..and other stuff leading up to, and occurring around that time. That's too long a thread title to say in one breath, though, so we're stuck with this i'm afraid.

England's men are currently enjoying a small holiday in New Zealand, with three One-day matches so far. The first, on February 9, saw New Zealand win comfortably, though Durham's Phil Mustard managed to score a one-day best of 31 before being bowled by Scott Styris. The game was also Jesse Ryder's debut, he has been an extraordinary asset to Wellington over the last three seasons, having moved from Sri Lanka — and during the 2007-08 New Zealand season has picked up three one-day caps for his side.

England were stopped from scoring heavily, and the quick thinking of Brendan McCullum saw him achieve three run-outs, of Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, and Graeme Swann. New Zealand, meanwhile, knocked off the runs they needed in super quick time, requiring nineteen fewer overs to beat us than we took to achieve the same score.

The second One-Day international took place on February 12, but ol' Duckworth-Lewis came to New Zealand's rescue, not that they needed it, as Alistair Cook was the only England batsman to achieve anything of worthy note, and New Zealand lost no wickets in their quest to get to their revised target of 165 — opener Jack Swann annihilating his previous one-day best with 79 runs from 62 balls.

While able to complain first time around that the Duckworth-Lewis method did not fall kindly for us, no such complaints could be made second time — we managed to bowl out everyone but Jacob Oram surprisingly quickly, and thanks to half-centuries in the England innings from Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood, we knocked off our 44 overs with great skill.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:


February 204th ODINew Zealandv.EnglandMcLean Park
February 235th ODINew Zealandv.EnglandAMI Stadium, Christchurch
February 25MiscellaneousOtagov.England XIUniversity Oval
February 28First-class fixtureOtagov.England XIUniversity Oval


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in the meantime, our women's cricket team has been rather successful — they have just retained the Ashes, albeit up against quite an inexperienced Australia line-up — four of their lower-order, Ellyse Parry, 17, Leonie Coleman, 28, Kirsten Pike, 23, and Emma Sampson, 22, made their women's Test debuts in the one Test fixture played during the Ashes series.

The women's one-day games — the first was won by England, the second by Australia, the third was abandoned, the fourth was won by England and the fifth by Australia.

——————

In other news - Bermuda make 13 all out, and lose in four balls.

The one-day international at Napier park, England v. New Zealand:

England make 340-6, an enormous total in a 50-over one-day international, which included the fastest half-century from an Englishman in One-day cricket, Collingwood making 54 in 30 balls. New Zealand, in the meantime, are 58 without loss as I speak.

Oh my gosh. Turns out that New Zealand actually tied with England, losing one further wicket to get to their total of 340. New Zealand's innings included a total of 139 from How and a half-century from McCullum. In another one-day international, India vs. Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara made 128 from a Sri Lankan total of 238, but this was beaten by the Indians in the last over, thanks to Mahendra Singh Dhoni making his half-century.

The second national team to whom I have allegiance, Namibia, handed a debut to Claude Bouwer, but they fall short of beating Nepal by three runs, after the initially promising Raymond van Schoor fell lbw in the first over.

After a rotten ODI series against New Zealand, the Test Match now start.

The team for England:

AN Cook, MP Vaughan, AJ Strauss, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, PD Collingwood, TR Ambrose, RJ Sidebottom, SJ Harmison, MJ Hoggard, MS Panesar

Interesting to see Andrew Strauss is back in the squad.

The team for New Zealand:

MD Bell, JM How, SP Fleming, MS Sinclair, LRPL Taylor, JDP Oram, BB McCullum, DL Vettori, KD Mills, JS Patel, CS Martin 

At the close of play the score of 282 for 6 for New Zealand, makes the game evenly poised.

I was listening on Five Sports Extra this morning, and the current score is now 87-2. Vaughan is still not out on 44, Cook was caught out by the sub. How makes his first Test half-century in his seventh Test match. Seems unwise to make a prediction right now.

I was listening on Five Sports Extra this morning, and the current score is now 87-2. Vaughan is still not out on 44, Cook was caught out by the sub. How makes his first Test half-century in his seventh Test match. Seems unwise to make a prediction right now.
Andrew Strauss at close of play is on 1 not out, he now has the chance to prove himself after a series of bad innings in his previous Test Matches.

At close of play on the Second Day, England have grind their way to 286-6 on day three of the first Test, still trail New Zealand by 184 runs.

On the final day of play, England removed New Zealand dangerman Daniel Vettori in the sixth over of the final day of the first Test, before the hosts declared on 177-9 in Hamilton.

