Sporting shorts

So, I know there's no Cricket on Free-To-Air TV today, but I was trying to work out if that meant there was no Big Bash match. To me, if there's going to be a home and away season then there needs to be more than one game a night. I think if we did that, we would drastically reduce the length of the season, and might mean we can have more Sheffield Shield rounds amongst the test cricket. But we will see I guess.

Other than the cricket- Djokovic beat Nadal in close to the best game of tennis I've seen Djokovic play. Will be interesting watching how the new wave of challengers go in the next few tournaments.

Other than than, not really got much on aside from the Super Bowl. Will be interesting if Brady can add to his legacy.

Sport - Cricket team of the year

Following on from my post about the Cricinfo awards, I thought that I would write about my team of the year in Test Cricket. I'm less concerned about the other two formats :)

My team is below, and I think most of it picks itself.  The unlucky man for me is Josh Hazelwood. He for me was the pick of the Australian bowlers during the Test series against South Africa and Pakistan.

1.     David Warner (Australia)
2.     Alastair Cook (England) (captain)  
3.     Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
4.     Steve Smith (Australia)  
5.     Virat Kohli (India)
6.     Jonny Bairstow (England) (wicketkeeper)
7.     Ben Stokes (England)
8.     R. Ashwin (India)
9.     Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
10.    Mitchell Starc (Australia)
11.    Dale Steyn (South Africa)
--
12    Joe Root (England)

Cricinfo awards

It's now the end of January, so Cricinfo has published their nominees for the performances of the year in the three formats of cricket. I am also stoked that this year they have included the best performances in Women's Cricket too.

Read the Men's nominations and the Women's nominations. Its great to reminded of some of the great performances from the past year.

So my picks are below:

Women's Nominations:
Batting: Ellyse Perry's 93* which guided Australia to a tense 2 wicket win against South Africa.
Bowling: I'd pick Leigh Kasperek, her 3-13 guided NZ to a win over Australia in the World T20 cup.
Full nominations.

Test: 
Batting: Kusal Mendis 176* against Australia in Sri Lanka. His innings turned the test in favour of Sri Lanka. Who won their first test against Australia in 15 years (and eventually their first ever series win, 3-0).
Hon Mention: McCullum's 54 ball hundred in his final test.
Bowling: My pick is Mehedi Hasan Miraz. His 6/77 guided Bangladesh to their first win against England.
Hon Mention: Kagiso Rabada his 5/92 turned the Perth test in favour of South Africa.  It was an impressive performance (and more notable after Dale Steyn was injured and took no further part in the series).
Full nominations

ODI
Batting: David Miller, his 118* guided South Africa to a successful chase of 372. Currently the second highest successful chase.
Bowling: Kane Richarson 5/68 v India. He removed Kohli and inspired another Australian victory.
Full nominations

T20
Batting: I still find it hard to remember many T20 games, but its hard to forget Carlos Braithwaite's four sixes to win the World Cup final against England.

Hon Mention: Glenn Maxwell's 145* against Sri Lanka.
Bowling: I'd pick Mitchell Santner's  4/11 against India in the World T20 cup.
Full list of nominations.

2015 Cricinfo Awards

One of the highlights each year is reading the nominations for the best individual performances in the different formats of Cricket for the previous year. I've picked my favourite from each category. Read the full list of nominees here:

Test Cricket:

Test Batting performance of the year

Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) 206

Easy to pick Ross Taylor for his 290 against Australia in Perth. Ross Taylor broke one of Cricket's oldest records (The highest score by any visiting batsman in Australia, Tip Fosters made 287 in 1903/1904), and given his form going in to the Perth test it took everyone by surprise. But I'll pick Iqbal's 206 - the highest score for Bangladesh. He shared in a 312 run stand for the first wicket in Bangladesh's second innings (the highest opening stand in the third or fourth innings in test history), saving the test match.

Test Bowling performance of the Year

Stuart Broad (England) 8/15

One of the more perfect bowling performances I can remember. Australia's full innings lasted 114 balls. I still scarcely believe this scorecard, given it was on the opening morning of the fourth Ashes test with so much at stake.

One Day Internationals:

ODI Batting

Mahmudullah (Bangladesh), 128* 

One of two centuries Mahmudullah made during the World Cup and this innings drove Bangladesh to a competitive total, which NZ after a few anxious moments chased down.

Hon Mention Elliot's 84* in the World Cup semi final, not only for the innings, but for one of the moments of the World Cup - the photo of Elliot reaching out to Dale Steyn will live long in the memory. 

ODI Bowling

Mitchell Starc (Aus) 6/28

Starc's spell almost won the game for Australia, after a Trent Boult led New Zealand had bowled Australia out for 151.

Hon mention: Tim Southee (NZ), 7/33 

Best bowling figures for a NZ in ODI cricket, and the best bowling figures at the 2015 World Cup.

