Field Theory by Hadyn Green

Read Post

Field Theory: Mother Dog!

110 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Sorry, anything *less than* 500 is not enough. I'm serious, too. The Indian top order is going to gorge on this pitch.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Mind you, with Martin at the other end, he really only had one option, which was to go for it.

    Yes, he had to go for it alas. Such a shame the team crumbled around him, he looked invincible today (whereas Vettori gave half a dozen chances and half chances).

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    you watch him bat and wonder how he can make any runs, but then you realise just so how freakishly effective his technique is because he hits it into places that are hard to protect. And he works so damn hard, too.

    His innings against WI late last year encapsulated this for me. He didn't try and rush to score runs, he just hit it where it would be hardest to field.

    He's always calculating - the thing I've noticed about NZ in chasing is that we always do what is needed and nothing more - only ever just above the RR, not taking chances, etc etc.

    Vettori is a nerd.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    Mind you, with Martin at the other end, he really only had one option, which was to go for it.

    I'm amazed Martin survived 5 balls from the Turbanator to even allow Ryder the chance. Were the Indians just being nice?

    Vettori is a nerd.

    Of the highest quality.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    I can't believe the cool head that Ryder has on the field. I think I would have physically assaulted O'Brien just then.

    For what it's worth, in his latest blog, Ian O'Brien calls the incident "the dumbest thing I've ever done on a cricket field".

    I scored eight while I was out there, trying my hardest to not get out. Runs didn’t matter, it was about getting Jesse through to his ton, and I couldn’t do it, in fact I did about the dumbest thing I’ve ever done on a cricket field, and I’ve done some dumb things. I walked past one from Harbhajan, my foot got stuck and I couldn’t make it back to my crease.

    Embarrassing, yes? I was trying to get to the pitch of the ball and push a single, get Jesse on strike and watch him score the last couple of runs he needed to tick over the ton. I felt so sick heading back to the changing room knowing that I had made such a bad mistake, I felt like throwing up while watching Tommy face out the five balls left in the over. I still feel bad about it now, but there is one positive side, Jesse made it and Tommy saved me from one of the worst feelings in the game. I owe Tommy a couple of red for that!

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Vettori is a nerd.

    You're just saying that because he wears glasses

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Cricinfo needs to stick some advertising on O'Brien's blog. The blog itself (a decent page or so in length) takes up about 1/10th of the web page. Must be a few hundred comments there in 13 hours.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Chapman,

    You're just saying that because he wears glasses

    There is nothing more nerdy in cricket than being a good orthodox spinner.

    He's also a library lover:

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    For what its worth, much of the best writing I've ever seen

    You missed "Shankly, by Bill Shankly".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    One thing I hate about sports is the artificial hype. I have cheered with the best and worst of them in stadia across the UK and NZ. But the artificial manipulation of emotion through a barrage of sound, fireworks, waving banners and the like is pathetic, unnecessary and obscene.

    Queue my one and only visit to a police cell. I had just been beaten up by a group of roving football 'fans'. The cops thought it would be a good idea to run an impromptu identity parade and took me inside to look over a group of 20 or 30 young men they had just hauled in.

    It was like walking into the chimp cage at the zoo when the chimps are going wild. Terrifying. Especially with only 2 cops for company. I couldn't get out fast enough.

    Human beings, like their chimp cousins, don't need hyping up.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    There is nothing more nerdy in cricket than being a good orthodox spinner.

    Yeah, that, plus his calculating leadership are what makes me say that.

    But yeah, everyone that wears glasses is a nerd too. Especially noizy...

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    <em>But yeah, everyone that wears glasses is a nerd too. Especially noizy...</em>

    Hey! Oh, hold on...

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    I'd be more of a nerd if I remembered the correct tag to use in that previous comment.

    And, more geeky, than nerdy, surely?

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Bruce Thorpe,

    At least in New Zealand, I have found the actual participating sport culture to be democratic and varied. Well it least the players.

    There were a lot more issues with coaches and committed fans.

