Fourth Test - Headingley

I love the game of cricket. So much so that my wife has to prise me off the sofa when the coverage is on. This year, however, my love of the game obtained a new dimension. For my birthday, I received a ticket to the fourth day's play at the Headingley Test Match. I had never been to an international match before, and so I was really looking forward to it. As the Ashes series wore on, we were wondering whether it would be the last day's play, and after the Third Test Match, we were doubtful if the play would indeed reach Sunday! And so myself and my three cricket-loving companions set off on our 75 mile journey to Leeds on a cloudy and murky ...  Read the complete review

Butchered by a Cronje. The smell of petrol, the odor of tar and the whir of a lawn mower. Wonderful things in summer, but none are better than beating Australia at cricket.The Waugh may have been over(and injured) but a great battle was one here…..This is how it happened. Our favorite player Rain opened the proceedings at the principality headquarters of Headingly.If he can keep the covers on over the weekend then we have the chance to batter of the expectant five nil. Simon Kaitch was Aussies first debutante batsmen for 3 years. It shows how important that consitancy is to a winning side. Look how Waugh and the selectors have stuck with Ricky ...  Read the complete review

The first day of the fourth test dawned today at Headingley, with England having already lost the Ashes to Australia, and now looking to desperately avoid a 5-0 whitewash in the series. Having lost the first three tests easily, England could only get better, while Australia seem unstoppable, outclassing their opponents in every department. Will this be any different? The Teams England: England make a few forced and unforced changes, a factor that could have been a costly factor in their downfall, that no-one is sure of their place, and having to get used to new batting and fielding partnerships. Captain Nasser Hussain returns from injury to ...  Read the complete review

So the squad has been named for the fourth test and to be honest I am very dissapointed for the lack of imagination on the part of the selectors. With Graeme Thorpe missing, Mark Ramprakash lacking any confidence with the bat, Alec Stewart, getting older and seemingly worse with every test he plays and Michael Atherton certain to bow out soon, it seems time for the team to be injected with something new. Granted, if Michael Vaughn was fit he would automatically slip into the no. 3 slot, yet it is this position that has been filled by the one player who has surpassed all expectations this summer, Mark Butcher. However if he keeps playing well there is no reason why he ...  Read the complete review

Saturday 11th ''''''''''''''' 9;'''''''''''''' The Ashes have gone, but there are still two Test Matches left, what to do about them? With a whitewash to avoid, England are playing for pride, so do they pick the 'best' players (i.e. the most experienced) or do they look to the future and give some youngsters a bit of experience ...which could be an unpleasant confidence-demolishing experience, of course. Tricky. England may be 3-0 down, but it's not the usual debacle. No, really, it's not. England may not have the ...  Read the complete review