Deep Mid-Wicket

The Ashes: Second test, day two - Cook puts England in a commanding position

2010-12-04T03:07:00.000-08:00

Us England fans thought that it would be impossible to top yesterday's performance when we bowled Australia all out for 245, but thanks to another incredible innings for Alastair Cook it seems we have, leading by 72 runs with eight wickets remaining.

It was a miserable start to the day though, as Andrew Strauss suffered from the third ball blues once more, being bowled for just one run after an embarrassingly bad leave, with Doug Bollinger hitting middle stump. Bollinger should have had two in quick succession when Mike Hussey dropped Trott on 10 as England continued to live dangerously, with Trott getting lucky once more when Xavier Doherty missed a chance of a run out.

It was nervy times for all England fans watching, with the partnership between Cook and Trott undoubtedly going to go a long way in determining the outcome of the test. However the pair reacted brilliantly under the baking Adelaide sun, and in the first over of the afternoon session Cook hit three fours to set the tone for the rest of the day.

Trott finally went on 78 when he was caught by Michael Clarke, just two runs after being dropped by wicket keeper Brad Haddin. Kevin Pietersen joined Alastair Cook at the crease with England 176-2 as they approached tea.

It was a miserable performance from the Aussies once the final session began, as they failed to take a single wicket after tea. Alastair Cook quickly brought up his century as he cut one away to the boundary off Xavier Doherty. Kevin Pietersen joined in the fun on the flat wicket and dispatched Marcus North to the boundary to bring up the century partnership.

Even with the new ball taken the Aussies were powerless to do anything to stop the ruthless England onslaught. They had chances on a vitally important day in the series, and failed to take a sufficient amount of them. No matter how bad we play during the rest of this test, surely we can't lose this one now! Our batsmen have looked very comfortable on the batsman's paradise of a wicket, and we should really be able to go on to win the test.

If we bat well tomorrow then the best the Aussies can hope for is a draw. If we can win then they'll need to win two of the last three to regain the Ashes, and with the England batsmen in their current form, I honestly can't see them doing that. Keep up the good work chaps!

P.S. Yesterday was the first day in which I was brave enough to stay up and watch a days play back here in England, so if you want to follow more of my Ashes ramblings in real time, follow me on Twitter!

The Ashes: First test, day three - Hussey and Haddin have England reeling

2010-11-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

It was a nasty day to be an Englishman as Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin sapped the spirits of the tourists, with the former making 195, the latter 136 on a very tough day for England, who are currently at the crease with Strauss and Cook on 19-0, trailing the Aussies by 202 runs.

Hello, it's been a while since my last column hasn't it? Anyway I'm back for this Ashes series with the blind optimism only an England cricket fan could have, hoping that by some miracle our batsmen can put up a good score on the board after a horrific day at the Gabba.

There have been patches of brilliance from the English bowling attack and Steve Finn's 6-for on his Ashes debut is certainly one to tell the grandkids about. James Anderson was the best in the tourist's bowling attack - of that there is no doubt. He somehow only took two wickets in the innings but should have had more - we will get onto that later! The first Australian five wickets fell for for 143, and the last five for 31, it was the 307 in between which was the problem!

There is no doubting the class and quality with which Mike Hussey scored his 195, although had England taken their chances he wouldn't have had the mammoth total which he amassed, being dropped by Cook on 67 and Anderson with a relatively easy one on 113. He had more good fortune when he was reprieved by his own referral on 82, and having scored just three more runs he was facing an appeal from the England team when James Anderson hit one straight on Hussey's pads in front of the stumps. It was out, but umpire Aleem Dar said no on the basis that he heard two noises. It transpires that these two noises were caused by the ball hitting both of the pads, but England couldn't ask for a referral as they had already used up both of their chances.

What's worse, one of the chances that England 'wasted' was on Shane Watson, where on the hotspot graphic there were no signs of an edge, with the 'Snicko' system showing obvious contact with the bat. However, because the third umpire doesn't have instantaneous access to 'Snicko', the original decision was upheld.

Readers of this site will know that I wasn't a massive fan of the umpire referral system at first and it's fair to say that it's definitely grown on me. However there still remains a major, major flaw in the system. If the idea of the reviews are to eradicate mistakes made by the umpires, why do we still let obvious mistakes be made? The ICC certainly need to find away to make sure all human error is eradicated without the teams being able to ask for a referral every time the umpire makes a decision.

I think that realistically, this test is lost. It is unlikely that we will be able to bat for two days, and unlikelier still that we can get 400+ to defend in the time that is remaining, especially on a pitch which is cracking up under the Brisbane sun. Tomorrow the test will be won and lost, and unfortunately I feel that it is advantage Aussies.

35 years of waiting over!

2010-05-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

England are world champions. I never, ever saw myself writing this thinking back to the match against Ireland, where we only just scraped through to the super eights thanks to some rain.

However since we got through we have been simply the greatest team in the tournament. We played great cricket, and today's win against Australia has been as good as any one of our performances. We won by 7 wickets, (with 18 balls remaining) and played some phenomenal cricket.

We pinned Australia back brilliantly, and Watson, Warner and Haddin didn't last long thanks to a mixture of brilliant bowling and fielding, something which is more valuable than most people imagine in the Twenty over format.

Australia made 147-6 on a pitch where 170+ was more competitive, and true to form we came out and knocked it off with relative ease. Sadly Michael Lumb made just 7 runs, but his South African countryman Craig Kieswetter made his biggest score of the competition in 63, earning him the man of the match award. KP made 47 and Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan were there to take us home.

We have been terrific in all areas throughout the tournament in batting, bowling and fielding. We have looked commanding, professional and focussed and we have really found a brilliant lineup for this format of the game.

I don't know if it has been just because England have been playing well, but I don't believe that the grumblers grumbling about the World Twenty20 being timed wrongly after the IPL and the lack of crowd at the tournament are at all correct.

The relaxed rules from the disastrous 2007 World Cup held in the West Indies have meant for a nicer, more relaxed atmosphere, but the ever reliable crowd were there to crank up the volume when it was needed. I couldn't care less that it was timed after the IPL, and I found it rather refreshing from the glossy sponsor-plastered coverage of the previous tournament.

The quality of cricket has been better than that of the IPL and overall it can be considered a terrific tournament, and, after 35 years of waiting, England are world champions!

Mike Hussey you beauty!

2010-05-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

I can't quite believe what I have just witnessed. Well, what I have witnessed is quite simply the greatest Twenty20 innings of all time, courtesy of Mike Hussey who in a last over thriller helped Australia get through to the final of the World Twenty20 with a 3 wickets win with 1 ball remaining.

Especially agonising for Pakistan, considering their awesome performance with the bat. Australia's bowling attack has proved to be pretty much unstoppable throughout the tournament, with Dirk Nannes, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait using typical brute Aussie force to demolish the opposition.

However Pakistan had no such trouble, with the Akmal brothers starring on the tricky Beausejour pitch, bludgeoning the ball to all corners of the ground, with Kamran scoring 50 and Umar 56* on the way to a total of 191-6 at 9.55 runs per over.

It was always going to be a tough total, and I had given up hope of seeing a Pom vs Aussie final pretty soon into the Australian innings. The falling of Cameron White on 139-6 was pretty much the nail in the coffin. And then queue Mike Hussey, who was just about to begin an innings which was simply the greatest T20 cricket has ever seen.

He began smashing boundaries all over the show, but despite this, the Aussies scoring rate was not enough. It came down to the last over with Australia needing 18 to win. The game was pretty much safe. Hussey called for a drink before Saeed Ajmal stepped up to bowl his first delivery to Mitchell Johnson, who edged it to fine leg for a single.

(Above) This Hawk-Eye graphic does a good job of showing the enormity of Mike Hussey's task going into the final over. The likelihood of an Australian win was less than 10%.

Michael Hussey was now facing. Ajmal made the fatal mistake of bowling it short, before Hussey pulled it over the rope for a maximum. The next delivery came, and Hussey sent it miles over the long on boundary, bringing up his 50. Did he care about this milestone? Did anyone? Did we heck, as we all started to think that Michael Hussey was single-handedly about to do the impossible.

He was. The scores were levelled with two balls remaining in the match thanks to a streaky edge over the leaping backward point fielder, and inkeeping with his incredible innings, Husseydidn't just push the ball away and run a single to win the match, he let out a roar as he swung the ball over long on for another maximum, to win the game and end on 60* off 24 balls.

In that moment Twenty20 cricket was displayed at its best. Sometimes people question whether it can ever be as dramatic as a momentous 5 wicket haul or a heroic 100 to swing a test match, but all the drama and passion and despair in those seconds proved that yes, yes it can.

So, England vs Australia final, and secretly I'm delighted. It'll be a thrilling match against the two biggest rivals in cricket, and the close shave the Aussies had today should spur us on and increase our confidence. Once things started to unravell for Australia today they fell to pieces, something we will undoubtedly take into consideration for Sunday's game.

And of course, hard luck Pakistan!

Time to go, Sanath?

2010-05-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

There are rumors flying around that Sri Lanka's captain, Kumar Sangakkara is willing to step down from his post due to politicians meddling with the selection of the international side.

The player being selected much to the disdain of Kumar Sangakkara is Sanath Jayasuriya. The veteran opening batsman was omitted by selectors before being stuck back in the side by none other than Sanath's chum, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

And I absolutely agree with Kumar. Jayasuriya's inclusion into the World T20 side has led to disastrous consequences. His scores in this tournament have been: 0, 3, 6, 5, 0, 1. Bearing in mind his position at the top of the order that is not great to say the least.

It is no question that Jayasuriya has served his country immensely well over the years, but at 40 years and 317 days, he really ought to call it quits, for the good of the nation's cricket. Sangakkara has been a great captain and has some vital runs in this competition, and shouldn't have to needlessly leave his captaincy.

So, come on Sanath, do the right thing.

One sweet sight...

2010-05-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

	Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR
Q	England	3	3	0	0	0	6	+0.962
Q	Pakistan	3	1	2	0	0	2	+0.041
	New Zealand	3	1	2	0	0	2	-0.373
	South Africa	3	1	2	0	0	2	-0.617

That table above is one sweet sight for every England fan, and admittedly is not one I expected to see at this stage. We are through to the semi-finals after a great win against New Zealand today which we played brilliantly as we have done so far this tournament.

NZ won the toss and batted first, with Tim Bresnan and Michael Yardy being the most economic bowlers. We restricted them to 149 off the 20 overs, and we managed to knock off the score with minimal fuss.

Michael Lumb propelled us off to a great start as he has done all tournament, with a 32 off 21. Sadly once the wicket of Craig Kieswetter fell, Ravi Bopara didn't perform (again!) He made just 9, setting off a bit of a batting wobble. Lumb fell immediately afterwards, and Collingwood only made 3.

Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan, two of the highest run scorers in the tournament so far came in and were as reliable as ever, putting on 52 between them as we edged ever towards the target.

It was fitting that it was man of the match Tim Bresnan who ended the game in style, as he pulled it to the square leg boundary for 4. Bresnan is in no way the most attractive player, but he is increasingly becoming a more important feature in this strong England side.

We are going from strength to strength, and it is hard to see anyone being capable of stopping us as we take the T20 world by storm. What's more, we seem to have avoided the Aussies in the semis, so, see you lot in the final then!

Superb England comprehensively defeat South Africa

2010-05-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

England played some amazing cricket tonight to comprehensively defeat South Africa, and prove they are serious contenders for the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.

England hearts sank in the first over as opener Michael Yardy was trapped plumb LBW by a slider from Johan Botha, who was bowling around the wicket to the left hander as he went for 3 off 4.

However this brought Kevin Pietersen to the crease alongside his countryman Craig Kieswetter batting against their country of birth. You always get the feeling with KP and Kieswetter in T20 that it is very hit-or-miss, and boy was it hit today.

KP and Kieswetter seemed to be attempting to find the boundary off every ball, and a large proportion of the time, they did! KP appeared confident and fearless, cutting, pulling and driving to find his 50 off 48 balls, scoring eight 4s and one 6 along the way. However, that is where the big scoring ended, as he went for 53 off 33.

Craig Kieswetter was the same, entertaining us with his usual aggression, and he scored three 4s and two 6s on his way to 41 off 42, before he was caught by Dale Steyn off JP Duminy.

I was expecting the England run rate to slow down once Paul Collingwood came to the crease, but he kept up the gung-ho mentality, smashing two massive 6s. Unfortunately, he paid the price though as the England captain faced just 9 balls before being caught by Boucher off the bowling of Morkel for 14.

Luke Wright then joined Eoin Morgan at the crease, but disappointingly went without troubling the scorers when he was bowled after a hideous swipe to a full pitched, off stump delivery courtesy of Charl Langeveldt.

Morgan however made 21 off 14 before being well caught for 21 off 14, after the shot was hit very high but caught extremely well by a diving AB de Villiers at cow corner.

Tim Bresnan added 13 before being bowled by Morkel, and Mike Yardy made 8 and Swann just 1 as they were the two batsmen who were not out at the end of the 20 overs. We had made 168-7 and after an electrifying start we had slowed down somewhat. It was set to be a thrillingly close game. Or was it?

Nope, it wasn't. It was an innings dominated by terrific bowling, and the South Africans put up little resistance. In fact, only 4 batsmen made it into double figures, and only JP Duminy made it past 19! Duminy put in a good display onboard the sinking South African ship, making 39 off 25.

Sidebottom showed why he is in the side, taking 3-23. Swann also took 3 wickets for 24 runs, with Broad's figures 2-26 and Yardy 2-31 as South Africa fell to a comprehensive 39 run defeat as they were all out for 129.

England played some top drawer cricket today and I loved seeing the aggressive attitude from the batsmen. Kevin Pietersen in particular was terrific, and there is good news too in regards to baby Pietersen. Literally as I am writing this post the news has just broken that KP will return to the UK in the next 24 hours but will be back for the semi finals. I must say, that is excellent timing by KP's wife Jess, as Kevin is simply a match, even tournament winner and it is great that we will have him back for when it matters.

Kevin Pietersen's performance sums up the performance of the whole side. We appeared aggressive and showed desire. We looked confident and focussed on the pitch and we were as good as any side tonight. Our batting was second to none, our fielding was sharp and the bowling was right on the money. If we continue like this, we can undoubtedly win this tournament.

MoM: Kevin Pietersen
Wow. What a performance in which he played aggressively but brilliantly, like the Pietersen of old, and he really drove the score forward alongside Kieswetter.

England vs South Africa: Live blog

2010-05-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Read my wafflings on England vs South Africa as the game unfolds below. Feel free to contribute using the comments window at the bottom!
<p><p><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=4b914d172b" >England vs South Africa - World Twenty20</a></p></p>

Panesar scores highest first class score

2010-05-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

The last time Monty Panesar was praised for his batting exploits he had managed to hold on in the first Ashes test in Cardiff last year and scored 7*. However Monty's performance with the bat today is much different, and much more impressive.

The former England left-arm orthodox bowler was left stranded on 46* when his Sussex teammate Corey Collymore fell. While Monty was agonisingly just 4 short of his 50, he can take heart from the fact that the runs he added to Sussex's score at Hove may have won them their 5th County Championship Division Two match on the bounce as they aim to extend their lead at the top of the table.

However the home side still have a lot of work to do at Hove tomorrow, as Middlesex require another 121 runs with 5 wickets remaining on the final day.

England fortunate in win after poor batting display

2010-05-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

England are through to the super eight stage but can consider themselves fortunate the rain came on a day in which our batsmen were far from the best.

England's openers were far from as explosive or impressive as they were yesterday. Michael Lumb started well, playing it off the hip for 4 off the first ball, followed by a late cut through point which raced to the boundary. He hit one more 4 before being caught at short fine leg by Boyd Rankin for 14 off 11.

His fellow opener Craig Kieswetter did not fare any better, making just 13 off 17, but he can consider himself unlucky. He was run out having dived to make the crease but his bat was just off the ground, but enough for TV umpire Asad Rauf to give it out.

Paul Collingwood came and then went again without troubling the scorers, he failed to score in the 3 balls he faced. as he was caught at slip by Botha at slip. It is the second time in two days Colly has failed to make it into double figures.

With KP and Eoin Morgan at the crease you don't expect the score to dry up, but that is exactly what happened. Morgan hit a reverse sweep for 4 in the 9th over in what was the first boundary since the 4th.

An over later an uncomfortable-looking KP went caught by Mooney on the square leg boundary for 9 off 18. With Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan batting I was ever optimistic that finally they may consistently find the boundary, but sadly that was not to be.

Morgan punched fours through backward point and over mid-wicket, and Luke Wright smashed the first 6 of the innings over the head of the bowler 16 overs in, but an over later he was out, caught at long on for 20 off 24.

Tim Bresnan came to the crease and found the boundary once before the wickets begin to tumble - he went for just 5. Morgan followed, pulling the ball for long on as his innings came to a close on 45 runs off 37. Michael Yardy made a duck when he was run out after a terrific direct hit from Trent Johnston at deep mid-wicket.

