Category: Associates

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Cape Cobras v Warriors at Paarl, SuperSport Series

Writing a proper “Year in Review” is the ultimate aim of my current four day weekend, of which I am only on day one.

Of course, such a post is a rather daunting affair.  Even the best cricket writers on the Internet are keeping the scopes of their reviews limited:  writing about one aspect of the game such as the rebirth of test cricket (was it ever really dead?), the emergence of a dozen new test quick bowlers, using picture slideshows, or simply discussing their best XI of 2011.

For me, in 2011, there were several highlights.

The ultimate personal cricketing highlight was of course starting this blog.  As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, writing this blog has been a real joy, and I am infinitely happy that I started it on an absolute whim right after the world cup.

Because of this blog, and because of the community of bloggers and twitterers that I sought out (great post here from The Sightscreen on social media and cricket), I have far deeper understanding of this wonderful sport, and I love the game more now than I ever thought possible.

To everyone that read, that commented, that hung out with me on Twitter: thank you. This has been a freaking terrible year, personally, but this blog has been a real light in an otherwise dark 12 months.

Also, for me, another highlight was the acquisition of Willow.tv.   Up until May of this year, I “watched” all of my cricket using Cricinfo’s (excellent) ball by ball coverage.  I would even opine to those that would listen that cricket is the rare sport that can be enjoyed via only text, that images are not necessary for the experience.  Boy was I wrong.

Watching the first few matches of the England v Sri Lanka series changed everything for me.  I learned that cricket is not just stats; it is atmosphere, and rage, and plot-lines.   It is Kumar Sangakkara and James Anderson.  Real people, real heroes, real villains, not a series of ones and zeroes.

While the above is obvious to most, and I while I understood it intellectually before subscribing to Willow.tv, it really was quite a revolution for my cricket enjoying experience.

Also, a shout out to ESPN3 for increasing their cricket coverage and giving me the chance to watch my favorite test playing minnows, Bangladesh.

Next up:  Attend an actual match.

On the pitch in 2011?  Gah, an almost overwhelming amount of wonderful cricket. There was the conclusion of the Ashes in January, followed by the wildly spectacular World Cup in India, followed by a lackluster IPL.

And then it was summer, with England and India battling for number one test nation status, and another great summer in the County Championship, and there was Zimbabwe’s return to hosting test matches.

The fall and winter brought us simply fantastic test matches, in Johannesburg, in Hobart, in Melbourne, in Durban….

Highlights for me include the World Cup final, course, but the World Cup semi-final was equally as memorable, as was Ireland’s defeat of England.

The 2000th test match at Lord’s was another highlight (remember that queue on the fifth day?), as was the second test between Australia and  New Zealand.

Individually? I loved watching Dravid bat throughout the England series, and watching Zaheer just recently in Australia was eye opening for sure. Two very different personalities, but both game changers of the highest order.

Cook’s 294 at Edgbaston thrilled, as did Sangakkara’s double century in Abu Dhabi.

So many wonderful matches, so many wonderful performances.  What a year for tests, what a year for India, what a year for England (6-0-1)…what a year for cricket.

Finally, on the pitch, big ups for Sri Lanka and their famous win yesterday in Durban.  A wonderful story.  As someone tweeted, the cricket world is better with Sri Lanka in it.

Off the pitch, with a couple of exceptions, the news was not as good.  There was the ICC’s seeming disregard for the Associate Nations, first eliminating their spots from the 2015 World Cup, then putting them back, then decreasing their spots in the T20 cup down to two. Two!?

There was the spot fixing trial, of course, and far too many two test series.  And there was DRS controversy after DRS controversy after DRS controversy.  (I am very pro-technology in sport, but I even think it is best if the ICC throws the whole machine out of the window and starts again fresh.)

And there was England’s ugly behavior behind the scenes after the “run out that wasn’t.”

The last event segues nicely into some of cricket’s highlights off of the pitch: Dhoni did the right thing by letting Bell come out again. And there were the two speeches from Sangakkara and Dravid.  Even if you disagree with every word they said, the fact that current players stand up in front of their peers and make eloquent speeches on the state of the game is something worth celebrating.