Vettori left England to chase 300 to win from a minimum of 81 overs.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson replace Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for England's second Test in New Zealand.

England: Cook, Vaughan (capt), Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Ambrose (wkt), Broad, Sidebottom, Panesar, Anderson.

New Zealand: Bell, How, Fleming, Taylor, Sinclair, Oram, McCullum (wkt), Vettori (capt), Mills, Gillespie, Martin.

Wellington, New Zealand.At close of play day one, England 291-5 v New Zealand.

Tim Ambrose hit a superb unbeaten 97 as England recovered from a top-order collapse to post 291-5 on day one of the second Test against New Zealand.

Second Test, Wellington, day two (close): England 342 & 4-0 v New Zealand 198

England end day two of the second Test 148 ahead of New Zealand after James Anderson takes five wickets.

England will need four wickets on the final day to level their Test series (and to win the match) against New Zealand after reducing the Kiwis to 242-6, chasing 438.

Oh my gosh. Turns out that New Zealand actually tied with England, losing one further wicket to get to their total of 340. New Zealand's innings included a total of 139 from How and a half-century from McCullum. In another one-day international, India vs. Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara made 128 from a Sri Lankan total of 238, but this was beaten by the Indians in the last over, thanks to Mahendra Singh Dhoni making his half-century.

The second national team to whom I have allegiance, Namibia, handed a debut to Claude Bouwer, but they fall short of beating Nepal by three runs, after the initially promising Raymond van Schoor fell lbw in the first over.


Must have been a small ground for such large scores...

So can England dismiss NZ to level the serious? We'll find out tomorrow morning if those plucky Kiwi's will be actually PLUCKED!!!

So can England dismiss NZ to level the serious? We'll find out tomorrow morning if those plucky Kiwi's will be actually PLUCKED!!!
I will and get to watch it, but other may hog the tv, so I may have to settle for Test Match Special on the radio (online)

England beat New Zealand by 126 runs in the second Test to level the series.

Ryan Sidebottom had Daniel Vettori caught at third slip and trapped Kyle Mills lbw early on the final day.

But Mark Gillespie and Brendon McCullum (85) frustrated the tourists by taking the score past 300, though their chances of chasing 438 were remote.

And James Anderson had Gillespie caught behind and Sidebottom, who took 5-105, caught McCullum off Monty Panesar to seal victory 30 minutes from lunch.

England beat New Zealand by 126 runs in the second Test to level the series.

Ryan Sidebottom had Daniel Vettori caught at third slip and trapped Kyle Mills lbw early on the final day.

But Mark Gillespie and Brendon McCullum (85) frustrated the tourists by taking the score past 300, though their chances of chasing 438 were remote.

And James Anderson had Gillespie caught behind and Sidebottom, who took 5-105, caught McCullum off Monty Panesar to seal victory 30 minutes from lunch.




Yay team.....a fine result, eh?

Yay team.....a fine result, eh?
For us, yes, but we still have one more match to play.

New Zealand v England 3rd Test. Played at McLean Park, Napier

England won the toss and elected to bat first

Third Test, Napier, day one (close): England 240-7 v New Zealand

Kevin Pietersen's crucial century (129) was the highlight of an otherwise dreadful England performance on day one of the third Test decider against New Zealand.

Monty Panesar claimed career-best figures of 6-126 as England wrapped up victory against New Zealand to seal a first away Test series win since 2005.

Indeed, the NZ/England game was rather impressive, I was listening to it right around the end, and we pulled in an exceptional performance to win the game. Props to go to Test debutant Grant Elliott, who has finally got his first Test start over eleven years after first appearing in first-class cricket, and to Tim Southee, who similarly made his Test debut, having played just twelve first-class games — and took a five-wicket haul on his debut match.

Stuart Broad also made a Test best 42, though it took a 103 ball yawnfest of a run to do so. Highlight of the series, however, has to be the hat-trick from Ryan Sidebottom, who also made his best career analysis in the process. This is the first Test hat trick for England for nine years and two months.

Test match number 1870 has kicked off between India and South Africa at Chennai — Hashim Amla is currently not out for 85 runs.

Spin legend Shane Warne will not return to Hampshire and has retired from first-class cricket.

Retired. Oh wow. Farewell Warnie, may you get that recurring guest role in Neighbours you so richly desire. Sadly retired with his career-best Test score at 99, but we can't have everything.

South Africa made 540 with Hossam Amla recording an incredible innings of 159 before being run out. Verinder Sehwag, meanwhile, has just put his half-century up, as the Indians chase their imposing target.

