SATURDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2012
Mervyn Westfield Sentenced, My Gut Reaction
By Tom Bage
7 – 0 – 60 – 0
Not the most impressive bowling figures in history, but not terrible for a first outing in pro40 cricket. In fact so uninteresting that it took me quite a while to find them anywhere on the internet. However, strangely these figures are two runs short of what the bowler wanted to achieve. Lurking in that 60 runs is a first over that went for 10 when it should have gone for 12. These are of course Mervyn Westfield’s figures from 5th September 2009, the day he was supposed to give away 12 runs in his first over in exchange for £6000, he didn’t, simply because he couldn’t. Not in a moral sense – I presume once you’ve accepted money off an illegal bookie chances are you would intend to go through with it – but just because it’s almost impossible for one person to govern for certain what happens on a cricket pitch.
TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2012
The similarities of the BPL and a large baguette
By Abeed Hassnat
On my bed doing this article and Sunday’s sport was jam packed. Cricket, rugby and football. The rugby of the 6 Nations got me going on the weather and the excitement of a new set of matches each weekend. The football of the African Cup of Nation teared me up when the underdogs, Zambia, won it on penalties in such a hard fought game. And the BPL? It got me talking and writing now.
SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2012
Was it inevitable England were going to lose?- The Test Series review
So, England have lost to Pakistan. The final test had started by looking like it could save some face, but for the third test in a row the batting line up looked like, well I don’t know what they looked like, I personally cannot remember an England Batting line up being so comprehensively dominated throughout a series (not even the 2007/08 whitewash matches it). Personally I think has a lot to do with having a horrifically unbalanced middle order but I can’t think who I’d want in a Collingwood role so I won’t go into it.
MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012
Can England adapt?
By Shantam Taneja
I tried to mock England’s failure in the last test in front of my friends but they just came up with; ‘India aren’t doing any better either’ or ‘we still beat you 4-0 last summer’. However what they don’t realise is that England were playing in conditions which they are familiar with and India were playing in conditions which were alien to them just like England are doing right now. The point is England don’t want to end up like India where they are the bullies at home but are being bullied away from home.
SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2011
2011 best (and worst) moments in cricket...
What a year it has been for cricket... India winning the World Cup, England taking number 1 Test side this year, England taking the Ashes for the first time in Australia since 1986, spectacular shows in the World Cup and so much more. So what's better than to relive them... so sit back and check these moments out that livened this year's cricket and made 2011, one of the great years to remember in cricket...
Courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo
1st week of Big Bash Review
Second Slip reflects on the 1st week of the Big Bash and its mixed reactions. Poor attendances but brilliant cricket action. Do you think so?
Dave Warner celebrates a T20 Century, the highlight of the first weekend. Courtesy Getty Images
Casualties, disappointing crowds, a letdown of a legend and old dogs taming the new tricks have been the story of the first round of the newly franchised and up marketed domestic T20 competition.
MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2011
The forgotten dangers of the cricket ball
By Abeed Hassnat
We have all the protection… helmet, the box, the pads and the gloves… but we have forgotten how deaths were prevented by other cricketer’s deaths and how much we take for granted the safety of cricket.
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2011
Selectors "Have a Throw" at Hughes
Here is Timothy Wray's (aka Second Slip) first article on the selection of Phil Hughes in the current series against New Zealand
During his rise to fame in 2009 and excellent tour of South Africa, I myself was a big supporter of Hughes. But after inconsistency and a flurry of low scores and the throwing away of his wicket, I have jumped ship on his selection debate. Another failure in the second innings of the match in Hobart should see Hughes dropped from the team.
The outrageous renaming of Bellerive Oval
Fans of sport are used to advertising. A lot of advertising. In a typical cricket match there is advertising in between overs and during the lunch break; advertisements all around the ground, in the outfield, on the stumps, on the players shirts; even in the naming of a series (it is not a test match, it is a Vodafone test match) and most absurdly, during the drinks break people on Segways come out with giant inflatable drink bottles on their back.
THURSDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2011
Australian's corruption denial syndrome
By Tim Dobson
Cricket is on the verge of a corruption induced implosion, yet you wouldn’t know in Australia. As far as Australian cricket administrators it is the end of the world as they know it and they feel fine.
SATURDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2011
Tony Greig's rampant racism
Tim Dobson first article in our blog and with the recent events of racism in the world of sport, Tim looks at an insight of how one famous cricketer was once in the limelight for his racist comments not long ago...
