Archive for the ‘October’ Category:
Heroes to Zeros?
The champions of world cricket have just been rolled 5-0 in India. How the mighty have fallen. Does this ignominious series loss mean anything? Is it true that England are counting their lucky stars that there are no Tests, or am I just trying to wind the Pommies up?
We all know that this is 2011 and Test cricket and One Day cricket are two separate games. A nation’s Test team will often be made up of very different players, even the captain, to the ODI team. Indeed, as Australia tumbled down the Test rankings, they have managed to maintain their number one ranking in One Day cricket (even though they lost the last World Cup).
So, England can easily point out that they are, in fact, numero uno in the Test arena and nothing should be read into this series. An aberration, so to speak. That’s a fine point, but England did recently account for India 3-0 in the recent Nat West series, so this is a complete reversal. It should also be remembered that they were thinking of renaming that NatWest Trophy the “Duckworth Lewis Trophy” as all matches were affected by rain and either shortened before the match started, rained out or decided by the D/L method. So perhaps that series win was not quite so convincing.
Whatever the case, it was a dismal performance by England and they probably are glad they don’t have to front up in Tests. And that is a shame because while there is plenty of cricket being played around the globe, there isn’t too much to write about. England and India Tests in India, right now, would be fantastic.
Instead, we have rainy Tests between Bangladesh and the Windies. Yawn. A run fest in Dubai between Pakistan and Sri Lanka after a start that promised more. Zimbabwe did overhaul New Zealand’s score of 328 in a record (for them) chase but really, who cares? And Australia and South Africa are playing a rather uninspiring One Day series. Someone wake me on the 9th for the 1st Test, please. But what a disgrace that this is a two Test series between South Africa and Australia. Sangakkara was right when he recently pointed out that two Test series are an insult to the game.
The Rise and Rise of Cummins
Pat Cummins continued his meteoric rise and has been named in the Australian Test squad for South Africa. Congratulations to him. Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan and have known of him for years, and indeed he was in my daughter’s class through high school. So, I’m glad for any success that comes his way. It seems that he has been destined to play for Australia for many years. Why on earth I did not get him to sign my program at the valedictory dinner (before he was even selected for NSW), I cannot figure.
I am a little concerned that Australian cricket does not rush him or over burden him with expectation. He is just 18. Incredibly, he holds a Cricket Australia contract even though he has played just three first class matches. He really is a super star in the making but even so, the media interest is incredible.
Pat Cummins seems to be in the Cricinfo headlines every other day. He is on the back page of the SMH today. Google “Patrick Cummins” and you will rewarded with almost 7.5 million results! Granted, that there will be a few Facebook pages of other “Pat Cummins” but you get the idea. He even has a Wiki page with two paragraphs.
I only hope it is not a case of too much too soon. From what I can gather, Cummins is am unaffected, humble, teachable, good-natured kid who happens to be a fantastic athlete with extraordinary bowling talent. I hope it stays that way and they over time, he is managed carefully and realises is potential.
I have to wonder (actually I have to admit that this is my cynical 17 year old daughter’s insight) if his rush to the forefront is a move by outgoing chief selector, Andrew Hilditch to say, “I’m the one who discovered Patrick Cummins.” At least he can then say that he has done something useful. At any rate, Pat will probably have to wait his time to play Tests. He replaces Pattinson who didn’t actually play a Test in the recent tour of Sri Lanka. But I think we may see Pat in the One Dayers.