The Buzz
Langer steps up to the plate
Justin Langer was heckled constantly about his size by the Barmy Army during his playing days, with the English fans serenading him with “Hi, ho, hi, ho” from the seven dwarfs
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Justin Langer was heckled constantly about his size by the Barmy Army during his playing days, with the English fans serenading him with “Hi, ho, hi, ho” from the seven dwarfs. Now the Australian batting coach, Langer gets another reminder when he does throw-downs at training. Before he helped Shane Watson fine-tune for Thursday’s first Ashes Test he had to place a step at the non-striker’s end to ensure his release point was up at the height of a normal bowler.
Full postTrumpeter wins over the Fun Police
The intimidating cauldron atmosphere of the Gabba will have a soothingly familiar accompaniment for England's cricketers this week, after it was confirmed that the Barmy Army trumpeter, Billy Cooper, has been given permission to play his instrument
Andrew Miller
25-Feb-2013
The intimidating cauldron atmosphere of the Gabba will have a soothingly familiar accompaniment for England's cricketers this week, after it was confirmed that the Barmy Army trumpeter, Billy Cooper, has been given permission to play his instrument throughout the five-Test series.
Four years ago, Cooper lasted for barely a session on the opening day of the series before being hauled out of the Gabba for breaching the ground regulations. That was just one of a number of incidents in the match that soured the atmosphere for the visiting supporters, who complained of scattered ticket allocation and over-zealous officialdom from the so-called "Fun Police". At one stage the Barmy Army organiser, Paul Burnham, threatened to call the whole tour off.
Now, however, the classically trained Cooper has applied for special dispensation through official Cricket Australia channels, and is expected to be part of the official entertainment package for the Test series. Happily for those who prefer their atmosphere to be buzzing in the non-literal sense, vuvuzelas remain on CA's banned list.
Full postCan Australia urn an Ashes rethink?
Another Ashes series begins and the resting place of the urn is up for debate again
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Another Ashes series begins and the resting place of the urn is up for debate again. Well, it isn’t really, because it’s owned by the MCC, but that doesn’t stop the talk. The tiny trophy travelled to Australia last time and flew back to the museum at Lord’s as soon as Ricky Ponting’s men had claimed the series 5-0.
Ponting would like the urn to live in the country of the winners. “That will be good,” he said. "I know there was a lot made last time about how frail it was and whatever else. I'm sure with technology these days there's something to ensure that it's safe on a journey across the world.”
But Andrew Strauss wants it to remain at its current London address. “I think it’s at the home of cricket for a reason,” he said. “If it was possible to transport it around easily maybe it’s the right thing to do. If it isn’t then it’s quite a nice little glass box it sits in at Lord’s.” That’s Strauss’s home ground for Middlesex.
Full postCould KP play the Aussies blindfolded?
Kevin Pietersen's form has been a hot topic in the lead-up to the Ashes, even more so now that the Australians have seemingly picked a left-arm spinner, Xavier Doherty, just to target him
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Kevin Pietersen's form has been a hot topic in the lead-up to the Ashes, even more so now that the Australians have seemingly picked a left-arm spinner, Xavier Doherty, just to target him. Doherty averages 48 in first-class cricket, but clearly the Aussies selectors have a masterplan. For his part, Pietersen has already declared himself 'on fire' during this tour and his dismissal for 5 against Australia - bowled by Steve O'Keefe (yes, a left-arm spinner) - is unlikely to dim his belief.
And, judging by this video, KP could take on the Australians with his eyes shut - or at least blindfolded. Facing a bowling machine set to a decent pace he produced a free swing of his arms and launched the ball clear out of the ground. Perhaps if he faces Doherty at the Gabba his best bet is to shut his eyes and swing.
Full postSleeping with the baggy green
Justin Langer loves his baggy green so much that when he told a Test match lunch in Brisbane that he went to bed with it every night nobody was sure if he was joking
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Justin Langer loves his baggy green so much that when he told a Test match lunch in Brisbane that he went to bed with it every night nobody was sure if he was joking. What followed was an on-stage monologue about the tradition of the cap that had Australia’s long-term supporters tingling and Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, trying not to gag.
When Hussain was asked to detail what England’s cap traditions were he said: “No, we’ve got a life, before turning to Langer. "You’re not still sleeping with your cap?”
But Hussain did outline a few things Australia had stolen from the old enemy. “You’ve nicked our sponsor, you’re picking 17 players in a squad and you’re losing games. It’s good to see the roles reversed.”
