any winning ways? Will the return of Del Potto tear the top four open?
We shall see, Mr Bumble.
I'll keep you blogged...
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