I thought that nobody would care about cricket during the World Cup, there are far more important things going on! Then I realise that host nation South Africa have sent their team to the Carribbean for a test series with the West Indies. And, even more surprisingly, I returned from work on the opening day of the tournament (I tried to swap, I really did!) to find my brother watching Somerset's remarkable death bowling against Hampshire. I realised why when I saw the highlights of France vs Uruguay, with which this game clashed! To celebrate the World Cup, I'm giving this week's Lad of the Week an international spin. So here are the nominations for the Jamaican Ginger Cake Lad of the Week:
Kieron Pollard (Somerset) - in the three games that West Indian all-rounder Pollard has played for the Sabres, he has recorded career best bowling and batting figures. We first saw him at Lord's, as Middlesex struggled to hit away his medium pacers. 3-26 off 4 overs was the result, including the key wickets of Owais Shah and Dawid Malan. What followed bordered on sheer brutality. Chasing 156, Somerset slipped to 31-4 off 6 overs. With support from Peter Trego and Zander de Bruyn, Pollard smashed the bowlers to all parts with 7 4s and 7 6s in 89* off 45 balls. There was more to come at the Rose Bowl against Hampshire. Having failed with the bat (only 2 before getting run out), Somerset were left defending 105. Hampshire were 93-4 in the 17th over, before Pollard and Alfonso Thomas (4-2-5-2, the most economical spell of all time) bowled the spells of their lives to fold the Hawks' innings for 97. Pollard wound up with 3.2-0-15-3, including the wicket that shifted the balance, that of the in-form Jimmy Adams (61 off 47, outstanding in the circumstances). Sadly, his lusty hitting was not enough to get the Sabres over the line against Surrey on Saturday, but he's still had an outstanding week!
Adam Gilchrist (Middlesex) - having scored two runs in his first two games for the Crusaders, the knives were beginning to sharpen for the former test star, with whispers that the eyes had gone, something that should really have been raised when you saw some of his keeping in the latter stages of his international career! But you never that natural ability to hit the ball a mile, as well as the nous gathered from years at the very top. Shaun Udal resigned the captaincy midweek, and was replaced by Gilchrist in the short term, after his successes with the Deccan Chargers in the IPL. Neil Dexter will take on the job in the long run. In his first game of skipper, Middlesex's bowling was wayward, conceding 183-6 against an in-form Kent batting lineup. Even Joe Denly got some runs for a change, although Gilly did eventually have him well stumped. But it was with the bat that he led by example, with 106 off 52 (10 4s 7 6s) as the team got home with an over to spare. Now with countryman David Warner in tow, opposition bowlers should watch out!
Dirk Nannes (Nottinghamshire) - another Australian, a left-arm bowler with a knack of picking up wickets at very little cost. Nannes lived up to this billing with three terrific spells this week to propel the Outlaws to the top of the North Division. First up were Worcestershire, restricted to 113-9, with all the bowlers, particularly Steven Mullaney, keeping it tight. Nannes finished with 4-0-20-2. The batsman led by Alex Hales got home in 14 overs, an easy victory by 6 wickets. They had considerably more to chase as Wes Durston of Derbyshire smashed 111 off 59 balls to take his new team to 192-6. All the bowlers took a pasting on this occasion. Except Nannes, 4-0-19-1. In hindsight, this spell probably won Notts the game, although Hales and Samit Patel produced brutal 60s to win the game in 17 overs. Patel starred in another run chase against Worcestershire, but again Nannes made it possible with 4-0-24-2. Which leaves him with 12-0-63-5.
The winner - any T20 hundred is special, but an Adam Gilchrist one is very special... LAD
You have to give credit to the ECB for their scheduling. During the World Cup, they have left a gap between the Bangladesh Tests and ODIs, so that the fans don't miss out on either. Sadly, they have filled this gap with a(nother) series against the Aussies - 5 ODIs to be precise. This after the 5 Test matches, 7 ODIs, 2 T20s, Champions Trophy match and World T20 final in the last year, not to mention the small matter of the winter tour Down Under to come (incidentally, I will be bringing you video analysis of every test match on that tour, with a little written piece day by day). It's just excessive - padding out an already overcrowded schedule. Although I'm sure some of the games may be quite good.
