Imagine Cricket - Blog RSS

'My Mum Could Have Caught That In Her Pinney'

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:21:30 +0000

‘Norman Cowans should remember what happened to Graham Dilley, who started off as a genuinely quick bowler. Then they started stuffing line and length into his ear, and now he has Dennis Lillee's action with Denis Thatcher's pace.’ – Boycs on over-thinking bowling.

‘I'd like to paint my face black and go in for the West Indies against our bloody attack.’ – Boycs showing typical sensitivity when discussing the England ‘pace’ attack.

‘To have some idea what it's like, stand in the outside l...

By Lip Service...

England Jet Off for Pakistan Series

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:33:00 +0000

The England team set off for their Test series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi this week, and moved to end any concerns over any bad blood during the series. The three Test matches, four One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 games are the first between the sides since former captain Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad...

By Chris White

Warne Statue Unveiled at MCG

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:16:09 +0000

Australia legend Shane Warne has had a bronze statue of himself unveiled at the MCG, and spoke of his “honour and pride” to the media.

The 42-year old recently came back to domestic cricket at the Australian Big Bash with the Melbourne Stars, but it was the 708 Test wickets that earned him a place in history, with his statue taking its place alongside ten other great Australian sportsmen and women outside the famous ground.

Warne joked “it’s...

By Chris White

T20 Qualifying Format Revealed

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:43:38 +0000

The ICC have revealed the details of the qualifying format for the World Twenty20 competition, which takes place in Sri Lanka next autumn. With sixteen teams in the running, the teams will play each other in a tournament in the United Arab Emirates in March 2012.

The teams have been split into two groups of eight teams, with the two group winners featuring in the first qualifying final,...

By Chris White

Pakistan Complete Series Whitewash

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:22:38 +0000

Pakistan sealed a 2-0 series whitewash in their Test series in Bangladesh, by beating the hosts by seven wickets in Mirpur. Requiring just 103 runs for victory, Pakistan reached their target in under 21 overs with captain Misbah-ul-Haq wrapping it up in style by smashing a huge six into the crowd.

Having built up something of a fight in the second half of their second innings, the home side were finally dismissed for 234, after By Chris White

Ponting Warned Over Place in Test Side

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:49:02 +0000

New coach Mickey Arthur has left former skipper Ricky Ponting clear on where he stands in the Australian Test side at the moment. The South African has come in and told the country’s leading Test-run scorer of all time that he will only be picked for the series against India on merit, not reputation.

The 37-year old averages 52.29 in Test cricket, having racked up more than ...

By Chris White

Warne Makes Losing Return

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:21:19 +0000

Australian great Shane Warne made his long awaited comeback at the age of 42 in an unimpressive performance for the Melbourne Stars in their opening match of the Big Bash League against the Sydney Thunder at the MCG.

Bowling two overs in the innings, Warne ended with figures of 0-19 and didn’t feature with the bat as his side went down to a six-wicket defeat. Australian opener David Warne...

By Chris White

South Africa Crush Sri Lanka Inside Three Days

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:49:24 +0000

South Africa crushed Sri Lanka in the first Test at Centurion, wrapping up the match inside three days thanks to a ten-wicket haul in the match from seamer Vernon Philander. The Proteas were dominant from the outset and the tourists simply couldn’t live with the aggressive bowling and classy batting from the home side.

Resuming day three on 389-9, South Africa were eventually dismissed for 411 w...

By Chris White

Aussie Batsmen Sent to Batting Camp

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:06:18 +0000

In a desperate attempt for their batsmen to find some form ahead of the Test series with India, Cricket Australia have sent a number of their specialist batsmen to a “batting camp.”

Having seen the team collapse to a defeat in the second Test against New Zealand last week, the Australia team are beginning to show increasingly large cracks, wit...

By Chris White

Hughes to join Worcestershire in 2012

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:30:39 +0000

Opening batsman Phil Hughes has joined Worcestershire for the second half of the 2012 season. The 23-year old, who has played for Hampshire and Middlesex in the past, will move to the New Road club in June for the remainder of the campaign.

Hughes is currently opening the batting for Australia and is in line to take part in the forthcoming Test series against India starting on Boxing Day, and is the youngest player...

By Chris White

England Call On Bopara and Panesar for Pakistan Series

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:49:44 +0000

England have named a 16-man squad for their three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which gets under way on 17^th January in Dubai.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and all-rounder Ravi Bopara are both included in the squad, with Panesar selected as the second spinner ahead of Samit...

By Chris White

New Zealand win Thriller to Draw Series

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:02:32 +0000

Against all the odds, New Zealand won their first Test match in Australia in over a quarter of a century to draw the two-match series 1-1. The home side resumed on the fourth day needing just 169 runs to win with all ten wickets intact, and looked in complete control despite an early setback.

