tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50676263331012488632024-02-19T16:35:24.130+00:00Sporting ThoughtsNothing generates debate and disagreement quite like sports. Oh and maybe politics, and religion, and culture, sexuality, abortion, euthanasia, genetics, films, music, books, public transport... well lots of things really but I know a lot about sports so that's what's up for discussionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-92007112983217908382016-06-29T21:05:00.001+01:002016-06-29T21:05:40.413+01:00Memorable, historic, unifying. This is England<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIru9ypSu9vA4NQ58lRyPeto8PGp6AIpZCNjsQ8azGM-JKblG9FK7UYs22CEWxVLFOTAoJ1SE6BqEErcopGnWqdwNTs96ZQ_8r1STzmm5Zhxb0zc9sSSWwoG9bkhLj3AEk5Ncv4wJhPe-j/s1600/Harry+Kane+England+Iceland+Euro+2016+exit+Brexit+embarrassing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIru9ypSu9vA4NQ58lRyPeto8PGp6AIpZCNjsQ8azGM-JKblG9FK7UYs22CEWxVLFOTAoJ1SE6BqEErcopGnWqdwNTs96ZQ_8r1STzmm5Zhxb0zc9sSSWwoG9bkhLj3AEk5Ncv4wJhPe-j/s200/Harry+Kane+England+Iceland+Euro+2016+exit+Brexit+embarrassing.jpg" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What better reason to give in to t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he unrelenting clamour for me to restart blogging (an off-hand remark in passing every few months) than potentially the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36573171" target="_blank">greatest night</a> in England's glorious sporting history?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a single night, 11 heroic and passionate warriors sacrificially gave their all to unite not just the nation but the whole continent. At a time of almost unprecedented political turmoil and cultural upheaval, what else could have brought about such a sense of togetherness and universal agreement? </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What else could have brought </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36652412" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Wales</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Russia, Iran, Australia, South Africa and the </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36650555" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">whole of Europe</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to share an undivided opinion? </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRJaZOEyx-NyPQ3HLEyNidUI40CYneC69U9yTREkfJJZDKwc5jamyeNeKYxLHrckuWxLuQBuUQsZEIMF43-Z-KW4yuVxvQDq8mwxv63ukEUJu5-F4i4gTSGWXCGJYxj_IdlRmjv7GbDse/s1600/Iceland+celebrate+England+Euro+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRJaZOEyx-NyPQ3HLEyNidUI40CYneC69U9yTREkfJJZDKwc5jamyeNeKYxLHrckuWxLuQBuUQsZEIMF43-Z-KW4yuVxvQDq8mwxv63ukEUJu5-F4i4gTSGWXCGJYxj_IdlRmjv7GbDse/s200/Iceland+celebrate+England+Euro+2016.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What other unifying force could have led to people from all spheres of life and from across the full political spectrum to be so unanimously of one mind? No longer are we debating formations, starting line ups, tactics or even what might constitute success. Such was the scarcely describable performance and result of the English national football team against Iceland. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unquestionably it will go down in history to be discussed, remembered and referred to. A landmark against which any future results even remotely similar (if that is even possible) will be compared. Already the benefits are being felt by the journalism industry, sprouting a plethora of articles discussing every possible angle and perspective. My personal favourite is this creative journalist's view on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36646946" target="_blank">England's player ratings</a>, he must truly have put his heart and soul into giving every single outfield player a 4/10. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36627112" target="_blank">rugby</a> and even <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36655268" target="_blank">cricket</a> teams attempt to sow discord by actually winning, we can thank our footballers for their efforts in the cause of international unity. As we turn our attention to Wimbledon, the Olympics, the Ryder Cup (essentially anything to distract ourselves from what we just saw) let's be grateful that we potentially move on from a manager who has only lost one match in the Euros (Roy) to someone with his own outstanding record at the Euros (Gareth):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3EiE7eLWI_M/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3EiE7eLWI_M?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Exciting times ahead...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-58927168095793824672015-07-14T18:14:00.001+01:002015-07-14T18:17:54.809+01:00Australian first test ratings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcejkkq-R0CPt-4_N3DvddWskGucPfP0EVmALagIDcmctovMJZnZaWTkAgeHOjYWG-RQrIZFYfpWBi_pI9VzvtPGIPveoEG6EGBBINt1aU1TLJTgqPbZyoC2VHuqHY5xuZRWeGvV80T1Qx/s1600/Anderson+Haddin+England+Australia+Ashes+Cardiff+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcejkkq-R0CPt-4_N3DvddWskGucPfP0EVmALagIDcmctovMJZnZaWTkAgeHOjYWG-RQrIZFYfpWBi_pI9VzvtPGIPveoEG6EGBBINt1aU1TLJTgqPbZyoC2VHuqHY5xuZRWeGvV80T1Qx/s200/Anderson+Haddin+England+Australia+Ashes+Cardiff+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what of the Aussies? Arriving on these shores, they were strong favourites to clinch a second consecutive series win, and their first away win since 2001. Ever since the arrival at the crease of Joe Root, Australia have been on the back foot, falling further and further behind in the game until the same man took the catch which wrapped up the increasingly inevitable result. So where did it go wrong for the green and gold? Where are their we</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ak points and who do England have to keep an eye on?</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chris Rogers - 95 & 10: </b>Rogers had a great game, setting Australia off to a solid start and making big inroads into England's first innings score. Came up against Broad & Anderson on top form at the start of the second innings. Will no doubt continue to be reliable, determined and hard to dislodge all series long. <b>8/10</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>David Warner - 17 & 52: </b>The explosive opener hasn't really got going yet but still has the potential for a game-changing innings. England did a good job of stifling his desire for rapid scoring and this will definitely be the best way forward to keep him quiet <b>6/10</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6YeNfUvH6PYDcKU-IjwH3DLOnTouBLsuwogdT2HRvCIfu43hotvs1pUCIhu4aVtRtWllSP_PFIYQ4QMFyQGa-MdZWSWWD97rAVa6UtzHV517msL_1tuYNMQSaiOXbqmMxKcapSoouZ6b/s1600/Steve+Smith+England+Australia+Cardiff+Ashes+Moeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6YeNfUvH6PYDcKU-IjwH3DLOnTouBLsuwogdT2HRvCIfu43hotvs1pUCIhu4aVtRtWllSP_PFIYQ4QMFyQGa-MdZWSWWD97rAVa6UtzHV517msL_1tuYNMQSaiOXbqmMxKcapSoouZ6b/s200/Steve+Smith+England+Australia+Cardiff+Ashes+Moeen.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">England will be hoping for more of this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Steve Smith - 33 & 33: </b>The <a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/batting/" target="_blank">2nd best batsman in the world</a> certainly didn't look like it in the first match of the series. With so many similarities to Joe Root (matches played, incredible last 12 months, current average, part-time spin), it was the Englishman who won the first battle. Perhaps suffering from over-confidence and an impatience to dominate the bowlers so far, Smith will prove his class soon enough. <b>6/10</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Michael Clarke - 38 & 4: </b>Australia's captain faces a difficult task to get his guys up to scratch for the second test, both mentally and performance-wise. How he achieves that might be a reflection of how he can manage it for himself as well. He underperformed as both captain and senior batsman in Cardiff so will need to up all aspects if Australia are to get back into the series. <b>4/10 </b>batting <b>4/10</b> captain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Adam Voges - 31 & 1:</b> Like Chris Rogers at the top a couple of years ago, Voges has been brought in as a reliable and consistent batsman with experience of English conditions, to add some solidity to the middle order. On current evidence, he's done anything but. Australia appear to need someone more in the Mike Hussey/Simon Katich mould to frustrate and resist, braking the momentum and atmosphere generated mid-collapse. Bowlers like Broad thrive on momentum (as seen in each of the last 4 Ashes series) so a gritty 60 off 150 balls or similar would be perfect to counteract. Voges just isn't that man. <b>4/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_UKLBU990iYujjA4br1f09l66mWxyyWeLefwqhJUE3oc9Hpvbl6UJYWT4zlhabFC-ZguiT9r4Zpbqea3GvHu33JqUXPJKZM-zzrBGNYiDvOfpDCSkuK6-8o_QCe3ctPlDvTMVlxPUvGO/s1600/Shane+Watson+LBW+Australia+Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_UKLBU990iYujjA4br1f09l66mWxyyWeLefwqhJUE3oc9Hpvbl6UJYWT4zlhabFC-ZguiT9r4Zpbqea3GvHu33JqUXPJKZM-zzrBGNYiDvOfpDCSkuK6-8o_QCe3ctPlDvTMVlxPUvGO/s200/Shane+Watson+LBW+Australia+Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor old LBWatto</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shane Watson - 30 & 19, 24-0 & 23-0:</b> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33498523" target="_blank">Watson</a> is a curious case. Utterly brutal aggressive and dominant batting, relentlessly accurate and miserly bowling at his best, he so often seems to be lacking confidence or interest in the game. For someone with such indifferent body language he appears to have allowed the LBW thing to really get to him. What should be an outstanding number 6, offering a very useful bowling option, he's more of a burden than a blessing currently. Australia would take Stokes at 6 in a flash right now, but might have to make do with Mitchell Marsh instead. <b>4/10</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Brad Haddin - 22 & 7, 5 catches: </b>Age catches up with us all and the counter-attacking wicketkeeper-batsman role is not one that can be sustained forever. When Matt Prior realised that his time had come, we had Jos Buttler ready to come in immediately; it does not appear that there's a natural successor just yet. Haddin may well have a couple of decent knocks and I'm sure the infamous Joe Root drop was just one of those things, rather than a sign of things to come, but the reality is that Brad isn't the force he once was. <b>3/10</b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O7vbUDkPanBEBKOOl2-l771LTPYJDvYDWgqSvAFjao8SrmgczW2FPPH0Oi1hiA6hkywSM6-CKC9JQ7jrvn8a4ToBQqAoRfxGbjhes3eAKKhenPEhOL1lzlqAVmHNRgMnUBfokfTaklVk/s1600/Mitchell+Johnson+wayward+Ashes+Cardiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O7vbUDkPanBEBKOOl2-l771LTPYJDvYDWgqSvAFjao8SrmgczW2FPPH0Oi1hiA6hkywSM6-CKC9JQ7jrvn8a4ToBQqAoRfxGbjhes3eAKKhenPEhOL1lzlqAVmHNRgMnUBfokfTaklVk/s200/Mitchell+Johnson+wayward+Ashes+Cardiff.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mitchell Johnson - 14 & 77, 111-0 & 69-2: </b>One of the central figures of attention prior to and during the game, Johnson had an evidently mixed game. On a pitch that didn't suit his natural bowling style he failed to adjust and as a result ended up with his worst ever figures in what wasn't that high a total from England. The ball that got Bell in the second innings gave England due warning against complacency and dismissed any thought this might be 2010-11 Mitchell. Similarly, his futile but impressive 77 demonstrated the damage he could do in a closer situation. <b>6/10</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mitchell Starc - 0 & 17, 114-5 & 60-2: </b>The world's best ODI bowler will be quite pleased to look back and see 7 wickets against his name for what was a pretty mediocre performance by his standards. At this stage it looks like he'll be fit enough for Thursday and will continue to be a serious threat when he gets it right. Waiting for the odd bad ball works against most bowlers but Starc is as likely to rip your off stump out as throw in a half-tracker. <b>6/10</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Josh Hazlewood - 2* & 14, 83-3 & 49-2:</b> Could very well emerge as Australia's premier test match bowler by the end of the series. Everything we'd heard about his control of line and length was true and was easily the biggest consistent threat to the English batsmen. Would be surprised if he doesn't pick up 25 wickets in the series. <b>8/10</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Nathan Lyon - 6 & 0*, 69-2 & 75-4:</b> Lyon has made a solid place for himself in this Aussie attack. He is consistent and gets slightly surprising levels of turn and bounce, particularly with his overspin. He's no Shane Warne but he's certainly the more complete and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">accomplished spinner between himself and Moeen. Both sides should be able to get on top of the respective spinners but with measured rather than pre-determined aggression.<b> 7/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australia have more areas to work on than England but that just means more areas of potential improvement for the next game, which I would imagine most are expecting to be a lot closer and more competitive.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-64364055113995698352015-07-12T22:05:00.000+01:002015-07-12T22:05:47.117+01:00One up and four to go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWVKfSXxHB30QUY1yN9uAkBnOZa2G5mEmJy3GtcCy9FpiuA0ACH2BpzWHCw_EQqz14YyrDzoZeeG1RNrPm65txRvup9xeAhQXgcmlm-RIgE-eaCPJTVjZZrK4cIoRD3W1f0m7_TD-WngE/s1600/Djokovic-Clarke-Cook-Ashes+Wimbledon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWVKfSXxHB30QUY1yN9uAkBnOZa2G5mEmJy3GtcCy9FpiuA0ACH2BpzWHCw_EQqz14YyrDzoZeeG1RNrPm65txRvup9xeAhQXgcmlm-RIgE-eaCPJTVjZZrK4cIoRD3W1f0m7_TD-WngE/s200/Djokovic-Clarke-Cook-Ashes+Wimbledon.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a week of white-clad sportsmen vying for the attention of the British public, it was to Wales that our eyes turned as Scottish hope was eliminated from dreams of glory. A combination of Murray falling at the penultimate hurdle and England's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33492984" target="_blank">relentlessly strong performance</a> meant that success was to be found in the Welsh rather than English capital. It's hard to imagine how things could have gone much better for Alastair Cook and his team kicking the Ashes off, especially given the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33494630" target="_blank">low expectations</a> prior to the series. Those <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/what-hope-for-ashes-upset.html" target="_blank">few glimmers of hope</a> and encouraging signs against New Zealand came to fruition in four surprising and immensely enjoyable days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With universal agreement that England as a team outplayed their Australian counterparts, how did the <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=9249;type=series" target="_blank">individuals on each side perform</a>, and what does that mean for the rest of the series?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Adam Lyth - 6 & 37: </b>Relatively mediocre performance and a significant part of England's top order issues. Took a couple of catches as the Aussies fell apart at the end but needs a big knock to put questions over his place in the team to bed. Performing when the chips are down, that will be the real challenge. <b>4/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSskWuZZs8MAqD2jMKjntLXMrTCctmSr98DaAMwsEZEExYUZIHtw5GmuJ6HkAoNA-arhyxpxEIDov8_uUBxoMLvLhwzJzKP2wqlMcatld7mRqYuTRb3ReDnT3uMe-fSzd-fdagu9z7VVd/s1600/Cook+Lyth+England+Australia+Ashes+Cardiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSskWuZZs8MAqD2jMKjntLXMrTCctmSr98DaAMwsEZEExYUZIHtw5GmuJ6HkAoNA-arhyxpxEIDov8_uUBxoMLvLhwzJzKP2wqlMcatld7mRqYuTRb3ReDnT3uMe-fSzd-fdagu9z7VVd/s200/Cook+Lyth+England+Australia+Ashes+Cardiff.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">England's main area of vulnerability</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Alastair Cook - 20 & 12: </b>Actually seemed reasonably comfortable in both innings but evidently still not recaptured his best form or indeed confidence. A brilliant and critic-defying display of captaincy played a big part in the match win but to secure the series it's hard to imagine England not needing some runs from their senior opener. <b>4/10</b> batting <b>9/10 </b>captain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Gary Ballance - 61 & 0: </b>Like Cook, is still lacking the form which has seen him such a relentless run accumulator in the past. An impressive and gritty 61 in the first innings was exactly what England needed, especially as a foil to the more aggressive Root. A big innings may not be far off. <b>6/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ian Bell - 1 & 60: </b>England's 2013 hero has been on such a dismal run of form that even a pressure-off 60 will be seen as a significant positive step. Hopefully more to come from the classy number 4. <b>6/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfvjeiZalGZ67aMBU6pVSwel-i4_D1RmSI_wpJG4I2B7CJv0RiHzndo5q0G-tpxqPQLUEdSZnaxXZHilwHsXQgsTH__17YsFxWhj79I_WPRZ08dKlka_ZrGCW3BT313Tb6_RFhxAppdVb/s1600/Joe+Root+Ashes+cricket+hundred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfvjeiZalGZ67aMBU6pVSwel-i4_D1RmSI_wpJG4I2B7CJv0RiHzndo5q0G-tpxqPQLUEdSZnaxXZHilwHsXQgsTH__17YsFxWhj79I_WPRZ08dKlka_ZrGCW3BT313Tb6_RFhxAppdVb/s200/Joe+Root+Ashes+cricket+hundred.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Joe Root - 134 & 60, 28-2: </b>The new <a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/batting/" target="_blank">4th ranked</a> test batsman is by far and away England's best, and most inspirational player. Digging England out of a hole in the first innings then piling on the pressure in the second, as well as chipping in with two wickets to finish it all off. Now has the <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=batting_average;qualmin2=50;qualval2=innings;template=results;type=batting" target="_blank">11th highest batting average</a> in history (min 50 wickets) and will surely be an England great for years to come. <b>9/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ben Stokes - 52 & 42, 51-1 & 23-0: </b>Went somewhat under the radar but played two very important innings without which England's totals would have been much less dominant. Is a solid rather than inspired bowler still at this stage but has such potential and I would expect there'll be at least one point in the series where he has a Flintoff-esque impact on a match. <b>7/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jos Buttler - 27 & 7, 3 catches: </b>Bit of a nothing performance from Buttler really, decent enough with the gloves, never got going with the bat. England's need will be greater another day so it remains to be seen how he produces when that day comes. <b>5/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Moeen Ali - 77 & 15, 71-2 & 59-3: </b>A great all-round performance from Moeen who continues to improve in both aspects of his game. Australia had obviously decided to go after him so he'll need to tighten up when his role is just to contain but for now he functions well when Cook basically needs to buy wickets. Classy, occasionally explosive and brimming with potential batting-wise, this could be a defining series for the bearded spinner. <b>8/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR10zDhZQvkcFFeCQ7kZTV9_xIvBJeBpo88Sj9W6BaE3p1jA1BE9v2xiwP2Y1uzZuhz2U2XUQaOH3IkEnjLntK1IWWvJLS_V7DlN9Og8TempHZ7hRi23jPge9vRPZ-Sdhg9N-lm4a4Sdl/s1600/Stuart+Broad+Ashes+wickets+Cardiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVR10zDhZQvkcFFeCQ7kZTV9_xIvBJeBpo88Sj9W6BaE3p1jA1BE9v2xiwP2Y1uzZuhz2U2XUQaOH3IkEnjLntK1IWWvJLS_V7DlN9Og8TempHZ7hRi23jPge9vRPZ-Sdhg9N-lm4a4Sdl/s200/Stuart+Broad+Ashes+wickets+Cardiff.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Stuart Broad - 18 & 4, 60-2 & 39-3: </b>Broad appears to be back to his best with the ball, having great control and discipline, as well as intelligence and threat. Having plans for batsmen and then executing well, particularly with fuller-than-natural lengths. Still underperforming with the bat which could yet prove significant given how much of a contribution tailenders often make these days. <b>8/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mark Wood - 7* & 32*, 66-2 & 53-2: </b>What a brilliant addition to the squad he's been. A genuine character and another who seems to genuinely enjoy his cricket and bring a bit of life to the team. A good back-up to Broad & Anderson, as well as apparently some skill with the willow as well. I hope Steven Finn enjoys county cricket because he won't be playing test matches any time soon. <b>7/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>James Anderson - 1 & 1, 43-3 & 33-0: </b>Much like Broad, Jimmy appears to be right at the top of his game. The <a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/bowling/" target="_blank">second best test bowler</a> in the world has such control over the ball it's amazing he didn't take more wickets. On what was supposed to be a doddle to bat on, Anderson still had the Aussies guessing. <b>7/10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With England naming an <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33497093" target="_blank">unchanged squad</a> and surely an unchanged starting 11, the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33493017" target="_blank">signs are positive</a> but the question will be how strongly Australia bounce back at Lords.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PS Australian team ratings to follow</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-13487909986359524782015-07-06T17:10:00.000+01:002015-07-06T17:10:27.028+01:00What Hope for an Ashes Upset?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cSEcs3tAeFv4KCM-dakt5GAWzcxBKoVI-IfD1bhYlF-IZUdPJ14ENXP6OMuRSGl1VB2KrmQF_ownnhDSaayFDf5kua5Hd7X5eIPR1hTwNSh4iE7JwelgynhVGQTqs1jVbblpjjAu14Cf/s1600/Cook+Clarke+Ashes+England+Australia+cricket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cSEcs3tAeFv4KCM-dakt5GAWzcxBKoVI-IfD1bhYlF-IZUdPJ14ENXP6OMuRSGl1VB2KrmQF_ownnhDSaayFDf5kua5Hd7X5eIPR1hTwNSh4iE7JwelgynhVGQTqs1jVbblpjjAu14Cf/s200/Cook+Clarke+Ashes+England+Australia+cricket.