The Googly

Meanwhile, back at the Bob Woolmer case...

That's right, this is still rumbling on folks!

A Canadian pathologist has testified that there was a toxin present in Woolmer's body, but that he still believes that his death was of natural causes.  Quite how that is the case I do not know, but I'm so confused about this case, even after all this time, that my view cannot be trusted.   One thing that everyone does seem to agree on is that he wasn't strangled.

Have a read of it yourself on cricinfo and see if you can make head or tail of it. I prefer to remember Bob as the  man in the picture above.  [Image: Getty]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the Final: Everyone

Let me start by saying that seldom have I enjoyed a cricket match that I have not been physically present at as much as today's ICC Twenty20 Final. Then I must say that not choosing one individual as today's Hero is not a cop-out: it's a genuine reflection on both the match and the tournament. There were just so many contenders that it has proved impossible to pick a singe individual.

I toyed with going for the ICC - and there's a first - but they, and especially Steve Ellworthy the organiser in South Africa - have put on a top-notch show. Everyone has praised this competition: sensible ticket-pricing and allocations ensured full crowds at most matches, and the spectators were allowed to be vocal, wave flags and basically have fun. They provided great atmosphere, so maybe the fans at the grounds should be the heroes? Then there's the players. Almost without exception they entered into the spirit of the event and played with gusto and enjoyment.

Three more sets of multiples deserve mention: the commentators and guests on ball-by-ball coverage on the radio (I found myself actually enjoying Geoff Boycott who laughed with real humour a lot, rather than laughing sardonically), the writers of Over-by-over coverage on the internet - in various places - who brought wit and insight, and OBO contributors from all over the world who dedicated hours of their time to follow and send emails in to all the broadcast matches. All this added enormously to the enjoyment of following the tournament.

However, today a few players must be mentioned as Heroes. Umar Gul - the bowler of the competition and the main reason why Pakistan made the final. He ended as the leading wicket taker with 13 (ahead of Stuart Clark and Shahid Afridi both with 12).

Imran Nazir absolutely blazed the second over, attacking Sree Santh and setting up the match for nail-biting. That over went for 21!

Gautam Gambhir made 75 off 54 balls in the Indian innings - did that win the match?

R P Singh gave an outstandingly controlled show of bowling, got Gul out at the death - did he win the match?

Tanvir Sohail and Misbah put Pakistan back in the match and while 15 minutes before the end, it looked like India's game as given, we got down to the final over with India needing one wicket and Pakistan 13 to win. A Harmisonesque wide from Joginder Singh was not a good start, but then a dot ball. 12 off six balls. Misbah hit the next - a low full toss - way out of the ground. Six off four. Indian captain, the peerless Mahendra Singh Dhoni put his arm around Joginder's shoulder, whispered sweet nothings in his ear, and with the next ball, Misbah was caught by Sree Santh and it was all over.

India won by five balls and celebrations started everywhere. A cliff-hanger of a match. Cricket is the winner and the last word has to go to an Australian:

"Mate, it's been so much fun to be involved with."

Michael Slater on Test Match Special sums up these past two weeks for most of us.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Mahendra Dhoni

The first semi-final today, between Pakistan and New Zealand left me somewhat cold. It was neither thrilling nor fine cricket and my heart sank as I anticipated the second. The signs were that this could also be a stroll in the park - for Australia. But fortunately this was not the case. We were treated to an exciting contest, and one worthy of a world-class semi-final.

Although Yuvraj Singh - recovered from injury - returned the best figures of the day (70 off 30 balls, making that a total in two innings of 128 off just 46 balls), my hero is India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He led his team brilliantly, never losing control and leading by example. He is called a "no-fear" cricketer, and certainly showed that this evening.

Sree Santh particularly was in belligerent mode, and might pay for that after over-appealing when hoping to get Matthew Hayden out, but in general, the team played the mood appropriately and were fierce but fair.

A mention goes to Umar Gul for his three for 15 earlier in the day, helping Pakistan to their win and ensuring a Sub-Continent Final on Monday.

And in a note for Test Match Special - please don't try to compare old Australian cricketers to classic British actors again. Ian Chappelli as the new Leslie Phillips? That just doesn't work.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Jonathan Agnew

Maybe it's just me, but I found it hard to be set on fire by the tournament today. Fortunately other engagements prevented me following the first match of the day - a dreadful mis-match between Australia and Sri Lanka. A fine report of that match can be found a bit below here on this site. For figures alone, Stuart Clark (four for 20) gets a mention here tonight, but he wasn't really tested.

Pakistan tops the group after their win against Bangladesh, but I found little to tickle my fancy there either. Afridi, naturally, was fun for his 39 off 15 balls (five fours and two sixes), but he wasn't in long enough to really charm this viewer today. Bangladesh's Junaid Siddique was top-scorer in the match - 71 including six fours and three sixes, but his colleagues were not up to the job.

This left us with the final match of the day: India versus South Africa, and a match full of meaning. A result that would determine not only the progression of these teams but also that of New Zealand. India losing meant SA and NZ through, India winning, and all down to net run-rate.

