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Englisman turned Kiwi. Aspiring sports media maestro!
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With the Six Nations over and the Lions Tour of New Zealand just three months away, we take a look at five mouth-watering individual…
With the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand a matter of months away, I take a look at ten reasons why rugby…
Leeds United took another step closer to a return to the Premier League on Friday night with a 3-1 win away at Birmingham City.…
The second Ashes Test match wrapped up on Monday with Australia completing a 218-run victory and taking a 2-0 lead in the series. However,…
If there’s one positive that can be taken from England’s dismal showing in the 2013/14 Ashes series, it’s the steely resilience of baby-faced batsmen…
As David Moyes wandered down the Old Trafford tunnel following his side's defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, he may have been re-evaluating his expectations.…
Liverpool fell to a 3-1 away defeat to Hull overnight, seeing them slip to fourth place on the Premier League ladder, seven points behind…
Arsenal has enjoyed a memorable week. A solid home victory against Marseille in the Champions League, followed by a convincing 3-0 away victory at…
With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil just over seven months away, I take on the role of Roy Hodgson and pick the men…
Not since the days of Eric Gerets, Enzo Scifo and Luc Nilis under the leadership of Guy Thys has the Belgium national team boasted…
This season's edition of the English Premier League is turning out to be one of the most hotly contested in the last decade. Not…
Agree with your final thoughts Scott. And you make some interesting initial points as well. It is a tough issue for umpires or officials to rule on. I still believe that some sort of ruling system needs to be put in place to allow umpires to have some power on the oval and keep the game flowing.
Sledging: It's just not cricket
Yea but I’m sure Kumar ventured out of Sr Lanka for a few knocks Frankie , am I right?
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Haha that would be rubbing salt in the wounds!
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Probably at lunch. Maybe a little after. A lead of 350 to 400 is unassailable. Happy times for Australia, daunting ones for England! Would not like to be facing Mitchell Johnson on that cracked wicket.
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Statistically yes you’d probably just pick the whole Australia team minus Bailey. But considering its a team of the series, I felt players like Root, Carberry and Broad who have performed despite England failures deserved a mention.
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Yea true he’s definitely there for his batting. Keiswetter isn’t in the squad so if Prior’s dropped it will be Bairstow. Kieswetter looks a good player though. Has proven himself in the shorter forms of the games so he could be given a shot in the future. There’s also Jos Buttler, but I think he is seen as a T20 specialist prodigy.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Frankie is that sarcasm? Averaging 40 as a keeper batsmen is still very commendable.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Anything is an upgrade from Prior in this form Tony. Bairstow hasn’t proven a lot, you’re right, but he’s the reserve keeper and has just scored a century for the England Lions so he deserves a shot, especially if the match is a dead rubber.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Drop Pietersen, drop Prior. Give Jimmy Anderson a word or two and bring in Johnny Bairstow and Gary Ballance. England are facing an imminent transition period so they might as well start making the changes now.
SPIRO: England need a real Captain Cook
They could declare at tea on Day 5 and probably still win. England’s batting has been woeful.
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Yea that was the toughest call, but Broad has been a stand out bowler for England and deserves to be recognised. Have to have one English bowler in there somewhere!
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Big blow for United given their current state. But Danny Welbeck proved last night that he’s capable of replacing him. All be it against a weak Aston Villa side.
United's van Persie out for a month
You’d argue that Haddin is the number one test keeper. Always turns up to the party, a great leader and has kept well this series. Consistently saves Aussie from batting collapses as well. He look like a very valuable player to have. Just a shame about his age.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Yea good point, since Adam Gilchrist there hasn’t been a standout wicket keeper batsman who can do both job to a very high level. Brendon McCullum and MS Dhoni were up there, but McCullum’s given up the gloves and Dhoni looks to be past his best. I think Prior was given the ‘best wicket keeper batsmen in the world’ tag simply because he was the wicket keeper for the best team in the world. Unfortunately they are far from that now and Priors performances have definitely contributed to their decline.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Harsh but true Frankie. Looks to me like Jimmy has had his day.
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
Johnno, the team of this Ashes series so far (based on form):
1. David Warner
2. Michael Carberry
3. Joe Root
4. Michael Clarke
5. Ian Bell
6. Steve Smith
7. Brad Haddin
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ryan Harris
11. Nathan Lyon
Thoughts?
ASHES: Talking points from day three at the WACA
However, I can’t agree with Swann as your replacement.
SPIRO: England need a real Captain Cook
Yea I agree Spiro, Cook has looked lost in the field this series, looks to have no clue what he’s doing. He’s become so used to England being on top that he has little idea what to do when they are getting beaten. He’s shell shocked. He needs to be more aggressive with his fields. Put pressure on the Aussie batsmen, particularly David Warner who, lets face it, has made the England bowlers his b**ch this series. All these little chats Cook has with his bowlers and his fieldsmen every couple of overs are very unsettling and show that Captain Cook is unsure of his own plans. Worrying times for England fans!
SPIRO: England need a real Captain Cook
Would be a bit harsh to drop Stokes now. He’s given a good account of himself in the 2 tests he has played in and offers some value with the ball. How long are England going to continue to put up with Prior. They might as well give Bairstow a go. He’s previously batted at 6 for England and compared to Priors form would probably add some stability to the mid to lower order. I think that’s the team they will pick for Melbourne, with the possible exception of Ballance, it’s unlikely they will drop Pietersen.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
I expect Mitchel Johnson to continue terrorising batsmen in South Africa. Him and David Warner probably the best in the world at their individual trades at the moment.
Tour of South Africa now the litmus test for Aussies
Good article Tom, completely agree. Prior has been very poor, as well as Graeme Swann, Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Kevin Pietersen. I’d like to see lots of changes made for Melbourne. I think it will probably happen as well, given the match will probably be a dead rubber anyway. Drop Prior and Pietersen and bring in Bairstow ad Gary Ballance. Broad looks like he will be out with injury which is a huge blow, he has been the most impressive of the England bowlers.
My England 11 for the Boxing Day test:
1. Alastair Cook
2. Michael Carberry
3. Joe Root
4. Gary Ballance
5. Ian Bell
6. Ben Stokes
7. Johnny Bairstow
8. Tim Bresnan
9. Graeme Swann
10. Boyd Rankin
11. James Anderson
It looks weak on paper, but I’m betting on that lot doing better than the poor performances so far. Plus, with the Ashes probably gone, what more do England have to lose on a tour that is turning out to be an absolute disaster.
Can Matt Prior turn it around?
Great innings from Smith. England looked to be dominating when he arrived at the crease and, with the help of Haddin, he batted Australia back into a promising position. a timely innings for Smith too whose position may have been slightly in doubt. He’s certainly solidified it now!
ASHES: Talking points from day one at the WACA
I wrote an article about Belgium’s chances a month ago and the general consensus is that Belgium are good but they lack the experience. However, i believe that can also be a positive thing. This will be a the first World Cup for pretty much their whole squad and their excitement, on the back of their very impressive qualifying campaign could develop a sort of ‘no fear’ attitude which could bode well for them throughout the tournament.
Will Belgium's golden generation make a statement in Brazil?
Yea I agree with the captain thing. Umpires should warn the captains after a first indiscretion, but if it continues they should have the power to take matters into their own hands and remove players if it is necessary.
Sledging: It's just not cricket