Tag Archives: T20

David Warner makes Twenty20 squad

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Shot Dave

Shot Dave

Congratulations to NSW opening batsman David Warner for making his way into the national T20 team at the expense of Matthew Hayden. It’s so refreshing to see another member of this way under-represented state earn promotion and hopefully he’ll get to play in Sunday’s match against the saffas.

Not to say Dave hasn’t earnt this selection, his form in the shorter versions of he game is undeniable.

In late November he broke the NSW One Day record in 34.1 overs by hitting 165* (112) That innings included 19 fours and 9 sixes against the (then) table topping Tasmanian attack. One can only speculate how many he would have scored had we batted first!

This week he took apart a South Australian attack that included a devastating Shaun Tait and Pakistani import Sohail Tanvir with 65(35). He did have some luck, playing on to be bowled by Tait off a no-ball then smashing the free hit over mid-on for one of his 7 fours. Of the 4 sixes Dave hit the highlight was a Tait delivery which he dispatched onto the roof of the Adelaide Oval!

He started the match with that stupid double sided T20 specialist bat, then changed it after a few overs for a real lump of willow.

He’s also a handy slow bowling option, capable of ripping leggies and tight offies depending on his mood. So congrats on the selection Dave, and it’s good to see we are still breeding the big names.

Junk Food vs Hard Liquor T20 Match

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Well it’s about to start, the All Stars vs Australia.

Gilly’s opening on his 37th Birthday, Roy’s back, Brett Geeves to open for Australia, and as is standard practice Ricky’s not playing a Twenty20…. Go the All Stars!

Movember is listed as a charity for this match, hoping to see some decent Mo’s out there as well.

Will update this post as stuff happens.

Dighton plays the right-arm uppercut for 6, nice to see the innovation from the All* straight away. Next one goes for 4, dot, 6. Dighton’s 16*(4).
Gilly to face Tait now, this could be interesting.
Roy’s looking very processed now, glad to see his heads in the right spot to play cricket again.
Slats trying to flog Gilly’s book between balls. A nice change from trying to flog Gilly’s wife between overs I guess.
5 wides from Tait, Haddin hasn’t seen something bounce like that in months
0/31 off 2 overs
Dighton on fire, 0/51 after 3 !!
Turns out Hussey is captain of the all stars. Tait swinging it at around 150k’s. Also has his elbow strapped on like he’s borrowed an arm. Gilly played all through that one, perfect seam position on a great inswinger that just missed off stump. And again, Gilly having all sorts of trouble with Tait. 1 off the over
0/52 off 4
Siddle’s on, seems everyone’s forgotten bout Douggy Bollinger. Gilly’s in the runs now as well, was trying to get Dighton on strike and did so, on the 5th ball. Dighton plays the baseball swipe straight back to siddle who knocks it up with his right, then taps it out of his left, then the ball falls. Good effort, no cigar.
0/67
Tait’s back, Gilly bowled 25(20). World’s best T20 batsman and man voted most likely to be confused with a feret, Brad Hodge.
First ball edged through 2nd slip. Field change, now there’s a 2nd slip. I like this Hussey
Quick single and direct hit from Xavier Doherty, Dighton in by a poofteenth
No, I lie.. 3rd ump gives him the arse. Seems Clarke was a late withdrawl from the match, as opposed to Ponting, who just couldn’t be f’ucked.
Great, Katich comes in to join Hodge, there goes the run rate me thinks.
No ball, Hodge gets an edge and a jumping Haddin catches it to save 4 off the free hit.
Well, Channel 9 have finally pulled their fingers out and are broadcasting this game in HD. Thank f’uck for that.
Katto caught behind off Siddle, 3/75 of 6.3
Dan Marsh in and Siddle bowls a bouncer so short that Marsh doesn’t even have to duck.
Seems like months since there was a boundry, so Hodge absolutely creams a cover drive
3/83 off 6
Langer sitting like a jockey as Heals interviews him. His voice seems so much more appropriate as a jockey. Heals asks what the batting plan is. Apparently scoring lots of runs is at the top.
Xavier Doherty on now and he bowls Dan Marsh for a golden duck. 4/83.
Bill’s in the box now to add some excitement, as Langer comes out for the All Stars.
Bill opens with the second dodgy chicken pun of the night “so the KFC Australian’s are amongst the
chickens at the moment, really doing well”, guess the Colonel paid for channel 9′s HD equipment
Spinners and Hodge have really applied the brakes, Roy bowling with Doherty. This Symonds bloke looks ok, we could have used him in India.
Bob Marley, AC/DC’s old stuff and Come on Irene playing in the crowd with Nicholas talking about how T20 brings in the kids.. who like old music, apparently.
Future PM and IPL billionaire David Hussey bowling now, tidy over. How does anyone watch this ‘cricket’ without 6′s all the time? Boring!
4/114 off 12
Langer going at an impressive run a ball, Hodge about 2. Roy bowling like shit but still tight.
Roy’s subbed himself off for an 8 year fielder now.. and the ball gets belted along the ground straight to him.. Siddle cuts it off and the kid gets an extra run for the All Stars..
More cricket and stuff. Just noticed on the scorecard the All Stars are abreviated to A*S, which looks like they’re censoring ASS. Tidy.
4/196 off 19
Last Over, now they can start hitting it.
Tait to bowl it, I can feel the runs already.
Good over there, 204 in total. Can’t help but think Langer really held them back with 52(43).
Some stupid band between innings, short skirts though, nice.
Australia batting now, Hayden caught early off McGoffin, then Shaun marsh caught off McGoffin in the outfield, by Brendan Drew, who caught it between his legs! Deadset, remarkable dismissal.
2/19 after 3
Australia struggling here, Roy’s in next though, shame about his form.
No, Roy’s in now as Harris throws down the stumps and Watson is back to pose in the mirror.
McGoffin bowling really well, Roy just described him as “their best bowler”, and Hussey agrees. Plan is to play him out to score off the others
Roy throws to the advert, tidy.
3/53 off 7. Asking rate now 11.5