At one point with Harbhajan Singh claiming three for 11, it looked as though India were cruising to a victory. But then the Saffers stabilised the innings and we had a tense last five overs. South Africa needing 126 to go through, India needing the last five wickets. The scoreboard gave up - not for the first time in this or any tournament.

Tension was high but India got over the line and South Africa were out.

So why, you may well wonder, after this sterling performance from the Indian bowlers and Karthick behind the wicket (an emergency takeover as Mahendra Dhoni suffered some injury to his back in the first couple of overs), have I not picked one of the Indians as my Hero?

It's simple - I needed a laugh and Jonathan Agnew gave me several today, but his best was:

"I've just congratulated ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed for organising a brilliant tournament here, and he nearly fell off his chair." This on Test Match Special.

Anyone who can discombobulate a lawyer is a hero in my book, and to come close to causing injury to M. Speed ain't bad neither.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Anonymous

Today is one of those days when pretty much everything goes wrong, and I am sorry for ending the evening in bitter and twisted mode. I knew, of course, that England's fate was in the hands of others - how many times have we bitten fingernails in that cause? But even after the usual-choking Saffers had held nerve to beat Vettori's New Zealanders, I did think England would fight for pride against India.

Some hope. Should have gone to bed and just let them get on with the business of being smashed. However, I have an obligation to bring you readers a hero, and today's is the BBC's online headline writer who said: "England bow out"! Irony unbounded!

England were well and truly smashed out of this tournament and to suggest that they had grace in "bowing out" is, well, it's not what I saw.

Ricky Ponting's Rollers took a big hit when beaten by Zimbabwe in the early stages, and what did they do - came back and made us all remember how fab the Aussies are. England takes a hit and disapppears.

[Image: BBC ] [mimitig}

Stuart Broad, bless him, hit out of the park

Sometimes I watch television for programmes apart from sport. I have a favourite. It's called QI and is hosted by cricket fan and all-time legend Stephen Fry. His regular guest is Alan Davies - a British actor who began his successful comedy career as a stand-up. There is a long-running joke that Alan gets all questions wrong, and Stephen looks at him mournfully and says: "Oh Alany, Alany, Alany!". I rather felt that way today when Stuart, bless him, was hit for six sixes in one over.

Oh Stuarty, Stuarty, Stuarty.

What a hard lesson for the young Broad to learn. Yuvraj Singh is an exceptional hitter of the ball, and I hope Stuart won't be too crestfallen.

Alan came back once to win a round of QI!

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Fernando

It's been a very difficult day as far as picking a Hero is concerned. Starting work late, I was able to follow the first few overs of the England innings and it looked as though it might be a knuckles fight for Hero between Jimmy Anderson and Daz Maddy. Such is the stuff of false dawns and strange dreams I discovered when I returned home. Daniel "The Librarian" Vettori put paid to England's hopes, and as I'm saving the bespectacled wonder for later, he can't be today's choice.

The second match of the day pitched the all-conquering (except against Zimbabwe) Australia against ever-entertaining Pakistan. This match was truly exciting and I was so so tempted to have Misbah as Hero. At 33 years-old and with a mere 12 Test appearances and what was described on Test Match Special as a "handful of ODIs" to his name, he was magnificent and was Man of the Match. Pakistan won. But I had him a few nights ago (as Hero). So all to play for in the final match of the day. Sri Lanka v Bangladesh.

Fireworks expected but it didn't quite light up as Sri Lanka won rather easily. But there will be a Winner Takes All match between Sri Lanka and Australia and my choice for today's Hero can only be Sri Lanka's very own Fernando who got Tamin Iqbal and the very dangerous Aftab Ahmed out cheaply.

If I can have official runners-up from other sporting disciplines, then tonight's are the Pipe and Drum Band at Murrayfield who did their job and sent chills up the spine of the opposition and inspired hope in all Scots. That match is still on-going and Ali Hogg has put new meaning into the name "Hoggster".

[Image: BBC] [mimitig]

Collingwood fined

Alerted by friends in low places, I kept an ear on the news tonight and heard that England captain, St Paul of Collingwood has been fined £1000 for his extra-curricular activities.

In an absolute shocking development that knocks the pedalo into a cocked hat, Collingwood and some friends were caught having fun in a lap-dancing club in South Africa. While I have no problem at all with chaps having a bit of relaxation, I find it unbelievable that suffering poor form on the field, the England captain would be so uncanny that one of England's red-tops could find him in controversial circumstances.

Had England won against New Zealand today, I doubt this story would have had legs. But they didn't and it does.

When will they learn?

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Shahid Afridi

It's taken a while in this thirteen day tournament before being able to do this one, but finally, I get to have Shahid Afridi as Hero. He bowled superbly (though was not as explosive with the bat as we like to see), adding three wickets to the four he took against Scotland last week. Tonight in his four overs although there were no maidens, he took three for 18, and these were the wickets of Mahela Jayawardene (that might have sealed the match), Chamara Silva and Gayan Wijekoon. Just to emphasise his class in the field Afridi took a fine catch to dismiss Jehan Mubarak off the bowling of Umar Gul. Sri Lanka did not do badly but they were out-played by Pakistan who took the win by 33 runs, and I apologise for not illustrating this with a picture of Afridi in full bowling action. Just couldn't resist the smile in this photo.

The runner-up tonight was Arlo White for his comment on Test Match Special:

"Things are a blur in Twenty20". Yep - I can go with that!

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Luke is having a shocker

Back in June I wrote that Luke Wright was playing well enough in county cricket, showing enough character and class, to earn a chance to move up to the international stage. I think I may have been wrong. Unfortunately, and it may simply be that England are not as clever as they thought about international Twenty20, Luke has struggled mightily in South Africa. As I write he has the grand total of three runs to his name, all in the losing cause against Australia, and his appearances against Zimbabwe and South Africa have seen him walking away with big fat blobs.

It's not only his batting that has gone to pot. His fielding, particularly against South Africa when he dropped Mark Boucher, has not shown the class that we were expecting.

I often make excuses for England boys on grounds of their youth (and Luke is still only 22 years-old), but in the current ICC Twenty20 Tournament, we are seeing younger ones from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh performing far better.

Now, we know Luke has been named in the One-day squad to tour Sri Lanka starting later this month with the first One-day International on 1st October. I hope his poor form in South Africa, so far, will not damage his chances of selection for this tour. After all, how can good young county players take the next step without exposure to the best the world has to offer?

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Mahendra Dhoni

The first semi-final today, between Pakistan and New Zealand left me somewhat cold. It was neither thrilling nor fine cricket and my heart sank as I anticipated the second. The signs were that this could also be a stroll in the park - for Australia. But fortunately this was not the case. We were treated to an exciting contest, and one worthy of a world-class semi-final.

Although Yuvraj Singh - recovered from injury - returned the best figures of the day (70 off 30 balls, making that a total in two innings of 128 off just 46 balls), my hero is India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He led his team brilliantly, never losing control and leading by example. He is called a "no-fear" cricketer, and certainly showed that this evening.

Sree Santh particularly was in belligerent mode, and might pay for that after over-appealing when hoping to get Matthew Hayden out, but in general, the team played the mood appropriately and were fierce but fair.

A mention goes to Umar Gul for his three for 15 earlier in the day, helping Pakistan to their win and ensuring a Sub-Continent Final on Monday.

And in a note for Test Match Special - please don't try to compare old Australian cricketers to classic British actors again. Ian Chappelli as the new Leslie Phillips? That just doesn't work.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Jonathan Agnew

Maybe it's just me, but I found it hard to be set on fire by the tournament today. Fortunately other engagements prevented me following the first match of the day - a dreadful mis-match between Australia and Sri Lanka. A fine report of that match can be found a bit below here on this site. For figures alone, Stuart Clark (four for 20) gets a mention here tonight, but he wasn't really tested.

Pakistan tops the group after their win against Bangladesh, but I found little to tickle my fancy there either. Afridi, naturally, was fun for his 39 off 15 balls (five fours and two sixes), but he wasn't in long enough to really charm this viewer today. Bangladesh's Junaid Siddique was top-scorer in the match - 71 including six fours and three sixes, but his colleagues were not up to the job.

This left us with the final match of the day: India versus South Africa, and a match full of meaning. A result that would determine not only the progression of these teams but also that of New Zealand. India losing meant SA and NZ through, India winning, and all down to net run-rate.

At one point with Harbhajan Singh claiming three for 11, it looked as though India were cruising to a victory. But then the Saffers stabilised the innings and we had a tense last five overs. South Africa needing 126 to go through, India needing the last five wickets. The scoreboard gave up - not for the first time in this or any tournament.

Tension was high but India got over the line and South Africa were out.

So why, you may well wonder, after this sterling performance from the Indian bowlers and Karthick behind the wicket (an emergency takeover as Mahendra Dhoni suffered some injury to his back in the first couple of overs), have I not picked one of the Indians as my Hero?

It's simple - I needed a laugh and Jonathan Agnew gave me several today, but his best was:

"I've just congratulated ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed for organising a brilliant tournament here, and he nearly fell off his chair." This on Test Match Special.

Anyone who can discombobulate a lawyer is a hero in my book, and to come close to causing injury to M. Speed ain't bad neither.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Anonymous

Today is one of those days when pretty much everything goes wrong, and I am sorry for ending the evening in bitter and twisted mode. I knew, of course, that England's fate was in the hands of others - how many times have we bitten fingernails in that cause? But even after the usual-choking Saffers had held nerve to beat Vettori's New Zealanders, I did think England would fight for pride against India.

Some hope. Should have gone to bed and just let them get on with the business of being smashed. However, I have an obligation to bring you readers a hero, and today's is the BBC's online headline writer who said: "England bow out"! Irony unbounded!

England were well and truly smashed out of this tournament and to suggest that they had grace in "bowing out" is, well, it's not what I saw.