England's innings came to a close on 120-8, and were it not for Morgan putting on a big score against his country of birth this could have been a very embarrassing score. We had gone from scoring our record number of sixes in a T20 to just 1 in the whole innings, and we can blame the slow, sticky pitch all we like but we could have improved our score were we not so nervous of the potential banana skin Ireland, who were brilliant in the field, and impressed with the ball.

1.2 overs of the Ireland innings were bowled before the rain came and surprise surprise, the game was stopped. It was heart in mouth time for us England fans as we remembered the injustice of the D/L method last night, but thankfully it wasn't too long before play resumed without the game having to be shortened.

Once play resumed Ryan Sidebottom continued the over that he had started before the break, and in the final ball batsman Ian Stirling seemed to have scored a sweet boundary, but Michael Lumb who may not have starred with the bat sure did in the field, as he sprinted and dived at full stretch to his left at deep mid-wicket to take a stunning catch.

The rain started as quickly as it stopped, and the game was stopped in the 4th over with Ireland 14-1, and after the groundsmen were suitably exercised pulling the covers on then off numerous times the players were finally seen shaking hands and the game was called off, meaning that England go through to the super eight stage.

MoM: Eoin Morgan
My man of the match today is the same as yesterday - Eoin Morgan. The Irishman performed admirably against his nation of birth and in his 45 he displayed his usual ingenuity and creativity. Without him, today's already poor score would have been even more embarrassing.

We were unlucky in defeat yesterday, but we were somewhat more fortunate in our win today after a batting display in which we weren't the best, seemingly too nervous of the consequences of defeat to Ireland. However, we are through to the next round and if we use today's game as motivation and find that game we displayed against the West Indies, I wouldn't write us off from winning this tournament just yet.

What can I rename the blog?

2010-05-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

I was thinking earlier today about what a generic, predictable and plain boring name 'Deep Mid-Wicket' is for the blog. I would like to call it something else, something more interesting but I don't have any inspiration at the moment. Any ideas?
Leave a comment!

England beaten by West Indies but are short changed by low target set for hosts

2010-05-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

England have been beaten today by West Indies due to no fault of their own after a terrific batting display, as they were short changed by an unfair target set for the hosts after the second innings was shortened to 6 overs due to rain.

England made an explosive start to the match as Chris Gayle put them into bat due to the grey, overcast conditions. Michael Lumb raised England's score to 30 all by himself as he played some stylish boundary shots in the place which he loves, mid-wicket.

In comparison to Lumb's fearless, aggressive start to his England career, Craig Kieswetter poked tentatively at the ball to start with, but it didn't take him long to settle in, he clipped the ball for 4 from a ball from Gayle wide of off stump to get him off the mark.

The opening pair didn't last too long though, Michael Lumb went in the 4th over bowled by Gayle after trying to hit the ball over mid-wicket for 28 off 18 balls. Craig Kieswetter got into slog mode hitting 3 giant sixes with his tremendous power before he went out bowled LBW by Miller to a leg-spinning ball for 26 off 14.

The new opening partnership of Lumb and Kieswetter showed potential, with Lumb playing some stylish shots and Kieswetter the big sixes to get England's tournament underway perfectly, but they may be disappointed that they didn't stick around for longer.

It was the experienced England partnership of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood next at the crease, but an unsettled-looking Colly didn't last for long and could only manage 6 off 8 before being bowled by Darren Sammy, trying to pull a ball which was just not short enough.

Pietersen was more successful, making 24 off 20 before pulling the ball straight to Sarwan at deep mid-wicket off a Sammy delivery, with Sammy enjoying a terrific day with the ball.

Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright were the next two batsmen to form a partnership, and it didn't get off to the best start, with Darren Sammy pinning the pair back as the score dried up. However that all changed when Sammy and Miller left the attack to make way for Bravo and Pollard when the batsmen began to have some fun.

Sixes began being hit to all corners of the stadium in the closing 5 overs, as Morgan hit it over long on, and Wright cleared the scoreboard over mid-wicket in the 16th. The 18th was horrifically expensive for the West Indies as Ravi Rampaul's nightmare day continued, with 27 coming off the over.

As the England score increased so did the audacity of the batsmen, with Eoin Morgan playing a kind of reverse scoop over short third man for 4, leading to smirks on the face of the Irishman and his captain, but scowls from the hosts' captain Chris Gayle.

There was an amusing moment in the penultimate over as Luke Wright swung so hard his bat flew 40 yards away to past square leg as the ball trickled towards mid-wicket.

A terrific innings from Eoin Morgan in which he displayed his usual aggressive bravery and ingenuity came to a close in the final over as he was superbly caught by a diving Kieron Pollard at deep mid-off for 55 off 35. Tim Bresnan came to the crease but didn't face a ball before the end of the innings.

Luke Wright scored 45* off 27 at the end of the 20 overs as he showed off his usual big hitting power hitting 4 sixes on the way in a great partnership from him and Morgan.

Chris Gayle and Shiv Chanderpaul opened for the West Indies and they too got off to an exciting start, with 15 runs coming off the first over bowled by Ryan Sidebottom in which he couldn't find the correct line and length.

Graeme Swann had to stop the flow in the second over and it seemed he had before a terrific reverse sweep cleared the square-leg boundary from Chanderpaul.

However unfortunately half way through the third over being bowled by Tim Bresnan the rain came, and pretty swiftly the covers came on and didn't come off for a while, with West Indies 30 for no loss.

After a long spell off the covers going on and off, the rules were finally decided, and it was to be shortened to a 6 over game with the West Indies needing 60 to win, a target which I feel short changed England a little. After a terrific sustained aggressive batting display from the away side, the total of 60 from 6 did not really seem fair.

Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard both fell to Graeme Swann, but unsurprisingly West Indies made the small target with two balls to spare.

Ratings (/10)
Michael Lumb, 7 - Played some stylish shots through mid-wicket but could have stuck around for longer.
Craig Kieswetter, 7 - Like Lumb he hit some nice powerful sixes but didn't last too long.
Kevin Pietersen, 7 - Pietersen added some useful runs to the total but not at the explosive rate we have come to expect.
Paul Collingwood, 6 - Colly looked unsettled from the moment he came to the crease and only made 6.
Eoin Morgan, 9 - Morgan displayed a terrific performance showing his creativity and aggression once more.
Luke Wright, 8 - Eoin Morgan's partner in crime played as aggressively if not as stylishly as his counterpart.
Tim Bresnan, 7 - Bresnan bowled one over at a decent economy rate.
Stuart Broad, 6 - Broad's only over went for over 9 runs.
Graeme Swann, 6 - Swann bowled two overs for a huge 24 runs.
Michael Yardy, 7 - Yardy was the most economical of all the England bowlers at 6 runs/over.
Ryan Sidebottom, 5 - Sidebottom's only over went for 15.

England play Ireland at the same time tomorrow and need to win to stay in the competition. If they play as well as they did today they will have no worries whatsoever, but if they don't, it will be another World T20 horror show for them!

World T20: England vs West Indies - My eleven

2010-05-03T00:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I gave you the run-down on the England squad for the World T20, but who of the 15-man squad should be selected for our opening game against the West Indies later?

My XI: Yardy, Kieswetter, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Wright, Yardy, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Sidebottom.

One to watch: Michael Yardy

Ravi Bopara has been making noises like he wants to play up at the top of the order. However, England have gone through tonnes of opening partnerships in recent times and I think the Yardy/Kieswetter one should be left as is; they are two batsmen who get on with each other, and while I can't see them being tournament top scorers, they could provide the odd useful cameo.

KP will go in at the fall of the first wicket, we just have to hope that his baby doesn't pop out during the game, so that he has to dash home to see it.

Luke Wright is in the side. There are more stylish batsmen and more skilful bowlers, but an all-rounder is an all-rounder and give plenty more selection options. Wright is an expert of batting at the death, but can play big scores too, with a 71 being his T20I record.

Below Wright in my XI is Michael Yardy. He and Graeme Swann will play very important roles on the spin-friendly Providence wicket and the Sussex all-rounder has been in tip-top form in the warm-up matches. Yardy is an all-rounder also and more often than not he adds useful totals to a Twenty20 score.

Ryan Sidebottom's recent form has caused selection headaches for us recently, and the veteran seamer is in my side in favour of Stuart Broad *gasp!* Sidebottom's recent form has been second to none, and being the best seamer in the warm-up games surely merits a place in the squad. Broad is out but Bresnan stays purely on his batting ability.

The lowdown on England's World Twenty20 squad

2010-05-02T03:59:00.000-07:00

England's ICC World Twenty20 gets underway against the hosts West Indies tomorrow, and there is the usual hope and anticipation that with a fresh squad England might just, just be able to do something. Doubt it though.

