***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand

[brettishere]

Bond

Regarding Mr. Bond...

Bond is currently on track to reach 100 test wickets on his 21st test (if he continuees at his current wickets-per-test average, 4.8), and if he reaches the landmark a bit faster, he could be the first to make 100 wickets in 20 tests since Waqar Younis. If he finds some extra form, he could even go as far as to do it in 19 tests - first since Ian Botham.

If he takes 13 wickets in his next eight ODIs - something he's much more likely to achieve - he'll beat Saqlain Mushtaq's record for fastest to 100 ODI wickets (Bond currently has 87 from 45, Mushtaq took his 100th & 101st ODI wickets in his 53rd game).

Just more records to add to Bond's collection, which at the moment include best all-time ODI average and best all-time ODI strike rate and NZ's all-time BBI. I don't see him doing too well in the all-time wicket takers list though, due to his injury-prone nature and the fact that he's already 30. He'll possibly make the top 50, but I don't know how far he'll go beyond there.

We have our Bond back!

A Brillant display of bowling, we now finally have a bowler that puts fear into world class batsmen, cant wait to see him bowl to Lara again.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Cricinfo concentrate on the series which generate the most traffic for their website, and quite rightly too. It's sensible site management. They don't completely disregard the other countries though, so they're still one of the top cricket sources online.

Totally get your point. However, if that's the case, why isn't India v England the lead story? Also, doesn't good site management also include ensuring that live scorecards are properly updated?

Either way, Cricinfo's standards have dropped considerably.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Interesting. Legal, but still interesting.

Just a (genuine) question for those bowlers out there: How much does swing have to do with the ball, and how much does it have to do with the conditions? Also, how much could a ball of similar age to the lost ball differ from the lost ball when it comes to such things?

If the ball has more of it's shine that would make a difference. If the surface of the ball is smoother (newer), then it will move through the air faster. That's why, as the ball ages, the emphasis is on preserving one side while letting the other wear. The worn side produces more drag, therefore it moves more slowly through the air than the shiny side. This difference results in swing in the direction of the worn side as it is dragged through the air.

It also has a lot to do with how the ball comes out of the hand - if the seam is scrambled the ball won't swing. I'm not sure how much of a difference overcast conditions and humidity make. Some people reckon it's a myth, some swear it has an effect. It's beyond my limited scientific knowledge.

Personally, I've always swung the ball without trying. I think it's mainly to do with the way I release it.

 

[Jono]

Man, I'm a neutral and it feels good just to know Bond is back. I can't imagine how you Kiwis are feeling.

Still would have liked a WI win, amazing match. The cricket going on in the past day or two has been amazing. Test and ODI.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Yes it is great to have Bond back. But as we have learnt from so many of our players (and other countries players), injury can rob you of that at any given moment. Shouldy Bondy not have been playing, we would have lost that game. No doubt.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Yes it is great to have Bond back. But as we have learnt from so many of our players (and other countries players), injury can rob you of that at any given moment. Shouldy Bondy not have been playing, we would have lost that game. No doubt.

For sure, but if the Windies hadn't had Ganga, or Gayle, or Bradshaw, they might not have done as well. If the Aussies had had McGrath they might have won THAT game.

 

[agerk]

Yeah, I fear every delivery will be his last. Smoke em while ya got em though I guess. As for our other 140+ bowler, where is Ian Butler these days? And how far away is Tuffey? Any predictions for Lara's next score?

 

[alternative]

An excellent performance from the kiwi's, they looked they were going to lose this match at one stage, but a superb bowling spell from vettori and bond ensured them a teriffic victory.. I must say astle also bowled well with the reverse swing deliveries..

 

[NZTailender]

Good stuff Bond.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Yeah, I fear every delivery will be his last. Smoke em while ya got em though I guess. As for our other 140+ bowler, where is Ian Butler these days? And how far away is Tuffey? Any predictions for Lara's next score?

Butler is stuck in the Northern Districts 2nd XI, because the selectors have realised he's rubbish. Tuffey has a long term injury. Lara can't be far from a big innings, you'd be crazy to bet against him...

 

[sirjeremy11]

Yeah, I fear every delivery will be his last. Smoke em while ya got em though I guess. As for our other 140+ bowler, where is Ian Butler these days? And how far away is Tuffey?

Butler has some back injury which means he can't bowl fast. However he has been playing for ND A, he made a 172* or something for them this year. And he has also been bowling offies. Who knows if he will make it back.

And Tuffey keeps on ripping his bicep muscle. Latest was that he was having an operation with a view to being fit for the NZ A, Aus A, Pak A, Ind A series mid year. Remember when Tuffey used to be the "injury free" bowler?

 

[agerk]

butler

Butler is stuck in the Northern Districts 2nd XI, because the selectors have realised he's rubbish.

Thats a bit rough, thought he was a good prospect, if a little green. But I'm told we have another off spinner now. Great, someone tell him to turn it the other way or start a croquet club with Paul Wiseman.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Thats a bit rough

Probably, but I doubt he'll read this.

To be fair, he was selected simply because of his speed, rather than any form he might have shown. It must have been tough being thrown in the deep end, although you can't blame a guy for saying yes when the selectors call I guess. The funny thing is, he was never really that fast - mid 140s, max. Both Franklin and Martin got balls into the 140s in the last test. Just goes to show, unless you're accurate, it doesn't matter if you can bowl at 200km/h.

 

[agerk]

Quite right, just ask heath davis.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Funny thing was, he did get better. Did quite well in the 96/97 series vs Sri Lanka and England.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Funny thing was, he did get better. Did quite well in the 96/97 series vs Sri Lanka and England.

And then lost it, like a crazy dude. I do remember one game against SL, think it was the ODI vs them in Wgtn. He bowled like a legend that day AND he was injured. Maybe it settled him down and made his brain work better.

 

[Dick Rockett]

Yeah, I think it was mainly a mental thing. I've had problems with no-balling before. When you're worrying about where your front foot is landing you're definitely not thinking about what line the ball is taking.

 

[social]

Great player that he is, WI should have the balls to tell Lara that he will not be selected unless he gives himself even a minimum chance of being match fit for a series.

 

[Sportsgirl]

I hope this won't be considered advertising, as it's nothing of the sort, but it's a bit of a revelation into how desperately precious Fleming is. I'm disappointed Rigor didn't chuck a few barbs back in his direction.

Now available for download on Cricket Web - http://www.cricketweb.net/article.php?CategoryIDAuto=1&NewsIDAuto=1468

http://windiescricketfever.mywowbb.com/forum1/9814.html

This was posted on the NZ Herald website at 12pm today -

A video posted on the internet of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming appearing to rip into former Black Cap turned commentator Mark Richardson has been revealed as a Sky TV spoof.

In what seemed to be a startling outburst following a TV interview, Fleming was shown calling Richardson an "idiot" and saying he had "forgotten who his friends are".

A video of the supposed after-interview comments was posted on the cricketweb.net website - see link below.

But Sky TV said this morning that the encounter was a set-up for its weekly magazine show Cricket Company.

Sky's executive producer of cricket, Martin Crowe said: "The interview was a spoof in which Stephen has a crack at Mark about his commentary. It was scripted and not real although it has appeared on the internet as a news item.

"We regret any embarrassment to Stephen or Mark as a result of the item's broadcast."

 

[Dick Rockett]

Great player that he is, WI should have the balls to tell Lara that he will not be selected unless he gives himself even a minimum chance of being match fit for a series.

Is he injured?