Ricky Ponting's Rollers took a big hit when beaten by Zimbabwe in the early stages, and what did they do - came back and made us all remember how fab the Aussies are. England takes a hit and disapppears.

[Image: BBC ] [mimitig}

Stuart Broad, bless him, hit out of the park

Sometimes I watch television for programmes apart from sport. I have a favourite. It's called QI and is hosted by cricket fan and all-time legend Stephen Fry. His regular guest is Alan Davies - a British actor who began his successful comedy career as a stand-up. There is a long-running joke that Alan gets all questions wrong, and Stephen looks at him mournfully and says: "Oh Alany, Alany, Alany!". I rather felt that way today when Stuart, bless him, was hit for six sixes in one over.

Oh Stuarty, Stuarty, Stuarty.

What a hard lesson for the young Broad to learn. Yuvraj Singh is an exceptional hitter of the ball, and I hope Stuart won't be too crestfallen.

Alan came back once to win a round of QI!

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Fernando

It's been a very difficult day as far as picking a Hero is concerned. Starting work late, I was able to follow the first few overs of the England innings and it looked as though it might be a knuckles fight for Hero between Jimmy Anderson and Daz Maddy. Such is the stuff of false dawns and strange dreams I discovered when I returned home. Daniel "The Librarian" Vettori put paid to England's hopes, and as I'm saving the bespectacled wonder for later, he can't be today's choice.

The second match of the day pitched the all-conquering (except against Zimbabwe) Australia against ever-entertaining Pakistan. This match was truly exciting and I was so so tempted to have Misbah as Hero. At 33 years-old and with a mere 12 Test appearances and what was described on Test Match Special as a "handful of ODIs" to his name, he was magnificent and was Man of the Match. Pakistan won. But I had him a few nights ago (as Hero). So all to play for in the final match of the day. Sri Lanka v Bangladesh.

Fireworks expected but it didn't quite light up as Sri Lanka won rather easily. But there will be a Winner Takes All match between Sri Lanka and Australia and my choice for today's Hero can only be Sri Lanka's very own Fernando who got Tamin Iqbal and the very dangerous Aftab Ahmed out cheaply.

If I can have official runners-up from other sporting disciplines, then tonight's are the Pipe and Drum Band at Murrayfield who did their job and sent chills up the spine of the opposition and inspired hope in all Scots. That match is still on-going and Ali Hogg has put new meaning into the name "Hoggster".

[Image: BBC] [mimitig]

Collingwood fined

Alerted by friends in low places, I kept an ear on the news tonight and heard that England captain, St Paul of Collingwood has been fined £1000 for his extra-curricular activities.

In an absolute shocking development that knocks the pedalo into a cocked hat, Collingwood and some friends were caught having fun in a lap-dancing club in South Africa. While I have no problem at all with chaps having a bit of relaxation, I find it unbelievable that suffering poor form on the field, the England captain would be so uncanny that one of England's red-tops could find him in controversial circumstances.

Had England won against New Zealand today, I doubt this story would have had legs. But they didn't and it does.

When will they learn?

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Shahid Afridi

It's taken a while in this thirteen day tournament before being able to do this one, but finally, I get to have Shahid Afridi as Hero. He bowled superbly (though was not as explosive with the bat as we like to see), adding three wickets to the four he took against Scotland last week. Tonight in his four overs although there were no maidens, he took three for 18, and these were the wickets of Mahela Jayawardene (that might have sealed the match), Chamara Silva and Gayan Wijekoon. Just to emphasise his class in the field Afridi took a fine catch to dismiss Jehan Mubarak off the bowling of Umar Gul. Sri Lanka did not do badly but they were out-played by Pakistan who took the win by 33 runs, and I apologise for not illustrating this with a picture of Afridi in full bowling action. Just couldn't resist the smile in this photo.

The runner-up tonight was Arlo White for his comment on Test Match Special:

"Things are a blur in Twenty20". Yep - I can go with that!

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Luke is having a shocker

Back in June I wrote that Luke Wright was playing well enough in county cricket, showing enough character and class, to earn a chance to move up to the international stage. I think I may have been wrong. Unfortunately, and it may simply be that England are not as clever as they thought about international Twenty20, Luke has struggled mightily in South Africa. As I write he has the grand total of three runs to his name, all in the losing cause against Australia, and his appearances against Zimbabwe and South Africa have seen him walking away with big fat blobs.

It's not only his batting that has gone to pot. His fielding, particularly against South Africa when he dropped Mark Boucher, has not shown the class that we were expecting.

I often make excuses for England boys on grounds of their youth (and Luke is still only 22 years-old), but in the current ICC Twenty20 Tournament, we are seeing younger ones from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh performing far better.

Now, we know Luke has been named in the One-day squad to tour Sri Lanka starting later this month with the first One-day International on 1st October. I hope his poor form in South Africa, so far, will not damage his chances of selection for this tour. After all, how can good young county players take the next step without exposure to the best the world has to offer?

