All about the cricket in IPL 8

Shane Watson smashes one through the covers (photo: BCCI)

It has taken just one-quarter of the 67 matches in the eighth instalment of the Indian Premier League to show cricket fans just why it was so highly touted in the lead-up.

Rajasthan Royals have blown everyone off the park, including the vaunted Chennai Super Kings, who have looked something of a shadow on their last season.  Mumbai Indians have finally registered a win, and the Delhi Daredevils have been up and down like a yo-yo on a child’s finger.

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EFL: North Ringwood go two from two at the Panther Pit

Max Otten (Blackburn) is pressured by his North Ringwood opponent (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Determined to prove to the 11 unfamiliar Division One teams that they were no slouches, North Ringwood pulled out a memorable victory to send Blackburn home winless after the first two rounds of season 2015.

Yet the final scoreline of 9.13.67 to 6.13.49 belied what went on for 95 percent of the game.  The seesawing first quarter, which saw just four goals, was a scrap of a game, with ball handling errors and relentless pressure from the Panthers and Saints.  Sam Banfield opened the Blackburn account, and it only took an additional two minutes before Nick Murphy’s booming left foot slotted one through for North Ringwood.

If England want the Ashes – or cricket – back, they can’t do it quibbling over the counter

Peter Moores, Paul Downton and Alastair Cook say it all (photo: Getty Images)

Forget that there’s a changeover at the top of the chain in May; England will still look like a pack of seagulls fighting over the last delicious hot chip.  Except that chip isn’t delicious, and the men in blue aren’t close to setting themselves back on the rails just yet.

Welcome to the Ashes 2015, where the most dangerous issue on the table is whether England’s A-team will turn up in Cardiff for the first test. 

EFL: Panther Pit’s red and black roar

Blackburn players run out in the final v Balwyn, August 2014 (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Such is the roar from the mighty Panther Pit and Morton Park, people have to stop for a second to listen.

This year is important to Blackburn, as they look to consolidate what was a very impressive season 2014; one that ended in a 22-point loss to Balwyn in last year’s elimination final.