T20 Internationals

T20 Batting

JP Duminy 68* (South Africa) 

Others have made higher scores, but he guided South Africa who at one stage needed 107 off 61 balls.

Hon mention: Gayle's 90 which kickstarted the West Indies successful chase of 231 (the highest score made batting second in any T20).

T20 Bowling

Harder to judge what makes a good performance in T20, dot balls are as important as wickets. Interesting looking at the best bowling figures for 2015, all but four are all from players in Associate teams.

I'll make it easy and pick Wiesse's 5/23.

Captain of the year:

Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh) who inspired the Bangladeshi team to one of their best years in international Cricket.

Hon Mention, Brendan McCullum, for both the style of cricket he's inspired NZ to play, and the results through the year. (Tests 4-3, 1 draw, ODI 18-5, 1 no result)

Disappointing that there's no Female cricket of the year on CricInfo, but there will be next year :)  I would give it to either Elysse Perry or Meg Lanning, probably the two most consistent women cricketers across all formats last year. Though Jess Johanson's performance in the Ashes would put her up there too.

World Cup wrap up..

Last night was the World Cup Final, and Australia were worthy winners of the game.  The three highlights to me.

(1) Starc's first over to McCullum, just brilliant bowling, and got the reward he deserved. It set the scene, rather than deciding the match.
(2) Smith's composure and calmness when he came out to bat.  Fitting he hit the winning runs.
(3) McCullum's grace and dignity in defeat. Seeing him chase each ball as if it was the first over, his post match speech and press conference, running to Clarke to shake his hand after he was dismissed, (along with a number of other NZ players). Just pure class.

The honorable mention, would be Clarke - on one level it was sad he wasn't there at the end, but at the same time, he got to walk off the ground to a standing ovation, which he deserved.

The low light, Channel 9's coverage.  How on earth did Shane Warne get the nod for the post match interviews, we learnt more about the players drinking habits than anything else, only Watson and Clarke were asked about their opponents. Disappointing that Mark Nicholas announced Dan's (rumored) retirement to the world while neglecting to mention Misbah-ul-Haq or Shahid Afridi.

Highlights of the World Cup:
(1) The tournament dominated by the bat - 4 scores of over 400, 2 double hundreds, 38 centuries... The average strike rate was in the high 80s.
(2) Admist that, two bowlers stood up above the others Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc. Fitting that Starc was player of the tournament.
(3) The two matches which will live in my memory and which highlight the beauty of cricket were the Afghanistan v Scotland game and the South Africa - New Zealand semi-final.

So proud of the NZ team.

'Footy's' back ...

We've been enjoying the Cricket, SuperXV Rubgy and the NRL for a few weeks now, but next weekend sees the beginning of the AFL Season..   In short, hoping for redemption this year. That is, if the Swans make the grand final, they show up for the game.

Here's my prediction for the top eight

1. Sydney 2. Port Adelaide 3. Hawthorn 4. Fremantle
5. Geelong 6. North Melbourne 7. Richmond .8 Adelaide

I think Sydney will play Hawthorn or Port Adelaide in the Grand Final. But there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there.

+++

Super Rugby
Very impressed with the Hurricanes, a few All Blacks were rested last night and the team beat the Rebels 36-12, to go 6-0 for the season.

NRL
The two games last night were great advertisements for the game, with Parramatta upsetting the Rabbits, and the Bulldogs running down the Tigers with a golden point field goal.   One thing I've thought since it was introduced, is that it should be changed to a golden try. That's to say, if you score a try - game over, but with a field goal or penalty goal you play the ten minutes out.

Tomorrow, before the Cricket starts, the Warriors and Brisbane play in the NRL, before the game they will mark the fact that the Warriors have been in the competition for 20 years. Hoping for another win, to consolidate a reasonably good start to the season.

World Cup Cricket
The final sees the two best teams in the tournament playing for the right to be called World Champions. I am hopeful that the BlackCaps will lift the World Cup for the first time. I've been so impressed with McCullum and the team for the past year or so, not only for the cricket they have played, but the spirit they have played the cricket in. This piece from Martin Crowe is a must read. 

Cricket World Cup (Week 5)

Three games to go.... and the last four standing are Australia, India, New Zealand and South Africa.  There's a nice symmetry about the Semi-Finals - the most successful team Australia (4 titles) playing the defending champions India, and the challengers South Africa and New Zealand fighting for their first appearance in a World Cup Final.

