Cricket, lovely cricket

[Steven Russell]

Thanks, Monty.

[Adam Went]

Heh, I completely missed the fact that we had even started our tour of Bangladesh.

Sign of the times?

Cheers,
Adam.

[Monty]

ITV4 are showing em Steve.

Monty

[Steven Russell]

We did last year but I don't know if it's the same story this year. Must check that out.

[Adam Went]

Hi Steven,

I'm guessing then that you must get to see IPL games on TV over there? I don't think we get them here, even on subscription channels - at least not all of them.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steven Russell]

Hello, Adam.
No I don't have a favourite team in the IPL yet. I'll do what I did last year and pick the one with my favourite players in but as I haven't been paying attention, I've no idea who's going to be playing for whom at the moment. Can't even remember whoI supported last year. I think they played in yellow and didn't do too well.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Adam Went]

Steven:

On the sub-continent it was probably always going to be sub-continental teams that were going to dominate the business end of the tournament. You're right that it is nice once in a while to have the ability to watch a game without really caring who wins.

Do you have a preferred team in the IPL?
Not really into it but I support Deccan Chargers, only of course because that's Gilly's team...

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steven Russell]

I thought it was an excellent competition with the best teams progressing to the later stages. With the exception of NZ who once again lived up to their reputation of punching above their weight when it matters.

Once it became obvious that England couldn't win (and didn't deserve to) and once South Africa and (sorry, Adam) the old enemy were knocked out, I was in the position of watching the games as a disinterested but far from uninterested cricket nut which was an unusual feeling. Great stuff and a much-needed shot in the arm for the 50 over game. IPL next so will probably get into that. I hope ITV4 don't have it this year though as last year's coverage was rubbish.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Adam Went]

So, India it is then!
Well, pleased for Sachin anyway....unlucky for SL and particularly Jayawardene who played a brilliant knock.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Adam Went]

He was pretty lucky against Pakistan, being dropped four times on his way to 85....even the Little Master, who's been everywhere and done everything, will no doubt be nervous when he opens the batting tomorrow. All rivalries aside, I for one genuinely do wish him well, he's in the twilight years of his career and it's been players like him who have the rare ability to single-handedly bring paying customers into cricket matches - can't fault that.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steven Russell]

And the perfect stage for the Little Master to score his hendredth international hundred!

[Adam Went]

India V Sri Lanka it is then. Will still be going Sri Lanka, but also it would be an excellent result for Sachin Tendulkar if he finally got to be part of a World Cup winning team after more than 20 years in international cricket....

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steven Russell]

Sri Lanka for me too. They've been my second team since Ranatunga & co. took the title in '96.

[Adam Went]

Steven:

Don't miss much, do ya? See, I tend to count the '05 Ashes as more of an "unfortunate series of events which could never happen again in any sport, in any series, ever" rather than a defeat....but OK...three Ashes series.

Meanwhile, NZ is now out of the World Cup as well....so, erm, don't really care who wins from here on in. Probably prefer Sri Lanka if I had to pick one. Anybody else?

Cheers,
Adam.

[Steven Russell]

Three Ashes defeats.