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the captain battle commence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here we are again. The Ashes start again this Wednesday, with England looking for their fourth consecutive home series victory for the first time in 120 years (when they won the first 6 home series). Australia go in as firm favourites, clearly ahead of England in the <a href="http://www.icc-cricket.com/team-rankings/test" target="_blank">rankings</a> and having won <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/team/series_results.html?class=1;id=2;type=team" target="_blank">4 of 5 series</a> since they last visited England (we've won <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/england/engine/records/team/series_results.html?class=1;id=1;type=team" target="_blank">1 of 5</a> in the same time). Perhaps one of the most telling indicators is Australia's convincing 2-0 victory in the West Indies, so soon after England battled to a 1-1 draw against the same mediocre opponents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />How different from <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/anything-but-ashes-whitewash.html" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, when England almost underachieved in winning the series 3-0. This time around it's the hosts who enter with an inexperienced and potentially fragile line up, couple with decent but not spectacular bowling attack. The concern at having no stand-out spinner the main point, but we've also had trouble restricting heavy scoring, maintaining discipline against tailenders and finishing off collapsing opponents. This was such a feature of the 2013 series, with Haddin / <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/story/650225.html" target="_blank">Agar</a> standing out in particular. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMxZlwtuaZAOTnoixhyphenhyphen2yp_MCYfhNNl4J08wk8e5JKuscgn2zLN224YJQ4qK-AVJWRxyqmZr-23F4MrgU7CzDu4qutjwW4EHlDdSg6j9IQmRk_vn8Mg8Fz_TDn4222N4EgCkFNLD6-ISL/s1600/Lyon+Mitchell+Starc+Johnson+Hazlewood+Australia+Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMxZlwtuaZAOTnoixhyphenhyphen2yp_MCYfhNNl4J08wk8e5JKuscgn2zLN224YJQ4qK-AVJWRxyqmZr-23F4MrgU7CzDu4qutjwW4EHlDdSg6j9IQmRk_vn8Mg8Fz_TDn4222N4EgCkFNLD6-ISL/s200/Lyon+Mitchell+Starc+Johnson+Hazlewood+Australia+Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps a smaller trophy <br />in a couple of months?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both sides are now without their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Ashes_series#Individual" target="_blank">best bowlers from 2013</a> - both Swann and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33394635" target="_blank">Harris retiring</a> and each team needing to find 25 wickets from elsewhere. Whether Moeen and/or Rashid can step into that breach remains to be seen and I must say I'm not convinced either is the full package. In contrast, Australia have a good range of pace bowlers vying for a place, with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Josh Hazelwood and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the left-armed Mitchells likely starting ahead of Peter Siddle. The fact that Nathan Lyon is a solid rather than world-class spinner may not matter too much if England don't survive until the 5th day. Their bowling averages </span><a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=9801;team=2;type=series" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">against West Indies</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> don't make fun reading for an English battling line up who had more than one shaky moment</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> against the Aussies' neighbours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are signs that things might not be all baggy green, with England experiencing <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33407465" target="_blank">a new lease of life and optimism</a> after some of the performances against New Zealand. If players like Broad, Anderson, Bell and of course, Cook, can find anywhere near top form to provide the backbone to exciting talent of Root, Buttler and Stokes, it could yet prove to be a closer series than anticipated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUngCuNzMtNiyJ8SBndIPKowdYgTJ1rdKm6zQSBuozzJYqbsTzgBJmqZsxA93XMl8H9J5B3ORpY02cnTuXmSwkVszsyjb8-aA95GcZXt0tVV2tYfigopYGirxnBYkq0A9lGpq7vLbsmpmy/s1600/DRS+Ashes+Broad+Clarke+Starc+controversy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUngCuNzMtNiyJ8SBndIPKowdYgTJ1rdKm6zQSBuozzJYqbsTzgBJmqZsxA93XMl8H9J5B3ORpY02cnTuXmSwkVszsyjb8-aA95GcZXt0tVV2tYfigopYGirxnBYkq0A9lGpq7vLbsmpmy/s200/DRS+Ashes+Broad+Clarke+Starc+controversy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But why can't we have 10 reviews <br />an innings?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing which doesn't seem too likely at the moment but that we could seriously do with is a bit of <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/sport/cricket/419737/Bad-light-and-worse-weather-stop-Michael-Clarke-s-Ashes-heroics" target="_blank">weather</a> like two years ago. Things we can do without this time - DRS controversy, England failing to reach 400, England batting at about 2.5 runs per over for the entire series, Mitchell Johnson actually bowling well and straight. Oh and Australia winning, I could definitely live without that.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-70104412237615668492015-06-09T20:56:00.001+01:002015-06-10T16:36:58.009+01:00What Now for Tennis' Big Five?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshOo_M48tnAG__KHNnPM9nd9Uxtmhoc0Yh1k76VQObANo6eiV7XXUEs6k7zdxKS6NjlXQH9dOQg8Udn32mkbD1yju8zDXGULMaQNGSLIVsaSKyUzu2BRxDaZtcLaSXelJF8TkPh60P6AC/s1600/Barcelona+Juventus+Champions+League+final+Berlin+June+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshOo_M48tnAG__KHNnPM9nd9Uxtmhoc0Yh1k76VQObANo6eiV7XXUEs6k7zdxKS6NjlXQH9dOQg8Udn32mkbD1yju8zDXGULMaQNGSLIVsaSKyUzu2BRxDaZtcLaSXelJF8TkPh60P6AC/s200/Barcelona+Juventus+Champions+League+final+Berlin+June+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's hard to know what to do with yourself on the days after a weekend of sports like that. French Open finals, Champions League final, Women's World Cup, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/33044648" target="_blank">NBA finals</a>, Ireland - England friendly, Canadian Grand Prix, Gemili running <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33041325" target="_blank">sub 10</a> seconds and the Epsom Derby, as well as the ongoing FIFA and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33045142" target="_blank">Salazar/Farah</a> controversies. You get to the Monday and the only consolation is that we don't have to endure any more <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/fixtures" target="_blank">England friendlies</a> until November. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With so much sport, we might have hoped for a few upsets to keep us on the edge of our seats but instead of a few little ones, we got just one big hit. Sunday's blistering performance from Stan Wawrinka has shaken up the tennis hierarchy. He has of course shown his capability before but this was something new. Beating an injured Nadal on hardcourt is nothing compared to toppling Djokovic on a 28 game unbeaten run in a Slam final. So where does it leave the big 5 of the men's game?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU_z427Ft0tabROI3iwUf0qj7SbG33HBeCTpqfqF4GNrkYvw3l7wjh8GuBMaYWpSRG6KWCopy-RwNR7ZCaLm2DdVG3G1h0-h8OUVyXBhJf9fHI7xgFMHrFjxxxRIMyGAvAp1ptZ185Cn8/s1600/Djokovic+Murray+Roland+Garros+French+Open+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU_z427Ft0tabROI3iwUf0qj7SbG33HBeCTpqfqF4GNrkYvw3l7wjh8GuBMaYWpSRG6KWCopy-RwNR7ZCaLm2DdVG3G1h0-h8OUVyXBhJf9fHI7xgFMHrFjxxxRIMyGAvAp1ptZ185Cn8/s200/Djokovic+Murray+Roland+Garros+French+Open+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Djokovic</b> - unquestionably the dominant player of the tennis world and clearly ahead of anyone else. His consistency and quality will see him atop the <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Rankings-Home.aspx" target="_blank">rankings </a>for a long time yet and most likely favourite for every major for the next two years. Still some mental frailties when things are against him but he's so good that it rarely matters in the end. Currently on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novak_Djokovic#Grand_Slam_tournament_performance_timeline" target="_blank">8 Slams</a>, it's hard to see him getting to Federer's mark of 17, especially as he's so far only ever once (2011) won more than one in a season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Federer</b> - appears to be in a strange place now in his career. Retains the class and style of his younger years but lacks the consistency to genuinely threaten at the business end of slams. Losses to the likes of Seppi, Cilic, Gulbis, Robredo and Stakhovsky in the last 2 years suggest that he is likely to have to settle for 17 Slams. With <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Roger_Federer" target="_blank">nothing more to prove or achieve</a>, but still world number 2 for now and still capable of beating anyone, he does genuinely appear to just enjoy being on the tour and playing tennis. Of course he'd love to win another big one but he's content enough making a mockery of those who <a href="http://www.givemesport.com/540891-roger-federer-really-should-retire-this-time" target="_blank">say he should retire</a> just because he's no longer the best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Murray</b> - what could prove to be a very significant spring for Murray, with a breakout claycourt season. Winning two clay titles, beating Nadal in Madrid and looking thoroughly comfortable on the dirt. In significant tournaments (Slams/1000 series) <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Andy-Murray.aspx?t=pa" target="_blank">this year</a> he has only lost to Djokovic. Likely to overtake Federer for No 2 in the world later in the summer and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/33035596" target="_blank">almost a certainty</a> to add to his 2 Grand Slams at some point in the next year or so. Definitely worth a flutter on him to build on a high level of confidence with a second Wimbledon title in a month's time. Probably won't have quite enough to overhaul Djokovic to top the rankings but he may well run him close soon enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqSebvY-JslJboX6I3hPANrZdifFSfGp5DFTK5PJHLb9YVfw-FsMWetOGVA9gAr2FH1OApp9HBS6ZY3SMkK1lKieSYE60VzovKQXoFNnfhNnAMaZxvjaSyxHklw4dpq-lXwghsli0ya0/s1600/Stan+Wawrinka+Novak+Djokovic+Roland+Garros+French+Open+ATP+June+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqSebvY-JslJboX6I3hPANrZdifFSfGp5DFTK5PJHLb9YVfw-FsMWetOGVA9gAr2FH1OApp9HBS6ZY3SMkK1lKieSYE60VzovKQXoFNnfhNnAMaZxvjaSyxHklw4dpq-lXwghsli0ya0/s200/Stan+Wawrinka+Novak+Djokovic+Roland+Garros+French+Open+ATP+June+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wawrinka</b> - simply one of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/33042056" target="_blank">best individual performances</a> I've ever seen. Devastating striking of the ball on such a regular basis. We've seen success from the likes of Del Potro and Soderling in the past just thumping it as hard as possible but nothing like what Stan produced. He will continue to be a threat, particularly at Slams where he turns it up a notch but such high risk tennis will never lead to a very top ranking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Nadal</b> - ah Rafa, what are we going to do with you? One of the most physical, powerful and dominant players in history is something of a shell of his former self. So often throughout his career he has been held back by injuries and at some point it might need to be considered that he's not going to recover fully. Few players define competitiveness as much as Nadal but does he have it in him to beat Djokovic and Murray, especially from a current <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/33050015" target="_blank">ranking of 10th</a>? I hope so, but I fear not. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-42397503557156606522015-05-26T22:23:00.000+01:002015-05-26T22:23:26.590+01:00All-round Success<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgXWlmmZ9jgnH271l0PTJR8eMTvRoRxeNhEGkRezaVsuhSK5HaJTQb9N946BY5vaeP4fIVbzEzTCdlSf6xU66Hu6NUTY5g8BFa8K5YFhxlLdHY9AvtTrZBsQ4lbL5nnqCBO2Ine43RxWB/s1600/England+New+Zealand+Broad+final+wicket+Lords+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgXWlmmZ9jgnH271l0PTJR8eMTvRoRxeNhEGkRezaVsuhSK5HaJTQb9N946BY5vaeP4fIVbzEzTCdlSf6xU66Hu6NUTY5g8BFa8K5YFhxlLdHY9AvtTrZBsQ4lbL5nnqCBO2Ine43RxWB/s200/England+New+Zealand+Broad+final+wicket+Lords+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simply astonishing stuff. Truly one of the most remarkable games of cricket, with records falling, reputations being restored and stars being born. The match itself ebbed and flowed with England's initial collapse (30-4) sparking all the Pietersen chat before the ridiculously long batting line-up proving its value. New Zealand's batting display then demonstrated how blunt and one-dimensional our bowling attack was. Early wickets in our reply left the Kiwi victory simply a matter of time until Cook's infuriating stubbornness put itself to good use and Stokes batted like he'd got confused with the IPL final happening at the same time. The blunt bowling attack which we all know is so reliant on Anderson then came good, with wickets coming from all over the place. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As outstanding and dramatic a game as it was, the end result unquestionably papers over a few cracks. With all of the attention on Stokes' remarkable performance, there remains a few questions over the opening partner for Cook, the feasibility of Moeen as a genuine spin-bowler and the genuine threat posed by the fast bowlers when the going gets tough. That being said, there are a lot of positive signs and just an outside glimmer of hope now that we might not get totally obliterated in the Ashes. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ptVRg-hX-UXcV9up4WcHbv-VZmUtNqdxaXkUHnR0MI-K9tZVvpMS4R25zGlV5mgl0tY1hroBtA2sUp0zyt1MIUi0DNrvBspGKeoQsw2FXo4w9D-8Hb_ZiT6CmVvhIBVo3uLjjrGlu5r5/s1600/Ben+Stokes+England+New+Zealand+cricket+all-rounder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ptVRg-hX-UXcV9up4WcHbv-VZmUtNqdxaXkUHnR0MI-K9tZVvpMS4R25zGlV5mgl0tY1hroBtA2sUp0zyt1MIUi0DNrvBspGKeoQsw2FXo4w9D-8Hb_ZiT6CmVvhIBVo3uLjjrGlu5r5/s200/Ben+Stokes+England+New+Zealand+cricket+all-rounder.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To the matter at hand; the Ben Stokes bandwagon. A brilliant performance from an exciting prospect with undoubted potential but a long way to go before being a top quality performer. He has talent, desire and a fiercely competitive spirit but what he'll need to learn from players like Cook is application. Two outstanding and destructive innings could each have been big hundreds. Am I being too harsh or is it good to expect big things? Certainly if Stokes is hoping to be the next big thing, he has a whole host of a way to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Widely accepted as the greatest all-rounder in history is Gary Sobers, with the likes of Jacques Kallis, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Imran Khan knocking on the door. The great measure of an all-rounder is of the differential between their batting and bowling averages. The below table shows test all-rounders with at least 100 wickets at less than 40 AND 3000 test runs at greater than 30</span><br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 468px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=player;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by player name">Player</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by matches played">Mat</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=runs;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by runs scored">Runs</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=batting_average;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by batting average">Bat Av</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=wickets;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by wickets taken">Wkts</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=bowling_average;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by bowling average">Bowl Av</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=allround_average;orderbyad=reverse;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by batting - bowling average">Ave Diff</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/52946.html">GS
Sobers</a> (WI)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
93<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
8032<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
57.78<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
235<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
34.03<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>23.74</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45789.html">JH
Kallis</a> (ICC/SA)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
166<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
13289<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
55.37<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
292<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
32.65<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>22.71</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/40560.html">Imran
Khan</a> (Pak)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
88<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3807<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
37.69<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
362<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
22.81<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>14.88</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/6612.html">KR
Miller</a> (Aus)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
55<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2958<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
36.97<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
170<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
22.97<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>13.99</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/46774.html">SM
Pollock</a> (SA)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
108<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3781<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
32.31<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
421<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
23.11<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>9.19</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45234.html">TL
Goddard</a> (SA)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
41<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2516<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
34.46<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
123<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
26.22<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>8.23</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/13463.html">AW
Greig</a> (Eng)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
58<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3599<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
40.43<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
141<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
32.20<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>8.23</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/56143.html">Shakib
Al Hasan</a> (Ban)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
39<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2732<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
40.17<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
142<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
33.29<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>6.88</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/9163.html">IT
Botham</a> (Eng)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
102<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
5200<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
33.54<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
383<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
28.40<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>5.14</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36597.html">CL
Cairns</a> (NZ)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
62<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3320<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
33.53<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
218<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
29.40<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>4.13</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/19376.html">W
Rhodes</a> (Eng)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
58<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2325<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
30.19<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
127<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
26.96<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>3.22</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30028.html">N
Kapil Dev</a> (India)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
131<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
5248<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
31.05<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
434<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
29.64<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>1.40</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/30939.html">MH
Mankad</a> (India)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
44<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2109<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
31.47<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
162<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
32.32<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>-0.84</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/12856.html">A
Flintoff</a> (Eng/ICC)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
79<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3845<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
31.77<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
226<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
32.78<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>-1.01</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38710.html">DL
Vettori</a> (ICC/NZ)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
113<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
4531<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
30.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
362<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
34.36<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>-4.36</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 546px;"><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table class="engineTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, Arial, 'Arial Narrow', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 630px;"><tbody>
