Chris Rogers in it for the cash

Chris Rogers Sheffield Shield coverage at Beer and Sport will be postponed until the commencement of the NSW Bluetongues’ campaign.

So onto more distracting issues, like John Rogers. John is a simple man, and like many of his generation has strong values of honesty, integrity, and dignity. John believes in one club for life. This was made somewhat easier for John as he wasn’t very good and only played 4 first class matches, but true to his ethics they were all for his beloved New South Wales.

It pains John to recall the tale of his son Chris , who holds the rare blemish as the only Australian ever to hit a double century against Australia. It was Chris Rogers demorilising of Lee, Gillespie, Kasprowicz and Macgill that started the 2005 rot that led into a ODI loss to Bangladesh and concluded with the poms in an open topped bus.

The anguish that poor John suffers when regailing the career of his foreyed ranga slut of a son Chris is unbearable. Here is a one club for life man who’s son has so far graced the rosters of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Western Australia, Victoria, and Australia.

In April Chris walked out on his contract with Western Australia, a curious move considering he’d just cracked the national setup, and one must ask as to the motivation for this move. The official line from camp Rogers was his frustration at being ommited from WA’s One Day squad. He had offers from Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, and to understand where Chris Rogers’ priorities lay, the benefits of playing each state have to be examined.

Queensland would have been a disaster for Rogers. His gingah hair and fair complexion would have been no match for the harsh Gabba sun.

South Australia on paper offered the best package. It was rumoured he’d get the captaincy, they are completely and utterly shithouse in the batting department so he’d be worshipped by all 7 SACA members, plus the Adelaide Zoo offers free entry to Rangas, themselves an endagered species according to Zoos SA’s director of conservation programs Kevin Evans.

Finally there was Victoria, and this could prove to be the final nail in his loyal fathers coffin, a man who’s life has been spent fostering a hatred of those damn mexicans with mobiles.

The plusses would be playing in the countries second best state side, not having to face Dirk Nannes, and inclusion in the shortened format of the game. But when it came time to talk turkey, none of these things mattered.

Chris is 31 years old, mostly blind, and wholly red haired. Peroxide and laser eye surgery are not cheap so he’d gone to the Mexicans, and here is why: Victoria are playing in the world T20 club championship. This is in India. The IPL is in India. $$$$$$$$$$$

Just one more wicket

Dave Hussey is all that stands between the Bluetongues and holding the Sheffield Shield aloft for the 45th time. As far as obstacles go, he’s a fairly monumental one. On the cusp of Australian selection, he takes his brothers reliability and makes it look interesting.

One scenario that plays out is Mr Junior making 300 while his team falls all around him. I’d like to see that, as I reckon he really should be in the Australian side. Not because he’s Victorian – he was born in Perth and in 2005 asked to be transferred back to play for his native Western Australia but was knocked back by Victorian Cricket even though they had dropped him – but because he brings a reliability that is missing from our middle order, and is more than handy with the ball. Perhaps we can drop Punter for him.

I almost felt sorry for the Victorians this morning – seems that Uncle-J is taking it pretty hard, and while still optimistic of chasing down the 533 on a 5th day SCG wicket against Lee, Clark, Macgilla, Bracken, Casson and Clarke, is starting to repress his inner monologue.

Then I remembered that he’s Victorian, and the sympathy quickly passed. Bring it home blues.

Sporting Declaration

and there you have it, seems Katto was waiting for Lee to get his maiden 1st class hundred.. poor Binga had other ideas though and will be looking forward to that text message you just know that Warney has sent..

So, the sporting declaration comes leaving the Mexicans 108 overs to bring up the target of 629. 5.8 an over should be easy as.

Course they could try and hold out for a draw, but then we win anyway so presumably they’ll go for it.

What a great sport Katto is. Were it up to me I would have batted all day and maybe given them two sessions to get 850.

NSW Cunning Plan

This was just posted in the crocinfo commentary:

Ross emails “Why would NSW declare ?? Bat for the rest of the match and let Casson and Lee get maiden first class centuries and keep the Vic’s in the field for as long as possible. Isn’t that the whole idea of finishing on top of the table, have the final at home, need nothing but a draw !! “

which poses an interesting point. If this games a draw then we win. So the Vics HAVE to bat for a win regardless of how long we give them to bat.

That said, there’s been a marked improvement in the scoring rates since lunch, we’re going along at over 6rpo so I think the pre-declaration slog is in motion. Another 20-30 minutes should see that lead over 600 which I dare say will be a number too high for the Vics in 4.5 sessions. Still, if it guarantees bring home the trophy, lets bat till stumps.

Moomoo Cup Final – Day 4 – setting up the smackdown

Some would say that a lead of 428 is enough and we should have a bowl. I’m not one of them. Bring on the 550+ lead then we can grind them into the ground. After all, we might have to actually dismiss future PM Dave Hussey this time.

Still, with the Aussie attack on our side less the short of a length outside off Johnson to waste the shine, you’d fancy us to wrap them up pretty quickly. Lee’s probably getting a bit of attention from side-siddle as we speak, nothing like firing him up to really do some damage when he does get the ball in his hand. Perhaps the Binger Beamer will make a re-appearance – and no that’s not the one that Lara gets when there’s a cold draft.

Apparently “the pitch is too slow” as cricinfo informs me. not really sure what that means but supposedly Macgilla and speciallist batsman Beau Casson can have a bit of fun out there.

Lets push on for the next session and a half and really make a lead of this. At the very least I want to win by 300, really put it beyond doubt.