Finally, off the pitch, there was The Two Chucks.  A true highlight for me, for sure.

And that, in a nutshell, was 2011.  A great year, overall, I think.  Though, personally, I am more than ready to bid it good riddance and welcome in 2012.

And on that note: tomorrow (or maybe Sunday): a proper 2012 preview.  Cricket, like humanity, needs to look the future more, starting now.

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KwaZulu-Natal v South Western Districts at Durban, CSA Provincial Three-Day Challenge

I was going to write about Sussex County Cricket Club this morning, but I am going to hold off until Monday, or maybe even this weekend, as I had to leave the office early yesterday and I am playing catch up this morning.  I still wanted to write a post this morning, so I will keep it on current material, and make it short.

One thing of note: Bangladesh has been a test team for 11 years now, most recently completing a two match series against the West Indies, a series that they lost 1-0, despite the fact that they were on home soil and were playing one of the weakest West Indian test sides in a generation.

Over those eleven years, their final tally: played 71, won 3, lost 61, and drawn 7.  Not exactly a stellar record.

Now, I am not in a position where I can say something like: “they don’t belong here, they belong with the likes of Namibia and Ireland and Canada.”  I am not familiar enough with their development to make such a claim.  But three wins in 11 years?  It almost feels as though Bangladeshi cricket would be better suited if they were moved back into the Associate Wilderness.

Again, it is not my place to say, but I bet there are at least six current Associate members who could double Bangladesh’s win total within five years.

At this point, however, there really is no going back.  Bangladeshi Cricket has invested in their team (have they?) and pulling the rug out from under them now would be a major blow.
Something I do want to read and learn about is how countries go about getting “promoted” to full test status.  That would be worthwhile, I think.  That way I would stop spouting off at the mouth on subjects I know very little about.

(I was going to make a comment on how the ICC should take GDP into consideration when promoting countries, as they would be more likely to have the infrastructure to build a successful test playing side, and that Bangladesh maybe should not be promoted, considering their low GDP, in comparison to other Associates.  However, according to the IMF, Bangladesh is ranked at 57 out of 183 countries.  Top third, not bad.  Only five spots behind New Zealand, only 10 behind Pakistan, and 15 spots ahead of Sri Lanka, who is ranked 5th in the world in the test rankings.  So, yeah, I don’t know what I am talking about.)

All of the above said: I love that Bangladesh is a test nation because ESPN3 has all the rights to their home matches, so I get to watch test cricket live and with ESPN3’s top notch media player.

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On the pitch: South Africa collapsed, and then Australia collapsed, and we are in a bad light delay near the end of day two.  Meanwhile, in Dubai, Pakistan put a respectable 257 for Sri Lanka to chase.  The match is only in the third over of the 2nd innings, so I am looking forward to following this one all morning.

Until next time.

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Ireland v Namibia at Belfast, ICC Intercontinental Cup One-Day, 2nd Match

A few days ago, I mentioned that the Scotland-Holland ODI in Aberdeen was not, NOT, part of the ICC Intercontinental Cup one day series.  Well, it turns out it was.  I am seriously so confused these days when it comes to the Associates, and I am convinced, CONVINCED, that the ICC left them out of the 2015 World Cup purely because of how…difficult…the Associates are.

For those new to the game, there are several levels of status in World Cricket.  There are the Test Nations – those countries with full member status.  These are nations that have proven over many years that they are capable of playing the game at the highest possible level.  England, India, Australia…etc.

The Associates, on the other hand, are nations with lesser developed programs.  Nations such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Afghanistan, Canada…etc.

Then there are the Affiliates (Nepal, Thailand, Uganda, the USA…etc).

The associates and the affiliates all play in various tournaments which I am not, NOT, going to explain again (yes, I have used that meme three times now, so what?) with the ultimate goal of becoming full member nations and playing tests against England at Lord’s, getting backstage passes to Take That at Wembley, being able to get away with high fashion sunglasses in the field, and of course getting lots of followers on Twitter.

