I’d largely ignored the West Indies 3rd XI v Bangladesh series because there was Ashes and some good county cricket to watch on Sky. Now, however, I wished I had been able to watch it. Why? Well, not because of the standard of cricket, but because of the fact that none other than the great Floyd Lamonte Reifer (in tribute to whom the Keele Reefer Association flies its flag) has been able to have a second crack at international cricket, 10 years since he last had a go. It took a strike for him to do so, but the prediction he made back in November 2007 - that he’d be back – has come to pass.
West Indies cricket
Archived Posts from this Category
July 29, 2009
Reifer, the most unlikely ‘I told you so’ ever
Posted by thevillagecricketer under Bangladesh cricket, cricket, Keele Reefer Association, West Indies cricketLeave a Comment
July 11, 2009
TVC gives thumbs up to Empire of Cricket
Posted by thevillagecricketer under Advice for spectators, Australian cricket, cricket, cricket journalism, England cricket team, Entertainment, India cricket, West Indies cricket1 Comment
I finally got round to watching one of the Empire of Cricket documentaries on the BBC tonight, and I have to say, it wasn’t bad. It was the one about how the Aussie’s got good, and there was some interesting commentary and archive footage.
It included, for example, how Steve Waugh stood up to Curtly Ambrose and scored a double-ton to seal the Aussie’s first series win in the Caribbean in donkey’s years in 1995, although they neglected to mention that much of Ambrose’s fury was because Waugh had in the same match claimed a catch off Brian Lara that had obviously bounced.
The following is taken from the BBC press release announcing the show:
Empire Of Cricket
Ahead of this summer’s keenly anticipated Ashes encounter between England and Australia, BBC Two explores cricket’s rich sporting and social history in a documentary series about the four countries whose very different cricketing cultures created the modern game as we know it.
From its origins in the public school playing fields and shires of rural England to its adoption in the twilight of Empire as the national sport of emerging nations such as Australia, the West Indies and India, cricket has always been shaped by factors beyond the boundary fence.
The series contains rare and revealing archive, much of it unseen before on British television, and contributions from leading cricket writers and a glittering line-up of top players, past and present, including Kevin Pietersen, David Gower, Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.
I enjoyed what I saw today and will certainly be watching the full series on iPlayer.
May 26, 2009
Couple of phenomenal performances from The England have won us a series against the Windies. Really chuffed with how the boys have performed, and the English batsman really did the business today. Who misses KP?
April 5, 2009
Series win, in your face!
Posted by thevillagecricketer under cricket, England cricket team, West Indies cricketLeave a Comment
Magnifico! England have won yet another one-day series, that is two out of the last three, we must be a great side. As I said, no crisis in sight as the big men stepped up to the plate and put in big performances at the big moments in the big game. Flintoff was awesome, Anderson too, and Pietersen did his thing, but not long enough due to Mr DJ Sammy’s economy with the truth. Good win at a good time for the England.
March 20, 2009
England win a match, West Indies hand it to them
Posted by thevillagecricketer under cricket, England cricket team, West Indies cricket1 Comment
Oh tragedy, well tragedy for the Windies. It was getting a little dark and John Dyson called the West Indian batsmen off the park. Dyson is still looking at his clipboard – with the Duckworth Lewis calculations on it. England are smiling and Bumble – fed with info from the Sky Sports statisticians – reckons that England have won.
The Windies have walked off while behind on Duckworth Lewis. The match referee is checking, but thinks England have won. Why is no-one sure? Javigal Srinath is the match referee. Dyson is pleading his case. Everyone is going inside to thrash it out. It certainly isn’t good for cricket.
The West Indian batsmen got pre-occupied with the weather and were desperate to get off the park. It looks like they got the numbers wrong, but we are still waiting to hear.
Why didn’t they just finish the match? We’d have finished by now. Big moment for John Dyson’s reputation in the game, claims Nasser Hussain on Sky. The England players are celebrating. Bumble announces that its official, England have won the game.
England have won by 1 run (D/L method). As for the West Indies, don’t trust a dumbass Aussie with dodgy glasses!
