When an international cricket player can score more than 25,000 runs and take almost 600 wickets across all formats, you know you have a keeper.
Jacques Kallis may have officially announced his retirement from all international forms of cricket (having stepped down from test cricket in December of 2013), but the presence and impact he made on the game is forever. Continue reading Cricket: Jacques Kallis one of a Protea kind→
Cricket is in the blood of all Australians. It’s our summer sport; we play it in the backyard, at a BBQ, on the street, on a field, anywhere we can find space.
For that matter, we become so engrossed in it, we can’t turn away.
It was a competition full of surprises, monster sixes, and above all, some great cricket (even if there was a bit of controversy, but hey, that’s normal!)
In this review I’ll take a look at all eight teams during their ‘home & away’ campaign during their eight matches. There was a whole lot of mayhem throughout. On the upside, TV ratings for the Big Bash were fantastic. The crowds were also very engaged, especially at the two Melbourne Derby clashes.
Fox Sports once again has provided us with excellent, if not biased, coverage of every game. The insights that the likes of Damien Fleming and Brendon Julian offer is second to none.
I am simply amazed at the consistency of the Melbourne Renegades. From the out of whack team of last season’s Big Bash League, to the in form and red hot favourites this time around, the Renegades are doing it very smartly.
The list of players doesn’t include many big names; Captain Aaron Finch and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran are the two standouts.
Shane Warne has had something of a nightmare week and a bit. First a charge for speeding in his Jaguar over in the United Kingdom, and last night a massive verbal stoush at West Indian and Melbourne Renegade batsman Marlon Samuels in the Big Bash League. He even let rip a few expletives that were caught by the mic he was wearing for Fox Sports.
Two very good sides will take to the MCG on Saturday night. Only one will win, but it is going to be a tight contest.
The Melbourne Stars didn’t just crush the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday night; they sent them flying into next week, in a whirlwind of shock blonde hair and two overs of power hitting from Luke Wright.
Now they come up against an opponent very much their equal; the Hobart Hurricanes. Tim Paine, Jonathan Wells, the big hitting Travis Birt and Owais Shah all demonstrated they all can bat. Ben Laughlin, Michael Hogan and Evan Gulbis were also very good with the ball.
It is going to make for an interesting clash. The Hurricanes won’t easily forget last years clash, when Wright went bananas and proceeded to smash 117 from just 60 balls. Then again, Travis Birt dished it up to Clint McKay, sending three balls out of the park in Hobart.
Some massive sixes and exciting chases brought round one of the 2012/13 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League to a close.
Stars v Renegades:
It started with the Melbourne Derby-Stars v Renegades at Etihad Stadium. I was at the game, and the 23,584 fans there weren’t disappointed. After a well-made 53 to English import Luke Wright, as well as 42 and 28 respectively to veterans David Hussey and Brad Hodge, the Stars set the Renegades a total of 168 to win.
Dubbed ‘Melbourne’s favourite cricket team,’ the MCG will be swamped with green this summer as the Melbourne Stars vie for the BBL|02 title.
Making the finals last year by the skin of their teeth, and bowing out gracefully against the Perth Scorchers, the Stars have once again recruited a strong team, with the likes of Captain Shane Warne, David Hussey, and Sri Lankan icon Lasith Malinga.