Princess Dianna, gone but never forgotten.

Me this day last year: 67 with 12 boundaries, career best. 

On this day in 2012, Pakistan and Australia played a one day international over 2 months! Started on the 31st and went through to the next day. Pakistan won by 7 wickets at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi to level the series with one to play. 

On this day Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2014 Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands, last year. #shameful #embarrassment 

Cook - ODI Talk

Alastair Cook may not be the most imposing player to bowl against in an ODI match, however it’s always been an English trend to have the ODI captain who is predominantly a Test Cricketer and a much stronger Test cricketer than he is a one day cricketer. As specialist captains. As not natural one day players. As players who wouldn’t be in the team had they not been captain, players who are almost captain only in name when it comes to the one day stuff – Atherton, Hussain, Vaughan, Strauss and now Cook, but I believe compared to them, at least Cook is a little more natural. He can cut and pull productively and even has a Twenty20 century for Essex.

It wasn’t that long when people were suggesting he should even be in the Twenty20 side, after he scored 3 ODI tons in 2012, a year where England didn’t lose an ODI series.

I watched those back to back ODI centuries he got against Pakistan in the February of 2012, and that was some of the best one day batting I have seen from an Englishmen as he led the team to a thumping and surprising 4-0 win over Pakistan in the UAE, a potent bowling attack back then, especially with the white ball. He returned the compliment after England were whitewashed 3-0 in the Tests under Strauss.

Champions Trophy Finalists 2013

ODI number 1 ranked 2012

Most ODI wins by an England captain

Won more series than he has lost

Won more matches than he has lost

England unbeaten from 2010-2012 in ODI series at home

Beaten or drawn against all major teams in ODI series under him

Won 10 consecutive ODIs in 2012

The last time an Essex man led in Australia, England reached the final

Back him…

Facts

1975 – 1992 = 8 or 9 teams at the World Cup

1996 – 2011 = 12, 14 or 16 teams at the World Cup

2015 = 14 teams

2019 = they say 10

Hosting World Cup Nation Always Touring England That Year

2003 = South Africa

2007 = West Indies

2011 = Sri Lanka and India

2015 = New Zealand and Australia

Pakistan under Misbah in Test Cricket

Drew 0-0 in 2 match series vs South Africa

Won 1-0 in 2 match series vs New Zealand

Drew 1-1 in 2 match series vs West Indies

Won 1-0 in 1 off Test vs Zimbabwe

Won 1-0 in 3 match series vs Sri Lanka

Won 2-0 in 2 match series vs Bangladesh

Won 3-0 in 3 match series vs England

Lost 1-0 in 3 match series vs Sri Lanka

Lost 3-0 in 3 match series vs South Africa

Drew 1-1 in 2 match series vs Zimbabwe

Drew 1-1 in 2 match series vs South Africa

Drew 1-1 in 3 match series vs Sri Lanka

Lost 2-0 in 2 match series vs Sri Lanka

If Misbah doesn’t play Tests after 2015, he will retire having led in 34 Tests. Joined second most capped with Miandad.

If Misbah leads till the third Test vs. New Zealand in Sharjah, he would have led in 19 consecutive Tests, after missing series opener vs Lanka in Galle 2012 due to slow over rate suspension. The most by a Pakistan Test captain.

Pakistan under Misbah in UAE

Drew 0-0 in 2 match series vs South Africa

Won 1-0 in 3 match series vs Sri Lanka

Won 3-0 in 3 match series vs England

Drew 1-1 in 2 match series vs South Africa

Drew 1-1 in 3 match series vs Sri Lanka

Dubai: Won 3, Lost 2, Drawn 1

Abu Dhabi: Won 2, Lost 0, Drawn 3

Sharjah: Won 1, Lost 0, Drawn 1

Anticipation of the Road Ahead

At the start there will be a buzz in the opening week … then the excitement levels will drop… before remerging towards the end of the league stage and into the quarter finals.