Paul Collingwood (c)

Captain Paul Collingwood is definitely a useful player to have in a T20 side. He isn't the most explosive or highest scorer, but he can add vital runs to a score. His medium-pacers can also come in handy and his fielding ability is second to none.

James Anderson

After being rested during the Bangladesh tour, Anderson will be back and raring to go. He is the man leading the England attack in the West Indies and will be hoping to pick up where he left off after bowling well at the last World T20.

Ravi Bopara

Bopara has had on-off form since he emerged in England colours for the first time, but we are all hoping that this is finally the competition in which he proves his worth and sticks around for good. Bopara is one of the few England players who have had the advantage of playing in the IPL this year, so he has had plenty of time to acclimatise to this form of the game. This seems to have paid off too - he hit 62 off 49 balls in England's warm-up win against Bangladesh.

Tim Bresnan

The big Tim Bresnan could be more important than expected, as the medium fast bowler has an uncanny ability to bat well too, having recently been shifted up to No. 3 in the Yorkshire County Championship side, responding with a 70.

Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad has had bad experiences in World Twenty20 competition, having been smacked for six sixes by Yuvraj Singh in the inauguaral tournament, and overthrowing a ball he didn't need to against the Netherlands in 2009, with disastrous consequences. Despite this he has an impressive T20 economy rate and will be a key player for England.

Craig Kieswetter (wk)

One of our adopted South Africans, wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter will be batting at the top of the order leaving England with plenty of options lower down the order. He has proved that he can bat well in domestic T20 competition and being a naturally aggressive player gives him the advantage in this format of the game.

Michael Lumb

A batsman likely to join Kieswetter at the top of the order, Michael Lumb is a T20 specialist who can certainly hit the ball a long way, so much so he was a surprise selection for the IPL side Rajasthan Royals, something which bodes well for the World T20 competition.

Eoin Morgan

Irishman Eoin Morgan has an innovative approach to batting, having proved numerous times that he really can hit the ball all over the park, something which saw him being selected for the Bangalore Royal Challengers IPL side. He is in good form too having hit 63 in the warm-up game against South Africa. Importantly, Morgan is a 'finisher', something England have been lacking in recent years.

Kevin Pietersen

It is fair to say Kevin Pietersen hasn't had the most successful past year, but he put in some storming performances in the IPL and only Brendon McCullum has scored more runs in internationals. He was England's top run scorer in previous World T20s, and would be sorely missed should he have to rush home to the birth of his child during the tournament.

Ajmal Shahzad

The selection of the first British-born Asian to play for Yorkshire Ajmal Shahzad certainly raised some eyebrows! The medium-fast bowler is useful in T20s and is a handy late order batsman and it will be interesting to see how he performs on the international stage.

Ryan Sidebottom

Ryan Sidebottom is definitely one of the most recognisable figures in international cricket, and has one of the best T20I economy rates around. Sidebottom's recent form has given England a headache though - both he, Broad and Bresnan are all vying for that other fast bowler slot alongside James Anderson and it shall be interesting to see who is selected.

Graeme Swann

The joker of the England pack Graeme Swann is another incredibly useful T20 player. He has a great economy rate and he can add some useful runs to the total as well. He should enjoy bowling on the slow, West Indies pitches.

James Tredwell

James Tredwell is another surprise selection. I must admit I fail to see what Tredwell has done to warrant selection over the likes of Adil Rashid, and I think he will struggle to get into the starting eleven.

Luke Wright

I am a big Luke Wright fan - he is a versatile all-rounder, giving England more selection options. He has starred in T20Is for England with the bat, scoring 71 with some big hitting power. His medium pace deliveries are quite handy too.

Michael Yardy

Michael Yardy has been in excellent form in the warm up matches, and the former medium-pacer has never looked back since switching to left-arm spin. He is a mighty fine batsman too with an Andrew Strauss-esque style and it will be fascinating to see how he performs on the world stage.

Fourth Test: Day three: South Africa continue to storm ahead.

2010-01-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

Lets make no bones about it, it has been a pretty dismal day once again for England fans, and unfortunately the rain didn't come as heavy or for as long as any England fan would have liked. At the close, England trail by 195 runs with 7 wickets remaining, but SA still have an innings to play.

Trott continues in his poor run of form with the bat, but to be honest it really doesn't matter how many runs our players score now, or for how long they stay at the crease for. The Cricinfo close of play summary read "it will take a superhuman effort from here on in for England to save this game". No, not a superhuman effort, a divine intervention.

Fourth Test, Day two: A day of rain and incompetence

2010-01-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

While I am aware that ranting about it on this blog does very little, I feel I need to get it out of my system.

How, at the top level of cricket, is an obvious nick behind not given out. Well this is what happened today in the 15th over when South African captain Graeme Smith was on 15 runs.

You could hear the edge on the replays. Well, I could but third umpire Daryl Harper couldn't because he forgot to turn his speaker on. What an absolute plonker.

And in true Graeme Smith fashion, he went on to make 105 before being dismissed in the day dogged by rain.

At the close South Africa have 8 wickets in hand and lead by 35. What do we need to win the series? 3 days of constant downpour, and that isn't impossible!

Fourth Test, Day one: England reeling after shaky start

2010-01-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

That wasn't great, was it?

Andrew Strauss faltered again. So did Cook, and I kind of wish Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen were in the South African side at the moment. In fact the only contribution worth noting was a 47 from Paul Collingwood.

We didn't look convincing with the ball either, with Anderson putting on his low-confidence body language.

We are in real trouble of losing this series if we are not careful, and if our bowlers look lively and swing the ball as they did in parts today, we may be in with a chance.

Third Test, Day five: England hold on...again

2010-01-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

It seems all of a sudden we have a remarkable knack of holding on for draws in tests which we have no right to save, at Cardiff in the Ashes and at Centurion in the first test of this series.

Today's remarkable result is very much down to the focussed batting displays from Paul Collingwood who made 40 and Ian Bell who made 78, with the four batsmen surrounding Colly and Bell on the scorecard failing to get into double figures.

However tailenders Graeme Swann and number eleven batsman Graham Onions more than pulled their weight in the fight, staving off 40 balls between them before the close of play.

The deflated South Africans now need to win the final test to draw the series, and I really hope that the test in Joburg on January 14th England doesn't come this close to screwing it up again, or it will be heart-in-mouth time.

First Test, Day four: Late wickets leave England reeling

2010-01-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

The day didn't begin as badly as I might have feared it would. With Graeme Smith flying and Jacques Kallis just beginning at the close last night, it didn't look good.

Smith only added 21 to his overnight score before he went caught at deep backward-square for 183 by Paul Collingwood off a short Graham Onions ball. While Jacques Kallis made 46 before going out, it could have been a lot worse for England fans. Two more 'helpful' contributions in the 30s came from the middle order batsmen AB de Villiers and JP Duminy, and a 15 from Mark Boucher came before SA's declaration on 447-7.

So, we needed 466 to win the game and it started swimmingly when the first England wicket of Alastair Cook who made 55 in his continued resurgence came at 101-1. However Andrew Strauss fell almost immediately after on 45, before Kevin Pietersen once again failed to impress having made just 6 before being trapped plumb LBW from a full Dale Steyn delivery, leaving England reeling on 132-3 at the close with Trott and nightwatchman Anderson at the crease.

Yesterday Rich Abbott commented saying we had a 5% chance of drawing the game. He said we need a lack lustre bowling display, and at least three really big/long knocks from the top order. We have got neither. What we need is another Cardiff-esque performance.

Third Test, Day three: Smith century sets SA on the right track

2010-01-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

At the start of the day, England put up very little resistance and their remaining wickets fell pretty quickly, with no batsmen adding greatly to their overnight score. However we weren't too far behind - 18 runs to be exact and the match was still very wide open.

However it was the South African batsmen who turned the game on its head. There were only 2 wickets in the day. The first one was the wicket of Ashwell Prince who, as per usual struggled opening the batting. He made just 15 leaving South Africa on 31-1. However the next wicket didn't fall until SA were on 262 when Hashim Amla fell for 95.

At the close of play Graeme Smith is showing his true class on 162 alongside Jacques Kallis. What do we need? A miracle.

Third Test, Day two: Dramatic collapses from both sides

2010-01-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

England needed to get quick wickets this morning, Jacques Kallis in particular, and we did, taking the remaining 4 South African wickets in just 17 balls with only 12 runs being scored, making 291 runs in the innings.

Kallis was the first man to go in the South African collapse, he went for 108 to his first ball of the morning after he edged a super delivery from Graham Onions pitched on off stump before zipping away off the seam, leaving Jacques Kallis helpless.

