The Surfer
How much does she know about the game?
The question on everybody's lips is answered, in part, in today's Times :
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
The question on everybody's lips is answered, in part, in today's Times:
The question is how much does she [Caprice] know about the game? At the launch of the World Cup, Caprice, who had dated Rod Stewart and Tony Adams, showed a Cardus-like insight by saying: “I like watching baseball and I’m told cricket is similar, although longer.” Maybe Pietersen is not with her for her analysis.
She'll get an idea of just how much longer when her bloke takes on Australia in the Super Series Test on Thursday.
Full postPick 'n' mix World XI looked doomed from the start
Amid rumblings that those in high places are not amused that the Super Series has been given a lukewarm reception in the press, Mike Selvey's column in the Guardian will hardly help
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Amid rumblings that those in high places are not amused that the Super Series has been given a lukewarm reception in the press, Mike Selvey's column in the Guardian will hardly help. He describes the World XI as:
A disparate bunch of talented individuals, thrown together for a series of exhibitions and a number of them appear to have gone along just for the ride and the loot.
And in case those who run the game weren't listening, he signs off as follows:
It is a lesson, though, to the ICC, whose brainchild these super-mismatches were. Great players do not necessarily a great team make. It is why the Who were a supreme band and Blind Faith were not.
Bradman's a tough cookie ... quite literally
An Indian biscuit manufacturer has paid a tribute to Sir Don Bradman by announcing it is to make biscuits bearing his name
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
An Indian biscuit manufacturer has paid a tribute to Sir Don Bradman by announcing it is to make biscuits bearing his name. Read all about it here.
Full postGive the bowlers a break
The Courier-Mail’s Robert Craddock argues it’s time for the fast men to get some concessions in a batsman’s world.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
The Courier-Mail’s Robert Craddock argues it’s time for the fast men to get some concessions in a batsman’s world.
As the Super Test approaches Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, tells Jim Wilson of the Herald Sun the match will determine whether the concept is worthwhile after an “extremely disappointing” one-day component.
In The Age Nabila Ahmed writes the series has been great as an international exercise but not for much else.
The verdict of Sambit Bal, the Cricinfo editor, is here.
Full postA Caribbean Kerry Packer or the region's saviour?
A week ago billionaire Allen Stanford announced a $28 million investment in Caribbean cricket, mainly via a prestigious new Twenty20 series, but as the reality sets in, the debate has started.
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
A week ago billionaire Allen Stanford announced a $28 million investment in Caribbean cricket, mainly via a prestigious new Twenty20 series, but as the reality sets in, the debate has started.
In The Jamaica Gleaner, Tony Becca writes:
Twenty20 cricket is not first-class cricket, and yet West Indies cricket is about to find itself in a position where, for example, the first-class champions of the region collect a paltry US$7,500 and the Twenty20 champions a whopping one million US dollars.
But in the Barbados-based Nation, Vaneisa Baksh disagrees:
Full postBorn to lead the world
Graeme Smith’s captaincy of the World XI has received a mixed reception
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Graeme Smith’s captaincy of the World XI has received a mixed reception. Vic Marks of The Observer profiles Smith – he is only 24 and has “always been captain” – and decides he was born to lead the world. Ian Chappell is a critic of Smith’s appointment and his view, which was reported by Cricinfo last week, is here.
Speaking of the Super Series, Mark Richardson, the former New Zealand opener, writes on the New Zealand Herald website that the contest will remain an exhibition because of the associated gimmicks.
Full postSick or Super Series?
Let’s start the end-of-the-one-day Super Series debate in Melbourne with The Age , the city’s broadsheet
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Let’s start the end-of-the-one-day Super Series debate in Melbourne with The Age, the city’s broadsheet. Peter Roebuck writes the World XI was “badly led, poorly selected, abysmal in the field … and mauled”. Greg Baum believes the limited-overs series had no point and was hampered by poor timing, despite “spectacular hitting, artful slow bowling and lots of beach balls”.
The Herald Sun’s Ron Reed says the three-match contest could not have been more one-sided if Australia were playing Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
On the minnows theme, Malcolm Conn of The Australian talks to Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, about creating a second tier of international sides.
For Cricinfo’s coverage of the third match go here.
Full postStaying on message
A superb assessment of the not-so-Super Series from Gideon Haigh in the Guardian :
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
A superb assessment of the not-so-Super Series from Gideon Haigh in the Guardian:
The 3-0 clean sweep was over by 8.48pm, so that there was time for the crowd to go home and catch a remake of The Poseidon Adventure on Channel Seven, thereby watching two much-vaunted vessels capsize in the same evening. In fact, some remained to boo the World XI at the presentation ceremony. "I'm sure that was a friendly boo," said the MC, Simon O'Donnell. That's what they call staying on message.
Life in the fast lane
Peter Lalor in The Australian reports how the world's cricketers now have all the trappings of success:-
The Surfer
25-Feb-2013
Peter Lalor in The Australian reports how the world's cricketers now have all the trappings of success:-
English playboy-cricketer Kevin Pietersen arrived with celebrity model Caprice on his arm. Jacques Kallis made his way through the airport with fiancee and former Miss South Africa Cindy Nel on hand. Kallis's compatriot Graeme Smith and his girlfriend, bikini model Minki van der Westhuizen, were due to check into the luxury hotel with the rest of the team early in the afternoon. The international cricketers will tell you it's an honour to be selected in the World XI and to play in such a star studded side. A career highlight. The trimmings aren't bad either
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