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Brett Lee

Australia's Brett Lee has to be today's Hero for taking the first hat trick of the tournament (which makes that the first ever international Twenty20 hat trick). His victims were Shahib Al Asan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapali as the Aussies never even had to get out of first gear to cruise to a nine wicket win in 13.5 overs. They were cold, controlled and clinical in their performance, and it seems a long time ago that Ricky Ponting described his boys' performance as diabolical when they were crushed by Zimbabwe. A week may be a short time in politics - a couple of days is a short time in a tournament progressing with the speed of this inaugural international Twenty20.

The reason you do not see Brett Lee's picture here is that there are times when results in sport simply cease to matter. The Googly (although dedicated to cricket coverage) does not exist in a bubble.

Today we choose to pay tribute to a true hero and legend - Colin McRrae - whose death was confirmed in the early hours this morning. Former World Rally Champion, and a man who has fans way beyond his sphere of motorsport.

He will be sadly missed, and condolences go to his family - his wife Alison, father Jimmy, brother Alister and all close friends.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Sanath Jayasuriya

Not a great day at the World Twenty20 today and no competition at all for Hero. Yesterday's runner-up Sanath Jayasuriya gets it today for a great 61 against New Zealand. His partnerships with Upal Tharanga (worth 82) and Mahela Jayawardene (worth 35) put the match safely in Sri Lanka's hands.

They won by seven wickets.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twenty20 - Hero of the day: Misbah ul Haq

A lot of competition today for Hero. Sanath Jayasuriya hit 88 off 44 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes, which is pretty fine, but it was in a poor match. Sri Lanka really did walk it against Kenya. Australia's Nathan Bracken took three for 22 against England and was awarded Man of the Match, but that again was quite a poor match - England were limp and feeble, and Australia had certainly learned lessons from their defeat against Zimbabwe.

Although rain intruded in the first innings, the match that set the day alight was Pakistan against India. As might be expected Shahid Afridi was explosive with the ball, but his colleague Mohammad Asif with four for 18 was the pure class of the field. Despite that fine performance, Misbah ul Haq is my hero - fantastic batting at the end of the Pakistan innings. The match ended in a tie and praise should go to Sreesanth for bowling the last over with skill and calmness.

Dougie Brown also gets a mention for remaining steadfastedly good-humoured on commentary even after it was sure that Scotland were going home.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day - Jamie Dalrymple

Attention is pretty much focussed on South Africa at the moment and the ICC World Twenty20 Championship/Tournament/World Cup but PotD has chosen to stick with the tail end of the county season. And not much was happening today. There was no action in Division One - all matches wrapped up yesterday, and only minimal in Division Two. So for being mentioned by Ian Chappell (guesting on Test Match Special at Cape Town - Ian wondered where Jamie was these days) and for dismissing Leicestershire's openers Claude Henderson and David Masters, Jamie Dalrymple gets today's PotD.

So answering Ian's question: Jamie has been labouring away for Middlesex, with a not particularly stellar average with the bat of just 21.84, and 12 wickets taken.

Monty probably should have got the accolade today, but I've already praised and pictured him in the County round-up.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

County Championship Division Two round-up

So back again with County games - while it is exciting following the ICC World Twenty20, some of England's finest are not there, instead providing their counties with sterling service. One such being Monty Panesar, who rose to his challenge and with David Wigley reduced Glamorgan to six for 68 in the second innings when the Welshmen were already trailing by 101. Northamptonshire won by 10 wickets, with a day in hand.

Middlesex were in action against Leicestershire, and they also wrapped up the match a day early, winning by 38 runs. The outstanding performances at Wantage Road were from Middlesex batsmen Ed Joyce (74 in the first innings) and Ed Smith (134 in the second innings).

Although Leicestershire had taken a small lead of 14 runs after their first innings (solid work from their openers Tom New and John Maunders), they simply couldn't manage the 318 they needed when batting again.

The final matches in the Championship begin on the 19th September and with Middlesex and Nottinghamshire both in action, there is still a bit of tension as today's win leaves Middlesex in with a chance of promotion.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

ICC World Twent20: What the bloggers say

Busy day yesterday, what did the ranters of cyberspace have to say?

The ever wonderful King Cricket summed the England game up perfectly, saying, "Kevin Pietersen shows the Aussies how it’s done.  ‘It’ being ’scoring runs against Zimbabwe’."

Bangladeshi blog The Ordinary Citizen was pleased, if not a bit surprised, at their team's success vs the West Indies: "I was rather skeptical about the success of Bangladesh in this short form of cricket considering the height and strength of our boys. But they proved us wrong. They played wonderfully and proved that it is not all power of muscle that counts in cricket. Cricket in its short form also needs art and technique."

ICC World Twenty20 - Villain of the day: West Indies Cricket Administration

After a dismal home World Cup, so long in coming, so long in duration, so short in the memory, the West Indies reached what every cricket fan must hope is the nadir of their fortunes with elimination from the World Twenty20 at the earliest opportunity. With the team struggling to put together winning sessions of Test Cricket, the crash-bang of Twenty20 seemed made for the likes of Dwayne Smith and Marlon Samuels, but it wasn't to be.

