Hah, I knew this; baseball evolved from the English game of rounders and cricket. Little known fact: the first game of international cricket was played in 1844 between Canada and the United States. Canada won, of course. Stick that up your jumper, Donald Trump.
Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
April 30, 2025
June 24, 2021
Cricket: World Test Champions
New Zealand are Champions of the World. I can hardly believe it, the New Zealand cricket team has finally achieved something. Okay, they first did that by becoming the number 1 test team in the world earlier in the year. But now they've got the trophy to prove it. Suck on that Australia!
I almost feel sorry for India losing in the final. They've been on top of the rankings for so long it would've looked odd if they ever fell out of the top two. But in the final they did look ordinary. It was as if they didn't want to be there. Then on the other side, New Zealand clearly wanted it, they played with fire whenever they got a chance in a rain interrupted match.
I've got to stop criticising NZ cricket now. They can rightly say they're champions. Well done.
January 20, 2021
Australia Crushed: India Triumphant
Good to see India take Australia down a peg or two. I'm talking cricket of course; India have scored a huge test victory over Australia in the fourth test at Brisbane. The ground is called The Gabba and Australia haven't lost there for 33 years. Not only that, no team has chased down more than 200 to win at the Gabba. Well take a bow India, you just broke that record by scoring 329 in the second innings.
Australia are often bad sports, they're the ugly face of cricket. In the drawn third test the Australia captain said to all-rounder Ravi Ashwin, 'can't wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash'. Hopefully, Paine will never live those words down.
Oh, and with India's win, New Zealand still remain the world number 1 test team. Thank you, India. 'Can't wait to get you to the Gabba Ash' 'Can't wait to get you to the Gabba Ash'
July 30, 2019
Kane Williamson - NZ Cricket
I read somewhere that New Zealand's 'Black Caps' captain is finding it hard to come to terms with how an umpire could decide the outcome of the World Cup. I've got no sympathy, he's paid the big money to actually know the rules of the game, as are the coaches. On the day they failed to know those rules and managed to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory. I will say it again, you'd never see that level of incompetence exhibited at a game of baseball. It simply wouldn't happen. NZ cricket have the incredible ability to find a way to lose. They've never won anything.
July 26, 2019
New Zealand's Own Ben Stokes
I'm talking about Ameliaranne Ekenasio. She scored the winning goal that won New Zealand the Netball World Cup. She was born and raised in Australia, played netball for U-21 Australia and then moved to NZ for more playing time. She was clinical and stuck the knife in when required.
Ben Stokes was born in NZ and left for the UK at the age of 12 with his family. He started playing for England and also stuck the knife in when required. Both defeated the country in which they were born and raised. I'm kind of impressed by their professionalism.
Ben Stokes was born in NZ and left for the UK at the age of 12 with his family. He started playing for England and also stuck the knife in when required. Both defeated the country in which they were born and raised. I'm kind of impressed by their professionalism.
July 15, 2019
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: The Final
New Zealand played England in the Cricket World Cup final, the match ending in a tie after each had completed their 50 overs (241 runs each). The contest then went to so-called "super overs" where 6 extra balls are bowled by each team. The team scoring the most runs wins. However, the super overs also ended tied. That handed the world cup to England as they had scored the most boundaries in the match.
[ Update: NZ actually won the game, scoring 241 runs to England's 240. No need for the so-called Super Over. Turns out the umpires got it wrong on the third to last ball of the match, awarding Ben Stokes 2 runs plus 4 overthrows, a total of 6 off the ball when it should have been 5 runs scored - see this link: Ben Stokes Incident
This illustrates why I prefer baseball over cricket. Coaches and key players know their rules in baseball. I have said it many times, NZ have proven themselves to be a bunch of amateurs at this cricket biz. They should have stopped the game to have the correct score registered (this is not to criticise England, Stokes did nothing wrong and he's entitled to take everything that comes his way)]
After a day playing such a closely fought match, it's kind of hollow to decide things by count-back of boundaries (it also penalises teams that collect runs in singles and two's and who do not get bowled out accumulating their score). Why do they not play the way basketball does when the scores are tied? Keep playing extra time until a result is obtained. In cricket that would mean adding super over after super over until the result.
Many will say that NZ redeemed themselves a little after their capitulation to Australia in the final four years ago. But I'm not so generous, the reason NZ lost runs a little deeper, it goes to the culture within the team.
Leading up to the final the NZ trainings looked like a team just happy to make the final. They didn't look like a team desperate to avoid losing another final. Then during the game they could not set a worthwhile total, NZ's final 10 overs with the bat were average at best. To illustrate, consider the very last ball NZ faced. The batsman ducked out of the way and no run was scored. What he should have done is throw his bat at the ball as there wasn't another ball to face. Defending, NZ fielded well, but they too often find themselves defending a total that's too low. Thus, their results are often much closer than they need to be and this latest final was a classic example of that.
England looked like they were choking under the pressure of home town expectations. They got there - just. NZ has to learn to keep their foot on the throats of their opponents. Oh and while NZ were robbed, England did deserve the win. Why? NZ only won one of their last five matches played in the tournament.
