Quick Updates: Oz Vs Kiwis ODI #1

Aussies may have been undefeated thru'out summer but, I have always wondered why the Aussies suck when they enter Kiwi-land. Its been happening for ages now. I think they are not able to cope up to the irregularly shaped rugby grounds or pitch or whatever ( just kiddin :P) Dan the Man was not in the playin XI and Rosco was the skipper today. Punter won the toss and chose to bat and the Ozzies were off to a flier. Watson scored a quick-fire 45. Everybody chipped in with 30 , 20 etc and ended up setting a target of 276 for the Kiwis. Mike Huss topscored with a run a ball 59. A target of less than 300 in NZ has always been defendable(at-least most of the times!). Ingram and Mc Kill'em got off to a good start sharing a 75 run partnership for the opening wicket. If only Baz realised it's a 50 overs a side game! Ross Taylor then steadied the ship scoring a valuable 70. Definitely a captain's knock! Suddenly in the early 40 overs, Kiwis lost some quick wickets. Oram's injury was a huge blow (for ppl who consider the Oram can still bat).

Scotty 2 Hotty put all his experience into play and the altercation Mitchy must have pumped him up more. He played some gutsy shots and made sure NZ reached home in time :) Not to miss Bond's 4's in the 49th over. Definitely it did settle the nerves in the Kiwi camp. Ross Taylor was adjudged the MOM, Scotty Virus could've bagged it though. So Kiwis are 1 up in the ODI series. Let's see if they can keep the momentum going throughout the series.

English Stripped & More on the IPL

Just about a week left to go, all set for the 3rd players’ auction for the 3rd season of the Indian Premier League. The IPL committee has finalised a list of 51 players set to be available during the auction. Firstly, the English players have failed to get the NOC or the No Objection Certificate from the ECB due to which we will not see the likes of Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad etc etc in action. The final list has some interesting names (not just “names”) like Doug Bollinger, Damien Martyn, Wayne Parnell, Kieron Pollard, Lou Vincent, Shane Bond & bunch of Pakistanis - Aamer, Afridi, Umar Akmal, Razzaq, Nazir, Rana Naved Ul Hasan. Of course the list does have quite a few hopefuls from all over the globe and a few lesser known cricketers like Rizwan Cheema from Canada.

Steve’s Pick:

Doug Bollinger – Hot! Should be picked.
Brad Haddin – NOT! Are you surprised we mentioned him?
Kieron Pollard – Definite Hot!!!
Sulieman Benn – Not! Enuf spinners in Ind.( Benn should be happy that we put him under spinner's category)
Shane Bond – Hot! Expecting bid wars here.
Jason Krejza – Not. See Benn.
Wayne Parnell – Hot! Smart choice.(Hottest)
Daren Ganga – Not. New teams will arrive in 2011. No need for captains now!
Rana Naved Ul Hasan – good wit bat & ball.. Hot!
Nuwan Zoysa – how does he make it to this list everytime!! NOT!!!!
Umar Akmal – Exciting cricketer so.. Hot!
Nathan McCullum – Not.
Imran Nazir – Hot.
Darren Bravo – Not.
Shahid BoOm BOom Afridi – HOT!!
Grant Elliot – HOTTTTT.. just kidding, Not. :-)
Damien Martyn – Hot, Hopefully.
Wavell Hinds – Does he still exist in the cricket arena?Not.

Some Serious Maybe’s
Lou Vincent – Lots of experience.. comes in the Dam Martyn category. Shud come cheap as well.
Justin Kemp – can hit big.
Yusuf Abdulla – based on prev IPL performance.
Upul Tharanga – Recent form!
Shakib Al Hassan – Shud be! But, won’t be.
Rizwan Cheema – Who?
Thisara Perera – Chennai Super Kings have a habit.. So, it cud be him this time.
Ramnaresh Sarwan – Well, he’s good enough.
Kemar Roach – if u r planning to hurt ur opposition.
Adam Vogues & Ashley Noffke – Cos they’r Australian!
Chanaka Welegedara – an outside chance.

