Congratulations England

A run-chase that almost faltered - a confident start followed by the wobbles, but still England won the game.

The Ferns were resolute however, they turned a very getable score into an almost defendable one, losing only in the 48th over. I might blog some more about it but here's a couple of shots from the game.

On the left, the late NZ rally, Doolan plays through midwicket. She went on to score 48, the full scoreboard is here. On the right, Doolan again, this time bowling - she took three wickets.

Well done the Ferns and thanks!

Jane McGrath inspires Aussies

The Jane McGrath foundation will benefit from donations made at today's ICC Women's World Cup game between England and Australia just as it did during the last test between the Australian men and the South Africans at the SCG. It's great to see Cricket Australia so thoroughly get behind the Foundation which provides funding for breast care nurses on a national basis and promotes public awareness of breast cancer, particularly amongst younger women.

The game between England and Australia was to be the final, if you read the press before the competition, but that's next to impossible now. Still, I'm not at all surprised to see the Australian's on top - they've restricted England to just 161. The Southern Stars will feel they've not played to their potential and will want to knock over England - one finalist - to prove they've not dropped out of the top tier. If anything, this tournament's proved that the top four are considerably stronger than the bottom.

Elsewhere, New Zealand's White Ferns have changed their team from the win over India but not rested too many of their top guns. They've just posted the highest score of the competition to date, 373 for seven with both captain Tiffen and Suzie Bates scoring centuries, Bates scoring 168! Assuming they skittle Pakistan quickly, they'll probably head quickly over to North Sydney oval to watch the Australian innings.

I've heard the experts say winning a tournament's different from test series and momentum is everything. Whatever happens between England and Australia, but I'm barracking for our Australasian cousins, the Fern's clearly have momentum.

Update: Australia have beaten England by eight wickets, that'll not help their preparation for the final which will be against New Zealand who've comprehensively beaten Pakistan.

Free cricket tickets... honest

It's an offer simply too good to pass-up, free tickets to the Women's World Cup final, North Sydney Oval, this Sunday from 10am.

I 'spose you could do your washing, car's a mess too and God knows when you last visited the rellos (trans: relatives) but bugger that, go to the cricket, cheer the White Ferns, the kids will get a balloon animal and have their face painted while you grab a sanger-sandwhich and a beer...

Courtesy of the clever and charming tournament Director, Miss Eugenie Buckley, I've got some tickets to give away. Contact me on siesta@internode.on.net to make arrangements (basically, you'll need to pick them up from the city Friday afternoon).

Here we go, here we go, here go...

It was a glorious afternoon in North Sydney yesterday. The autumnal cool air and warm afternoon sun made for perfect conditions.

North Sydney oval has old-world charm. The stadia are vintage, recovered from various developments at the SCG apparently. They're shallow and tightly surround the pitch. A large embankment on the east side of the ground is the perfect spot to sit if you've got a hat and sunscreen (though you can't easily see the replay screen). The ground was completely open when I arrived, late in New Zealand's innings, meaning anyone could have stopped by for free (sadly however, the bar had closed).

I caught the last ten overs. Just before I arrived I heard applause as Mason hit a four and a six. She struck another boundary but was then caught at mid-wicket. By then however, it didn't matter. New Zealand had momentum and wickets in hand. Bates joined Browne and both continued to play aggressively, Bates batting well out of the crease - even Gouher Sultana's near full-tosses didn't deter her though she did cop a couple in the ribs. The Ferns had luck too, benefiting from a couple of misfields and four leg-byes in the last few overs (but the Indians had bowled tightly throughout, conceding only eight extras compared with the Ferns 25).

A small group of supporters, many who looked like parents of team members, were in the stands. We joined them for the last two overs and then applauded the team as they joined the pair that'd hit the winning runs. Danny Morrison did the presentations to polite heckling - c'mon Danny, walk-in with the bowler mate - and Pulford was player of the match having taken a pair then knocked 71.

Tiffen's pre-match prediction that her pace bowlers would do well was spot on. Devine, Pulford, and Browne took five, spinner Mason just one - remarkably the rest were all run-outs.