World Cup Best XI
I'm making three changes - Guptill to replace Amla, Maxwell to replace Faulkner and Boult for Southee. Imran Tahir is unlucky, but I'm keeping Dan for his catch today ;)

1. B. McCullum (C) (NZL) 2. M Guptil (NZL) 3. K. Sangakkara (SL) 4. A.B. deVilliers (S Af) 5. V. Kohli (Ind)
6. G Maxwell (Aus) 7. M. Dhoni  (wk) (Ind) 8. D. Vettori (NZL) 9.  M Starc (Aus) 10. D. Steyn (S Afr) 11. T Boult (NZL)

First thoughts on the Semis
Australia v India: the World Cup means so much to the players & fans than all of the other games on the tour to date.  You have the feeling Australia will handle the pressure better than India...
New Zealand v South Africa: South Africa have been good, but not great in the tournament so far, with losses against India and Pakistan (and both chasing). The signs from the game against Sri Lanka were good for their bowling. A line ball call with NZ probably a nose in front...

Cricket World Cup - Week Two...

Time to reflect on the tournament so far.  The two matches of the tournament for me, were the UAE v Ireland and the Afghanistan v Scotland games. Partly because given they're not traditional rivals, and they are players we have not seen, they add some much to the sport's history.

For this reason, it will be sad to see the Associate nations not in the next tournament. Partly because every game the 'associates' play is meaningful, the Associate v Associate games seem to be more competitive than the games between 'test-playing nations'.

So, on to the revised predictions:

Pool A: 
New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka; England, with games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan to come, will sneak in.

Pool B:
Pool B seems to be a little tighter. My tips would be:
India, South Africa, and then two from Ireland, West Indies and Zimbabwe. If Ireland beats Zimbabwe they should make the quarter-finals, but with games against South Africa & India you would imagine their net-run-rate will suffer.

A little on the Aus v NZ game:
I was surprised to read that before Saturday's game, NZ hadn't played Australia in a ODI since 2011 (in the last world cup). Especially since the Chappell-Hadlee trophy was established for ODI's between the two nations.

The Australia - New Zealand game was great, because it reminded you that cricket is a contest between bat and ball. In an age when the average run-rate is going up and the game seems stacked in favour of the batsman. I was really impressed with Vettori since he allowed to NZ to settle back down after Australia's excellent start.

The game highlighted the importance of good captaincy.  McCullum backed his bowlers and bowled Boult out. You wonder what the outcome would have been if Starc had been bowled out.

Looking forward:
The Bangledash v Scotland (Thu) & Ireland v Zimbabwe (Sun) games are the two I'm most looking forward to this week.  Bangledash need to keep winning to put pressure on England.

World Cup

So, we are two days (and almost four games) into the tournament. Was very impressed with NZ start. McCallum & Guptill's opening partnership of 111 (in 16 overs) would have settled the nerves.  Williamson wasn't at his best, and still made 50 odd, Daniel Vettori was impressive with the ball and Anderson didn't let the momentum change when he came out to bat.  Important to mention that in the game Sangakkara became the second highest scorer in ODI Cricket, moving past Ricky Ponting.

The BlackCaps play Scotland on Tuesday.

Australia started really well too. I felt for Taylor, given the circumstance of the ending of the game (He handled himself really well).

South Africa highlighted why they are among the favourites, with a brilliant partnership of 256 between Duminy and Miller guiding them from 4/83 to over 300.  The South African's scored 146 off the last 10 overs,

And in the game that just finished, India had too much for Pakistan. With Kohli making another hundred.

Tomorrow sees Ireland and the West Indies play, should be an interesting contest.

And while we are talking about Cricket, the White Ferns (the Women's team) had a 9 wicket win against England, taking a 2-1 series lead

Summer of Cricket

Now the "real cricket" (editors note: test cricket)  has finished until the Kiwi's play South Africa (late March), and the Australia's travel to the West Indies (April-May), its time to collect a few thoughts.

Aside 1: we have a couple of hit and giggle matches, the return of a one-day series, but these are not really real cricket.

• Very impressed with Clarke as captain, a touch more aggressive than Ponting was, and less willing to let the game drag. Whatever his winning percentage, I think he'll be a better captain. The captaincy  also seems to have done wonders with his batting (150+ versus South Africa, the 329* and 210 versus India). 
• Great to see Ponting back in form, and I think there's perhaps a lesson there for the Indian's - both Hussey and Ponting were under pressure, but performed when they needed too, so maybe they should hold-off dropping Dravid, Laxman and Shewag .. 
• The Australian bowling stocks, while needing to be well treated gently are looking good, Siddle's leading the attack well, Pattinson and Cummins look great (and will be fun when they can operate together) as does Harris. It is nice to see Hifly doing well. 
• DRS - I'm on the Indian's side with this one, the technology isn't perfect, so leave it all on the field.
• On paper, it looked like a tight series, but doesn't seem like the Indian batsman have the temperament for Australia, and the bowlers didn't really seem to have the discipline. 
• It will be interesting watching this side build up to the Ashes.
• And in light of the above, the Black-cap's drawn series is looking better and better  ;-)

Aside 2: Love this comment, "adults take their kids to Test Cricket; and kids take their parents to the 20-20". 

Aside 3:  Good luck to the NZ Women, who play for the Rose Bowl trophy against Australia tomorrow.