The puppy cuts loose and who are they kidding anyway
The day's most interesting moments on and off the field
Andrew Miller in Antigua
02-Apr-2007
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Shot of the Day
Tamim Iqbal batted like a puppy on a leash for the first 35 balls of his innings, visibly straining to cut loose but holding himself back at the behest of his master, Dav Whatmore. Finally, in the 12th over - James Franklin's first - he'd had enough. First up came a clunking cut that whistled through point for four, then two balls later he was off down the pitch in a reprise of his India innings. He didn't quite get to the ball however, and was forced into a late adjustment, under-edging a cut through fine leg. Set a field for that!
Tamim Iqbal batted like a puppy on a leash for the first 35 balls of his innings, visibly straining to cut loose but holding himself back at the behest of his master, Dav Whatmore. Finally, in the 12th over - James Franklin's first - he'd had enough. First up came a clunking cut that whistled through point for four, then two balls later he was off down the pitch in a reprise of his India innings. He didn't quite get to the ball however, and was forced into a late adjustment, under-edging a cut through fine leg. Set a field for that!
Hangtime of the Day
The problem with West Indian cricket, so we are led to believe, is that NBA basketball is poaching all the tallest and most athletic young men in the region. In their absence, it was left to Saqibul Hasan to demonstrate why the shorties just don't cut the mustard. Though he leapt heroically to intercept a clipped drive from Hamish Marshall at mid-on, and held his shape in the air for an age, he managed merely to get a fingertip to the chance, and the moment was lost.
The problem with West Indian cricket, so we are led to believe, is that NBA basketball is poaching all the tallest and most athletic young men in the region. In their absence, it was left to Saqibul Hasan to demonstrate why the shorties just don't cut the mustard. Though he leapt heroically to intercept a clipped drive from Hamish Marshall at mid-on, and held his shape in the air for an age, he managed merely to get a fingertip to the chance, and the moment was lost.
Déjà vu of the Day
It's hard to pinpoint just what's so irresistable about Shane Bond. His run-up is hardly the most thrusting ever seen, and his pace - from a distance - seems a notch or two below the Malingas and Taits of this tournament. But time and again he just gets it all spot on, and his startled opponents are too slow to adapt as the ball hustles through their defences. Against England in St Lucia, he struck with the third and sixth balls of his second spell, en route to figures of 2 for 19; today he struck with his first and sixth of his second spell, for figures of 2 for 15.
It's hard to pinpoint just what's so irresistable about Shane Bond. His run-up is hardly the most thrusting ever seen, and his pace - from a distance - seems a notch or two below the Malingas and Taits of this tournament. But time and again he just gets it all spot on, and his startled opponents are too slow to adapt as the ball hustles through their defences. Against England in St Lucia, he struck with the third and sixth balls of his second spell, en route to figures of 2 for 19; today he struck with his first and sixth of his second spell, for figures of 2 for 15.
Lost leprechauns of the Day
They danced and they sang and chased their pots of gold, but there was no doubt about it. The posse of five puzzling Irishmen at midwicket could not have been more out of place had they been riverdancing at a reggae concert. It was widely assumed they'd misread the itinerary and decided "D2" matches were the place to be, but in actual fact it turned out they were just passing through en route to Barbados, where their all-conquering "D1" heroes take on Australia next Friday. Not so Irish after all.
They danced and they sang and chased their pots of gold, but there was no doubt about it. The posse of five puzzling Irishmen at midwicket could not have been more out of place had they been riverdancing at a reggae concert. It was widely assumed they'd misread the itinerary and decided "D2" matches were the place to be, but in actual fact it turned out they were just passing through en route to Barbados, where their all-conquering "D1" heroes take on Australia next Friday. Not so Irish after all.
Indiscreet photo opportunity of the Day
No, it wasn't Percy Sonn with his pants around his ankles (although that would at least have proved he still exists - the only thing lower than the attendances at this World Cup has been his profile ... where is he?). Instead it was the sight of the reserve umpire, Billy Bowden, who spent several minutes of the New Zealand innings sat by the sightscreen, tapping the ground with a white stick. The suspicions of a generation of international batsmen have been confirmed.
No, it wasn't Percy Sonn with his pants around his ankles (although that would at least have proved he still exists - the only thing lower than the attendances at this World Cup has been his profile ... where is he?). Instead it was the sight of the reserve umpire, Billy Bowden, who spent several minutes of the New Zealand innings sat by the sightscreen, tapping the ground with a white stick. The suspicions of a generation of international batsmen have been confirmed.
Dead-horse floggers of the Day
Even as they presided over yet another hopelessly over-policed and under-attended non-event, the ICC's scandalous obsession with the bottom line shone brazenly through the corporatized gloom. Up on the big screen, as regularly as they dared to promote it, flashed the demand:
Even as they presided over yet another hopelessly over-policed and under-attended non-event, the ICC's scandalous obsession with the bottom line shone brazenly through the corporatized gloom. Up on the big screen, as regularly as they dared to promote it, flashed the demand:
"Buy the official World Cup song, 'Game of Love and Unity', at outlets around the ground"
Love and unity? Just who do they think they are kidding anymore?
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo