Posted by jrod on May 25, 2009 under NSW, QLD, VIC | 
These were the significant players. Tomorrow will be the insignificant players.
Brad Hodge – Kolkata
365 @ av 40 sr 117 hs 73
7 wickets @ 23 econ 8.05 bb 3/29
Started off terribly, but as the team fell apart he became their banker. Eventually showed why he had made so many runs in this format of the game, happy to be 30 off 30, and then explode at the end. Was used as a front line bowler at times, which he isn’t, but he did bowl some very good overs.
Brett Lee – Punjab
28 runs @ av 14 sr 82 hs 14*
5 wickets @ 22 econ 5.55 bb 3/15
Only played a handful of games, but looked more like the late 07/08 bowler, and less like the heart break kid of recent times. Always does his best work with the white ball, so not a huge surprise he was too good for most batsmen at this level. His batting looked rusty but he will just be happy to be out in the middle and thinking about cricket.
Andrew Symonds – Deccan
249 runs @ av 35 sr 150 hs 60*
7 wickets @ 22.85 econ 6.66 bb 2/18
Won the final with 2 wickets in one over, and his medium pace bowling was swinging a lot, and was hard for most people to hit. His batting always looked murderous, but couldn’t quite cash in as he would like. Would be happy with his form though.
Ryan Harris – Deccan
21 runs @ av 21 sr 116 hs 9*
6 wickets @ 38 econ 7.41 bb 3/27
Couldn’t buy a wicket, but no one found him easy to hit. His bounce made him an ideal bowler. Was bagged in the South African press for not being up to it and then played as one of the imports in the final winning side.
David Warner – Delhi
163 runs @ av 28 sr 123 hs 50
Outshone Sehwag and Gambhir at the top of the order, but never really broke free. His fielding was probably his highlight, some of his efforts were amazing.
Dirk Nannes – Delhi
15 wickets @ 24 econ 7.51 bb 3/27
Started off with an average performance or two and the commentators and press questioned why he was in the side. 5 games in and he was being pronounced as rare diamond. Probably didn’t take as many wickets as he would have wanted, but was unplayable when he got it right. Definitely the best performed of this bunch, and even with Gilly’s punishment in the semi, has come away with a lew legion of fans.
Posted by jrod on May 3, 2009 under VIC |
If you are a state cricketer and you have a business, tell us and we’ll give it a plug.
Posted by jrod on March 16, 2009 under QLD, VIC |
It is just around the corner now.
It’s doubtful that even they can lose from here.
Although if anyone can…
It is just a shame that the game has been ruined by rain.
In the bits that haven’t been rain affected it is hard to know if Victoria has outplayed Queensland, or that Queensland has played like guys who knew there wasn’t enough time to win.
Heaps of dropped catches and a low total considereing the pitch and the start they got all could be due to the melancholy affect of the rain.
Or it could be that they wen’t in with a poor attack, due to injuries as much as anything, and Wade and White just did them in with the bat.
And that Dirty Dirk Nannes, Crazy Clint and the Angry Man Shane Harwood were just too angry, dirty and crazy for them.
It sort of feels shit that this game couldn’t be played properly so that Victoria could exorcise a few demons.
But then again, we are about to win the shield fucking final so who gives a fuck.
Posted by jrod on March 13, 2009 under QLD, VIC |
I think it’s safe to say that Victoria did not throw off any skeletons on day one of the shield final.
At the moment the skeletons are standing behind them with their pants down.
They were 2 for 236.
Game over.
Fuck off Queensland, the Vics have this.
Then a classic Victorian collapse.
Apparently it was so beautiful that Ken Piesse had a tear in his eye.
By stumps Andrew Symonds had 3 wickets and the Vics were 6 for 281, and New Texas were more than in the game.
I said this last year, and i will recycle it, if you are playing an away shield final all you can ask for is at the close of day one you still have a chance to win.
New Texas do.
Victoria even compounded the mini failure by giving a bat to Dirty Dirk Nannes, and sending him out to bat.
Fucking stupid mother fucking ass clowns.
Dirk can’t bat, sorry Dirk, but he can’t.
And nightwatchmen are a stupid fucking theory anyway.
4 balls he lasted.
It gives New Texas more momentum, and more people, like me, will start talking about the Vics exceptional skill at fucking up in finals.
Fuck.
Sorry, some good things happaned as well.
The Future PM David Hussey is back baby, he made a hundred, it has been a long time since his last one, but he saved it for the right time.
At the other end Chris Rogers just put his shoulder into it again, the man is made of runs this year.
With Marcus North in the national side, Western Australia have really missed a trick there.