That’s that. No one else needs a mention here.. Let us know where u disagree with us. IPL, its time for WAR!

Not so LATEST Ooohs & Aaahs

Yes, since the time we posted the BAD N.E.W.S. Mock is feeling a lot better. A lot of his organs are responding now, still many important ones to function. Anyways, this gave me some time to post a lil on what else, yes! Cricket. I’ve missed so much, so much that I feel horrible. So, let’s get started.


The Pak-Kiwi 1st test was a cracker; I did miss writing about it but, not watching it. Even on the fifth day with Umar and Malik at the crease Pak were cruising, until they dug up their own grave. Kudos to both teams, for some fab cricket nevertheless. Bond was at his best (a lil off-color here n ther) which means it was time for him to get injured. And he obliged, Shane Bond’s been ruled out for the rest of the series. Some things haven’t changed a bit. Aye, Shane? Looking forward to the rest of the series, Asif looked good.. real good!

Steam’s prediction: Misbah comes in at 3 instead of Fawad Alam

By the way, can anyone solve this mystery behind this Pak cricketer’s name? Friends from Pakistan, pls feel free. Name the cricketer u see below:


Is it?
a) Mohammad Aamer
b) Muhammad Aamir
c) Mohammad Aamir
d) Muhammad Aamer

What’s the new trend with confusing ppl with ur names? C’mon guys, decide ur name atleast! I remember Younis Khan a.k.a Younus Khan. Now, don’t follow senior cricketers in all this.. Is this happening due to Urdu to English translation? I can’t figure out anything better.

Well, elsewhere in the beautiful land of South Africa, two South African teams played a few T20 intl’s and ODI’s. The South Africans representing England have done well so far. They are even ahead on numbers, that’s cool! But when they lose, they get thrashed! No sympathy for u guys. Anyways good to see Trott getting along well with his SAF buddies, Anderson my God, deserves an Indian wedding : ) he’s been quite good. Old man Collingwood, the one of the few non-SAF-ers playing has shown intent but, for what nobody knows. When the time comes he will be axed no matter what so, jus chill dude and enjoy the safari. Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright have been by far the biggest newsmakers to me. Looks like the time for itsy bitsy all-rounders and sloggers is back.

Steam’s suggestion: Injuries beware!

Down under in Australia, another West Indian team landed to play some.. yea, Cricket!!! I wonder why? Seriously. The boys dint look like they were playing for the same team. I wonder how long that will take to settle. Calypso King Gayle made a fine return, the team losing the first test by more than an innings. No Sarwan, he’s injured or faking it! Chanderpaul seems lost in his hiatus. These three are the key with the bat no doubt; Adrian Barath scored a century on debut, good luck to him but, lot more to improve. Is Jerome Taylor injured? And Pollard? Australians on the other hand meant strict business; only room for improvement might be sending Watto to the middle order and going with a genuine opening pair. Mike Hussey got a few runs to silence some critics for a while, how much is needed to shut them completely? No one knows!

Steam’s take: Aus win. Win big!

India actually managed to win the 2nd test played at Kanpur against Sri Lanka who played 3 genuine spinners + Dilshan. Indians just batted like nothing cud be more simple, scored 600+ but, this was also the return of one peculiar human species namely, Sreesanth. He picked a 5-fer in the 1st innings, helping Ind enforce follow-on the Lankans and then the Lankans collapsed again in the second innings. It was suicide stuff especially when Murali+Mendis+Herath failing miserably. Captain Kumar Sangakarra still believes they can win the 3rd test (starting today) and level the series. Well, they sure have started well 117/1 at lunch on day 1, good going guys!

Steam’s quote: “Fortune favors the brave.”

For lots more keep tuning in to sloshedcricket. Just say, Wah!