It's possible the Ferns won't make the final though they should. On form, Pakistan won't trouble them on Thursday which means Sunday's final will be New Zealand against England. Interestingly England last won the cup at home in 1993 and New Zealand at home in 2000. New Zealand ought to be adopted by the hosts and the expats should be there en masse... New Zealand cricket fans will need distraction from the domestic series!

Ferns off to a flyer

India won the toss and elected to bat, they've lost two wickets for just 37 runs after 12 overs bringing the danger pair of Chopra and Raj together!

Update: Browne makes the critical break through, getting Raj out caught behind for just 21 - her average before this game was 89. India now 68 for three and falling just below three runs an over after 23 overs.

Update 2: Pulford knocks over Rumeli Dhar cheaply. India now 87 for four.

Update 3: Captain Tiffen runs out Indian captain Goswami. India 108 for five... Chopra still in on 49.

End of Indian innings: The Indians have posted 207 just falling short of batting out their overs. Chopra held the innings together batting through to the 38th over and scoring 52. The Indian score was bumped-up by Reema Malhotra who scored faster than a run a ball and was not out at the end on 59.

Live blogging will cease now as (a) no one's reading and (b) I'm going to skive off to the game. Horrah!

Chicks sport, who cares?

What is it with the lack of coverage of women's sport in Australia? I recall being particularly peeved when the 2006 trans-Tasman netball was not live on television even though the rights were with the national free-to-air broadcaster.

Coverage of the ICC Women's World Cup is good by comparison, it's live and although it's not free-to-air, all North Sydney oval games are on Foxtel. Tick for television. Tick too, for ABC radio which has had live commentary of all Australian games. The print press though, they've hardly paid any attention to the tourament. Perhaps it's because Australia has struggled and will likely not now make the final? The online presence, beyond the excellent tournament homepage, is also limited. NZ Cricket's tournament site is good with interviews, match reports and the like as is the cricinfo mini-site.

Miss Field is likewise underwhelmed by the lack of coverage. And, courtesey of the handmirror, so too are NZ bloggers ludditejourno and Anne-Marie.

Women's sport suffers badly from a lack of media attention which translates into poor attendance, in most codes, and probably affects participation(?). In Australia, swimming has been the exception although the new trans-Tasman netball competition is also live and free-to-air (plus, it seems, subscriber access to high definition). In New Zealand, my memory is that only netball gets consistent coverage.

I'd speculate as to why this is, but it's obvious really.

White Ferns must win match against India

The White Ferns face India at North Sydney oval today, Tuesday 17 March, and must win to have a chance of making the final. Assuming the remaining super six games go on form, England will be in the finals and will face one of India, Australia or New Zealand.

India have momentum in their favour having won a tight contest against Australia but little separates them from the White Ferns. Both have beaten Australia - NZ by 13 runs and India by 16 - and both have lost to England - NZ by 31 runs but India by a whopping 9 wickets!

The White Fern's captain seems to think her team is better suited to North Sydney oval where the pitch favours pace bowlers. In her blog on cricinfo, Haidee Tiffen identifies fast bowlers Nicola Browne and Sophie Devine as key to their chances as well as making clear her own responsibilities to bat through the innings.

...secondly a top-order batsman, like Anjum Chopra against Australia, has stayed on till 40 overs to steer the batting. We have that sort of batsmen, who can stay long and score at a quick rate and when we get it right we are a very strong batting team.

For New Zealand to win, they'll have to bowl well and minimise the extras (the conceded 19 extras against England and 15 against Australia). The key is dismissing Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra cheaply. Watch for NZ's Aimee Mason to play an important role too. Mason's taken eight wickets through the tournament, including four against South Africa, at a strike rate of 19.

C'mon Sydney-based Kiwi's, if you can, North Sydney oval's a ten minute train ride from the city (you can get trains from Central, Town Hall and Wynyard)! Surely a long lunch or an early finish is the least your team deserves!

Assume cultural stereotypes, first position!

I should hardly be surprised by news that despite topping their pool, something they were not predicted to do, the White Ferns will not play at North Sydney oval on Saturday as scheduled as I'd hoped. This is Because cameras are only at North Sydney oval and that's where Australia were playing there regardless of where they ended up in the first round (having come second).