Whilst the players bear much of the responsibility, the real villains are the administrators who have overseen as precipitous a drop as there has been in world sport: from undisputed Number One to where? It's for the administrators to locate where the Windies are right now and to find a way out of this swamp. And it's for their brothers in what I still think of as cricket's family to help them.

[The Tooting Trumpet] 

Cricket Snap of the Day: Poor, poor Kenya

Peter Ongondo loses his leg stump in Kenya's abysmal opening to the Twenty20 World Cup. [Image: Getty]

There's still time to sign up for the Googly Fantasy cricket league

With the start of the Twenty20 World Cup just a week away, may I just remind all you lovely readers that we are running our very own Googly Fantasy League for the event.  There will be prizes up for grabs, including a couple of these cracking t-shirts from our proud supporters at www.nipplecripple.com

All you need to do is get yourself over to the cricketweb.net, set yourself up a team, then email my good self to get the entry code for our league.  Before you know it you'll be competing with the cream of the cricketing public.

Get involved, you know you want to!

Cricket videos - Paul Collingwood gets very lucky vs Sri Lanka

Cast your mind back to the World Cup - yes I know you aretrying to forget it but bear with me - and one of the few really good matches: England vs Sri Lanka.  Have a look at this, I still cannot figure out how the bails stayed on.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Snape's on a plane

Probably the worst joke I've ever made - but wasn't it just waiting for someone? After all, who would have imagined that Jeremy Snape would even need a passport for international cricket, let alone be readying himself to truck off to South Africa for the Twenty20 World Cup? He was 28-years-old before he got an opportunity to play international cricket. It started well. In 2001 he headed off on the short tour to Zimbabwe and did pretty well - ten nice overs, the wickets of the Flower Brothers and two catches. But, hey ho, that was Zimbabwe. Not a record to set the books alight. It might have been thought that with his junior history (captaining England Under-18s in Canada in 1991 and touring with the Under-19 squad in 1992), when Snape joined Northamptonshire it might have been the beginning of a glorious career. It wasn't and in 1999 he move to Gloucestershire. A good time there - Snape was a key part of the county's One-day successes reaching four finals in 1999 and 2000 and was a recognised hero when the team won the one-day treble in 2000. His county team-mates and supporters were more than surprised that Snape continued to be ignored by the England selectors.

He was chosen to play against Zimbabwe and played in India until replaced by Ashley Giles. That seemed it as far as an international cap. He did help the England team, as a sports psychologist for the ICC World Cup, but thank goodness that hasn't been held against him. His expertise with Leicestershire as a Twenty20 specialist has earned a proper call-up, and we'll just wait and see.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Reasons to love Ian Bell 500-1000

Just why is it that a reasonably sane person such as I like to deem myself, just goes weak at the knees for Ian Bell? He isn't a god-like presence on the pitch (see Simon Jones for the bod), but there is something about Ian that gets my pulse racing and heartbeat raised. Is it that he seems to be such an honest cricketer? A man who wears his heart on the sleeve as I do?  Is it that he always seems to be verging on the edges of the England team? Every time we see him in the whites, we wonder if this will be the last time. He always seems to be the one about to be dropped. Today we heard it again - when Fred's back, Bell will be the man to lose his place. It's so hard to remember that little Ian really is little Ian. He's still only 25 years old. At that age I'd hardly touched life, let alone lived.

Today at Trent Bridge, dear Ian held the end up wonderfully. A very tough wicket saw Strauss, Cook and Vaughan walk off the park. Ian was left, with the tail. After Prior went, he was left with Tremlett, and a huge task to see England through to the end of the day. I really don't understand why the world of cricket lovers doesn't love the Bell-Boy. Out for 31-  sad end to a very good day.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Jimmy Anderson: cricket management has served him badly

I woke this morning to a beautiful dry day - windy, but blue skies, and hoped that it was the same at Trent Bridge. No such luck - as so often this so-called summer, the further north you travel, the better the weather, and frankly, Nottinghamshire just isn't far enough north. So while I was wondering whether play would ever get under way in the second Test against India, I had a look at the England squad and realised that there was one guy I hadn't yet investigated for The Googly.

Yes, Jimmy Anderson - and why should this be so? Do I not rate him - or has he just slipped under the radar recently? I think I may have been guilty of writing Jimmy off with injury, and joining the Stuart Broad, bless him, club of supporters. But this is unfair - as Jimmy's performance at Lord's last week proved. Write him off at your peril, and look more at his record of a few years back.

There's no doubt that, after only three One-day games for Lancashire, he was called into the England squad too soon in 2002, but on his international ODI debut at the MCG, he did collect the wicket of Adam Gilchrist. His Test debut was impressive, though against Zimbabwe, he took a five-fer at Lord's in May 2003 and all looked good. At the Oval, against South Africa, his star still waxed strong, but then the promise seemed to be just that: promise. We hardly noticed Jimmy as England toured Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the years 2003 to 2005 - occasionally wandering on with drinks for the lads was about the measure of it.

