Well since I last mentioned it disaster has struck, we had a small first innings lead (having scored over 500) and with a day to go? Cert draw ? Nope we collapsed abjectly and the Aussie won.
We recalled Monty and he promptly took 5 wickets as we bowled them out for 244. Oh and Harmisson bowled well. We promptly collapsed. Will Kevin Pieterson please note chucking your wicket away is stupid. Panesar, the chap who can't bat, got 16 not out and earned compliments from the Aussie commentators.
As I type we have to bat all day tomorrow with 5 wickets left to draw. Not a hope, Jones is horribly out of form. We had a chance until McGrath got Cook out for a deiant 100 and then removed the nightwatchman for a duck.
Sigh at least Spurs won away!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
BBC Sports Personality
I refuse to discuss the cricket today.
The BBC have announced the 10 people shortlisted for the Sports Personality of the year award. I fine it hard to get excited since there have been so few great British performances but here are the nominees and my comments.
Jenson Button - he won a grand prix. He didn't win the drivers championship he won a grand prix. Not a hope in my book!!
Joe Calzaghe - had a defining fight with Jeff Lacy and won it handily. Of course we really didn't know how good Lacy was. Calzaghe probably needs to beat WBC Champion Markus Beyer or a name fighter like Jermaine Taylor. Still a worthy contender.
Darren Clarke - this is difficult. Did he really achieve enough? Yes its all very emotional and (given my mum has breast cancer) I can relate to him I'm not certain his winning would be more than a sympathy vote. Something Clarke has said he doesn't want.
Nicola Cooke - The cyclist has doen everything this year, but cycling is a minority sport and she needs an olympic medal. another worthy contender.
Ricky Hatton - successfully moved up a division but has since moved down again. His time was last year. Needs to beat some names in 2007.
Andy Murray - well he has a personality, pity its Kevin the Teenager. Still if he continues his development he has a chance. But rising to world no 19 is not a sports personality winning performance.
Monty Panesar - great fun had superb summer. Been inexplicably left out of the ashes team. Tempted to say vote ofr him to embarass Fletcher.
Zara Phillips - won the European championship last year and the Worlds this. Only the third rider to do so. Probably needs an Olympic Gold but a strong contender.
Phil Taylor - is darts a sport? Still Taylor is the greatest Darts play ever, a true competitor and he has dominated his event. If Hendry and Davis can win for Snooker....
Beth Tweddle - won Britain's first world gold in the uneven bars. She needs an Olympic Gold.
So who will win? I think the human story may win it for Clarke. who should win? probably Zara Phillips with the likes of Calzaghe or Cooke also worthy winners.
The BBC have announced the 10 people shortlisted for the Sports Personality of the year award. I fine it hard to get excited since there have been so few great British performances but here are the nominees and my comments.
Jenson Button - he won a grand prix. He didn't win the drivers championship he won a grand prix. Not a hope in my book!!
Joe Calzaghe - had a defining fight with Jeff Lacy and won it handily. Of course we really didn't know how good Lacy was. Calzaghe probably needs to beat WBC Champion Markus Beyer or a name fighter like Jermaine Taylor. Still a worthy contender.
Darren Clarke - this is difficult. Did he really achieve enough? Yes its all very emotional and (given my mum has breast cancer) I can relate to him I'm not certain his winning would be more than a sympathy vote. Something Clarke has said he doesn't want.
Nicola Cooke - The cyclist has doen everything this year, but cycling is a minority sport and she needs an olympic medal. another worthy contender.
Ricky Hatton - successfully moved up a division but has since moved down again. His time was last year. Needs to beat some names in 2007.
Andy Murray - well he has a personality, pity its Kevin the Teenager. Still if he continues his development he has a chance. But rising to world no 19 is not a sports personality winning performance.
Monty Panesar - great fun had superb summer. Been inexplicably left out of the ashes team. Tempted to say vote ofr him to embarass Fletcher.
Zara Phillips - won the European championship last year and the Worlds this. Only the third rider to do so. Probably needs an Olympic Gold but a strong contender.
Phil Taylor - is darts a sport? Still Taylor is the greatest Darts play ever, a true competitor and he has dominated his event. If Hendry and Davis can win for Snooker....
Beth Tweddle - won Britain's first world gold in the uneven bars. She needs an Olympic Gold.
So who will win? I think the human story may win it for Clarke. who should win? probably Zara Phillips with the likes of Calzaghe or Cooke also worthy winners.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
2nd Test
Oh sorry C missed your comment!! We need 11 wickets - nuff said!!
