Can the mighty Blues grab an upset win in New Texas?
Check out StateCricket.com for updates from this must win outright Shield match at the Gabba.
Happy Phillip Hughes Day!
Posts Tagged ‘NSW Blues’
NSW vs QLD must win outright!
February 26th, 2009
New posts over at StateCricket.com
February 24th, 2009I’ve been busy over at State Cricket, turns out the NSWales blues still have a mathematical chance of making the Sheffield Shield final against the choking Mexicans, and Dave Warner will not get his 1st class debut on Thursday.
New Blog – State Cricket
February 23rd, 2009Jrod, Miss-Field and myself have started a new blog on Australian Domestic Cricket.
It’ll cover all the big issues such as why New South Wales has won the Sheffield Shield 45 times of the 106 occasions that it’s been contested.
Currently the content is very Victorian and New South Wales biased so we’re looking for more authors from Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. Ideally we’ll have all states represented equally regardless of how small they are by population. Just like the Senate.
So head on over to http://www.statecricket.com/ for all your Aussie domestic blogging needs.
Aaron Bird – Mother-chucker or “Flight Flicker”?
February 4th, 2009Here’s some footage of Aaron Bird’s action. He’s had a troubled career, having being reported early on and remodelling his action to pass the ridiculous 15 degree requirement. This season he’s been the leading wicket taker in both the T20 and F50 competitions, regularly bowling in the 140’s and bowling good tight lines. However, he’s been reported a further 3 times and now heads back for further testing on his action.
I feel sorry for the bloke. He’s in the form of his life and with “role models” like Muttiah Muralitharan and Johan Botha (who action Healey described as “flicking flight” last week) succeeding on the international stage who can blame a young bloke for wanting to bowl just like them? Now he’s got to dress up like Gollum and bowl slow in the nets which will of confirm that he only chucks by 14.2 degrees which is enough of a chuck that no-one seems to care anymore.
Here’s some footage and discussion from Inside Cricket, at the end I’ve slowed it down heaps so you can really see the arm straightening.
I don’t like it, but what really grates me is there being any tolerance allowed. If you bend your arm then play baseball. Here’s a great summary by Tony T at After Grog Blog on this very issue (thanks for the flicking flight reference too)
The fact that Under 15 Degree Chucking has been legalised is a sick joke. Quite obviously the bowling coaches around the orb – Troy Cooley included if you judge by Sideshow Roy’s rancid offies – have been experimenting with the 15 degree limit so that bowlers, and offies in particular, can get that little extra purchase. So what if they sometimes go to 20 degrees, 25 degrees and greater… it’s a bluff worth making and a risk worth taking. No umpire will call them, and only the odd match official will refer the bowler for so-called remedial attention. Then if, on the rare occasions the bowler is cited, they need only stroll off to the bowling doctors, go through the motions under 15 degrees in the lab, and receive the rubber stamp that will allow them “bowl” again.
And do you think there’s a chance in Hades Hot Bread Kitchens Botha will be cited, after he played a significant role in the Vark’s win over Straya? Not on your life. Come on, Mr Official, do your job properly and prove me wrong.
NSW to rally towards 46th Sheffield Shield
February 2nd, 2009It’s not too late for the mighty NSW Blues to defend their Sheffield Shield, and considering we’ve won 1, lost 3 and drawn 2 matches it’ll have to be one hell of a late rally for us to contest the finals.
We’re currently sitting in 5th place out of the 6 teams. At this stage, I’d book the MCG out as Victoria are a certainty to top the table. They’re sitting pretty on 30 points and have a big gap to the next placed Queensland with 3 matches to go. To improve our chances I’ll be hoping for as many Victorian wins to keep them ahead of the field.
There’s 4 matches remaining:
- Fri 30 – Mon 2 Feb vs Tasmania in Newcastle
- Sun 15 – Wed 18 Feb vs Victoria in Melbourne
- Thu 26 – Sun 1 Mar vs Queensland in Brisbane
- Thu 5 – Sun 8 Mar vs WA in Sydney
and of the matches on this weekend, QLD lost to Western Australia but picked up first innings points, Victoria should beat South Australia, and NSW should beat TAS outright for 6 points, which will leave the table 7/10ths of the way through the comp looking like:
- Victoria 36
- Queensland 22
- New South Wales 18
- Western Australia 18
- Tasmania 18
- South Australia 8
The real challenge for NSW, as always, will be when our Test stars depart for the South Africa tour. There is a 3 day game against South Africa A on February 20th, and I’m guessing that safety first Cricket Australia wont let those selected play the shield match against Victoria that finishes on the 18th.
Phillip Hughes is now looking a certainty for his Baggy Green, along with Simon Katich, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. Hopefully we can hold onto Phil Jaques, Dave Warner (to get his First Class debut), Nathan Hauritz and Nathan Bracken at least until the One Day squad is sent over for the 27th March. We’ll also be carefully monitoring Stuart Clark’s elbow and Brett Lee’s ankle – their return could well be the deciding factor in this years shield.
Our young blokes will have to step up against the nearer full strength Victorian, Queensland and Western Australian outfits, and if they do we’ll be looking good for another finals appearance. And then, just maybe we can lift the trophy for the 46th time of the 106 times it’s being contested.
