The way England have been playing this summer they need all the homework they can get

Mickey Arthur is actually quite highly regarded overseas, He did a good job of coaching South Africa before going to Western Australia. (But then, I guess that's like saying that the cosmetic surgeon did a nice job with Elle McPherson's left earlobe...)

First Andy Flower goes (without even a farewell press conference) and now Kevin Pietersen, easily the best and most flamboyant batsman in the side, is made to "retire"!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/716277.html


Sad...no more Pietersen and no more Sehwag on the international scene now

He's still playing County and probably T20 cricket around the globe. I can honestly see that England could get into the position where their policy of "looking to the future" will involve a series of losses and a recall for a 34-35yo Kevin Pietersen.

Watching New Zealand vs India 1st Test, Brendan McCullum & Kane Williamson are smashing the The Indians they just brought up thier 200 partnership with both scoring 100s

It looks like Alex Doolan will be making his test debut against South Africa in the 1st test on Thursday after Shane Watson has been ruled out of the 1st test

Turned out a great Test match. NZ won by 40, and all expectations were that the talking point would be the umpiring. I'm not a Dhoni fan, but in his post-match interview, he hosed down any controversy regarding umpiring decisions.

I thought for sure India were gonna get there i can't believe how New Zealand crumbled in their 2nd innings

Australia named their squad for the T20 World Cup today, and Brad Hogg is set to become the oldest player to play in an international T20 match! With Hogg at 43 and Brad Hodge recalled at 39, it's good to see Australia looking at the future...

Seriously though, I'm happy that good performances have been rewarded, regardless of age. The whole squad is -

George Bailey (c) 31yo
Dan Christian 30yo
Nathan Coulter-Nile 26yo
James Faulkner 23yo
Aaron Finch 27yo
Brad Haddin 36yo
Brad Hodge 39yo
Brad Hogg 43yo
Glen Maxwell 25yo
James Muirhead 20yo
Mitchell Johnson 32yo
Mitchell Starc 23yo
David Warner 27yo
Shane Watson 32yo
Cameron White 30yo

The way Brad Hodge played in The Big Bash he deserved his spot i really wanted Perth Scorchers Craig Simmons to get a go the way hegot those 2 hundreds in the Big Bash was amazing

Would have been nice, but as the commentators said at the time, it would have been hard to leave out Finch, White or Warner at the top of the order for him.
That said, he was one of the few players in BBL3 with a day job, and I'll guarantee that he might take holidays in a couple of months, because I reckon he'll command near $1 million in the upcoming IPL. All based on two good innings!

1st Test:South Africa vs Australia, South Africa won the toss & is bowling first


South Africa Team:
1:Graeme Smith
2:Alviro Petersen
3:Hashim Amla
4:Faf Du Plessis
5:AB De Villiers
6:JP Duminy
7:Ryan McLaren
8:Robin Petersen
9:Vernon Philander
10:Dale Steyn
11:Morne Morkel


Australia Team
1:David Warner
2:Chris Rogers
3:Alex Doolan
4:Shaun Marsh
5:Michael Clarke
6:Steve Snith
7:Brad Haddin
8:Mitchell Johnson
9:Peter Siddle
10:Ryan Harris
11:Nathan Lyon

1st Test:South Africa vs Australia Day 1 stumps

Australia 4/297

Chris Rogers-4
David Warner-12
Alex Doolan-27
Shaun Marsh-122no
Michael Clarke-23
Steve Smith-91no

South Africa vs Australia 1st test day 2:

Australia were all out for 397 (Shaun Marsh 148,Steve Smith 100,Dale Steyn 4/78)

South Africa at stumps were 6/140 (AB De Villiers 52no,Mitchell Johnson 4/51)

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test:Stumps Day 3


Australia 397

South Africa 206(AB De Villiers 91,Mitchell Johnson 7/68)

Australia 3/288(Shaun Marsh 44no,Michael Clarke 17no,David Warner 115,Alex Doolan 89)


Australia leads by 479



New Zealand vs India 2nd Test:Stumps Day 1

New Zealand 192(Kane Williamson 47,Ishant Sharma 6/51)

India 2/100(Dhawan 71no)

India trail by 92 runs

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test:Australia has won by 281 runs


Australia 397(Shaun Marsh 148,Steve Smith 100,Dale Steyn 4/78)

South Africa 206(AB De Villiers 91,Mitchell Johnson 7/68)

Australia 4/290dec(David Warner 115,Alex Doolan 89,Dale Steyn 2/61)

South Africa 200(AB De Villiers 48,Mitchell Johnson 5/59)



New Zealand vs India 2nd Test:Stumps Day 2

New Zealand 192(Kane Williamson 47,Ishant Sharma 6/51)

India 438(Rahane 118,Dhawan 98,Dhoni,68,Tim Southee 3/93)

New Zealand 1/24(Rutherford 18no,Williamson 4no,Zaheer Khan 1/7)

New Zealand trail 222 runs

I thought Mitchell Johnson was awesome enough in the Ashes series, but he seems to be doing better still in South Africa.

It almost makes me feel a bit better, just not much.

Curious to see what SA does for the 2nd Test. They obviously miss Kallis, but they are traditionally not a team that chops and changes its personnel. 3 of the specialist batsmen had double failures (including the captain), and the bowling lacked penetration. Steyn was, as always, the pick, but he looked like he might still be suffering a little from that broken rib. Philander was tight, McLaren tried hard, but Morkel and Peterson were just not in the hunt. Can't see them leaving out Morkel on the strength of one Test, but Peterson and possibly McLaren might make way.

New Zealand vs India 2nd Test:Stumps Day 3


New Zealand 5/252(Brendon McCullum 114no,BJ Watling 52no,Zaheer Khan 3/60)

New Zealand leads by 6 runs

I'm watching New Zealand vs India 2nd Test after being down 5/94 late into Day 4 New Zealand are 6/480 with Brendon McCullum on 244 & a lead of 234

New Zealand vs India 2nd Test:Stumps Day 4


New Zealand 6/571(Brendon McCullum 281no,Jimmy Neesham 67no,BJ Watling 124,Zaheer Khan 3/129)

New Zealand leads by 325 after 189 overs

Brendon McCullum needs anther 19 runs to reach 300 and surpass Martin Crowe's 24 year old record score by a New Zealander in Test Cricket


Brendon McCullum & BJ Watling record patnership of 352 is world record 6th wicket partership

And all that without Ross Taylor!
People are asking when McCullum is going to declare. Some people don't understand cricket! NZ won the First Test of a two-Test series, so they only need to draw this one to win the series, a rarity for modern-day NZ. Based purely on that fact, I hope he goes on to get 350!

I will gladly eat my words on the South Africa - Australia prediction Mitchell Johnson was simply awesome and he seems to be redefining modern cricket and fast bowling. Has put the 'F' word back in the batsmen's mind! Other than De Villiers, nobody seemed comfortable standing up to this guy and no matter what Smith says, can't see the scars from the first Test going away so fast for South Africa

India...*sigh*...one chance we have finally in 2.5 years to win a Test abroad and we can't close it out Hats off to Brendon McCullum and Watling, though.

Almost all of the Indian team bowled today including MS Dhoni for 1 over


Jimmy Anderson has revealed that he suffered a broken rib in the 2nd Ashes Test in Adelaide bowled by Peter Siddle he played the remaining 3 tests with the injury