The Surfer
All stand to applaud a Prince
Mike Coward praises Ashwell Prince’s century on day two in The Australian , his finest moment in Test cricket
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Mike Coward praises Ashwell Prince’s century on day two in The Australian, his finest moment in Test cricket.
Prince did not just score a century. With great pride and conscientiousness he validated his nascent Test career, realised a dream he had dared to dream from boyhood and gave heart to those who have been criticised, if not ridiculed, for their unflinching commitment to fundamental change in South Africa's cricket in the new democratic republic.
Peter Roebuck also looks at Prince’s performance in the Sydney Morning Herald after detailing Australia’s “rash” response.
Full postNot the least remarkable aspect of his batting was the calmness of his manner. Most batsmen enduring bad patches and dogged by ill-fortune bring baggage with them to the crease. Prince's approach is simple. He does not attempt things beyond his repertoire.
Those who really deserved OBEs
Read Tanya Aldred's spin in The Guardian on who would be worthy of their OBEs and MBEs.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Read Tanya Aldred's spin in The Guardian on who would be worthy of their OBEs and MBEs.
Australia's captain Ricky Ponting for winning the toss and putting England in to bat on a good pitch at Edgbaston in the second Test while his top bowler Glenn McGrath was having his ankle x-rayed in hospital.
Get a degree in cricket history
Incredibly, it's true: you can now get a degree in the history of cricket :
Will
25-Feb-2013
Incredibly, it's true: you can now get a degree in the history of cricket:
The University of Huddersfield lecturer said the 12-week course was the first of its kind in the country. He said: "There are obviously courses about sport and sport history but we believe that no other course has focused on local cricket exclusively." Dr Davies investigated the sport for two years. "We've discovered so many amazing historical items – from bats and balls to old club minute books, photos and documents – that we want to share these findings with local history and cricket enthusiasts."
The weekly sessions will cover the origins of the sport, the first clubs, the impact of the world wars and advances in equipment among other things. They run on Wednesday nights from January 11 from 6.15pm to 9.15pm at the University of Huddersfield. Contact Dr Davies on 01484 472405 for more information.
Warne silenced after Smith’s a “fool” comment
Shane Warne was censored by Cricket Australia before a News Limited interview went to press on Sunday night
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Shane Warne was censored by Cricket Australia before a News Limited interview went to press on Sunday night. Jon Pierik writes that Warne’s comments about Graeme Smith were twice refined by CA officials and the legspinner has since been lectured by Michael Brown, the cricket operations manager. “Warne's line that Smith was a ‘motormouth’ who looked like a ‘fool’ was removed,” Pierik says.
The original version from The Courier-Mail is here.
It hasn’t been the best week for Warne, with The Australian, the national broadsheet, carrying a story that his wife Simone has started divorce proceedings.
Full postCocky Smith is playing with fire: Kepler
The current series between Australia and South Africa has certainly not been short of a word or two
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
The current series between Australia and South Africa has certainly not been short of a word or two. Graeme Smith has made more of an impact off the pitch with his pre-match talking than he has at the crease with the bat. Now Kepler Wessels, the former South African captain, has warned him his tactics could leave him looking rather foolish if Australia continue to dominate the visitors.
Full postI think it's a dangerous style. I think cricket history has shown that somebody like Tony Greig has been made to grovel and eat his words against the West Indies when he did the same thing. He was totally humiliated.
Cairns closing in
Despite his recent struggles with form and fitness Chris Cairns is closing in on a memorable milestone
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Despite his recent struggles with form and fitness Chris Cairns is closing in on a memorable milestone. He needs one wicket to reach 200 in ODIs and 90 runs to reach 5000. Only Sanath Jayasuriya and Jacques Kallis have performed this feat before.
Full postHussey overwhelmed at success
Mike Hussey's rise to prominence has been overwhelming, and he attributes his success to the amount of county cricket he has played:
Will
25-Feb-2013
Mike Hussey's rise to prominence has been overwhelming, and he attributes his success to the amount of county cricket he has played:
He answers instantly when asked about the role county cricket has played in the rise and rise of his career: he scored prolifically for Northamptonshire and also had a brief stint with Gloucestershire before joining Durham.
"It's definitely helped my game a lot, particularly one-day cricket. They play a lot of one-day cricket over there in different conditions and against different bowlers," he said.
Full postNetwork 10 banished from cricket venues
The Australian broadcasting company, Network 10, have been barred from shooting at any Australian cricket venues following the airing of Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith's dispute in the recent second Test :
Will
25-Feb-2013
The Australian broadcasting company, Network 10, have been barred from shooting at any Australian cricket venues following the airing of Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith's dispute in the recent second Test:
Cricket Australia public affairs manager Peter Young said the network and all its staff had had accreditation stripped for the rest of the summer and it would remain revoked at CA's "absolute discretion.
Ten had filmed Ponting and Smith engaged in a lively discussion inside the players' tunnel after Australia had claimed victory in the second Test at the MCG.
With Channel Nine holding the exclusive television rights to broadcast cricket in Australia, Young said non-rights holders such as Ten were not allowed to shoot inside venues.
Full postBangladesh mourn Barlow's passing
Eddie Barlow's death has deeply affected a number of Bangladesh's players, notably Habibul Bashar and Khaled Mahmud with whom Barlow forged close relations :
Will
25-Feb-2013
Eddie Barlow's death has deeply affected a number of Bangladesh's players, notably Habibul Bashar and Khaled Mahmud with whom Barlow forged close relations:
"Whatever I have achieved so far was because of that man. He gave me the mental support when my place in the national team was not even confirmed. I will always remember his words to the selectors that I have learnt afterwards 'Is Sumi in the list for the inaugural Test," said an emotion-chalked Bashar.
"Can you imagine a man seriously ill rushed to the ground only to see Bangladesh's practice match against Derbyshire. Honestly speaking, Bangladesh's cricket was in his heart," he said.
Full postCricket at the Antarctic
Geoff Somers, who is leading a five-man team in the Antarctic, celebrated Christmas in the best possible way: by playing cricket .
Will
25-Feb-2013
Geoff Somers, who is leading a five-man team in the Antarctic, celebrated Christmas in the best possible way: by playing cricket.THE five members of the Polar expedition team planning to recreate Captain Robert Scott’s 1912 epic trek to the South Pole spent Christmas Day at their Antarctic base camp playing cricket.
