All Things Sport

Bond has been taken by Kolkata Knight Riders, for $1-05m NZ. Great news, for some one who really deserves it. But I’m stunned Vincent missed. But maybe a blessing for NZ cricket, as hopefully he will be available for all coming NZ games.

Hamish Marshall returns. Here we go again, another unavailable NZ player. He joins Bond, Oram, Styrs in not playing test cricket. So 4 positions are now being taken by players unavailable. We CAN not afford this to be happening. Its going to stunt the growth of 4 young players.

Finally its so sad no Pakistan players are in the IPL. Politics ugle head comes out again.

Eng 180 Steyn 5/51 Morkel 3/39 and 169 Morkel 4/59, SA 7/423 dec. Smith105, Boucher 95. SA won by a innings and 74. The seris drawn 1-1. A excellant, hard fought seris, that had everything. But one has to feel for England, with given NO by Harper on a video reveral, when on 16. He clearly hit the ball. The seris was dominated by Steyn and Morkel, now the two best bowlers in the world with Johnson. And the rise of Swann as a spin bowler.

Australia 8/519 dec. Ponting 209, Clarke 166 and 5/219 dec. Katich 100, Ponting 89, Pakistan 301 Butt 102 and 4/103.

India 8/213 (63ov) Tendulkar 76no, Shahadat 4/57 Shakib 4/52. Well done Bangladesh, and good positive captaincy by Shakib. Lets hope this is the rise of a new power!!!!!!Especially with their very promising U19 team.

Aaron Bird has been reported again for throwing. After watching video, yes his arm is bent. But he is no worse than Mitchell Johnson. Why is Johnson allowed to get away with out even a warning??

The talk around is Pontings failing to score runs. He has scored 216 at 27. But its not really a problem, with Watson doing so well. Its like they can carry a extra batsman. Watson has scored 819 runs at avge 63 in 8 tests. Maybe soon Ponting will bat at 5, and grill a new no3.

A special word for Bangladesh. They are improving and becoming more competitive. They scored good scores, although fair enough on good batting tracks. In Mahudullah, oh these names!!!!, they have a promising player. And watch out for their u19 team!!!! You heard it here!!!!

On the u19’s, two new stars will be Anderson and Neesham.

Oh the over reaction to Pakistan losing!!! Match fixing…rubbish!!! They were beaten by a better team, better prepared, more game hardened. One has to feel for them, lead by a Captain who doesn’t want to be. But he is doing his best with a bad fielding team, batsman who can’t choose shot selection and so much inexperiance. Their lack of big games is showing right thru all their cricket. It was a bad decision by Ponting, to bat, and the win does not justify what he did. Kamran is a strange one, his keeping was good enough here. maybe he has just lost all confidence, and a rest will give him a chance to come back. Or maybe he should just concentrate on his batting.

Collingwood and Bell must be two of the most underatted cricketers around. They are true “big” match players. But this is a very underrated English team. Have people forgottan, they did win the Ashes?? 100’s do not win matches, team performance does, as they are proving. I feel the England Soccer team could be on track for to do the same at 2010 World Cup.

SL  cruised home to beat Bangladesh. Bang. scored 9/249 SL 1/252 (42.5ov), Tharonga 118no, Jayawardene 108. But at least Bang. again batted out thier overs, and are competitive.

Eng 9/296 Bell 78, Swann 10no Onions0no holding on for 3ov. So England still lead 1-0 after 3 Tests. Another fighting performance by England, and again fustrating South Africa.

India 4/297, off 47.3ov, chased down Bangledesh 6/296. Dhoni scoring anther century, 101no. Tanim and Muhmudullah getting 60. A good performance by Bangledesh.

The two finalists have been found at Auckland. Wickmeyer  b Peer 6-4 7-5 and Pennatta b Schiavone 6-3 6-0. It should be a good final by the top two seeds.

Aust 127 and 381 Hussey 134no. Pak 333 and 139 Hauritz 12-1-53-5. Aust won by 36 runs. So sad for Pakistan, but I still feel it shows their lack of top cricket. Also shows the true grit of Australia, never giving up even with a side that is not as good as previous.

SA 291 Kallis 108 and 7/447dec Smith 183 Eng 273 3/123, 334 to get. Another very even test.

Two great tests showing once again how alive test cricket is.

Its that time again!!!!! Gayle, Shewag, Tendulkar, Gangully, Kallis, Dhoni, Watson, Vettori, Johnson, Steyn, Morkill. Wow its hard to pick, as I don’t think its quite so good without Warne, Dravid, McGrath, a inform Ponting. Fast bowling, spinners are very weak. batsman, Wkt Kp’s are very strong.

Aust. are 3/111, after Pak. made 258. Watson is 64no. Aust. lead by 307. Will Watson get his 100??!!!!
Eng. 5/386, 43 ahead. Cook 118, his 10th test 100. Collingwood 91.
The mighty Aucks won again, and lead CD by 5pts. Guptill scoring 156 off 137 balls.20 4’s and 1 six.
Oram made 78 and 9-0-48-3. Anderson didnt play. Harry 5 and 9-0-59-0.
Taylor and Bravo starred for Victoria. I have seen film of this game, and they were both awesome.
Guptill player of the day.