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England

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Page 1 of 18 in the England category Next Page
Monday, September 29, 2008


Kev's new high-five routine was just way to complicated...

Owais Shah has been given the nod ahead of Ravi Bopara for England's 15-man squad for their trip to India this summer, taking the place of former captain Michael Vaughan who has been told to spend the winter remembering how to hold a cricket bat.

National selector Geoff Miller reckons there's a chance that Vaughany could yet make an appearance for the Performance Squad. Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior will once again be pitted in direct competition with each other for the right to wear the wickie's mitts, while Graeme Swann comes in as cover for Monty.

Liam Plunkett, Rob Key and Sajid Mahmood are among the well known faces called up to the Performance Squad.

England squad: Kevin Pietersen (skip), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Tim Ambrose (wickie), Matt Prior (wickie), Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann.


England Performance squad: Tim Bresnan, Mark Davies, Steven Davies, Joe Denly, Robbie Joseph, Robert Key, Amjad Khan, Sajid Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Stephen Moore, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Ollie Rayner, Jonathan Trott

Friday, September 12, 2008

"Fetching pink" is how Dulux would put it...

As they shell out nearly $1bn on the inaugral Twenty20 Champions League...

You heard the one about the Asian broadcaster that pays $1billion for the rights to show the new Twenty20 Champions League?

No. How does that go?

Well, basically, ESPN Star have paid $1billion to own the commercial and marketing rights for the Twenty20 Champions League.

Right. I've got to admit to being a little disappointed at the punchline. Nonetheless, big news.

It sure is. It makes the Twenty20 Champions League the highest value cricket event on a per game basis.

Jees, that is barmy. What did the organisers say?

Erm, "This makes the Twenty20 Champions League the highest value cricket event on a per game basis."

Right. Without copy and pasting from a news source, remind me when it all kicks off?

It begins in December, and will include two teams from Australia, India and South Africa, one from Pakistan, and of course Middlesex from Blighty.

How come we only get to enter one?

Not entirely sure, but next year's tournament will be expanded to 12 teams, so I imagine we'll get more then.

Course it will. Then in four years time we'll have four counties from each country entering, including group stages and a tournament that drags on forever and gives non-champions the chance to win a trophy called the "Champions League".

Was that a dig at football?

That obvious was it...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

But Broady missed out...


Did you catch the ICC Cricketer of the Year awards last night in Dubai?

Erm, yeah, of course...

Sure. So you'll know that Shivnerine Chanderpaul was named as Cricketer of the Year then?

Yeah, and well done to him. Thoroughly deserved. Did Broady win the youngster gong?


Didn't see it then?

Must've popped out for a cuppa at that point.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008


If i'm in then so is Gary Pratt...

Come on then the what's the million dollar question?


Who got in the England squad for the Twenty20 pot of gold?

Correct! If only it was that easy... Personnel then please!

In the words of Thom Yorke, there were no surprises with Ryan Sidebottom returning in place of Tim Bresnan, although Alastiar Cook's place in the 15 surely just means he gets a free holiday.

I can't remember the last time he cleared the ropes?

He never has!

Weren't the central contracts dished out?


Michael Vaughan's diligent service to English cricket as well as an impressive record against the Aussies earns him the nod alongside Stuart Broad ahead of Matthew Hoggard.

What's your verdict?


Naming the same side for the Stanford Series as well as the one-day series in India bodes and reflects well on Kevin Pietersen's immediate impact upon the side as captain.

Wow, that doesn't happen very often - so what about Steve Harmison?

His timely reinvention as a one-day cricketer looks set to bolster his bank as well as his Ashes chances.

These new Increment contracts. What are they like, some U21 club?

Not quite. It's just for those who are regulars in the squad but haven't yet cemented their spots such as Matt Prior and Tim Ambrose as England's wicket-keeping dilemma rolls on.

Squad for Stanford and India ODIs:
Kevin Pietersen (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (wk), Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, Luke Wright


Central contracts: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.


Increment contracts: Tim Ambrose, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.


Friday, August 29, 2008

No one knew why Stuart Broad had turned up to the toss...

After losing the toss...

Kevin Pietersen is clearly getting the jist of being the England captain, after losing the toss this morning before the third One Day International against South Africa at The Oval. The South Africans are missing captain Graeme Smith who's got a bad case of elbow-knack, so stand in skipper Jacques Kallis is the man who has decided to put England in to bat. Morne Morkel replaces Andre "Gunter" Nel, while England have no injury worries.


The Teams

England: Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Owais Shah, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Samit Patel, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison, James Anderson.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis (capt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher (wk), Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

Page 1 of 18 in the England category Next Page