Despite the fact that I did want to point out that the match in the title of this post actually does not take place until tomorrow, I really do not want to talk about the Associates for a very long time.  I write about them far too much in this blog.

I will say, though, that the ICC are idiots for trimming the t20 World Cup.  Serious, fucking, idiots.

In other world cricketing news, Sri Lanka have simply hammered England in the last

(hold on, I am watching Mexico-Chile in the Copa America and goodness that was a beautiful goal from Mexico. one of the best headers I have seen in a very long time.  who scored that?  will he sign for Arsenal? of course he won’t.)

(I am watching it online on Univision, the commentary is in Spanish.  Seriously, it is not very multi-cultural for me to say this, but the GOOOAAALL (ad nauseum) call when a team scores is the most annoying thing in world sport.  full stop.  otherwise I almost prefer the commentary, it is easier to tune out).

hammered England in the last two ODIs.  There are calls for almost everyone in the entire squad to be dropped, taken out, and shot.  But despite the moaning, I bet the squad will unchanged on Wednesday in Nottingham.  Again, I plan, PLAN on waking up early to catch a few overs.  This is something I really need to start making happen.  For England’s sake, hopefully it is damp, as the whole “Sri Lanka can’t play in the cold and wet” theory has legs.

That’s it for now.  I am hoping, HOPING, that there will be time to write tomorrow.  (Yes, that was on purpose).

Oh, I did want to mention how cool I think it is that the Friend’s Life t20 uses the quaint old grounds for their matches.  Today, for instance, Sussex played at the Whitgift School ground.  I love that when I go on my cricket-bicycle-pub-crawl, I will barely have to leave London, and I will still get to see so many wonderful grounds.

Blog resolution: more about county cricket, less about the Associates.

Until tomorrow.

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Lahore Lions v Rawalpindi Rams at Faisalabad, Faysal Bank Super Eight T-20 Cup, Semi-Final

As I was falling asleep last night, my brain was swimming, SWIMMING, with topics to write about this morning.  I must have used them all up in my dreams as I am utterly empty headed right now.

One bit of news yesterday from the ICC meetings in Hong Kong, the number of teams in the t20 World Championships (I think that’s what it is called) was reduced from 16 to 12, which means only two of the associate or affiliate nations will be able to compete in the tournament this fall.

One would think that the ICC would know better:  don’t tick off the Associates. They are already planning a protest.

There was really no explanation behind the move.  It probably was simply a trade off for increasing the teams participating in the 2015 World Cup from 10 to 14.  But I seriously do not get it: why is the ICC so hell bent on limiting the growth of the game?  We are are global society, and for cricket to compete, in needs to globalize itself.  This means allowing non-test countries to compete in all ICC events.

What’s really bizarre is that Associate Qualification is already well under way.  Only now there are only two spots up for grabs, instead of six.  Imagine if FIFA, halfway through a world cup cycle, changed the format of the tournament?  The world would end!  Furthermore: they would never do that!  Because that would be insane!

Also:

BIG BASH!!

Last night I was watching the first few episodes of Two Pricks at the Ashes, the precursor to The Chuck Fleetwood Smiths (aka, the Two Chucks).  These were from late last year, before the show was gobbled up by the Worldwide Leader.  Very entertaining, if a tad rough.

It seems the two guys simply met while covering the Ashes in Australia and started making a video podcast which, not a few months later, was acquired by ESPN.  It’s wild to think how all of that can happen so fast.  I mean, I realize these guys are not superstars or anything, but it is, well, inspiring.

Oh, and one of the Chucks has another book coming out this summer.  I am looking forward to it. I am judging a book by its cover here, but it looks like Hunter S Thompson is alive, well, and writing about the Ashes:

Now here is a topic to write about, now that we are nearly done: entire libraries have been filled with books about cricket.  And as such I have been having a terrible time picking one to read, so I have read none of them.  I think the above might be my first one.  I also was intrigued by A Last English Summer.  More than anything, I want to read about the county game, but I don’t want to slog through 500 pages of county history.  I will figure something out.  Or maybe I will write my own.

