It was always a long shot given that we didn't take any early wickets last night, but the game looks to be well and truly over now, barring some astonishing collapse from New Zealand.
Shame in may ways, because the match is quite interestingly poised. I think a target of 250 would be defensible, and if we were at the start of day 4 rather than day 5 we'd have a tight match on our hands.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Strauss' "new" technique
For someone who has spent most of the last 18 months "working on his game" and trying to "iron out some flaws", the secrets behind Andrew Strauss' apparent return to form seem to be fairly straightforward.
They are both designed to combat his tendency to flail outside the off stump - play too far away from his body, thus losing control of his shots and resulting in the ball being airborne through gully and point far too often. Nothing revolutionary, but:
1) He has changed his guard to middle, so that his body is much closer to the ball. He is therefore much better balanced when playing the ball outside his off stump, and the bat stays much more under control.
2) More decisive footwork, particularly in coming forward - this should assist him in driving straighter and opening up more scoring areas.
3) Leaving more balls - he is picking the balls he plays outside the off stump much more judiciously, and leaving plenty which are hittable but risky.
As Alistair Cook starts to open up a bit, I think we may be seeing a return to the Andrew Strauss who first broke into the team on such a purple run of form - a calm, thinking player who never gave his wicket away.
They are both designed to combat his tendency to flail outside the off stump - play too far away from his body, thus losing control of his shots and resulting in the ball being airborne through gully and point far too often. Nothing revolutionary, but:
1) He has changed his guard to middle, so that his body is much closer to the ball. He is therefore much better balanced when playing the ball outside his off stump, and the bat stays much more under control.
2) More decisive footwork, particularly in coming forward - this should assist him in driving straighter and opening up more scoring areas.
3) Leaving more balls - he is picking the balls he plays outside the off stump much more judiciously, and leaving plenty which are hittable but risky.
As Alistair Cook starts to open up a bit, I think we may be seeing a return to the Andrew Strauss who first broke into the team on such a purple run of form - a calm, thinking player who never gave his wicket away.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Bucknor and his Light Meter
Apologies for the lack of posting yesterday - I was actually at the cricket, so opportunities were limited. I will have to figure out this mobile blogging lark.
Very frustrating day it was, too. I can tell you as a matter of fact that the light wasn't that bad, although it fluctuated quite a bit over every five minute period because of variations in the cloud cover. Steve Bucknor in particular had his light meter out every two minutes, and was intent on offering the light at any opportunity.
All I can say is - if light like that is not good enough for play, then we shouldn't be staging Tests in May.
And if that argument needs any more back-up, today's 8.5 over washout does the job admirably. But if we didn't stage Tests in May, then were would we fit in all those fascinating one day internationals......yes, quite.
Very frustrating day it was, too. I can tell you as a matter of fact that the light wasn't that bad, although it fluctuated quite a bit over every five minute period because of variations in the cloud cover. Steve Bucknor in particular had his light meter out every two minutes, and was intent on offering the light at any opportunity.
All I can say is - if light like that is not good enough for play, then we shouldn't be staging Tests in May.
And if that argument needs any more back-up, today's 8.5 over washout does the job admirably. But if we didn't stage Tests in May, then were would we fit in all those fascinating one day internationals......yes, quite.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Test Match Special - Blowers and Jeremy
I'm having to listen to a lot of today's play on Test Match Special today. If you're in England and want to do the same, click here.
It's a shame to hear dear old Henry Blofeld's increasingly senile rambling. It's not as though he was firmly on the straight and narrow at the peak of his powers, but at least he was able to keep good tabs on the cricket in between rambling about buses and pigeons.
Now he struggles to make out which player is which (regularly being prompted by his co-commentator, who is silently gasping in frustration), and often loses track of the flight of the ball. Like this blog's guardian angels Athers and Russell, though, we love him regardless.
And for anyone who watched Sky's highlights programs of the NZ tour, they got that Kiwi bloke called Jeremy on, and he's rather good. He's already had an enjoyable argument with Boycott.
It's a shame to hear dear old Henry Blofeld's increasingly senile rambling. It's not as though he was firmly on the straight and narrow at the peak of his powers, but at least he was able to keep good tabs on the cricket in between rambling about buses and pigeons.
Now he struggles to make out which player is which (regularly being prompted by his co-commentator, who is silently gasping in frustration), and often loses track of the flight of the ball. Like this blog's guardian angels Athers and Russell, though, we love him regardless.
And for anyone who watched Sky's highlights programs of the NZ tour, they got that Kiwi bloke called Jeremy on, and he's rather good. He's already had an enjoyable argument with Boycott.
World beaters
Why can't we play all our tests on a damp, overcast May morning? Our bowling attack, regardless of how many off-form "talents" or slogging "journeymen" it includes, always looks world-beating in these sorts of conditions.
Shame we've scheduled the Ashes series next year for July, then.
For those who doubt, the actual reasons for the Ashes tests being later on in the year are not lost on me, and include:
1. Most Aussies want to get in a good couple of months of county cricket to play themselves in - I make no comment on whether that is a good thing or not, because it's impossible to do so without sounding massively partisan or tediously neutral. I'm neither.
2. The authorities want a better than English chance of being able to keep their gate receipts, rather than refunding the odd day due to a washout and thereby losing millions.
3. Other considerations dictate that the Tests must be associated with an unnecessarily long ODI series and a Twenty20 match that we will inevitably lose.
Shame we've scheduled the Ashes series next year for July, then.
For those who doubt, the actual reasons for the Ashes tests being later on in the year are not lost on me, and include:
1. Most Aussies want to get in a good couple of months of county cricket to play themselves in - I make no comment on whether that is a good thing or not, because it's impossible to do so without sounding massively partisan or tediously neutral. I'm neither.
2. The authorities want a better than English chance of being able to keep their gate receipts, rather than refunding the odd day due to a washout and thereby losing millions.
3. Other considerations dictate that the Tests must be associated with an unnecessarily long ODI series and a Twenty20 match that we will inevitably lose.
The First Day
The first day of the England cricket summer, and the first day of this blog.
The start of both was delayed by rain this morning, but you'll be pleased to know that this hasn't prevented me opening proceedings with a typically English comment about the weather.
Expect to see here a mixture of small, frequently posted reflections on the state of play, mixed in with much more detailed opinion pieces about topics of the day. There will obviously be more activity during the periods when England are playing cricket, but since this is about 11 months a year these days, it should keep me busy.
I expect this to be a bit of a solo journey for a while - so if you are out there and reading, please post something (anything) in the comments boxes to keep me comparatively sane...
PS. This blog doesn't intend to try to compete with Cricinfo, BBC or anyone else who can offer ball-by-ball coverage of various sorts from people who are paid to do just that. This is for discussion of serious and not-so-serious issues relating the English cricket.
The start of both was delayed by rain this morning, but you'll be pleased to know that this hasn't prevented me opening proceedings with a typically English comment about the weather.
Expect to see here a mixture of small, frequently posted reflections on the state of play, mixed in with much more detailed opinion pieces about topics of the day. There will obviously be more activity during the periods when England are playing cricket, but since this is about 11 months a year these days, it should keep me busy.
I expect this to be a bit of a solo journey for a while - so if you are out there and reading, please post something (anything) in the comments boxes to keep me comparatively sane...
PS. This blog doesn't intend to try to compete with Cricinfo, BBC or anyone else who can offer ball-by-ball coverage of various sorts from people who are paid to do just that. This is for discussion of serious and not-so-serious issues relating the English cricket.
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