In lieu of writing about Alastair Cook's fantastic form or any other scribblings to do with the Ashes, here's a nice word cloud of one of my earlier posts eulogising about the great game. They're great fun, have a go here
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Why I Love Cricket…
Here's a little piece I wrote for the December issue of Panic magazine... nice to be back at the wicket, by the way. I intend to get back to this on a regular basis with a bit of Ashes banter, so see you at the popping crease.
Winter is here, the mornings are frost-bitten and Christmas is looming. So naturally my thoughts at this time of the year turn to… cricket.
Yes, the greatest of summer sports (in my mind the greatest of all sports) is the focus of attention in the bleak mid winter as England battle Australia for the Ashes down under.
Like all great sporting events, the Ashes provokes fierce rivalry and produces sublime moments of drama. But the great thing about cricket is that it’s the most eccentric sport you can imagine.
For starters, there aren’t many sports that last for five days without any guarantee of a result. And there can be few other athletic endeavours that rely so much on prevailing weather conditions.
Rain, wind, sunshine and humidity all have major effects on cricket and not just on whether the game takes place or not.
Cricketers are always “exploiting the conditions.” A bit of moisture in the air can make the ball swing so bowlers will try to make this happen to befuddle batsmen. Dry, sunny conditions will make for a flat pitch on which the batsmen can bully the bowlers and try to hit them out of the ground.
I love the fact that this means something to me and other cricket fans but to many it will sound like complete balderdash.
This is what is so great about cricket; it’s a whole different world of strange terms, complicated rules and obscure customs, something that is utterly steeped in history and tradition, but which is also always changing.
Cricket is WG Grace’s beard, blazers with egg-and-bacon ties and portly chaps in whites running around on English village greens. But is also Hawkeye technology, relentless physical and mental exertion for hours on end in blistering heat and facing a very hard ball being chucked at you at speeds of up to 90 mph.
In games of cricket, you’ll hear talk of the key test, the wagon wheel, following on, carrying your bat, maidens, ducks, golden ducks, slips, silly mid-ons, silly mid-offs, short legs, fine legs, square legs, gullies, googlies, Chinamen, flippers, wrong uns, spinners, seamers, swing, reverse swing… you get the idea.
People say football is the beautiful game, but in my mind cricket is truly beautiful as well as strange, maddening, frustrating, fusty, erratic, sometimes boring and often exhilarating.
That’s why I love it and will be staying up into the wee small hours of cold December and January nights to see if England can retain the Ashes in Australia.
Yes, the greatest of summer sports (in my mind the greatest of all sports) is the focus of attention in the bleak mid winter as England battle Australia for the Ashes down under.
Like all great sporting events, the Ashes provokes fierce rivalry and produces sublime moments of drama. But the great thing about cricket is that it’s the most eccentric sport you can imagine.
For starters, there aren’t many sports that last for five days without any guarantee of a result. And there can be few other athletic endeavours that rely so much on prevailing weather conditions.
Rain, wind, sunshine and humidity all have major effects on cricket and not just on whether the game takes place or not.
Cricketers are always “exploiting the conditions.” A bit of moisture in the air can make the ball swing so bowlers will try to make this happen to befuddle batsmen. Dry, sunny conditions will make for a flat pitch on which the batsmen can bully the bowlers and try to hit them out of the ground.
I love the fact that this means something to me and other cricket fans but to many it will sound like complete balderdash.
This is what is so great about cricket; it’s a whole different world of strange terms, complicated rules and obscure customs, something that is utterly steeped in history and tradition, but which is also always changing.
Cricket is WG Grace’s beard, blazers with egg-and-bacon ties and portly chaps in whites running around on English village greens. But is also Hawkeye technology, relentless physical and mental exertion for hours on end in blistering heat and facing a very hard ball being chucked at you at speeds of up to 90 mph.
In games of cricket, you’ll hear talk of the key test, the wagon wheel, following on, carrying your bat, maidens, ducks, golden ducks, slips, silly mid-ons, silly mid-offs, short legs, fine legs, square legs, gullies, googlies, Chinamen, flippers, wrong uns, spinners, seamers, swing, reverse swing… you get the idea.
People say football is the beautiful game, but in my mind cricket is truly beautiful as well as strange, maddening, frustrating, fusty, erratic, sometimes boring and often exhilarating.
