Rethinking Headingley and battling Lanka

dcsiva — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:41:00 GMT

As England try to regroup after being thrashed at Headingley, the recriminations and rethinking is everywhere. Here's Will on what to do with Broad. And part of King Cricket's tongue in cheek proposal:

Buoyed by their mind-addling repast, the selectors brought in a barely-known Antipodean roofer and promoted Tim Ambrose to number six on the strength of his seven-ball four at Lord’s. So what treats have they got in store for us come the next Test?
Well after showing admirable resilience with the bat, James Anderson will surely move up to number three in order to protect Michael Vaughan from the new ball. Stuart Broad will move up to four as the team’s strokemaker and also to protect Michael Vaughan from the newish ball.

Ottayan argues for patience during upcoming Indian tour to Sri Lanka. Doesn't every team go to Sri Lanka with that plan?

And, on an entirely different note, Patrick Kidd quotes someone writing in to him about Don Bradman's "average" birthday:

"There will be plenty of celebration regarding Don Bradman's 100th birthday on August 27, 2008. Has there been any thought as to when he would have turned 99.94? This would be on August 5 (using 99.94 rounded) or August 6 (using his un-rounded average of 99.94285714286 etc)."

Nice one! Finally the next step up from Twenty20 now that we're all so jaded by it:

The rules of roller-cricket is the same as that of the cricket. However, the number of players participating in a team has been fixed at seven. Each game will be of 25 overs a side, he said.
Jacob said the game is not costly, as one can get a skater for Rs 400.
...
The popularity of the game is steadily rising and there are enquiries from various schools for starting camps, he said.
A roller-cricket tournament has also been planned in the state, he said.

Eyelids surprised open

dcsiva — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:33:00 GMT

Another swing bowling token selection for Headingley: Darren Pattinson. And no one seems to know much about him, excepting Australian bloggers of course. Here's Jrod on "Eyelids" and a trip down memory lane:

In conclusion, he is front on, quick enough, ex roof tiler, Dandenong boy, seams the ball, closes his eyes, takes wickets and is a Victorian.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, his inclusion is sure to piss off a bunch of English supporters and surprise a whole lot more.
So it’s a good inclusion for everyone.

Patrick Kidd on the possible logic:

There are two possible explanations for why Darren Pattinson was called up at short notice from Trent Bridge. 1) In these straitened times, the selectors wanted to save on paying mileage to a bowler from a southern club; or 2) Possibly following on from that, the selectors actually meant to call up Darren Gough but hit the wrong number on the speed dial. I suppose there is also a third explanation: that the selectors have seen real promise and think he can do a job.

And to make Jrod happy, Graham Gooch railing against all things foreign in England (except his mates, of course).

Cover Points : Headingley

Rethinking Headingley and battling Lanka

Eyelids surprised open