The second overnight batsman Dale Steyn fell foul of a Jimmy Anderson ball the very next over, which was pitched full outside off stump and got a thick edge through to Jonathan Trott who dived well to his left at 3rd slip.

It only took 3 overs before the 9th wicket fell, again courtesy of Jimmy Anderson and a great slip catch. Morne Morkel fell without troubling the scorers from a short pitched delivery from Anderson angled across Morkel who hung his bat out catching a meaty edge through to Graeme Swann at slip who dived brilliantly to his left to catch the ball.

Anderson ended the innings with a 5 wicket-haul when Friedel de Wet went LBW plum in front of the stumps.

England didn't start well with the bat either losing a wicket in the first over, though it wasn't the batsman you would have expected to fall of the two openers Cook and Strauss, as the latter was unusually unreliable and made just 2 before playing at a ball from Morkel outside off stump which was edged straight through to Mark Boucher.

While Alastair Cook continued to show flashes of his brilliant best, there were a few other England wickets. Jonathan Trott was the first as he once again failed to make his mark in his home country when he went for 20 after he caught an inside edge onto his stumps from a Dale Steyn ball outside off.

The England score began to look desperate when just 2 balls later Kevin Pietersen also did his country of birth a favour - he made a duck leaving England 36-3. He went after chipping a low, pitched up ball from Dale Steyn straight back to the bowler who caught well on his follow through, leaving him looking suitably pumped up.

Not showing any signs of suffering with his finger injury, though Paul Collingwood made just 19 before going plum LBW. Cook who had batted well and like an opener should, then went for 65 having doing more than his job in seeing off the new ball, with England 133-5.

Happily it seems Ian Bell has got back to his good form - well, he is actually making double figures and today he made an agonizing 48 before frustratingly cutting it straight to point, with Bell visibly livid.

Matt Prior looked impressive and ended up 52* at the close alongside Graeme Swann on 5*, although Stuart Broad was the last man to fall on the day for 25 before being bowled by Steyn.

However while this game is far from over with England 50 behind with two very capable batsmen at the crease, England may well look back at this innings with frustration as every England wicket to fall today needn't have been wickets. While some of the South African batsmen were undone by beautiful deliveries, the England batsmen all seemed to be victims of their own downfall.

Prior and Swann really need to stick around tomorrow - we are only 50 runs behind but if we can bridge that gap we are really right back in it.

Third Test, Day one: Kallis 100 revives South Africa

2010-01-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Team of the day: England...just!

Player of the day: Jacques Kallis

Andrew Strauss elected to bowl after winning the toss, citing the good overcast conditions and the patches of green on the wicket as the reasons for his decision.

He also revealed that Paul Collingwood was to participate after his finger injury, meaning an unchanged England eleven took to the field.

I take it back about South African politics dominating their team selection as they saw sense in picking Friedel de Wet ahead of Makhaya Ntini.

By his own admission opening the batting is not Ashwell Prince's preferred position, and that showed through when he went for a duck off just the fourth ball of the match after a terrific Jimmy Anderson outswinger which leaped up off the pitch was nicked off the glove of an unconfident looking Prince and was caught behind by Matt Prior.

It could, and should have been two quick early morning wickets just three balls later when South Africa captain Graeme Smith played at a Graham Onions ball way wide of his off stump, get a nick of the bat and carry at a perfect height to Graeme Swann at slip who completely fluffed it.

Smith's luck continued when a Stuart Broad inswinging ball darted back and straight through inbetween the batsman's bat and pad, inches away from the stumps.

In the eleventh over we had the first review of the game after a Stuart Broad outswinger supposedly edged Hashim Amla's bat. However the video replays failed to show any noticable movement in the ball and it was adjudged not out.

Amla was sent packing for 14 in the sixteenth over by Graham Onions who bowled a well pitched delivery on the line of off stump with a good length, which shaped in towards Amla's planted pad in front of the middle stump, meaning the man SA would want in a time of need - Jacques Kallis came to the crease, and boy would they need him!

A pearler from Jimmy Anderson just after lunch was enough to dismiss the South African captain Smith, as the ball pitched around middle and off stump moved away off the seam and caught an edge of Smith's bat, caught behind by a terrific Prior dive in front of first slip. South Africa were 51-3 and AB de Villers and Jacques Kallis set about rescuing the solution.

Surviving a few dangerous deliveries to start with, de Villiers and Kallis settled in and began to repair the damage. AB de Villers was the first to go of the pair, with a silly lapse of concentration on 36 when he chipped the ball up to Andrew Strauss off a Graeme Swann delivery.

South Africa were then really on the back foot when JP Duminy recorded his second golden duck on the bounce when Graeme Swann's off spinning delivery bowled from around the wicket to the left hander turned sharply away and caught a nick of the bat, and was snapped up by Matt Prior leaving SA 127-5.

Shortly after Boucher arrived Kallis made his 53rd test 50. Boucher joined him later on in the innings after an impressive knock, before he went for LBW by Broad after the ball hit the back pad in an impressive delivery. Boucher challenged the decision only for replays to show that the ball was destined for the top of middle.

Kallis continued in his cool, calm and collected manner frustrating the England attack before bad light caused a premature ending to the game. At the close of play Kallis was on 108* alongside Dale Steyn on 26*, leaving SA 279/6.

It has been a day where both sides will feel they could have done better, leaving the test still very wide open. I would say England have the slight edge, however to keep it that way, Jacques Kallis will be a must-take wicket as soon as possible for England tomorrow.

My cricket memory of 2009

2010-01-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Calder who blogs over at The Corridor has been talking about his cricket memory of 2009, and it got me thinking, what was mine?

Well, I have two.

You can all guess the first - Stuart Broad setting the game alight at the Oval in the final Ashes test. Amazing. I was sat watching the interactive Test Match Special scorecard on the BBC red button at the time and to put it bluntly, I was getting bored.

I had a grim face on with Australia chasing 332 set by England on a 400-450 par wicket, with the Aussies on 73-0. However that is when it all changed. Broad came on, and took 5-37. He galvanized the team and importantly the fans, with Graeme Swann then taking 4-38 and Freddie capping of a brilliant performance, taking 1-35. Knowing you are imminently about to win the Ashes is a very exciting experience.

My second cricket memory of the year came when I was playing cricket for my school team. Put it this way, batting is not my forte. Actually, neither is bowling or fielding but I am particularly bad with the stick of willow in my hand.

Anyway, we were without our key batsmen for various reasons meaning for the first time in the season I was sent in to bat. To give an idea of how short of players we were, we had to draught in some of the football team. I usually bat around 10 or 11, I went in at 5.

It was freezing cold and spitting with rain, and I went in to face this lethal fast bowler, with my box falling down my leg. He ran in a few times and I just left the ball. Against my better judgement, I decided I was going to try and hit one. He ran in and I just swung for the ball. Bare in mind I have never scored a run for the team before. I had no idea where the ball was but I just swung for it. I felt the sweet contact as the ball came off the bat on my leg side, but I had no idea where the ball had gone at first. I heard some of the infielders shouting 'wow!' or 'shot mate!' and I just ran.

As I ran towards the non-strikers end, I looked over to my left and saw the ball soaring over the infield and land inches inside the boundary rope before rolling for a four. I and everyone on the field was amazed. Jack Sargeant had managed to hit the ball! More than that, he managed to get it in the air! More than that, he scored a boundary.

These are my cricketing memories of 2009. What are yours?

Second Test, Day five: That was quick!

2009-12-30T07:14:00.000-08:00

England 574 for 9 dec (Bell 140, Cook 118) beat South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 133 (Swann 5-54) by an innings and 98 runs

Team of the day: England

Player of the day: Graeme Swann

It was more a case of when than if England won the test, but I certainly am writing this earlier than I expected. More Graeme Swann wickets helped end the game pretty quickly as he took a 5-wicket haul and his second consecutive man of the match award in our sensational innings win over South Africa.

We managed to breeze past South Africa in this test, but how has this happened after we clung on by the skin of our teeth at Centurion?

Well, it seems gaining the draw at Centurion bolstered our confidence. We seem to play better after clinging on for a draw - see how much different we played in the second Ashes test after hanging on for a draw at Cardiff.

Also, great performances played their part in helping us win the test - in the first test Alastair Cook and Ian Bell were poor, and were seriously under pressure following the game. Credit to them: they came back into this test and performed brilliantly - Ian Bell in particular made what was almost certainly his career saving runs. Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad were brilliant in the bowling department, bringing back memories of when they tore the Aussies to shreds in the final Ashes test at the Oval. Captain reliable Strauss did his usual in helping out with a 50, and we also had big scores from Matt Prior and Paul Collingwood.

