Simon Wilde's Blog, page 2

Colly flowers after well-earned rest from international game

Something has happened to Paul Collingwood. He smiles a lot, talks confidently of retaining the Ashes and winning the World Cup, and reckons he is "living the dream".

Rudi Koertzen the centre of attention in his final Test

Rudi Koertzen must have had high hopes of a quiet and trouble-free last day as an international umpire yesterday in the second MCC Spirit of Cricket Test at Headingley. With a Pakistan victory seemingly assured, the scope for controversy seemed remote.

Tourists' fast men are ready and able to wreak havoc

Pakistan cricket is well known for being dysfunctional but in one highly important respect it is organised and harmonious. Over the past 35 years it has maintained one of the sport's greatest fast-bowling dynasties.

New swinger in town

The sight of Pakistan's bowlers swinging the ball both ways so skilfully on the first day at Lord's was a reminder that this is an area in which England are not as strong as they once were. There is James Anderson, whose form runs hot and cold, and then who? Ryan Sidebottom looks as much yesterday's man as Matthew Hoggard.

Bouncers put battler Ricky Ponting in a spin

At face value, the Australians winning a Lord's Test match is nothing for the English to cheer. But the performance of Ricky Ponting with the bat will have encouraged Andy Flower as the England coach plans for the Ashes.

Simon Wilde: Boiling up to the Ashes

The great thing about the Australian cricket team is their talent for regenerating themselves. Cut off a limb and they grow another one. Their captain is short of his usual form and the vice-captain worries whether he is still worth his place in the shorter formats. Both their first-choice wicketkeeper and frontline spinner are injured.

Ian Bell's broken-foot bravery in vain as Bangladesh triumph

England's meetings with Bangladesh have rarely been known for their drama but there was bucketloads of it yesterday as England tried in vain to maintain their 100% record over the most junior of cricket's frontline nations after getting into horrible difficulties chasing what should have been a routine target of 237 in the second one-day international.

Over and out for Murali

There are perhaps three reasons behind Muttiah Muralitharan's announcement that he will play his final Test match next week and retire from all cricket by next year's World Cup.

Shaun Tait's express pace is no Ashes threat for England

England's cricketers and supporters can sleep easy in their beds. Shaun Tait, the most fearsome stump-shatterer in the world, will not be taking the new ball for Australia in Brisbane on November 25. Tait says he will be no nearer to the opening of the next Ashes series than watching at home on television.

Pakistan are in a pickle before Twenty20 play starts

Pakistan start their tour of England in earnest tomorrow with the first of two Twenty20 games against Australia at Edgbaston. Over the next 11 weeks, they will play Australia and England 15 times across all three formats and, quite frankly, the wheels are almost certain to come off at some stage.