The US Open enjoyed a splendid first week. Against all odds, the hurricane that everyone predicted would bring doom to New York passed by with a little wind and rain but nothing like the damage it had caused elsewhere in the world. Opening Monday woke up to blue skies and blazing sunshine. The first week floated by on a few white fluffy clouds, watching match after match of tennis's biggest names going through, getting beaten (Kvitova, Wimbledon Champion only a few short weeks ago, fell at the first hurdle) and breaking records (Stosur v Kirilenko saw a 17-15 second set tie-break finally won by Kirilenko - the longest tie-break in a Grand Slam Ladies singles match - Stosur went on to break early in the third set and seal the match).
The week was not without its dramas, however, as no less than 18 players withdrawed through injury or illness; 14 of them retirements during matches which is a grand-slam record in the Open era - among them Venus Williams and Robin Soderling. This had players and press alike up in arms about the punishing schedule and fears falling on deaf ears. Schedulers, however, had more to worry about than players dropping out.
Ray-ray had been due to play his fourth round match against Donald Young, the young American wonder-kid-turned-mediocre who beat Murray during his bad patch in the first round of Indian Wells earlier on in the summer, on Tuesday at 4pm (BST). It is now Thursday at 12:30pm and they have played a total of three games, with Young 2-1 on serve. These three games, according to Murray, Nadal, Roddick and others, should not even have been played, such was the condition of the courts. It's been raining in New York for nearly three straight days and for all Brian Earley's (tournament referee) confidence that the tournament will finish on time (Sunday), I just don't see it happening. The US Open has finished on the third Monday for the last three years and I can't imagine 2011 will be any different. Even finishing on Monday will be a push with the weather reports for the next few days. Rain, rain and more rain; and when it's not raining it'll be windy and muggy. IF the rain miraculously clears and the weather is beautiful for the remainder of the tournament, yes, the final will be on schedule, but it will also have meant the (male) players will have played four five-setters in four days. Ouch.
Roof, anyone?
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Fourth Test, Day 1
England are 75-0 on a rain-delyaed first day of the final Test at the Oval. Strauss and Cook batted out a largely undisturbed morning in overcast conditions. India's bowlers, once again, lacked depth, accuracy, pace and any sting, swing or energy. Aside from Ishant Sharma producing some decent deliveries - one bouncer whacking Strauss on the helmet and breaking the peak - Cook and Strauss couldn't have had an easier bat on the first day of a Test.
It is rather an anticlimax to what had looked like being a corker of a Test series on that first day at Lord's in the sunshine. Here were the top two teams in the world (technically 1 and 3 but who's counting?) competing for the the top spot in the top form of their sport - nothing could be more important; more competitive; more tense, right? In England's eyes, yes. The uber professional and slick unit that has become the England team, players, coaches, and backroom staff alike, have been nothing but the pinnacle of professionalism. India, on the contrary, have been a motley crew of old and young, training in kit that looked like it had come from 'the garage!' (thanks Freddy) and generally appearing fatigued and like they could care less about this series.
They have lost their number 1 ranking, can they at least regain some dignity and fight in the remaining Test or is a whitewash on the cards? Not seen since 1974.
I'll keep you blogged...
It is rather an anticlimax to what had looked like being a corker of a Test series on that first day at Lord's in the sunshine. Here were the top two teams in the world (technically 1 and 3 but who's counting?) competing for the the top spot in the top form of their sport - nothing could be more important; more competitive; more tense, right? In England's eyes, yes. The uber professional and slick unit that has become the England team, players, coaches, and backroom staff alike, have been nothing but the pinnacle of professionalism. India, on the contrary, have been a motley crew of old and young, training in kit that looked like it had come from 'the garage!' (thanks Freddy) and generally appearing fatigued and like they could care less about this series.
They have lost their number 1 ranking, can they at least regain some dignity and fight in the remaining Test or is a whitewash on the cards? Not seen since 1974.
I'll keep you blogged...
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Cricket Top Spot
England are the number 1 Test side in the world. We hold the Twenty20 title and are the number 1 Test team. In the world. We are better than the West Indies, Sri Lanka, India, AUSTRALIA. We are numero uno. We're number wang.
I will write more on this, obviously, but for now this is enough.