<tr class="data2" style="text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><td class="left" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11px; padding: 1px 3px 2px; text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX4MGNjtBPzo9NkMek-yxEVvgt_sBAiwng9sMgyaXd3Td7eNNhFH3cZIKCYQLHtDoJvHgmDtl-NyKnpqYp__8o5q9tOXaOTXZu_VlkCkrRzY1ROJ9cS9IpfRn2XtpOhvStRUDIxYHAPlT/s1600/Greatest-All-Rounders-in-Crcicket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX4MGNjtBPzo9NkMek-yxEVvgt_sBAiwng9sMgyaXd3Td7eNNhFH3cZIKCYQLHtDoJvHgmDtl-NyKnpqYp__8o5q9tOXaOTXZu_VlkCkrRzY1ROJ9cS9IpfRn2XtpOhvStRUDIxYHAPlT/s200/Greatest-All-Rounders-in-Crcicket.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miller, Sobers, Kallis, Khan & Dev</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The results demonstrate what we'd expect to see, Sobers and Kallis with incredible batting averages and very solid bowling stats, with the likes of Khan and Pollock the other way round. Here are Stokes' figures at the moment:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 480px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.2pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.65pt;" valign="top" width="46">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mat<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.15pt;" valign="top" width="51">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Runs<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 45.05pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bat Av<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.1pt;" valign="top" width="52">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wkts<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 52.3pt;" valign="top" width="70">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bowl Av<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="69">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ave Diff<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 99.2pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Ben Stokes <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.65pt;" valign="top" width="46">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
10<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.15pt;" valign="top" width="51">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
648<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 45.05pt;" valign="top" width="60">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
36.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.1pt;" valign="top" width="52">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
28<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 52.3pt;" valign="top" width="70">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
40.10<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="69">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-4.10<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evidently a long way to go! But of course how can you compare him so early in his career to those more established? Have a look at their stats after 10 test matches of course:</span><br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 429px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=player;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by player name">Player</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=runs;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by runs scored">Runs</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=batting_average;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by batting average">Bat Av</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=wickets;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by wickets taken">Wkts</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=bowling_average;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by bowling average">Bowl Av</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=allround_average;orderbyad=reverse;qualmax4=40;qualmin1=100;qualmin2=2000;qualmin3=30;qualval1=wickets;qualval2=runs;qualval3=batting_average;qualval4=bowling_average;size=100;template=results;type=allround" title="sort by batting - bowling average">Ave Diff</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">GS
Sobers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
419<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
29.92<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
12<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
35<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-5.07<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">JH
Kallis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
340<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
22.66<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
11<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
30<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-7.33<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Imran
Khan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
288<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
20.57<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
37<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
33.86<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-13.29<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">SM
Pollock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
344<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
28.66<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
30<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
23.96<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
4.7<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">IT
Botham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
479<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
43.54<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
53<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
17.33<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
26.2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">N
Kapil Dev<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
510<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
42.5<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
29<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
39.06<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3.43<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">A
Flintoff <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
255<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
15.93<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
7<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
66.42<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
-50.49<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can we learn from this? The same as with a lot of statistics, especially with such a small quantity of data to look, they're meaningless. Stokes' career could go either way.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A side note is that if we simply look at the difference between batting & bowling averages then it becomes clear who the real best all-rounders are in history:</span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 441px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><u><b>Player</b><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><span style="color: black;">Mat</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><span style="color: black;">Runs</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u>Bat Av<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u>Wkts<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u>Bowl Av<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><b><u>Ave Diff</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/4188.html">DG
Bradman</a> (Aus)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
52<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
6996<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
99.94<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
36.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>63.94</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11728.html">AN
Cook</a> (Eng)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
113<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
8869<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
46.67<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
7.00<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="top">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>39.67</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzydWs-dAXLYk5-YEWE1gAi5X0zneapxRMhbxFInXc5sgPa_znDobwaJpaOrRWLJZYgFTQSf1Ows912PuvN0ZHVozHdI-rHS8XdbAZztZIVGbKk82Tq2ZhFXctZXoXcXO2cuoGeyD9cOLn/s1600/Alastair+Cook+Don+Bradman+test+cricket+batsmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzydWs-dAXLYk5-YEWE1gAi5X0zneapxRMhbxFInXc5sgPa_znDobwaJpaOrRWLJZYgFTQSf1Ows912PuvN0ZHVozHdI-rHS8XdbAZztZIVGbKk82Tq2ZhFXctZXoXcXO2cuoGeyD9cOLn/s200/Alastair+Cook+Don+Bradman+test+cricket+batsmen.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statistically the best two all-rounders <br />in all of test cricket history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-26148114658843376552015-04-03T23:05:00.000+01:002015-04-03T23:10:21.167+01:00The Neverending Story (Or the emotional rollercoaster of being an English sports fan)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65mXJ_jdQedIjKK77CfTL5Oy5pFDZh-hiJ9kJs5tD-D4zRA4AXLo8ElTcbwP0Ibxmu17FOEpNvmNdmosdhwAwYcVKE1w2Cc4EZaDpzmJftrJPfiFbuELOm2N_dYFzmB4Enzqg2OgoE9O3/s1600/the-shawshank-redemption-5223c8231afe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65mXJ_jdQedIjKK77CfTL5Oy5pFDZh-hiJ9kJs5tD-D4zRA4AXLo8ElTcbwP0Ibxmu17FOEpNvmNdmosdhwAwYcVKE1w2Cc4EZaDpzmJftrJPfiFbuELOm2N_dYFzmB4Enzqg2OgoE9O3/s1600/the-shawshank-redemption-5223c8231afe1.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An inspiring tale of adversity<br />
and ultimately, Redemption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all want a good movie to have a few ups and downs, plot twists and to put the us through a range of emotions. We want to be engaged and affected by the characters, to feel disconsolate and despairing because of their troubles, inspired and encouraged by their fortitude, and ultimately uplifted and contented by their triumphs. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We want to feel like they've earned the happy ending, they've demonstrated enough vivacity and vigour to warrant our affections. We want to see them grow and develop as time progresses, overcome frailties and conquer obstacles. We accept their mistakes and lapses in judgement, we endure the frustrations and we retain a glimmer of hope regardless of the dire circumstance. Overall, we want some kind of satisfactory conclusion, ideally a famous and emphatic victory.<br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedMd21Nfncfo3719L6VHPADECy9L6837ts71oNLIrY5XeN2anoyx6PfYjdfyXh9QJ_8BuKRnP5a7t-CWGoUkCh70wJgnKHV355GebUxZioKeMcB-7l0aFbGZeMHEBU1B1B_FXK326fhu-/s1600/Beckham+England+Argentina+2002+World+Cup+penalty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedMd21Nfncfo3719L6VHPADECy9L6837ts71oNLIrY5XeN2anoyx6PfYjdfyXh9QJ_8BuKRnP5a7t-CWGoUkCh70wJgnKHV355GebUxZioKeMcB-7l0aFbGZeMHEBU1B1B_FXK326fhu-/s1600/Beckham+England+Argentina+2002+World+Cup+penalty.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beckham's England career - the ultimate<br />
footballing redemption story</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it not the same with the saga of supporting a national sports team? The players and managers, wins and losses, injuries and suspensions, qualification and seemingly inevitable elimination, the undying hope of ultimate success? Teams show growth and development, promise and aspirations, they suffer disappointments and under-achievements, they demonstrate great skill and physicality before lapsing into old habits and insipid performances. Forever our teams seem to be showing encouraging signs, in a period of rebuilding and looking to the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can it be with a constant turnover of personnel involved there is no significant change in the relentless cycle each of our major international teams follow? It's like a Bond movie, the characters are different each time and the events vary slightly but ultimately the same basic things happen. The only difference is Bond always come out winning. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f9xSEOs65PZxzLolu39OxHwxfE-99X-3PaeUBH3TAFKIjfR0e8HnSfP3zePT3bHxTHbxZDfOLOCtB7OAdHWZ06N3PJNDWJ6KtvApMyrGKGAjbJFOYuDto1l5Joihuf4WJ5FLHbtUn2CC/s1600/English+football+England+crying+disappointment+Gazza+Ince+Seaman+Terry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f9xSEOs65PZxzLolu39OxHwxfE-99X-3PaeUBH3TAFKIjfR0e8HnSfP3zePT3bHxTHbxZDfOLOCtB7OAdHWZ06N3PJNDWJ6KtvApMyrGKGAjbJFOYuDto1l5Joihuf4WJ5FLHbtUn2CC/s1600/English+football+England+crying+disappointment+Gazza+Ince+Seaman+Terry.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've all known a bit too <br />
much of this in the last 25 years</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's look at the football team and our endless pattern of:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a) promising major tournament qualification campaign with new players involved and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32141469" target="_blank">a building sense of hope</a> and expectation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b) a few poor performances & results in friendlies against major nations to keep our feet on the ground</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c) some kind of drama / media storm in the months before the tournament itself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d) an ultimately <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27935803" target="_blank">disappointing tournament</a> with "wholesale changes needed"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e) back to the start, rebuilding, getting rid of dead wood and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27951271" target="_blank">bringing in new faces</a> to refresh the whole cycle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYuismzx0K2_OjrfQlf0_MHJuEfWl7kLyhiZsr9nHDoVHJm6jssydOmN0MwDLYgh9SgOQy6KX2aPgQJYBuyVrK10l3QlFR7puJ5cfEHiCfZjKR45FIm3sYupce2bngEtZ8AOQxEWWAj2/s1600/England+Youth+Kane+Sterling+Barkley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYuismzx0K2_OjrfQlf0_MHJuEfWl7kLyhiZsr9nHDoVHJm6jssydOmN0MwDLYgh9SgOQy6KX2aPgQJYBuyVrK10l3QlFR7puJ5cfEHiCfZjKR45FIm3sYupce2bngEtZ8AOQxEWWAj2/s1600/England+Youth+Kane+Sterling+Barkley.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is that our young players, initially showing so much promise and excitement, rarely become anything spectacular. Over the last 20 years there has been 13 English winners of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Young_Player_of_the_Year#Winners" target="_blank">Young Player of the Year</a> award but just 7 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Players%27_Player_of_the_Year#Winners" target="_blank">Player of the Year</a> awards. Only Gerrard and Rooney have won the Young Player and gone onto win the main one. Even worse, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FWA_Footballer_of_the_Year#Winners" target="_blank">Football Writers award</a> has gone to just 5 Englishmen in 20 years. The issue of an increasing influx of foreigners is for another time, but the lack of development from promising youngster to world-class talent is sadly reflected by our national team never quite making the step up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />The table shows our </span><a href="http://www.englandfootballonline.com/teamrank/rankfifa.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">FIFA world ranking</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> since 1992. I nearly used the word "progress" but evidently that's not really suitable. What it does show is that with all the ups and downs in rankings, we should have done better than one semi-final in the last 25 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Yp4zNHY0VjnS7Vkx7FCoNAKu7fwB-ljLmrZcXGW9ANyUl35lMqaDDEC2QTDtufEG7fC_mmDuexmHramM3iOgyneQRyy-gn3MLHZl9jr0haCXWSgR07cKzGrsan0BhDFS-Z1jYm-if-Im/s1600/England+football+ranking+progress.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Yp4zNHY0VjnS7Vkx7FCoNAKu7fwB-ljLmrZcXGW9ANyUl35lMqaDDEC2QTDtufEG7fC_mmDuexmHramM3iOgyneQRyy-gn3MLHZl9jr0haCXWSgR07cKzGrsan0BhDFS-Z1jYm-if-Im/s1600/England+football+ranking+progress.png" height="123" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following the cricket or rugby teams is hardly much better. The rugby team have of course known some recent success with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the World Cup in 2003 and some 6 Nations wins but when you see the coach describe your team as "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32005004" target="_blank">courageous</a>" you know there's something wrong. Similar to how Scotland are repeatedly described as brave without ever improving, we have now come runner up 4 years in a row and are apparently still a young team maturing and building towards the world cup. Rarely do you hear a blunt opinion such as that of the RFU Chief Exec who is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32035225" target="_blank">demanding higher standards</a>. With less range of teams to compete against there is more consistency in terms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:England_IRB_World_Rankings.png" target="_blank">rankings</a> but the same cycle of hope and disappointment goes on here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't bring myself to write about the cricket team at the moment, and I don't think series <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32105812" target="_blank">against New Zealand and Australia</a> this summer are going to help much.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-55072753130637212002014-09-24T23:12:00.000+01:002014-09-24T23:12:03.829+01:00NFL Week 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Week 3 saw the last round of fixtures with all 32 teams playing. This coming week there are 6 teams (Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks) with a week off. It happens to include 4 of the strongest teams in the entire league (sorry Rams & Browns, I didn't mean you) so the rest need to make the most of the chance to get wins on the board and add pressure to the big guns. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's have a quick review of some of the big games from <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2014/REG3" target="_blank">Week 3</a>:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrOsOBrejeQryUdxC6rJzYzVPW3QCZT6rM2tB_roOp8zV2WrlJ4GOrDNuaJTReu869hh0U9hh1X-jqm9lCHVKVhuRYvvFGitKHIynyVyKP0VKw2B-_KORapYb89xLNPZ7z5Mn6Jnkf2aX/s1600/Denver+Broncos+Seattle+Seahawks+Russell+Wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrOsOBrejeQryUdxC6rJzYzVPW3QCZT6rM2tB_roOp8zV2WrlJ4GOrDNuaJTReu869hh0U9hh1X-jqm9lCHVKVhuRYvvFGitKHIynyVyKP0VKw2B-_KORapYb89xLNPZ7z5Mn6Jnkf2aX/s1600/Denver+Broncos+Seattle+Seahawks+Russell+Wilson.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russell Wilson destroyed Denver <br />with his feet in overtime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Seattle Seahawks <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014092112/2014/REG3/broncos@seahawks?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000399512" target="_blank">26-20</a> Denver Broncos</b> (overtime)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another dominant defensive display from Seattle looked to be leading them to a convincing win in the Superbowl rematch until a late rally from Denver took the game into overtime. A safety (when a team is tackled in their own endzone), followed by a first </span><a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/larrystone/2024598678_stoneseahawks22xml.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Russell Wilson interception</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in about 3 million attempts and suddenly momentum was with the Broncos. An incredible drive led by Peyton Manning resulted in a touchdown, two point conversion and overtime. The Seahawks then won the toss, drove all the way down the field and scored the "golden goal" touchdown to extinguish the Broncos' hopes of revenge. That might have to wait until </span><a href="http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/49" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">1st February 2015</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carolina Panthers <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014092113/2014/REG3/steelers@panthers?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000398824" target="_blank">19-37</a> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pittsburgh Steelers</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big away win for the impressive Pittsburgh Steelers. Carolina are widely accepted as having one of the best defenses in the league but the combined running of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000399883/article/leveon-bell-now-nfls-best-ladainian-tomlinson-says" target="_blank">Le'Veon Bell</a> and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/legarretteblount/497149/profile" target="_blank">LeGarrette Blount</a> trampled all over them. After a very disappointing loss against the Ravens in Week 2, suddenly you have to consider the Steelers as genuine AFC contenders. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe29zf3rZFX5BRecCXLeM_nrBteE6YF61vUFsKMXWgWN9dJviMjCr5JCvFAk3DkovHjAsbgtDIpxM2MuTHSnr3RTb-3JQIHmVX01zG6GV24iSMuH1x7UGKGZkbCfkiToolSTCEBWlUnC3/s1600/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+Blake+Bortles+Jacksonville+Jaguars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe29zf3rZFX5BRecCXLeM_nrBteE6YF61vUFsKMXWgWN9dJviMjCr5JCvFAk3DkovHjAsbgtDIpxM2MuTHSnr3RTb-3JQIHmVX01zG6GV24iSMuH1x7UGKGZkbCfkiToolSTCEBWlUnC3/s1600/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+Blake+Bortles+Jacksonville+Jaguars.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bortles vs Luck could be a rivalry <br />for years to come<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Jacksonville Jaguars <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014092104/2014/REG3/colts@jaguars?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000398474" target="_blank">17-44</a> Indianapolis Colts</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A thumping win for the Colts to get them off the mark this season, after defeats in their first two matches. London's adopted team Jacksonville are in all sorts of trouble this year. Already 0-3, it isn't going to get any better this Sunday away at the Chargers (who beat Seattle last week). The one bright spot is the introduction of Blake Bortles who will now be the starting quarterback, and a positive step towards the future of the franchise. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Arizona Cardinals <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014092110/2014/REG3/49ers@cardinals?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000398698" target="_blank">23-14</a> San Francisco 49ers</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ultra-high quality <a href="http://www.nfl.com/standings" target="_blank">NFC West</a> took another interesting turn as the less fancied Cardinals moved to 3-0. The 49ers have been to the NFC Championship game for the last 3 seasons but face a real challenge to even reach the playoffs in such a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">competitive</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> division. Going on the assumption that Seattle pull through to win the division, it's not going to be possible for both Arizona and SF to take a wildcard. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu0-46_1PeLN-HfLcba0N7yv0amP3uOs8XkQPZOpQgy9dQgQw_HqfsfgHogVrq1RA6TwtRZ-xZDEQQKGoygHBX5tF6ruSV7-zbZFkOBzCmTRRGwDNDjDsLkNzvUFAMdS_1XIRkeDcUP1Y/s1600/Philadelphia+Eagles+Washington+Redskins+DeSean+Jackson+Nick+Foles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu0-46_1PeLN-HfLcba0N7yv0amP3uOs8XkQPZOpQgy9dQgQw_HqfsfgHogVrq1RA6TwtRZ-xZDEQQKGoygHBX5tF6ruSV7-zbZFkOBzCmTRRGwDNDjDsLkNzvUFAMdS_1XIRkeDcUP1Y/s1600/Philadelphia+Eagles+Washington+Redskins+DeSean+Jackson+Nick+Foles.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High scoring clash in the NFC East</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Philadelphia Eagles <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014092108/2014/REG3/redskins@eagles?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000398701" target="_blank">37-34</a> Washington Redskins</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Eagles are definitely the team to watch for entertainment value if nothing else. Nick Foles certainly knows how to throw a pass and with McCoy and Sproles running the ball, they basically aim to simply outscore their opponents however many points that means. The Redskins put up a great show, with <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000397732/article/desean-jackson-shoves-eagles-safety-in-philly-return" target="_blank">DeSean Jackson</a> unable to get the win against his old team, but Philly just have too many weapons. Could be a very dangerous team come playoff time. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rest of the results from Week 3:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeXFhy5xEzIWPmJIpjMvmlCAQHgVZGmhhAjU7GMmhD43Xvhyphenhyphen_xVm-rc-Ea0oglDz090NoYkoheWT-UxQP5gbF2UpsbbZlnyD3qvcWTL14sax8Wo8DW_kOlFcEXKFMRGLxeCtJC1PPv3xS/s1600/Cincinnati+Bengals+Andy+Dalton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeXFhy5xEzIWPmJIpjMvmlCAQHgVZGmhhAjU7GMmhD43Xvhyphenhyphen_xVm-rc-Ea0oglDz090NoYkoheWT-UxQP5gbF2UpsbbZlnyD3qvcWTL14sax8Wo8DW_kOlFcEXKFMRGLxeCtJC1PPv3xS/s1600/Cincinnati+Bengals+Andy+Dalton.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bengals may be a team to watch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chicago
