September 2005

Thank goodness for the wellbeing of the Australian media that Shane Warne is back on our shores. After all, Aussie politics has been so darn boring over the last couple of weeks...

Warne, who unlike his Hampshire team-mate Kevin Pietersen is a respectable father of three, flew back into Melbourne early this morning. Here's a three-minute MP3 report on Warne's press conference at Tullamarine Airport from the ABC's AM program (the first few seconds sound like the product of sloppy editing).

Just what on Earth is Pietermaritzberg's own Ashes hero, Kevin Pietersen, doing rubbing the proverbial shoulders with the World's Greatest Argument for a 100% Inheritance Tax Herself?

Three items about cricket on America's NPR (National Public Radio) over the past couple of weeks.

Congratulations to Geoff, who won our Ashes and More Test Cricket Tipping Competition, having selected 10 correct results out of the 12 Tests played since mid-July.

Runners-up were: Stu (9), Andrew (8), Ubersportingpundit (6). The final results are here.

Thanks to all who took part. This will be my last tipping competition under the present format, at least until I can source some better software.

It's the feud so big that Australia's home of cricket, SBS Television, made it the subject of their daily poll on tonight's sports news program. And it reached the only probable conclusion in Mumbai this afternoon. A huge rug has been dragged out, and thrown on top of the whole mess. It must look a real sight in the foyer at Maison de BCCI, as well as being a candidate for the World's Lumpiest Carpet.

Saurav Ganguly and Greg Chappell have kissed, made up, and are now living happily ever after. Till the next time.

The third and final one-dayer between Pakistan A and Australia A is in progress. Live scores at The Cricket Site. Phil Jaques has already scored a run-a-ball 114, and must surely be opening for his country before much longer.

"Darren Gough asked the selectors not to consider him for the one-day squad's tour to Pakistan this winter. Darren would like to make clear that he has not decided to retire from one-day international cricket and the selectors fully understand his reasons for making himself unavailable to tour."

Woah! I would have thought that county cricket in late September would have favoured the bowlers, but in the eight matches of the final week of the 2005 championship, two teams passed 700, one declared not far short, another passed 500 and four more topped 400. What gives?

I've only just stumbled onto this, but today's one-day game between Australia A and Pakistan A at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore is being scored live by The Cricket Site. Apparently they covered Friday's game as well, which was won convincingly by the Australians.

Congratulations to the Brooklyn Dodgers of Aussie Rules, the South Melbourne Swans, on their first flag since 1933. They beat the Weagles in a four-point thriller today.

I'm a little surprised, but the official Swannies website hasn't caught up with events, 25 minutes after the final siren. They'll catch up.