As everyone else got hurt, we saw Anderson back in Mumbai and play a major part in England's win, but then disaster in Australia - Brisbane was a horror-show for all England players. Some redemption followed in the ODIs but injury struck again before the ICC World Cup - this time a broken finger to add to his collection of woes. Peter Moores (his selection process partially decided by injuries to such as Hoggard and Harmison) picked Jimmy for the first Test against India this summer, and was rewarded for the choice - five for 42 at Lord's last week, and there's another chance this week for Jimmy to cement his place as a premier right-arm, fast-medium bowler in the England side.

And I make no apologies for the picture - there's just not enough Ian Bell on this site!

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Chris Read has had his day with England, probably

Yesterday Peter Moores said, when talking about the England fast bowlers, that he's "not a big one for looking back. I think you are better looking forward ... looking to build new teams with what you have." Applying that logic to the other positions in the team, it would suggest that there is not going to be another chance for Chris Read. Matt Prior is selected for the India Tests, and James Foster (nearly two years younger than Chris) and Steve Davies (seven years younger) now both would seem to be ahead in the queue of men most likely to pull on the gloves should Prior slip up.

As Chris looks back on his international career (15 Tests and 36 ODIs between 1999 and 2007), he may feel a bit hard-done by and perhaps a victim of Duncan Fletcher's failed bid to save his own job, followed by the regime change. A strong debut against New Zealand and a subsequent solid performance with the bat against South Africa in the winter of 1999 was not enough to keep him in the side and he was dropped, not to return again until 2003. Again he only had a brief spell in white before the wicket-keeping duties were awarded to Geraint Jones. They traded places again in 2006 when Chris got called up for the 3rd Test against Pakistan at Headingley. He didn't do enough to keep his place and it was Jones who went to Australia for the 2006-07 Ashes Tour. However, his under-whelming achievements led to Chris's return for the last two Tests, and Chris may have felt that his strong showing behind the stumps would make up for a poor performance with the bat. It didn't and Paul Nixon nicked the gloves for the Commonwealth Bank Series and the ICC World Cup.

With Fletcher gone, Peter Moores plumped for Matt Prior and may have sealed Chris's fate. But never give up, I'd say, Chris. Keep working hard at Nottinghamshire - an average of 70.30 so far this season could catch the selectors' eyes again if others stumble.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Strauss's fall from grace

Well we all know what Andrew will be doing next weekend. The England Lions? Who thought that one up then? Apart from magnificent beasts striding the plains of the Masai Mara (if it has plains), or lying around doing nothing at Longleat, there is only one pride of Lions in sport and that's the rugby lot. Heaven knows what they think about the ECB nicking their monicker. Still we seem to be stuck with it now and as the team formerly known as England A, prepare to take the field against India, it's hard to imagine that Mr Strauss does not feel that he's back at school and been sent down from Div I to Div II in maths (or French).

So how did this sad situation come to pass? It doesn't seem so long ago that we were cheering for Strauss as he hit 129 at the Oval, making him the only player in the 2005 Ashes to score a century twice in the series - the first coming at Old Trafford, with blood oozing from his ear from a Brett Lee ball. Hustled into the captaincy due to injuries to Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff in the summer of 2006, his England team were humiliated by Sri Lanka - a 5-0 white-wash in the One-day series. Honour was, partially, redeemed as England took the Test series 3-0 against Pakistan (the debacle of the final Test was not of Strauss's making). But then they went Downunder. Bumped as captain in favour of the returning Flintoff, we hoped that Andrew (of the Strauss flavour) would bat his way into the limelight. Very few of England's team came back from Oz with their reputations enhanced, but few were as diminished as Strauss. With a mere two fifties after 20 innings on tour, he was dropped before the ICC World Cup.

He did make an appearance, but 7 against the West Indies at Bridgetown was not the performance we expected of him. Some pretty poor scores (6 and a blob in the third match) in the Test series against the West Indies this summer (his 77 in the fourth Test was not indicative of his overall form) led to him not being picked to play in the Twenty20 or One-day internationals. Strauss has hardly been setting records in the county game for Middlesex and while an average of 54 is not shabby, this is only calculated from three innings so not possible to relate it to a return to form.

However, with England's top order far from impressive, let's not rush to judgement. Rather wait and see if Andrew Strauss can overcome past problems representing his country and return to grace on the fair fields of Essex.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Bring back Mal Loye

The splendidly named Malachy Bernard Loye may have had his days in the sun in Australia, but the way the England top order are currently performing in the One-day series, makes me think the clouds might part again for Lancashire's Loye and we may see him in the England pyjamas soon.

Although not now in the frame to be a Test cricketer, Loye seemed to be heading all the way to international selection as a junior. He played for England at the Under-19 level and was picked for England A in 1993-94. Named PCA Cricketer of the Year in 1998, he was expecting, confidently and with good reason, to be in the Test team for the final match of the summer against Sri Lanka. Steve James played instead and it wasn't until the Commonwealth Bank series this year that Loye appeared for his country. A debut at Brisbane brought a run-a-ball total of 36 and then came 45 (off 61) at Sydney. Although these runs contributed to a win at Sydney (and the series overall), Loye lost his place to the returning Michael Vaughan for the doomed trip to the Caribbean.