There are a few warm-up games this week - the series starts next Tuesday, minus several thousand vuvuzelas. Tune in if you need a break from the beehive!
RM
Kieron Pollard (Somerset) - in the three games that West Indian all-rounder Pollard has played for the Sabres, he has recorded career best bowling and batting figures. We first saw him at Lord's, as Middlesex struggled to hit away his medium pacers. 3-26 off 4 overs was the result, including the key wickets of Owais Shah and Dawid Malan. What followed bordered on sheer brutality. Chasing 156, Somerset slipped to 31-4 off 6 overs. With support from Peter Trego and Zander de Bruyn, Pollard smashed the bowlers to all parts with 7 4s and 7 6s in 89* off 45 balls. There was more to come at the Rose Bowl against Hampshire. Having failed with the bat (only 2 before getting run out), Somerset were left defending 105. Hampshire were 93-4 in the 17th over, before Pollard and Alfonso Thomas (4-2-5-2, the most economical spell of all time) bowled the spells of their lives to fold the Hawks' innings for 97. Pollard wound up with 3.2-0-15-3, including the wicket that shifted the balance, that of the in-form Jimmy Adams (61 off 47, outstanding in the circumstances). Sadly, his lusty hitting was not enough to get the Sabres over the line against Surrey on Saturday, but he's still had an outstanding week!
Adam Gilchrist (Middlesex) - having scored two runs in his first two games for the Crusaders, the knives were beginning to sharpen for the former test star, with whispers that the eyes had gone, something that should really have been raised when you saw some of his keeping in the latter stages of his international career! But you never that natural ability to hit the ball a mile, as well as the nous gathered from years at the very top. Shaun Udal resigned the captaincy midweek, and was replaced by Gilchrist in the short term, after his successes with the Deccan Chargers in the IPL. Neil Dexter will take on the job in the long run. In his first game of skipper, Middlesex's bowling was wayward, conceding 183-6 against an in-form Kent batting lineup. Even Joe Denly got some runs for a change, although Gilly did eventually have him well stumped. But it was with the bat that he led by example, with 106 off 52 (10 4s 7 6s) as the team got home with an over to spare. Now with countryman David Warner in tow, opposition bowlers should watch out!
Dirk Nannes (Nottinghamshire) - another Australian, a left-arm bowler with a knack of picking up wickets at very little cost. Nannes lived up to this billing with three terrific spells this week to propel the Outlaws to the top of the North Division. First up were Worcestershire, restricted to 113-9, with all the bowlers, particularly Steven Mullaney, keeping it tight. Nannes finished with 4-0-20-2. The batsman led by Alex Hales got home in 14 overs, an easy victory by 6 wickets. They had considerably more to chase as Wes Durston of Derbyshire smashed 111 off 59 balls to take his new team to 192-6. All the bowlers took a pasting on this occasion. Except Nannes, 4-0-19-1. In hindsight, this spell probably won Notts the game, although Hales and Samit Patel produced brutal 60s to win the game in 17 overs. Patel starred in another run chase against Worcestershire, but again Nannes made it possible with 4-0-24-2. Which leaves him with 12-0-63-5.
The winner - any T20 hundred is special, but an Adam Gilchrist one is very special... LAD
You have to give credit to the ECB for their scheduling. During the World Cup, they have left a gap between the Bangladesh Tests and ODIs, so that the fans don't miss out on either. Sadly, they have filled this gap with a(nother) series against the Aussies - 5 ODIs to be precise. This after the 5 Test matches, 7 ODIs, 2 T20s, Champions Trophy match and World T20 final in the last year, not to mention the small matter of the winter tour Down Under to come (incidentally, I will be bringing you video analysis of every test match on that tour, with a little written piece day by day). It's just excessive - padding out an already overcrowded schedule. Although I'm sure some of the games may be quite good.
There are a few warm-up games this week - the series starts next Tuesday, minus several thousand vuvuzelas. Tune in if you need a break from the beehive!
RM
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