The strategy of most people when they hear a racist or xenophobic comment is to be silent and hope that it will go away. The problem is that it tends to embolden them. So it has proved with Tony Greig. His constant derogatory remarks about Indians or “the Indians”, as he refers to them are not only offensive, they are part of a pattern of blatant racism and xenophobia that Greig has used throughout both his playing and commentating career.
WEDNESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2011
Miss the next generation to embrace Test Cricket? No chance...
In the final instalment of the articles about Rebecca Duffy's Test Cricket campaign, Testing Times XI, she will speak about the petition that will help save Test Cricket from being unknown to many people and the importance of her gradually popular online petition after the recent postponement of the inaugural ICC Test Championship until 2017. Also, the recent sparse crowds in Kolkata from the matches between West Indies and India show the evidence of the rapid decrease of the popularity of Test Cricket in a cricket mad nation of India. So what is all the wait for?
An Exclusive Interview with Ian Cockbain...
Many people might not know that he was one of the players that helped England win the Ashes... even his father, also called Ian, was one of those who helped in the Ashes 1979. He was one of MCC Young Cricketers of the Year 2010 as well as hitting a blistering Twenty20 half-century of 78 from 46 balls for Gloucestershire against Surrey. It is the Gloucestershire batting ace... Ian Cockbain.
FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2011
Podcasty time...
Listen to it in iTunes and in Audioboo where there is a bit the editor's (and probably your views) on the latest goings on and events in the world of cricket as well as exclusive announcements and more all in six minutes.
WEDNESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2011
Testing Times XI can do a better job than the ECB...
In the 2nd part of 3 columns every Wednesday, Testing Times XI, the campaign headed by Rebecca Duffy, is a campaign to revive Test cricket from its crumbling pieces and falling popularity to appeal to the younger and current generation. This part is about the possible and alternative 2012 schedule the ECB could've done, but we believe Rebecca Duffy could do a better job than them...
Who said Tests will be forever boring?
The campaign to save Test cricket- Testing Times XI will say their ideas about how to make Test Cricket more exciting and more appealing. The lead campaigner, Rebecca Louise, has gave us her column to tell us their proposals in a 3 parts column starting from today and every Wednesday.
Testing Times XI-Their Campaign
As time flies by, excitement is much needed in the world and cricket's answer would mostly consist of Twenty20. But... and but, have you looked closely. Test Cricket is slowly declining from the world of cricket and there is still promise of excitement in the game. The Boxing Day Test in Sydney bring huge crowds and spectators to fill the capacity of the SCG. The summer Tests in England also bring huge crowds. Cheers like in football matches, good fun with mates with the booze, lots of noise for the support of the hosts. Proper cricket. Testing Times XI is a campaign followed by around 1000 people to preserve Test Cricket as said just now. They want to prove that there is hunger and the need of the longer, original form of cricket. The cricket that makes the excitement of cricket of limited overs happen.
Testing Times XI will do a weekly column about the campaign for Test Cricket in our website. If you want to join and see the growing campaign go to http://www.facebook.com/testingtimes.
SATURDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2012
Mervyn Westfield Sentenced, My Gut Reaction
By Tom Bage
7 – 0 – 60 – 0
Not the most impressive bowling figures in history, but not terrible for a first outing in pro40 cricket. In fact so uninteresting that it took me quite a while to find them anywhere on the internet. However, strangely these figures are two runs short of what the bowler wanted to achieve. Lurking in that 60 runs is a first over that went for 10 when it should have gone for 12. These are of course Mervyn Westfield’s figures from 5th September 2009, the day he was supposed to give away 12 runs in his first over in exchange for £6000, he didn’t, simply because he couldn’t. Not in a moral sense – I presume once you’ve accepted money off an illegal bookie chances are you would intend to go through with it – but just because it’s almost impossible for one person to govern for certain what happens on a cricket pitch.
TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2012
The similarities of the BPL and a large baguette
By Abeed Hassnat
On my bed doing this article and Sunday’s sport was jam packed. Cricket, rugby and football. The rugby of the 6 Nations got me going on the weather and the excitement of a new set of matches each weekend. The football of the African Cup of Nation teared me up when the underdogs, Zambia, won it on penalties in such a hard fought game. And the BPL? It got me talking and writing now.
SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2012
Was it inevitable England were going to lose?- The Test Series review
So, England have lost to Pakistan. The final test had started by looking like it could save some face, but for the third test in a row the batting line up looked like, well I don’t know what they looked like, I personally cannot remember an England Batting line up being so comprehensively dominated throughout a series (not even the 2007/08 whitewash matches it). Personally I think has a lot to do with having a horrifically unbalanced middle order but I can’t think who I’d want in a Collingwood role so I won’t go into it.
SATURDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2012
Mervyn Westfield Sentenced, My Gut Reaction
7 – 0 – 60 – 0
Not the most impressive bowling figures in history, but not terrible for a first outing in pro40 cricket. In fact so uninteresting that it took me quite a while to find them anywhere on the internet. However, strangely these figures are two runs short of what the bowler wanted to achieve. Lurking in that 60 runs is a first over that went for 10 when it should have gone for 12. These are of course Mervyn Westfield’s figures from 5th September 2009, the day he was supposed to give away 12 runs in his first over in exchange for £6000, he didn’t, simply because he couldn’t. Not in a moral sense – I presume once you’ve accepted money off an illegal bookie chances are you would intend to go through with it – but just because it’s almost impossible for one person to govern for certain what happens on a cricket pitch.
TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2012
The similarities of the BPL and a large baguette
By Abeed Hassnat
On my bed doing this article and Sunday’s sport was jam packed. Cricket, rugby and football. The rugby of the 6 Nations got me going on the weather and the excitement of a new set of matches each weekend. The football of the African Cup of Nation teared me up when the underdogs, Zambia, won it on penalties in such a hard fought game. And the BPL? It got me talking and writing now.
SATURDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2012
Was it inevitable England were going to lose?- The Test Series review
So, England have lost to Pakistan. The final test had started by looking like it could save some face, but for the third test in a row the batting line up looked like, well I don’t know what they looked like, I personally cannot remember an England Batting line up being so comprehensively dominated throughout a series (not even the 2007/08 whitewash matches it). Personally I think has a lot to do with having a horrifically unbalanced middle order but I can’t think who I’d want in a Collingwood role so I won’t go into it.
MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012
Can England adapt?
By Shantam Taneja
I tried to mock England’s failure in the last test in front of my friends but they just came up with; ‘India aren’t doing any better either’ or ‘we still beat you 4-0 last summer’. However what they don’t realise is that England were playing in conditions which they are familiar with and India were playing in conditions which were alien to them just like England are doing right now. The point is England don’t want to end up like India where they are the bullies at home but are being bullied away from home.
I tried to mock England’s failure in the last test in front of my friends but they just came up with; ‘India aren’t doing any better either’ or ‘we still beat you 4-0 last summer’. However what they don’t realise is that England were playing in conditions which they are familiar with and India were playing in conditions which were alien to them just like England are doing right now. The point is England don’t want to end up like India where they are the bullies at home but are being bullied away from home.
SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2011
2011 best (and worst) moments in cricket...
What a year it has been for cricket... India winning the World Cup, England taking number 1 Test side this year, England taking the Ashes for the first time in Australia since 1986, spectacular shows in the World Cup and so much more. So what's better than to relive them... so sit back and check these moments out that livened this year's cricket and made 2011, one of the great years to remember in cricket...
 |
| Courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo |
1st week of Big Bash Review
Second Slip reflects on the 1st week of the Big Bash and its mixed reactions. Poor attendances but brilliant cricket action. Do you think so? |
| Dave Warner celebrates a T20 Century, the highlight of the first weekend. Courtesy Getty Images |
Casualties, disappointing crowds, a letdown of a legend and old dogs taming the new tricks have been the story of the first round of the newly franchised and up marketed domestic T20 competition.
MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2011
The forgotten dangers of the cricket ball
By Abeed Hassnat
We have all the protection… helmet, the box, the pads and the gloves… but we have forgotten how deaths were prevented by other cricketer’s deaths and how much we take for granted the safety of cricket.
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2011
Selectors "Have a Throw" at Hughes
Here is Timothy Wray's (aka Second Slip) first article on the selection of Phil Hughes in the current series against New Zealand
During his rise to fame in 2009 and excellent tour of South Africa, I myself was a big supporter of Hughes. But after inconsistency and a flurry of low scores and the throwing away of his wicket, I have jumped ship on his selection debate. Another failure in the second innings of the match in Hobart should see Hughes dropped from the team.