Retired. Oh wow. Farewell Warnie, may you get that recurring guest role in Neighbours you so richly desire. Sadly retired with his career-best Test score at 99, but we can't have everything.
I was hoping to see him playing this season, now bang goes the idea of it.

Warnie had a great cricketing brain....but a lousy non-cricket brain!!!  He just couldn't say no.......

Warnie had a great cricketing brain....but a lousy non-cricket brain!!!  He just couldn't say no.......
...and will be missed on the field.

...and will be missed on the field.


Australia cannot replace him and will have to find another way to pull a rabbit out of the hat in future.....

Australia cannot replace him and will have to find another way to pull a rabbit out of the hat in future.....
I am hoping that England's Monty Panesar will takeover the mantle.

I am hoping that England's Monty Panesar will takeover the mantle.


Aren't his hands too big for any hat?

Just fifteen days to go until the start of the domestic season! Come on Sussex. Having won the County Championship as well as the Minor Counties Championship in style last year, they are surely favourites to end this season with the same sort of results. Worcestershire and Warwickshire were relegated from Division One last season, while Somerset and Nottinghamshire were promoted from Division Two, Somerset's only loss last year coming in an away fixture against Middlesex which, judging by the fact that Somerset's first innings finished 50-8 declared, and the first day was clearly a washout...

Shows good things will come to the team come this year.

Durham's success last year needs also to be commended - from seventh in 2006 to second in 2007, having only been promoted in 2005, their recent surge in form is great news for all who represent the newest cricketing county.

Somerset's only loss last year coming in an away fixture against Middlesex which, judging by the fact that Somerset's first innings finished 50-8 declared, and the first day was clearly a washout...
I was at Lord's that day, and we are still in a state of shock over that decision by the then captain Justin Langer.

You were there at the time Philipinot? Thank you for clarification!

Sussex's first game is away against Hampshire on April 16, with the exception of an MCC match on the tenth. Worcestershire are against Warwickshire on the same day.

You were there at the time Philipinot? Thank you for clarification!

Sussex's first game is away against Hampshire on April 16, with the exception of an MCC match on the tenth. Worcestershire are against Warwickshire on the same day.
No problem.

Oh my, the 10th is next week, so soon, I plan to be there on the Thursday.

Upcoming Test matches - India vs. South Africa and the West Indies v. Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, in the real world, Middlesex have signed Australian left-arm fast bowler Dirk Nannes and South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander for the forthcoming season.

Two foreigners, with the foreigner cap in place, I hear you cry? As a passport-holder of a non-Test playing country, Dutch citizen Nannes qualifies as a non-overseas player. The thirty-year-old Nannes has been playing cricket for Victoria since 2006, while Philander has played for Western Province and Cape Cobras, and has three Under-19 Tests under his belt.

Upcoming Test matches - India vs. South Africa and the West Indies v. Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, in the real world, Middlesex have signed Australian left-arm fast bowler Dirk Nannes and South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander for the forthcoming season.

Two foreigners, with the foreigner cap in place, I hear you cry? As a passport-holder of a non-Test playing country, Dutch citizen Nannes qualifies as a non-overseas player. The thirty-year-old Nannes has been playing cricket for Victoria since 2006, while Philander has played for Western Province and Cape Cobras, and has three Under-19 Tests under his belt.
Dirk Nannes is news to me, and looking elsewhere he is replacing Ashley Noffke for Middlesex for the 2008 season.

Philander, 22, will join as an overseas player and will stay at Lord's until the arrival of Indian spinner Murali Kartik in June.

I hadn't read the small print as far as Noffke was concerned - I was unaware that he was signed for only two months. That says a lot. Of course, Worcestershire had planned to get Noffke for themselves nobbut two months ago.

I hadn't read the small print as far as Noffke was concerned - I was unaware that he was signed for only two months. That says a lot. Of course, Worcestershire had planned to get Noffke for themselves nobbut two months ago.
I was looking forward to seeing Ashley Noffke again.

In the opening match for the season, MCC v Sussex at Lord's. The MCC side will be captained by Ed Joyce and the team will contain three other Middlesex players.

Another piece of good news is Yorkshire's confirmation of the signing of Pakistani Rana Naved-al-Hasan, who played in the controversial Indian Cricket League, along with Mushy Ahmed. (As he is known to his friends. Well okay, just me.)

With the ban of Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar ruling him out of international and domestic cricket for five years, I wonder will be come over to play in England?

It's certainly a possibility, he was over here in 2003 with Durhamshire, back in ye oldene dayse before they actually were performing well. With the team in the situation they are now, I reckon he would relish the opportunity to play here again.

