The kit has landed

Bwymie has sent picked up the kit, and forwarded the photos. Click here to see the kit, as professionally modelled by 'Sally' at Bryan's personal modelling studio in Durban......... Photography by.... well, Bryan I assume!

HOw to make mates and influence people

By Ian Chappell (coach of India).

Following India's disastrous World Cup and humiliating early exit, Ian Chappell has decided that the best way to endear himself to the Indian public in teh aftermath is too recommend that Sachin Tendulkar retires from cricket. Now, India is an extremely religious country with approx. 1 billion inhabitants, and I bet that Sachin is not far behind the 'big guy' in the popularity stakes. Good thinking Ian, way to go. Stupid Aussie.

If Tendulkar had found an honest mirror three years ago and asked the question; "Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the best batsman of all?" It would've answered; "Brian Charles Lara." If he asked that same mirror right now; "Mirror, mirror on the wall should I retire?" The answer would be; "Yes."

Ruls is ruls - part 2

Further to my post below about the RULS, Cricinfo has provided a summary here.

They're having a laugh

Kevin Patterson is world's best one-day batsman

Kensignton Oval - Bring It On

Ok, so tournaments like this generally provide one or two shocks. Safe to say this one has trumped all aother in that area. Without even mentioning Woolmergate, we get to witness the cricketing talents of Ireland and Bangladesh in the Super 8's rather than the more fancied Pakistanis and Indians.


No matter. And true to form, I'm sure we'll all be part of the Blarney Army against the Sheep Shaggers come Friday, April 13th! Without further ado, here are the fixtures we'll be a part of.

April 13: Australia v Ireland
April 15: Bangladesh v Ireland
April 17: South Africa v England
April 19: West Indies v Bangladesh

I have no doubt that the showdown with the Poms will be epic, both on and off the field. I can't wait.

17 days.... and counting!

Predictions

So, further to the previous post, these are the games I predict we will be watching:

Apr 13 - Aus vs Windies
Apr 15 - Bang vs Windies
Apr 17 - SA vs Eng
Apr 19 - Ire vs Bang

Semi: Aus vs Windies

The Eng will be HUGE with all the poms in the ground, and a major banana skin for SA.

3 Windies games - YEAAH MAAAN.

Hit me back with your predictions!

Ruls is ruls

Rog found an interesting bit of information today relating to schedule of games in the Super 8's. Some of you may have known this, but I certainly didn't (courtesy of Cricinfo):

Please Note: The fixtures for the Super 8 league relate to A1 being the first seed in group A, A2 the second, B1 the first in group B etc, as the expected qualifiers from each group. It does not refer to the actual league placings from round one.If these two teams do qualify they will be seeded in position 1 or 2 as specified regardless of whether they finish first or second in their group. For example, if West Indies win Group D and Pakistan come second, for the purposes of the Super Eights, West Indies will still be D2 and Pakistan will still be D1.If these two teams do not qualify from their group they will be replaced in their indicative position by the team that qualifies instead of them. For example, if Ireland qualify instead of Pakistan, Ireland will become D1

Bizarre, and hence why the spreadsheet wouldn't change the venues of certain fixtures in teh Super 8's round, regardless of whether SA beat Aus or not!

Its a tie!!

All the recent banter about fines meetings started me thinking (yup, 4 weeks of preparation for a fines is bad/good news for everyone) about my favourite fines' moments. There are plenty, some more hazy than others, and some which I can't remember entirely such as standing in a paddling pool at the end of my last game for the mighty one-and-one-halves in my......... I'll leave it there for the sake of the kids!!

Anyway, it is quite apt (not the standing in a paddling pool, the favourite moments) because one of my favourite parts of any fines meeting is pitting members of the congregation against one another in some form of a race, dare, or other general activity. Any contest between members obviously requires an independant adjudicator, the time-keeper, who on completion of the competition declares a winner - without bais. Invariably competitions are won by the slightest of margins, as uncompetitive contests are as boring for the participants as for the audience. And VERY often, the independant, objective adjudicator might declare that the contestants were inseparable, hence A TIE!!! The fines chair then has various options at his/her disposal on the manner in which to settle the contest, as no real contect can end a tie. Its like kissing your sister they say.

Clearly no one told the Zimbabweans this, as ysterday they somehow managed to contrive a genuine tie in a cricket match against the Irish at the World Cup. See here for the match report.

There will be no kissing of sisters in any of my fines meetings, and as such all ties will need to be settled with a clear and obvious winner, how ever long it takes.........

London Strategy Session

The London crew met recently in order to trial a variety of rums and mixers for the team. Actually, I think the agenda was to agree how we could be useful in helping to organise things for the trip, but we were quickly sidetracked by enormous portions of roast meat and rum!

Research results: Malibu and pineapple comes highly recommended, as does the more traditional Captains and coke. For the more adventurous, spiced rum and orange (?!) which had the added effect of sideways looks from the barman!

Its not looking good!!

SA smashed by Pakistan.

Sky Sports launch CWC site

Another site to follow the World Cup progress on. Skysports have launched their own CWC specific site. It's probably going to ONLY focus on England, but never-the-less may be worth checking out from time to time.

Last-minute change to Proteas squad

Cricket fans across SA rejoiced today at the news that there had been a last-minute change to the Proteas' World Cup squad.

A rampant dipslay of form by Ross Williams in a recent match at CCJ, Auckland Park, where he put together a sparkling and elegant 55*, and then captured 3 wickets, combined with his athleticism in the field, has enabled Williams to force his way into the squad.

His inclusion is at the expense of the bits-and-pieces player Robert Patterson, or Robman Peterson, or whatever his name was, the C-Grade club cricketer who bowls slow in his attempts to masquerade as a spinner.

SA Convener of Selectors, Haroon Lorgat, is delighted at Williams' late inclusion, and in fact has been quoted as saying to Williams that "you are the “wildcard selection” that we will be pinning our hopes on".

Can you believe everything you read?

Shoaib and Asif out of the World Cup
Cricinfo staff
March 1, 2007
Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been ruled out of the World Cup due to their injuries, the PCB made official today. They will be replaced by Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami. "Akhtar and Asif are both out due to injury and we have decided to replace them with Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami," Wasim Bari, the chief selector, was quoted as saying by AFP.
"Their injuries will take another two weeks to heal so after consultation with Inzamam-ul-Haq we have taken the final decision.The Pakistan team is capable enough to deal with this critical situation."

2 questions spring to mind:
1. Is it a coincidence that the 2 bowlers cuffed for drugs are the very same 2 who now suddenly both have injuries, and the very same 2 who would not take a pre-World Cup drugs test? Hmmm
2. What is the old Palestinian President, Yasir Arafat, doing in the Paki squad??