On the pitch: rain in Bridgetown, semi-finals in Pakistan (hey, ball by ball!), and a full slate of county games to follow.

(It is positively crazy that Cricinfo has ball by ball for Pakistani domestic t20, but not for English county games. It must be a copyright issue).

And two more things: the Future Tours Programme (PDF, big file) was ratified by the ICC yesterday.  Loads of interesting things to talk about going forward (it is seriously crazy that the next decade of international cricket is for all intents and purposes already planned), but I will save that discussion for another day.

Quickly though, it looks like Pakistan is, interestingly enough, slated to host England next year, I am assuming that is going to be at a neutral venue though, unfortunately.

Why, unfortunately?  Because for some reason I get a ton of clicks when I mention Faisalabad stadium.

It does look like international cricket will be returning to Pakistan soon, however, as Bangladesh are scheduled for a test series there in 2012.

Finally, it looks like there is going to be a World Test Playoff in England, in 2013.  I think I am going to make a real effort to get there.

Until tomorrow.

BIG BASH!!

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Scotland v Netherlands at Aberdeen, 2nd ODI

I thought for sure the above match was part of the ICC’s plan for an ODI tournament for the Associates, which would run alongside the Intercontinental Cup.  But it seems it is simply just part of a Dutch tour of England and Scotland.  Hm.  The ICC just needs to come up with a plan for the Associates and stick. with. it.  Every 18 months or so it seems like a new process our tournament is being announced to slowly feed the Associates into full Member status.  It is oh so confusing.  Hopefully this latest complicated structure of matches will do the trick.

Okay, I just spent 15 minutes reading about the Intercontinental Cup, the Intercontinental Shield, the World Cricket League Division 2 and holy crap now I am even more confused.   But, wait, I just found this article over on (where else?) ESPNCricinfo – wonderfully entitled:  The Mystery Unraveled. While that post is a tad old, it does clear it up a little, I guess.

But I still have found very little about this mysterious ODI tournament for the Associates – isn’t that simply the World Cricket League, division one?

Maybe this is why the ICC tried to leave the Associates out of the 2015 World Cup.  The qualification process would be just too laborious.

Alas*, the ICC changed its mind yesterday and expanded the 2015 World Cup to 14 teams.  They probably just could have made it 11 and allowed Ireland to play, as they seemed to be more upset about the snub than anyone.  I will freely admit, however, that I don’t read a great deal about Afghani or Kenyan cricket.

(Not really “alas”, as I am happy they expanded it).

Back on the pitch: England destroyed Sri Lanka yesterday in a rain shortened ODI.  It was a good old fashioned thumping, thanks mainly to James Anderson and his four early wickets.  Swann also took three, while poor Stuart Broad was 0-32.  Down in Bridgetown, the pitch is the man of the match so far, with yesterday seeing 13 wickets in the first day’s play.  Back in England, Sussex are finally playing a County Championship match again – it feels like it has been nothing but t20 for them lately.  Unfortunately, it is showing, as they have lost five early wickets. Nash, Joyce, Wright…all gone.

Oh, and finally, while reading the early notes on the test match in Bridgetown, I learned players can earn up to one million USD for playing in Australia’s t20 tournament – also known as the Australian BIG BASH.  Which is, seriously, and excuse me, the dumbest fucking name for anything…ever.  I will take corporate sponsorship names for tournaments over that any day.  What’s next, is MLB going to rebrand itself as AMERICAN SUPER HOME RUN TOWN? Or maybe the Friends Life NOTHING BUT SIXES?

Why am I shouting?

The ESPNCricinfo commentator says it right: give me test cricket any day.

I don’t mind twenty20 cricket, but this super premiere league cash grabs just feel…gross.  And there is just one after another after another.  I guess I am on the anti-t20 bandwagon now.

But I am still excited to watch the Sri Lankan Premiere League on ESPN3.  Mostly because I like the league’s name.

I am fickle.

Until tomorrow.