August 2009

As announced on Twitter last Monday morning following the conclusion of the Fifth Test, Graeme Swann made a late run to win the 2009 Midwinter-Midwinter by one point.

Quite simply, Performance dictates dismissal. Ponting's performance as Test captain in recent years dictates that. The only real argument against Ponting's removal as captain would be the TINA factor - There Is No Alternative. However, there is an alternative, an able, intelligent, mature one by the name of Michael Clarke.

The 2009 Ashes series couldn't have swung around more if half its surface was plastered with vaseline.

Despite all the "Australia on top" rhetoric on Thursday night, the first day of the Fifth Test at The Oval was about as close to a statistical "honours even" as you can get. Then came the seismic shift on Friday afternoon.

The rugby league media's knickers were firmly in a twist on Tuesday when they were summoned to Wollongong for a press conference with St George fullback Darius Boyd that lasted a whole 43 seconds. This is the complete transcript of the event:

Never mind the cricket action under way at The Oval or Galle, the true centre of world cricket this week has been a most unlikely location, Zimbabwe.

(A version of this item has been published at Earthwitness.net)

A university trial cultivation of genetically modified potatoes has begun in secret in northern England. The Telegraph reported in late July that the trial, destroyed by unidentified vandals in 2008, had been replanted by the University of Leeds without announcement.

"I believe the greatest threat to this nation’s environment right now is not global warming but feral animals and noxious weeds."

John Cobb, The Punch, 11.8.09

Wasn't it kind of the England team to forfeit the Fourth Test at the fall of the sixth wicket on Sunday and play a Twenty20 game instead. Nice, too, for the Australian bowlers to join in the fun.