After the exhiliration of Edgbaston, Test cricket came crashing back to earth with a thud at the Harare Sports Club yesterday. What can you say about a team that allows Daniel Vettori to score a Test match hundred in 82 balls? Continue reading “Invettorible!”
Enough, Zimbabwe!
Sadly, I think it’s time for the ICC to suspend Zimbabwe from all international cricket competition. Mugabe’s conduct in running the country has finally, in my opinion, made it untenable for any side to play cricket there. The ICC, of course, is going to do no such thing.
In the past I’ve supported Zimbabwean cricket’s right to remain on the world stage, acknowledging the complexity of political and commercial interests that have bound the ICC and its members. But how, really, can we continue to justify sending teams to play in a country whose fabric is being torn to shreds by a reckless and deluded president, who just happens to also be Patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union? The “Drive Out Rubbish” program is, for me, the last straw. Continue reading “Enough, Zimbabwe!”
Congratulations Bangladesh!
^BAN_ZIM: 64.2 Enamul Haque jnr to Mpofu, OUT: Allover! tosses up, outside off and spins away, tries to defends it on the front foot, gets the outside edge and Ashraful takes a good sharp catch at silly point
^BAN_ZIM: Zimbabwe 154/10, Partnership of 9
^BAN_ZIM: CB Mpofu c Mohammad Ashraful b Enamul Haque jnr 5 (9b 1×4 0x6)
^BAN_ZIM: DT Hondo 6* (12b 1×4) Enamul Haque jnr 22.2-5-45-6 (4nb)
^BAN_ZIM: That’s it, Bangladesh won this match by 226 runs
^BAN_ZIM: Bangladesh have made history – a first Test win after a long wait
(Text commentary from Wisden CricInfo. Full transcript)
Congratulations Bangladesh on their first Test victory.
Bangladesh on the brink of history
As I write this, Bangladesh are four wickets away from their first-ever Test win. It might be tempting to think that a win over a youthful Zimbabwean eleven cheapens the honour a bit, but I for one am not going to scoff at that. Cricket should be expanding its constituency, not clinging on to an exclusive post-imperial elite club. As with the inauguration of the ICC Intercontinental Cup last year, a Bangladesh Test win can only be a positive in expanding the game’s horizons.
Zimbabwe currently 126/6 in their second innings in the pre-lunch session on day five. Live ball-by-ball commentary on IRC at irc://cricinfo.lo.uk.starlink.org/cricket. Live scorecard at CricInfo or, if that’s getting a bit overloaded while the charity game in Melbourne is on, Ananova
U19 World Cup: It’s not a breeze for everyone
If you thought the first week of the Under-19 World Cup was going to be boring, think again. There’s a very good chance that by Friday night, both the winner and runner-up of the 2002 competition might be finished for 2004. Continue reading “U19 World Cup: It’s not a breeze for everyone”
Zimbabwe’s tough road ahead
Zimbabwe departs from the VB Series with their worst record in three outings in the Australian triangular. At least they managed one win in both 1994-95 and 2000-01. This time, a washout at the MCG was the best they could muster. Continue reading “Zimbabwe’s tough road ahead”
Spamming to save a tour? and Canberra’s annual pastimes
It’s not exactly in the same league as selling mail order Via*gra, X[a]nax or p3nis enlargements, but the Zimbabwe Cricket Union’s unsolicited email to the eighteen first-class English counties on Monday will go down as one of the daftest acts by a cricket administration in recent times. Continue reading “Spamming to save a tour? and Canberra’s annual pastimes”
Zimbabwe: A terribly British problem
Bangladesh has just announced its touring team to play two Tests and five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe next month. Namibia has just completed a series of five matches in Zimbabwe against the national under-19 and A teams. Meanwhile, England is fretting over the prospects of touring Zimbabwe in October. Continue reading “Zimbabwe: A terribly British problem”
Cricket’s latest lolly scandal
Not since Marcus Trescothick spilled his minties at short extra cover in the Trent Bridge Test of 2001 has cricket seen a lolly scandal such as that which engulfed Rahul Dravid at The Gabba on Tuesday night. Continue reading “Cricket’s latest lolly scandal”
John Howard’s Great Moments in Sport 2003
The crowning achievement of self-styled sports fanatic and Australian Prime Minister John Howard in 2003 came at the final of the Rugby World Cup in November. After the Wallabies lost an exhilarating game on an extra-time field goal, JH looked like he was going to burst into tears as he handed out the winners’ medals to a seemingly endless line of England players and staff. Continue reading “John Howard’s Great Moments in Sport 2003”