6 wickets is a good start for New Texas, but Matthew Wade has made two hundreds on the trot, Cam made one last week, and doesn’t mind batting against Queensland.
Also Damien Wright is still to come, and he has beenpissing off shield teams all season with the bat.
None of this matters right now, as it is pissing down.
Really fucking pouring.
At best they look like losing most of the day.
At worst the hole day.
What is even worse for Queensland is that this might liven up the pitch, and you don’t really want a lively pitch if the oppisition has over 300 on the board and has the most potent attack in shield cricket.
And Dirty Dirk might be pissed at being forced to bat.
Posted by jrod on February 15, 2009 under NSW, VIC |
There is no spinner.
Two keepers.
The 5th (fuck me) captain of the year.
Two bowlers injured.
And Ethan Hastings.
Yet, NSWales got bowled out for 227.
Not a bad day one.
Harwood celebrated his IPL contract with a pectoral muscle injury.
Dirk Nannes celebrated being interviewed by me, will be up on CWB shortly, by injuring himself, and taking 3 wickets.
Crazy Clint took 3 and Hastings took 2.
The Mailman made a hundred, but since he made almost half the runs, it’s hard to be too upset.
In the past i would be cock a hoop over such a day.
But with the injuries and Sot Jewell as captain I am a little nervous.
The batting order is just wrong.
Lord mash at 4, The x man at 5, and Dwayne Wade at 6.
Come on, who the hell is that scaring, well other than us.
I said the other day that their seemed to be a slump, but with that batting order how could it not.
It’s pretty much 3 out all out.
Quiney, White, Hussey and McDonald are missing.
Blizzard seems to have been stamped not first class material.
Michael Hill must not be ready.
And so Lord Mash and X man are there.
We may still win this match, but right now I wouldn’t put money on it.
Posted by Moses on January 20, 2009 under QLD, VIC |
Man Cry
This evening will see Victoria and Queensland fight it out at the Gabba in a high stakes elimination final T20 match. The winner will not only gain entry to the lucrative world club championship, but also the privilege of a Twenty20 lesson from the top dog in Australian domestic Twenty20 cricket at the SCG on Sunday.
The Victorians are píssed off, as having their top players unavailable due to national service is a new problem for them. Now they’ll have to go without the services of Cameron White and David Hussey, who have a ODI on Friday and need their beauty sleep. There is no factual basis to reports that Cameron White Cried, again, at hearing the news, though it does sound likely.
Ryan Harris has been dropped from the national squad so will be available for Queensland, however they’ve replaced him with Mitchell Johnson so that’s probably worse for the New Texas Bulls, who’ll also be missing James Hopes.
CA have also denied requests for the players to be available of for the final, so NSW will be missing David Warner, Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz.
This could well end up a good experience, as Michael Hussey is keen to explain IPL loyalties come before the state that bought you up, so depending on which IPL teams make the club championship any Australian side could be without their stars when the big bucks are on offer.
Victoria squad: Brad Hodge (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Rob Quiney, Aaron Finch, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Damien Wright, Shane Harwood, Jon Holland, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes.
Queensland squad: Chris Simpson (capt), Wade Townsend, Ryan Broad, Lee Carseldine, Nathan Reardon, Glen Batticciotto, Craig Philipson, Chris Hartley (wk), Ryan Harris, Nathan Rimmington, Ben Cutting, Alister McDermott, Ben Laughlin.
Tags: aaron finch, adam crosthwaite, aiden blizzard, alister mcdermott, andrew mcdonald, ben cutting, Ben Laughlin, brad haddin, brad hodge, bryce mcgain, cameron white, chris hartley, chris simpson, craig philipson, damien wright, david hussey, david warner, dirk nannes, gabba, glen batticciotto, james hopes, jon holland, lee carseldine, man cry, matthew wade, michael clarke, michael hussey, mitchell johnson, nathan bracken, nathan hauritz, nathan reardon, nathan rimmington, new texas bulls, rob quiney, ryan broad, ryan harris, shane harwood, T20, wade townsend
Posted by Moses on January 19, 2009 under NSW, TAS, VIC, WA |
Ranga and Proud
The domestic “Big Bash” Twenty 20 tournament has gone far from the script, with a depleted but still mighty New South Wales outfit topping the regular season and booking their trip to the promised land of rupees and curry.
Western Australia are awfully píssed off and seeking compensation after the original club championship was postponed due to men with guns. It’s a lot of cash they’re missing out on, and I feel a nice gesture would be for NSW Cricket to buy them a meaningful gift to ease the pain, perhaps a bronze statue of Simon Katich to stick up in the WACA headquarters..
