Tight line and length is sometimes too little too late

Hello and welcome back to my blog

In terms of the test match, or the test series itself, this Sunday was fairly pointless with India's lead growing from 200 to over 530 which was expected. No doubt India will declare quickly tomorrow morning particularly as the weather threatens to end the game early. The Black Caps in all likelihood will suffer a heavy defeat unless a whole day is rained out - at least that is the tone being taken by tabloid reporters. I maintain the pitch is still good enough for the likes of Flynn, Taylor, Ryder and McCullum to bat as India did in Napier.

The day's play may have been pointless but the cricket itself was very good with plenty of runs but some good spells for NZ. Highlights include Gambhir's brilliant century (although he was LBW at the first sign of proper swing), McCullum's brilliant catch to get rid of Dravid and sadly the low key, last appearance by Sachin Tendulkar in New Zealand as he was brilliantly fooled by Vettori's best delivery of the day. Obrien's new ball spell was what NZ needed at the end of Day ONE; fast and swinging (not to mention wicket filled).

Mention should also be made about Andrew Flintoff in the West Indies who doesn't remember how to bat at the moment but his bowling is almost back to the 2005 levels that so destroyed Australia. He took a hat trick to finish with five wickets and win the ODI series for England - a good end to a terrible winter (on and off the field) for the team hoping to retake a certain ASHES trophy in August and September. I do not see this happening yet but there is plenty of cricket to play before then.

As the Basin Test nears its end attention must turn to the IPL and the strange move of an Indian league being played in South Africa. To be honest the later viewing times will be great for people in New Zealand who can watch during breakfast. I will be making my pick as soon as the India series is over here.

Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again.
It's good bye for now