The White Ferns are now playing out at Bankstown - I'm sure a perfectly nice oval.

An Australian colleague passed this news on to me, having correctly read the schedule and enjoying correcting my error. He goaded me to protest - of course I did.

"Typical bloody Kiwi, always having a moan", he said.

"Typical bloody Australia, rorting and cheating the competition", I replied.

Update: I was wrong about the schedule...

White Ferns off to tricky start

After eleven overs, NZ are two for 40. Tiffen still at wicket however.

Update: Great recovery, NZ now three for 99. Tiffen took a back seat to Satterthwaite who's gone on to post her highest score, currently 69 (previous high score 67) and is scoring at close to a run a ball.

Update 2: Now five down for 132 (32 over). Satterthwaite out for 73 from 76. Vice Captain Mason went cheaply but Sara McGlashan and Nicola Browne continuing to score at around four an over.

Final: NZ posted a good score, 250, and then knocked over the South Africans for the paltry score of 51. Five of the South Africans were out without scoring and only one made double figures. Bates and Mason took four-for, Mason in four overs and conceding only two runs.

England similarly flogged Pakistan. This means the White Ferns play England on Saturday 14th at North Sydney Oval.

Windies defeated, next stop Bowral

The White Ferns beat the Windies out west in Bankstown - no match report from me, I was busy with public service.

Next up are the South Africans who lost today to the Australians (Aussies posted a good score and the South Africans couldn't complete their overs). It looks like NZ fielded their top team against the Australians and gave some a rest today. I'll not make this weekend's game as it's in Bowral (an hour+ south of Sydney).

Assuming the White Ferns win their remaining games, they'll top their side of the draw which will likely see them play England, ranked second in this competition, in the first game of the Super Six. That game will be played Saturday 14th at the wonderful North Sydney Oval.

If there's someone with connections to Kea, please let them know to ask them to repeat their encouraging of the kiwi-expat community!

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

NZ's off to a great start in the ICC Women's World Cup beating the Aussies at home in a close game that, sadly, was decided by Meers Duckworth and Lewis. NZ would've won had the game gone on, honest, and despite the weather it was an cracker game. A prelude to the final perhaps?

NZ won even after a mid-order collapse. Great batting by NZ captain Haidee Tiffen (see above playing strongly in front of square) and attacking bowling by Kate Pulford got the Kiwis home. Pulford took three, including a great LBW to dismiss Nitschke (who'd just belted her for six), and 'keeper Priest took a couple of important catches including a screamer in front of first slip to dismiss Sthalekar (off Pulford's bowling). The Aussies conceded too many extras (21) and, let's be fair, had to play in the tougher conditions.

North Sydney Oval is bloody marvellous. The ground is small and purpose-built. A cluster of well maintained traditional stands, a temporary replay screen and a wide grassed hill are ideal for watching and for families - my youngest played with Stuey McGill's kids before discovering the balloon animals and face-painting (congrats to the organisers for catering to the kids, it's simple stuff and enables the parents to relax and stay longer). Even though this is a serious competition, any trans-Tasman event is, the presence of so many kids really adds to the atmosphere - at the risk of being nostalgic, the game on the weekend reminded me what sports used to be like before professionalism totally took over.

Games are also being played at Drummoyne Oval, Bankstown, Newcastle and the Don's home of Bowral. Public transport to all the grounds is very good - Bowral excepted perhaps. I've not been to the Drummoyne Oval but I'm told it's equally family friendly.

Having won their opening game, NZ are now in a great position heading into the Super Six stage of the competition. Get along and watch! Tickets are available online with NZ versus the Republic of South Africa, Bankstown, Saturday 14th, available for the princely sum of $20 for a family!

Chappell/Hadlee series well and truly alive

Cheating, denials, invocations of past injustices, a close win... brilliant.

I've got my tickets for the new Trumper stand at the SCG for Sunday and am prepared for an unusually hostile audience. Kiwis are usually merely gently mocked at the SCG, or any cricket ground in Australia for that matter. Few expect the Kiwis to win, even if they look a chance for 20 overs. Aussies expect to win against every opposition, Kiwis particularly. But no more.