Many people will be saying in the first 25 days or so – can we fast forward to the quarter finals and get it started “properly”?

Instead of people saying when is the next one (England 2019) they will be saying when will this marathon end?

What you need to win a World Cup

1)    Good leadership

2)    Good bowling attack

3)    Ability to play the pressure moments well

4)    Team togetherness

5)    Luck

What Type of Cricket Will We Get

I think we will get a range of high scoring games and low scoring games. I think we will get a range of one sided games and nail biters. I expect fast bowlers to dominate this World Cup. Spin will not have a huge say in comparison to Asia 2011 and West Indies 2007. I expect several batting collapses in the batting power play. I expect immense carnage in the last 10-15 overs of the innings with the recent change in field restrictions. There will be circumspect play at the top of the order in order to make the most of the last third of the innings with the batting power play and the increasing difficulty to bowl at the death with only 4 men allowed out, by keeping wickets in the tank for that period and making sure there is a set article at the crease once that time arrives. However, some teams will get off to a flyer. I expect India and Australia to be the two fastest scoring teams, but West Indies will have the cleanest six hitters.

Australia

At home

2009/10 = Beat Pakistan 3-0 in Tests. Beat Pakistan 5-0 in ODIs.

2010/11 = Beat England 6-1 in ODIs.

2011/12 = Beat India 4-0 in Tests and won triangular series.

2012/13 = Beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in Tests. Beat West Indies 5-0 in ODIs.

2013/14 = Beat England 5-0 in Tests. Beat England 4-1 in ODIs.

They have more often than not dominated at home in the last five seasons. They have the form guide behind them. They are favourites according to Ian Botham among others.

However, I don’t think they have enough variation and stability in the batting line up to deal against tougher bowlers or handle a potential collapse. All batters are aggressors more or less, except perhaps Michael Clarke to a lesser extent. Additionally, they lack a specialist spinner. Historically hosting nations don’t do brilliantly performance wise at the event.

This Day 2012

Strauss announced his retirement from all cricket
Paralympics Opening Ceremony

India unbeaten in their last 7 ODIs in England. 6 wins and a NR.

Spot Fixing Scandal - 4 years on
Sharjah 1st ODI 3 wkts defeat by Australia - 2 years on

The last time Pak played a decider and at 1-1, Misbah was MOM. This exact weekend last year. Though that was his last 50 in a win in ODIs.

England - an international T20 to commence and conclude the 2014 summer. The only 2 of the summer and the only 2 they play this year post 2014 World T20.

On this day Dominick Cork played his last game of professional cricket.
T20 finals day 2011.
Both semi finals decided by a super over with DL coming into play.
Paul Nixon also playing his last game of county cricket and signing off in style.

Happy Birthday Mohammad Yousuf.

Zimbabwe apart, Pakistan have lost their last 11 LOI deciders at 1-1 or 2-2 with 1 to go. Lack big match temperament.

 La Tomatina tomorrow.

On this day 2012 India won the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Queensland Australia, defeating the hosting nation in the final.

On this day last year Alastair Cook turned into an Ashes winning captain at the Kia Oval. Ridiculous bad light decision. Around this time next year, who will win the urn at the Oval?

6 50+ in his last 30 Test innings excluding Zimbabwe 
3 50+ in his last 26 ODI innings (1 vs Afghanistan)

Get lost Younis Khan
Please go away
Time for international retirement

YK in Sri Lanka ODIs-
2012: 5, 4, 1, dropped
2014: 3

On this day England won the 2009 Ashes 2-1. Swann spinning them to victory at the Oval. Flintoff/Harmison's last Test. Cook taking winning catch at short leg. Hussey's career saving knock. 