Opener Phil Hughes was dismissed in just the second over of the day, but a partnership of 50 between By Chris White

Sutton Retires Revealing Long Battle with Depression

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:18:14 +0000

Derbyshire captain Luke Sutton has announced his retirement from professional cricket, revealing that a long term battle with depression was at the forefront of his decision. The 35-year old wicketkeeper-batsman returned to the club at the start of the 2011 season after a five-year spell at Lancashire.

Sutton helped Derbyshire to fifth in division two of the County...

By Chris White

Gilchrist Fears for Australia Future

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:53:29 +0000

Former Australia wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist has confessed his concerns about the future of his former side, fearing that the new-look squad will not be up to the task against India when the series kicks off later this month.

India travel Down Under for a four-match Test series starting on Boxing Day against an Australian side filled with young talent and players that are relatively inexperienced...

By Chris White

Taylor Completes Nottinghamshire Switch

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:54:54 +0000

One of the most drawn out cricketing transfers has finally reached a conclusion, with one of the hottest talents in the English game moving up the motorway from Leicestershire to Midlands rivals Nottinghamshire. 21-year old James Taylor, who made his debut for England this summer, has moved to Trent Bridge after the two clubs agreed on a compensation package.

Taylor,...

By Chris White

Pattinson Steers Australia to Victory

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:19:05 +0000

Debutant James Pattinson guided Australia to a first Test victory against New Zealand at the Gabba, taking 5-27, including a triple-wicket maiden in the second innings en route to bowling the tourists out for just 150.

The 21-year old ripped through the Black Caps’ top order, reducing them to 28-5, as Australia made light work of chasing down their target of 19 to win with a day to spare. The o...

By Chris White

Bring Back the 50 Over Competition

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:33:45 +0000

At present, the English counties play two forms of limited overs cricket, the Twenty20 Cup, which, as it suggests, is 20 overs per side, and the CB40 – can you guess how many overs that involves? Yes, 40, but the England team play Twenty20 and 50-over One-Day Internationals, making the g...

By Chris White

Earliest Start Ever for County Championship

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:36:52 +0000

The County Championship will be making its earliest ever start in 2012, with the first round of four-day fixtures starting on 5^th April, while the annual curtain-raiser between the champions and an MCC X1 will start in Abu Dhabi on 27^th March.

Lancashire start the defence of their title against Sussex at Aigburth on 12^th April, a week after the other...

By Chris White

Take a Punt on Me

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:45:20 +0000

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has vowed to keep fighting for his place in the team despite his recent slump in form that saw him score just 70 runs in his four innings against South Africa in the recent two-match Test series.

Ponting has failed to score a hundred in two years now, but showed a sign of recovering his imperious form with 62 in the second innings against the Proteas at Johannesburg to help...

By Chris White

West Indies Earn Thrilling Draw in Final Test

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:23:14 +0000

The three-match Test series between India and the West Indies ended in a thrilling draw, with both sides level after Ravichandran Ashwin was run out off the final ball of the match.

The game was heading for a draw after the first two innings, with the tourists taking a 189-run lead into their second innings, only to be dismissed for just 134, leaving India needed 243 to win. India then raced...

By Chris White

Van Jaarsveld Cancels Foxes Deal and Retires

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:46:43 +0000

Having joined the club from Kent in September, Leicestershire fans were looking forward to the sight of Martin van Jaarsveld walking out to bat at Grace Road in 2012, continuing his fine domestic form from the County Ground. However, little under three months into the deal and having not even trained with his new side, the South African has retired from county cricket.

The...

By Chris White

Back to the Future for Yorkshire

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:22:08 +0000

Yorkshire County Cricket Club have taken a look at their more successful past in order to move forwards, with two of their former star overseas players leading their bid for promotion back to division one of the County Championship.

Jason Gillespie, the former Australia Test bowler takes over as the new coach of the club after Martyn...

By Chris White

Australia Draw Two-Test Series

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:48:58 +0000

Australia beat South Africa by two wickets in Johannesburg to level the two-match Test series at 1-1, prompting millions of questions as to just why the series between two of the biggest sides in world cricket, particularly in the Test arena, consists of just two matches.

The Australians chased down their target of 310 on a rain affected final day, resuming needing 168 for victory with seven wickets in hand, and Ricky...

By Chris White

Basil d'Oliveira Dies Aged 83

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:03:47 +0000

Former England all-rounder Basil d’Oliveira has died at the age of 83. Born in South Africa, d’Oliveira moved to England in1960 because of the lack of opportunities for black sportsmen in his native country, and was later named in the squad to tour South Africa in 1968, but the National Party refused to accept his presence, prompting the tour to...

