As predicted Speed is a spoon

It was pretty dark at the end but I think the Black Caps stole it.

There is no doubt that the Australians did very well and the ICC would struggle to organise an egg and spoon race. Not a bad World Cup really when you compare it to others. We got our shock in the first Semi-Final but it is difficult to argue about the final result. When you can find something to complain about when you are drinking rum in the sun and watching moments of fine cricket you have a pretty good life.

Barbados to watch the Aussies?

Bugger

Well, it was ANZAC day. That was pretty bad both in bowling and batting from Bond, Fleming and co. I find it difficult to say that a team that so out performed (yes and outclassed) the Unbeatable Black Caps play to a different set of rules to the rest of us, so pretend that I am Al - "I am not 100% convinced that the ball did not touch the danced upon pitch". Still the UBCs were gifted two unbelievable decisions by the umpires and Rudi has cojones.

All-in-all a well deserved win by Sri Lanka and now Australia to take the final.

Why don't you invent an easier game then?

While thicky Eng-a-Wales try to work out a game they "invented just after we invented "after", "inventing" and having a chip on your shoulder" (Big Talk Al) the Black Caps and their "thinking man's leader" try to punch above their weight one and hopefully two more times.

Good luck Black Caps, I feel nervous but believe you will give it your best.

Let the real games begin......

Now that the World Cup is over, or at least it will be over after England play Windies today, we have to turn our thoughts to the game that really matters where nobody gets two points for winning a game that doesn't matter.  YES I mean the County Championship and Test Cricket.  Long may they last as the REAL way to play the game.

 

Just ask yourself, today will be match 48 of the World Cup, how many even vaguely exciting finishes have we had - 2? England winning against SriLon despite losing and South Affrica against SriLon.  That's it I believe and how daft is that?

 

Certainly there have been some fun moments during the World Cup. Particularly drinking beer all day with MFJ, while others wimped out.  Or meeting Branson, breaking down in a taxi, a free b eer at Barbados airport, trying to order a sandwich from a place that didn't have any bread or not getting cash from an ATM in a casino. The wonderful people of Antigua with a beautiful stadium that could fall apart if they get a strong gust of wind because of the standards of Chinese engineering.

 

As the World Cup winds down and finishes today, I'd like to thank the Monkey Butlers for being such a fun bunch of chaps. Maybe we can do an England Test in 2007 or see the Aussies in Barbados in 2008 or better still plan for Barbados 2009 and the storming of fortress Barbados by the Barmy Army yet again.

 

To celebrate the first win of the championship season by the mighty men with the six martlets, let's all sing together:

Now is the time for playing
Now let your hearts be gay
List what your captain is saying
While off the field of play
So put your best leg forward, my lads
And time each ball you see
If you sing the old song
Well you can't go wrong
Of Sussex By The Sea

Good Old Sussex by the Sea, Good Old Sussex By the Sea
You can tell them all that we stand or fall
For Sussex by the Sea.

Good Old Sussex By the Sea
Their cricket is a pleasure to see
They will give you a show
For they don't play slow
And useful men are they
So when you go to Sussex
Six Martlets men to see
They will delight you all
With the bat and the ball
In the County Ground by the Sea.

Good Old Sussex by the Sea, Good Old Sussex By the Sea
You can tell them all that we stand or fall
For Sussex by the Sea.

The barmy army, my part in their downfall

The greatest day of my cricket watching life was in August 1999 when we picked grass from the Foster's Oval (as it then was) and were told by a security guard; "Take the bloody lot!".

On that day Eng-a-land were stunned that a team playing with heart and passion could have the audacity to beat the "Mighty mighty England - smell the history!" tm. Since then the team and their fans appear to have regarded any win as proof of their special place in the sun shining upon the empire. They are, of course, not arrogant but the other guys are and this justifies parading to the queen. The barmy army (or perhaps the new recruits) have made attending any game involving Eng-a-land less and less enjoyable and if they will now shut the firk up I will be happy. Cricket is not football, although yesterday's match did function as a World Cup quarter-final.

