Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 26th March 2008
With Adam Gilchrist now in retirement, the title of world’s best wicketkeeper-batsman is up for grabs. MS Dhoni of India, Mark Boucher of South Africa and Kumar Sangakarra of Sri Lanka are all worthy contenders to the crown, but for me the answer is: Brendon McCullum.
Posted in Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, cricket | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 3rd March 2008
ICL, ICC, IPL, BCCI, cricket’s version of alphabet soup comes served with a side of confusion as India’s big money power struggle threatens international cricket.
Posted in India, New Zealand, cricket, opinion | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 27th February 2008
After two visits to AMI Stadium in a little over a week, I was absolutely staggered at the drunken, loutish behaviour on display. At exactly what point did sports and drinking to excess become linked in our “culture”?
Posted in cricket, opinion, rugby, sports | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 23rd February 2008
The Black Caps have won their five match series against England by three games to one after a 34 run win in a rain shortened game in Christchurch on Saturday night. Wicketkeeper Brendan McCullum got New Zealand off to a flying start, and they never looked back, until the rain came.
Posted in England, New Zealand, cricket | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 7th February 2008
England won the second Twenty20 match of their series over the Black Caps by 52 runs at AMI Stadium, Christchurch. Captain Paul Collingwood lead from the front with 54 runs, while the New Zealand batsmen struggled…again.
Posted in England, New Zealand, cricket | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 28th January 2008
New Zealand Cricket announced today that they are terminating the contract of fast bowler Shane Bond who has signed to play for the rebel Indian Cricket League. The loss of their top fast bowler will hurt the Black Caps in their upcoming series with England, but the bigger picture of what to do about the rebel competition remains unanswered.
Posted in New Zealand, cricket | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 10th January 2008
India flexing their muscles with the game’s governing board, secret trials, poor umpires and Ricky Ponting just wants his team to be loved. The fall out from the SCG test just keeps on coming, and it isn’t getting any prettier.
Posted in Australia, India, cricket, opinion | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 8th January 2008
Claim, counter-claim, accusation, counter-accusation, arrogance and threatening to take your ball home. Sounds like a school-yard squabble, but this is two of the biggest nations in world cricket.
Posted in Australia, India, cricket, opinion | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 7th January 2008
The Sydney test match between Australia and India is easily the most talked about sporting event of the year so far with allegations of racism, poor sportsmanship, underhanded tactics all served with a side of incompetent umpiring. But the amount of spin that surround the game would make Shane Warne proud, and as a neutral observer, perhaps I can cut through it.
Posted in Australia, India, cricket, opinion | No Comments »
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on 5th January 2008
Staring down the barrel of a massive first innings deficit, Bangladesh fought back, first through their bowlers, then their batsmen to leave the first test finely balanced at the end of the second day. For New Zealand, Matthew Bell and Jacob Oram both made centuries but the Black Caps were unable to capitalise on the pressure they built up on the first day.
Posted in New Zealand, cricket | No Comments »