By Chris White

Test Championship Put on Ice

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:28:44 +0000

The first Test championship, expected to take place in England, will now not happen until 2017 at the earliest. The tournament was due to replace the current Champions Trophy in a restructuring of international competitions.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said “I am disappointed it is not going to ta...

By Chris White

Taylor Set to Join Nottinghamshire

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:11:21 +0000

The chief executive of Leicestershire County Cricket Club believes a deal to take star batsman James Taylor to Nottinghamshire has been “70% agreed.” The England one-day international player has been looked at by a number of counties, and Nottinghamshire look to have won the race.

Mike Siddall has said that despite the 21-year old still having a year to r...

By Chris White

First Test Call Up for Warner

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:31:03 +0000

New South Wales batsman David Warner has been given his first call-up to the Australia Test squad to replace the injured Shaun Marsh for the remainder of the series in South Africa. The limited overs specialist has played just ten first-class games in his career, but has made 39 appearances in the shorter format games...

By Chris White

Smith and Amla Centuries Give Proteas Advantage

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:06:09 +0000

Centuries from captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla helped South Africa to an 8-wicket victory in the first of the two-match Test series against Australia in Cape Town, on the third morning.

After bowling Australia out for 284 in the first innings, the match was set up nicely to go right to the wire, as many would have expected. However, in a...

By Chris White

Warne Comes Out of Retirement

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:09:22 +0000

Cricket legend Shane Warne will come out of retirement to play for Melbourne Stars in the Australian Twenty20 Big Bash League. The 42-year old will play in the competition, which gets under way in December having retired after the IPL this year, where he played for the Rajasthan Royals.

Warne said “It’s got nothing to do with money or I would still be playing in ...

By Chris White

Pakistan Win Series after Draw

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:05:10 +0000

Pakistan clinched the Test series with Sri Lanka thanks to a draw in the third and final Test in Sharjah, sealing a 1-0 win. Rain prevented any play on the final morning of the match, and with Pakistan set an unlikely 255 to win, the captains shook hands on a draw shortly before the bad light closed in.

It was a much-needed victory for Pakistan, having watched on as three of their former players were jailed for match-fixing offences last week, and since...

By Chris White

Aussies to Face South African Test

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:59:48 +0000

With the first Test getting underway this Wednesday, the new-look Australia side led by Michael Clarke could be in for a difficult tour, as they look to make amends for last year’s Ashes defeat on home soil. This is their first real test since that defeat, and going to South Africa is never easy in any format of the game.

The South Africans are a strong unit in every sport they ...

By Chris White

Botham Critical of ICC

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:46:28 +0000

England legend Sir Ian Botham has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to start taking action against match fixing in cricket, starting in Pakistan, and to stop “sitting on their hands.”

The former England captain made his calls after the three Pakistan players accused of spot fixing during the English tour of 2010 – Salman Butt, By Chris White

Pakistan Cricketers Found Guilty

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:06:58 +0000

The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal that has tarnished the name of the sport have all been found guilty for their respective roles in the proceedings after a trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Former captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif were both found guilty of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept...

By Chris White

Spin to Win

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:13:43 +0000

Pakistan sealed a comprehensive nine-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Dubai, thanks to 5-68 from Saeed Ajmal, meaning the ‘home’ side needed just 94 for victory in their second innings.

Faced by a 164-run deficit from the first innings, Sri Lanka started the fourth day of the match on 88-1, looking to bat out a significant portion of the remaining time, or at least post a comp...

By Chris White

England Women Complete Unbeaten Tour

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:07:24 +0000

England’s women cruised to another victory on their tour of South Africa; completing their limited overs series with a seven-wicket win in the third and final Twenty20 international in Potchefstroom. The victory means that the England side complete the ODI and T20 tour unbeaten.

England restricted the home side to just 118-2 from their 20 overs, with Cri-Zelda Brits making 50 and Trisha Chett...

By Chris White

Pietersen Stars in T20 Win

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:56:52 +0000

Kevin Pietersen overcame a troublesome thumb injury to guide England to victory in the one-off Twenty20 international against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, to give England their first win on the short-format tour.

Dropped on just one, Pietersen went on to make 53 from just 39 balls as England chased down the moderate target of 121 to retain their position at the top of the T20 rankings.

By Chris White

England Top Twenty20 Rankings

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:14:36 +0100

As if going top of the Test rankings wasn’t enough, England have now been announced as the leaders of the very first Twenty20 world rankings too, edging Sri Lanka into second.

The reigning 20-over world champions have 127 points in the ranking table, one more than the Sri Lankans, with New Zealand pushed into third, leading the likes of South Africa, India, and Australia in a fiercely contested middle secti...

By Chris White

England Blown Away

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:32:22 +0100

Having lost the Test, One-Day and Twenty20 series’ in England earlier this summer, India got their revenge on home soil by handing out a 5-0 whitewash against the tourists in the One-Day series.

