Adil Rashid
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
To Spin or Not to Spin
Graeme Swann has spoken out this week in his blog, saying although England may have suffered a series defeat to New Zealand they are still improving as a team.
'Its a setback for us, but Peter Moores has said we are a team on a journey'. Graeme Swann is a relatively new member to the England one day set up however he has impressed in the small number of games he has played. He is unlikely to threaten Monty Panesars test place when the test series comes around but his off spin has provided a new dimension to an England attack.
This then was a suprise to Jonathon Agnew who said that 'England got the team selection wrong!'. Usually teams opt for the two spinners at Christchurcgh as it can be a slow turning pitch so Aggers was dumfounded when finding England had failed to pick a specialist spinner.
During the test series i expect Monty Panesar to play an important role in helping England to hopefully another series victory.
'Its a setback for us, but Peter Moores has said we are a team on a journey'. Graeme Swann is a relatively new member to the England one day set up however he has impressed in the small number of games he has played. He is unlikely to threaten Monty Panesars test place when the test series comes around but his off spin has provided a new dimension to an England attack.
This then was a suprise to Jonathon Agnew who said that 'England got the team selection wrong!'. Usually teams opt for the two spinners at Christchurcgh as it can be a slow turning pitch so Aggers was dumfounded when finding England had failed to pick a specialist spinner.
During the test series i expect Monty Panesar to play an important role in helping England to hopefully another series victory.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Jonathon Agnew has said that England can take a lot of confidence going in to the final ODI game on saturday. The fact 'England managed to avoid defeat' should at least spur England on again, giving them great momentum.
Agnew also commented on Englands lack of bowling options, with only Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom as there only out and out bowlers. This team selection worked perfectly in the previous game with the three named bowlers all bowling particulary well. However In a thrilling game that saw runs galore in a spectacular tie, Agnew has said he is unsure about only naming three bowlers. This was compounded by Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad having relatively poor games.
It was however a fantasic game and a great come back from England. 'Newzealand throughout their run chase seemed destined to win'. It was left to Luke Wright to bowl the final over in which the Kiwis only needed seven runs to win. Agnew said 'he bowled the over of his life'. Skipper Paul Collingwood did have the chance to win the game for England when he was inches away from a run out 2 balls before the end.
If this game was anything to go by the finale on saturday should be another absolute thriller and a treat for those fans who have got tickets. It will also be interesting to see just how much impact the result of these ODI games will have on the test series.
Agnew also commented on Englands lack of bowling options, with only Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom as there only out and out bowlers. This team selection worked perfectly in the previous game with the three named bowlers all bowling particulary well. However In a thrilling game that saw runs galore in a spectacular tie, Agnew has said he is unsure about only naming three bowlers. This was compounded by Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad having relatively poor games.
It was however a fantasic game and a great come back from England. 'Newzealand throughout their run chase seemed destined to win'. It was left to Luke Wright to bowl the final over in which the Kiwis only needed seven runs to win. Agnew said 'he bowled the over of his life'. Skipper Paul Collingwood did have the chance to win the game for England when he was inches away from a run out 2 balls before the end.
If this game was anything to go by the finale on saturday should be another absolute thriller and a treat for those fans who have got tickets. It will also be interesting to see just how much impact the result of these ODI games will have on the test series.
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
England's Cricketers Embarrassed
England are crushed for the second time in a row as New Zealand take a 2 v 0 lead in the One day format after a comprehensive ten wicket victory.
After a promising start in the Twenty20's Englands tour of New Zealand has swayed back in the favour of the kiwi's. Their victory in the first two one day games will again pose question marks over certain roles and positions within the team. Englands lack of fight and character is very evident at the moment. There no longer seems to be any individual performances that carry the rest of the side when they are struggling.
The most recent defeat took place in Hamilton. The tourists were put in by the Kiwis and got off to fast start. This was halted when phil Mustard was removed for 13. His opening partner Alastair Cook was the only bright point for England as he scored a lonely half century before being run out. The rest followed, only Kevin Pietersen offered any other threat. One other worrying factor was again Englands running between the wickets. Three batsman being run out. England eventually stumbled to a poor 158 from 35.1 overs on what looked a good wicket.
New Zealand were in a rush to get things over. Openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder made batting look unnervingly easy as Englands bowlers were smashed to all parts of the ground. 112 runs of the revised 165 target came in boundaries Brendon McCullum hitting fives sixes as he blundered the opening bowlers. However it wasnt just the opening bowlers that were hammered each variation captain Paul Collingwood tried resulted in the same outcome.The total was embarrassingly reached in the 18th over!
So going in to the next game things surley can only improve. The last two displays have been worse than dismal. All aspects of Englands game must improve to even compete with quite a strong one day outfit that is New Zealand. Momentum will be key for both teams going in to the test matches so a win in the next ODI game is essential.
After a promising start in the Twenty20's Englands tour of New Zealand has swayed back in the favour of the kiwi's. Their victory in the first two one day games will again pose question marks over certain roles and positions within the team. Englands lack of fight and character is very evident at the moment. There no longer seems to be any individual performances that carry the rest of the side when they are struggling.
The most recent defeat took place in Hamilton. The tourists were put in by the Kiwis and got off to fast start. This was halted when phil Mustard was removed for 13. His opening partner Alastair Cook was the only bright point for England as he scored a lonely half century before being run out. The rest followed, only Kevin Pietersen offered any other threat. One other worrying factor was again Englands running between the wickets. Three batsman being run out. England eventually stumbled to a poor 158 from 35.1 overs on what looked a good wicket.
New Zealand were in a rush to get things over. Openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder made batting look unnervingly easy as Englands bowlers were smashed to all parts of the ground. 112 runs of the revised 165 target came in boundaries Brendon McCullum hitting fives sixes as he blundered the opening bowlers. However it wasnt just the opening bowlers that were hammered each variation captain Paul Collingwood tried resulted in the same outcome.The total was embarrassingly reached in the 18th over!
So going in to the next game things surley can only improve. The last two displays have been worse than dismal. All aspects of Englands game must improve to even compete with quite a strong one day outfit that is New Zealand. Momentum will be key for both teams going in to the test matches so a win in the next ODI game is essential.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Your Chance to Visit the War on Terror!
Gamers look out because the latest 'shoot em up' is here, with an added realisticness. Army of Two is the latest thrill seaking game in which you get your chance to fight against terror.
The game is set in actual modern day conflict zones. You have the option of selecting between army veterans Salem and Rios. Which ever character you select will be accomponied by the other controlled either by a friend or the computer as you attempt to take out the bad guys of Afghanistan and Iraq.
To survive you must master the art of communication between yourself and your partner, tactically out thinking the enemy targets. Obviously it helps to have a damn good shot too! This game is definately one to get your claws into and play your part in the war against terror.
The game is set in actual modern day conflict zones. You have the option of selecting between army veterans Salem and Rios. Which ever character you select will be accomponied by the other controlled either by a friend or the computer as you attempt to take out the bad guys of Afghanistan and Iraq.
To survive you must master the art of communication between yourself and your partner, tactically out thinking the enemy targets. Obviously it helps to have a damn good shot too! This game is definately one to get your claws into and play your part in the war against terror.
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Ashley and Cheryl
Is it over???