Poor performances also helped us out. Poor South African performances, that is! Makhaya Ntini is certainly 'getting on' now, and in the 29 overs in which he bowled he failed to take a wicket. He only took two wickets in his centenary test at Centurion, and while the South Africans insist he is on because of merit, I'm afraid I am not too sure. I feel that SA would have been much better in selecting Friedel de Wet who had an outstanding debut test and I don't understand the logic in doing otherwise. Maybe not selecting a black player is still a political bridge too far for the South African team in this day and age.

Second Test, Day four: Big England total followed by big SA collapse

2009-12-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 76 for 6 (Boucher 20*, Morkel 7*) trail England 575 for 9 dec (Bell 141, Cook 118) by 156 runs

Team of the day: England

Player of the day: Ian Bell

As far as England cricket goes, it doesn't get much better than today. I have given the prestigious Deep Mid-Wicket player of the day award to Ian Bell, but it could just have easily have been given to Stuart Broad or Graeme Swann.

My closing words in yesterday's post were "We could really do with building a good lead tomorrow morning and bowling South Africa out without having to bat again if we want to win the game." And today, we did exactly that.

Adding to his overnight score of 55, Ian Bell finally went after making an outstanding 141 - a score he absolutely needed in what was his do or die test and what was rightly described by Dale Steyn as “career-saving”.

We eventually declared at the perfect time on 575-9, 232 ahead.While the batting was impressive, the bowling was equally as good.

We had an Ashes-esque batting performance when we held on in the last test at Centurion, and another Ashes-esque performance came from Stuart Broad today, remnant of when he turned the game on its head with a five wicket haul on the way to England winning the prestigious urn at the Oval. He didn't take 5 wickets today - he managed 3, but he certainly turned the game on its head, finding the perfect line and length and a bit of 'nip' in the sensational South African collapse to 76-6.

Graeme Swann certainly pulled his weight as well - he also took 3 wickets as his brilliant tour continues.

Second Test, Day three: Day for Cook and Bell to silence critics

2009-12-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

England 386 for 5 (Cook 118, Collingwood 91) lead South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) by 43 runs

Team of the day: England

Player of the day: Alastair Cook

We started well with the bat yesterday and it continued today with a century from Alastair Cook - his first test 100 since May - and a half century from Ian Bell who was still at the crease at stumps.

However these big scores were more than just helping England to win the test. They were important for the future international careers of both Cook and Bell. Many have been calling for these players to be axed, with Bell in particular being the player most widely picked on - and I admit I have been one of the people calling for Bell's head. Alastair Cook needn't worry too much - he still has a lot of time to play cricket and for the majority has been a reliable opener who has formed a good opening partnership alongside Andrew Strauss, and it seems he is just in a bad run of form. For Ian Bell however, it has been quite different.

I was surprised and angry that Ian Bell was selected for his test and I thought this would really be his last chance saloon. However while I am eating my words at the moment, one score does not justify being in the England side on batting ability alone. There is still the statistics such as Bell only makes big scores after his team mates have done previously - something he has done again today. His form is still very, very patchy and unpredictable, and while he can be proud of the fluent 50 he has made today - he is far from safe in the England side at the moment.

Enough of Bell, what has happened today?

Jonathan Trott went having just made 18. The next wicket to fall was that of Kevin Pietersen who was met with an unsurprisingly frosty reception and failed to make his mark on the test as he chipped in with a 31. While these wickets fell, Alastair Cook was busy making a determined 118 before he went caught off an outside edge. The last wicket of the day was Paul Collingwood who made 91. This left Ian Bell on 55* and Matt Prior on 11* at the crease at the close as we hold a comfortable 43 lead with 5 wickets in hand.

Everything for England is looking rosy at the moment, but tomorrow is day four and we are still batting our first innings. This game is looking like it is heading for another draw. We could really do with building a good lead tomorrow morning and bowling South Africa out without having to bat again if we want to win the game. Difficult, but not impossible.

Second Test, Day two: England start well

2009-12-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Close England 103 for 1 (Trott 17*, Cook 31*) trail South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) by 240 run

I will start off with an apology. Due to a lot of turkey and alcohol consumed (not by me of course!) I have not been here for a while to offer what my selection choices for the second test would have been, and to report on yesterday's play. Don't worry, normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Anyway, to put it quickly, I wouldn't have played Ian Bell and if I was South African I would have played Friedel de Wet. Due to my authoritive voice on cricket failing to be present in offering my selection advice, both Arthur/Smith and Flower/Strauss were left puzzled as who to select, so de Wet is absent, whereas Bell continues in the England side. Well, this is the only reason I can think of anyway.

Anyway, what has happened in the test so far?

South Africa won the toss and selected to bat. Graeme Smith was back to his best and Kallis continued to impress, but we managed to pin them back to 170-5. Unfortunately we failed to continue in the same vein and SA put up a fight, ending on 343. Graeme Swann was once again the star of the England bowling show taking 4-110. Anderson and Broad took 2 wickets each and Graham Onions chipped in with 1 wicket.

England have got off to a positive start to their innings so far, at 103/1 with Strauss the only wicket to fall for 54 as he made his fastest test 50 - off 49 balls. An under-fire Alastair Cook has got off to a good start on 31* alongside Jonathan Trott on 17* but a half-century at least should be a must for Cook who has not scored over 32 in a test match since July.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas period and see you tomorrow!

First Test, Day five: England scrape draw

2009-12-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

England 356 (Swann 81, Harris 5-123) and 228 for 9 (Pietersen 81, Trott 69) drew with South Africa 418 (Kallis 120, Swann 5-110) and 301 for 6 dec (Amla 100)

Team of the day: South Africa

Player of the day: Kevin Pietersen

We have done it once and we can do it again: It may have not been the result the England fans wanted or were expecting, but as in Cardiff in the first Ashes test we have clung on and scraped a draw in the first test at Centurion.

It was two South African born players who made the biggest scores in vain with Kevin Pietersen scoring an impressive 81 and Jonathan Trott making 69.

However the rest of the England batting line up were alarmingly poor, with Cook failing to silence his critics after making 12, and Ian Bell just 2 - Matt Prior and Stuart Broad both failed to score.

It was Collingwood and Onions who steered us home at the death, surviving a fierce new-ball attack from Makhaya Ntini.

We certainly need a marked improvement in the batting department in time for the next test. Ian Bell surely, surely won't be selected on his form, and it will be a vital test for the England future of Alastair Cook after his recent scores.

First Test, Day four: Early Strauss wicket leaves England on the back foot

2009-12-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

England 356 (Swann 81, Harris 5-123) and 11 for 1 (Cook 4*, Anderson 6*) need another 353 runs to beat South Africa 418 (Kallis 120, Swann 5-110) and 301 for 6 dec (Amla 100)

Team of the day: South Africa

Player of the day: Hashim Amla

We got off to a brilliant start in our bid to dismiss South Africa this morning taking South African captain fantastic Graeme Smith for just 12, Jacques Kallis for 4 and the nightwatchman Harris for 11, continuing on from our success in the dying overs of last night's play where Ashwell Prince failed to score.

However it was after the lunch break where we really began to struggle to take the wickets where Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers made 119 together before de Villiers went for 64. JP Duminy came to the crease and swiftly went again making just 11.

Amla finally went after a shooter from Jimmy Anderson demolished his off stump after making a fine 100. It was then a short cameo from Morne Morkel who made 22 off 21 alongside keeper Mark Boucher who made 63 before the inevitable South African declaration when they were 363 runs ahead.

It was always going to be a difficult time to bat when South Africa came out with the new ball - it is only when the shine is on the ball the pitch has any life at all. Nightmare struck during the first 6 overs for England as well when captain fantastic Andrew Strauss made just 1 off 3 balls, as he went caught behind by Mark Boucher after a faint edge following a short-of-a-length ball by Morne Morkel.

At the close we are 11-1 and we need another 353 to win the test. Can we do it? Yes, but it will be really, really difficult. We need an Amla of our own if we are to have a chance, with every batsman needing to stand up and be counted. Alastair Cook and Ian Bell really need to silence their critics.

First Test, Day four: Tea Review

2009-12-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

South Africa 418 & 182/5 (61.0 ov)

England 356

South Africa lead by 244 runs with 5 wickets remaining

Team of the session: South Africa

Player of the session: Hashim Amla

Oh, how one session can change the course of a match. In my last bulletin at lunch we had taken 3 wickets including the prize wickets of Smith and Kallis. Things were all looking rosy and I was highly excited about England's prospects in the next session.

