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...
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