That’s why I love it and will be staying up into the wee small hours of cold December and January nights to see if England can retain the Ashes in Australia.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Albie stopped play
Sorry for the delay in play... this wasn't due to rain, bad light or any weather related reasons, but to the birth of my son, Albert Stanley. He's an impressive young fellow with long shanks and wiry fingers... I have him earmarked as a leg spinner and useful lower order batsman.
I see Essex's form has been mixed to say the least during my absence but their opening T20 game against Kent on Wednesday was a thriller with Pettini's men almost turning a losing position into a win, thanks to another exhilarating innings from Ryan ten Doeschate.
The flying Dutchman hit 98 off 47 balls including nine fours and seven sixes to get Essex, who batted first, out of the mire, but his Herculean effort wasn't enough for victory despite the home side posting an impressive 167 for nine, having been 24 for four.
Essex's flimsy bowling attack was again exposed by the visitors who reached their victory total with eight balls to spare. It was a tense game and could have gone either way until spinner Tim Phillips conceded 27 runs off one over and momentum shifted to Kent.
Essex's next T20 outing is away to Surrey at the Oval on Thursday, June 10 then they entertain Glamorgan at Chelmsford the following day. Kiwi all-rounder Scott Styris will be available for that game and Essex will be hoping to show what they can do in a competition in which they've impressed in the past
I see Essex's form has been mixed to say the least during my absence but their opening T20 game against Kent on Wednesday was a thriller with Pettini's men almost turning a losing position into a win, thanks to another exhilarating innings from Ryan ten Doeschate.
The flying Dutchman hit 98 off 47 balls including nine fours and seven sixes to get Essex, who batted first, out of the mire, but his Herculean effort wasn't enough for victory despite the home side posting an impressive 167 for nine, having been 24 for four.
Essex's flimsy bowling attack was again exposed by the visitors who reached their victory total with eight balls to spare. It was a tense game and could have gone either way until spinner Tim Phillips conceded 27 runs off one over and momentum shifted to Kent.
Essex's next T20 outing is away to Surrey at the Oval on Thursday, June 10 then they entertain Glamorgan at Chelmsford the following day. Kiwi all-rounder Scott Styris will be available for that game and Essex will be hoping to show what they can do in a competition in which they've impressed in the past
Saturday, 15 May 2010
All hail Tendo!
On Thursday night, I was at the Golden Fleece, Chelmsford, for a gig that I was promoting. It wasn't a particularly busy night but among the punters were Essex's two best performers this season.
Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate and Zimbabwean batsman Grant Flower were enjoying a pint or two after Essex has secured a draw in the final day of their Championship game against Kent.
Essex had done well to avoid defeat after letting Kent had posted a forboding 474 in their first innings.
Alastair Cook's 72 in his side's second innings was pivotal, but once again ten Doeschate proved his worth to Essex, taking four wickets in Kent's first innings and pitching in with 66 runs in Essex's reply.
Following on from his remarkable, match-winning century against Derbyshire in the Clydesdale 40 competition last Monday, it elevates the Dutchman to the top of the PCA Most Valuable Player rankings in county cricket.
After almost two solid weeks of cricket, ten Doeschate is rested for the tour match with Bangladesh in which Grant Flower is captaining Essex. Other first team players have also been rested for the game, but it's a chance for some who have been lacking form to rack up some runs.
That's true of John Maunders who has struggled to build a big innings so far this season. Opening for Essex in reply to Bangladesh's 231, Maunders compiled an impressive 126 off 188 balls including 16 fours and three sixes... in other words, 82 of his runs were scored from boundaries. Essex coach Paul Grayson reckons Maunders has been hitting the ball well in the nets all season and this would seem to bear that out.
Let's hope he can carry that confidence into their next round of matches, starting with the 40 over match against the Netherlands at Amstelveen. This is an interesting game, with a foreign, national team competing in a domestic English competition.
Of course, it's an especially interesting one for Ryan ten Doeschate, as he'll be playing for his club against chis ountry. The 29-year-old was actually born in South Africa but qualifies for the Netherlands through family heritage and is their star player.
Alastair Cook has been rested for the Essex vs Bangladesh match as well and been picked as captain for the England Lions game against the tourists at Derby, starting on Wednesday, May 19.
With England's first Test against Bangladesh beginning on May 27, it's likely the left-hander has played his last game for his county until the end of the season. Which will make the form of John Maunders even more important from here on in.
Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate and Zimbabwean batsman Grant Flower were enjoying a pint or two after Essex has secured a draw in the final day of their Championship game against Kent.
Essex had done well to avoid defeat after letting Kent had posted a forboding 474 in their first innings.
Alastair Cook's 72 in his side's second innings was pivotal, but once again ten Doeschate proved his worth to Essex, taking four wickets in Kent's first innings and pitching in with 66 runs in Essex's reply.
Following on from his remarkable, match-winning century against Derbyshire in the Clydesdale 40 competition last Monday, it elevates the Dutchman to the top of the PCA Most Valuable Player rankings in county cricket.
After almost two solid weeks of cricket, ten Doeschate is rested for the tour match with Bangladesh in which Grant Flower is captaining Essex. Other first team players have also been rested for the game, but it's a chance for some who have been lacking form to rack up some runs.
That's true of John Maunders who has struggled to build a big innings so far this season. Opening for Essex in reply to Bangladesh's 231, Maunders compiled an impressive 126 off 188 balls including 16 fours and three sixes... in other words, 82 of his runs were scored from boundaries. Essex coach Paul Grayson reckons Maunders has been hitting the ball well in the nets all season and this would seem to bear that out.
Let's hope he can carry that confidence into their next round of matches, starting with the 40 over match against the Netherlands at Amstelveen. This is an interesting game, with a foreign, national team competing in a domestic English competition.
Of course, it's an especially interesting one for Ryan ten Doeschate, as he'll be playing for his club against chis ountry. The 29-year-old was actually born in South Africa but qualifies for the Netherlands through family heritage and is their star player.
Alastair Cook has been rested for the Essex vs Bangladesh match as well and been picked as captain for the England Lions game against the tourists at Derby, starting on Wednesday, May 19.
With England's first Test against Bangladesh beginning on May 27, it's likely the left-hander has played his last game for his county until the end of the season. Which will make the form of John Maunders even more important from here on in.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Flower powers Essex to win (and more pints) plus Ravi returns
He's done it again. Grant Flower showed why he's such a valuable one-day player for Essex again today when he bagged his second century in three games in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition against Gloucestershire.
Showing his customary mix of poise, intelligence and controlled aggression, Flower helped Essex out of a spot of bother when they were wobbling on 79 for three when Alastair Cook was dismissed to put on a record one day fourth wicket partnership of 166 with Ryan ten Doeschate (84).
That partnership helped Essex to a 42 run win, despite the efforts of the visitors' teenage bowler David Payne who took seven for 29, including a remarkable last over in which he took five wickets.
Essex could do with Flower's experience in the longer form of the game for the visit of Kent in the County Championship tomorrow. With the top order batsmen yet to find real consistency this season, a steady hand like Flower would be invaluable but alas he's only one-dayers for the county this season.
I'm not sure what Grant Flower does in between one day matches but he could easily spend a few hours in the Golden Fleece, Chelmsford without having to spend a penny. The pub and the Brentwood Brewing Company are sponsoring the Essex batsman to the tune of a pint per run scored this season. In three matches, Flower has accumulated 113, 29 and 116 meaning, by my calculations, he's entitled to 258 pints of beer. Well, playing cricket is thirsty work.
Meanwhile, over in the Caribbean Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara looks set to make his debut in the ICC World Twenty 2010 as Kevin Pietersen flies home for the birth of his first child. Bopara impressed with 62 runs from 49 balls in a warm-up game against Bangladesh and will be keen to show his credentials once again in England colours.
Showing his customary mix of poise, intelligence and controlled aggression, Flower helped Essex out of a spot of bother when they were wobbling on 79 for three when Alastair Cook was dismissed to put on a record one day fourth wicket partnership of 166 with Ryan ten Doeschate (84).
That partnership helped Essex to a 42 run win, despite the efforts of the visitors' teenage bowler David Payne who took seven for 29, including a remarkable last over in which he took five wickets.
Essex could do with Flower's experience in the longer form of the game for the visit of Kent in the County Championship tomorrow. With the top order batsmen yet to find real consistency this season, a steady hand like Flower would be invaluable but alas he's only one-dayers for the county this season.
