Full length version of the Iain O’Brien interview, as featured on Test Match Sofa:
New Zealand cricket
Archived Posts from this Category
January 31, 2010
Iain O’Brien interview
Posted by thevillagecricketer under Cricket radio, New Zealand cricket, cricket, cricket journalism1 Comment
January 28, 2010
When The Village Cricketer met Iain O’Brien
Posted by thevillagecricketer under County cricket, Cricket radio, New Zealand cricket, Test Match Sofa, cricket, cricket journalismLeave a Comment
OK, so the ‘interview’ we did with Graeme Smith was spoofed. This one, however, is completely, 100% genuine.
Iain O’Brien, former New Zealand fast bowler, has retired from the international game to move to the UK, build a life with his English wife, and play for Middlesex. The Village Cricketer had the great pleasure of interviewing Iain – interrupting him cooking some wholesome vegetable soup – for the first of Test Match Sofa’s new series of podcasts, which will be available tomorrow.
Subjects covered included his reasons for leaving NZ, the rising stars of NZ cricket, how the NZ side is shaping up, prospects for Middlesex, the fear of batting against quick bowling, the fear of bowling against Sehwag, bantering with Ricky Ponting and how international sportsmen will increasingly use new media to get closer to the common man.
So, please download the Test Match Sofa podcast, which includes a five minute version of the interview and a whole host of other witty banter and cricket chat.
To listen to the full 20 minute interview, use the following link:
February 1, 2009
Richie Benaud gets a little over excited
Posted by thevillagecricketer under Australian cricket, New Zealand cricket, cricketLeave a Comment
So the Canaries have finally found a team they may enjoy an even contest with, well even-ish, provided the Kiwis don’t play too well.
But that isn’t what this post is about. I’ve just heard something on the Channel Nine (relayed via Sky) commentary that suggested to me that Richie Benaud is either even more of a complete cricketing genius than I thought possible for even him, or that dear old Rich might be suffering from some Mark Nicholas-esque Dave Warner induced hyperbole (please note that this word is not pronounced hyper-bowl, for the benefit of Wrencharoo).
Anyhow, Tubby Taylor, Gilly Gilchrist and Richie Richie were discussing which of the part-time bowlers Ponting could call on to fill the fifth bowler slot. Michael Clarke and both Hussey brothers were suggested, before Taylor said that Warner might be worth a go.
Richie muses somthing along the lines of: “Yes, I’ve seen a photograph of him bowling leg spin. Looked like he might have a nice action too.”
Is it possible to make a sound judgement of a bowling action from one still frame, or is Richie getting rather too excited by the Aussie’s great white hope?
Oh, and the Kiwis are 3/63 chasing 182. Grant Elliot, he of the falling over Sideshow Bob fame, has just blocked six in a row from the Pup, he of boning the “where the bloody hell are you?” tasty Aussie model fame.
June 25, 2008
Hypocritical Kiwis get hot under collar
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, Sri Lanka cricket, cricket[2] Comments
Great match today, but a real shame the Kiwis won. There was a great deal of fuss about the run-out of Grant Elliott, who collided with Sidebottom going for a quick single. You can read about that on Cricinfo.
The Kiwis got all self-righteous, jumping up and down about the “spirit of cricket”, and kicking up a real stink. Daniel Vettori was apologetic about his team’s behaviour, after Collingwood said he may have made a mistake not calling Elliott back. I’m not sure Vettori would have been diplomatic had his side lost.
What got me though, was that it was not long ago that the Kiwis were completely unapologetic when Brendon McCullum ran out Muralitharan when he left his ground to congratulate Kumar Sangakkara on making a hundred. On that occasion Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming said he was happy with McCullum’s actions. It is somewhat hypocritical for them to kick up so much fuss about today’s happenings.
Seems like one-way-streets exist on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
The offending event:
May 28, 2008
Experience overcomes excitement
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket[3] Comments
Strewth! Having spent the best part of three days preparing to eat humble pie after labelling the Kiwi’s a one-man-band, England manage to engineer a reversal of fortunes to rival its own calamitous dash to defeat in Adelaide last December.
You have to hand it to the Kiwis though. Written off by pretty much everyone, they have managed to scrap well enough in the two tests so far to put themselves in decent positions, and have played some wonderful attacking cricket. Experience told at Old Trafford though.
May 15, 2008
Guide to the Kiwi crucket team
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, cricketLeave a Comment
For those of us (let’s face it, pretty much all of us) who needs an introduction to the touring Kiwi crucket side, the Beige Brigade has commissioned a special report.
May 15, 2008
Deja vu?
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, cricket1 Comment
It feels like I’ve been watching the second leg of a Champions League game today – so soon has it come after the winter trip to the land of the long white cloud. I like the Kiwis, but they will be pushing the proverbial up a hill as this Kiwi side that has even less class about it than the last time. New Zealand and Brendon McCullum are about as close to a one man international side as it gets, and if the Kiwis are going to have chance of winning any Tests in England this summer they’ll need Oram, Vettori and Martin to be on absolute top form to make up for the rest. I hope someone surprises me, or it’ll be a very one sided series.
England need to find top form against the Kiwis and gain maximum confidence by dishing out a drubbing before going into the series against the Saffas. That’ll be a far stiffer challenge.
March 26, 2008
Kiwi series must give direction to future
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, cricket[2] Comments
Tremendous, England won the test series. 2-1 represents a decent comeback against a Kiwi side which wasn’t consistent enough over 15 days of test cricket, and which (for one reason and another) fielded some fairly poor players. The loss of Fleming to NZ is huge, and makes the already big hole in their top order so big that it would take a dozen Jesse Ryders to fill. The Kiwis have some exciting players, but they can’t rely continually on Macullum, Oram and Vettori to carry the ship. Ross Taylor and Tim Southee look the real deal, but that is only half a side, and they’ll struggle in England. The Saffas will be a much bigger test this summer.
England on the other hand can take heart from coming from behind to win, and I am impressed that they were prepared to bin the woeful Harmison (possibly permanently) following the first test. He has underperformed for too long and I would rather England stuck with Broad rather than harking back to Harmy’s glory days in the West Indies. Hoggard could come back, he hasn’t continually been underprepared for the start of every series.
March 15, 2008
What a difference a week makes
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, cricket1 Comment
Apologies for a lack of blog activity of late. TVC has been enjoying a week away in South Wales and have been unable to watch cricket or get on a PC. And what a difference a week makes. England were dreadful in the first test and got a deserved drubbing. Glad to see the boys putting up a better show in the second. Unless the Kiwis pull a miracle out of the bag then the series will go to the final test a tie. Then class will tell, and I am still sticking to my guns that England has more class than the Kiwis. Mind you, I wouldn’t bet my house on England winning the series 2-1.
February 15, 2008
Speccies, gingers, England win, and nice bats
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, New Zealand cricket, cricket, cricket kit[3] Comments
Watching the highlights of England’s win over the Kiwis. Blimey, Vettori is a good player. How many speccies are there in the international game? Not many I’d reckon. At least he isn’t ginger, mind you, fine allround performance from Captain Ginger has done us proud.
Oh, and I managed to stumble across these bad boys on the internet. Stick Bats is selling some cricket bats with personality. Love the stickers!