South Africa U19 vs England U19 live on Sky from Derby
Middlesex vs India at Lords
On this day in 2009. Me : 10-4-25-5 for Saturday 1st XI - but frustratingly not got a tally of 3 wkts since

On this day Rahul Dravid scored his final overseas Test Century at the Oval in London. He carried the bat as all ten wickets fell around him. The 38 year old scored his third Test century of the summer and alongside Stuart Broad was the man of the series.

On this day Pakistan lost to India by 1 wicket in the 2012 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup quarter final match up, at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, south of Queensland. It was a fantastic game of cricket and a great advertisement for the competition and youth international cricket at large.

On this day England won at the Oval by 10 wickets to complete a summer of 7 consecutive Test victories. 3-0 vs NZ. 4-0 vs WI. Springboard for 2005 Ashes.

"No stomach for the fight" - common phrase going around summarising India's performances or lack of after Lord's

Mixed year for Kohli
Player of the competition at the World T20 in Bangladesh
Averaged a pathetic 13 in 10 innings vs England in England

It's not as if he was a million times better in the home leg vs England either, in the November and December of 2012.

On this day Andrew Strauss batted for the final time at any major level, as England Captain in 2012 against the country of his birth at Lord's, playing his 100th Test and 50th as captain, dismissed for just a single.

23rd April

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/61951648691527680

On this day last year Pakistan U19s won the tri nations final at Trent Bridge.

I don't have an issue with age, never a barrier for me

But a 40 year old captain and an 80 year old chairman #fact #Pakistan

What will Misbah have first? Most Test wins or most Test losses by a Pakistan Captain? 2 each needed either way to equal a joint record. 3 to overtake.

The 2015 World Cup trophy has arrived in England for a 10 day tour to raise the profile of the event and the excitement surrounding it. It will be visiting all 14 participating countries. 

Gradual stepping away from MJ

First Captaincy

Then T20s

Then Tests

ODIs and overall to follow 

Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Ben Stokes are replaced after Lord's - England 3/3 since

India - just 2 Test victories across their last 6 overseas visits

I don't think not being used to playing 5 test match series can be excused for India. They played 4 match series away and home against England or Australia since mid 2011. How different can one extra Test match be? Take Pakistan who have only played a 4 match Test series twice in the last 10 years, when they toured England in the second half of 2006 and 2010. 

Focus Exclusively on One Day Cricket Now For England - Winning the 2015 World Cup

With the five Test matches against India finished, England's focus turns to ODI cricket with an eye on winning their first global ODI trophy at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup down under. England reached the semi finals or better during the first five Cricket World Cups, but in the last five they have failed to do so. They are yet to triumph in any of the 10 Cricket World Cups or 7 Champions Trophies, the only major team who are yet to win one of the two, despite reaching several finals and hosting the competitions more than anyone else. 

Can they break the 40 year ODI drought early in the new calendar in their quest to finally get their hands on a major ICC ODI title? Here I look at reasons for genuine optimism for England fans. Indeed, last time an Essex man led in a World Cup in that part of the World, they had their best World Cup campaign, reaching the final against Imran Khan's side under Graham Gooch in front of 87,000 at the MCG. 

Why England Are One of the Contenders

1) Conditions: England have played plenty of cricket in Australia over the years and conditions shouldn't be an issue. They know what to expect. They would have learn't from their experiences. 

2) Preparation: No Test Matches in the next five months unlike previous World Cups where England have had a taxing schedule to contend with, playing an away Ashes series and the World Cup in the same winter. All the focus is very much on one day cricket now. Surely England will benefit from this? Moreover, they are playing a triangular series in Australian conditions prior to the showpiece tournament early next year. 

3) Modern Playing Regulations: If there is one team that has benefited from the reintroduction of 2 new balls, 5 fielders in the circle at all times, no more Bowling Powerplay, 2 bouncers an over, it is England. Games aren't high scoring, almost a mini Test Match and the Champions Trophy was evidence of that. They have orthodox conventional batters at the top of the order to combat the threat of 2 new white balls. They have the bowlers who can utilise it effectively with seam and swing. They have the finishers who can cause immense destruction in the last 10 overs with only 4 men allowed out with the likes of Eoin Morgan, particularly with England's strategy built around wicket preservation in order to cash in during the latter stages of the innings. 

