Ding-dong Bell rings in England finale win

Sunday 27/01

England thanks to an Ian Bell ton won the last of the ODIs in India by 7 wickets.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/engine/current/match/565816.html?CMP=chrome

Ashley Giles has in his fourth game of his charge, today in Mohali,  revealed some of his cards - he doesn't quite rate Craig Keiswetter, replacing him with Jos Buttler.

Cook loses the toss, again! England put in, again!

A familiar pattern followed; England post a sub par score and India chased it down with overs to spare ............................. not exciting stuff alas.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/engine/current/match/565815.html

There's been some whining about Steve Finn brushing stumps as he bowls - I'm sure we've been here before!

In the BPL another pattern is being followed by KRB; Riki Wessels hits a fine fifty, then the team loses.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2013/engine/current/match/599874.html

Boks rattled?

With captain AB de V banned , South Africa lost their second ODI on the bounce to New Zealand, this time by 27 runs being bowled out in pursuit of 280 - 5 run outs included. Reportedly, Riki Wessels' dad, Kepler, ain't a happy bunny!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-new-zealand-2012/engine/current/match/567359.html?CMP=chrome

What does "fair" mean?

At the 4th ODI between Australia and SL at SCG, rain stopped play at the beginning of the Sri Lanka's reply to Australia's 222/9 - David Hussey made just 1.

According to the cricinfo commentary  "Very unexpected news from the SCG, the game has been called off. Loud boos from an enthusiastic SCG crowd as they hear the news over the PA system. There's been no rain for 45 minutes, and it didn't rain for very long and it wasn't very heavy either. So I'm quite surprised by this decision."

The match referee, Javagal Srinath, stated the game was abandoned because umpires Paul Reiffel and Marais Erasmus deemed conditions to be "unfair". 

Yes a wet ball is difficult to bowl with, yes the flawed Duckworth Lewis system would have heavily favoured Sri Lanka who had bowled well in restricting Australia to a modest total and had started their reply without a loss of a wicket, but does that make it unfair?

If this policy was to continue to England then we won't get much of a T20 or CB40 competition this year with most games being "drawn".

Sri Lanka certainly have grounds to belly-ache about this one!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/story/601512.html?CMP=chrome

Riki Wessels' Royal Bagels lost again the BPL (Riki made 48) , this time by 8 wickets to Colonel Mustard's Bunsen Burners (Brad Hodge 53).

Hauritz Show

Nathan Hauritz with fine catching and tight bowling won the BBL Final for Brisbane Heat. Crusader Voges with have to be content with the finals largest score of 49 for his Perth Scorchers as they fell short by 34 runs.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-domestic-2012/engine/current/match/571266.html

 Australia Fare - poorly and ...............  England just as poor too.

Saturday

Horror Show in the third ODI has England trundled to another heavy defeat in India.

155 all out, India at half way were 78/1......................

..................................................... and eventually won by 7 wickets with well over 20 overs in hand

Friday

David Hussey, having not played any part in the Stars' BBL semi, was part of an Australia side bowled out for 74 in Brisbane by Sri Lanka in an ODI. Top scorer was Mitchell Starc (no.9) with 22*.

Sri Lanka currently 75/6 Mitchell Johnson 3/11
SL won by 4 wickets and 30 overs to spare

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/engine/current/match/573016.html?CMP=chrome

Riki Wessels scored 30 as Dhaka Gladiators beat Khulna Royal Bengals by 62 runs in the BPL.

Josh Cobb, playing for the
victorious Gladiators today