However come tea any fellow England fan's dreams of a glamorous win against all odds have been dampened, courtesy of some stubborn batting from AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla who put on 119 together - the second highest partnership of the game, before the only wicket of the session fell when de Villiers went for 64.

However the really impressive man of the session has been Hashim Amla who is still at the crease on 76.

It has been a session definitely where the South African batsmen have excelled, and if we are to have any chance of winning we need very, very quick wickets. A South African lead above 300 will make for a difficult task for England.

First Test, Day four: Lunch review

2009-12-19T03:21:00.000-08:00

SA 80/4 (32.0 ov, AB de Villiers 17*, HM Amla 34*, SCJ Broad 1/14) - Lunch

Team of the session: England

Player of the session: Graham Onions

I thought that today's first session was vitally important, we needed to take wickets and fast, and in this first session we have. 3 of them to be exact. One of them may be the nightwatchman Harris but the other two are the prize wickets of Graeme Smith who failed for the second time in this test with the bat - he made just 12, with the other wicket being Jacques Kallis, who followed up his century in the first test with just 4 off an amazing 45 deliveries.

While Smith was unlucky with an edge onto the stumps after a smart Graham Onions ball kept low, Kallis could have no excuses for his wicket as he tried a pull off a Stuart Broad long hop which went pear shaped, off the top edge and caught by Alastair Cook at Deep Square-Leg.

At the crease at the moment is Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. We cannot afford to let AB settle. Graeme Swann will be once again crucial, but is yet to take a wicket.

Although this session has been vital with key South African wickets falling, it doesn't make predicting the result of this game any easier. In fact it makes it harder, with England coming ever closer to catching up with South Africa in the winning odds. This test is set up to be a classic, and the rest of day four is not to be missed.

First test, Day three: Game in the balance

2009-12-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

South Africa 418 (Kallis 120, Swann 5-110) and 9 for 1 (Smith 6*, Harris 2*) lead England 356 (Swann 81, Harris 5-123) by 71 runs

Team of the day: South Africa...just!

Player of the day: Graeme Swann

I entered the day with high hopes - with just one man out and on 88, trailing by 330. However my hopes were blind, and as the wickets began to fall this morning, so did my optimism levels.

It began with Strauss going for 46 having added just 2 runs to his overnight score. Then Trott went stupidly being bowled after charging down the wicket and playing a stupid swipe to a Paul Harris delivery for just 28. Pietersen then chipped in with 40 - not a bad looking score on the scorecard, but more could and should have been delivered. Then the typical England middle-order crumble. Bell made 5 and Prior 4, while Paul Collingwood was plugging away making an impressive 50 before he became one of Paul Harris' 5 victims. Stuart Broad didn't show his true inner all-rounder/Freddy Flintoff replacement with just 17.

Going back to the Ian Bell situation and his dismal score of 5, I have reached a verdict. I do not feel he should be in the side. His wicket today was absolutely appaling, he shouldered arms to a straight delivery and had all three stumps demolished. Looking at his test innings scores, it seems that he is an all or nothing player and unfortunately he is most often nothing - he scores too many single figure innings. I don't believe he is a risk worth taking, particularly on the first game of a big test series.

After the wicket of Broad on 242/8 trailing by 176 we were in dire straits. Then our 5-wicket saviour from yesterday Graeme Swann came to the crease and guess what...saved us again with a terrific 85 - the highest number of runs scored by an England no. 9 for 30 years.

Anyway at the end we were all out trailing by 62, leaving us with time to get a wicket just before the close, tor really tighten things up - we did. Unfortunately it wasn't a second duck in-a-row for Graeme Smith, but rather Ashwell Prince who caught an inside edge on to off stump off the bowling of Jimmy Anderson.

So at the close SA lead by 71 with 9 wickets in hand. Although South Africa have the upper-hand, it is only just, and at the end of this rollercoaster day, it is still impossible to predict a winner.

Bring on Floodlit Tests!

2009-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Today the president of the ICC David Morgan has said that we can expect day/night tests within two years. He said "I would be surprised and disappointed if we don't see day/night Test cricket within the next two years."

I say roll on day/night tests! I think they are a fantastic idea. The test game is certainly in decline and they are in desperate need of a shake-up and this could be exactly what does it. One example of the possible effectiveness of the day/night tests that have worked a treat is in the World Series Cricket:

In the second season of World Series Cricket the Supertests were played over four days starting at 2.30pm and continuing until 10.30pm with shortened intervals. The total playing time was 30 hours - the same as in a normal Test - and the matches were played under lights. They were popular and attracted much higher audiences than the traditional daytime games.

I personally am very excited to see what is going to happen in regards to day/night tests, and the thought of a tense Ashes finale going down to the wire at The Oval under floodlights sounds very exciting. What about you?

First Test, Day two: Mountain To Climb

2009-12-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

England 88 for 1 (Strauss 44*, Trott 18*) trail South Africa 418 (Kallis 120, Swann 5-110) by 330 runs

Team of the day: South Africa

Player of the day: Graeme Swann

We knew from what I wrote yesterday that we needed to take wickets. And today we did, but allowed South Africa to score a huge total. As it says in the headline we have a mountain to climb, and a really big one at that.

We started well dismissing the dangerman Jacques Kallis 7 overs in for 120, he went bowled by Jimmy Anderson when SA were on 283 for 5. However the latter half of the SA order stuck around for longer than we had hoped they would, and were damaging with charges coming from Duminy hitting 56 and Boucher 49.

Despite the impressive South African total, the star of the day has to be England's Graeme Swann who took 5 wickets for 110, to limit the host's damage, despite the pre-game feeling that the green-tinged pitch was to favour the seamers. Graham Onion's injury fears yesterday thankfully only turned out to be cramp - he ended the day 3-86. Anderson and Broad however had disappointing figures with 1-104 and 1-74 respectively.

When we came out of the pavilion clutching our bats, we had a long evening session to begin our long road to the South African total, and at the close we had started positively on 88-1 with Strauss 6 away from his half century and Trott on 18. The only wicket to fall was Alastair Cook who went for a disappointing 15. Hopefully Cook's poor summer form does not continue on into the winter - in his last 7 test innings he has failed to pass 32.

So then, tomorrow's objectives is purely just to bat. We should be able to as well on the increasingly docile pitch. We could do with Strauss and Trott to stick around for a while and big scores will be required if we are going to get anywhere near the South African total. We surely will see Kevin Pietersen at some point tomorrow, and I for one am interested in seeing how he performs - he will definitely be heavily relied on.

First Test, Day one: Injury, What injury?

2009-12-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

South Africa 262 for 4 (Kallis 112*, Duminy 38*) v England

Team of the day: South Africa

Player of the day: Jacques Kallis

Remember this? Yep, Jacques Kallis was close to not being able to participate in this first test, but it is unfortunate he did. For England fans that is after he contributed the majority of runs which have left South Africa in a commanding position.

The man we were all worried about, (even to the extent of publishing tactics to getting him out in national newspapers as The Telegraph did) Graeme Smith failed miserably, facing just seven balls before being caught behind for a big fat zero off Stuart Broad who can find himself lucky that Smith tickled the ball wide down the leg-side into the gloves of Prior.

However it was Jacques Kallis the veteran all-rounder who was the chief trouble-maker for England, making 112* at the close, leaving Andrew Strauss with doubts over whether bowling first on a pitch traditionally suited to the batsmen was a correct decision.

Another issue England may have to face is not having a full strength Graham Onions for tomorrow after he was off the field in parts of the game today with an injury, leaving James Anderson (who has not yet taken a wicket) and Stuart Broad - the remaining members of our seam attack vitally important.

What more is there to say? We haven't bowled particularly badly, and all of our bowlers have a respectable economy rate, but we need to take wickets tomorrow - including that of Jacques Kallis because as it stands, SA are looking very comfortable indeed.

Pietersen's Intimidation Factor

2009-12-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

Today South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has said that England have lost the player that most intimidated them - Andrew Flintoff.

Undoubtedly Flintoff played a big part in the 'intimidation factor', and there aren't too many England players on the tour of South Africa who's wrath you would be terrified of facing. Actually, lets be honest, if you look down the players in our test squad they pretty much all look like a bunch of polished, upper-class choir boys.