4) Prioritizing: No away Ashes so for a change the World Cup wouldn't be a consolation prize added on to the end of a long winter. England have played 10 consecutive Ashes Tests in order to ease the burden for their players in the 2014/15 World Cup season. One day cricket and a successful 2015 World Cup has become a leading priority. All the hype doesn't just surround the Ashes like previous times when a World Cup has been fast approaching. While some may argue that playing an Ashes series and a World Cup didn't affect the Australians when they won the competition in 2003 and 2007, one must remember they were a formidable force with truly great players and also they were playing the Ashes series at home too. 

5) Form Guide: They were finalists in the last major ODI tournament - The Champions Trophy. The were number 1 on the ODI rankings as recently as 2012. Alastair Cook has won more ODIs than any other England Captain. He has beaten nine different sides in ODI series during his tenure. 

6) Competition Format: All major teams are bound to reach the quarter finals. Both times the World Cup has seen a quarter final structure in place this has been the case in 1996 and 2011. No upsets have happened in terms of a major side eliminated early in those. It's effectively a 3 match knockout after a long qualification process. The best and most consistent side in the long qualifying round doesn't necessarily win i.e. South Africa in 2011, rather the one that handles pressure best and peaks at the right time and before you know it - you are in the semi finals. 

Final Word

England have their best chance of success at the World Cup since 1992 in the 44 day Australasian carnival. There are genuine reasons to be optimistic for the originators of domestic one day cricket. They are a overdue a global title in 50 over cricket. In an open tournament, they can't be written off. Triumphing in Melbourne in late March to become the sixth holder of one day cricket's biggest prize? It's not beyond them. 

2009, 2012, 2014 - now realising how special that 2006 series win in SL was - they were a better team then too - also remember YK saying how he rated that higher than beating England or India in 2005/06

End of the road for GG opening up for India surely ....

Azhar Ali - only 1 score above 50 in last 13 innings, that Sharjah Test hundred, considerably better player than that 

Kamran - 1 50 in last 35 innings
Sarfraz - 4 50s and a 40 in last 5 innings and 30 odd not out here

Lack of contribution from top 3 - main contributor for the series loss along with lack of potency in the bowling department, though last effort was decent considering they were a bowler down 

Unable to do what England or NZ did in SL 2012. Square the series in a 2 match affair after going 1 down. 

Root has all his Test 100s in England in 2013 or 2014

Cook - only 3 50s in the last 3 5 match test series captained - Ashes double and India, weak series vs Sri Lanka in between too - 9 50s in his last 32 innings with no ton, 1 50 in his last 12 in ODIs

Robson - a career which just lasted a single Test summer surely?

On this day the unfancied Northants won the Friends Life T20 finals day at Edgbaston, a rare title for the club. They defeated Essex in the semi final and the 2003 winners Surrey in the final. Unfortunately, they were unable to play in the Champions League due to the schedule of the county championship last year and they haven't been able to back up their performance levels this year, after the success they tasted last year.

60 years since Pakistan's first Test win in England. Oval 1954. Fazal Mahmood's heroics.

Moeen Ali will become a better bowler than a batsman in his career in my opinion.

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/431414778045538304

India are facing their 3rd successive Test series loss against England in just over 3 and a little years.

Drew 1-1 in 2006 home
Won 1-0 in 2007 away
Won 1-0 in 2008 home

Lost 4-0 in 2011 away
Lost 2-1 in 2012 at home
Lost 3-1 in 2014 away

In the one highlighted, they all got progressively worse as the series went on after competing or winning at the first positive Test result.

Waqar like Dav Whatmore started with a Test defeat in Sri Lanka at Galle.

