Matches (12)

IPL (2)

BAN v IND [W] (1)

County DIV1 (2)

County DIV2 (3)

RHF Trophy (1)

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe (1)

WT20 Qualifier (1)

SL vs AFG [A-Team] (1)

RESULT • 55th Match • IPL • T20 • Wankhede

SRH

173/8

(17.2/20 ov, T:174) 174/3

MI won by 7 wickets (with 16 balls remaining)

Schedule Table Report Series

RESULT • 4th T20I • Sylhet

IND-W

(14/14 ov) 122/6

BAN-W

(14/14 ov, T:125) 68/7

IND Women won by 56 runs (DLS method)

Schedule Report Series

An African Adventure

Globetrotting...but it's all work (honest)

From the tranquillity of the Somerset countryside and the small quaint cricket ground in Taunton, to the searing African heat and raw aesthetics of Zimbabwe, to finally winding up in the tropical extravaganza that is the Caribbean is quite an

Nick Compton

25-Feb-2013

Of course you must understand that I am not one of the idle rich. My travel itinerary is all work, work, work and no play. Well, in my case a lot of play actually. Anyway, I digress. Travelling around the world, despite having to work, is hugely rewarding, meeting interesting people, indulging in cultures unknown and so different from anything one would associate with normality. This really is a great way to experience life and I must say just writing this is a strong reminder of things easily forgotten in the professional capitalist world we wake up to every morning.

So I arrived in the Caribbean after a longish flight from South Africa via New York - talk about climate shock. I stepped onto a plane with only a pair of boardshorts and arrived some 17 hours later to an early morning minus five degrees in New York. Gee was it cold. Then back on the plane in my warm woolies to Antigua three hours later dripping in sweat!

I’ve written a lot about my African adventure in Zimbabwe and for what it’s worth it has probably been one of the best cricketing and cultural experiences of my life. But now it's time to turn my attention to the most famous cricketing destination in the world - West Indies. I grew up watching heroes like Ambrose, Walsh, Lara and the end of the Marshalls and Haynes era. West Indian cricket was, for me, filled with magic. Such cool dudes, with their quaint accents and jaunty swagger. They seemed impervious to anything around them, living by their own rules. Now that I was playing against all the local islanders I could experience the real thing.

Full post

New Year thoughts - Part two

I'll move onto the next series the one I enjoyed watching the most, not least because there are great commentators to listen to

Nick Compton

25-Feb-2013

I'll move onto the next series the one I enjoyed watching the most, not least because there are great commentators to listen to. Funny how it makes such a difference. Michael Slater, Tony Greig and Mark Nicholas are just a few of a great batch. Channel Nine do great cricket coverage compared to some of the commentary I’ve had to listen to in South Africa.

Anyway, I believe England are the best team as we stand today and I say that because they have all the bases pretty much covered. Diversity in their bowling attack with James Anderson and his prodigious swing, Chris Tremlett with height and bounce, Tim Bresnan with swing and stock bowling attributes as well as a wicket taking ability and of course the best spinner in the world Graeme Swann.

The batting is well balanced with only Paul Collingwood the man struggling at the moment and now has announced his Test retirement. India have a relatively inconsistent bowling attack. Zaheer Khan is their best bowler only averages 31 in Test cricket, Ishant Sharma is inconsistent and Sreesanth is playing a different game half the time, but has shown capabilities when he channels his thoughts wisely. South Africa on the other hand have the best batsmen and best bowler in the world and without them certain holes do appear. I really feel that England are in a great place, it just looks like such a close knit team and so much has to be said of Alastair Cook and how he's worked it all out. Along with Andrew Strauss England are looking ominous up front and it has to be said Andy Flower has forged a strong combative and tough test unit.

Full post

New Year thoughts - Part one

Well another Christmas and New Year comes and goes

Nick Compton

25-Feb-2013

Well another Christmas and New Year comes and goes. I can't believe it's already 2011. I mean I can remember being just twelve years old, back in 1995, standing in the reflection of my bathroom mirroring Jacques Kallis's impenetrable technique. I wondered if I would ever look as good and have a defense like his one day. Most kids probably thought when looking into the future what cars, airplanes and life would look like in 2011. Instead I wondered if I would make it on the big stage.

Sixteen years on I may not have foreseen the future, but instead I am sitting writing a blog on my new Apple iPad (something we certainly didn't have back then) and, yes, things have changed somewhat. I am not playing international cricket and nor are we flying in cars yet, but for me perhaps the thing that has changed most is my awareness and the simple realisation that the older one gets the less time there is to do and achieve things.

I say that at the grand old age of 27, but in sporting terms it's not particularly young. They say you're in your prime come the late twenties so I think I'll rest on those laurels as we head into the New Year and hope that some of my outstanding achievements and ambition will be realised sooner rather than later.

Full post

Learning to chill

Two and a half months playing cricket in Zimbabwe and you know what, I can sense a change; both in myself and the local players in the Mashonaland Eagles team

Nick Compton

25-Feb-2013

Two and a half months playing cricket in Zimbabwe and you know what, I can sense a change; both in myself and the local players in the Mashonaland Eagles team. I was watching us lose our last four-day Logan Cup game. And yet, despite this, I was pumped up by the way we lost. I thought, man, I’m really proud of what we achieved here.

For the record Marc Mbofana, playing his first game since sitting on the sidelines for most of the season, scored his maiden first-class half-century and then followed it up with a hugely courageous and gritty 50 in the second innings. Had he had some more support perhaps we would have won.

Sitting at the end of the day nine wickets down, and then watching our 10th wicket pairing put on 70 was really inspiring. The guts and determination not to give up even at that point was incredibly satisfying. Every ball ‘snake’ blocked and survived prompted a real loud concoction of Shona slang words of encouragement (to which I’m getting the hang of), the odd chuckle, a few claps and jeers.

Full post

Invest wisely for the future

You guys out there have no idea how much interest there is in cricket in Zimbabwe

Nick Compton

25-Feb-2013

You guys out there have no idea how much interest there is in cricket in Zimbabwe. This is not some sort of colonial outpost where cricket is the domain of the white colonial era. Yes, this country obviously has a colonial history and has an incredibly proud sporting tradition but let it be said right at the start, cricket is loved and passionately pursued by huge numbers across the social spectrum.

If handled correctly Zimababwe could become a real cricketing powerhouse. So the operative phrase here is ‘handled correctly’,