No answer and no ladies
Straussy stumped, Warne's still at it with the ladies, a carpark call-up, and filthy rich cricketers
Andrew McGlashan
17-Dec-2007
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And the answer is...
Andrew Strauss is managing to keep himself busy while away from England duty. He has been in the Sky studio offering analysis for the series in Sri Lanka and has arranged a stint in New Zealand for the New Year as he aims to fight his way back into the Test squad. Another role has been as a guest on Question of Sport, a UK quiz show, but things didn't go especially well for Strauss. Facing a team captained by former Middlesex colleague Phil Tufnell, Strauss opted for a "home" question in the round where guests can choose whether to answer on their own sport or a different one (worth more points). Strauss's question was: "Three centuries were scored against England during the seven home Tests in 2007. Shivnarine Chanderpaul made two, who made the other?" This really stumped Strauss - rather alarmingly, considering he'd fielded through all three hundreds. He answered Chris Gayle, and Tuffers could hardly wait to pipe up with the correct answer, which was, of course, Anil Kumble at The Oval.
Andrew Strauss is managing to keep himself busy while away from England duty. He has been in the Sky studio offering analysis for the series in Sri Lanka and has arranged a stint in New Zealand for the New Year as he aims to fight his way back into the Test squad. Another role has been as a guest on Question of Sport, a UK quiz show, but things didn't go especially well for Strauss. Facing a team captained by former Middlesex colleague Phil Tufnell, Strauss opted for a "home" question in the round where guests can choose whether to answer on their own sport or a different one (worth more points). Strauss's question was: "Three centuries were scored against England during the seven home Tests in 2007. Shivnarine Chanderpaul made two, who made the other?" This really stumped Strauss - rather alarmingly, considering he'd fielded through all three hundreds. He answered Chris Gayle, and Tuffers could hardly wait to pipe up with the correct answer, which was, of course, Anil Kumble at The Oval.
From the car park to the cricket pitch
It's been quite a week for Western Australia batsman Luke Pomersbach. One minute he was turning up at the WACA to watch Australia's Twenty20 against New Zealand, next he was playing in the match. It was the stuff of childhood dreams.
It's been quite a week for Western Australia batsman Luke Pomersbach. One minute he was turning up at the WACA to watch Australia's Twenty20 against New Zealand, next he was playing in the match. It was the stuff of childhood dreams.
Brad Hodge went down with a back injury moments before the start, and with Australia already down to 11 fit players the management made a hasty call to Pomersbach, who'd just pulled into the car park with his girlfriend. He didn't disgrace himself, making 15 off seven balls, although Adam Gilchrist did say his throwing needed some work. More extraordinarily, his international debut came while he was suspended from state duty for a drinking binge, but he returned to the Warriors side for their Pura Cup match against South Australia and hit 75 of 72 balls. The rest of the season could seem fairly dull.
No ladies, please
Australian cricketers are not usually short of a nice woman on their arm, but apparently when it comes to being interviewed, they'd rather not speak to the opposite sex. It is reported that Stephanie Brantz, a Channel Nine reporter, has been axed from the channel's cricket coverage because the players only want to be interviewed by Mark Taylor or Ian Healy.
Australian cricketers are not usually short of a nice woman on their arm, but apparently when it comes to being interviewed, they'd rather not speak to the opposite sex. It is reported that Stephanie Brantz, a Channel Nine reporter, has been axed from the channel's cricket coverage because the players only want to be interviewed by Mark Taylor or Ian Healy.
"I think the culture needs to change," Brantz told the Herald. "I think this is perhaps a case of Channel Nine not being quite sure about what to do with a woman in sport." Peter Young, a Cricket Australia spokesman, said: "They [the players] don't have gender concerns and most of the players I know enjoy female company." But clearly only away from the cricket field.
Shane bags another
He may have been off the international scene for nearly a year, and his Test record now belongs to Muttiah Muralitharan, but Shane Warne can still command the headlines - on the gossip pages. The News of the World carries a story from another young lady claiming to have, shall we say, enjoyed the company of Warne away from the cricket field. Kerrie Lee, a model, recalls the moment they met in an Aussie hotel bar. "He came up and said, 'Hi beautiful, I'm Shane.' Then he asked if he could buy me a champagne. I thought he might be a bit of a player, but I liked him, so I said yes." Another maiden bowled by Warne's bag of tricks.
He may have been off the international scene for nearly a year, and his Test record now belongs to Muttiah Muralitharan, but Shane Warne can still command the headlines - on the gossip pages. The News of the World carries a story from another young lady claiming to have, shall we say, enjoyed the company of Warne away from the cricket field. Kerrie Lee, a model, recalls the moment they met in an Aussie hotel bar. "He came up and said, 'Hi beautiful, I'm Shane.' Then he asked if he could buy me a champagne. I thought he might be a bit of a player, but I liked him, so I said yes." Another maiden bowled by Warne's bag of tricks.
In the money
There are going to be some very rich cricketers in the world soon. The final contracts for the Indian Premier League have been drawn up and the money being offered is humongous. Warne is believed to be worth $1 million, while Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming will pocket $350,000 each. Nice work if you can get it, and by the looks of it, plenty can.
There are going to be some very rich cricketers in the world soon. The final contracts for the Indian Premier League have been drawn up and the money being offered is humongous. Warne is believed to be worth $1 million, while Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming will pocket $350,000 each. Nice work if you can get it, and by the looks of it, plenty can.
What's in a name
During the Test series in Sri Lanka, the photographers filled their spare moments by thinking up new movie-related names for the Sri Lankan players, based on Star Wars characters. In their tour blog, Stephen Brenkley and Angus Fraser from the Independent, revealed that Mahela Jayawardene is known as Luke Skywalker, Kumar Sangakkara is Han Solo, Muttiah Muralitharan aka Yoda, and Dilhara Fernando is Chewbacca. England's players haven't yet been named, but if they level the series in Galle, it could be a case of The Empire Strikes Back.
During the Test series in Sri Lanka, the photographers filled their spare moments by thinking up new movie-related names for the Sri Lankan players, based on Star Wars characters. In their tour blog, Stephen Brenkley and Angus Fraser from the Independent, revealed that Mahela Jayawardene is known as Luke Skywalker, Kumar Sangakkara is Han Solo, Muttiah Muralitharan aka Yoda, and Dilhara Fernando is Chewbacca. England's players haven't yet been named, but if they level the series in Galle, it could be a case of The Empire Strikes Back.
Quote hanger...
"I've always subscribed to the theory that you shouldn't make a fast bowler angrier than he already is."
James Sutherland responds to New Zealand's comments about Shaun Tait's action. Tait had just taken 2 for 22 in the Twenty20 and soon added 3 for 59 in the first one-day international
"I've always subscribed to the theory that you shouldn't make a fast bowler angrier than he already is."
James Sutherland responds to New Zealand's comments about Shaun Tait's action. Tait had just taken 2 for 22 in the Twenty20 and soon added 3 for 59 in the first one-day international
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer at Cricinfo