Four ODI defeats in a row. This, after two series lost at home and a third away (I'm counting the tests and ODIs against South Africa as separate series. The prized number one status gone just like heros of the past, Warne, McGrath, Gilly and now Hayden. The new boys, initially promising, dismissed by brave fields - when was the last time you saw a silly mid off in an ODI? Cricket's pop-blogger, McDouall is himself is astounded:

The openers were both dismissed at silly mid off. This was a field placing of enormous chutzpah by Dan Vettori, and the fact that it was the giant Peter Fulton who was standing there, like a surly bouncer at a nightclub, shows intellectual finesse. I remember years ago the All Black lock Murray Pierce standing as close as he was allowed to an Irishman about to kick a penalty. The elongated Pierce raised his arms, challenging the man in green to successfully kick over an eight foot human barrier, let alone the goalposts beyond. The placing of Peter Fulton, as massive as Pierce, was similarly disruptive.

Last time I went to see the Blackcaps in Sydney, Chris Cairns will still playing. Flem too. That side, the 2004/05 side, actually looked the goods. Particularly when they restricted Australia to 261. But even then, even when Mills was in knocking boundaries all over the ground, we still lost. We lost just like the Aussie's did at the WACA; unable to play out our 50 overs.

Bloody hell, how'll we keep a lid on expectations aye? A win in Australia. Rare as! But then when was the last time Australia lost five ODIs in a row? 2005. England won two and we won the next three... but that was the Hussey side sans a number of the big guns and in NZ. Losing five at home? You have to go back to January 2002 and the last triangular tournament involving South Africa and us. I like that omen!

Update: the Australian squad for the two remaining games in the series has been announced. Two new players, one uncapped, and Ponting is rested. Contempt? Panic? Focusing on bigger goals? I don't care if we win in Sydney and take out the series.

Update 2: Controversial former umpire Darrell Hair thinks Haddin was at fault also. He stops short of calling Haddin a cheat but makes clear the dismissal was wrong and that Haddin was best placed to know. A replay is here (hat tip: Vibenna via Deborah)

Yeah right

C'mon, Hayden better than the Little Master? I don't think so.

I didn't much like Haydo, he seemed a bit of a prat to me. I respect his achievements however. I even agree he probably revolutionised the role of openers; he was so dominant so quickly, he forced opposition captains to change fields by punishing their attack bowlers and could turn a game in a session (much like Gilchrist or Warne could) but is he better than the game's leading run scorer?

7 for 152

With the first Test underway, 7 for 152 is a score that would ordinarily terrify a kiwi; except we're bowling! It's a short tour but tonight, and possibly only tonight, I'll not be paid-out by my Australian mates.

Four day five day Test with a difference

Australia have won so many Tests in four days, I almost missed the significance of today's news: Australia may lose a Test in four days.

Is Hayden's career over? His 29 in the second innings is his higest score in this series. But what about Watson? Good knock in the first innings but 2 in the second. Even Hussey failed... The freebie newspaper handed out to Sydney commuters is calling for the Pup to be handed captaincy! At 9.20pm EST, Australia need 434 runs with five wickets in hand and four sessions left to play.

I'll resist the temptation until NZ have beaten Bangladesh... four session, nine wickets in hand and 174 runs to win.

Actually, I might even hold out until after the two-Test series in November. Two Tests? WTF? Two Tests and only a warm-up game against NSW. Bastards. Assuming they don't play Katich, Lee, Pup or even Haddin. I suspect Stuey Clark, Bracken or Jacques will be well keen to prove a point.

Right thing for the wrong reason...

Now is my way clear, now is the meaning plain:
Temptation shall not come in this kind again.
The last temptation is the greatest treason:
To do the right deed for the wrong reason.

John Howard is no St Thomas, not even close, but he is a clever tactician and his decision to come heavy with the Australian cricket team will serve him well. He's a well known cricket tragic and even Punter's said a polite thanks.

Most will agree that touring Zimbabwe now is straight out crazy (enter Sekai Holland as the first tempter) surely at the bottom of every professional cricketers wish list, but no-one should be fooled into thinking this isn't purely political.