South Africa bowl India out for a measly 76 runs, the tenth Test match at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, meanwhile Kallis and De Villiers have put on a fifth wicket partnership of 106 and counting.

South Africa bowl India out for a measly 76 runs, the tenth Test match at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, meanwhile Kallis and De Villiers have put on a fifth wicket partnership of 106 and counting.
After India scored 627 all out and Sehwag scoring 319 (300 in 278 balls) in the First Test.

South Africa consign India to a defeat by an innings and ninety runs, while india's innings of 76 is their second-worst against South African opposition in Tests, their worst coming in December 1996, when they put on just 66 runs in the final innings of the match — the debut test match of Adam Bacher. This is also their sixth-worst score in a completed Test innings.

In the Incontinence Cup, Dutch opener Bas Zuiderent has carried his bat right from the beginning of the order and is currently on 149 not out. Incredibly, his batting partner Ryan ten Doeschate put on 146 runs — the two batsmen together putting on 86% of the team's current score of 343 runs.

Typical for England, the new cricket season starts next week and it snows!

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/89200/89212.jpg

Celebrating the start of the English Cricket Season, leading cricketers and the trophies are paraded at the Abbey Road Crossing.

The five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2008 have been chosen - they are Ian Bell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ottis Gibson, Zaheer Khan, and Ryan Sidebottom.

First day of India v. South Africa, Test Match number 1873 at Green Park, Kanpur, South Africa finish the day 265 all out - Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla both making half-centuries.

Close of play on the first day all around English cricket grounds. Here we go with some round-ups.


Essex v. Cambridge UCCE - Having slipped to 64-3 after the losses of Chopra, Westley and Jason Gallian, Pettini put on 153 and is still not out. Ryan ten Doeschate, meanwhile, retired out on 146. Middlebrook, meanwhile, is 46 not out. Essex hand a first-class debut to 18-year-old wicket-keeper Adam Wheater.
Derbyshire v. Durham UCCE - no play has been made possible today thanks to the rain.
MCC v. Sussex is already up to the third day - Sussex were all out for a small total of 171, but MCC were completely carried by Owais Shah, who scored 72 out of the team's 205 runs. In their second innings, so far Sussex have made 474 for five, with a half-century innings of 90 for Chris Nash soon followed by a career-best innings of 155 not out and counting for Luke Wright.
Oxford University v. Middlesex - Oxford's first innings started slowly, as they got to just 43-7, but they recovered this to a slightly more respectable-looking 126 all out. Meanwhile, Middlesex in reply are at 120-2. Meanwhile, OU have handed a first-class debut to Edward Abel, just turned 20, whose first cricketing appearances came for Hampshire Cricket Academy in 2005.
Loughborough v. Surrey - English-born Dane Johan Malcolm is on 93 not out in just his second first-class appearance. Tom Jowell and Stuart Meaker are making their first-class debuts for Surrey
Hampshire v. Cardiff UCCE - Hampshire's James Adams has survived right from the top of the order to score his century right at the end of the first day. Chris Tremlett, meanwhile, has just gotten out for a golden duck.

Test match number 1873 finishes with a resounding win for India, by eight wickets. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth puts on his fiftieth Test wicket, and Verinder Sehwag bowls 3-12 from just 8.5 overs.

Overview of yesterday's domestic English play:


Essex v. Cambridge UCCE: Essex declared on 406-4, with Pettini finishing on 153 not out. Cambridge's first innings has started gently - Richard Timms has started well for Cambridge, while former Leicestershire Second XI man Kunal Jogia has just gotten in to bat.
Derbyshire v. Durham UCCE: Durham were put in to bat by Derbyshire, and it has probably proven to be an inspired choice - no single batsman in the Durham XI scored more than 13 runs, and the joint second-highest scorer is that omnipotent run scorer, E. Xtras. John Sadler, Nayan Doshi and Dominic Telo are making their Derbyshire debuts, Telo being the only debutant far to make a shaky start.
Oxford UCCE v. Middlesex: This game is going to be starting its third day upon its restart: Oxford quickly lose their first five wickets in their first innings, and include in their team Eddie Abel, a 20-year-old debutant. Wicket-keeper Duffell was Oxford's highest-scorer, with 37 runs to his name. Middlesex followed this up strongly with an innings total of 403-7 declared - David "Knocker" Nash finished on 100* with eight boundaries to his credit. Oxford's second innings has just started, and the team are fourteen without loss.
Surrey v. Loughborough UCCE: This game is in exactly the same place as it was yesterday, with Johan Malcolm agonizingly close to his century - the game was rained out for the day.
Hampshire v. Cardiff UCCE: Hampshire declared on 249-8, with Jimmy Adams making an agonizingly slow seven-hour century from first in the batting order, and finishing not out. Cardiff's innings has just gotten underway, and having lost opener Christopher Smith for just eight runs, the team are currently 10-1.
Kent v. Lds-Brd UCCE: Shaiiq Choudhry is starting just his second first-class match, and is currently not out. Kent's innings finished on 481-5 declared, thanks to centuries from openers Joe Denly and Rob Key.