Bears 27-17 New York Jets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Buffalo
Bills 10-22 San Diego Chargers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cincinnati
Bengals 33-7 Tennessee Titans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cleveland
Browns 21-23 Baltimore Ravens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Detroit
Lions 19-7 Green Bay Packers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Miami
Dolphins 15-34 Kansas City Chiefs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">New England
Patriots 16-9 Oakland Raiders<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">New Orleans
Saints 20-9 Minnesota Vikings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">New York
Giants 30-17 Houston Texans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">St Louis
Rams 31-34 Dallas Cowboys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Atlanta
Falcons 56-14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking at <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2014/REG4" target="_blank">Week 4</a>, there are obviously less matches but a few tasty clashes in store still. The Eagles have a chance to show they're genuine <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000399508/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-4-bengals-at-no-1-packers-slip" target="_blank">contenders</a> when they travel to San Francisco; the Packers and the Bears came into the season with high hopes but have both been somewhat underwhelming - they clash in Chicago. The Bucs were <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091800/2014/REG3/buccaneers@falcons#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo" target="_blank">slaughtered in Atlanta</a> (trailing 56-0 at one point) and next travel to a reinvigorated Pittsburgh, that could get messy.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-49445486037603647632014-09-18T10:58:00.001+01:002014-09-18T10:58:40.704+01:00NFL Week 2 Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2014/REG2" target="_blank">week completed</a> and another mixture of comebacks, upsets and massive performances in the NFL. However early it is, there are worrying signs for expected playoff contenders New Orleans, Indianapolis and San Francisco. The Patriots, Bears and Packers returned to form after disappointing performances in the opening weekend, and will hope to get some real form going in Week 3. And the likes of Jacksonville and Oakland are living up to the dismal pre-season expectations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Here are a few big match reviews, along with the rest of the scores (home team listed first):<br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OFjYZmQHHhx8I0qi6JF9UJPQZkNW6boV90JEdEF80CQu_cNLgLTO7_mg-9VPDkDe-rany9Rwis2HpHRjf5TsRsFEaEmjBDzN1mzetr37l58tiRPCidxMKtlJhhBJ8YOgV84StxrvE8XW/s1600/Antonio+Gates+Seahawks+Chargers+Legion+of+Boom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OFjYZmQHHhx8I0qi6JF9UJPQZkNW6boV90JEdEF80CQu_cNLgLTO7_mg-9VPDkDe-rany9Rwis2HpHRjf5TsRsFEaEmjBDzN1mzetr37l58tiRPCidxMKtlJhhBJ8YOgV84StxrvE8XW/s1600/Antonio+Gates+Seahawks+Chargers+Legion+of+Boom.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>San Diego Chargers <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091408/2014/REG2/seahawks@chargers?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000396392" target="_blank">30-21</a> Seattle Seahawks</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big upset with the mighty Seahawks defense unable to shut down the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000394817/article/chargers-pull-off-perfect-game-in-win-over-seahawks" target="_blank">Philip Rivers / Antonio Gates</a> combination, which hooked up for 3 touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch was strangely underused and Russell Wilson couldn't quite get enough going to pull the Superbowl champions through. A glimmer of hope for the NFC West rivals Arizona (2-0) and San Francisco (1-1). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chicago Bears <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091413/2014/REG2/bears@49ers?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000395121" target="_blank">28-20</a> San Francisco 49ers</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another surprising result, another hat-trick of touchdowns for the home team (this time <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091413/2014/REG2/bears@49ers#tab=recap&recap=fullstory&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000395121" target="_blank">Brandon Marshall</a>) and another big comeback. The 49ers led 17-0 and 20-7 but fell apart in the 4th quarter, with <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000395150/article/colin-kaepernick-calls-play-terrible-in-49ers-collapse" target="_blank">Colin Kaepernick</a> in particular putting in a dismal performance. Jay Cutler and the Bears have a strong offensive unit but any team hoping to make it to the latter stages of January will have to avoid such frailty.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0chKd2i8OmD4UcfqajESXfbyvc9uV0qUY7qOWHKhco8euGaS6abcc0kTlRg5Gsvy49zyKUpvbVLuFeFUwbEVmj0zmGdoRJJBu7elbX3qGA21Pmfo3l8zqTRBHAQM9J2O8u6sWlaB3Rsa5/s1600/Adrian+Peterson+Minnesota+Vikings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0chKd2i8OmD4UcfqajESXfbyvc9uV0qUY7qOWHKhco8euGaS6abcc0kTlRg5Gsvy49zyKUpvbVLuFeFUwbEVmj0zmGdoRJJBu7elbX3qGA21Pmfo3l8zqTRBHAQM9J2O8u6sWlaB3Rsa5/s1600/Adrian+Peterson+Minnesota+Vikings.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Minnesota Vikings <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091404/2014/REG2/patriots@vikings?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap" target="_blank">7-30</a> New England Patriots</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Pats had suffered a surprise loss in Miami last week so a trip to Minnesota presented a genuine danger of falling 0-2 for the first time since 2001. The Vikings had thrashed the Rams away from home on the opening weekend but went into this fixture in turmoil with Adrian Peterson (the NFL's best running back) <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/american-football/29235474" target="_blank">arrested for child abuse</a>. The added pressure on quarterback Matt Cassell led to 4 interceptions and a thumping win for Tom Brady and his team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Denver Broncos <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014091410/2014/REG2/chiefs@broncos?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap" target="_blank">24-17</a> Kansas City Chiefs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000395698/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-chargers-soar-seahawks-tumble" target="_blank">top-ranked team</a> in the league (with the Seahawks slipping) would have expected to maul their <a href="http://www.nfl.com/standings" target="_blank">AFC West</a> rivals but in the end had to resist a late rally just to secure a one score win. Despite the absence of Jamaal Charles, Kansas City threatened the Broncos all the way to the death but just couldn't get it done.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVCPJ8VyeEvazHpv6w9EsY3RCe_NOgWBUeLoAAqyNdDIlniull05JZss1206srTZQK9cFTAS03SroztdtbqIxfpP5BBlU6f9lRkZgzQ4J-4yZdKsmjTZ0tn1Nulaw89wYPVt4eIC3-R9F/s1600/Robert+Griffin+3+III+injured+ankle+Redskins+Jaguars+career.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVCPJ8VyeEvazHpv6w9EsY3RCe_NOgWBUeLoAAqyNdDIlniull05JZss1206srTZQK9cFTAS03SroztdtbqIxfpP5BBlU6f9lRkZgzQ4J-4yZdKsmjTZ0tn1Nulaw89wYPVt4eIC3-R9F/s1600/Robert+Griffin+3+III+injured+ankle+Redskins+Jaguars+career.jpg" height="164" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other notable matches included the Colts throwing away a golden position against a fearsome Eagles offense, the league's best defensive player, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/houston-texans/post/_/id/7528/watts-touchdown-wasnt-a-trick-play" target="_blank">JJ Watt, scoring a touchdown</a> on offense for Houston and a crushing win for the Redskins potentially signalling the beginning of the end for iconic but <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2014/09/16/trade-value-of-robert-griffin-iii-still-significant-amid-uncertain-future-with-washington-redskins/" target="_blank">injured RG3</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Here is a list of the remaining results:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Indianapolis Colts 27-30 Philadelphia Eagles</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Buffalo Bills 29-10 Miami Dolphins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Carolina Panthers 24-7 Detroit Lions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cincinnati Bengals 24-10 Atlanta Falcons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cleveland Browns 26-24 New Orleans Saints<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Green Bay Packers 31-24 New York Jets</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">New York Giants 14-25 Arizona Cardinals</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oakland Raiders 14-30 Houston Texans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-19 St Louis Rams</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tennessee Titans 10-26 Dallas Cowboys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Washington Redskins 41-10 Jacksonville Jaguars</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Baltimore Ravens 26-6 Pittsburgh Steelers</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heading into week 3, the last week before bye weeks begin (6 teams don't play a match in week 4), the big match ups are Broncos-Seahawks in a Superbowl rematch in Seattle, the Patriots likely to decimate the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000395140/article/charles-woodson-on-oakland-raiders-we-suck" target="_blank">utterly dreadful Raiders</a> and 0-2 Colts going to divisional rivals (and also 0-2) Jaguars, who are surely only a loss or two away from <a href="http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2014/9/17/6328981/starting-blake-bortles-jaguars-vs-colts" target="_blank">starting Blake Bortles</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-42890260467864845162014-09-10T00:04:00.002+01:002014-09-10T00:06:19.664+01:00NFL Week 1 Summary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvMwSgCg298fXCaRzCl56cw-1PSbbGO1kic1H7em_py2828HGtRCTF7YG8VnVkc2A2O2zCsP2sxX0f847roFuCKChHeTLsvqw0ujONePMCbe76JzuVPYo-g2ppriuFyhz9-K-mD8xRw8q/s1600/Calvin+Johnson+Matthew+Stafford+Lions+Giants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvMwSgCg298fXCaRzCl56cw-1PSbbGO1kic1H7em_py2828HGtRCTF7YG8VnVkc2A2O2zCsP2sxX0f847roFuCKChHeTLsvqw0ujONePMCbe76JzuVPYo-g2ppriuFyhz9-K-mD8xRw8q/s1600/Calvin+Johnson+Matthew+Stafford+Lions+Giants.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could Megatron break his own<br />
single season receiving yards record?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Week 1 of the NFL 2014 season coming to an end, we can a have quick review of the opening round of fixtures. There were standout and expected performances from big names such as <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000391863/article/matthew-stafford-shows-efficiency-in-lions-offense" target="_blank">Calvin Johnson</a>, Marshawn Lynch, AJ Green and Peyton Manning. The teams expected to challenge for the Superbowl generally looked strong, particularly the Seahawks and Broncos. And there were a lot of last year's troubles being seen again by the likes of the Tony Romo (<a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL" target="_blank">Cowboys</a>), Eli Manning (<a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000392008/article/tom-coughlin-on-new-york-giants-psyche-grow-up" target="_blank">Giants</a>) and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000391629/article/robert-griffin-iiis-struggles-are-cause-for-concern" target="_blank">Robert Griffin III</a> (Redskins). A run down of some of the biggest games:<br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMLCiFhM45PTZ1DrQ6GyYGUV-OSSh7keWgO0ElblZhY8f1QIpDmcPgGxSWt3knILxS5XUK_mrk9Z-6zwhnJfK2uKicCBE2C3nyqE1pUBgMFr6KB-YwP7gfXsllbg_GFbO-7wH1qKMbUVb/s1600/Richard+Sherman+Seattle+Seahawks+Green+Bay+Packers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMLCiFhM45PTZ1DrQ6GyYGUV-OSSh7keWgO0ElblZhY8f1QIpDmcPgGxSWt3knILxS5XUK_mrk9Z-6zwhnJfK2uKicCBE2C3nyqE1pUBgMFr6KB-YwP7gfXsllbg_GFbO-7wH1qKMbUVb/s1600/Richard+Sherman+Seattle+Seahawks+Green+Bay+Packers.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodgers didn't attempt a single pass<br />
even remotely near Richard Sherman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Seattle Seahawks <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014090400/2014/REG1/packers@seahawks?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000389898" target="_blank">36-16</a> Green Bay Packers</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year's Superbowl champions made a massive statement, thumping a potential challenger for this year's title. Like Man City crushing Liverpool in the Premiership a couple of weeks ago it was very much a case of asserting who is boss. Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson as well as the defense looking even better than last year. Aaron Rodgers couldn't perform his magic on the toughest stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk8pa6ckqS9mLKdzJKezUFhM6L-qCswJPOplw6BDUM1zSosRc3tRQOPBJbKU8R35rzSwDjJFhlg3v83YjxkVyCbi4IDvaVnC7zK4X6CZzY0A-bbLcDOJj786hmJQaJdgA9SLy6xK0p9z1/s1600/Tom+Brady+Miami+Dolphins+loss+New+England+Patriots.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk8pa6ckqS9mLKdzJKezUFhM6L-qCswJPOplw6BDUM1zSosRc3tRQOPBJbKU8R35rzSwDjJFhlg3v83YjxkVyCbi4IDvaVnC7zK4X6CZzY0A-bbLcDOJj786hmJQaJdgA9SLy6xK0p9z1/s1600/Tom+Brady+Miami+Dolphins+loss+New+England+Patriots.jpeg" height="200" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How Tom Brady spent most <br />
of Sunday afternoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Miami Dolphins <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014090705/2014/REG1/patriots@dolphins?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000390975" target="_blank">33-20</a> New England Patriots</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year's AFC Championship finalists (like losing semi-finalists) New England hadn't lost an opening day fixture for 11 years until they were <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000390786/article/miami-dolphins-serve-notice-with-beatdown-of-patriots" target="_blank">comprehensively beaten</a> by divisional rivals Miami. Tom Brady looked a shadow of the superstar he has been and the Dolphins dominated in every aspect in the second half. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dallas Cowboys <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014090710/2014/REG1/49ers@cowboys?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000391787" target="_blank">17-28</a> San Francisco 49ers</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a lot of optimism going into this season for Dallas, with a refocused Tony Romo at quarterback and wide receiver Dez Bryant ready for a truly great season. With the 49ers defense <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000391414/article/harbaugh-on-49ers-theyve-got-titanium-in-the-spine" target="_blank">expected to struggle</a> compared to the last few years the opening 15 minutes couldn't have been more of a surprise. Fumble returns, interceptions, incomplete passes, it all went wrong for the Cowboys and in reality the score could have been a lot worse. Bryant also had to go off for dehydration which scuppered any realistic chance of a comeback. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Denver Broncos <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014090712/2014/REG1/colts@broncos?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=recap&menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000391699" target="_blank">31-24</a> Indianapolis Colts</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peyton Manning led the Broncos to a 24-0 lead with three touchdown passes to tight end Julius Thomas. With Andrew Luck throwing two interceptions before finding his groove in the second half, it was too little too late. The Colts were unable to take advantage of multiple chances to make a real game of it and showed the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000391343/article/colts-dont-have-the-roster-to-keep-pace-with-broncos" target="_blank">same frailties</a> on the offensive line and rush defense as last year.<br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfnsyAeSmIWkNalrS2YroXYQyqZZnAmMhIzaFLt0U_vZJ7uJxvVrCo7l6oxasqivvFsvF0lQWHXhelWJL7eT9YBVVhl8CKw33rMtdJWhLjqb2sNkw37l6znRMF9o56k5UPHex8i2jSi3L/s1600/JJ+Watt+Sack+Houston+Texans+Robert+Griffin+RG3+Washington+Redskins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfnsyAeSmIWkNalrS2YroXYQyqZZnAmMhIzaFLt0U_vZJ7uJxvVrCo7l6oxasqivvFsvF0lQWHXhelWJL7eT9YBVVhl8CKw33rMtdJWhLjqb2sNkw37l6znRMF9o56k5UPHex8i2jSi3L/s1600/JJ+Watt+Sack+Houston+Texans+Robert+Griffin+RG3+Washington+Redskins.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ Watt celebrating a sack on RG3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other headlines included a couple of overtime wins for the Falcons (against the Saints led by Drew Brees) and the Bills (a surprise win at the Bears with Jay Cutler misfiring and Alshon Jeffrey going off injured). Last year the Kansas City Chiefs started with a 9-0 record but started this season with a tame loss at home to the pretty weak Titans. Robert Griffin III struggled again, although admittedly up against the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000390818/article/texans-ride-dominant-watt-performance-to-opener-win" target="_blank">mighty JJ Watt</a> coming for him. It could have been worse as well if top draft pick <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000390510/article/texans-jadeveon-clowney-suffers-torn-meniscus" target="_blank">Jadeveon Clowney</a> hadn't gone off injured.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2014/REG2" target="_blank">coming week</a>, look out for Broncos slaughtering the Chiefs, Rodgers finding his mojo at home to the Jets and the Colts Eagles game on Monday night racking up 70-80 points. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-54637632017773815882014-08-31T20:24:00.001+01:002014-08-31T20:24:48.656+01:00The NFL is back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S2JVGldSPtcG_SOyKPHSLy6ypW8PvJQM3p8E1uxpJDw-d0DttqMf9EVRV_cnz-d1QYtwxA3iNPOVxYf9Cc_F8Cn0NYXUtNSN1Kz1OQb1Cly6JV3IuKevE4Ukx_Fh3D6btWxvhgyZNNLW/s1600/Wembley+NFL+Jacksonville+Jaguars+Dallas+Cowboys+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S2JVGldSPtcG_SOyKPHSLy6ypW8PvJQM3p8E1uxpJDw-d0DttqMf9EVRV_cnz-d1QYtwxA3iNPOVxYf9Cc_F8Cn0NYXUtNSN1Kz1OQb1Cly6JV3IuKevE4Ukx_Fh3D6btWxvhgyZNNLW/s1600/Wembley+NFL+Jacksonville+Jaguars+Dallas+Cowboys+2014.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last couple of years has seen a significant rise in the popularity of the NFL <a href="http://www.nfluk.com/index.html" target="_blank">in the UK</a>, particularly as a result of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/american-football/25143553" target="_blank">Wembley games</a> and decent </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">media </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">coverage (intentional pun for the serious followers). As the new season punts off this week, there are a whole range of stories to pique the curiosity of the even the most occasional fan. The first openly gay player was drafted but </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29001290" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">didn't make the final cut</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for St Louis Rams; the Seahawks are aiming to become the first team to retain the title since the '04-'05 Patriots; London's adopted team Jacksonville Jaguars have signed exciting prospect <a href="http://www.jaguars.com/team/roster/Blake-Bortles/5e2dcdf3-c5ab-4d4c-80ac-54919a747ec5" target="_blank">Blake Bortles</a> and there are a record 3 matches at Wembley this year for the UK fanbase to follow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfd3Wzhf0tqpH3cEd829l-5flRUDdimMlX-pDIisRRJzWCG3K17_SHY3B9nSF_OZjEBuWY95Oce_bfZdvM-btF50KOaRWq-Qo6delJdmLQxHKPFeRcSP3-mAqYdIEbzEgr7m_km2vEQMl/s1600/Aaron+Rodgers+Green+Bay+Packers+NFL+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfd3Wzhf0tqpH3cEd829l-5flRUDdimMlX-pDIisRRJzWCG3K17_SHY3B9nSF_OZjEBuWY95Oce_bfZdvM-btF50KOaRWq-Qo6delJdmLQxHKPFeRcSP3-mAqYdIEbzEgr7m_km2vEQMl/s1600/Aaron+Rodgers+Green+Bay+Packers+NFL+2014.jpg" height="106" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bet for this season's <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000384349/article/2014-nfl-award-predictions-mvp-rookie-of-the-year-and-more" target="_blank">MVP</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Thursday night sees a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2014/REG1" target="_blank">blockbuster beginning</a> to the 2014 NFL season with the reigning Superbowl champions Seattle hosting many people's <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000385858/article/around-the-nfls-final-four-super-bowl-predictions" target="_blank">outside pick</a> for the title, the Green Bay Packers. Much like the championship game in February, this year's opener will be a clash of the best defense (Seattle) against one of the league's best offences. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is perhaps the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000362711/article/aaron-rodgers-tops-preseason-list-of-nfls-best-qbs" target="_blank">best player in the NFL</a> and is back after missing a lot of last season due to injury. The match is also the first clash of these two since one of the most controversial moments in recent NFL history, the so-called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Packers%E2%80%93Seahawks_officiating_controversy" target="_blank">Fail Mary</a>, when the Seahawks won on a last minute touchdown which should have been disallowed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The greatest team in the history of American Football, or indeed any sport, the Indianapolis Colts, start their season with a huge match up against the Broncos. Colts legend now in Denver, Peyton Manning, set <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyton_Manning#NFL_records" target="_blank">records</a> for passing yards and touchdowns last year, before defeat in the Superbowl and will be looking to go one better this time around. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qIB5Rh_m53vNtFJl-QfGMHOk9-iBNfoi4-DsLLoJfCwSFd2ycLv4cSyiQM-SuapdvortkIJmub-sj4prUIloneGogstyK2vo5RDlloq-Hem7Zx466WtVR44KBbvbBm0nl4_1El9pBNko/s1600/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+Kansas+City+Chief+playoffs+comeback+2013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qIB5Rh_m53vNtFJl-QfGMHOk9-iBNfoi4-DsLLoJfCwSFd2ycLv4cSyiQM-SuapdvortkIJmub-sj4prUIloneGogstyK2vo5RDlloq-Hem7Zx466WtVR44KBbvbBm0nl4_1El9pBNko/s1600/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+Kansas+City+Chief+playoffs+comeback+2013.jpeg" height="120" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time last year Indy were coming off their dramatic <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/indianapolis-colts-2012-storybook-season.html" target="_blank">2012 season</a> and looking to build on Andrew Luck's rookie year. They ultimately lost to the Patriots in the playoffs (something Colts fans are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colts%E2%80%93Patriots_rivalry" target="_blank">familiar with</a>) but did record impressive regular season victories over the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos as well as <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=340104011" target="_blank">beating the Chiefs</a> in the second highest comeback victory in NFL history. With a stronger group of wide receivers there could be more success ahead but the reality is that weak options at running back mean that a Superbowl run is unlikely this time around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who haven't got a clue when it comes to the gridiron, have a browse <a href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/sports-outdoors/football.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Some of the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/top100/2014#video=0ap2000000363838" target="_blank">best players</a> to look out for are Calvin 'Megatron' Johnson for Detroit Lions (Wide Receiver), Richard Sherman Seattle Seahawks (Cornerback), Adrian Peterson for Minnesota Vikings (Running Back), JJ Watt for Houston Texans (Defensive End). As the season develops over the next 17 weeks we'll see who else can distinguish themselves, and ultimately who is going to be competing in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLIX" target="_blank">Superbowl XLIX</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-84737462590410894502014-08-25T16:00:00.000+01:002014-08-25T16:09:05.078+01:00A Chance for Someone New?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUXa_PWsa8IsgVdfeUiGDX8hiI5mJPK3S2D1CyQBSZlXdWl9Iee-jpGRutxT5LGp0k0GGsgLZJAPJfmO0VSa_hnTtkwMQR9PyHwUm4AT_qaYp4U8fOYdEObbFzms2xNgtApOw6WnRFUSL/s1600/Raonic+Dimitrov+US+Open+Wimbledon+Federer+Djokovic+challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUXa_PWsa8IsgVdfeUiGDX8hiI5mJPK3S2D1CyQBSZlXdWl9Iee-jpGRutxT5LGp0k0GGsgLZJAPJfmO0VSa_hnTtkwMQR9PyHwUm4AT_qaYp4U8fOYdEObbFzms2xNgtApOw6WnRFUSL/s1600/Raonic+Dimitrov+US+Open+Wimbledon+Federer+Djokovic+challenge.jpg" height="115" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the US Open starting today, there has to be a chance of an outsider taking a debut Grand Slam title for the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/25893279" target="_blank">second time this year</a>. None of the usual suspects are on top form and some of the next generation such as Raonic and Dimitrov are starting to <a href="http://espn.go.com/tennis/usopen14/story/_/id/11380379/us-open-milos-raonic-grigor-dimitrov-smell-opening" target="_blank">turn potential into ability</a>. Both reached maiden Slam semi finals at Wimbledon and in the near future that may well become victories. Flushing Meadows also has a tendency to be a productive tournament for players who only win one or two in their career. Rafter, Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Del Potro and Murray all won their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Slam_men's_singles_champions#Champions_by_year" target="_blank">first major</a> in New York and none have managed more than 2 in total.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hovOkueciZvH0xeVwmh2dPiVscFF07Gm4o5vsipBntnDWwziGTMjKe4JiQJStBhu379wB_8MY1DV5xO_ouavSDtTEpY2Q4r6zuFJpj6zTETtiDcGkh1QrP0WcHqr0r8FLkJ4yEzQ9SmT/s1600/Federer+US+Open+2008+win+Murray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hovOkueciZvH0xeVwmh2dPiVscFF07Gm4o5vsipBntnDWwziGTMjKe4JiQJStBhu379wB_8MY1DV5xO_ouavSDtTEpY2Q4r6zuFJpj6zTETtiDcGkh1QrP0WcHqr0r8FLkJ4yEzQ9SmT/s1600/Federer+US+Open+2008+win+Murray.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps it's because it's later in the season and so there can be fitness issues affecting the field. The fatigue element may well have played a part in Federer failing to win since the last of his 5 consecutive titles in 2008, aged 27. He has won each of the other Slams since he last triumphed in New York, but not even reached the final here. The Swiss star's dominance coming to an end has brought about a season of the title changing hands each year. The last 6 years have produced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_Open_Men%27s_Singles_champions" target="_blank">5 different winners</a> (only Nadal x2) and no-one has defended their title from the previous year. That trend will continue again with this edition with Nadal's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/28839815" target="_blank">withdrawal</a> due to injury.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V6hZUktg61ugKfG_XGQ2QtjomR4yK0YTSIglTWDkDgEzDHZw_fovbhMffwlNHWQfHdAdkvRDVk4KEgExdQ6sJw6Pl-llU2TorTtAmwicAHQQ3FtXKJ3WMJddbG-L9luJ9R6QogAPTeT4/s1600/Nadal+injury+Australian+Open+Wawrinka+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V6hZUktg61ugKfG_XGQ2QtjomR4yK0YTSIglTWDkDgEzDHZw_fovbhMffwlNHWQfHdAdkvRDVk4KEgExdQ6sJw6Pl-llU2TorTtAmwicAHQQ3FtXKJ3WMJddbG-L9luJ9R6QogAPTeT4/s1600/Nadal+injury+Australian+Open+Wawrinka+2014.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nadal's absence means that since his Grand Slam debut aged 17 at 2003 Wimbledon, he has been missed </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal#Grand_Slam_tournament_performance_timeline" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">7 majors</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, including one in each of the last 3 years. To compare, Federer's debut was at Roland Garros 1999, also aged 17. Since then he has </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Federer#Grand_Slam_tournament_performance_timeline" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">never been absent</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, missing out only 1999 US Open main draw by losing in qualifying. Tomorrow he will appear in his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Slam_related_tennis_records#Grand_Slam_participation" target="_blank">60th consecutive Grand Slam</a>. Nadal will not overhaul Federer's record of GS titles, because his absence (and injury) record limits how many he has the chance to win. Rafa has actually only won 1 Slam outside of Roland Garros in the last 4 years and it's pretty unlikely he'll still be at the top of his game when he's 32.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj6Lxl5wxk5P-Oe99kZK_4zdaCC6eDstXPj0sIHWigR7Xa4zNVvI6mFk80hg5K6k-DRwfYseonJAG-2L7-zwysek_ocJPMWJK2G60ZkK-ejdNQgCQEeP6AXCuOgIpDsPjxDWtdRDcKvce/s1600/Federer+Djokovic+Murray+US+Open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj6Lxl5wxk5P-Oe99kZK_4zdaCC6eDstXPj0sIHWigR7Xa4zNVvI6mFk80hg5K6k-DRwfYseonJAG-2L7-zwysek_ocJPMWJK2G60ZkK-ejdNQgCQEeP6AXCuOgIpDsPjxDWtdRDcKvce/s1600/Federer+Djokovic+Murray+US+Open.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Normally you'd think that Nadal's absence would mean the title is pretty much a guarantee for Murray or Djokovic. As it happens, both have been on a fairly feeble run of form, the Scot losing in the QFs of his <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Andy-Murray.aspx?t=pa" target="_blank">last 3 tournaments</a>, the Serb in the last 16 of <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Novak-Djokovic.aspx?t=pa" target="_blank">his last 2</a>. Of course they will rise to the big occasion but in the significantly tougher side of the <a href="http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/draws/ms/msdraw.pdf" target="_blank">draw</a>, (Djokovic, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Murray, Raonic, Isner), it will take a mighty turn of form for either of them to be holding the trophy aloft in a fortnight. Federer has shown at Wimbledon that he is still in the hunt for the majors and with a relatively weak route to the final (Karlovic, Fognini, Dimitrov, Ferrer), he may well put the American drought behind him. That being said, his performance the last two years doesn't fill you with confidence if you're a Fed fan (</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013 Last 16 loss to Robredo, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 QF loss to Berdych). For once, none of the major players look like <a href="http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/5818474/Mens-US-Open---Tournament-Winner.html" target="_blank">safe bets</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hence why it might just be the time for a breakthrough from someone new...</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-69265322904362946052014-08-19T19:16:00.000+01:002014-08-19T19:16:08.966+01:00India Collapse and England Emerge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ZT0xcDwNjqmSvdXwKuzmTivlyeX2S5zv0xX2WTCVja8yYS7DHsu0vuBcA5DX5k3uRWjRoyKkRuuZsJ0dmNEuPBEyMzd-oi_H7WjdDbSJb6ijxi84ETrJJk0iwNtLGOXiDsyTAiGb1UW/s1600/Alastair+Cook+James+Anderson+England+India+2014+series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43ZT0xcDwNjqmSvdXwKuzmTivlyeX2S5zv0xX2WTCVja8yYS7DHsu0vuBcA5DX5k3uRWjRoyKkRuuZsJ0dmNEuPBEyMzd-oi_H7WjdDbSJb6ijxi84ETrJJk0iwNtLGOXiDsyTAiGb1UW/s1600/Alastair+Cook+James+Anderson+England+India+2014+series.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just under a month ago the Lords test had finished and as far a lot of people were concerned, so was Alastair Cook. Virtually every name in English cricket had been suggested as an alternative to the captain, Anderson looked like he could still get banned and India appeared to be a genuinely decent test match team.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/are-england-over-cooked.html" target="_blank">last post</a> said we had to keep faith with Cook but it was influenced by the lack of alternatives and a general principle that it's best to stick by a captain. Look <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28828321" target="_blank">where we are now</a>. Cook has proven himself both <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28829891" target="_blank">resilient and determined</a>, gritting his teeth and demonstrating exceptional self-confidence. Under immense pressure from himself as well as the press, he stood up and was counted. Three 50s in the last four innings is an ideal way to head into a massive break from test cricket, although he'll be disappointed that he couldn't get a century, especially against an increasingly dispirited and weary Indian attack, lacking genuine test-match class. Which is perhaps a fair summary of the <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=8561;team=6;type=series" target="_blank">Indian squad in general</a>...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6UWNJat5pqxEezkYGTjYW3gL2GA9f92DzleVyxA9pZwi2BwJFhGl7BPiiy64kuCFke3UtWZXctcPEeYhJ3Xl0r2SsrN9ooBovEeNZ83BqqXctQx_02S5cCj6pRBxBTAw9JAe0JbqdUHR/s1600/India+dejected+England+Oval+cricket+loss+defeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6UWNJat5pqxEezkYGTjYW3gL2GA9f92DzleVyxA9pZwi2BwJFhGl7BPiiy64kuCFke3UtWZXctcPEeYhJ3Xl0r2SsrN9ooBovEeNZ83BqqXctQx_02S5cCj6pRBxBTAw9JAe0JbqdUHR/s1600/India+dejected+England+Oval+cricket+loss+defeat.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The desperate batting displays have of course taken the headlines and will be the main focus of attention for India going forward but in truth their bowling needs serious work as well. Kumar had a great <a href="http://www.iplt20.com/teams/sunrisers-hyderabad/squad/116/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar/" target="_blank">IPL</a> and was the only bowler to be able to exploit the conditions consistently here. Although Ishant had one good session, he is pretty one-dimensional and bowls too many leave-able deliveries, only really threatening on a hard bouncy wicket or as a change-up from swing/seam bowling. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beyond these two, the likes of Binny, Pankaj and Shami offer so little sustained threat. Aaron is only young and Ashwin never had any runs to work with or a 4th innings target to defend. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The batting was undeniably abysmal, and progressively worse </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but I feel like it was more of a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-28831885" target="_blank">mental weakness and collapse</a> than a lack of talent. Pujara, Dhawan, Kohli and Rahane will still be the backbone of an Indian team which will grow and strengthen over the next few years. With a little more maturity and fortitude, a little less Twenty20-style approach, they will be challenging the best again before too long, if they can sort the bowling and bring in a few new names (watch out for Akshar Patel, Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshyDILLmGv2HddtS41a-mSie53N5sjrrmE7Cva6FG6gOwKwl9MF0NqqN4SXba1jWieflNk75mhia-w9rTMbwfj9re1LPJ0oMQ4nfq3h133ts0o0_3QegovXi4hTJdNsP4UduYLTN2Yr71/s1600/Alastair+Cook+England+India+Series+win+Investec+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshyDILLmGv2HddtS41a-mSie53N5sjrrmE7Cva6FG6gOwKwl9MF0NqqN4SXba1jWieflNk75mhia-w9rTMbwfj9re1LPJ0oMQ4nfq3h133ts0o0_3QegovXi4hTJdNsP4UduYLTN2Yr71/s1600/Alastair+Cook+England+India+Series+win+Investec+2014.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=8561;team=1;type=series" target="_blank">England</a>, the signs are of course <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28830007" target="_blank">positive</a>. Turning round a potentially dreadful summer into an ultimately victorious one will give England a massive boost before the Ashes next summer. The issue with who <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28823363" target="_blank">opens alongside Cook</a> remains, as does the reality that we are heavily reliant on Broad & Anderson in the bowling department. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28840946" target="_blank">Moeen</a> is a batsman with the potential to be a real class act and has demonstrated glimmers of becoming a quality spinner as well but both sides of his game need work to really develop into a high level all-rounder. Anyone who thinks he is a <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/gareth-batty-graeme-swann-is-irreplaceable-but-england-must-stick-with-moeen-ali-9580757.html" target="_blank">replacement for Swann</a> needs to wait until Warner, Clarke and Watson have come to tea next year. The reality is that we've been flattered somewhat by our opponents collapsing in various ways, something I can't imagine Australia or South Africa ever really doing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With India's strength, the limited overs matches, coming up straight away, it is important for England to finish the job and keep the improvements coming.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-10976785155967029372014-07-22T23:47:00.000+01:002014-07-22T23:47:38.242+01:00Are England Over-Cooked?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last five years or so of English cricket seem to have installed incredibly high expectations of our national team. We thrashed the Aussies, won in India, climbed to the top of the test rankings and became genuinely top quality. Then the signs began to appear to suggest that the foundations were a little shaky and suddenly it all collapsed spectacularly one winter down under. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzs4SfWfw4iBYtJdHexx8VJKab_VnrrHl7VAlG3OpcLIwXtkCRJf3fDHrBIN49_C1ayfJJwBdDB3pPfEPykg0vekG2huZ12_R1TPAfQrm1wi5jrZq0YDpKnApIyldi9FfXPqUr4HRQ2hm/s1600/Matt+Prior+Jos+Buttler+England+wicketkeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzs4SfWfw4iBYtJdHexx8VJKab_VnrrHl7VAlG3OpcLIwXtkCRJf3fDHrBIN49_C1ayfJJwBdDB3pPfEPykg0vekG2huZ12_R1TPAfQrm1wi5jrZq0YDpKnApIyldi9FfXPqUr4HRQ2hm/s1600/Matt+Prior+Jos+Buttler+England+wicketkeeper.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The changing of the guard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The true strength and depth of our squad has now been revealed and we're facing a period of rebuilding and struggle. In some ways we've paid the penalty of having such a successful and stable squad for years. The team of Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Prior, Bresnan, Swann, Broad, Finn, Anderson pretty much picked itself and didn't really require the blooding of young talent, particularly in the batting. Suddenly we're finding ourselves needing Robson, Ballance, Root, Moeen and now Buttler all at once. With Bell and Cook in such abysmal form, is it any wonder we've struggled against a relatively mediocre India team?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fact that we </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28404670" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">played utterly dismally</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> yet got within 100 runs of winning suggests that perhaps we're not too far from competitive but is that really what we're aiming for? After such an <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-end-of-english-era.html" target="_blank">era of success</a> a lull was inevitable but is no harder to accept. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what of the 11 men we have now? It's seemingly the end for <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28413373" target="_blank">Prior</a>, and although Buttler is not yet up to test standard, there is no real alternative. There is little point in bringing back Foster or Reed - a lot of people seem to think that decent county form will translate to test match form but these are players who have had a go at test level and were found wanting. How many times did Hick, Crawley and Ramprakash have chances for England? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what of our under-fire and under-performing captain?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-X2PX3Q3DJRDwsMU-TUX5hqtOZ-3dkwzbwBkFhU2i8yVenBcx2a_ZJHhyphenhyphen2qIj26SMHrwcI3X8AZl0Q4evhcCa-fiqZFPa6AaiZYhKEn5oNTE80BQzTUwuERK5WUHQZrPJj6XrIizTX0J_/s1600/Alastair+Cook+England+captain+india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-X2PX3Q3DJRDwsMU-TUX5hqtOZ-3dkwzbwBkFhU2i8yVenBcx2a_ZJHhyphenhyphen2qIj26SMHrwcI3X8AZl0Q4evhcCa-fiqZFPa6AaiZYhKEn5oNTE80BQzTUwuERK5WUHQZrPJj6XrIizTX0J_/s1600/Alastair+Cook+England+captain+india.jpg" height="118" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No question, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook needs a break and to find his form again but changing the captain mid-series is not the answer. Criticised for being too dull & boring with his captaincy but not praised for inventive fields in the 1st test or bowling Moeen to Jadeja when we all wanted Anderson. He is stubborn and gritty and on a dismal run of form but he is still outstandingly talented. Despite not scoring one for over a year, he still has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_England_Test_cricket_records#Most_career_hundreds" target="_blank">two more centuries</a> than any other Englishman in history. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four years ago Cook was having similar struggles (although not as captain of course). Look at his averages in the home series before he came good so spectacularly in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9236435.stm" target="_blank">Brisbane</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2009 vs Australia - 5 matches, series average 24.66</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010 vs Bangladesh - 2 matches, series average 19.66</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010 vs Pakistan - 4 matches, series average 23.85 (9.4 in the first 5 innings)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmsrrANvoGByPkjoFJI0hCCchBzjXW35rgHLd0n_rjVecm138cN1WWNAN7DlznGrgK3R_dl1_2Xb3S8IcmtUZ04B4SRy5SB_mnUjx7mkFh6g8fBAJlMw7w4EKSAhTqof0KCGcb-8ZFn01/s1600/Ashes+2010-11+Cook+Australia+England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmsrrANvoGByPkjoFJI0hCCchBzjXW35rgHLd0n_rjVecm138cN1WWNAN7DlznGrgK3R_dl1_2Xb3S8IcmtUZ04B4SRy5SB_mnUjx7mkFh6g8fBAJlMw7w4EKSAhTqof0KCGcb-8ZFn01/s1600/Ashes+2010-11+Cook+Australia+England.