Festival of IPL HATE part 1

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That’s right all you Mohali Meat-Eaters fans out there, the first grudge match of the IPL is on Friday when the brave and noble Meat-Eaters take on those bastards at the Chenai Chuckers.

In recognition of this remarkable ocasion, the authorities at Meat-Eating Headquarters have agreed for Beer and Sport to officially release their new logo, in recognition of the fact that their one was as pants as their original name.

Remarkably this age old rivalry has been so hotly contested over the centuries that the ledger is even, which means the winner of Friday’s game will take an unasailable lead that can’t be overturned for several weeks… unless it’s a tie and the bowl-off is also drawn. Or it rains.

Anyway, Mohali Meat-Eaters v Chenai Chuckers. I might even watch this one.

In rememberance of One Day Cricket

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50 over cricket has been growing stale under the leadership of the ICC and it’s sub-continental powerbase for a long time, and never was this more evident than at the debacle that was the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. What should have been the showpiece event was stripped of all character and then dragged on for far too long.

ODI’s have become predictable, formula driven and the consolidatory periods in the 15-40 over period is not giving the Gen Y crowd the constant stimulation they crave and get from competitors to the diet cricket format such as rugby, league, gayfl and soccer.

Crowd nazism from thought challenged security staff is reaching unprecedented levels and severely detracts from the experience. Light beer, outlawing of cameras with 10x zoom, petty restrictoins on bringing in soft drinks from sponsors’ competitors, evicting constructors of “beer snakes”, outlawing of the Mexican wave and criminalising trumpeters are hallmarks of the fun police.

Attempts at law changes have been drawn out and ill-conceived ; “Super”-sub’s and “Power”-play’s were a farcical attempt to Americanize [Sic] the ailing product. Australia’s complete and utter dominance of the format has done little to spark interest. The recent and rare 400+ games which have gone against the norm and provided dare I say, some entertainment.

The only remaining appeal is to executives who crave the bottom line boost from 8 hours of advertisments, predominately in India.

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Conversely, the T20 concept is fresh, innovating and exciting – all the things that ODI’s used to be. Perhaps this is due to the format being created in the UK, away from the greed and sub-continental influence of the ICC.

Some of the innovations really should have been bought into ODI’s long ago. The free hit is great and the distance measurement for biggest six makes for interesting viewing and facilitates nice highlights packages throughout the tournament, regardless of how dubious the actual measurement is..

I’m in favour of scrapping the pointless ODI tournaments in favour of T20 comps. Does anyone actually remember the results of last years three way series with the Poms and Kiwi’s? Is anyone honestly looking forward to the 7 match series we’re about to start in India? Surely they could have snuck a test in.

3 hours is a good span for an after work event with time for a few cleansing ales, and you never know, they might serve full strength beer! No doubt Cricket Australia will get their hooks into and suck the life out of it in the interest of “families”, so lets embrace it before they get a chance.
The concept of the champions trophy is brilliant, allowing state players to mix it on the International stage in their familiar state environment.

Baggy Green victories are not guaranteed in T20, and our losing to Zimbabwe provided a huge boost to the recent tournament. The fact that the team who play best on the day win is not the randomness that some journalists are suggesting, it’s a just reward for a diet format that with a standout performance from a few individuals a lesser ranked team can upset the giants. I might even get some decent odds betting on the Aussie juggernaut!

Of course test cricket is still the real deal, but if we must have a diet cricket format then I’d choose T20 any day. In terms of growing the game into new markets as well as getting more female supporters to the games. Is the Twenty20 here to stay? Most definately.