Coffee’s hot, cricket’s on. Too bad it is Monday and I am at the office and blah blah blah got those work-a-day blues.
Already this morning, Zimbabwe completed their return to test cricket with a resounding victory over fellow minnows, Bangladesh, down in Harare.
Fellow blogger Deep Backward Point yesterday wrote that Zimbabwe’s return to full test status, as well as their sporting declaration, represented the real spirit of cricket. Not Dhoni or Flowers or Bell. And I really do agree. Sometimes, in cricket, the best stories happen away from Lord’s, from Mumbai, from the IPL, from the bright lights and the big cities.
Zimbabwe head to New Zealand next year, and I hope to able to watch them at least a little via willow.tv.
Over the weekend, I was able to watch the moderately out of shape county cricket players in the Friend’s Life t20 quarterfinals. A few observations: Somerset can bat, but they cannot bowl. Kieron Pollard is a beast of human. And it was just wonderful to see packed houses at both Trent Bridge and the Rose Bowl for the Sunday games. Most pundits will tell you that t20 is saving cricking, saving tests. But I think it is the other way around: the England-India test series is increasing the average fan’s interest in the game, especially the more accessible shorter version.
The game is sick, but I think this summer, we are watching it heal. Just a little.
Of course, football returned on Sunday with the Community Shield, so by Wednesday it will be sick again.
Today I will be following the second t20 between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Palleleke, Kandy, Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to have a bat, but Brett Lee has lbw’d Dilshan in the 3rd over, which means we have a match on our hands.
Unfortunately, for Sri Lanka, Malinga is hurt and is resting up for the ODIs, but I still think they have a good shot at taking the series from the Aussies.
(Note: it is 19:21 in Sri Lanka. Where does that extra half hour disappear to? I have always wondered that.)
Either way, I am just happy to have a match to follow. And with the third England-India test starting Wednesday, it should be a fine week.
Until tomorrow.
Limited Overs 