The outrageous renaming of Bellerive Oval
Fans of sport are used to advertising. A lot of advertising. In a typical cricket match there is advertising in between overs and during the lunch break; advertisements all around the ground, in the outfield, on the stumps, on the players shirts; even in the naming of a series (it is not a test match, it is a Vodafone test match) and most absurdly, during the drinks break people on Segways come out with giant inflatable drink bottles on their back.
THURSDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2011
Australian's corruption denial syndrome
By Tim Dobson
Cricket is on the verge of a corruption induced implosion, yet you wouldn’t know in Australia. As far as Australian cricket administrators it is the end of the world as they know it and they feel fine.
Cricket is on the verge of a corruption induced implosion, yet you wouldn’t know in Australia. As far as Australian cricket administrators it is the end of the world as they know it and they feel fine.
SATURDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2011
Tony Greig's rampant racism
Tim Dobson first article in our blog and with the recent events of racism in the world of sport, Tim looks at an insight of how one famous cricketer was once in the limelight for his racist comments not long ago...
The strategy of most people when they hear a racist or xenophobic comment is to be silent and hope that it will go away. The problem is that it tends to embolden them. So it has proved with Tony Greig. His constant derogatory remarks about Indians or “the Indians”, as he refers to them are not only offensive, they are part of a pattern of blatant racism and xenophobia that Greig has used throughout both his playing and commentating career.
WEDNESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2011
Miss the next generation to embrace Test Cricket? No chance...
In the final instalment of the articles about Rebecca Duffy's Test Cricket campaign, Testing Times XI, she will speak about the petition that will help save Test Cricket from being unknown to many people and the importance of her gradually popular online petition after the recent postponement of the inaugural ICC Test Championship until 2017. Also, the recent sparse crowds in Kolkata from the matches between West Indies and India show the evidence of the rapid decrease of the popularity of Test Cricket in a cricket mad nation of India. So what is all the wait for?
An Exclusive Interview with Ian Cockbain...
Many people might not know that he was one of the players that helped England win the Ashes... even his father, also called Ian, was one of those who helped in the Ashes 1979. He was one of MCC Young Cricketers of the Year 2010 as well as hitting a blistering Twenty20 half-century of 78 from 46 balls for Gloucestershire against Surrey. It is the Gloucestershire batting ace... Ian Cockbain.
FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2011
Podcasty time...
Listen to it in iTunes and in Audioboo where there is a bit the editor's (and probably your views) on the latest goings on and events in the world of cricket as well as exclusive announcements and more all in six minutes.
WEDNESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2011
Testing Times XI can do a better job than the ECB...
In the 2nd part of 3 columns every Wednesday, Testing Times XI, the campaign headed by Rebecca Duffy, is a campaign to revive Test cricket from its crumbling pieces and falling popularity to appeal to the younger and current generation. This part is about the possible and alternative 2012 schedule the ECB could've done, but we believe Rebecca Duffy could do a better job than them...
Who said Tests will be forever boring?
The campaign to save Test cricket- Testing Times XI will say their ideas about how to make Test Cricket more exciting and more appealing. The lead campaigner, Rebecca Louise, has gave us her column to tell us their proposals in a 3 parts column starting from today and every Wednesday.
Testing Times XI-Their Campaign
As time flies by, excitement is much needed in the world and cricket's answer would mostly consist of Twenty20. But... and but, have you looked closely. Test Cricket is slowly declining from the world of cricket and there is still promise of excitement in the game. The Boxing Day Test in Sydney bring huge crowds and spectators to fill the capacity of the SCG. The summer Tests in England also bring huge crowds. Cheers like in football matches, good fun with mates with the booze, lots of noise for the support of the hosts. Proper cricket. Testing Times XI is a campaign followed by around 1000 people to preserve Test Cricket as said just now. They want to prove that there is hunger and the need of the longer, original form of cricket. The cricket that makes the excitement of cricket of limited overs happen.
Testing Times XI will do a weekly column about the campaign for Test Cricket in our website. If you want to join and see the growing campaign go to http://www.facebook.com/testingtimes.
THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2011
Young, Fast and Raring to go
Young, Fast and Raring to go
Pakistan has always been a fast bowling factory and even at his stage this factory is not gonna end any time time soon. Following is a list of upcoming bowling talents who are coming up through the ranks who are serious contenders of International berth in the near and distant future. And it also includes a few slightly more older players who have had great recent form at the domestic level.
 |
| Junaid Khan is one of the young bowlers in the frame in Pakistan Cricket |
