16 Sunday Feb 2014
Australia’s Mitchell Johnson takes record figures as Australis beat South Africa in First Test
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31 Friday Jan 2014
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Andy Flower leaves post as England cricket coach after Ashes shambles
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06 Monday Jan 2014
TEMPLATE ANALYSIS
The warning signs were there a long time before last summer, that this English cricket side were living on borrowed time, that it would only take a highly focused thoroughly approach and this side would be taken apart.
Trouble was the cricket establishment that included the very dull opening batsmen that was Graham Gooch, was not listening, perhaps seduced by their superior coaching methods or even their own belief in their ability to spot up and coming talent.
Of course last summer was closer than the 3-0 result suggests, however that was not the point – in English conditions this side has as good a chance as any in world at winning a rubber. It’s when they move away from their familiar surroundings that they are found wanting. It was so against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, in 2012, and it has proved in Australia in 2013/14.
England will be rebuilding the side, and looking to the future, but unless they start showing more creatvity to team selections, as well as bravery, they are always going to struggle against opposition that took the decisions they were afraid to do so long before they meet on a cricket field.
ASHES
FIRST TEST, BRISBANE
MITCHELL JOHNSON 4/61, 5/42
AUSTRALIA WON BY 381 RUNS
SECOND TEST, ADELAIDE
MITCHELL JOHNSON 7/40
AUSTRALIA WON BY 218 RUNS
THIRD TEST, PERTH
AUSTRALIA WON BY 150 RUNS
FOURTH TEST, MELBOURNE
AUSTRALIA WON BY 8 WICKETS
FIFTH TEST, SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA WON BY 281 RUNS
AUSTRALIA WIN SERIES 5 – 0
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30 Monday Dec 2013
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Kallis: Cricket’s least celebrated great? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/25541404
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06 Thursday Dec 2012
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Click here
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20 Monday Aug 2012
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Third Test Analysis
South Africa beat England by 51 wins in Third Test at Lords, to take series 2-0 and become the number one ranked Test team in the World.
So, are South Africa the best team in the world – well the rankings would suggest so, and some have even suggested that this team compares favourably with the Australian side captained by Steve Waugh.
Truth is that there at least three teams who on their day can claim to be the best in the world – South Africa is one, England, Pakistan, and then there those who can not be ignored, India, Sri Lanka and of course Australia who are by no means a spent force.
The age of a single power dominating world cricket has long gone – and that is a good thing for everyone.
1. South Africa – 120 points
2. England – 117
3. Australia – 116
4. Pakistan – 109
5. India – 104
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14 Tuesday Aug 2012
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‘Bairstow is as talented as Pieterson’
ANALYSIS
On the face of it, Kevin Pieterson’s omission was a straight forward disciplinary decision – a talented but highly flawed player has been punished for allegedly sending text messages about his team to the opposition.
Nothing can excuse Pieterson’s behaviour.
However, two episodes today and one when Pieterson made that incredible century suggest that there’s more to this whole affair.
There was, it has been reported, a site set up berating Pieterson by his colleagues, and there were those comments by Tim Bresnan that England may be happier without him.
This is after all a team sport.
Jonny Bairstow is a replacement just as talented as Pieterson.
And there was the muted reaction from the dressing room when Pieterson took apart the South African bowling line up, and raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd’s applause for reaching a century.
Pieterson has been treated differently to the rest of the team because, like Ian Botham before, he is regarded as an asset someone England can not do with out.
Trouble is. that like Botham, he has said and done very stupid things.
And like Botham, he has got away with them.
Though unlike ‘beefy’ that has also come at a cost of harmony in the dressing room.
England’s pedestrian team have been flattered by their number one spot in the world rankings – and unfortunately some players believe they are number one.
The proof in the pudding will come this week when they meet South Africa to square the series – and to of course safeguard that much trumpeted number one position.
And they will of have to do that without that talented but flawed player called Kevin Pieterson.
07 Tuesday Aug 2012
MATCH REPORT
The Second Test between England and South Africa at Headingley ended yesterday in a draw. The fact that England were in a position to mount a challenge on the final day of this rain affected second test match owed everything to an outstanding performance from England’s premier South African-born batsman, Kevin Pieterson. His 149 came at a crucial time for a team that had been trounced in the first test and who were looking down the barrel in their first innings reply to South Africa’s 419. He took apart the bowling with an arrogance and skill that put him in the same league as David Gower, Viv Richards and Javed Miandad. This was not slogging, (ala Ian Botham 149 not out v Australia, 1981) but a controlled demolition of an oppostion line-up that many observers regard as the best seam attack in the world.
There was audacity here, as well as well incredible grace.
You could not guess what he would do next.
No one can teach you that in a coaching manual.
It’s what you call raw talent.
That England go into the third test with a chance of squaring the series owes it all to Kevin Pieterson striking 149 at Headingley.
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23 Monday Jul 2012
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MATCH REPORT
The First Test at the Oval was billed as the contest between the best two teams in the world. Pakistan, who whitewashed England during the winter, may have had something to say about that. But they are not the team facing England this summer, South Africa are and they comprehensively beat their opponents here.
England posted a competitive score in their first innings of 385, which was perhaps a hundred or so below par on what appeared to be a friendly enough pitch.
But South Africa’s batting response laid bare England’s bowling and in the process completely knocked the stuffing out of the batting line up for the second innings.
Hashim Amla is a wristy player who is pleasant to watch – the way he was playing England’s bowling he looked like super man.
In the end he finished with the highest score ever made by a South African, 311 not out. He was ably supported by a Jacques Kallis’ 182 not out and a century from the likeable South African Captain Graeme Smith.
Then it was left to Dale Steyn – the great fast bowler – to take five wickets and Imran Tahir to wrap the game up for the tourists.
England cracked when it became clear that they were not going to get past Amla and Kallis.
The game became a formality after.
World champions don’t fold like that.
This could be a long hot summer.
South Africa beat England by innings and 12 runs
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06 Monday Feb 2012
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DUBAI – After wiping the Pakistan team out for 99 in the first innings, England’s bowlers must have known what would follow.
That Broad, Anderson and Panesar (Swann was quiet for once), shined is without question, the trouble is there was precious little else.
England are hanging onto that number one position through default and luck and nothing else because they were outplayed by a far superior Pakistan side, who despite their many frailties geeled as a unit whenever it mattered.
The first innings was perhaps the only time through this three-match series when England actually looked like winning, and that lasted for one and half sessions before Pakistan’s bowlers spearheaded by the inspired Abdur Rehman reclaimed the initiative.
From there it was a simple case of self belief for a very young Pakistan side who never really looked like losing.
For those who have followed Pakistan cricket, the words professional, stable, teamwork have come as a refreshing surprise.
The age of the Imran Khans, Wasim Akrams and Shahid Afridis, talented players who let their egos get in the way, is now over.
Instead, Pakistan has Saeed Ajmal, whose seven wicket haul in the first innings of the first innings began it all, inspiring his nation’s players onwards and forwards under the cool captaincy of Misbah ul Haq.
England will go back to the drawing board and work something out, however the world of cricket may just have witnessed the emergence of the next cricketing superpower.
THIRD TEST, DUBAI
PAKISTAN 99
ENGLAND 141 REHMAN 5 – 40
PAKISTAN 365 AZHAR ALI 157, YOUNIS KHAN 127
ENGLAND 252
PAKISTAN WIN BY 71 RUNS TO COMPLETE SERIES WHITEWASH 3 – 0
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