More than we could ever hope.
I'll keep you blogged...
I will write more on this, obviously, but for now this is enough.
More than we could ever hope.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 15 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
3rd Test, Day 3
There is talk of England making 1000 runs. Exaggerated giddy hyperbolic talk, for sure, but talk nevertheless. And why is this? Because England are amazing at Test cricket. This, my dear readers, is fast turning into FACT.
They are currently on 468-3 - Morgan on 50 and the magnificent Cooky on 188. I have had the pleasure of being sick for the last three days so have been able to listen to the Test in its entirity (in between bouts of sleeping/throwing up) and it has been a joy to hear. England bowled India out for 224 in 64.4 overs. And save for Dhoni's impressive 77 it would have been a lot less. Memories of England's first innings at Trent Bridge and Broad's heroic innings. Could India now do an England and bowl us out for less than 300 to keep themselves in the game? Ahem, in a word, no. Strauss made a scintillating 8 7before being bowled by a beauty of a ball from little Mishra. Bell made a majestic 34 before being bowled by the insatiable (well, for India anyway...) Kumar and walking off looking very peeved indeed. Methinks he was interested in a little century himself. Pieterson came in a heeved the ball around for striking 63 off 78 balls but became a little cocky in the end and Kumar again managed the break-through with a plum lbw. In came Morgan and in stays Morgan. Bopara is up next and will want to prove his place with a substantial bat on this seemingly easy pitch and against this lifeless bowling team.
If England win this Test, need I remind you, they move to number 1 in the Test rankings. Number 1. That would be a sweet day indeed for English sport.
A little word on tennis:
Defending champion Andy Murray has fallen at the first hurdle in the Montreal Masters where he's won for the last two years - beaten in straight sets by South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1. A slow, soggy, sad performance by Ray-ray. GoNads also went crashing out with a shock defeat by Ivan Dodig of Croatia - 1-6 7-6 7-6. Will Djoko or The Fed take advantage of their missing counterparts or will we see a new champion?
Back to cricket:
Cook is on 198...
200!!
Beautiful beautiful innings. Well done Mr Cook. Well done.
I'll keep you blogged...
They are currently on 468-3 - Morgan on 50 and the magnificent Cooky on 188. I have had the pleasure of being sick for the last three days so have been able to listen to the Test in its entirity (in between bouts of sleeping/throwing up) and it has been a joy to hear. England bowled India out for 224 in 64.4 overs. And save for Dhoni's impressive 77 it would have been a lot less. Memories of England's first innings at Trent Bridge and Broad's heroic innings. Could India now do an England and bowl us out for less than 300 to keep themselves in the game? Ahem, in a word, no. Strauss made a scintillating 8 7before being bowled by a beauty of a ball from little Mishra. Bell made a majestic 34 before being bowled by the insatiable (well, for India anyway...) Kumar and walking off looking very peeved indeed. Methinks he was interested in a little century himself. Pieterson came in a heeved the ball around for striking 63 off 78 balls but became a little cocky in the end and Kumar again managed the break-through with a plum lbw. In came Morgan and in stays Morgan. Bopara is up next and will want to prove his place with a substantial bat on this seemingly easy pitch and against this lifeless bowling team.
If England win this Test, need I remind you, they move to number 1 in the Test rankings. Number 1. That would be a sweet day indeed for English sport.
A little word on tennis:
Defending champion Andy Murray has fallen at the first hurdle in the Montreal Masters where he's won for the last two years - beaten in straight sets by South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1. A slow, soggy, sad performance by Ray-ray. GoNads also went crashing out with a shock defeat by Ivan Dodig of Croatia - 1-6 7-6 7-6. Will Djoko or The Fed take advantage of their missing counterparts or will we see a new champion?
Back to cricket:
Cook is on 198...
200!!
Beautiful beautiful innings. Well done Mr Cook. Well done.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 1 August 2011
Things I screamed out whilst watching the cricket on Sat/yesterday (and into today)...
(NB: Largely to myself as I was with three men who do not understand/care about cricket.)
"6-46!! 6-46!!" This was accompanied by me getting up and dancing around the livingroom.
"First hat-trick for England in a Test since Sidebottom in 2009!"
"Best batters in the world bowled out for under 300 for the third time in a row!"