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to imagine scenes like these<br />again any time soon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it hadn't been for the gritty and <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/story/473527.html" target="_blank">extremely lucky century</a> then Cook would probably have been dropped and England's greatest Ashes success for years may never have come about. Take a read of <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/story/473540.html" target="_blank">this article</a> and it's hard to believe it's not written about his current situation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much like with replacing Prior, there is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/28410039" target="_blank">no viable alternative</a> to Cook, as an opener and certainly as captain. If he cannot turn things around by the end of the series then I've no doubt he will go, but for now he needs to remain grittily determined and work hard to turn things around, ideally with at least some support from the ECB, the media and the public.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-85137707514964266662014-06-11T23:05:00.003+01:002014-06-11T23:05:41.972+01:00Who's Daring to Dream?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XrRcUmQJKqRF0yMjp1fOs74Qwpv9C9iBNbWUlpHp2hxKSdYOC-L0dJSqtTWQJsLRP3eKPNotgq7-RabweD__uR3-iM3rAvtVaVxl266JX7vH-3an4-1uk9MqO225iqkbM9JT1hTCQ-8s/s1600/World+Cup+2014+Brazil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XrRcUmQJKqRF0yMjp1fOs74Qwpv9C9iBNbWUlpHp2hxKSdYOC-L0dJSqtTWQJsLRP3eKPNotgq7-RabweD__uR3-iM3rAvtVaVxl266JX7vH-3an4-1uk9MqO225iqkbM9JT1hTCQ-8s/s1600/World+Cup+2014+Brazil.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Among the many things I love about the World Cup is the huge variety of opinions, articles, talking points, disagreements and perspectives it provokes. Go on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/2014" target="_blank">any decent website</a> and there are as many different articles as you could hope to read, discussing every possible aspect of the tournament. You can read about the teams, players, previous tournaments, the infrastructure, the impact on the hosts, impact on previous hosts, basically anything.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But without doubt the best thing (possibly including the matches, that remains to be seen) is the debate (yes I mean arguments). Who's in your <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-27699398" target="_blank">All-time XI</a>, who's in your fantasy team, who will win the Golden Boot, do <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27703170" target="_blank">Messi/Ronaldo</a> need to win to be considered among the best players ever, who should start for England and how far will we get? There is virtually nothing on which you'll find yourself in complete agreement with someone else. If you do, the only thing I can recommend is you debate things a bit more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hPRankJXv-W57ZRSje2jh0a31DcxRE1SG0_CnzSomgWoEOOAnolEytNtq_TfuQVnHlCdRa0HsUPXpRZihhVslzU_x1RKuojjgFtj4J1hmE2Oj6xc843zbKDg15UC2kcGQxnIFqaz8W45/s1600/Euro+2012+England+defeat+Italy+penalties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hPRankJXv-W57ZRSje2jh0a31DcxRE1SG0_CnzSomgWoEOOAnolEytNtq_TfuQVnHlCdRa0HsUPXpRZihhVslzU_x1RKuojjgFtj4J1hmE2Oj6xc843zbKDg15UC2kcGQxnIFqaz8W45/s1600/Euro+2012+England+defeat+Italy+penalties.jpg" height="139" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of all the contentious issues, there is one that most clearly identifies the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27679577" target="_blank">optimists, pessimists, realists and idiots</a>. How will England do? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of years ago I wrote <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/english-football-substance-over-style.html" target="_blank">a post</a> about England's chances going into Euro 2012. Before the tournament, there was a genuine sense of realism about the England football team and our chances in such a way that there was <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/why-arent-we-that-disappointed.html" target="_blank">no huge feeling of devastation</a> when Diamanti tucked home the decisive penalty. Winning the group failed to inspire any genuine hope and rightly so given the insipid performance produced against the Italians.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUtlv4SOOtDDjtg-pg5BkFM4rJADJYJGrT7HYsliDFqZ74AO6bSqeJMlGlVh3_utnCNz7Lkc47GMCe5HXt6zb8UMQwzj2y8WYtTUtGC8onVEvDnNuuDKpBj6oFZ1Vx1qJY0cpj1XcVV6r/s1600/Young+England+talent+exciting+World+Cup+2014+Brazil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUtlv4SOOtDDjtg-pg5BkFM4rJADJYJGrT7HYsliDFqZ74AO6bSqeJMlGlVh3_utnCNz7Lkc47GMCe5HXt6zb8UMQwzj2y8WYtTUtGC8onVEvDnNuuDKpBj6oFZ1Vx1qJY0cpj1XcVV6r/s1600/Young+England+talent+exciting+World+Cup+2014+Brazil.jpg" height="124" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So with it all kicking off on Thursday evening, how are we feeling this time around? There's a certain satisfying symmetry with England starting where they left off in the Euros, aiming to avenge that defeat and put right the dour and lacklustre style of play from 2 years ago. Lots has been made of the exciting young talents of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Lallana and Barkley but whether they're quite enough to inspire blind optimism in a naturally wary nation remains to be seen. Surely it will be the same old story. Surely warm up draws against the might of Ecuador and Honduras tell us all we need to know. Surely...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't help myself, I'm going to put it out there that by 1am on Sunday morning, there'll be the faintest of glints in the eye of even the most cynical of England fans. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-88388308557675014602014-03-05T23:53:00.000+00:002014-03-05T23:54:50.918+00:00Testing Times for England and South Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interesting times in the cricketing world. A year and a half ago I wrote a piece about the <a href="http://samhopwood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-end-of-english-era.html" target="_blank">end of an era</a> as Strauss retired from international cricket and handed the reigns over to Alistair Cook. In truth, it was more of a stage 2 in the Andy Flower era, with the majority of the team remaining the same and a similar feel about the whole set up. The last couple of months however are a totally different kettle of fish. The unceremonious <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26040475" target="_blank">dumping of Kevin Pietersen</a>, the withdrawal of Jonathan Trott, utter collapse in </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDMxRCh0jiNXiMfNhexxTJgwKUKwlZMC8yyI6fc2tG0DNbnmSb-UWU_ZmHKd4-ZoiUi8_3DFC7_SMnTQKNHUelvZGWcXIINCUILsVNATKqf7pdL4G4eBIZQtnriXICdxjSeEbiHxmlp_Z/s1600/Andy+Flower+England+ECB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDMxRCh0jiNXiMfNhexxTJgwKUKwlZMC8yyI6fc2tG0DNbnmSb-UWU_ZmHKd4-ZoiUi8_3DFC7_SMnTQKNHUelvZGWcXIINCUILsVNATKqf7pdL4G4eBIZQtnriXICdxjSeEbiHxmlp_Z/s1600/Andy+Flower+England+ECB.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">form of Steven Finn and Matt Prior and sudden retirement of Graeme Swann left an England squad in tatters. Coming off the back of a successful series might have meant you could buy time and put things together again slowly. However, as it was it was unquestionably the most embarrassing and dismal tour in English history, wholesale changes were inevitable - including the departure (or at least slight shuffling) of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25988203" target="_blank">Flower</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A brief limited overs tour against an equally dismal West Indies won't do much in terms of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26360958" target="_blank">rebuilding</a> for the test arena, but it's a start at least. Getting <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26459699" target="_blank">a couple of wins</a> (however unconvincing) is positive and certainly there are good signs from Broad and Root in particular. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxfElMrhCJQBYCeYs1En8edXNW3B87OFtcMhTKR2hW3yvXlqjpE18mD9GHdJR9Gm_ZnhK3HcglkjjxjEi0b8vxw9Ok-nLmM6MHx6AY1I-m2iHjZkfO7Mp8QqGPi1Y2D-tDCHBtb1kXs2u/s1600/Jos+Buttler+James+Taylor+England+youth+cricket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxfElMrhCJQBYCeYs1En8edXNW3B87OFtcMhTKR2hW3yvXlqjpE18mD9GHdJR9Gm_ZnhK3HcglkjjxjEi0b8vxw9Ok-nLmM6MHx6AY1I-m2iHjZkfO7Mp8QqGPi1Y2D-tDCHBtb1kXs2u/s1600/Jos+Buttler+James+Taylor+England+youth+cricket.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttler and Taylor could have big<br />
roles for England in the coming years</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is that teams go through phases, and no side ever remains on top indefinitely. The Aussies dominated world cricket throughout the 2000s, but then became decidedly mediocre and are only coming out of that slump now (although they're doing it spectacularly!) England have had a real good run of it over the last 5 years or so, and it looks like a bit of spell on the sidelines. As a fan it's hard to take but accepting the reality of blooding youngsters and letting faithful servants go is necessary for having genuine success again in the future. It's only a shame that we had to be murdered down under to shock them into realising it. A big series against a young and confident India team this summer could be fascinating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuPhV9Nb2Mw6lDSpukRS18g-1WydqfhK3Bu5AB4iSi-pu8YiZHmY41TKR0mx8Sg7sLd8CqEaMDvGt9RHOjh1v1O_ii4olDxzxs1zn94zuyGsM1lZFZUWm_PpqCXXbSEvgzYUKhr3FyrtB/s1600/Jacques+Kallis+Graeme+Smith+South+Africa+cricket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuPhV9Nb2Mw6lDSpukRS18g-1WydqfhK3Bu5AB4iSi-pu8YiZHmY41TKR0mx8Sg7sLd8CqEaMDvGt9RHOjh1v1O_ii4olDxzxs1zn94zuyGsM1lZFZUWm_PpqCXXbSEvgzYUKhr3FyrtB/s1600/Jacques+Kallis+Graeme+Smith+South+Africa+cricket.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other major storyline in world cricket at the moment is the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26433671" target="_blank">retirement of Graeme Smith</a>. One of the mainstays of the last 10 years is going to leave an almighty hole in the South African set up. Following so quickly on the heels of the departure of Jacques Kallis, one of the greatest players in history, is going to make it extremely difficult for them to stay on <a href="http://www.icc-cricket.com/team-rankings/test" target="_blank">top of the test rankings</a>. A home defeat to Australia is their first series loss for 5 years and could spell a slipping in their domination of the test arena. They still have top class players such as Amla, De Villiers, Steyn and Philander but no team can lose <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47270.html" target="_blank">Smith</a> & <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45789.html" target="_blank">Kallis</a> and not feel the ill effects of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incidentally, I don't really think that fact that Australia have gone to South Africa and won adds any level of consolation to our humiliation. Perhaps a small amount of perspective and vindication that this is a genuinely strong Aussie team, but the reality is that England played dreadfully and with no pride or fight. Hopefully those days are behind us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Cricinfo provides a fantastic page showing the <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/match/fixtures_futures.html" target="_blank">upcoming series</a> of all the international teams. </i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-51781992104832705552014-02-09T19:11:00.001+00:002014-02-09T19:11:46.773+00:00Six Nations, Three Big Wins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There can scarcely have been such <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/six-nations/results" target="_blank">round of a one-sided matches</a> in the history of the Six Nations. The fierce rivalries, close contests and rich histories seemingly never fail to produce at least one tense or dramatic clash each weekend of this fascinating tournament. And yet this weekend will hardly go down in history as one of chewed nails, worn nerves and well used seat-edges. The brilliance of the competition is that it there is still so much to look at and analyse, and that the final outcome is not really any clearer than this time last week. Let's look game by game and where the results leave its respective combatants.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AGcsYX_Mbg5BgLlx7LGP9uobzhRolSP8-P909piIMJx0ijXBveE2Xb2XWwfR_M8_RMLu5o4JgFm1iiMBIsHXO3pBf0OnZwEzVrOBjJ3pvtavssNL92q0lukEtOWrHdl5jfj6tu9AEGqW/s1600/Ireland+Wales+Paddy+Jackson+Six+Nations+rugby+try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AGcsYX_Mbg5BgLlx7LGP9uobzhRolSP8-P909piIMJx0ijXBveE2Xb2XWwfR_M8_RMLu5o4JgFm1iiMBIsHXO3pBf0OnZwEzVrOBjJ3pvtavssNL92q0lukEtOWrHdl5jfj6tu9AEGqW/s1600/Ireland+Wales+Paddy+Jackson+Six+Nations+rugby+try.jpg" height="111" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddy Jackson adds insult to injury,<br />while North resigns himself to defeat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26059090" target="_blank">Ireland 26 - 3 Wales</a>: Probably one of the most eagerly <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26040258" target="_blank">anticipated</a> matches of the whole tournament turned into an utterly one-sided domination by the men in green. Ireland performed exceptionally well, controlling the game from Sexton's boot and taking advantage of a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26102635" target="_blank">hugely disappointing Welsh performance</a>. Few would have expected Wales to play even worse than they did in their win over Italy last week, and fewer still to see such a limited response when they fell behind. Inevitably Ireland will have <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26102944" target="_blank">high hopes</a> going into the remaining 3 fixtures but travelling away to both England and France means that they'll need to maintain their standard of play if they want to be crowned champions. It's not over for Wales, but they too will need a win at Twickenham, as well as a massive swing in points-difference to have any hope of completing that fabled treble.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KBOAJXYZR4qLa8BqSKVvFJRbZlpM7iD8iMsiRnW798Fr8e8nJKqsvdjIaj8zXzfiImirITNpKWpfrLDwzt1Yisl-1jQtXErIG8nmWk9_h3-Z2XTTUpOfOTpcgc8bO_meePUXaa_oKAdJ/s1600/Mike+Brown+England+Scotland+6+Nations+rugby+Calcutta+Cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KBOAJXYZR4qLa8BqSKVvFJRbZlpM7iD8iMsiRnW798Fr8e8nJKqsvdjIaj8zXzfiImirITNpKWpfrLDwzt1Yisl-1jQtXErIG8nmWk9_h3-Z2XTTUpOfOTpcgc8bO_meePUXaa_oKAdJ/s1600/Mike+Brown+England+Scotland+6+Nations+rugby+Calcutta+Cup.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another near-flawless performance<br />from Mike Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26075972" target="_blank">Scotland 0 - 20 England</a>: A worm-infested pitch and driving rain could have made for the sort of ugly battle that Scotland had a chance of emerging from victorious. As it was, the dismal pitch meant only a few missed kicks and farcical scrums - the rain never came, and nor did the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26091884" target="_blank">competitive Scottish fight</a>. England's only concern was not putting more points on the board when they had the chance, but unlike in Paris, there was never any danger of it coming back to haunt them. Scotland's stand-out player (at least until inexplicably subbed), Dave Denton, said before the game that this was the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26076898" target="_blank">match which mattered most</a>. Apparently not many of his team-mates heard him because they <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26105433" target="_blank">failed to show up</a> with any vigour or pace. Hogg couldn't make any impression at all, while Johnny May demonstrated what England had missed last week against France. Hosting another group of Celts in a fortnight will show what England are really made of, while Scotland can look forward to the wooden-spoon-off against Italy, and I imagine putting in a bit of training on the line out.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyDO_UzUc6mYcwSCYLQ-73Ps5JwLRO-Q5Wd4VwXK5h9Zpgbc-o_7DggNkKOVVh_ryJ7sD4iJYifYS-2ZwlTsS5IjNRitySX5E4joHRtDhKhnTyLbn3dFVKNNPo1t7Prti7EfrmPl6vubR/s1600/Fofana+France+Italy+Six+Nations+rugby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyDO_UzUc6mYcwSCYLQ-73Ps5JwLRO-Q5Wd4VwXK5h9Zpgbc-o_7DggNkKOVVh_ryJ7sD4iJYifYS-2ZwlTsS5IjNRitySX5E4joHRtDhKhnTyLbn3dFVKNNPo1t7Prti7EfrmPl6vubR/s1600/Fofana+France+Italy+Six+Nations+rugby.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fofana's running made the difference</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26085145" target="_blank">France 30 - 10 Italy</a>: A pretty dire first half was characterised mostly by ill-discipline and missed penalties, rather than anything positive. Then the second half exploded with 3 rapid-fire French tries effectively putting an end to the competitive nature of the match but certainly providing for much more entertaining viewing. The last quarter of the match was Italy camped in the French 22, unable to find the killer breakthrough. Finally it arrived, but only after both sides had a man sent off for a headbutt and France also had one in the bin. The final scoreline reflected how much more clinical the French were, as well as how vulnerable Italy continue to be in spells. As they have done for years, they show potential and promise but not in any sustained manner.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A week off now and then possibly 2 of the biggest clashes of the tournament (sorry Italy v Scotland, I'm not talking about you). Two home wins from two for both Ireland and France, travelling to England and Wales respectively, both with one win from two</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Quite feasibly we could have 4 teams with a 2-1 record after 3 matches and then it's anyone's guess how it'll finish up.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-25463867914107353582014-02-03T23:14:00.002+00:002014-02-03T23:14:59.273+00:00Six Nations - All Still to Play For<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVNduTQh6K_xeakkFh98H4m1g5gvKqU5kQEJrrAvXdXQl_vnPxPSOWgUS4LfyO_AX7n4qpZ2768HgXJG5aLUFpv8FP6K8nCdmOuaeE0rz_9y0iw6x8YXNAdsx8lzwkLAbmZkukPtXS3D-/s1600/6+Nations+table+after+week+1+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVNduTQh6K_xeakkFh98H4m1g5gvKqU5kQEJrrAvXdXQl_vnPxPSOWgUS4LfyO_AX7n4qpZ2768HgXJG5aLUFpv8FP6K8nCdmOuaeE0rz_9y0iw6x8YXNAdsx8lzwkLAbmZkukPtXS3D-/s1600/6+Nations+table+after+week+1+2014.jpg" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One round of matches into the Six Nations and in reality not much is clearer about who will be holding the trophy aloft on 15th March. Three home victories leave Wales, France and Ireland heading the table but none of the three victors established themselves as the team to beat. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25998101" target="_blank">much discussed</a> that Wales were pretty unconvincing in their win over Italy. Gifted an early try by a nervous and inexperienced Italian back-line, they failed to capitalise on what was a big chance to hit some significant numbers. Given that last year's tournament came down to points difference, only taking +8 from the Italians could yet come back to haunt the two-time defending champions. Even the usually flawless Leigh Halfpenny threw a dismal pass leading to a straightforward interception and try.<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp4Rc2kBKMWObo5hkhcJQQfVOfSIlL22L9Wy9NnHlNDDKZkAr5YkfTe69R-2-QeAM0hziPv-mPKYk85kpksIkSJjsgcU2y9tEtZLLNEnczt3tHommWsFlXDO4BIypr3dqV9_56FhW1iVh/s1600/Jonathan+Davies+Wales+Lions+rugby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp4Rc2kBKMWObo5hkhcJQQfVOfSIlL22L9Wy9NnHlNDDKZkAr5YkfTe69R-2-QeAM0hziPv-mPKYk85kpksIkSJjsgcU2y9tEtZLLNEnczt3tHommWsFlXDO4BIypr3dqV9_56FhW1iVh/s1600/Jonathan+Davies+Wales+Lions+rugby.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All this being said, let's not forget how <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/9842415/Six-Nations-2013-Wales-22-Ireland-30-match-report.html" target="_blank">Wales started the tournament 12 months ago</a>. Being 30-3 down at home after 40 minutes and going onto lose to a major rival is a whole lot worse than just having to scrape a victory against one of the weaker teams. With Lions centre Jonathan Davies (yes the one <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jul/04/lions-jonathan-davies-brian-odriscoll-australia" target="_blank">controversially selected ahead of Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll</a>, by Wales coach Warren Gatland) <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26007402" target="_blank">set to return</a> a lot earlier than originally suspected, I wouldn't expect to see Welsh team that emerges in Dublin to be remotely the same, in personnel or performance, as the one which left the field in Cardiff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBgWST7mWFIFS4gHWMk173e2c0UxSqP-hFViZSFoQW2JHOHwccOWvF6wJdEuKgeoQAMIfP9nes9xRj_og65zLJ1WLtfx5ps0riJMKVgwhy8igF8X8uPTkSz0sYN8ljkG8-4V3LLiqZNO-/s1600/Henry+Heaslip+Healy+Marshall+Ireland+rugby+Scotland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBgWST7mWFIFS4gHWMk173e2c0UxSqP-hFViZSFoQW2JHOHwccOWvF6wJdEuKgeoQAMIfP9nes9xRj_og65zLJ1WLtfx5ps0riJMKVgwhy8igF8X8uPTkSz0sYN8ljkG8-4V3LLiqZNO-/s1600/Henry+Heaslip+Healy+Marshall+Ireland+rugby+Scotland.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Irish <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25988135" target="_blank">managed to see off</a> an <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26013627" target="_blank">initially positive and organised Scotland team</a>, who faded significantly as the game went on. Inevitably all games open up as players tire and substitutions loosen teams' structure, but into the latter stages of the second half, Ireland suddenly looked like they could score at any moment. There was a good level of cohesion and replacements for key players like O'Connell, Bowe and O'Brien <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25999315" target="_blank">stood up to be counted</a>. A relatively easy home game is an ideal start to a campaign, allowing time for the squad to settle and find some rhythm. Both Wales and Ireland have had that chance, and as such, things are perfectly set up for their clash this coming Saturday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscO2uNs4kQhQ47tNjG-xfBxARZniVpKV-_UaAKMGdpIxP-xCc7NnHxMKmOZB2aKOrOm4fklQozI69cTWcXzF1EJ6fIAPYaHceU1S4VpljdKre1PSHQG0ADzG5Ctl-a2kilTuyXrIPFPtv/s1600/Fickou+England+France+rugby+Six+Nations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscO2uNs4kQhQ47tNjG-xfBxARZniVpKV-_UaAKMGdpIxP-xCc7NnHxMKmOZB2aKOrOm4fklQozI69cTWcXzF1EJ6fIAPYaHceU1S4VpljdKre1PSHQG0ADzG5Ctl-a2kilTuyXrIPFPtv/s1600/Fickou+England+France+rugby+Six+Nations.