Younis's ability to score big is undoubted once he is in, but it's his lack of consistency in getting in around it that raises concerns. 6 50+ in last 29 innings ex Zimbabwe. Not good enough for a senior at number 4. Past his best.

I fear Misbah's happiest captaincy days (there were many many highs) are behind him, not ahead of him. Perhaps it's only on the way down from here? 

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/photos/pb.191600374219003.-2207520000.1408187271./693493847362984/?type=3&theater

19th June 2012

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/215135715032444929

16th August

A-level Results Day 2012
Lords Test 2012
England vs Nepal U19CWC 2012 live
England vs Pakistan U19s live at Derby 2013

Today 
CPL Final
Premier league starts

Happy 40th birthday to Shiv Chanderpaul.

The best South American batsman seen.

The Guyanese Rock.

23rd June 2012

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/216523327676747778

Pakistan Independence Day
Happy Birthday Rameez Raja
Pakistan playing a Test today
A-Level Results day
MJ's last Test 

There is a difference between being used to playing spin and actually playing spin well. Seen it from both India and Pakistan this weekend at the Tests. Current crop, while they would be familiar with this type of bowling, does not necessarily guarantee that they will play it well.

Batting is a balance between survival and scoring in Tests or any format really.
Predominantly scoring in one day cricket but sometimes through periods of survival.
And just scoring the shorter the game. 

Independence Week

Pakistan and India both had disappointing results on the weekend in their respective Test matches. They will be hoping for better in the final Test of their respective series this independence week as they look to square up proceedings and avoid losing the series. Pakistan will commence the second and final Test on their independence day and India will commence their 5th Test on their independence day. 

30 years ago today Pakistan won Gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Beat Germany in the final. Hockey. 

Only FIVE Test series wins since 2007 (2 include BD and Zim) in 22. Those too in 13 months 2011-Jan 2012 in Misbah's golden run as Test Captain. Fallen away since. Scheduling a factor. However, only lost 8. 8 drawn. One to be decided here, but Pakistan won't be winning it.

Misbah and Cook = 9-1 after 15 Tests.
Misbah and Cook = 12/8 or 11/8 after 28/78.

2007-2010 = No series win (10 series without a series win)
2011-Jan 2012 = 5 series wins (all under Misbah - including 4 series wins in a row)
Early 2012 - now = No series win (6 series without a series win)

Pakistan have not won a Test series since 6th February 2012, post England 3-0 and the removal of Mohsin Khan, despite him winning all his 3 series as interim coach. 6 series since under Whatmore and now Waqar here. They'll have to wait till late October for their next opportunity.

England not won a Test in 10. Now 2 in a row. Like London Buses. Complete team performances at Hampshire and now OT.

Would like to see a 35 over final between the World Cup and World Twenty20 holders as cricket's equivalent of the Charity shield.

Sri Lanka vs India.

Or in County Cricket if not internationally. 

Nottinghamshire vs Northants.

Perhaps to commence the season in April?

Worth a trial. 

Sri Lanka favourites vs Pakistan.
They have been on unstoppable form this year.
Low key series, but international wickets and runs to be had.
Familiar foes.
The new India vs Sri Lanka, repetitive meaningless series just for the sake of it.

2014/15 Season Predictions

1-1 SL Tests
2-1 SL ODIs

1-0 Aus T20
2-1 either way ODIs
2-0 Pak Tests

1-0 Pak Tests
1-1 T20s
3-2 NZ ODIs

1-1 NZ ODIs

On this day Jessica Ennis ran for Olympic Gold at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Thoughts

Misbah will play his 50th Test vs Australia in Abu Dhabi, captaining in 31 of them.

Expecting the Lions to do better than the Wolves and Stallions in previous years. Clash with MI should be entertaining.

On this day Pakistan were bowled out for 80 against England at Trent Bridge. 2010. Anderson brilliant.