"I LOVE BROAD!!"
"5-0 in 16 balls!"
"Cook out for 5 - what happened to the Cooky of the Ashes? The immovable object? The run-machine?"
"Strauss again gone for a start but not a score. Merde. Both opening batsmen out again..."
"I LOVE BELL!"
"Come on Bell!"
"What? He's out? But that's... he wasn't... he was half way off the field! The umpires called for tea! Boooo!!"
"That's not cricket!"
"Is that Bell? He's back? What the deuce? Dhoni withdrew his appeal... for the good of the spirit of cricket? Oh good man, Dhoni."
"Look at those scores... Bell - 159; Pieterson - 63; Morgan - 70; Prior - 73; Bresnan - 90; Broad - 44 (from 32 balls). Beautiful stuff."
"England finish the innings with 544. That's 478 for India to win the match - the highest second innings run-chase in Test history!"
Granted, these last few were screamed in my head as I'm at work but WHAT an amazing couple of days of cricket. England now have a day and half to bowl an uninspired, nay crushed, Indian side out. Best batsmen in the world? With a tail like that, Tendy not on any form, and their spirits crushed (perhaps giving Bell his place back in the interests of the spirit of cricket sapped the Indian players dry of their team spirit), I'm predicting victory tomorrow morning at the latest.
Who cares about the football season starting or Arsenal's predicted placement gloom? I have this beautiful Test series between the two best teams in the world and the US Open to get my teeth into. I am in sporting heaven.
I think we're going to win this series 3-0 (with a draw at Edgbaston). I have thought this from the beginning but was too afraid to write it. Not because I didn't want to be wrong, but because usually when I say things like that the opposite happens and I always feel responsible. I am being brave and it is written. We shall see, eh?
Oh my Lordy... Just screamed this in my head also:
"Broad strikes again! Dravid (danger man) edges a beauty that is caught neatly and as ever by Matty Prior. HOWZAAAAA!!"
I'll keep you blogged...
"6-46!! 6-46!!" This was accompanied by me getting up and dancing around the livingroom.
"First hat-trick for England in a Test since Sidebottom in 2009!"
"Best batters in the world bowled out for under 300 for the third time in a row!"
"I LOVE BROAD!!"
"5-0 in 16 balls!"
"Cook out for 5 - what happened to the Cooky of the Ashes? The immovable object? The run-machine?"
"Strauss again gone for a start but not a score. Merde. Both opening batsmen out again..."
"I LOVE BELL!"
"Come on Bell!"
"What? He's out? But that's... he wasn't... he was half way off the field! The umpires called for tea! Boooo!!"
"That's not cricket!"
"Is that Bell? He's back? What the deuce? Dhoni withdrew his appeal... for the good of the spirit of cricket? Oh good man, Dhoni."
"Look at those scores... Bell - 159; Pieterson - 63; Morgan - 70; Prior - 73; Bresnan - 90; Broad - 44 (from 32 balls). Beautiful stuff."
"England finish the innings with 544. That's 478 for India to win the match - the highest second innings run-chase in Test history!"
Granted, these last few were screamed in my head as I'm at work but WHAT an amazing couple of days of cricket. England now have a day and half to bowl an uninspired, nay crushed, Indian side out. Best batsmen in the world? With a tail like that, Tendy not on any form, and their spirits crushed (perhaps giving Bell his place back in the interests of the spirit of cricket sapped the Indian players dry of their team spirit), I'm predicting victory tomorrow morning at the latest.
Who cares about the football season starting or Arsenal's predicted placement gloom? I have this beautiful Test series between the two best teams in the world and the US Open to get my teeth into. I am in sporting heaven.
I think we're going to win this series 3-0 (with a draw at Edgbaston). I have thought this from the beginning but was too afraid to write it. Not because I didn't want to be wrong, but because usually when I say things like that the opposite happens and I always feel responsible. I am being brave and it is written. We shall see, eh?
Oh my Lordy... Just screamed this in my head also:
"Broad strikes again! Dravid (danger man) edges a beauty that is caught neatly and as ever by Matty Prior. HOWZAAAAA!!"
I'll keep you blogged...
Friday, 29 July 2011
Test 2, Day 1
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...
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...
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