However, there is one name in that list that stands out, one player who on his day is a match-winner, is lethal: Kevin Pietersen, who averages 49.96 in tests. Something which emphasises this is the reaction of the Australian press when he was ruled out of this year's Ashes:

ENGLAND'S PIETERSEN RULED OUT OF ASHES - Sydney Morning Herald
"The news is a savage blow for England as Pietersen is their most dangerous batsman and is feared by the Australians who recall his flamboyant century at the Oval in 2005 to secure the Ashes."
KEVIN PIETERSEN RULED OUT OF ASHES SERIES - Livenews.com.au
"The complaint had affected Pietersen's form in the opening two Tests but he is still a big loss for England as he has that rare ability to quickly turn a match with his unorthodox ways.
"His absence will help Australia's cause as Ricky Ponting's men try to recover from a 1-0 series deficit with three matches to play following Monday's 115-run loss at Lord's."
ALLAN BORDER SAYS ASHES TOUR GAME IN NORTHAMPTON 'HUGE' FOR AUSTRALIA - Fox Sports
"When he’s at his best, Pietersen’s the best player in the country. He’s off his best at the moment, but he brings confidence to the England set-up. It’s a bit like Australia with Ricky Ponting.
"He might not always be in his best form, but you always want him in your team because he can produce something special out of the blue.
"That’s the kind of player Pietersen is. But England have good players to take his place, like Ian Bell, so I wouldn’t think it would make that much of a difference."

If his amazing ability to turn a game on it's head comes out in South Africa he is easily as intimidating as Freddy. The one test series that Kevin Pietersen has taken part in against South Africa was the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy held in England in 2008 where he averaged 60.14. However as this test series is in South Africa we await to see if playing against such a hostile reception in the country of his birth brings out the best in him.

Andrew Strauss seems to think that it shouldn't matter. "Knowing KP, he will have a massive impact on this series," he said. "It really isn't an issue for us where our players are born. We've got the best 11 players in England out on the field."

If Strauss is correct then Makhaya Ntini, be prepared to eat your words.

First test: England vs South Africa - My eleven

2009-12-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

The first test between England and South Africa at Centurion draws ever nearer, but who should play and in what order? Can we find that balance we have been so desperate for?

The pitch at Centurion should favour the batsmen, with little in it for spinners. If it was my choice I would probably go with the starting eleven of:

Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson (providing he is fit), Plunkett, Onions.

This gives us plenty of both batting and bowling options, with the 5 out-and-out batsmen and Prior and Broad are able to score a bit too.

I would probably keep Trott at three - where he is currently playing in the tour match, as he has experience further up the top for Warwickshire. KP at 4 would also reduce the pressure on his shoulders in his patch of off-colour form

With the ball we will also look strong and with a lot of depth that the 4 fast bowlers would bring, with Swann the lone spinner.

If there is any injuries or Anderson is still suffering with that 'mystery injury', that is where it gets interesting. I wouldn't want another spinner so Rashid is out of the question. I think it would be a toss-up between the two medium pacers Mark Davies and Luke Wright, with Wright probably just edging it as he has had prior international experience, and also he is another all-rounder which could help the balance of the side.

Who would you select?

Wright idea or recipe for disaster?

2009-12-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

Due to the ‘mystery’ injury of Jimmy Anderson, according to The Guardian it seems that all-rounder Luke Wright may step in to make his test debut. But, is that the correct decision?

If you look at Wright’s averages, then they would suggest he is not good enough to have even secured himself a place in the England one day side, but he has.

He averages around 22 with the bat in list-A and ODIs and 35 in first-class, whereas bowling he averages around 43 in first-class, around 46 in ODIs and in list-A 38.

Now, if you are saying that just going on averages Luke Wright deserves to be in the England line-up, you must be his mum. However, there are figures that contradict the averages and they are Wright’s highest scores/best figures.

With the bat he has scored a best of 52 in ODIs, 155* in first-class and 125 in list-A. With the ball in his hand, he has scored a best of 2/34 in an ODI, 5/66 in first-class and 4/12 in list-A.

These figures suggest an impressive player. But unfortunately they suggest something else. They suggest a patchy, inconsistent, all-or-nothing player and alarmingly, these would be the words I would choose if I was to describe the England cricket team in recent times.

Do we really need another inconsistent player?

Obviously, we don’t, but the bigger question is does Luke Wright deserve a test place? I believe it is not a case of ‘deserving’ but more a case of giving him a go. He is definitely worth a shot, on the basis that he can score big. We just have to hope that he gives all and not nothing if he comes out to play in the first test in exactly a weeks time.

What do you think?

Sangakkara vs Benson: The referral system debate

2009-12-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest talking points in cricket in recent times is the debate over whether the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) should, or should not be used in Cricket.

However within the past week we have had two case studies which contradict each other: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has said that the lack of the UDRS system in his nation's test agains India cost his team dear, whereas ICC Elite umpire and former England cricketer Mark Benson is pondering retirement because of the system.

The UDRS system was supposed to lift pressure from the shoulders of umpires, with Dave Richardson the ICC general manager originally saying "The system allows television technology to be used in a way that will not result in too many delays, will not de-skill the umpires and will take some pressure off the umpires. The fact is that trials showed that the system improved player behaviour and led to a significant reduction in the number of umpiring errors." However, is the system just applying more pressure to the umps?

The technology available to the third umpire from this UDRS system is as follows:

Slow motion replays
Super slow motion replays
Ultra motion camera replays
Sound from the stump microphones with the replays at normal speed and slow motion
Approved ball tracking technology
The mat, generated by the provider of ball tracking technology, not by the broadcaster
Hot Spot cameras
In addition, other forms of technology may be used subject to ICC being satisfied that the required standards of accuracy and time efficiency can be met.

Mark Benson, ICC Elite umpire seems to disapprove of the UDRS system, with the system even driving him into considering his future in the sport. Benson's issue stems from the first day of the second test between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide, where one referral led to his original decision being overturned.

According to Cricinfo, Benson twice ruled Shivnarine Chanderpaul not-out to caught-behind appeals, both of which were challenged by the Australians. The third umpire, Asad Rauf, upheld Benson's first ruling, prompting an angry response from the bowler, Doug Bollinger, and the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting. But it is the second video review, which resulted in Chanderpaul being ruled out for 62, that is understood to have most upset the English official. Hot Spot replays showed no evidence of the ball striking the outside edge of Chanderpaul's bat, however other camera angles provided Rauf with enough evidence to reverse Benson's original ruling.

Benson apparently then went on a rant in the umpires room at the close of play, irate at the referral system.

On the other hand, Kumar Sangakkara the Sri Lanka wicket keeper-captain has claimed that not having the referral system in his nations third test against India in Mumbai cost his team dear - 500 runs to be precise.

Sangakkara said "Not having the review system cost us over 500 runs and a lot of wickets. It always puts a lot of pressure on the inside. You've got to accept the fact that we were outbowled and outplayed but not to have the review system when every other side in the world is using it and when the ICC had said yes that all sides will be playing with it, it becomes an extra handicap. It cost us quite a huge amount of runs in this Test and the last one."

But, should the referral system be used?

Personally, I think not. Although I don't agree with the argument 'if it is used professionally, then it should be used down to grassroots level' as if that is the case, why aren't pub cricketers paid thousands, millions of pounds? But my argument is that the technology is far, far away from being 100% reliable and correct. What is the point in having technology which doesn't always produce the right answer? I also think it adds more pressure on the umpires than what it detracts.

I have no problem whatsoever in having the third umpire for run outs, or catches, or boundaries as long as they use video footage only. After all - the pictures don't lie.

Ones to watch - County Championship 2010

2009-12-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

The County Championship is starting early this year, but who should you be looking out for in this years competition?

Marcus Trescothick - Marcus Trescothick - hands down one of the finest County Championship players in a long, long time averaging 40.10 with the bat. Everyone thought he had made a miraculous recovery from his stress-related illness which has kept him out of the England side when he headed to India to play in some meaningless tournament I don't care to remember the name of, only for him to bottle it at the last minute. On home turf however, although no spring chicken Tresco is deffo one to watch.
Craig Kieswetter - Aaah, Somerset's Craig Kieswetter. Another player in the overly-long line of South Africans to play for England/waiting in the wings to play for us, joining the illustrious list of; Alan Lamb, Robin Smith, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Matt Prior etc. 22 years old, averages 40.25 in First-class and his nickname is hobnob. Can't be too long before he is called up. He qualifies to play for England in February 2010, unless SA come calling.
James Tredwell - or Pingu as he is more commonly known....apparently. The Kent off-spinner holds a First-class bowling average of 36.78. He can also bat a bit as well - his First-class average is 23.16.
Adil Rashid - Put simply, in my books (not just as a biased Yorkshire fan...okay, maybe it is but anyway...) Adil Rashid is one of the hottest prospects around. Averaging 36.75 with the bat and 33.97 with the ball, 21 year old 'Dilly' has time to 'dally', and could well develop into a player for England in the future.