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for England, I don't want to talk about it. Yes we performed well in the second half and there's lots to play for yet but frankly you can't afford simple mistakes and if we hadn't dug ourselves a hole in the first half, the door wouldn't have been open for <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gael-fickou-gets-france-out-of-jail-1.1676624" target="_blank">Fickou to storm through</a> at the death. The truth is that the better team always wins - England may have dominated parts and played good rugby, but unless you can take your chances and be clinical and focussed to the last minute, you're always liable to let the game slip. No doubt Scotland will pose an entirely different sort of threat to Lancaster's side, fierce passion and physicality likely to be the defining features. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26019381" target="_blank">Maitland's absence</a> will be a sorely felt by the Scots, and the returning <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26011039" target="_blank">Jonny May</a> could make a big difference to English fluency through the backs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the assumption that France will comfortably have enough to put away the Italians, the table could again make for fascinating viewing come Sunday evening.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-69556439194834496642014-01-28T23:22:00.000+00:002014-01-28T23:22:36.489+00:00The Rugby Event of the Year is Back Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rgam9-FHDozP8v4udz9oOLr-CCGJc7tvrGGtoAZymsHTqfEfwowZq8Pkx_wpAFol9ISPufDGvQ8rdrIPKmsI7iM0YkveS9GujGD7tjsscmUP4bHE9XnDxTUXpRSTz4P0B_RWyJMMlIYz/s1600/6+Six+Nations+rugby+England+Wales+France+Ireland+Scotland+Warburton+Robshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rgam9-FHDozP8v4udz9oOLr-CCGJc7tvrGGtoAZymsHTqfEfwowZq8Pkx_wpAFol9ISPufDGvQ8rdrIPKmsI7iM0YkveS9GujGD7tjsscmUP4bHE9XnDxTUXpRSTz4P0B_RWyJMMlIYz/s1600/6+Six+Nations+rugby+England+Wales+France+Ireland+Scotland+Warburton+Robshaw.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend sees the return of the always <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25849679" target="_blank">highly anticipated Six Nations</a> - this year's edition is no different and equally hard to predict. England, Wales and France are almost inseparable in terms of odds (approx 2-1 across most bookies), with Ireland a touch further back. Inevitably there are injury troubles (Dusatoir, Tuilagi, O'Brien, Bowe, Davies etc.) across most of the teams and with no warm up games as such, it's extremely tricky to anticipate where the <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-2014-squad-guides-6529319" target="_blank">different squads</a> are at. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/international-match/results" target="_blank">autumn internationals</a> seem an awful long time ago now, not that the results have any great significance. Wales suffered defeats to Australia and South Africa (as did Scotland), France lost to New Zealand and South Africa, Ireland lost to New Zealand and Australia, while England lost to New Zealand but did manage to beat Australia. This underlines only the superiority of the southern hemisphere sides, rather than any great distinction between those of the north. Ultimately the Six Nations will come down to how relatively even squads perform on each of the weekends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Zuxui35guuzAV7Tjh2Yd3PGee3uwq5jhL4PGrGoa8PZPCirnOPp0KaPQkNBAk7Q9sJqCwL7ft8JNkbG8JpP8Tpz5QXXkwa5zbr1P_Yh7FpfOTigP1vfI0BxIvEusvo5Xj8dqhOMrVwNB/s1600/Halfpenny+Warburton+Wales+rugby+Lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Zuxui35guuzAV7Tjh2Yd3PGee3uwq5jhL4PGrGoa8PZPCirnOPp0KaPQkNBAk7Q9sJqCwL7ft8JNkbG8JpP8Tpz5QXXkwa5zbr1P_Yh7FpfOTigP1vfI0BxIvEusvo5Xj8dqhOMrVwNB/s1600/Halfpenny+Warburton+Wales+rugby+Lions.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there is any team with a slight edge in terms of player quality, it must be the Welsh side that provided the backbone to the successful Lions squad. However they do come into the tournament with disruption over contracts and the like threatening to affect the squad harmony which has been such a strength for them over recent years. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are aiming for an historic third consecutive title, something never achieved in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Nations_Championship#Home_Nations_1883.E2.80.931909" target="_blank">entire history of the tournament</a>, going back to the original Home Nations tournament in 1883. England's constant talk of building a new squad and looking ahead needs to materialise into some kind of success rather than just "encouraging results". It remains to be seen whether this can be achieved by <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25933506" target="_blank">bringing in more debutants</a> in place of the likes of Young and Ashton.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously there is a significant variety each year in the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/six-nations/fixtures" target="_blank">fixture list</a>, who has home advantage in the big matches, and who plays 3 home fixtures. Looking at the 3 favourites' fixtures:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Wales home to Italy, France & Scotland; away to England & Ireland</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>France home to England, Italy & Ireland, away to Wales & Scotland</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>England home to Ireland & Wales, away to France, Scotland & Italy</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking at it, France probably have the best fixtures, with 3 home games, 2 of which are against harder opposition. In some ways, although Wales have 3 home games, they "waste" home field advantage against Scotland and Italy who they would probably beat anyway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unquestionably it will be a tighter tournament than the last couple of years, but whether Wales can make history will be a lot clearer in a month or so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKKZtsetBM3jgv3nqREdn-qF6_qvUFsPUvZoa_nCZ6ZTwftFRynAfK3iwymTfSGKaGwotl4wBOZ-hV3sSjklD5HdNj22MUT4G6hkyK7CRjPSURr7sb-vPh4GfYgStbju7DOZzltY93Pu4/s1600/6+Nations+scoring+record+Daily+Mail7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKKZtsetBM3jgv3nqREdn-qF6_qvUFsPUvZoa_nCZ6ZTwftFRynAfK3iwymTfSGKaGwotl4wBOZ-hV3sSjklD5HdNj22MUT4G6hkyK7CRjPSURr7sb-vPh4GfYgStbju7DOZzltY93Pu4/s1600/6+Nations+scoring+record+Daily+Mail7.jpg" height="171" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this interesting table via the Daily Mail, the wider the line, the more tries each team <br />scored that year. Bring back 2001/2 I say! (click on it to expand)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-12835748711528725532013-11-19T23:27:00.000+00:002013-11-19T23:36:04.071+00:00Ashes Preview, stat-attack and pun-athon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeuQiB5uC34QxVocYWIdpSv_gYK_x6oxo8EaKlo27Zr2qPEwIDkJQqIWDB08uQt0EsiM9I30ezybes3e1ytRAhqpkaiAaSgUhByzaOlUpd9gK4-IuPljtTA3EGJBglgHmuOfGXkC36zD_/s1600/Clarke+Cook+Ashes+England+Australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeuQiB5uC34QxVocYWIdpSv_gYK_x6oxo8EaKlo27Zr2qPEwIDkJQqIWDB08uQt0EsiM9I30ezybes3e1ytRAhqpkaiAaSgUhByzaOlUpd9gK4-IuPljtTA3EGJBglgHmuOfGXkC36zD_/s200/Clarke+Cook+Ashes+England+Australia.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the shortest wait in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ashes_series" target="_blank">Ashes history</a>, this week sees the return to the England-Australia cricketing battlefield. After England's successful summer, the record stands at 31 series victories each (5 drawn), only adding to the significance of already something of a meaningful set of matches. With England marginal favourites to repeat their triumph of 2010-11, all of the talk, predictions and <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/current/story/689735.html" target="_blank">injury-waiting</a> will soon be at an end. Few would argue that the 3-0 victory in the summer was perhaps not as convincing as the scoreline would suggest, and it'll take a marked improvement from Cook's men to repeat the trick down under. That being said, you could say there is a lot more to come from the likes of Cook, Trott and Pietersen - leaving the Aussies quaking at the prospect of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Ashes_series#Individual" target="_blank">absurd run-scoring</a> like the last time in Oz. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is interesting to compare the two squads in relation to the last time we were here, namely November 2010. Believe it or not, I like a stat. Especially when I have a hunch then do the research and the genuine stats reflect what I wanted to say (I don't like having to Cook them up)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking at the top 5 ranked batsmen from each team <a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/batting/" target="_blank">now</a> and from the <a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/datespecific/test/?stattype=batting&day=18&month=11&year=2010" target="_blank">18th November 2010</a> tells an interesting story:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.55pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 313px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="4" nowrap="" style="border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 234.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="313"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">England top 5 batsmen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pietersen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strauss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pietersen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prior<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">119<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">66<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td colspan="4" nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 234.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="313"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australia top 5 batsmen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clarke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clarke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Katich<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ponting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">43<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hussey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rogers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">101<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 61.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="82"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">162<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prior (pun intended) to last time here, the Aussies had theoretically the marginally stronger batting line up, yet there is little question as to whose batsmen dominated the series. This time, the difference in Rankin places between the top 5 is simply astonishing. Joe Root is England 6th highest ranked batsmen, and at 33, would be in Australia's top 3. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't pretend you don't want to know how the bowlers line up as well. Here you go... (you won't be disappointed)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 331px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="4" nowrap="" style="border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 248.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="331"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">England top 5 bowlers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/datespecific/test/?stattype=bowling&day=18&month=11&year=2010" target="_blank">Ranking</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/ranking/test/bowling/" target="_blank">Ranking</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swann<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swann<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anderson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anderson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Panesar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bresnan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">66<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">72<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td colspan="4" nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 248.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="331"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Australia top 5 bowlers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bollinger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Siddle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Siddle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hilfenhaus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hilfenhaus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lyon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">73<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 68.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="92"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 55.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="74"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">72<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6FsVWWwKq6wrlu6x3UfReGRs5XNu4vwpQdAOoc5HKivgdUQBgXMWpjvQwcSK5C_m1eyMgwhozywJklNNkA1hqjtsVjyamN1zLNHJMlXYsY0FsnkXJeMBf9BhcFjUqKhMpbvpkdZf4Mtt/s1600/Broad+Swann+Anderson+England+Australia+bowlers+Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6FsVWWwKq6wrlu6x3UfReGRs5XNu4vwpQdAOoc5HKivgdUQBgXMWpjvQwcSK5C_m1eyMgwhozywJklNNkA1hqjtsVjyamN1zLNHJMlXYsY0FsnkXJeMBf9BhcFjUqKhMpbvpkdZf4Mtt/s200/Broad+Swann+Anderson+England+Australia+bowlers+Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never again can the word 'statto' ever have negative connotations (I never understood the Root of that criticism anyway). England's bowlers were ranked slightly better last time out, but ahead of this week's clash, they are tied dead even. I appreciate that these won't be the 5 bowlers each team play (especially as England only play 4) but there's no denying the similarities. Something else that is striking, and which may be a huge factor as the winter develops, is the consistency of <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/squad/673745.html" target="_blank">England's squad</a>, both in batting and bowling - 4 of the top 5 have remained the same in each category. Consistency doesn't equal success but it could go a long way. This may ring a Bell from this summer, given that there's little doubt that inexperience cost <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/squad/687701.html" target="_blank">Australia</a> in the summer, failing to convert promising positions and being unable to dig themselves out of tricky situations. It's not to say that we'll Swann our way through the first couple of days, but there will be a lot less fear and <i>"rabbit in headlights"</i> than last time we were here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will England make history in winning <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/633818/aussies-take-aim-at-englands-bid-for-history/" target="_blank">4 series in a row</a>, for the first time since it all began, when they won 8 on the Trott? I've made a fool of myself with Broad predictions too many times to repeat the trick here so I'll just say that I would love to hear Warne embarrass himself further by saying we're <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-cricket-legend-shane-warne-says-alastair-cooks-england-captaincy-overly-defensive/story-fni2fnmo-1226697422022" target="_blank">too defensive</a> yet again. It seems he'll only be satisfied if we beat them 5-0.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">PS I apologise if you've Haddin-uff of the puns. Clarke my words, I'd be Lyon if I said it was easy to Ballance writing a real post with one that just Stokes the reader's fury. I was glad to Finnish though</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-87806568514115946572013-10-28T18:03:00.000+00:002013-10-28T18:03:32.785+00:00Just how important are the ATP Tour Finals?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUGv6h5PjQYdiC9anYxZc-XPYNNqHlm4T6J3QDSP0CZzqSp44OMiOVbrIXgg5Ix6Pfhf4qLwegr2yNajEE5tsGL3IY8ZGqxpKbzUkeplERPmBmpwGrLOwt66NvyT7FAoB_j7MkVMA0m8p/s1600/Ferrer+Janowicz+Paris+Masters+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUGv6h5PjQYdiC9anYxZc-XPYNNqHlm4T6J3QDSP0CZzqSp44OMiOVbrIXgg5Ix6Pfhf4qLwegr2yNajEE5tsGL3IY8ZGqxpKbzUkeplERPmBmpwGrLOwt66NvyT7FAoB_j7MkVMA0m8p/s200/Ferrer+Janowicz+Paris+Masters+2012.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 Paris finalists</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just how important are the <a href="http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/en" target="_blank">ATP Tour Finals</a>?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the <a href="http://www.fft.fr/en/bnp-paribas-masters-official-website-0" target="_blank">Paris Masters</a> starting this week, it offers a final chance for <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/YTD-Singles.aspx" target="_blank">qualification</a> to the ATP Tour Finals at the O2. There are 2 places still to play for, to be fought out between Federer, Wawrinka, Gasquet, Tsonga and Raonic. Haas, Youzhny and Almagro still have very slim hopes and need to win in Paris to even have a chance. It adds a new dimension to a tournament that otherwise can be a bit of a damp squib. For once, all of the major seeds (bar Murray due to injury) are participating and the final weekend could produce a top match (a slight contrast to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_BNP_Paribas_Masters_%E2%80%93_Singles#Finals" target="_blank">last year</a>'s closing stages). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsiuXqIyuzpF8MxnwDYYXstBh0-oWRoPRnmrhVRoWHUkIpO9Idy0HlhhntubUzdqEswk7Xb_uEyLheI6Xf4mdhusazXV-VxMd71n6P1gug0vZpoBUCmwGkHla22t-caL8QedLBUBUJqgO/s1600/Stepanek+Shanghai+Masters+Cup+2008+ATP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsiuXqIyuzpF8MxnwDYYXstBh0-oWRoPRnmrhVRoWHUkIpO9Idy0HlhhntubUzdqEswk7Xb_uEyLheI6Xf4mdhusazXV-VxMd71n6P1gug0vZpoBUCmwGkHla22t-caL8QedLBUBUJqgO/s200/Stepanek+Shanghai+Masters+Cup+2008+ATP.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise entrant to 2008<br />Masters Cup finals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which leads into the tour finals. It has been something of a mixed bag in recent years. The 2010 edition was the only year in recent history with the top 8 players actually competing, all of the others (including this year) having suffered at least one withdrawal, either before or during tournament. There was a ridiculous situation in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Tennis_Masters_Cup_%E2%80%93_Singles" target="_blank">2008</a> when Nadal withdraw drew to fatigue and then Roddick pulled out after one match, having turned his ankle. This led to 26th ranked Radek Stepanek playing the final two group games (losing both), purely by virtue of being the highest ranked person prepared to travel to Shanghai. He was there without <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/nov/12/tennis-andymurray" target="_blank">racquets, socks and even contact lenses</a>. In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_ATP_World_Tour_Finals" target="_blank">2009</a> Davydenko beat Del Potro in the final, but then it hit the heights with an amazing final between Federer and Nadal in 2010. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In terms of ranking points, it is between Grand Slams and 1000 Series tournaments (like Paris this week), with a potential 1500 points to an undefeated champion (Grand Slams are 2000 points, 1000 series are (remarkably) worth 1000). So how much does it mean to a top player? How significant will they be looking back in history? Theoretically you wold think that a competition between only the game's elite would matter hugely in evaluating the quality of a player compared to his peers, but the reality is that the tournament is blighted by end-of-season fatigue and injuries.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwf9mft-tl_1wEeE-p4okVMAJIpW4vx2eugbEarMgCM-RGzYzoWuCovsDLdXKnqlnKE25DIjwC-PzR0zFKh__ceB1xHfNqD_zW1rY0tBt7FBi2jALsEMINeqJLEGW-jKEyGAuvPOYeJRe/s1600/Nadal+Federer+ATP+Tour+Finals+London+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwf9mft-tl_1wEeE-p4okVMAJIpW4vx2eugbEarMgCM-RGzYzoWuCovsDLdXKnqlnKE25DIjwC-PzR0zFKh__ceB1xHfNqD_zW1rY0tBt7FBi2jALsEMINeqJLEGW-jKEyGAuvPOYeJRe/s200/Nadal+Federer+ATP+Tour+Finals+London+2010.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Federer has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_World_Tour_Finals#Singles_finals_matrix" target="_blank">won it 6 times</a> and Djokovic twice, but Nadal has 0 wins and Murray's not yet even made a final. Of course the same old arguments arise about standard of opposition but the truth is that it's more to do with the fact that Nadal and Murray in particular are shattered by the end of a season and needing time to rest/recover for the next season. Fairly frequently Nadal/Djokovic are in the Davis Cup Final as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In reality, a tournament that should be an absolute pinnacle and exciting climax to the season often fails to deliver and is unlikely to be considered a significant factor in considering players' legacies. Nevertheless, let's hope that this November's edition proves to be a classic. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-16137999397604254172013-09-11T00:21:00.001+01:002015-07-12T15:40:06.545+01:00Can Rafa get to 18 Slams?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/09/37/US-Open-Final-Djokovic-Nadal.aspx" target="_blank">Rafa's stunning US Open campaign</a>, the question on everyone's lips is whether he can go onto break the record for male Grand Slam winners. At the moment Roger Federer holds the record with 17, and it's widely accepted now that he is highly unlikely to add to that tally given his showing at the last couple of majors. As of the other night, Rafa now has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal#Grand_Slam_tournament_performance_timeline" target="_blank">13 Slams</a>: 1x Aus, 8x Fre, 2x Wim, 2x US, and needs another 5 to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/24028338" target="_blank">hold the record out on his own</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLx2X4KDl0Qrq7ghzzfhGWZD_AmO7v-kYfXKmTXRqfTOHTc_Pd665oVe3Y-4fM9n7u_IrfIqwBGBgXaUKzEe49fLyAev9hR73I0A33Zk1sKxTIg8FlG3CsXnE9ORidsKPMMdFWFw3MChy/s1600/Rafael+Nadal+Rafa+US+Open+2013+Novak+Djokovic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLx2X4KDl0Qrq7ghzzfhGWZD_AmO7v-kYfXKmTXRqfTOHTc_Pd665oVe3Y-4fM9n7u_IrfIqwBGBgXaUKzEe49fLyAev9hR73I0A33Zk1sKxTIg8FlG3CsXnE9ORidsKPMMdFWFw3MChy/s200/Rafael+Nadal+Rafa+US+Open+2013+Novak+Djokovic.