But so what really, the focus should be on ending Mugabe's regime, not on Howard nor on cricket. However, I expect no greater effort will be made in Africa, Australia's foreign policy is too heavily focused on the Middle East. However, it does put into stark contrast the NZ government's unwillingness to intervene only a few years ago - a point well made by Keith Locke

Up goddammit

My plan was to listen to the first 10 overs and then go to bed in order to get up early enough to hear the final 10 overs however this plan has failed. First there was a couple of quick wickets and the prospect of an early dismissal/quick win and then there was a prolonged coughing fit of backin15-junior.

Now I'm up, munchy and alert - not so much so that a fifth of bourbon wouldn't suffice but for the fact I've not got one/any...

Bondy's just knocked over Silva LBW ... hang about Cricinfo is reporting an inside edge:

34.3 Bond to Silva, OUT, unlucky! Bond switches to a fuller length, gets it to angle in from outside off stump, Silva gets stuck deep in the crease, jabs the bat down onto it, gets a relatively thick inside-edge back onto the pads - an awkward noise, if ever there was one - and after a couple of seconds Koertzen raises the finger. Unfortunate decision for Silva

Oh well...

Bring on Australia and yet another sleepless night... practice for the Rugby World Cup perhaps?

67 for 2

After 13.2 overs, NZ has Sri Lanka two down for a respectable 67 - 5 an over. The two dangermen are out, Jayasuryia and Sangakara. I might now retire for the night/morning in the expectation/hope we'll win this...

Radiosport and baggygreen have kept me fixated on the game... and Vettori strikes, Tharanga's gone bowled. This must be the break-through. NZ must bowl the Sri Lankan's out for no more than 250.

Glamour boys

Hamish McDouall's post over at publicaddress has got me thinking about what makes a balanced team. You need a couple of dead-set stars, you need a solid group of players who don't get injured and seldom have an off-day, you need consistent selection policy, confidence and form, excellent leadership and a Plan B.

To the extent that he's following my advice, Fleming probably thinks his team exhibits these characteristics and a few more besides. In him, Bond and Vettori NZ cricket has a clutch of players who are at or near the top of their class. Fleming is clearly one of the best captains of the last 5 years and, when he's playing well, he is dominating and elegant, capable of playing all around the park. Bond and Vettori deserve to be second and eighth best bowlers in One Day Internationals. In Oram, McCullum, Styris we have three players who are never intimidated but perhaps a little too injury prone (McCullum excepted). Bracewell's selections have been predictable, perhaps not Tuffey however, and form and confidence are high - particularly for the likes of McMillen and Ross Taylor.

I'm not so sure about whether or not they have a Plan B* however and possibly this explains the loss to Sri Lanka - now a run of four in a row - NZ need to revisit their strategy for Sri Lanka else win or lose tonight, they'll not progress to the final.


*I remember watching NZ play Wales in the 2002 Rugby World Cup where it was clear NZ did not have a back-up plan and Wales almost pulled off an upset win (interestingly, it seemed to me that Justin Marshall took over leadership of the team just after the second half started and Wales scored a try...).

Don't do it John...

Don't coach Pakistan! Why move to Lahore and have to deal with the endemic fraud of cricket on the sub-continent when you could instead take-over England (with its endemic pomposity)?

I'm looking forward to tonight's clash with Australia. Australia will think that the 3-nil loss in NZ doesn't matter since so many of their stars were unavailable and, with both Oram's unavailability and Watson being back, it's a game between very different sides however NZ must feel confident nonetheless. Both teams have form with bat and ball, both are confident.

I've read that the toss has been very important in some of the games with conditions greatly affecting bowling - it'd be a pity if that was the case tonight (unless we were the beneficiaries) however either way NZ can afford no wayward bowling and must not lose earlier wickets - watching England beat Australia in the tri-series, it was obvious that Ponting's team don't have many back-up options (why would you if you were almost always successful with plan A?) and make uncharacteristic errors when under sustained pressure (another reason why the loss of Oram is a real disappointment).

Barrack with your heart but bet the odds...