February 16, 2009
Small Australian child playing for Windies
Posted by thevillagecricketer under Australian cricket, cricket, England cricket team, West Indies cricket1 Comment
Does anybody else find it kind of weird that there is a very white left-handed dwarf playing for the Windies?
I’ve got no problems with it, despite the guy seeming very, very Australian (albeit like an eight year old Australian child), cos we have pinched plenty of Zimbos, Saffas, Kiwis, Aussies (remember Pattinson? No, didn’t think so) and West Indians over the years. It just seems strange. Plus, anybody else noticed that he seems to do all the West Indian outfielding?
Jrod over at Cricketwithballs doesn’t like Brendan Nash: “I never like Nash, he bored me, bowled scabby little off breaks and made runs against Victoria.”
February 13, 2009
TV on, sun shining, no cricket
Posted by thevillagecricketer under England cricket team, West Indies cricket, West Indies test seriesLeave a Comment
There is nothing like a long day sprawled on the sofa, enjoying some test match cricket from the West Indies. This, unfortunately, is nothing like a long day sprawled on the sofa, enjoying some test match cricket from the West Indies. That is because there is no test match cricket from the West Indies. That is because the outfield is unsuitable for cricket, so there is nothing to watch. 10 balls is all they managed.
Play has been abandoned for the day, and probably the entire test, because the outfield is dangerous. Even assuming there is a pitch available at the Antigua Recreation Ground – the only possible alternative – it would take three days for all the TV kit to move.
£40 a month for Sky and no cricket, a joke!
February 8, 2009
Calling the SAS – Shah and Swann to save struggling side
Posted by thevillagecricketer under cricket, England cricket team, West Indies cricket, West Indies test series1 Comment
Hmmm. I haven’t posted anything about the test match in Jamaica so far as have been enjoying watching it. Some proper old fashioned test cricket it was too. England grafting to a par-ish total in the first innings, stylish West Indies batsmen then tonking them round the park, and then the batting being dessimated by some high quality fast bowling.
Putting aside the fact that we were skittled for 51, a total which invites derision from all parts of the cricketing world, there are some major problems with the England side currently, and they probably won’t be fixed through wholesale changes to the team.
Sure Cook and Collingwood need runs, but would it improve the side by dropping them? Who would replace them anyway? What’s going on with Monty? Would Adil Rashid have made any difference?
The Village Cricketer advocates two changes for the next test. Shah for Bell and Swann for Panesar. Those changes could only improve the team at present.
January 31, 2009
Mr Lendl, that’s his name
Posted by thevillagecricketer under cricket, England cricket team, West Indies cricketLeave a Comment
Steve Harmison needs overs under his belt to perform anywhere near his best, fact. Kindly then, Lendl Simmons, nephew of the great Phil, has just given Steve, and the rest of our boys, a real workout.
Mr Lendl helped himself to a mere 282 runs before being snared by Sideshow Bob as West Indies A racked up 574 for 8 declared. I may be wrong, but I’m fairly sure that, take out Brian Lara’s contributions, the rest of the Windies batsman probably didn’t score that many runs combined in the whole of the last series.
England’s batsmen have also enjoyed themselves, with Strauss, Pietersen and Collingwood filling their boots. Bell and Prior also made runs, although Owais Shah has probably booked himself a series carrying the drinks making only 9.
Cricketers love to tour the West Indies, and marvellously, the time difference makes it the most work / TV balance friendly tour there is to watch. I can’t wait for the action to begin. If they get Lendl playing we may get matches lasting the full five days.
Go ahead, Mr Lendl!
November 2, 2008
DJ Sammy, rags to riches
Posted by thevillagecricketer under cricket, England cricket team, Stanford 20 20, West Indies cricketLeave a Comment
A few years ago, Darren Sammy played a handful of games for Barnes CC’s first XI in the Middlesex Premier League. At the same time, I was heroically leading the third’s to bottom of the table relegation mediocrity. The teenage DJ, at that time, was pretty much broke, surviving on an MCC Young Cricketers allowance. Now he is a dollar-millionaire, having been one of the surprise packages in the Stanford Superstars team, and the man that sent Kevin Pietersen’s stumps flying. He deserves the cash.