[ Update: NZ actually won the game, scoring 241 runs to England's 240. No need for the so-called Super Over. Turns out the umpires got it wrong on the third to last ball of the match, awarding Ben Stokes 2 runs plus 4 overthrows, a total of 6 off the ball when it should have been 5 runs scored - see this link: Ben Stokes Incident
This illustrates why I prefer baseball over cricket. Coaches and key players know their rules in baseball. I have said it many times, NZ have proven themselves to be a bunch of amateurs at this cricket biz. They should have stopped the game to have the correct score registered (this is not to criticise England, Stokes did nothing wrong and he's entitled to take everything that comes his way)]
After a day playing such a closely fought match, it's kind of hollow to decide things by count-back of boundaries (it also penalises teams that collect runs in singles and two's and who do not get bowled out accumulating their score). Why do they not play the way basketball does when the scores are tied? Keep playing extra time until a result is obtained. In cricket that would mean adding super over after super over until the result.
Many will say that NZ redeemed themselves a little after their capitulation to Australia in the final four years ago. But I'm not so generous, the reason NZ lost runs a little deeper, it goes to the culture within the team.
Leading up to the final the NZ trainings looked like a team just happy to make the final. They didn't look like a team desperate to avoid losing another final. Then during the game they could not set a worthwhile total, NZ's final 10 overs with the bat were average at best. To illustrate, consider the very last ball NZ faced. The batsman ducked out of the way and no run was scored. What he should have done is throw his bat at the ball as there wasn't another ball to face. Defending, NZ fielded well, but they too often find themselves defending a total that's too low. Thus, their results are often much closer than they need to be and this latest final was a classic example of that.
England looked like they were choking under the pressure of home town expectations. They got there - just. NZ has to learn to keep their foot on the throats of their opponents. Oh and while NZ were robbed, England did deserve the win. Why? NZ only won one of their last five matches played in the tournament.
July 04, 2019
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: New Zealand
The New Zealand cricket team is proving itself to be very average. Its world ranking is far higher than it really deserves and now we can see why: the Kiwis have no fight in them.
They're poorly lead and play like a bunch of amateurs. The problem with NZ cricket goes deeper too; they're a team of upper middle class guys. That's a recipe that'll never get the job done. To win you've got to have a bit of mongrel in there, look at the All Blacks for inspiration. For summer sports the men with that mongrel are out fishing or hunting, or they're in motor sport or baseball. They're not going to stand around all day saying inane things like ' great shot Whitherrington' or 'c'mon lads give them a bit of what-o.'
At the world cup in 2019 I've been following Afghanistan, they've got some fight in them which is a stark contrast to the chinless wonder Kiwis. One day Afghanistan may even win at the top level, won't that be a day to celebrate! But watching the NZers is like watching concrete set, boring and always a disappointment. For me Kane Williamson getting out against Australia said it all, when walking off having amassed a disappointing 40, he looked like he was taking his dog for a walk in the park, not like he was gutted he'd just let his team down.
They're poorly lead and play like a bunch of amateurs. The problem with NZ cricket goes deeper too; they're a team of upper middle class guys. That's a recipe that'll never get the job done. To win you've got to have a bit of mongrel in there, look at the All Blacks for inspiration. For summer sports the men with that mongrel are out fishing or hunting, or they're in motor sport or baseball. They're not going to stand around all day saying inane things like ' great shot Whitherrington' or 'c'mon lads give them a bit of what-o.'
At the world cup in 2019 I've been following Afghanistan, they've got some fight in them which is a stark contrast to the chinless wonder Kiwis. One day Afghanistan may even win at the top level, won't that be a day to celebrate! But watching the NZers is like watching concrete set, boring and always a disappointment. For me Kane Williamson getting out against Australia said it all, when walking off having amassed a disappointing 40, he looked like he was taking his dog for a walk in the park, not like he was gutted he'd just let his team down.
June 30, 2019
ICC: Cricket World Cup 2019
Two comments come to mind: the New Zealand v Australia match - it looked to me as if NZ were trying to lose, giving the Australians easy outs. That's the only way to describe a woeful batting performance from the Kiwis.
And media seemed to spend more time talking about fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan fans than on the game itself. The game was a gripping encounter and deserved more favourable comment.
And media seemed to spend more time talking about fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan fans than on the game itself. The game was a gripping encounter and deserved more favourable comment.
November 05, 2018
New Zealand Cricket Collapse
I rarely comment on Cricket, but come on NZ, all out for 119 runs against Pakistan? Why do people support this useless team?
August 17, 2018
Ben Stokes
I've been following the saga surrounding England cricketer Ben Stokes. Now he's been found not guilty of affray, by a jury no less, then why is the matter still being pursued? I heard the England coach talking about Stokes giving a public apology. Why? All that happened was a bit of biff outside a nightclub. Then the coach added something about he'll have to pull his weight (Stokes that is). What? Just let the guy get on with things. It's easy to see why England lose all the time.
March 27, 2018
Australia Cricket Cheats
Australia have been cheating at cricket for decades. Ban the whole team for a year, that'd sort the problem. Ban them all I say.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-south-africa/smiths-shame-australia-media-slam-rotten-cricket-culture/articleshow/63460950.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/australia-in-south-africa/smiths-shame-australia-media-slam-rotten-cricket-culture/articleshow/63460950.cms
December 01, 2015
Cairns Not Guilty
Ok, so Chris Cairns has been found not guilty. He had an excellent barrister. Now what of Brendon McCullum, the NZ Cricket team captain? Should he resign?