Hayden 380
Bravo to Matthew Hayden for a brilliant innings and a new world Test record of 380. And for grabbing some of the media spotlight away from the Rugby World Cup on its opening night.
Zimbabwe and race quotas
There’s been a lot of friction in Zimbabwean cricketing circles over “black quotas” in team selection. I believe that an “affirmative action” policy is important for the long-term development of the game in Zimbabwe. It’s a pity that the ZCU is not being open and transparent about its motives.
Australia v Zimbabwe Test series preview
It’s going to be a struggle to take an interest in the two Test “3 Test Series” between Australia and Zimbabwe. Coming so soon after the Bangladesh series, it is hard to see this being anything other than a 2-0 cakewalk for the Australians.
Warnie’s ban from training
It looks like Shane Warne will be barred from training with the Victorian, Australian (or even St Kilda) teams if his twelve-month ban for drug transgressions is carried out to its fullest. We’ll hear more about this. JH was asked for comment by Neil Mitchell on Melbourne’s radio 3AW this morning (August 22).
Channel 9 moves Bundaberg to Cairns
We come to expect the ABC sports department to mangle, ignore, or totally re-invent sporting ground titles when there are naming rights sponsorships involved. But what is behind Channel Nine’s renaming of “Bundaberg Rum Stadium”, the venue of the Second Test between the Australian cricket team and Bangladesh, to “Bundaberg Stadium”?
Bangladesh cricket faces more trouble than just the Aussies
Many cricket followers who are grimacing at the thought of the huge mismatch between Australia and Bangladesh about to get under way in Darwin on Friday morning.
Wisden 2003: A bible without commandments
Imagine purchasing a nice new copy of the Bible, and flicking through in search of the Ten Commandments only to find that they had been removed “for space reasons”. Such is the problem with the 2003 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
Bring back the Don’s cap, and onya the Black Caps
The streak is over. Australia’s run of twenty-one successive one-day wins has been cut down by the West Indies in Trinidad this morning. Which is a good moment to spare a thought for the New Zealand cricket team.
A book not to be judged by this year’s cover
Sitting on my desk at this minute is the 1970-71 edition of the New South Wales Cricket Association yearbook. The cover design features a bright orange background with the text “Cricket Year Book. 34th Edition. NSW Cricket Association. $1.40” on it, and a black-and-white action photo of Kerry O’Keeffe bowling a leg-break. By today’s standards […]
J Paul Getty Jr 1932-2003
It would be nice to be so filthy rich that you could give untold amounts of inherited wealth away and still live the most extravagant life of reclusion yourself. John Paul Getty Jr, who died the day before Good Friday at the age of 70, was a classic case.