You can bet the team we send to compete in India includes some names that have until this point played no part in the tournament such as Michael Clarke, Phil Jaques, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Brad Haddin. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, as any NSW cricketer will know it’s the privilege and also the curse of representing the state that breeds the big names.
I’ve put together a short synopsis of the 5 matches that have earnt us entry into the World Club Championship, and awarded 3-2-1–1 ratings as I feel they’re warranted.
Game 1 vs Queensland in Brisbane
Scorecard
A good bowling effort led by Doug Bollinger’s 3/22 and well assisted by Moises Henriques 2/26 restricted Queensland early on, however Beau Casson 0/37 and Mark Cameron 0/34 got spanked allowing the Bulls to amass to 161. Thanks to opening batsman Phillip Hughes scoring 80(20) the total was chased down with 2 balls to spare.
Moses’ Player 3-2-1–1 Ratings
3 Doug Bollinger
2 Phillip Hughes
1 Moises Henriques
-1 Beau Casson
Game 2 vs Western Australia in Homebush, Sydney
Scorecard
Tight bowling by Aaron Heal and Marcus North restricted NSW to 6/148 off 20 overs. 18 year old newcomer Stephen Smith was my pick of the batsmen with 34*(21), Dave Warner 28(22) scored freely early on, while Phillip Hughes 35(34) and Dominic Thornley 23(24) got starts but failed to up the tempo sufficiently against WA’s slower bowlers Marcus North 1/27(4) and Aaron Heal 0/22(4).
Nathan Bracken 2/24 was the pick of the bowlers, Dominic Thornley, Stephen Smith and Moises Henriques generally restricted WA to the required rate of 6-7 rpo, while Beau Casson was again spanked leaking 0/26 off his two overs which gave WA the win and led to his being dropped for the remainder of the comp.
Moses’ Player 3-2-1–1 Ratings
3 Stephen Smith
2 Nathan Bracken
1 Dave Warner
-1 Beau Casson
Game 3 vs South Australia in Adelaide
Scorecard
A solid batting performance by South Australia saw all of their batsmen scoring at 6.5 to 8.7 rpo, however they lacked one batsman to deliver the killer punch in their accumulation of 160 runs.
Mark Cameron was tidy with 1/22, Thornley 1/27(3) applied the brakes nicely and Aaron Bird 3/35 contributed vital top order wickets while leaking runs. Nathan Bracken 3/38 gets the bogey rating despite 3 late wickets saving his figures from absolute embarrassment.
Dave Warner 35(35) got the Blues response off to an absolute flyer, nicely assisted by pedestrian Phillip Hughes 30(29) and Dominic Thornley 28(18)
Moses’ Player 3-2-1–1 Ratings
3 Dave Warner
2 Dominic Thornley
1 Mark Cameron
-1 Nathan Bracken
Game 4 vs Tasmania in Homebush, Sydney
Scorecard
A destructive top 3 saw the Tassie Tigers belt 194 thanks to Lockyear 51(29), Dighton 43(29) and Birt 44(17). Dominic Thornley 0/22 was pick of the NSW bowlers with his 4 overs going for less than Stephen Smith’s 1 over 0/23. Doug Bollinger while moderately expensive took the essential wickets of Dighton and Birt, thus keeping the Tigers total below 200.
The destructive form of Dave Warner had him off to play South Africa, allowing the return of Simon Katich 18(12) and despite a solid opening stand with Moises Henriques 42(25) the fireworks were absent down the order and 166 was all we could muster.
Moses’ Player 3-2-1–1 Ratings
3 Dominic Thornley
2 Moises Henriques
1 Doug Bollinger
-1 Stephen Smith
Game 5 vs Victoria at Homebush, Sydney
Scorecard
The penultimate match, NSW entered this 4th on the table with nothing to lose. A brutal bowling spell by dirty Dirk Nannes 4/11(4) hit the Blues hard early on, with Henriques 1(3), Smith 4(6) and Rohrer 7(8) his early victims. O’Keefe 6(6) fell to a run out and only opener Simon Katich 35(26) was able to resist the dark side of Dirk Nannes. Dominic Thornley 36*(36) came out in the 4th over with the score at 4/39 and steadied the ship, batting with the tail and taking the Blues to a depressingly low 128.
Douggy Bollinger 0/12 applied the pressure with some superb tight swing bowling, and Mark Cameron 1/17 kept the other almost as tight. Falling behind the run rate the Victorians shat themselves, giving up 5 run-outs, one each to Cameron, O’Keefe, Rohrer, Bollinger and Smith. I’ll give Simon Katich some credit for these as captain he would have been setting the fields. Victorian captain and serial whinger Brad Hodge summed it up nicely with “It’s a script on how to stuff up a cricket game”. Bravo.