The Blame

Clearly the demise of the English cricket team can be attributed to one thing - THIS BLOG.

Since we started this stream of consciousness England have got more and more rubbish. So it's obviously this that's causing it.

Forget blaming Duncan Fletcher, we know he's a stubborn ineffectual coach who has consistently made abysmal decisions on incredibly important issues for the last 6 months (£150k's worth) whilst resting on the laurels of a couple of runs difference at Edgbaston (and Freddie's efforts everywhere else), no forget blaming him. It's this blog's fault.

Forget the central contracts issue which allows no-mark out of form players such as Steve Harmison to sit back, relax and bowl as many wides as he wants, safe in the knowledge that he and his family can jet off to the sunshine without fail if he ever bowls one straight - all due to his centrally pre-ordained status of test player. Nope, this blog.

Forget the entire ECB who rival only the FA for lax decision making and fuddy-duddy old boys club outlook on their priveleged positions. Forget the toothless bowling attack (Freddie and Monty excluded). Forget the fragility of our top, middle and bottom order. Forget the 'fredalo'. It's all this blog's fault.

We should hang our heads in shame and be booed from the keyboard.

Fred is actually the smart one

Super Eights	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Australia	6	6	0	0	0	12	+2.028	1377/216.1	1181/272.0
New Zealand	6	5	1	0	0	10	+1.068	1245/258.0	1109/295.1
Sri Lanka	6	4	2	0	0	8	+0.995	1505/291.1	1198/287.0
South Africa	7	4	3	0	0	8	+0.313	1561/299.1	1635/333.2
England	6	2	4	0	0	4	-0.440	1256/294.5	1211/257.4
West Indies	5	1	4	0	0	2	-1.212	1065/238.1	1349/237.2
Ireland	6	1	5	0	0	2	-1.282	1034/283.0	1145/232.0
Bangladesh	6	1	5	0	0	2	-1.435	953/268.0	1168/234.0

"WHEN we win we will have an extra 2 points in the Super 8 - but what bearing does that actually have"

"As Alex has so eloquently pointed out the two points just don't matter."

"All that matters until the semifinal is getting to the semifinal and all that means is finishing in the top four of the Super 8. This game just doesn't matter unless you happen to be from under downunder. "

Friday, March 16, 2007 - see below

Is Australia New Zealand in disguise?

Great performance from the Black Caps on Saturday - they did not panic even though they were playing against evil. However, in bursting into the Semi's they took Sri Lanka with them and threw Eng-a-Wales a lifeline. Was that well thought out?

Are you Eng-a-land in disguise?

Wow, no need for a table today. The Black Caps played a shocker. I wonder how much they were paid to throw it? Their acting needs to improve in any case.

So it goes...

The Unbeatable Black Caps are taking a hammering and Mick Jagger is watching. He is about to see a recovery similar to those Keef has made.

So it goes...

Super Eights	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
New Zealand	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.728	830/159.4	694/200.0
Australia	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.510	1053/161.1	864/172.0
Sri Lanka	4	3	1	0	0	6	+1.549	1057/196.0	747/194.2
South Africa	5	3	2	0	0	6	-0.199	1211/229.5	1285/235.0

It is probably time again to look at the table

Super Eights	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
New Zealand	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.728	830/159.4	694/200.0
Australia	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.510	1053/161.1	864/172.0
Sri Lanka	4	3	1	0	0	6	+1.549	1057/196.0	747/194.2
South Africa	5	3	2	0	0	6	-0.199	1211/229.5	1285/235.0

It is probably time to look at the table

Super Eights	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
New Zealand	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.728	830/159.4	694/200.0
Australia	4	4	0	0	0	8	+1.510	1053/161.1	864/172.0
Sri Lanka	4	3	1	0	0	6	+1.549	1057/196.0	747/194.2
South Africa	4	2	2	0	0	4	-0.629	855/179.5	996/185.0

Not Just Murder

The gang has also stolen my bag. I can only guess that this is to get the shirt I bought for my father. It has the name of the World Cup winner on it and so is important for the bookies.

Bangladesh have RSA at 137-8! Other coach to go?