Billy plays in Zimbabwe

Tuesday 29/01

With scores so far of 0, 2, 2 Robert Mugabe won't be calling the fire brigade - ie Billy ain't setting the World on fire.


Saturday 12/01

Former Outlaw, Hampshire and Stickleback, Bilal Shafayat today scored 2 (including 3 dot balls) for Matabeleland Tuskers in the Zimbabwe Pro50, playing along side the Ervine brothers.

Hussey fishing for Sticklebacks?

Tuesday 08/01

Now retired, Mike Hussey is talking to Northamptonshire about becoming a Stickleback Steelback for the 2013 T20 season.

Sunday 06/01/2013

A fitting farewell for Mike Hussey today, at the crease at the point of the 5 wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third and final test of series at Sydney. Hussey ends his test career with 6235 runs.



Sunday 30/12/2012

Boots to fill!

Mike Hussey announced today his retirement from International cricket at the end of the current series; so who will fill his boots, particularly next summer and the Ashes tour?

Mike Hussey says that brother David deserves his chance but at the age of 35, is this the best road for Australia to go down again, Chris Rogers is similarly 35 too - perhaps George Bailey, T20 captain, could get his turn.

Eyes will be watching that space, with English T20 overseas slots unfilled.

Mike Hussey will continue to play for WA and CSK, leaving more time at home with his family.

RIP AWG

Paul Nixon is right in his assumption that every professional cricketer owes Tong Grieg a debt of gratitude ....................................... a rebel that caused a rebellion in the professional game (The World Series / Kerry Packer). 

RIP Tony, a timely boost to the anti-smoking promotions kicking off now ready for January, lung cancer slays, via a heart attack, another early victim, age 66 years.

Condolences go to his family.

Questionable Actions

Darren Lehmann has got himself in some hot water again after publicly questioning the legitimacy of Marlon Samuels' bowling action.

Lehmann said that he wasn't happy with action of a 120 Km/h off spinner with no run up and thought that "we are here to play cricket properly". Samuels had been banned from the IPL with regards to his bowling action last year. 

Lehmann has hit with a US $3000 fine for his breach of code Rule 9 - Detrimental Public Comment.


Sunday

 6 to go South

England have called-up 6 Notts players for their various series in the New Year in India, New Zealand and Australia.

Broad, Swann and Patel resume in the Test squad in NZ

Broad, Patel, Hales and Lumb are the basis of the T20 squad in NZ

Broad, Patel and Swann are available for the ODIs in India and NZ

Taylor and Hales will tour Australia with the Lions squad.

http://www.nottsccc.co.uk/news/2012/december/nottinghamshire-six-earn-england-calls.html


There is some disappointment being expressed by Nottsviewers that Alex Hales didn't make the ODI squad.

There's only two openers, Cook is untouchable and Kieswetter has had a lot of coaching invested in him by the ECB that they're not going to lose face by admitting they were wrong at this stage. Hales is being used as Kieswetter's motivation perhaps.


Saturday

Patto keeps winning

Darren Pattinson 2/32 helped Melbourne Renegades to a 6 wicket win against Brisbane Heat to keep their winning sequence going in this year's BBL.

Friday

Wide of the mark!

England posted a below par score and then bowled too many wides in the first T20 International in Pune.

Alex Hales did himself no harm with 56 but India's winning margin of 5 wickets with 13 balls to spare was far too easy with England giving 10 wides.

Alex Hales will be joined in the Bangladesh Premier League (Rajshahi) by Riki Wessels (Khulna) later next year as both players were purchased to play in the troubled competition.

Director Newell today also spelled it out that Hales, Lumb and Patel wouldn't be allowed to pursue deals with IPL franchises unlike the England centrally contracted Swann and Broad.

As expect Ed Cowan will be a Nottinghamshire player at the beginning of 2013. Hampshire have signed the bendy-armed Saeed Ajmal for the latter part of the season and doped-banned Abdur Rehman will be returning to Taunton again (to visit his dealer?) in 2013.