New England One-Day captain Alastair Cook lead a young side out to the sub continent and felt that maybe that was England’s undoing, with very few of the squad having any experience of the difficult Indian cond...

By Chris White

South Africa win ODI while Pakistan and Sri Lanka Draw Test

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:26:42 +0100

South Africa levelled the three-match One-Day series against Australia with an emphatic 80-run victory in Port Elizabeth.

Four South African batsmen reached half centuries as they posted 303-6 from their 50 overs, before fast bowler Morne Morkel helped to restrict the Aussies to 223 all out, taking 4-22 to set the series up for a dramatic finale in Durban on Friday.

Opting to bat first,...

By Chris White

Kohli and Raina Guide India to 4-0 Lead

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:47:56 +0100

England’s tour of India went from bad to worse in Mumbai, going down to a six-wicket defeat, leaving them 4-0 down in the five match series as the hosts reached their target of 221 with just under ten overs to spare.

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 86 and Suresh Raina made 80 in an effectively match-winning partnership of 131 for the fourth wicket, with Kohli scoring the winning runs ...

By Chris White

Comings and Goings in the Counties - So Far

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:20:34 +0100

The County Cricket season is barely over, but there are plenty of players who will be packing up their kitbags and moving to new changing rooms next season. While Lancashire won this year’s County Championship, other clubs must now raise their games in order to catch the Red Rose side, and some have already made their moves.

DERBYSHIRE – No overseas player has been confirmed as yet for 2012, but David Wainwright is making the move down from Yorkshire on a permanent deal after ...

By Chris White

Woakes Ruled Out of India Series

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:57:40 +0100

With England 2-0 down in the One-Day series in India, they were dealt another blow this week with the news that young all-rounder Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the remainder of the five-match series with a thigh injury.

Woakes, who impressed with the England Lions and in the county game with Warwickshire, is looking to find a place in the England set up, similarly...

By Chris White

Step Into the Unknown for England

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:08:32 +0100

England are having to learn the hard way what happens when you mess with a sleeping lion, going 2-0 down to India in the one-day series after an 8-wicket thumping in New Delhi, as the Indians continue their response to the Test and limited overs series defeats in England this summer.

An unbeaten third wicket partnership of 209 between Virat Kohli and Gautam...

By Chris White

South African Recovery Ties Series

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:38:54 +0100

South Africa mounted an eighth-wicket fight back to win the second T20 international against Australia in Johannesburg, to draw the two-match series 1-1. The home side were indebted to two unlikely sources for their 3-wicket victory, which left the Australians stunned.

Wayne Parnell, who finished his bowling spell with 0-44 off his four overs, gathered himself to smash 29 off just 11 deliveries,...

By Chris White

Bidding Process Could Bankrupt a County

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:23:28 +0100

The Chief Executive of one of the leading county sides in English cricket has criticised the current bidding process for Test match cricket, saying that the current method could result in a county side going bust in the near future. The venues to host Test cricket in the next five years was recently announced, with some mixed reactions.

Lancashire...

By Chris White

Cricket Australia Reject "Fix" Claims

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:33:29 +0100

Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body in the country, have rejected court testimony suggesting that their players have been involved in match fixing, dismissing the claims as “baseless and outlandish.”

In the spot-fixing trial involving the former Pakistan players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, the sports agent at t...

By Chris White

Mumbai Win Champions League T20

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:57:27 +0100

Despite posting an under-par 139 in their 20 overs, Mumbai Indians won the 2011 Champions League T20 title with a 31-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore, with skipper Harbhajan Singh spinning his side to the trophy with three wickets.

Kiwi all-rounder James Franklin top scored for Mumbai with 41 off 29 balls before...

By Chris White

Young Guns Seal Warm-Up Win

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:23:34 +0100

England started their limited overs tour of India with a 56-run victory against a Hyderabad Cricket Association X1, but they were reliant upon some standout performances from their young players looking to find a place in the side.

Having been put in to bat, England reached 219 before being bowled out with 16 balls left in their innings, mainly thanks to Ravi Bopara and all-rounder Chris...

By Chris White

Amla to Lead South Africa

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:36:18 +0100

With South Africa limited overs skipper AB de Villiers ruled out of the forthcoming series with Australia due to a fractured finger, the captain’s armband has been passed to opener Hashim Amla for the first time.

De Villers’ absence also opens the door for an international recall for wicket-keeper Mark Boucher...

By Chris White

Former England Bowler Graham Dilley Dies

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:09:52 +0100

Former England bowler Graham Dilley has passed away at the age of 52 after a short battle with illness, shocking the cricket world with his passing.

The former Kent and Worcestershire bowler, most famous for his contribution to the 1981 Ashes success where he batted alongside Sir Ian Botham against the Australians in the...

By Chris White