Sorry Cricket Tournament Finally Ends in Chaos

Sambit Bal sums up the disastrous Cricket World Cup.

Even at the end, they couldn't get it right and the event ended in farce, with the teams playing out the last three overs in pitch dark. Not to take anything away from the Aussies, who apart from Scotland, were hardly challenged throughout the tournament. OK, I was talking about in the bar after the game. Got to take those moral victories.

Not a very good advert for a sport that is looking to expand.

What Were They Thinking???

International Cricket Council Scores You Tube Own Goal

With a remit to globalise the game, crickets mandarins are spending their energies squishing the limited free publicity they get on You Tube. With less than 75 percent of the potential audience able to access the Cricket World Cup on free to air television and the free coverage available largely dominated by the murder of one the coaches, you would think that this was a low priority for these bozos. With India, the largest commercial market for cricket out of the competition, you would think that a more progressive approach would be sensible. In addition, it doesn't really make sense for tickets for the matches themselves to be priced more than four times the average weekly wage in the host nation. If they want to make it more of a peoples game, they need a less reactive approach.

Irelands Eyes are Smiling

I was in the office this Sunday morning at 7am, St Patricks Day (in most of the world) and the Genie came out of the Lamp. After cruelly being denied the Six Nations Championship, by some lame Ecossais defending, it was just desserts. I watched some of the tortuous late overs on the internet and hoped for the upset.

The Captain scoring a six to win the game was fantastic.

This is a Pakistani reaction and here is an Irish one. Somewhat different, but interesting.

Got to love the underdog. So much for all those snooty pants who did not like the inclusion of the minnows. As a minnow follower I say Go Minnows!

Herschelle Gibbs Smashes the Dutch

Herschelle Gibbs smashed six sixes in one over in yesterdays carnage against the Dutch, the first time in a one day game. South Africa scored 353 off 40 overs and the three of the first four batsmen made tons (the other a duck- bummer). Ugly (if you are Dutch and care about cricket).

B Teams take the field

Crickets second stringers get their day in the sun. This guy, Duane Leverock, a 21 stone spin bowler for Bermuda, who is a policeman in his real life and who makes Shane Warne look thin, got Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood out in the recent warm up game. Too bad the batsmen could only amass 45 runs. In other warm up games, Ireland gave South Africa a scare and Bangladesh beat New Zealand.

Some of the top current and former players don't like it and there are plenty of opportunities for wipe outs, but I think that it is good for cricket. The ICC wants cricket to be global and this is a good way of moving that along. Standards have to improve with the Associate Countries and there is nothing like money to help that process. I don't think that being thrashed by the big boys will diminish the enthusiasm of the smaller countries and there is always the chance of an upset.

Here is a nice history of the World Cup from The Age.

Beware of Canny Scots

Australian Cricket Captain, Rickie Ponting , warned the opposition that Australia were the team to beat at the Cricket World Cup, despite their recent poor run of form. When reminded that their first match was against those Canny Scots, famous giant killers and usually major underachievers, he said he wasn't much worried, because they Canny Bat, Canny Field, Canny Bowl. You wait Ricky.

Saltires Countdown to the Cricket World Cup

With the Aussies on the ropes and the old guys getting injured, you need to be able to drive home the advantage with a motivating scary mascot. Instead of the heavy roller, you can call for the Highland Cow to make a few choice indentations in the pitch, when the Aussies have to bat. Who is going to say no to a rampaging hairy Scottish animal.

As the Embers Burn Out

There has been a wide variety of views around the internet

The Australian View

From After Grog Blog (Aussie Cricket Fanatic if ever there was one. Don't go here for sympathy if you are a Pom. It is relentless)

Dads Army 5 Duds Army 0

From the BBC Cricket Team



The English Commentators View (Self deprecating, humorous, zen like, despairing...)

"That was amazing," he says. "Pietersen going third ball has made me genuinely happy. As if all the pain, the lack of sleep, the humiliation, frustration, longing, anger, regret, bitterness, churlishness, and fear engendered by the last couple of months has vanished in one beautiful edge. I want to have a party. I want to kiss you all. I feel euphoric and free and weightless and joyous. I feel 17 again. It's my first kiss, my first sunset, my first steps rolled into one. Is anyone else feeling like this? I don't understand it but it has changed my life. Any Australians out there I pity you, because you will never experience the true euphoria of one who has hit rock bottom discovering that bottom is merely a door to another purer world. I am zen. I am cricket. I am the ball. I am love."

Comments from a Frustrated English Fan

The Tin Drummer said...

On the other hand - what is there to say? If I were a commentator, what _would_ I actually say?

"Welcome to the f***ing SCG, it's a f***ing rubbish day and E****** are f****** s***, going down by *** wickets again..."

Jeez man, what the hell are you supposed to say in the face of epoch making incompetence??? Given that it took my pathetic life savings to see 1998/99 I feel qualified to comment here - I love England but by God I hate cricket sometimes.

Australians also sledge and bat better

Pietersen to Symonds "Here comes the professional fielder" Symonds response, a match changing innings of 156.

Collingwood sledges Warne and Warne comes back with "An MBE for making 8 at the Oval", heard clearly over the stump cam on the radio commentary and a match changing innings of over 70.

Interesting that in the last Ashes series in England that it was a spinner (Warne off Pietersen), who "Dropped the Ashes". This time it was Giles (off Ponting).

In my office yesterday it was like communal last rights as huddles of my colleagues sat around the two television sets quietly enjoying the last moments of this Ashes series. I just enjoyed the last few moments of Kerry O'Keefe, the funniest commentator going.

Now on to the big bash and the tedious triangular series. I will have to find some other form of entertainment until March 14, when the cricket haggisbashers get their day in the sun in St Kitts and Nevis with the Australian One Day Team.

At least the Scots are good at sledging.

Countdown to March 14 St Kitts and Nevis

As Australia turn the screws on England in Perth, likely securing the Ashes at the same time, Scotland cruised to a 6 wicket ODI thrashing by Bangladesh in the first of a two match series.

The second match of the Cricket World Cup between my country of birth and country of residence is likely to be pretty one sided, with the first ten over score likely to be 6 for 47 or 176 for no wicket. Us patriotic Scots can only hope that it is not a rout. My colleagues cannot understand why I quietly support England when I am Scottish. I mean I detest the English Football team with all the overpaid prima donnas and yet I have a sentimental affection for the English Cricket Team. I will likely have to take the day off on the 15th. Even the most optimistic cannot hope for a result.

I am curious if the Tartan Army Bagpiper will be allowed to play?