Overview of yesterday's domestic English play:


Oxford UCCE v. Middlesex: This game is going to be starting its third day upon its restart: Oxford quickly lose their first five wickets in their first innings, and include in their team Eddie Abel, a 20-year-old debutant. Wicket-keeper Duffell was Oxford's highest-scorer, with 37 runs to his name. Middlesex followed this up strongly with an innings total of 403-7 declared - David "Knocker" Nash finished on 100* with eight boundaries to his credit. Oxford's second innings has just started, and the team are fourteen without loss.


The Oxford UCCE v. Middlesex starts the with Oxford UCCE trailing by 263 runs with 10 wickets remaining and the wicket is wet, so play till it dries up.

End of games all round - and all games were abandoned, the Middlesex game being abandoned and called a draw due to the rain.

End of games all round - and all games were abandoned, the Middlesex game being abandoned and called a draw due to the rain.
Now the County Championship is to commence on Wednesday.

Yes indeed - before then, West Indies v. Sri Lanka and Pakistan v. Bangladesh are two one-day international matches, the former taking place today and the latter taking place tomorrow.

Yes indeed - before then, West Indies v. Sri Lanka and Pakistan v. Bangladesh are two one-day international matches, the former taking place today and the latter taking place tomorrow.
That means live cricket on TV later on.

Mahela Udawatte, 21, has just reached his half-century in his third one-day international.

Pakistan v. Bangladesh — 4th ODI:

While a shaky start was made all round by Bangladesh, who won the toss and decided to bat first, Shakib Al Hasan made a century from fifth in the order, lasting until the fall of the tenth wicket. His innings of 108 is his highest in one-day cricket.

Pakistan, chasing a target of 211, were boosted by the good form of Salman Butt, and as of right now need just 63 runs to claim victory.

Close of play on the first day of the season's first County Championship matches is coming up in half an hour's time, I'll be here with a report for then.

Pakistan closed out victory by a margin of seven wickets, with half-centuries from Butt and Bazid Khan, Mohammad Yousuf finished not-out on 37.

Day 1 in the County Championship:


Robert White and Lance Klusener top-score in Northamptonshire's first innings, sixth-position Klusener finishing the day not-out on 72. Essex, who have had time to hit just three overs, are currently being led in scoring by E. Xtras. Tom Westley is coming up to bat soon for Essex, I'm quite looking forward to seeing how his performance goes.
Derbyshire crumble to 124 all out, Gloucestershire reply with half-centuries from Marcus North and Chris Taylor - this of course the other Chris Taylor, not the guy who used to be at Derbyshire. They stand at 216-6 at the close of play.
Hampshire v. Sussex: After the early loss of Carl Hopkinson, Nash and Yardy fall agonizingly near to their half-centuries, but Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin pulls a century out of the bag at exactly the right moment. Prior hit another half-century, but the last six wickets tumbled within the space of just fifteen runs. Enzedder Shane Bond took seven wickets in the first innings, which according to my records is his best single-innings analysis.
Kent v. Nottinghamshire: Despite captain Rob Key making 79 runs before being bowled out, the entire Kent team crumble to just 162 all out, Martin van Jaarsveld being one of three successive batsmen in the order getting out for a duck. Nottinghamshire have started more positively, and despite having lost three wickets, have Mark Wagh not out for 52. Of the Nottinghamshire bowlers, Pattinson secured a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
Leicestershire v. Middlesex: The away team have started this game almost perfectly, with Owais Shah reaching a century and Ed Smith his half-ton. Every bowler except one has taken a single wicket thus far in the match, with five down in the first innings.
Surrey v. Lancashire: Having won the toss, Surrey batted first, and with Ramprakash having just reached his century, Mark Butcher, too, is close to the mark. Lancashire have some work to do to salvage something from this innings.
Warwickshire v. Worcestershire: Stuart Moore carried his bat for Worcestershire, scoring a century while the rest of the team offered little in the way of huge run totals. Warwickshire's first innings has started badly, Westwood going without a run on the board. Let's see if they can pull something out.