A wonderful team effort from the Blues who now book their tickets to India, there is no villain from this match.
Moses’ Player 3-2-1–1 Ratings
3 Simon Katich
2 Doug Bollinger
1 Dominic Thornley
-1 None
Leaderboard
At the end of the regular season, the Moses’ MVP stands as follows:
6 Dominic Thornley
6 Doug Bollinger
4 Dave Warner
3 Moises Henriques
3 Simon Katich
2 Phillip Hughes
2 Stephen Smith
1 Mark Cameron
1 Nathan Bracken
-2 Beau Casson
Tags: 3-2-1--1, aaron bird, aaron heal, beau casson, brad haddin, brad hodge, brett lee, dave warner, dirk nannes, dominic thornley, doug bollinger, marcus north, mark cameron, michael clarke, moises henriques, moses mvp, nathan bracken, phil jaques, phillip hughes, simon katich, stephen smith, stuart clark, T20
Posted by jrod on January 18, 2009 under VIC |
Absolute utter brilliance.
Masculinity with a ball.
Brute force personified.
I’m, obviously, talking about Dirty Dirk’s masterful performance.
4/11 in a 2020 game.
But that was not enough.
The big man tried in vain to win the game on his own.
Even came out with the bat, which since he restricted them to 128, he probably thought he would not be required.
He couldn’t save the day.
Now Victoria may not get to the champion’s league, a place they deserve.
It would be Victoria’s luck to miss out this year, after 3 straight years of being champions.
Failing to make 128 as well, a classic Victorian move.
Top order falls apart, top batsman gets run out, Wicket keeper chips in, and bottom order have to try and get them home.
It often works for Victoria, this time, not so much.
There was some good news, other than Dirty Dirk’s magic.
Aaron Finch, Colac’s 7th favourite son made some runs.
Which is lucky, because without him they may not have got close enough for them to almost win.
NSWales are going to India, and they deserve it if they can defend 128 against Victoria, even a victoria missing its top order.
Now they must defeat Queensland just to fulfil their destiny.
Victoria is now finally being tested, when they had White and Hussey playing, they were blessed with two international 2020 players in their team, now they have to do it the hard way.
Queensland will also be without Harris, but it is a home game, the truth is that if Victoria lose the last two games of the tournament, they don’t deserve to be in the champion’s league, however, it still feels unfair due to their history in the tournament.
Could they not go back to back to back to back?
Perish the thought.
Posted by jrod on January 3, 2009 under VIC |
So they lost.
There are two probable causes.
Geelong.
The players, other than Finchy, probably didn’t want to travel down the Princes for the game.
Then when they got there, they were too busy looking at the Dirty Dirk show reel from the last game.
Ofcourse.
None of the batsmen really hit their straps, and no one other than the big fella kept it tight enough.
And yet they still went within 2 balls, of winning.
You know what they say though, what happens in Geelong doesn’t mean shit cause no one cares about what happens in Geelong.
All it means is that that year we won’t go undeafeated when we win.
And no one will care about that if we win all 3 titles.
Infact if we win the shield losing the best run in domestic 2020 titles in the world will mean very little.
But it would be nice to keep the title away from any other state for a little while yet.
That is 2 losses in 4 years of 2020 cricket.
And as it says in the AFL coaching guidebook, “it was the loss we had to have”.
Sounds good anyway.
Posted by jrod on December 28, 2008 under TAS, VIC |
Australia’s Hussey may have lost all semblance of form.
But Victoria’s is still simmering along nicely.
While hundreds have been very hard for him to grab in 4 day cricket.
Apparently all the extra time is what has been bugging him.
15 overs is all it took him, and Xavier Stutter Ball Doherty may never be the same again.
100 off 47 balls.
He even did a double act, following up with the ball as well.
Actually a triple act, 2 wickets as well.
I propose the Big Bash be renamed in the man’s honour, The Future PM’s playground.
The man doesn’t man handle 2020 attacks, he cuts them down, he is like a 2020 spartan.
It’s as if the white ball has slept with his missus.
He is one huge part of why Victoria are the number one ranked domestic 2020 side in the world.
The other is the bearded barbarian Dirty Dirk.
Michael Dighton is a white ball run machine.
Dirty Dirk cleans up that mess in the first over.
George Bailey seems to live to fuck with Victorian bowlers.
DD wipes that cheeky smile off his face as well.
Game over.
That is one hell of a double punch.
At least we know in this crazy world that somethings stay the same, Victoria have the mad skillz in 2020 cricket.
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