Cricket > Cricket Competitions

Advantages: Fanstic match
Disadvantages: Flintoff should be playing for England

...we did it again! Lancashire are in the Nat West Final. Surrey went into ba first and started out well with Alec Stewart who scored 49 making good progress. This was consoloidated by Graham Thorpe who scored 55 but after these two were out Surrey struggled to reach 210 for 7 off their alloted fifty overs. At this stage Surrey may well have thought they were in with a chance with the pitch taking spin and their two major spin bowlers ready to rip ...
...that was it as far as Surrey were concerened. In came Andrew Flintoff to partner Ganguly and while he held up one end Flintoff went on to score an unbeaten 135 and totally destroy Surrey. Lancashire now play Gloucestershire in the Semi Final. Come on the Reds. ... Read review

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Since I am writing this 2 days before the final, I won't really predict the teams who are going to contest Satuday's match. However, the results of the games to date have been interesting. The tournament has shown the extent of the demise of the West Indies demise. It has also highlighted the considerable problems that the West Indies will face when Ambrose and Walsh finally retire. Dillion, McClean, Rose and King have looked mediocre and unable ...
...dramatic improvements, and quick, then it is unimaginable what trouble the West Indies will find themselves in. England have excelled to date, and their recent form suggests that they may become a formidable one-day side in a few years time. The bowling, which has been consistently outstanding over the last few years, has got even better, with all five bowlers in impressive form. The batsmen have finally repaid the bowlers who they have consistently ... Read review

Advantages: Good yardstick to whether we have improved
Disadvantages: too slimline - no attrition

The impending ICC Trophy in Kenya looks to be a stab at a mini World Cup. Somewhat surprisingly the winners will walk off with more money than Australia did in 1999 when they won the World Cup. Others will surely brand this a mickey mouse event, although such an accusation would be unjust, as all the Test Nations are there. It will be interesting to see hope Bangladesh get on - they obviously have low expectations, especially as they have organised ...
...semi-final. It will be interesting to see how England get on, after a very good sumemr, with a win in the Natwest Trophy and the historic Test Series win against the West Indies. However a series win in Pakistan would be far better for our reputation as a cricketing nation, although this tournament might be good for raising the profile of cricket further. ... Read review