Kevin Pietersen and Switch hitting

I have no problem with this Pietersen switch hitting fiasco. What a storm in a tea cup that is.

It's only going to really work on the postage stamp English grounds anyway. Let's just see a few pitches with a bit of life in them, and as Dan Vettori says, give the bowlers a bit more leeway, and there is no problem.

Maybe it will bring about the demise of the dibbly dobbly one day cricket bowler anyway and force teams to select real bowlers. Let's see someone switch hit Brett Lee over cover (or is that mid-wicket). Love to see them try, and I'd love to see their face as they try to avoid the beam ball coming their way next up, as the switch hands, switch feet and duck all within 0.02 of a second!

In all seriousness though, "innovation" is all very well when you're batting on flat, dead run machine wickets with more armour than a medieval knight. A small element of the self preservation factor needs to come back to batting. Bouncers should be allowed in ODIs.Tracks need more life. I'm a bit sick of the attitude that cricket has to have three thousands of runs scored every day to be interesting. Even in ODIs and that other crap that went on in India, the game is more interesting when some wickets are falling, or at least threatening to fall. surely...

Let Pietersen innovate and let the bowlers fight back, it should be that simple. If Scott Styris can't bowl well enough not to contain the opposition batsman when they're batting with their wrong hands, don't let him bowl.

Australia win in the West Indies

Very few posts here recently...  It's so hard to get enthused about a Caribbean tour these days, which is a tragedy really. The hour doesn't help the time difference here in Aus makes it even harder to catch say a first or last session. Anyway, Australia won 2 / zip. No real surprise there except that some may say, it wasn't 3 / zip!

Australia wouldn't take too many positives out of the series though - you could argue Beau Casson with 3 wickets, but you'd have to argue pretty well. Katich back in form - true! The selection for openers for our next Test match will be very interesting.

Matt Hayden's last two test innings: 103 vs India, and 123 vs India

Phil Jaques last innings: 108 vs West Indies, averaging 47

Simon Katich last innings, 157 vs West Indies, and a ton in the match before that as well.

So who stays, and who goes. It seems incomprehensible to say it, but could Mike Hussey have a question mark, no surely not, put those thoughts out of your mind...never!

Something I really did enjoy watching though was Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Bravo, brash, raw talent that will hopefully bring the West Indies back towards the top of World Cricket again.

England to win Ashes in 2009

I forgot to mention this, but Rodney Hogg categorically stated on Melbourne Radio last week (or was it the week before), "England will win the Ashes in 2009". Based solely around Monty Panesar. (Given he was just coming of a 7 wicket haul against NZ).

He makes a good point though - for the first time in about 20 years, England will have the advantage over Australia in the spinning stakes and will be in a position to prepare turning pitches. India will testify to how Australia, particular the middle order, struggle in these conditions.

England vs New Zealand

I see New Zealand have let England off the hook again. This is getting frustrating and I'm not even a Kiwi - how must Mike feel!?

As an Aussie, it's my responsibility to support anyone who plays England, and this is not good news - England were 5 for 86!! They are now 7 for 273 - far from a great score still, but probably enough seeing as though NZ have to bat last and Monty is in form and confident.

Two tests have past by with no comment

I am still alive...just busy.

Since my last post...

Australia wrapped up the first Test against the West Indies on the fifth Day, MacGill struggled but got a couple of questionable wickets to finish things off.

Australia went into the second Test, heavy favourites, but again, could get rid of Chanderpaul, the end result being a draw. MacGill again highlighted just how good Warney really was, and then "retired". Bryce McGain must be spewing now - Beau Casson will probably come in for the Third Test and snuff out any hope Bryce had...

Warne has denied a comeback, after never really saying he was thinking about it, but managing to cause a stir anyway - how desparate are we getting? How good would be be to see him turn up to Lords next year, pie in hand, trip Beau Casson down the stairs, then stroll out and take a lazy 6 for...

Mohumad Asif has been arrested by drug possession or some such thing and is probably in all sorts of strife - just lucky he wasn't in Bail.

I'll try to keep more up to date from now on, but to be honest, it's not that likely...