I woke up yesterday to find out that England were doing well. I fully expected to wake up and find a collapse but no Collingwood proved us all wrong with a marvellous 206, Pieterson hit a fine 158 and then Freddie gets a late wicket!
Optimistic? No I s till think it'll be a draw but at least we're competitive.
I woke up yesterday to find out that England were doing well. I fully expected to wake up and find a collapse but no Collingwood proved us all wrong with a marvellous 206, Pieterson hit a fine 158 and then Freddie gets a late wicket!
Optimistic? No I s till think it'll be a draw but at least we're competitive.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Oh well
Seems my worst fears were realised.
Our bowling attack, Freddie an honourable exception, had absolutely no penetration. We are going to have to ask is Harmisson really that good. Yes I KNOW he was world number 1 but for a few years now he has show no consistency and has put in few performances of note. Was he an ordinary player who hit a purple vein of form or is a good player now out of form.
I left for work this morning with England 28-0 by the time I got the car out it was 28-2.
This will be a real test of the team if they can save this then it will be a real fillip. As it is they look like they are going to get crushed.
For those who comment we lost the first test two years ago I'd comment that we were at least competitive then. At the moment we aren't.
Mood depressed.
Our bowling attack, Freddie an honourable exception, had absolutely no penetration. We are going to have to ask is Harmisson really that good. Yes I KNOW he was world number 1 but for a few years now he has show no consistency and has put in few performances of note. Was he an ordinary player who hit a purple vein of form or is a good player now out of form.
I left for work this morning with England 28-0 by the time I got the car out it was 28-2.
This will be a real test of the team if they can save this then it will be a real fillip. As it is they look like they are going to get crushed.
For those who comment we lost the first test two years ago I'd comment that we were at least competitive then. At the moment we aren't.
Mood depressed.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
And so the Ashes
well 3 hours something until the Ashes start......
One of the two big decisions has been made. They've gone with Jones, this does make me wonder why they took Read. it should have been Prior, it just goes to show that the selectors at home wanted Read whereas the Coach wants a batsman keeper so they compromised.
Jon Agnew reckons it'll be Giles over Panesar. I think this is negative, I understand the concerns over the batting but I'd have gone for 6 batsman, play Flintoff at 7 and play Panesar. Hey ho let battle commence.
I expect to wake up and have my hopes squashed.
One of the two big decisions has been made. They've gone with Jones, this does make me wonder why they took Read. it should have been Prior, it just goes to show that the selectors at home wanted Read whereas the Coach wants a batsman keeper so they compromised.
Jon Agnew reckons it'll be Giles over Panesar. I think this is negative, I understand the concerns over the batting but I'd have gone for 6 batsman, play Flintoff at 7 and play Panesar. Hey ho let battle commence.
I expect to wake up and have my hopes squashed.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Square Pegs - Round Holes
Whether you think he is good enough for England Andy Johnson has been in outstanding form for Everton, he deserved his chance.
Johnson has played the lone man in a 4-5-1 or as part of a 4-4-2. So what does our manager do? Play him wide right. I ask you!! If he wanted 4-3-3 then play Wright Phillips!!
Surely he should have played 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Rooney playing in the hole? As it is we continue with the Erikson policy of picking players out of position.
Win Euro 2008? Not a hope.
Johnson has played the lone man in a 4-5-1 or as part of a 4-4-2. So what does our manager do? Play him wide right. I ask you!! If he wanted 4-3-3 then play Wright Phillips!!
Surely he should have played 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Rooney playing in the hole? As it is we continue with the Erikson policy of picking players out of position.
Win Euro 2008? Not a hope.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Jonny Wilkinson
Like many people I can remember where I was when Jonny Wilkinson scored the drop goal that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
At that moment Wilkinson had the world at his feet. He was good looking, articulate and a genuine sporting hero.
Sadly for Wilkinson he had an injury but that would heal...... well it did but everytime he has tried to come back he has picked up an injury. He has never played for his country again and he in 3 years he can't have played more than a dozen times for his club.
He is still ony 27 but it is beginning to look like he'll never make it at the really highest level.
To me it seems a tradgedy for someone who had the world in his hands but whatever happens he still has that seminal moment that most of us dream of.
At that moment Wilkinson had the world at his feet. He was good looking, articulate and a genuine sporting hero.
Sadly for Wilkinson he had an injury but that would heal...... well it did but everytime he has tried to come back he has picked up an injury. He has never played for his country again and he in 3 years he can't have played more than a dozen times for his club.
He is still ony 27 but it is beginning to look like he'll never make it at the really highest level.
To me it seems a tradgedy for someone who had the world in his hands but whatever happens he still has that seminal moment that most of us dream of.
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