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He now has an unparalleled 9 consecutive years with at least 1 Grand Slam victory (incidentally he also holds a similar unmatched record for 9 consecutive years winning a Masters Series/1000 Series title), and not many would bet on 2014 breaking that streak. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It doesn't take an <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/09/37/Shark-Bites-US-Open-Nadal.aspx" target="_blank">expert tennis analyst</a> (luckily for me) to recognise that the main thing standing in Rafa's way is likely to be his own fitness. Over the last 5 years or so, he has been decidedly held back by recurring injuries, and in particular tendonitis in his knees. The chances of him being fully fit for all of the slams over the next 2 or 3 years seem slim at best. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there was less competition then he might be able to cruise to the odd title but with Murray and Djokovic (as well as the likes of JMDP, Wawrinka, Berdych, even Federer) around, he will have to be at his best to win a Slam. Even then it might not be enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVXdWeMu7cPThoU3k8heU9JFacJ1Zy4wHKHTWh4884Bna7I7dYuEp8rzJboRb_wJTfutVW9waOHrfeBxGyYz7oWBEBZlqVLCMl-EEam8mlgC8xBAKx5wP1KULUKDjeNQWDgoeO6_Ug412/s1600/Rafa+Nadal+13+Grand+Slam+victories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVXdWeMu7cPThoU3k8heU9JFacJ1Zy4wHKHTWh4884Bna7I7dYuEp8rzJboRb_wJTfutVW9waOHrfeBxGyYz7oWBEBZlqVLCMl-EEam8mlgC8xBAKx5wP1KULUKDjeNQWDgoeO6_Ug412/s400/Rafa+Nadal+13+Grand+Slam+victories.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There has been lots of talk about this being one of the best years in tennis history but just a couple of months ago he was knocked out of Wimbledon in <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23034085" target="_blank">the first round</a>. Then, all of the discussion was about Nadal's knees and his ability to play on surfaces other than clay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At most he is likely to have 3 years left at the very top, before the physical nature of his play restricts his chances of claiming the biggest prizes, even on clay. That means potentially just 12 more chances. Can he win 5 of them to enhance his claim to be considered the greatest ever? Only time will tell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Geeky statto alert:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is interesting (I appreciate this is a subjective term) to look at the <a href="http://www.tennis28.com/slams/agerecords_winners.html" target="_blank">ages of Grand Slam winners</a>. The below graph shows the progression in terms of slam victories for each of the best known major winners.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR3PNyU5F6y7L4BUqIvlfjI3m8L0Ztm1qLQwdeFZAYT94lIV_WvJT6TCaYJ4X8Ohsmi4G7mKhXK2-DY9CJia3fBzHwjfI1dOPT8J3jJXFtHkzRx5-TiERTXtPmPN3QDgO0JNHvxkx_I1C/s1600/Grand+Slam+winning+ages+graph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR3PNyU5F6y7L4BUqIvlfjI3m8L0Ztm1qLQwdeFZAYT94lIV_WvJT6TCaYJ4X8Ohsmi4G7mKhXK2-DY9CJia3fBzHwjfI1dOPT8J3jJXFtHkzRx5-TiERTXtPmPN3QDgO0JNHvxkx_I1C/s400/Grand+Slam+winning+ages+graph.JPG" title="" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You should be able to click on the graph to open it up and see more, but here are a few highlights that I thought were interesting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1) Aged 27, only Federer had more Slams than Rafa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2) At 25 years old, Federer and Borg had 11 Slams, Sampras and Rafa 10. Borg retired without winning another, Pistol Pete kept going for years longer and added a consistent 1 per year, and then another aged 31.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3) Djokovic is considered one of the greatest and aged 25 he was behind only McEnroe (who didn't win another), and the above 4. He hasn't won one as a 26 year old yet so he's got a long way to go to catch up those in double figures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4) Murray's slow start to winning Slams, mirroring his coach Lendl, is demonstrated as well, with the two of them being the oldest to claim their maiden slams from this list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5) Agassi won more than half of his Slams after he turned 28, so there could yet be lots to come from RN/ND/AM all moving into the 2nd half of their careers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6) I'm really geeky</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PS I sort of just chose players who are best known for the chart, and left off the likes of Laver/Rosewall who won Slams both pre and post-Open era because it was too confusing.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-68221706289799113592013-09-08T02:28:00.000+01:002013-09-08T02:28:23.342+01:00Indianapolis Colts 2012: The Storybook Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story of the 2012 Indianapolis Colts season may just be the inspiration for one of those "based on a true story" movies in a few years time. I appreciate that neither of my readers will be overly well versed with the gridiron world but last season my own passion for American Football has soared and it's due in no small part to the aforementioned Colts.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18W-00uc5HT5tbkvrGqBthFDz5welS79WWhvA0a5np_Qq6Rnrz6Cou6w4i4B55Ffrh7VWcryEScskYnvsdVqUBVZt1qfNnnnvcbWW41kDN9w41wFeBGqnCuQ12YuqSKUKtG9iIO5NFwyS/s1600/Peyton+Manning+Indianapolis+Colts+MVP+NFL+Superbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18W-00uc5HT5tbkvrGqBthFDz5welS79WWhvA0a5np_Qq6Rnrz6Cou6w4i4B55Ffrh7VWcryEScskYnvsdVqUBVZt1qfNnnnvcbWW41kDN9w41wFeBGqnCuQ12YuqSKUKtG9iIO5NFwyS/s200/Peyton+Manning+Indianapolis+Colts+MVP+NFL+Superbowl.jpg" width="121" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've followed them for many years, from the dismal dark days of the late 90s when I decided I needed to support a team in every league in every sport, through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLI" target="_blank">glory years</a> of Peyton Manning, right up to the present day. Admittedly with varying levels of passion and interest, they have nevertheless remained unquestionably my team.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonmanning/2501863/profile" target="_blank">Peyton Manning</a> is without doubt one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. By sheer numbers, he is 2nd in history for touchdown passes and completed passes, and 3rd for total passing yardage (and he's got a few years left in him). You have to scroll down on his Wikipedia page to see all of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyton_Manning#NFL_records" target="_blank">NFL records</a> he holds. Needless to say, he has been a somewhat significant figure for the Colts the last dozen years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then Manning was out injured for the entire 2011 season, and the Colts won just 2 games all season. They had the worst record of everyone in the league, and then, having got back to full fitness, Manning left to go to the Denver Broncos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDeHwGClpfLppjSj9kyuuSYb7bkiC9kjGskwooxud0sTYINak3fBoaN6-tEMGlCy22GMuZhc579cAw-MJVZ_n5C9oh97bl3WjppY5ryA5vehebXKhgsMYFWueUzfEHgdiG5jLE3pMzMw3/s1600/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+NFL+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDeHwGClpfLppjSj9kyuuSYb7bkiC9kjGskwooxud0sTYINak3fBoaN6-tEMGlCy22GMuZhc579cAw-MJVZ_n5C9oh97bl3WjppY5ryA5vehebXKhgsMYFWueUzfEHgdiG5jLE3pMzMw3/s200/Andrew+Luck+Indianapolis+Colts+NFL+2013.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there was relatively limited optimism going into the 2012 season, with most commentators <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000054808/article/indianapolis-colts-2012-nfl-season-preview-predictions" target="_blank">expecting a mediocre display</a> of rebuilding at best. What followed was an pretty remarkable and dramatic storyline of a season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the NFL Draft, the Colts secured the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/american-football/17779646" target="_blank">top college prospect</a> quarterback, Andrew Luck, as part of wholesale changes that saw them start the season with a huge number of rookies on the roster. He proved to be an incredible success, setting a number of rookie quarterback <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Luck#NFL_records_and_achievements" target="_blank">records</a>, and leading the Colts to the 3rd largest turnaround in NFL history from one season to the next. From winning 2 games in 2011, they won an impressive 11 in the 2012 regular season (more than Superbowl champions Baltimore Ravens). </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5HDpH6qtHBuKNRGgc8J5gHikEDARn2ZgHaXldVgliIKcFvCVQSJ8bkfxSt9rm03Knx8a3QWpGN8siMPKCjNpFnL9LjO-m9IkUFcvpNNR5yfC6ZpnM1MLYyCwZnicu46ZZs_2x5Po2PpA/s1600/Indianapolis+Colts+Detroit+Lions+December+2012+comeback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5HDpH6qtHBuKNRGgc8J5gHikEDARn2ZgHaXldVgliIKcFvCVQSJ8bkfxSt9rm03Knx8a3QWpGN8siMPKCjNpFnL9LjO-m9IkUFcvpNNR5yfC6ZpnM1MLYyCwZnicu46ZZs_2x5Po2PpA/s200/Indianapolis+Colts+Detroit+Lions+December+2012+comeback.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This outstanding season included a remarkable number of 4th quarter comeback wins and game-winning drives, the highlight of which was a simply outstanding </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1430010-colts-vs-lions-andrew-luck-leads-miracle-comback-again" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">victory against the Detroit Lions</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, from 33-21 down with less than 3 minutes left. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7nsYk8uoWV9ZnUTRv8NujCVuEBtjCwMyDjHv897EAKQTF10wby8k2aZ_-4-Cb8Wwx7oazlyFA98Y6VH_OYrBBJv20gHxObJ4ex5MOPc_0bL0xaetMAGc00pyQ7nlgXW6G9ENxSNE0EXH/s1600/Chuck+Pagano+leukaemia+Indianapolis+Colts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7nsYk8uoWV9ZnUTRv8NujCVuEBtjCwMyDjHv897EAKQTF10wby8k2aZ_-4-Cb8Wwx7oazlyFA98Y6VH_OYrBBJv20gHxObJ4ex5MOPc_0bL0xaetMAGc00pyQ7nlgXW6G9ENxSNE0EXH/s200/Chuck+Pagano+leukaemia+Indianapolis+Colts.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This relative success from minimal expectations was set against the backdrop of Head Coach Chuck Pagano being diagnosed with leukaemia at the beginning of the season. The heartstring-tugging story of his fight against cancer united the entire city under the slogan '<a href="http://www.success.com/articles/2496-chuckstrong" target="_blank">Chuckstrong</a>', leading to moving demonstrations of support such as cheeerleaders shaving their heads. His emotional return late in the season had virtually the entire NFL <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000116709/article/chuck-pagano-tearful-in-return-to-indianapolis-colts" target="_blank">welling up</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Pagano's absence, up stepped offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. In the 12 games he was at the helm, the Colts won 9, and when the season ended, Arians was rewarded with <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000134295/article/bruce-arians-wins-coach-of-the-year-for-work-with-colts" target="_blank">coach of the year</a> in recognition of his achievement in the face of such circumstances. Then, having made it the playoffs against all the odds, Arians was hospitalised and absent for the clash against the Ravens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYVb80eIArDgyxde9thvmCsF5PHsT2wAl7nbCytC5fpGb6WoinxxgEAjufRM8BygbqdeGj0wuXsIzlIQOVCZsJU91xw-iCayjcV1PYs3MUzBNfporbj_Z6KhZzsAizUyCH6Cq2iJj5Hv2/s1600/Ryan+Grigson+Indianapolis+Colts+NFL+General+Manager+of+the+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYVb80eIArDgyxde9thvmCsF5PHsT2wAl7nbCytC5fpGb6WoinxxgEAjufRM8BygbqdeGj0wuXsIzlIQOVCZsJU91xw-iCayjcV1PYs3MUzBNfporbj_Z6KhZzsAizUyCH6Cq2iJj5Hv2/s200/Ryan+Grigson+Indianapolis+Colts+NFL+General+Manager+of+the+Year.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was there that it finally came to an end. Like the end of Cool Runnings, it wasn't a fairytale victory but a respectable and dignified defeat, to the eventual Superbowl Champions (who had their own <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/american-football/21318296" target="_blank">destiny-fulfilling storybook ending</a> to come). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2013/REG/COLTS" target="_blank">2013 season</a> begins this weekend with much optimism. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/22789984" target="_blank">Andrew Luck</a> is a year older and stronger, Chuck Pagano is in remission and back at the helm, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000132129/article/ryan-grigson-edges-out-john-elway-for-exec-award" target="_blank">NFL general manager of the year</a> Ryan Grigson (like a Director of Football) overseeing what will hopefully be another hugely successful season. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-57169596548051755212013-07-29T21:14:00.000+01:002013-07-29T21:14:02.696+01:00English lambs before the Aussie slaughter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You don't have to be Glenn McGrath to know that England have very little chance in the remainder of this series. The dominant Australia batsmen, coupled with their prolific wicket-taking attack will surely be too much for the meagre poor English lambs. Putting aside all emotion and subjectivity, the positive thinking for which us Brits are famed, is there any hope for us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BBDiPEXenkqORplbPb8EPkpk1ef8qFWN74x_tBH3sGG-1foHdXGfaJfISTePHvLeiL__Ev-6l11RLomQbOJqbTZRxBrpRnsObT5Irzvg2JYxm34MqJT2HbmqH-zH2J7H0rCLyXCNuy83/s1600/Ashes+England+Australia+DRS+Broad+controversy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BBDiPEXenkqORplbPb8EPkpk1ef8qFWN74x_tBH3sGG-1foHdXGfaJfISTePHvLeiL__Ev-6l11RLomQbOJqbTZRxBrpRnsObT5Irzvg2JYxm34MqJT2HbmqH-zH2J7H0rCLyXCNuy83/s200/Ashes+England+Australia+DRS+Broad+controversy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes we have scraped through two matches thus far, reliant on a potent and controversial combination of dubious umpiring decisions, <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-25/taufel-backs-drs-despite-ashes-controversies/4842638" target="_blank">dodgy technology</a> and being better than Australia. There's only so long though that we can rely on greater skill and application, and surely this Thursday will be the time for Australia's brilliance to become apparent. The question must be whether there is anything we can do to stop the surely inevitable demolition?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's look at the facts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- England only have 3 batsmen <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=7362;type=series" target="_blank">averaging</a> over 40 in the series. I appreciate that Australia only have 3 over 30, and one of those (Pattinson) is out injured for the rest of the series and the other is a teenage spin bowler, but that won't matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- England have no replacement for the likely absent <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/the-ashes-kevin-pietersen-injury-setback-could-pave-way-for-james-taylor-8730214.html" target="_blank">Pietersen</a>. Of course, James Taylor will play but I don't see him <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23483531" target="_blank">scoring any runs</a> against the Australians.<br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDmYsVG-J-3OSD8QeB5UImZTWf8OBg5nB_1HZegWSUZjs25otdyj5tb8t80G2soPSLrBcuZ4pc7R2x7vCR796_4g7mgIA53XKqqEZwdX_y8XHPUTQ9AI4AcQ3BM6LmvWPFUum2jJDfXjh/s1600/David+Warner+Australia+Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDmYsVG-J-3OSD8QeB5UImZTWf8OBg5nB_1HZegWSUZjs25otdyj5tb8t80G2soPSLrBcuZ4pc7R2x7vCR796_4g7mgIA53XKqqEZwdX_y8XHPUTQ9AI4AcQ3BM6LmvWPFUum2jJDfXjh/s200/David+Warner+Australia+Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterboy or run-machine?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23490776" target="_blank">David Warner</a> is back. Guaranteed to <strike>knock</strike> get Joe Root out, and fresh from a massive 193 against the mighty South Africa A, he's sure to be a threat. After all, prior to that innings he had scores of 6, 11, 9, 0, 0, 2, 0, 44, 4 and 13. Devastating stuff for England to fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Australia have the series record for the <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?id=7362;type=series" target="_blank">opening, 9th and 10th wicket</a> partnerships. England may have the highest partnership for all the other wickets, but it's how you start and end that matters isn't it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we can all agree that we're in serious trouble. Just because we've won the first two matches, have the better batting line-up, bowling attack, experience and confidence, surely nothing can stop the organised and professional Aussies. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5067626333101248863.post-59679264809102621162013-07-24T00:38:00.001+01:002013-07-24T00:38:45.902+01:00Why Do We Support Who We Do?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At work, we've done a sweepstake on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Women's_Euro_2013" target="_blank">Women's Euro 2013</a> tournament in Sweden. To be honest, we love a sweepstake and organise one for virtually any (major) event, so that's probably not much of a surprise. Sports events, baby weights, how late someone will come back from lunch, you name it we sweepstake it. And yet despite the inane nature of them and the almost laughable sums of money to be won, they seem to stir an astonishing loyalty in me for teams I scarcely knew existed much less supported.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mAjut7WUX4dEXtmMT-phVDl2v2TH4YczUm6QfE4lE7Pp3XftYBM5eqFAvAoB6ADkP-HrpK6xiTg3qCAxHzDzNAMqxaciGq3BR5OTU-8HheX2MMwvVpXODRoSHlSmAT2-UHgADloYshf8/s1600/Kolkata+Knight+Riders+KKR+IPL+2013+Kallis+Morgan+Gambhir+Narine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mAjut7WUX4dEXtmMT-phVDl2v2TH4YczUm6QfE4lE7Pp3XftYBM5eqFAvAoB6ADkP-HrpK6xiTg3qCAxHzDzNAMqxaciGq3BR5OTU-8HheX2MMwvVpXODRoSHlSmAT2-UHgADloYshf8/s200/Kolkata+Knight+Riders+KKR+IPL+2013+Kallis+Morgan+Gambhir+Narine.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This spring I found myself quite unexpectedly a die-hard <a href="http://kkr.in/home.aspx" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> fan for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Indian_Premier_League#Teams_and_standings" target="_blank">IPL 2013</a> campaign. Despite the fact that a few weeks before I had had to do comprehensive research before I could even a name an IPL team, I genuinely cared what happened in KKR's games. I was frustrated by Yusuf Pathan getting out early, Kallis scoring too slowly, Gambhir never converting a start and the failure to select Lee or Ten Doeschate. I downloaded the app and had ITV4 on constantly. My point being, I became a real fanatic. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, the reigning champions and theoretical challengers for the title ended a dismal 6-10 record and early elimination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet7qI2rrzx7ClSvElge2JOaBmhpyZtveodbQg_rM3GCjEJuYfqHgQ8E4YJX4XA7bsLE4kpagSNz45-WclMJ4OG1RlyNxcVKRI_GutGY_kw8SoIi_8sKtVpa9K5qQ7lryPwfte4b1yTy1y/s1600/Denmark+France+Women's+Euros+2013+Sweden+football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet7qI2rrzx7ClSvElge2JOaBmhpyZtveodbQg_rM3GCjEJuYfqHgQ8E4YJX4XA7bsLE4kpagSNz45-WclMJ4OG1RlyNxcVKRI_GutGY_kw8SoIi_8sKtVpa9K5qQ7lryPwfte4b1yTy1y/s200/Denmark+France+Women's+Euros+2013+Sweden+football.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then comes the Women's Euros over the last couple of weeks. The sweepstake is organised, the team names on the bits of folded paper inside the mug. I draw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_women's_national_football_team" target="_blank">France</a>. Now my knowledge of women's football was such that I knew the USA were the best, and that England were decent, but beyond that, couldn't exactly claim to be an expert. A quick bit of research and I realise France are pretty decent and in with a shout. £16 here I come. Then, when it <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23413223" target="_blank">all came to an end</a> against a stubborn and organised Danish team in the quarterfinals, I found myself genuinely disappointed (and not for the sake of £16 potential winnings).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason for my aimless ramblings is that it got me wondering how we come to form affiliations with teams, develop affections or even fanatical passion. It's probably fair to say that most people support a sports team of some description, whether that be football, cricket or tennis, club or national teams. And probably even more follow and support certain individuals in sports like tennis, F1, snooker or golf. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBud3c79jM8jSQFBnLTKFRxvg-Vl84J67IkoTLONIY51m24SJI5EfG4a7IxBi2NB2Gau0Mx4_bT7Ht9jyTsk-w214Ud2Lte_EFTwLJZ69T_vkdUYRA_MU-7JYhjW3rSRpu9Oq5aL0-Dnn/s1600/Ray+Winstone+West+Ham+Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBud3c79jM8jSQFBnLTKFRxvg-Vl84J67IkoTLONIY51m24SJI5EfG4a7IxBi2NB2Gau0Mx4_bT7Ht9jyTsk-w214Ud2Lte_EFTwLJZ69T_vkdUYRA_MU-7JYhjW3rSRpu9Oq5aL0-Dnn/s200/Ray+Winstone+West+Ham+Kit.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glory hunters...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With individuals it's often determined by their nationality (would anyone support Andy Murray if he wasn't British?), as much as by their personality or sporting prowess. But with club teams it can be apparently arbitrary but no less meaningful. Of course a lot support their "local" club (I use speech marks because that usually means the closest team that are good) but there seem to be all manner of other reasons as well - parents' teams, obscure links as a child, kit colour, favourite players etc. I decided to start supporting Sheff Wed around the age of 12 for no particular reason other than they were in the Prem and I didn't support anyone else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most would agree that the most passionate/fanatical fans would tend to be those who have a geographic/nationalistic link to their team but there are unquestionably other reasons and factors that lead to fervent support. Why do you support who you do?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04512498202142278952noreply@blogger.com0