    Going all the way back to my student years (we are talking fifty years ago) those who I played sport with were neither bothered nor very surprised that I wrote poetry, belonged to the drama club and played chess.

    But boy, the other way around? I guess being outside the majority culture is always the point for a lot of minority subcultures.

    I always found it quite usual for my fellow front row forwards to be intelligent, well read and articulate.

    But I must say it was rather dependent on the sport. Athletes tended to be vain and illiterate, especially the sprinters.

    Hokianga • Since May 2007 • 52 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Hey! Oh, hold on...

    Heh. 1-0.

    You also totally faked stuffing up that code.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Which is why <hobby-horse>you should all be following the White Ferns stick to the Poms on Sunday</hobby-horse>

    Oh, and I will be. I'll also be moaning to anyone who will listen about how come when the women are playing in a world cup, and dominating, they still get shoved down the news bulletin behind, like, a chimp playing football or something.

    But for me, echoing Megan's earlier comments, it's not the talent that I mostly watch for, though (code-shift) Masaga's playing brilliantly at the moment, it's the drama.

    Don't get me wrong though, I still love the talent. Sachin crafting an innings, Shane Bond offering up a gorgeous yorker, Richie dominating the breakdown. Or Reggie Miller stroking three-pointers like, as my dad told everyone he coached to, he was pretending the ball was his girlfriend's face. Or pretty much any Federer vs Nadal match up.

    I actually think half the time it's not the sport I love, it's the awe that I hold these people in. Cos look what they can do.

    And, more geeky, than nerdy, surely?

    I'm in the same camp, Noizy. I'm going with geeky.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'm happy with the fact that Tendulkar is a great batsman, and is likely to score a bunch of runs against us.

    I'd be nice if we could get their #9 out for something closer to his test average of 12 though.

    This is looking like McGrath and Gillespie scoring half centuries at Brisbane all over again :(

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Yeah. The last hour was embarassing.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Oh FFS! 3rd ball?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Poole,

    Yeah, I was just thinking that compared to the first 5 minutes of our innings, the last hour of theirs was positively delightful.

    Since Dec 2008 • 161 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Oh, and I will be. I'll also be moaning to anyone who will listen about how come when the women are playing in a world cup and dominating, they still get shoved down the news bulletin behind, like, a chimp playing football or something.

    It really is just a simple as calling it sexism thought isn't it? Jus say'n.

    Don't get me wrong though, I still love the talent. Sachin crafting an innings, Shane Bond offering up a gorgeous yorker, Richie dominating the breakdown. Or Reggie Miller stroking three-pointers like, as my dad told everyone he coached to, he was pretending the ball was his girlfriend's face. Or pretty much any Federer vs Nadal match up.

    Agreed, which is why McEnroe remains one of my favourite players to watch. He had the crazy drama and the unbelievable skills.

    I read his autobiography, it's good btw, in which he said that unlike other players on the tournament, he tried to beat a player not by imposing his game on them, but by working out their game and then bettering them at it. He say something about not wanting to just beat the game, he wanted to beat the man... now clearly that's unbelievably arrogant but it made for great contests!

    <link-whore>Also, on the drama (of cricket), this is still my favourite sporting moment/commentary for while.<link-whore>

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh FFS! 3rd ball?

    He shouldn't have been given out, though, it has to be said.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    He shouldn't have been given out, though, it has to be said.

    Yes, but the best way to not get given out is to make it very obvious to the umpire that you can't be out.

    If you wave your bat at the ball and it flies towards the slips, you're creating an option for yourself to be back in the pavilion much sooner.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    how come when the women are playing in a world cup and dominating, they still get shoved down the news bulletin behind, like, a chimp playing football or something

    Think that's patronising - try constantly being labelled
    heart-warming and courageous.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    For those interested, there's live commentary of the Women's World Cup final on Radio Sport today, which I guess is the up side of the men's team sucking so proficiently.

    They've sent the women Kerry O'Keeffe. God help 'em.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.