I'm not sure what Grant Flower does in between one day matches but he could easily spend a few hours in the Golden Fleece, Chelmsford without having to spend a penny. The pub and the Brentwood Brewing Company are sponsoring the Essex batsman to the tune of a pint per run scored this season. In three matches, Flower has accumulated 113, 29 and 116 meaning, by my calculations, he's entitled to 258 pints of beer. Well, playing cricket is thirsty work.
Meanwhile, over in the Caribbean Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara looks set to make his debut in the ICC World Twenty 2010 as Kevin Pietersen flies home for the birth of his first child. Bopara impressed with 62 runs from 49 balls in a warm-up game against Bangladesh and will be keen to show his credentials once again in England colours.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Cricket, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh and Sherlock Holmes
Lovely story here about Peter Pan author JM Barrie putting together the first celebrity cricket team, when he drafted in SirArthur Conan Doyle, PG Wodehouse, AA Milne and Jerome K Jerome for his curiously named team the Allahakbarries between 1887 and 1913.
It's about a new book called Peter Pan's First XI: The Extraordinary Story of JM Barrie's Cricket Team by Kevin Telfer out later this month, which looks to be a fascinating read.
A mixed bag
It's been a mixed week for Essex.
After Sunday's washout at Lord's meant there was no play in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Middlesex, Mark Pettini's side showed real character to overhaul Derbyshire's huge total in the same competition the next day in a rain-affected game.
Derbyshire had set an imposing 299 for seven from their 40 overs but under the Duckworth Lewis Method Essex were given a revised target of 247 from 30 overs.
They looked in trouble at 27 for three and then 64 for four but it was Ryan ten Doeschate who came to the rescue again. The Flying Dutchman reached his century from just 59 balls, doing it in style with a six. In all he hit eight sixes to guide Essex home with good support from Jaik Mickleburgh (34) and James Foster (31).
Tendo couldn't save Essex from an embarrassing defeat to Yorkshire as Scarborough this week though. Yorkshire had posted a massive 516 all out in their first innings which Essex couldn't overhaul innings, losing by an innings and 96 runs in three days.
Captain Mark Pettini has identified an understrength bowling attack as his side's main problem and this is undoubtedly true. The return of Danish Kaneria this week, who's set to play in the County Championship against Kent at Chelmsford, will undoubtedly bolster the bowling but the batting is fragile too.
Alastair Cook, John Maunders and Mark Pettini will have been disappointed by their tallies with the bat so far this season, often getting in but losing their wicket before they could go on to make fifties or centuries.
The whole team needs to raise their game and Kaneria's arrival may be the catalyst to do this. The Friends Provident t20 competition will put everything else on hold during June and early July, so Essex will want to have some more wins under their belt in the Championship by then.
Kaneria's arrival also puts New Zealander bowler Chris Martin's position under question. It may be that the Kiwi will have come all this way for just a week's First Class cricket.
After Sunday's washout at Lord's meant there was no play in the Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Middlesex, Mark Pettini's side showed real character to overhaul Derbyshire's huge total in the same competition the next day in a rain-affected game.
Derbyshire had set an imposing 299 for seven from their 40 overs but under the Duckworth Lewis Method Essex were given a revised target of 247 from 30 overs.
They looked in trouble at 27 for three and then 64 for four but it was Ryan ten Doeschate who came to the rescue again. The Flying Dutchman reached his century from just 59 balls, doing it in style with a six. In all he hit eight sixes to guide Essex home with good support from Jaik Mickleburgh (34) and James Foster (31).
Tendo couldn't save Essex from an embarrassing defeat to Yorkshire as Scarborough this week though. Yorkshire had posted a massive 516 all out in their first innings which Essex couldn't overhaul innings, losing by an innings and 96 runs in three days.
Captain Mark Pettini has identified an understrength bowling attack as his side's main problem and this is undoubtedly true. The return of Danish Kaneria this week, who's set to play in the County Championship against Kent at Chelmsford, will undoubtedly bolster the bowling but the batting is fragile too.
Alastair Cook, John Maunders and Mark Pettini will have been disappointed by their tallies with the bat so far this season, often getting in but losing their wicket before they could go on to make fifties or centuries.
The whole team needs to raise their game and Kaneria's arrival may be the catalyst to do this. The Friends Provident t20 competition will put everything else on hold during June and early July, so Essex will want to have some more wins under their belt in the Championship by then.
Kaneria's arrival also puts New Zealander bowler Chris Martin's position under question. It may be that the Kiwi will have come all this way for just a week's First Class cricket.
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