Full postAustralia's 'virtual' preparation for the Ashes
What's the best way for an under-pressure batsman to prepare for a defining Test
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
What's the best way for an under-pressure batsman to prepare for a defining Test? Face a virtual bowling attack consisting of James Pattinson, Moises Henriques, Josh Hazlewood, Shane Warne and Saqlain Mushtaq.
Australia have a new Ashes weapon in the high-tech Probatter system, and Michael Hussey was the first to try it out at Australia's opening training session for Thursday's first Ashes Test at the Gabba. Hussey's form has been under intense scrutiny and he had to seal his spot in the squad with a century for Western Australia last week.
Hussey started off in the net by facing Pattinson - the real version is currently carrying a stress fracture - in a custom-made shed at Allan Border Field. The back wall carries a vision of the bowler running in, and at delivery, a ball is powered out of a hole, at a speed determined by the computer modelling.
Unfortunately the bowling options don't contain James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann, but the exercise does provide a struggling batsman with another line in self-justification. "I'm feeling great against the virtual bowler, it's just a matter of transferring it to the middle," they can now say.
Full postMS Dhoni to do a 007
India captain MS Dhoni is going the James Bond way
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
India captain MS Dhoni is going the James Bond way. No, he’s not going to become a secret service agent. Rather, he is soon going to be the owner of a Walther rifle, something that is synonymous with 007. Shimon Sharif, the director of a website that imports shooting equipment for many Indian national shooters, confirmed that such a request had indeed come from Dhoni. “A week after the Commonwealth Games, I got a mail from Dhoni wanting to buy a Walther rifle,” Sharif told the Hindustan Times. “I replied to him and, to my surprise, I got an answer in five minutes. He seemed very serious about buying the rifle.” Dhoni will soon be wielding a Carbontec air rifle, also used by Beijing Olympic Games gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra at the Olympics. And the cost? About Rs 1.48 lakhs or approximately USD$ 3260.
Full postFree beer for every Aussie if Ashes are won
History imbues the Ashes with the sort of significance that goes beyond words
Sahil Dutta
25-Feb-2013
History imbues the Ashes with the sort of significance that goes beyond words. Pride, adulation and a place in cricketing folklore await great Ashes performances but VB Beer have added a further incentive for Australia. Under the "Shout the nation" commitment, if Australia win back the urn from England over the next two months, free coupons for the beer will be printed in newspapers at the conclusion of the final Test on January 8. Feeding 13 million Aussies a free beer would cost the company AUS$20 million at retail prices which makes this seem more like a bet against the hosts than a patriotic promise but if Ricky Ponting is celebrating at the end of the series it could be quite an after party.
Full postSpeed thrills at dawn
The next Pakistan-South Africa Test is four days away but it’s already causing a few headaches
Dustin Silgardo
25-Feb-2013
The next Pakistan-South Africa Test is four days away but it’s already causing a few headaches. Specifically for the broadcast team, who will commute daily between their hotel in Dubai and the stadium in Abu Dhabi, a trip that’s 80 km each way. Distance is one problem, as the commentator Mike Haysman noted in his blog on supercricket.com: since they need to get to the ground two hours before the start of play, they will need to leave their hotel at 5:30am to beat the rush hour. Ergo, a wake-up call at 4:15am (it takes time for them to look good, in case you’re wondering). That’s not all: the E 11 highway that runs between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is rumoured to be among the fastest (read: most dangerous) in the world. In 2008, the highway witnessed an accident that involved 200 cars, and killed three people, injuring 277. The speed limits have since been reduced to 120km/h. The commentators would probably feel safer padding up to Dale Steyn or Umar Gul.
Full postZimbabwe cricket reaches out to township kids
The sight of stands full of school children during both domestic and international cricket matches is not new to Zimbabwe, but their presence could be even more notable as children from Highfields, Chitungwiza and Mabvuku townships will not only be
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
The sight of stands full of school children during both domestic and international cricket matches is not new to Zimbabwe, but their presence could be even more notable as children from Highfields, Chitungwiza and Mabvuku townships will not only be allowed free entrance to all games during the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 tournament, but will also be provided with transport to get there.
“Some of these children are our most loyal fans and really look up to the Masakadza’s, Taibu’s and Coventry’s of this world,” said Zimbabwe Cricket spokesperson Shingai Rhuhwaya. “It would mean a lot to them to get the chance to see their heroes play alongside Brian Lara or Lance Klusener.
“We appreciate the difficulty that some children may face in getting to and from the venue to watch a game of cricket which is why we have availed our bus and hired others to ferry them to and from Harare Sports Club.”
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