Another chance could be on the cards now as England fails to find a solution to their One-day woes, and Loye sits atop the Lancashire Twenty20 table with an average of 74.33.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day

Sometimes writing the Performance of the Day column makes me feel like Augustus Gloop just after Mr Wonka opened the door to his factory: there's just so much stuff that's good - where to start? And sometimes it's like being Tim Henman's coach right now: there's must be something good there, but you just can't find it. And sometimes it's like being assigned the Paris Hilton beat on the National Inquirer: you open the laptop, and the stuff just writes itself.

Gerald Majola (right, presenting a trophy to Ricky Ponting, Getty Images) is neither Augustus Gloop nor Tim Henman - he is, somewhat improbably, Paris Hilton. After a World Cup which could hardly have been worse for its Caribbean hosts, Mr Majola, Chief Executive of Cricket South Africa, hosts of September's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, is quoted on Cricinfo thus: "We have to ensure every person is able to enjoy the event and that the stadia are full. We looked at the previous two ICC tournaments and, in my opinion, they were not successful. So we have looked at those pitfalls and will take care of those in South Africa."

The cynic shrugs his shoulders - but Mr Majola shows us the money. Cricinfo reports that the cheapest tickets for the 14-day championship cost just R20 [£1.40] for those happy to sit on the grass banks during the group stage of matches. Grandstand seats cost R40 [£2.80], while the prices go up to R40 [£2.80] and R80 [£5.60] respectively for the Super Eights stage.The tariffs for the opening game (SA v WI) and ceremony, semifinals and final are R100 [£7] and R160 [£11.20] respectively.

The best news for cricket since, since... well has there ever been better news for cricket? [The Tooting Trumpet]

Bopara in for Strauss next time?

From 2002 when Ravi Bopara signed a professional contract with Essex as a 17 year-old, he has made steady progress and gathered plenty of fans along the way.

Selected in 2006 to be in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy, although he did not play in India, he was included in the Academy squad in Perth while England toured Downunder. He was called into the One-day side and made a more than respectable debut in Sydney on Feb 2, 2007. Batting at the tail, he was not out at the end of the 50 overs and then took Hussey's (a persistent thorn in England's flesh) wicket for a mere 6. He played again at the ICC World Cup without hitting the headlines, but it is his form for Essex this season which is catching the eye and suggesting that a call into the full England side to replace a woeful and dejected Andrew Strauss could be a gamble worth taking.

Back in May, against Ireland, a stylish 101 run-a-ball stand helped seal the Essex win. Today, against Northamptonshire, his 229 will have done nothing to spoil his chances of joining County team-mate Ali Cook in the England side.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Cricket World Cup: whose fault was England's exit?

It's a debate that's been raging for two days, and the ECB need a definite steer on it, so they've come to the only blog they can trust to give them a straight answer. 

Over to you..

One to watch: Stuart Broad

It doesn't take a particularly perspicacious watcher of the game to choose Chris Broad's son Stuart as one to be keeping a close eye on over the next few months and years. Still only 20 years old, this Leicestershire right-arm medium-fast bowler has attracted interest at the highest levels.

He has been playing first-class cricket since 2005 having shone brightly throughout his school-boy days, and although first touted as an opening batsman, has proved that the growth spurt that now sees him topping 6 foot, has been a gift to him as a bowler. He has an economy rate of 3.59 in first-class matches and although his One Day figures are far from that, he has not played enough for this to be meaningful.

In August 2006, the teen-aged Stuart made his debut for England in the day/night match at Sophia Gardens during the Pakistan ODI series. Not out at the end of the first innings, he went on to take the wicket of Shoaib Malik. Last April in the West Indies, in the ICC World Cup Super Eights, Broad was again not out, and showed some nifty fielding with a sharp catch off Flintoff's bowling to send Chris Gayle off the park.

Winning NBC Denis Compton Awards in both 2005 and 2006, and also garnering the Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year in 2006 are significant indicators that here is a true talent to be nurtured for the near and longer-term future.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Australia makes a stand

It's not often I wake up on a Sunday morning to hear some good news on the radio that has political content. But today made a real change, and the news is such to bring hope to all cricket watchers who raised and protested the issue of Zimbabwe during the ICC World Cup.

John Howard, the Australian premier, has today banned Cricket Australia from touring Zimbabwe in September. Ricky Ponting has immediately and publicly supported this action, as have many others around the cricketing world - including our own Ian Botham.

This is such a very different course of action from that taken by the UK government when the same issue arose for the England team. They, in their wisdom, took a stance of advising the team not to go and making some fairly strong public comments about the abhorrent regime in Zimbabwe, but stopped short at forbidding the tour. Meaning, of course, that should England have cancelled, they would have left themselves open to sanctions and fines from the ICC.

Australia have avoided being in this situation as the ICC will not punish CA unduly - John Howard has taken the stand.

[mimitig]

Cricket Snap of the Day

The frighteningly talented 17-year-old Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh heaves an almighty mow over covers. [image: Getty Images]